As the Night Falls (Ebony's Death)

[Ärï]

Ebony's black bulk shuddered as his coughs ripped themselves from his throat, leaving it dry and bloody. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken a deep breath without coughing. Everything burned and ached. His lungs felt like he had inhaled fire and his mouth tasted of blood. Each time Ebony forced himself to eat, he either choked or threw it up later. Nothing stayed down and his frame had begun loosing its mass and soon his ribs were easily visible. He had fled back to the senior springs to keep his sickness from the other wolves in the pack that had taken him in. Now however, he could feel his hour coming and his heart ticking out its last beats.

"Riege" Ebony rasped. "Help me walk."

Obediant, the former Yozoran, helped the senior to his paws. In his eyes, Ebony had been something like an adopting father, taking him in when the Yozorans ignored him. Then bringing him to the Sheerans when they both left after an unfair battle. Slowly the pair made their way from the seniors area. When they neared the camp clearing, Ebony sank to the ground again and Riege stood next to him, eyes sad.

Ebony's eyes found the sunset. The sky was turning dark, a few stars speckling the canvas of the night sky already. A band of pink told them where the sun still tried to hold on to its grip on the sky. "Ahh...I always loved sunsets" Ebony murmured.

More coughing cut off his scentence and sealing his fate.

When the last rays of sunlight sank away from the camp, Riege sat back on his hunches and bowed his head over the limp black senior. A tear ran down his muzzle, falling into Ebony's graying fur.