Some part of me knew that he would come. It was Halcyon's duty to protect me but there was a conenction between us that was much, much stronger than that. We were not imprints, never would be, but I didn't care. He was more dear to me than many others, with a few exceptions, like Pine and Lazarus. But I didn't have them with me right now and frankly, I had no idea where they were. Nor did I have the energy to search for my mother and father had taken something important from me today and left me aching and empty. It was like I had a hole in my chest that contained a flame that refused to be put out. I don't think it will ever get better. I tell myself over and over that I have to get up, have to find my brother. But I don't. I just sit there with the river lazily dragging in front of me.

Until he comes and presses his cheek to mine. Then the tears begin anew, tears I didn't know I had, and I turn into him. I bury my nose into his jaw and I cry, taking comfort that he is offering me. Who had offered him comfort? My mother. In some way she had offered him consolation. Slowly my sobs ebb into quiet breathes and then I sigh into him. "My daddy is dead too," I say, not realizing he already knows, not realizing that someone may have already come across his body in the meantime. Aithne hadn't known, I think, but maybe she had. It was said imprints could feel it. I don't even know if she was still alive when he died.

"I don't know where Laz is. I have to get him!" Suddenly I jump up but I am shaking, my body weak from grief and hunger. I hadn't caught a weasel when I was with my dad. The bison had seen to that.