It was time. He had known it was coming, for his good days had been few and far between since his children had been left with him. Often he had been unable to keep up with their cubbish energy, gaining help from his eldest sister, Haruma, to keep them safe and occupied. He knew now that he would never see them grown. Over the last two days, he had taken time with each cub. He had made sure each knew how much he loved them, and what he valued about each of them. Haruma knew very well as a Healer that his time was near, and had shared a quiet time with him, reassuring and comforting him. vowing to care for his cubs as her own.
He had chosen to speak to Rian alone, rather than with young Tara present. It had been a difficult and emotional conversation, for he and his brother were very close. He had asked Rian to be the one to tell Tara, for he knew in his heart that the two were destined to remain together. They could give each other much needed comfort, and that soothed his own heart.
Today had been hardest of all. He had asked his father to do something extremely difficult. He had debated about it for days, but he did not wish for his young family, nor his larger extended family, to have to deal with his body when he was gone. The thought of his cubs sseeing him like that was more than his heart could bear. Thus it was that he now laid beside his father, as the stars crept out. They were at the pride's border, far from the dens. Sliabh had supported him on the long, struggling walk here. Father and son had talked much on the day-long trip, at times light-hearted and laughing, and at others sober and solemn.
And now it was time. The journey here, such a short distance but such an agonizing ordeal, had exhausted him beyond speaking. This was as he had intended, for his journey to make the end swift and simple. Weariness weighed him down, pulling his eyes closed upon the sight of the brilliant stars in the dark velvet of the sky. The contented night noises surrounded him, with the comforting softy rhythm of his father's breathing. His own breathing slowed as he reveled in the feeling of being one with the night, ignoring any pain left in him. The insects sang, a gentle breeze ruffled his half-grown mane, a night bird warbled. With a last, slow breath, he let it all go, relaxing into the forever sleep with a smile on his muzzle.
His time had come, and it was good.
