Bailey Amberley

Brandy was excited to meet her pups, her first litter, the first pup was strong. He wriggled and squeaked when she licked him. The second one was very still and wheezed.

Brandy moved closer and started to lick the second pup, but gasped at her appearance. She tried not to panic but she sensed something was very wrong with this pup. 

As soon as she was able she rushed over to Herbert and asked him to come and see the pups, he nods sadly with concern shining in his eyes. 

Typically Herbert takes his time checking over both pups but Brandy notices a sad expression come over Herbert's face as he examines the second pup. He slowly walks over to Brandy and sits beside her, he looks off into the distance with sadness in his eyes as he tells her what will happen to the second pup. A silent tear runs down the fur on his face, "She cannot be saved, my herbs are not enough to make her whole" 

Brandy began to shake and lay down beside her babies. "Is there absolutely nothing that can be done?" she asked as the tears began to fall. She nuzzled her pups and drew them in closer. 

Herbert was quiet for a moment more before responding "There is a way to keep her with you, she will be frozen in time. Think carefully about this, she will never age, never have her own family and never become ill. It's not a cure but only a way to keep her". 

The warning in his eyes was enough to make Brandy pause. But her heart broke looking at her sweet babies, she couldn't bear to lose either. 

She took a shaky breath and looked at Herbert, she matched his stern gaze and said "Do what you must" he waited a moment more then nodded and trotted away. 

He returned carrying a strange blobby object wrapped in leaves, as he drops the package it opens, "Don't touch it" he warned "or you will be frozen too". He sprinkled herbs around the jellyfish then closed his eyes and chanted a few words causing the jellyfish to glow. 

"You must give her a name before I continue any further" Brandy stopped staring at the jellyfish and thought for a moment "Bailey Amberley" 

"A lovely name for this little one" he murmured then he spoke her name to the jellyfish causing the glow to shimmer and change colours.

Brandy gasped and drew back. Herbert looked at her, he walked over and sat beside her, leaning against her. "Now is the time for goodbyes, she will not respond to you ever again after this, say and do what you need to. I won't be far" 

He licked her ear, whispered something to Bailey and walks just out of sight, Brandy can hear him lie down in the nearby shrubs. She snuggles Bailey close and finds she can't speak for a moment as her heart breaks to know her first daughter will never age, never love but she will also never suffer. That's one comforting thing Brandy thinks

She slowly finds words and pours out her heart to Bailey who is snuggled against her chest. The other pup sleeps soundly totally unaware of the unfolding events. 

After a long time the rest of the pack starts to gather to say goodbye to a sweet little member. Each wolf passes by and murmers a blessing and a word of comfort to Brandy, who trys to be brave but eventually gives in to the tears, they drip onto Baileys head like a baptism. After each pack member has passed by and said their goodbye Herbert re-emerges from the shrubs. 

Herbert waits and watches for the right moment then he walks over to Brandy and explains what will happen next, "Will it hurt her?" she manages to ask between the tears. "No" replies Herbert "it will be a release from this broken little body" 

He very gently lifts Bailey and carries her to the jellyfish as he lowers her onto it Winter Frost begins a mournful howl, the pack all join in with only Brandy unable to make a single sound

The jellyfish curls up and envelopes Bailey, it takes everything in Brandy not to rush over and grab her pup but then the it begins to melt away leaving Bailey apparently unharmed but her wheezing has stopped and she appears perfectly peaceful. 

Herbert breathes a sigh of relief "It is done, this little daughter will suffer no more" Brandy looks on sadly. The rest of the pack go back to their sleeping spots, Brandy's Mother Alder stays nearby to comfort her. She curls around her remaining pup and drifts into a deep dreamless sleep. 

Little Bailey Amberley is now seen as a pack mascot and the other wolves stop and talk to her as if she was any other pup, some leave toys and treats for her others are convinced her eyes follow when they walk past her and that she gets a secret little smile whenever her mother is near.