Goldie

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11/02/22

It was a horribly cold and stormy day. Igneous was doing his rounds in the camp, that is, until he heard rustling at the bramble entrance. He rushed over as an elderly golden she-wolf crawled through, her hip bones and spine noticeable under her thin pelt. She said her name was Goldie, and that she came from a pack far away.

Igneous sighed, looking away for a few moments. It would be dark soon, who knows how cold it would get then. He looked back at her, meeting her tired gaze, her orange eyes sparkling with hope. He nodded. Relief flooded the wolf's gaze. She muttered 'thank you' over and over. Igneous laughed and guided the old she-wolf into a warm den.

That night, Goldie spent a few hours telling stories to the new pups in the nursery. Ones of glory, ones with lessons, ones of grief, and ones of love. That she-wolf had talent, that's for sure. Who knows, maybe she lived these stories out herself. Goldie will be loved by her new pack, Igneous will make sure of it.

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12/24/22

Igneous stayed up late that night. Goldie's condition had worsened so much that she couldn't walk anymore. She was laying in a nest in the Herbal Grotto, he could hear her labored breathing from outside of the den.
He heard Clouds summon him to join the two she-wolves. He pushed his way past the ivy growth and sat next to the herbalist. She shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. Igneous looked away, they would lose a strong wolf today. He stood up and touched his nose to Goldie's newly matted fur and uttered a few words. As he pulled his head back, the she-wolf shuddered. And died. He lowered his head.
"Thank you, Goldie." He whispered. He felt a small wisp of air brush against his cheek, she was gone now.
He tilted his head back into a howl, Clouds joined in, then other wolves from outside joined. Perhaps Igneous would meet Goldie again, maybe in a new life, but for now, he will carry on her memory. Long live Goldie.