© 2002-2025 Rochelle Simpson
Part 4

The moons were rising into the night, and Darkrider was watching them come up with his bond at his side when he heard the commotion of the hunters returning.. Inwardly he closed his eyes and tried to wish the hunters away. Why could they all have just not come home? Then he would be free finally. But instead he could hear footsteps slowly approaching him, and in his mind Darkrider could already envision what would happen.

He would sit up and his mother would be behind him looking like the sugar sweet poison she was, and tell him that they'd caught a big beast today, and about how she'd make him some soup so he'd feel better. His father would be behind her and tell her that they should get him home so he could rest comfortably…. And then once they were inside the den….

"Darkrider?" The voice that belonged to the footsteps wasn't his mother's at all; it was Wildlight's! In surprise the boy sat bolt up right and looked at the chief with large brown eyes full of questions, and maybe the chief hadn't imagined those eyes brimming with some kind of hope.

After a moment of silence Wildlight crouched down in front of Darkrider solemnly. "Darkrider… your mother and father…" He began, and Darkrider stood up, his eyes wide in disbelief- but not for the reason the chief might have thought. The boys eyes were brimming not with the denial of their possible deaths, but instead with the impossible chance that they really were gone! "… there was an accident, your mother and father were knocked into a river… the rapids were too strong for us to catch them…. I'm so sorry." He put a hand on the boys shoulder comfortingly.

Darkrider stared at Wildlight, his heart was soaring, soaring into the sky up to the moons who were so, so very bright… and then everything was light, releasing light setting him free…

Darkrider had collapsed into Wildlight's arms at that moment, soundlessly. Though no one was quite sure why there was a ghost of a smile on the cubs face there was no mistaking the tears streaming down his face.