Separated from the world and what should be his life, the brute found endless questions arising to be pondered upon during the everlasting silence that seemed to shroud his very existence now. Nothing could make him speak, he had not said a word since it had happened. It, such a simple word to represent something so traumatic, something that was the single most distressing event to have occurred in the wolf's life. But then, doesn't simple make it easier? He had no answers for himself to any of his questions. And he had nobody else to ask for he had no voice to raise anymore. His conscience was focused on his thoughts or on the numb feeling of depression and sorrow, leaving no time for rest to converse, for if he ever did rest there was only silence, and it reminded him of how alone he was and all of what he had lost. 

The truth was, Eclipse knew what it felt like to fly. Not truly, his paws had always been planted firmly on the earth, and they were destined to be forevermore for he was not a bird and never would be. But he had soared, so incredibly high on winds of joy that he had experienced during those good times in his life, where he had often sat and thought to himself that even the winged creatures of the skies could not have been happier as they glided in the air. Examples of those time periods were his acceptance to Helidos, dear friends he had made, meeting Creek, the birth of his offspring and the promotions he had been privileged enough to be given in his rank. In fact, looking back it was clear to see joining Helidos was the best decision he could have made and had provided him with much to be grateful for. He had been a mere fledgling when he had arrived but with the support of the pack and its land his wings had gotten stronger and he had learnt how to fly, maturing into a knowledgable wolf as well as one that was strong and kind, a hard worker who served Helidos. Recently he had been praised with the title of Elite, which stood to prove he had done enough to be the male counterpart as the greatest fighter of the pack alongside his dear friend and sister Nnlya, for which he was proud and appreciated greatly. Yet still Eclipse knew he had big paws to fill after the previous Elite Kenai had been such a strong and noble wolf. He knew he would have to keep building on his skills with a few spars and keep his fitness maintained. For now however he just needed time to grieve before he would pick himself up and continue training. 

Loss was a familiarity to the male as he had lost his sister, but this was different. Blizzard was family and he cared for her very much, but he had grown up with her as his sibling and had no choice but to love her as they shared the same blood. With Creek the love was so much deeper and special. As mates, he had fallen in love with her because he had learned all about her and decided that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her because she was so amazing and beautiful that he could not imagine having to be without her. To have someone love you by choice because they adore who you are even with your faults is something to be treasured and one of the most precious things you could ever have, even when the one who had chosen you and whom you had chosen was no longer here. 

Breathing a tired sigh, the dark coated male tread noiselessly on slow-moving paws. Golden eyes were turned to the dirt, matching its dullness as they lacked their usual bright shine and conveyed only sadness and a longing for this pain to disappear. Creek had been the best at fixing the ill and broken, but now with her gone he was wounded so deeply in such a way that only she had caused. It was not her fault and he did not blame her, for she deserved to end her life without pain. Perhaps, he had realized, it was just written in his fate that all the ones he loved would die and disappear from his life. First Blizzard, then Creek and Ayden. Perhaps he was cursed for this to repeat until he took his final breath. Not wanting to think any further, he had travelled away from the heart of the pack and through the dense woodland, following the soft rumbling sound of the waterfall. Noise was better than being alone with the voices in his head after all. Furthermore it was mating season, and he did not want to be in amongst the pack where his depressed spirits would bring a negativity to the others who should be excited with the chance to find love and neither did he want to be influenced by his own instincts. Slowly, Eclipse walked out from the shade of the forest, his head hung low as he glanced around cautiously and ears perked for any dangers that may be lurking around, nostrils flaring to pick up any scent of predator or foe. Thankfully he found none so he strode forward up the slight hill, the clicking of his claws on the rocks being muffled by the settled snow. Once he finally made it to the edge of the turquoise pool, he let his legs give away beneath his weight and allowed his body to fall as if he had been shot with an arrow to the heart. He sank into the snow and closed his eyes almost peacefully, seemingly undisturbed by the icy white powder encasing him. His wings were broken, and now he met the cold ground where gravity made his destiny be.

On the outside a silence had settled over him, a calmness as his body was buried with the snow. He remained idle in his icy grave, seeming very much dead on almost all aspects and even the thoughts that buzzed in his mind had been stilled. The canine released a soft sigh of relief from the ending of the torture, the sort a parent might once they had finally put their children to bed and had some time for themselves. In this situation the thoughts would be his offspring, and indeed they had been born of only him and his mind, now he had finally put them to rest for the time being. With the bliss that came with the quiet the brute simply concentrated on his breathing, listening to the filling and emptying of his lungs. It was while he did this that after some minutes he heard the crunching of another's pawsteps and the light cough from behind him, his golden orbs instantly opening though he still didn't move. He hoped that maybe whoever it was would assume him to be asleep, perhaps dead, and therefore leave him be. But it was not so, as the presence of the male wolf still persisted and lingered out of view. The elite still persevered on remaining in his false dead state until the other brute introduced himself. Jackle. The healer had known Creek, she had spoke of him having diagnosed her with her fatal condition and it was important for Eclipse to meet him. He had wanted to for a while now, he had questions that needed answering. Turning onto his stomach, he gathered his paws beneath him and pushed his weight up off the floor to raise himself into a seated position, simultaneously swivelling to face the unknown brute. As his rump settled on the ground a majority of the snowflakes that had covered his coat tumbled off his back and legs, making him seen clearly like a boulder in the snow. His eyes turned to Jackle's with a quiet acceptance in them, showing he was willing to listen to what words were to come from the healer. Watching as the white one lowered to rest beside him, he kept his ears perked to the kind voice, and silently appreciated the reassuring smile on the other's lips.

