Luri buried her muzzle in her sons stiff, rapidly cooling fur. "Why. Why did you have to die on me so soon, my little pup?" She whispered, sobbing quietly. Luri gently licked his leg wound, cleaning it up as much as she could before closing Ping's eyes.
Ping stared at his still body, feeling nauseated at the sight. "Mother." He whimpered, turning his attention to her instead, and tried nuzzling her, but he only succeeded in passing through her instead. Stumbling, he instinctively caught himself, but then realized he didn't have to. After trying once more to make contact with his mom, he gave a soft moan, already not liking life as a ghost. He went to go see his siblings Tanner and Smoky, in the Younglings den. He laid down between them, somewhat comforted by their presence, even though he couldn't feel them. After a couple of hours of sleeping, he got up and padded around the camp, trying to feel as normal as possible, while being stuck in the bridge between life and death. After pacing for a few moments, he gave up and headed to the high ledge, letting out a loud, mournful, grief-filled howl.
As if he had summoned her, a gentle voice spoke from behind him. "Why so sad, little one?" Ping looked at the new wolf that had spoken. She was a pure white wolf, with blue eyes, and every time she moved, the sparkles in her fur caught the sunlight. He got down from the high ledge, approaching the new wolf with grief clouding his eyes. "I...I lost my family." He said, looking down. The new wolf said nothing but gave him a couple of reassuring licks around his muzzle. He flinched at first, realization dawning in his eyes as she was able to touch him, meaning that she wasn't mortal. "Yes. I have left the mortal wolf world, just like you, Ping." She said quietly, affirming what he thought. But Ping's thoughts were elsewhere now. "How do you know my name?" He asked. The white wolf laughed softly. "The Ancestors know everything, but if it makes you feel better, I'll tell you my name-" She said while meeting Ping's gaze. "-its Nova." For the first time in the hours of his passing, Ping smiled, finally finding a friend that can see him. "Nova." He said, testing out her name. She smiled, and laid down, inviting Ping to curl up beside her. He gladly did, relaxing as well. "How did you have sparkles in your fur?" Ping suddenly blurted out, finding that most wolves don't usually have a glimmering pelt. Nova chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough, little Ping." Then she disappeared in a flash of blinding white light, taking Ping with her.
Ping blinked a couple of times before realizing that he was in a different forest than the one he was used to. For one, there was prey everywhere, fish in the pond, rabbits thumping around in the underbrush, squirrels going up and down trees, and there were plenty of birds in the sky. "Woahhh." He breathed, taking a glance down at his now glittering paws. "Now I'm just like you Nova!" He exclaimed, looking at her proudly. She smiled at his exclamation, before bounding up to a large rock overlooking the forest clearing. Nova let out a long, summoning howl, and all of a sudden, Ping found himself crowded with wolves, all filling in at their leader's summon. She ended the howl, and looking straight at Ping, gave an announcement. "Today, a mother has lost her pup, but today, we will gain a new member to add to our starry ranks." Nova looks at Ping warmly. "Your mother would be proud, knowing you're in a good place now." Ping dips his head in acknowledgment, and Nova continues. "Anyways, I called you all here to welcome the newest member of StarPack, Ping!"
