Alone.... When Nyack finally awoke some hours later his side was cold and the female was long gone. She hadn't just gone to get food or water. He could sense it somewhere in his heart that she was simply....
Gone.
He pushed himself up to sit up and stare at the ridge she'd been standing on. He couldn't follow her. He was too sore and tired. He wouldn't make it far and she would be long out of his range then.
He felt a pain in his chest he'd only felt when his son had left him. The pain of loss and abandonment. She didn't like him from the start. He was well aware of how she felt about him but he had hoped....
The male let out a sigh and dropped down again, putting his paw over his muzzle. He still wanted her to stay but he had saved her and that was what mattered. She was alive and hopefully she didn't wish to die anymore.
Yes... that was what was important.
