The End

The End

He’d never thought he could make it down as fast as he did. Driven by fear of what he’d find and yet with a desperate spark of hope he hurried to where the two terribly still forms lay on the muddy ground. The panther’s broken body partly covered by Amber, whose golden eyes stared up at the sky. Empty, cold.

Something shattered inside him. He wanted to scream, to break something, to tear something apart, shred it until there was nothing left but dust. But he didn’t. He stood there, fists clenched tightly at his sides, his nails cutting into his palms until they bled. He held his breath, waiting for his eyes and throat to stop burning with tears he would never let out. “Crying is for babies. You are not a baby anymore,” his mother’s voice echoed through his head, his first and clearest memory of her. Over the years, he had learned that it wasn’t true, but he had always lived by that rule. Even now.

Minutes, maybe hours passed. The ranger didn’t move until he heard the sound of flapping wings. When he opened his eyes, he saw a crow sitting on Amber’s chest, its beady eyes carefully examining her face, as if the animal wanted to make sure that she was really dead.

“Get away from her!” Jerutha growled. There was no power in his voice, but it was enough. The bird flew up, only to land a few feet away. The ranger ignored the animal’s hungry looks. He knelt down beside the bodies of the two closest friends he had ever had. His loyal animal companion.. Yes, she was old. Too old. He gently stroked the once so thick and shiny black fur of her head. It was now gray and rough, thinning. He could feel bones where once muscles had been. Oh Ah’sh.. Why didn’t I see it? But there was no answer. Not this time. Not ever again. The part of his mind where he had felt her presence for many long years was now empty. Except for a burning red dot of pain that flared up when he poked at it with his thoughts.

Reluctantly he allowed his eyes to move to Amber. His Amber. He brushed a golden curl out of her face and ran his fingers over her cheek, something he must have done a million times before. But this time, she didn’t smile, nor did she look at him with that sad, serious expression he knew so well. She just stared up at the sky. Carefully, he pushed her eyes shut. “Amber.. My love,” he whispered. He took another breath, but no more words came.

Everything was gone.

***

He stayed with them until the day faded into twilight. Numb, dazed. Constantly tying to push the pain away. There will be time for that later, he lied to himself. In the gathering dark, he tried to decide what to do. He could not leave them here for the crows and other scavengers. There was no way he could take them both with him. He wondered desperately if it was possible to get them back. He had heard of clerics raising people from the dead.. People, not animals. He shook his head, Ah’sh had been old, her body worn and failing, no longer able to hunt for herself. She had lived longer than any panther on its own would have. He came to a painful decision. He would take Amber home. But he could not just leave his loyal animal companion here to rot or turn into carrion. It was nature’s way, but he could not bear the thought. She deserved better than that. The soil here was too thin and too full of rocks to allow him to dig a proper grave, even with the right tools, which he did not have. In the end, he managed to gather a pile of reasonably dry wood, large enough to put the panther’s body on.

He convinced himself it was the smoke that caused his eyes to water as he walked away, holding Amber in his arms.

***

Not entirely happy with Jerutha's pose here, but I couldn't get it any better. Guess he didn't really want me to make this picture, but the brain insisted that now was the time. It wasn't, but the thing wouldn't leave me alone. So there. I'll probably end up doing a revised vision in a couple of months.. years.. Whenever. For now, this is it.

Resizing did horrible things to Amber's hair, too.. 

Next one will be cheerful and happy and fun and light. I pwomise!

***

Render: Daz 4.6
Postwork: Photoshop CS2
Amber and Jerutha are both my very own.
Story bit is © MoriMann, too.