Sanguine Cove [m]ark my words

TW: Child death, violence, grief, pain

This thread is dated 22 May 2024, 2 days before Jessamy becomes playable.

Aquene had been tending to Jessamy who had gotten particularly fussy, trying to nurse her towards her belly where she hoped a meal might help sate her and pacify her so she could get some rest… it was in that attention that she missed Sari making her way towards the corner of the den. She could have sworn her eyes were only off her for a second when she heard her daughter’s childish screams, the piercing screech of a hawk that had her head snapping up, leaving Jessamy safely behind inside the den as her head dove out, seeing the tiny form of Sari being carried off in the clutches of a beast.

“Nash!” She screeched, calling for her husband. Horror filled her features as she began to run after it, attempting to jump but she was still recovering from the labor and all that followed it, with how she became nothing more than a constant nurse to the two girls. It caused her to stumble, falling forward, and she was quickly stumbling up, her head turning back in another panic, worry that Jess hadn’t stayed in the den… that she was in danger too, and that had her turning back, pain on her features because how did she decide between keeping Sam safe and not going after Sari?

It felt much like an impossible choice.

Aquene Slayer

(This post was last modified: May 28, 2024, 01:24 AM by Aquene.)

After the loss of his mother, the birth of his newest daughters was a spot of joy. Nash tried not to go too far. Moonshadow had been buried, Nori had been sent on to take her devastating news to the Backwater, and Magg was due any day now. As much as he wanted to tell Chan of their mother's passing, he needed to be here. There was too much at stake for him to leave just yet.

He was already nearing the den when he heard the bird cry, heard his youngest scream; his paws had already picked up speed when his wife's cry echoed. He was now in a full sprint, spotting the bird carrying the struggling child. He didn't say a word to Aquene as he stripped past her; there was no need. She had already slowed. Nash knew they could not leave Jessamy unattended, that his wife hadn't fully recovered, and he was strong enough... he had to be fast enough...

Nash raced after the hawk, trying to keep it in his sight. He didn't know what his plan was, he would learn to climb trees if he must, he needed to get his daughter back-

But the problem with watching the skies is he was not watching his feet and the ground disappeared from beneath his paws. With a yelp he went over a small ledge and tumbled down the slope. He was lucky it wasn't worse; only an outcrop and not a cliff. Still his momentum carried him a fair distance down the mountainside before a tree arrested his descent, and by the time he caught his bearings the hawk was long gone.

Sari had been lost.

The loss of his grandmother lingered over the pack as a whole. Her presences clearly leaving a hole in their hearts. She had been such a crucial part, easily built into home and now she was gone...The pain was eased with his two newest sisters growing happily within the den and more little ones arriving soon. His nieces and nephews were going to make their arrival any day now. So the inky Eastfall-Slayer busied himself with adding to caches and running the border to ensure they remained safe and healthy.

A squirrel hung between his jaws when the hawk's cry rang out. The sound it's self didnt cause any panic within the young man. He had heard it many a times on the mountain and with no youngins of his own to worry about, the danger never occurred to him. That was not until his mother's panic cry for his father.

The prey instantly dropped to the ground, his paws in motion before it reached the dirt. The older brother raced towards the birthing den. He saw his mother chasing the hawk only to fall back as is father joined in. Amber and emerald flicked back to the bird of prey that was quickly rising.

No no no.

In a flash the dark form of his father disappeared. A single dark audit flicked hoping to hear him return to the chase but heard nothing. That didnt stop him from racing on. He couldn't - no they couldn't - loose her. The ebony shadow didn't know which of his newest sister's was being carried away, but that didnt matter. He would get her back.

Fate was cruel. He raced as the hawk disappeared above a strait incline. He screamed as his large paws tried to scale the mountain side only to be denied and slide back down the rock face. The jagged rocks lodged themselves between his paw pads biting into the soft flesh. That didn't stop him from continuing, even as the slate grey of the rocks became painted with red.

He couldn't do it...couldn't save her...

Panic boiled in her chest as she curled up around Jessamy, her eyes locking on the mouth of the den as she waited for her husband or her son to return, hopefully with a young Sari in their jaws, safe or at least mostly safe so she could tend to her, nurse her back to health from what was a terrifying endeavor. Deep down, she knew it was not a reality. Deep down, she knew that there was no way either would be able to catch that hawk. But she could not let herself accept the fact. In fact, she refused to accept that fact.

She would not feel the fullest depths of pain until they returned. She would not allow herself to welcome their return, her eyes closed as she hummed to herself and to her remaining daughter at her belly. It was less than a month, and she had already failed this newest litter… just as she had failed her others… Kateri, Magg, Monatalia, Matos, Eclypse… all of them… and now Jessamy and Sari had been added to this list. Now Jessamy would need to grow up without her sister.

Now Sari would never get her freedom to fly.

And it was all her fault, because she had lost attention for a moment, just as she had with Sephrina… just as she had with so many others.

She began to sob.

How could anyone love her?

How could Nash look at her with any ounce of love when she continued to fail their family?

Aquene Slayer