At the beginning of his tale there was not much that interested the dark wolf, for it was a recollection of his past and not relevant to what he wanted to know. He wanted reassurance that Creek had made the right decision, that she really had no other choice, that she hadn't lived nor died in pain. Nonetheless, the story was refreshing after receiving so many condolences and helped the elite to understand his acquaintance more. There was however a moment that caught his attention, as a gorgeous female was described and Eclipse could only think of one fae he knew to match. The more that was explained his eyes grew slightly wide with disbelief that this stranger knew was indeed one of his first and dearest friends. But he was in no mood to inquire further nor display much of his astonishment. He opened his maw slowly to try and voice his words, up but as it had been some time since his vocals had been put to use his voice came out low and hoarse. "I believe this Aurora is a fae I once knew, she had lived in these lands and was my unofficial mentor and first true friend. Yet another I have lost, I guess..." His eyes glazed over briefly as he thought, back to how things had been different in the days when she had accepted him. Life had seemed so good. Blinking, he returned to the present. "It's a small world. Don't worry, I don't mind. Thank you, Jackle. I'll try to keep those words in mind."

A slight nodding of his head followed, as if agreeing with himself that he should try and retain as much of the considerate words as he could. The kindness of others helped him to see hope when he was lost in the darkness of depression. Wind, snow and water from the falls gusted over them for a few seconds before simmering down again, Eclipse dropping his gaze to his paws and sitting rigid against the cold. He still listened to the white male as best he could, trying to concentrate on Jackle's voice over his own in his head. At the mention of Creek and how she had spoke of her family his eyes closed slowly, feeling a new sorrow from hearing her name aloud, he hadn't heard it since she had passed. The longing for her to be with him burned through his emotions, but gradually a small smile surfaced on his maw. It was heartwarming to hear how she had expressed how much she cared for her mate and pups to her friends. He felt so warm and elated inside that he could almost ignore the unfolding of how Jackle came to know Creek was ill and her death. Eclipse waited for the well-meaning brute to finish before raising his cracked voice once more. "Healer Jackle, I am glad to know you helped my mate by ensuring her you would help me after she was no longer here, and for what I imagine you assisted her throughout her illness. I cannot put into words how grateful I am to you for being a caring friend and healer to her when she needed it, and how you offer the same to me. I assure you, if I should ever need you for anything I will pay you a visit". The male reopened his eyes, dragging them away from the ground to be level with the pale male's face. "I'd like to know...Can you tell me what it was that ailed her and if she was in any serious pain. And how long did you know of her plans?" For a moment he held his breath, only to release it as he said in a quieter tone, "Was there really no hope for her to survive?" With eager eyes he looked to Jackle and dropped down onto his belly fur to lay level with him. Answers were needed to help him move on, yet he was nervous in anticipation for the truth.

Hearing his words, Eclipse could do nothing but listen quietly. He knew Creek had done the right thing, like a true healer she didn't want anyone to be in any pain. Yet still he felt pain over her loss, but not as deeply as he would have if his mate had died a long painful death. She had been released from her misery and he was coming to realize that one day he would too. Eventually he would see that the passing of his mate in no way lessened what had existed between them, that he could still love her even after death, and that he would find strength through the support of others and each rising of the sun to carry on and make his life something different, something whole and wonderful while still remembering and treasuring the fae he loved. Their bond would never be broken, even if it became the state of a frayed piece of string it would still always be there, tugging at his heart. He nodded slightly to Jackle, knowing that he may have made the brute uncomfortable, forcing his concerns and emotions at him so suddenly. Jackle had done well to remain professional and composed despite this, and shown Eclipse honesty.

For a few long moments he said nothing, staring quietly and stirring his tail over the snow in thought. But it was not sadness or grief that silenced him, but a sort of enlightenment that he couldn't keep on like he was. Jackle had helped him to see that this was inevitable. If it hadn't happened now it would have only happened months down the line. Now he had to picture a future without Creek, one that was his reality now. For now it would seem like a grim and unpleasant future without the one he loved, like a shadow of an object, his future would follow his past and be formed from the real thing but it wasn't, it was just cast by it. Nonetheless he would have to find a passion in something else, his job perhaps so he could fine fulfilment. Loving another fae at the moment was unimaginable, perhaps he would always feel that way. "Jackle, I welcome you as my friend and I thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with me, and for being blunt and truthful..." He looked to the white wolf, a gentle acceptance and new resilience in his gaze. "I fear through all my mourning I have abandoned my pups and I have lost them. It is not just losing her that has affected me, but I feel I have lost everything that mattered most to me. My mate, my pups, my happiness is all gone. Almost it is as if I have just joined the pack from the beginning, except from my promoted rank. My title and duty is all I have left." Eclipse sighed gently out of his brown nostrils, feeling a weight lifted now that he was speaking freely what he had longed to tell someone. "I don't know if it would ever be right to love someone again and find another mate. Definitely not anytime soon. But is it wrong to act as if your past never happened? I don't know how she'd feel about it..." A voice in his head told him he deserved to feel happy once again, but he could never do anything if he felt it would betray his love.