There was no WAY my father could keep up with me, I think, my grin just as wide and wicked as before. I was younger and faster, my body lithe and full of a prowess that age seems to eat away at. Well, in some wolves. I wouldn't say that about my dad normally but I am feeling rather competative and what can I say? I like to have fun! I know he is watching me. I see his lavender eyes on me alot and it makes me prance beneath his gaze because I know, just KNOW, he is proud of me. I loved my parents both even if I liked my dad more. Always he was so kind and helpful. Playful too. I thrived beneath his affection and I know he doted on Lazarus as well. I didn't begrudge that for I, too, loved my brother. Mother loved us in her own way but she wasn't as affectionate at times because she didn't know how to be. I understood that but sometimes I didn't like it.

I race off, not even noticing when my father stumbles. It is a problem with me. I am selfish. Like the time I had argued with Halcyon when I stole the alligator egg, not even noticing the alligator mother coming at me until he saved me and then not even bothering to ask about his injuries. It is a shameful memory at times and I think I've grown some because I can recognize it. That is how growing works, right? You realize what you did wrong and you fix it.

Except in this moment I fall right back into my same manners, racing away with a grin and determination lining my sleek features. The weasels won't even know what hit them! I hear him shout ASTER and stumble a bit, glancing back at him with annoyed eyes. I bet he did that on purpose! Only he isn't there anymore and I pause in my steps for one brief second, spotting his dark figure suddenly right up on me before he thrusts me away. I yelp in anger and fear, my heart knocking in my ribs, because damn he scared me. I didn't know dad could move that fast!

"Da..." I start to say as I recover, hearing his garbled "RUN" at the same moment the bison looms above us. I dart away. I am so ashamed to say that I follow his instructions, racing to a rock with tail tucked between my legs. But when I look back my dad isn't behind me this time. Instead I see a horrible scene; the bison kicks him, steps on him, knocks him down. He fights back and it is so pitiful to watch as his body falls beneath the assault. How is he still moving? I bark frantically, the kind of part that is meant to scare it away, and my tail is stiff out behind me as I race back towards him even as the bison turns tail and waltzs away. It has not care in the world now.

I ignore it then, fear causing me to pant as I stumble to my fathers side. His body... it is not in a normal shape. It is broken and caved and... so wrong! "Daddy, daddy..." I say his name over and over and over in a panicked tone, my heart so loud I can hear it rushing in my ears. I fear I've missed what he said but all I see is blood pouring out of his mouth. "Nooo," I croon, blinking furiously as tears well and fall down my face. I stare him in the eyes, pressing my nose against his muzzle with frantic whining, ignoring his blood that coats my nostrils and chokes me. "Daddy, please, no, this can't-what... I do?" My words are mixed; this was not real. It couldn't be.