AN: Sorry it took so long. My inspiration went on vacation.
Epilogue
Ylva could not stop the tears. She made no sound. The salty droplets coursed down her face, gathering into larger droplets for a moment at the corners of her mouth before rolling down her chin and landing in her hands. She closed her eyes against the harsh daylight streaming into the hospital ward. It didn't seem right. Why should the sun still rise when her world had been turned ashen?
A shadow eclipsed the window. Connor stood there, staring blankly out at the morning. Ylva turned her gaze back to her moist hands. She could not look at the bed. Every time she did, the memories ran raw through her mind.
The wolf fled into the forest and Connor called to her. Instantly she was at his side, although she could not remember how she had got there. Her baby lay, his head in his father's lap. One arm was dangling at a sickening angle and the wounds still bled. But he was moving.
He twitched, first his arm, then a leg. Within moments he was shaking, his body spasming out of control. Ylva sobbed again and reached down to take her baby's hand, but Conner slapped her away. Gently, he lay Remus' head back on the ground, stood, and stepped back. Ylva stared at him for a moment in disbelief, and then made to kneel and take his place. Conner grabbed her shoulder roughly and pulled her back. Mutely, he pointed.
Through one of the last small gaps in the thick cloud, Ylva saw the full moon shining merrily. A low growl hissed up from the ground. It was so soft, at first Ylva thought she had imagined it. But when it came again, she had to look.
The creature before her was barely recognisable as her son. The pajamas were already tearing away in tatters as his legs shortened, the claws catching on the hems. He stood now, low to the ground, on three paws. Even as Ylva watched, the last vestiges of humanity vanished. The almond eyes snapped open and flashed yellow.
Only the wounds remained. Ylva could see the fresh wounds on the snout, and the broken forepaw was obviously useless. She stared in fascinated horror, and only when the worf cub started toward her did she realise Connor was trying to pull her back.
Too late. The cub leapt at her. In a flash, Connor was in front of her, kicking at the cub's lame leg. He struck home, and a yelp of pain escaped the creature, accompanied by a sob from Ylva. Her boy. Her baby boy...
"Don't Connor!" She screamed, "Come away!" It was she who pulled him now. But it hardly mattered. The cub had fled into the forest. Ylva bolted up the path and did not stop until she had flung herself on her bed. She heard the heavy bolt slide home on the front door behind her.
My son is lost...
My son is dead...
The harsh sound of a man clearing his throat broke Ylva's tortured reverie. Her head shot up and her eyes snapped open. She caught a brief sight of the twisted body on the bed before she looked away, meeting the man's eyes. He was a healer. She recognised him. He was the one who had ensured a private ward when they had arrived only two hours ago. Although she knew he had done it rather to shelter other patients than for Remus' own piece of mind, Ylva was still grateful. She did not want this to become a public affair.
"What is it?" Connor's voice. She did not know what to think of him. His son had been injured, and Connor had kicked him. And yet it had been Connor who strode into the forest alone this morning and found him. Connor who had taken Remus through floo to St Mungo's, saving Ylva the grief, "Well?"
"I'm sorry." The healer spoke only those words, before looking down at his shoes. Pain exploded in Ylva's mouth, but it was nothing to the burning in her throat. Tears welled once more and sobs broke out afresh.
My son is dying...
My son is dying
"My son is dead..."
"Oh no Ma'am, he will live," The healer was looking at her again. It took these words for Ylva to realise she had said the last sentence alloud, "He's very lucky, ma'am. Few his age have ever survived. But he will live. He will just..." The voice trailed off.
My son is dead to me...
Without a word, Ylva stood and walked away.
End