Cynthia

the dim cave, usually alive with banter and life, was quiet. a suffocating quiet that seemed to hang above each wolf.
no one dared to speak. instead letting the occasional whines from the sick pup echo through them.
who knows if they'd ever hear it again.

Andromeda caresses the fur of her youngest pup, Cynthia; her white fur a stark contrast to her mother's gold coat.

at the mouth of the cave entered Rhea. dripping wet from the storm outside, adding onto the bare sounds reverberating in the cave.
Andromeda lifted her head and, for a moment, the facade she had been desperately trying to keep for the past day and night broke away. her face lost its coolness, tensing muscles relaxing as her shaking body came forward to Rhea.

but Rhea moved no further, as she had nothing to give. Andromeda's face contorted, desperation clawing at her throat.

"Rhea, where's the balm?"

Rhea finally lifts her head to face Andromeda, the tears streaming down her face now plainly obvious to everyone.
before she can speak, Nuclear enters the cave, Adonis slowly trailing behind him.
Andromeda turns aer gaze to the smaller wolf, scanning over his body, watching as he avoids aer eyes.
watching as he no longer limps as he did only an hour ago when he left.

then finally... it clicks.

like glass shattering on a concrete floor, like claws ripping through a prey's throat, like burying your own child.

it clicks.

"Andromeda-"

"I want NOTHING coming out of your dirty muzzle, Nuclear. you have no excuses." she howls, the poison dripping from her words entangling with the tears streaking her face.

"how could you so easily brush off her life like a fly on your back?! and to turn away from me when you did? to pick favourites and hide your dirty secret as if she didn't deserve to live too!"

Nuclear does not speak, does not look away nor waver his spot.

"you disgust me, Nuclear. i hope her blood stains your fur. i hope that you can never rest again without seeing her face. i hope you die like she will."

the cave quiets once more. the suffocating silence now a loud and unavoidable grief.

"my child will die-" she whispers "-and i cannot do anything"

"i'm sorry"

"no you're not," ae spits, "leave, or will you take my other child too?"

Nuclear doesn't answer. he simply leaves, Adonis trailing behind him.
Andromeda returns to Cynthia, whispering into the sick pup's ears as she curls tightly around her.

and in the quiet and grief, Cynthia passess.