Disclaimer: I don't own anything. (Except perhaps the names and personalities of these characters)

Prologue

Shadow Wing was dead. Her long struggle with a deadly disease was finally over. Her mate, Shade, would have been relieved that she had finally passed away. That is, if it hadn't been for the egg.

The corpse was stretched beside the egg, having poured love on it until her very end. Shade sat nearby, tears flowing forth from his eyes, falling onto the egg. Yet, he thought only of his mate, who now flew in the eternal heavens.

Opening his eyes, he gazed down at the egg as though for the first time. "I will have to care for you now," he told it softly. He nuzzled it gently. "You are mine," he whispered.

Suddenly, he heard Night Claw, one of his mate's good friends. She was just outside of the den, announcing that she was coming in to check up on her friend. Her head poked in, yellow eyes glowing happily. "Hello?" she said.

"Quietly, Night Claw," Shade hushed. "Shadow Wing is asleep. It would be wise for you to go now."

"Okay," Night Claw whispered. "I'll come back later." With that, she was gone.

Shade gently licked Shadow Wing's head. "How I loathe leaving you," he whispered. "But, I must keep our child safe. I fly for our child's benefit and ours." He pressed his head against hers one last time before murmuring, "My love goes to you in the heavenly realms. I pray that we meet again soon." With these parting words, he took the egg softly in his jaws and left.