Riftbound (Romantic 745)

A Moment of Silence

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow over the camp. It had been a long day, one that Ashen would rather forget. The grief of losing her pup still weighed heavily on her heart, and the pack's usual bustle seemed distant, muffled by her sorrow. She had tried to keep herself busy, to hide the sadness in her chest, but it wasn't enough.

Ashen sat alone near the edge of the clearing, her head bowed, her fur unkempt from the night's cold. Her silver eyes were dull, the warmth of life gone from them. She didn't hear Riftbound approach until his steady, measured steps were right beside her.

"Are you alright?" Riftbound's voice was soft but thick with concern. He stood just a few paces away, careful not to invade her space, but his eyes were filled with empathy. His black coat blended into the darkness, except for the stark white of his claws and eyes, which seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight.

Ashen didn't answer immediately. Her shoulders trembled as she exhaled slowly, the weight of her grief too much to voice. She had been trying so hard to be strong, but right now, there was no strength left.

Riftbound lowered his head, taking a step closer. "I'm sorry for what you've lost," he said, his voice steady but gentle, as though he knew no words could truly ease the pain. His eyes flicked to the ground for a moment, then back to Ashen, his gaze full of quiet understanding.

Ashen shook her head slowly. "I thought I was ready," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I thought… I could handle this. But I couldn't even protect him."

Riftbound's heart ached at the sight of her vulnerability. He moved closer, cautiously sitting beside her, though he kept a respectful distance. "You did everything you could, Ashen," he said, his voice low, a soft strength that seemed to settle in the air around them. "Sometimes, life is… cruel. But that doesn't mean you failed."

Ashen didn't look at him, but the gentle comfort in his words seemed to ease a little of the tension in her shoulders. The silence between them was a quiet refuge, the weight of her grief still there, but tempered by Riftbound's steady presence.

"Thank you, Riftbound," Ashen said after a long pause, her voice softer now. "I just… feel so empty."

Riftbound felt a pang of helplessness, unsure how to fill that emptiness. He wanted to tell her everything would be fine, that time would heal the wound, but those words felt hollow. Instead, he simply stayed there beside her, offering his quiet support. Sometimes, that was all he could do.

At that moment, the sound of voices drifted through the air, breaking the stillness. Riftbound stiffened instinctively, his senses alert. Out of the shadows emerged Rose Tiger and Kira, both walking with an air of cocky confidence, as always. Rose Tiger's black pelt gleamed with a faint sheen, his red stripes looking like streaks of fire in the moonlight, while Kira's silver eyes glinted with a haughty look.

Rose Tiger glanced over at Ashen and Riftbound, his lips curling into a smirk. "What's this? The loners of the pack having a heart-to-heart?" he teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Riftbound stiffened, but he didn't rise to the bait. He simply remained still, his eyes narrowed as he gave Rose Tiger a pointed look. "This isn't the time, Rose Tiger."

Kira raised an eyebrow, her expression half-mocking, half-curious. "What, no comment, Riftbound? No witty retort?" She shot a glance at Ashen, her gaze lingering on the weary wolf for a moment before turning back to Rose Tiger. "She's still upset, I take it?"

Ashen didn't respond, her eyes still fixed on the ground. Rose Tiger's words hit her, but they didn't seem to pierce as deeply anymore. She was too tired to fight, too worn out from everything.

"I don't think she needs your games right now," Riftbound said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. He didn't care if it earned him a snide remark from either of them; Ashen needed peace, not mockery.

Rose Tiger chuckled darkly, but the sound was void of its usual amusement. "Fine, fine," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "We'll leave you to your little 'moment.'"

He turned and started to walk off with Kira, the two of them exchanging a few quiet words, their footsteps fading into the night.

Riftbound let out a slow breath as he turned back to Ashen. "They can be… difficult," he said softly, but his words weren't meant to be a dismissal. "But don't let them get to you."

Ashen lifted her gaze to him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I won't," she said quietly. "I'm just… tired, Riftbound. Tired of all of it."

Riftbound's heart clenched, and for a moment, he found himself wishing he could take away her pain. But all he could do was sit beside her, offering silent support, as the night stretched on, the stars above them bearing witness to the quiet moment of comfort between two packmates.