CW: Themes of grief and mourning.
Borealis, Vulpix Kyukon Keo’Keo X
This tombstone is erected
In affectionate and grateful remembrance of
Queen Kyukon the Magnanimous
Who hast been a guidance at the service of Borealis
For 109 Years
May her soul reach the Twilight and her glorious light shine on her family forevermore.
No matter how many times he read those engraved words on that azure tombstone, Keo’Keo X’s heart would not stop aching and squeezing. Sorrowful tears fell on the intricate snowdrop patterns, with froze instantly as soon as they reached the frigid cold surface.
“Why did thou perish, Mother?” whimpered the Vulpix, his spirit wracked in minuscule pieces. “Thou were such a sweet mother and such a graceful leader. Thou did not deserve this.” He sobbed some more and rubbed his nostrils. “What will I do without thee…?”
Keo’Keo X stayed silent for a long time, a part of him wishing that his mother could just answer him. But nothing. Only winter wind.
“I miss thee, Mother…”
Once again he paused, and once again there was no answer. But then, he heard someone plodding through the snow. He turned around to see one of his older sisters approach: Keo’Keo V, the Healer Vulpix.
“Tenth! Oh, praise the heavens! I finally found thee!” she exclaimed, rushing toward him and shooting a concerned expression. “Dost thou know how long I have been searching thee? I… I believed thou would have done something foolish!”
“…Apologies, Fifth,” he responded, his ears drooped and his tails wrapped around his body. “I did not mean to alarm thee…”
Fifth leaned closer and glared at her youngest brother. “Dost not do this ever again! I do not know what I would do if thee…” She froze, not wanting to entertain that thought any longer, and shook her head. “Well, at least I found thee.”
Tenth nodded absentmindedly, before turning to the grave. Fifth followed his gaze and frowned. That resting place was a blaring reminder of who she lost, too.
“I still cannot believe she is gone…” she said quietly, before walking by Tenth’s side and embracing the smaller Vulpix with her tails. “Poisoning. Who could have done such an atrocious act?”
Tenth sighed and looked at the snow. “I do not know. I fail to comprehend who could brew foul intentions toward Mother. She was… such a pure being.”
“Yes, but this is evidence that even the purest entities have their specters wishing their demise.”
“…It seems like it.”
The two siblings stayed silent for some time to pay respect to the defunct. Tenth cuddled against his sister, seeking for her comfort. The older Vulpix glanced at her brother — it was time for the Healer to be of help.
“…Mother would not have wished for thee to continue mourning her. She would have wanted thee to move on, to continue thy path and become a Ninetales some day,” she pointed out, holding her brother closer. “Wasting thy life seeking the dead will not honor their last wishes for us to persevere.”
“…It aches, sister,” he responded, before sniffling. “It aches so much…”
“I know. Though, perhaps it is a good advice to remind ourselves what she used to tell us.”
Tenth looked at his sister, wondering what of their mother’s teachings she was referencing. She quickly followed up with the answer.
“Life is not eternal, and some of us traverse the twilight earlier than their peers. That does not make their lives meaningless, however. If all, we should carry and treasure the shards they leave behind, so that thy path will shine the brightest,” she recited with a calm voice, trying to give the encouragement to herself, too. Then, she looked at the sky. “Comets. We all become comets once we pass to the next plane. Keep looking at the sky for any comet and, perhaps, if thou spot one, the soul will observe thee from the Twilight.”
Tenth listened intently to his sister’s words — she sounded exactly like Mother, albeit much younger, with the same comforting tone. The small Vulpix turned to the dark blue sky, and then a comet raced across it. His eyes widened and his tails wagged.
“M-Mother?”
Tenth looked all over the sky, trying to spot the comet once more. While he was disappointed that he couldn’t see it anymore, his heart seemed to have become much lighter.
“Told thee. She is watching us.” Another embrace, which was reciprocated by the little brother. “She will be always watching us and giving us strength from the Twilight…”
Cibus, Ninetales Kyukon Keo’Keo X
Icetales’s paws were dirty after digging for so long. Funerals were not his specialty, but he didn’t want to concern anyone by asking them to bury graves for him. Also, he didn’t want to burden his comrades with an extra weight. They were suffering enough as is.
The Ninetales took a step back: seven holes for seven comrades. A mournful sigh escaped his throat, but he quickly shook his head. No, he couldn’t let his emotions take control of him. He turned around to look at Petram, who was holding a small bag in his paws.
“So, huh, are we really gonna do that?” asked Petram, tilting his head and clutching the bag. Something about performing that action made him jittery.
“Yes. I must do this. This is my way to honor them, and help them find their way to the Twilight,” answered Icetales, before taking a step toward the spectral Vulpix. “Did thou do as I told?”
Petram nodded. “Mhm. I got everything from everyone’s room,” he said and extended the little bag. “You can check, if you want.”
Icetales was quick to grab it and drop the contents to the floor.
A tuft from Brisa.
A scale from Cabot.
A petal from Cynthian.
A tuft from Dave.
A tuft from Nip.
A scale from Owen.
A piece of wax from Vix.
“Most marvelous job, Petram,” said Icetales, even if there was no enthusiasm in his voice. He collected those last remains of his comrades in his tails and turned to the holes. “Time for the deed.”
One by one, the seven mementos were dropped into the graves, which were filled with the extracted earth. Then, Icetales turned to a box placed under a tree and opened it to unveil its contents: seven shining swords.
“A knight ritual for seven mighty warriors…” muttered the Ninetales, before taking the seven swords in seven of his tails. He returned to the buried mementos and plunged the swords into the soil. “This… is the least I can do.”
Icetales took a few steps back and slumped in his haunches, fatigued and still emotionally stressed out. Petram waddled by his side and snuggled into his fur, making sure that no dark thoughts clawed at his father’s mind.
“Do you… think they’re watching us from the Twilight?” asked the Shade, wrapping his paws around one of Icetales’s forepaws.
Icetales didn’t answer at first and looked at the dark sky. He stared at it for quite some time, and then a comet raced in front of him. His eyes widened and a small smile spread across his face. It was something very small, but that meant a lot for the Ninetales and he wished to spread that small message to the surviving comrades, too.
“Yes, Petram.”
A small gust blew across the forest and the two foxes hugged each other.
“I believe they are…”
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