The Death of a Spirit

-or-

The Birth of a Mother

Let me tell you a story, Sol.

Once there was a Fast Biter who praised loyalty above all else- loyalty to her leaders, loyalty to her pack, loyalty to the ways of her kind. Her pack was close, practically family- each one had a name that made up something greater- each one, a part of the whole.

Her name was Rear, and she stood at the back, trusted with the lives of her pack.

This was a name, and a place.

Her name was defined by the role she took in the hunt. While others moved in for the kill, her duty was to guard them, and protect them from the unexpected. With her friends, Right, Left, and Alpha, she partook in many a successful hunt, even saving the others, true to her place.

And thusly, her name.

But, during one hunt, she found that she could not save one of her own. In the chaos of the moment, Right was lost. Alpha and Left sought vengeance. Rear sought loyalty. They chose to avenge their fallen brother, and so she followed. One by one, that vengeance cost them their lives, and in the end, it solved nothing. The Clubtail responsible for Right's death was dead; sick, injured, beyond use to any Sharptooth. A waste. The pack was gone, only one remained.

Her name was Rear, and she stood at the back of nothing, to never be trusted again.

This was a name, but it held no place anymore.

Without a place, she had no purpose, no reason to continue living, so as the Clubtail lay dying, and she saw his herd fleeing pursued by the kin that no longer accepted her, Rear only knew one more way to regain her place.

She followed them, protecting and helping them as best she could, but she could not rid herself of the memories; the times she had shared with her pack. That life was gone now, but its presence haunted her, urging her to find her new place.

I am Rear.

That is my name, and this is my place.

Without this place, my life has no meaning. I will fade away, as the bodies of the dead fade into the earth.

So I will continue to follow, to protect, to educate, to do what I can to regain any shred of who I used to be. And I will do anything in my power to ensure you and your friends reach your goal safely. That is my purpose, the reason for my name.

And beside you- beside them? That is my new place.

Book III: Wanderer's Legacy

Hello again! I've been taking time to read some other fanfics- something which I will be continuing to do once this is posted, but I had to get this little prologue for book 3 out first! Something I should point out before I start yammering on about pointless stuff- there is a retcon incoming, which should go into effect later today. I will be changing Tzatl's decision to follow the herd as they make their way to the Great Valley to one in which he decides to fly ahead and see if they arrive. This was brought to my attention by a reader, and I think it's much more in tune with his character.

Now, as for the little prologue you just read, I think it's pretty clear what event it details. Don't worry- that particular confrontation deserves far more justice than 450 words, and it is a confrontation you'll get to see firsthand very soon.

And finally, I'm happy to announce that if you've made it this far, you've made it to the halfway point! Yaaaaaay! It's all downhill from here (hopefully in a good way, rather than in a trainwreck sort of way). But seriously- thanks for sticking through this with me. We're on our way to the finish line now, and I've got good feelings about what's to come.

So, in keeping with this festive time of year:

Oh the Valley tales are frightful,

And the Scar is not delightful,

But since Fyn's dad told him so,

Let us go, let us go, let us go!

What a dreadfully cheesy way to end an author's note, but I'm sitting here wrapped in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and Christmas music playing on the radio. I can hardly help myself. Have a good one, everyone, and see you soon!