© 2002- 2024 Rochelle Simpson
Part 3

Late that night Destiny got the last glimpse of his father. Destiny had woken up to the sound of movement… his father sound like he was going through things. He quietly got out of his part of the den and slinked to the main entrance. There was his father, putting on some of mother's extra weapons. His father's eyes were puffy, as if from crying several hours, and he had a look of desperate determination, and yet… a sad resignment. Once it was all gathered he headed out of the den. Destiny wasn't sure why he hadn't stopped him, said something… done something to keep his father home… maybe it had been the look in his father's eyes.

Then he heard some one talking to his father outside.

"Shade listen to me… you should wait for the hunters in the morning… they already plan to go looking. I promise…"

"I know… but she's out there… alone… if she's hurt…"

"Shade, it's pitch black… you might walk right over her and not notice in this darkness…you should wait. I know you love her…."

"Y-you're right… I'll… I need the air… I got already to walk… might as well."

"I'll walk with you."

"No… this… this is my heart's pain… I need time to cope with it my friend. Thank you… thank you for everything." The resignment in that statement caused Destiny to slide down the wall he'd been leaning on and cry. His father wasn't walking, he was still going to look for their mother- but… by his tone Shallowshade didn't intend to come back. He was leaving him and Dawn alone, with no parents for the rest of their lives.

"Moma?" Dawn sat up rubbing her eyes. Destiny's sobs, however he had tried to keep them quiet, woke her up. Seeing her brother, the one normally scolding her, in tears against the wall seemed to cause her to think. She crawled across the furs to her brother's side and patted his hand reassuringly.

"There, there… al bedder." She assured him like his mother used to do to them… used to, but now she was gone, and father with her. Destiny didn't know how to say that, as the realization had only just hit him. So he hugged her to him and as he cried he whispered to her.

"All better….Dawn… it has to be… sometime…"