It has been three days since Silver was murdered. Mom and dad have been helping with the kits. Ever since I found him, I have been depressed. I'm not eating. The only times that I sleep are when Taisley and my parents force me to. I really rather not sleep, though. What I never told anyone is just how traumatic Silver's death was. I keep having nightmares about it. I feel that I should've been able to stop it somehow. This is why, every time someone tries to get me to sleep, I resist. I hate the nightmares.
This time, though, I have no choice but to sleep. That is basically because I have overexerted myself by staying awake. I collapse outside when I am talking to dad. Thankfully, he catches me. "Alright. I think you've stayed up long enough. Let's get ya ta yer nest," dad helps me up.
"No! I don't wanna sleep!" I shout.
"Why no'? Yer exhausted, so I don't think it's because ya can't sleep. Please tell me," dad pries.
"I…I just…I've been havin' nightmares, alright!" I growl.
"I see. Wot are they 'bout?" Dad asks.
"I…I don't wanna talk 'bout 't…" I mumble.
"I understand. Just please, get some rest. Ya need 't. I'll stay near ya so ya won't be alone if ya 'ave another nightmare," dad puts a paw on my shoulder.
I nod my head. "Alright," I sigh. Dad leads me over to the nest. I curl up next to the sleeping forms of Taisley and the kits. I close my eye. I fall asleep to the feel of dad's paw on my head. As I sleep, I dream yet again.
I find myself in a forest. Not just any forest. I find myself in the same forest where Silver was murdered. I see his lifeless body there. I sit by his side. I feel tears rolling down from my left eye. I see something strange happen. I see his spirit rise up from his body. His spirit turns to me. "Yer th' one that let me die, dad! Why'd ya let me die?" My son growls.
"No, Silver! I…I didn't mean ta let ya die! Please forgive me!" I yowl.
"Nevah! Ya don't deserve forgiveness! Yer no' my fathah anymore!" Silver yells. He fades away. I am left alone, sitting there, with tears streaming freely from my left eye.
I bolt up out of my nest with a shriek. I'm shaking and breathing heavily. I know from their breathing that my nightmare didn't wake Taisley or the kits. I jump when I feel a paw on my right shoulder. I look to see dad sitting next to me with worry in his eyes. "Wot's wrong? Was 't a nightmare?" Dad asks.
I slowly nod my head. "Y…yes…" I mumble.
"Now do ya want ta talk 'bout 't?" Dad asks.
I sigh in defeat. "I…I saw Silver. 'e…'e was blamin' me fer 'is death…" I shiver slightly. Tears are pooling in my left eye.
Dad takes me into his arms. "Go ahead an' cry. Ya don't 'ave ta keep yer feelings inside like ya 'ave been. Just let 't out," dad tries to soothe me.
I bury my face into his fur as I begin sobbing. I feel dad's paw stroking my head fur as I continue to cry. Thankfully, my sobs are muffled by his fur. Taisley and the kits remain asleep. After awhile, my sobs turn into whimpers. Dad keeps stroking my head fur until my whimpers, too, subside.
I break away from dad. I wipe my eye free of the tears. "Thanks. 'm…'m sorry…I should be stronger than this…" I mumble.
"Buck, crying doesn't make ya weak. Th' strong are those that don't 'ide their feelings," dad pats my shoulder.
I nod my head. I curl back up. I decide to try to get more sleep, even though I fear those nightmares. I close my eye and fall asleep, confident that I'm never alone. However, this time, I dream again. Unlike last time, the dream is much different:
I find myself in the clearing where Taisley told me of her pregnancy. A branch snaps behind me. I turn around. I'm surprised to see the same girl that appeared to me when I first lost my eye. "Wot are ya doin' here?" I ask.
"I came to warn you. You are right about your son's death. It was no accident. The one that killed him is tied to your family. Watch your siblings extra close. I assure you, it is one of them. Be careful. Protect your mate and your children. As for Whisper, there's a reason I appeared to you all those years ago. She has a special gift that she will reveal in time. Go, now. Stay safe." The girl says. She and our surroundings begin to fade away.
I groan as I wake up. I see dad sitting across the cave from me. "Dad, I…I 'ave somethin' ta tell ya," I start.
"Wot is 't?" Dad asks.
"Some years ago, when I first lost my eye, I saw a girl in a dream. I just saw 'er again. She told me that one of my siblings killed Silver. I think 't was Thomas, since 'e nevah liked me, but I need proof. Do ya know where 'e was at that time?" I ask.
"No. All I know is that 'e wasn't in th' cave. Do ya really think that 'e killed Silver?" Dad asks.
"I 'ave no doubt. Where is 'e?" I ask.
"He's in th' village right now wi' Marie. I'll go wi' ya ta bring 'im here. We'll question 'im an' find th' truth," dad suggests.
I nod my head. "Alright." I agree. We head off to the village to confront my brother and find the truth.
We don't find Thomas in the village, so we head off towards the clearing. That's where we find him When I see Thomas there, I growl. Thomas looks up. When he sees my face, he knows that I know. "I see ya figured 't out. Well, it's too late now. Yer son is dead!" Thomas begins to laugh.
I snarl at him. "Silver's no' th' only one who's dead. When 'm through wi' ya, you'll wish ya were dead!" I flex my claws.
However, I'm not the first one to move. Thomas lunges at me. I feel his claws rake down my side. I growl. I roll him over and begin biting and scratching him. Thomas bites down, hard, into my right shoulder. I yowl from the pain. I bite Thomas' right ear. I tear half of it off in my rage. Thomas yowls and jumps away from me. He darts off. I get up and chase after him on all fours. I see him off. "An' stay away from my family, murderer!" I shout. I turn around and head back to the clearing.
When I get there, I see dad waiting for me. Mom is also there. "So…wot 'appened?" Mom asks.
"I beat 'im an' chased 'im off. 'e shouldn't be botherin' us again," I answer. I wince at the pain coming from my scratches and bite marks. I can feel the blood oozing from my wounds.
"Are ya alright? You were injured, after all," dad inquires.
"'m fine. I just need ta take care of my scratches an' bite marks. I'll be 'kay, though. Don't worry. Um…can ya 'elp me? I can do 't myself, but I need ta do 't before I go back. I don' want Tais ta worry 'bout me," I explain.
"It's no problem, Buck. I'll get some herbs," mom replies. She heads off.
Mom returns with a bundle of herbs in her paws. She crushes some dock leaves. Mom puts the leaf juice over my scratches and bite marks. I yelp when I feel the stinging sensation of the herbs. "Sorry," mom whispers.
"It's fine," I groan. Mom crushes some Marigold and rubs the juice from that into my wounds. I flinch away with the pain. "Are ya done yet?" I whimper and groan from the pain.
"Yes. 'm sorry I 'urt ya when I put th' herbs on yer injuries," mom apologizes.
"No. It's no' yer fault," I assure her.
"Maybe we should start heading back," dad suggests.
"'kay," I agree. We turn away from the bloodstained clearing and begin heading back.
When we get there, Taisley is waiting for me outside. She's surprised by my disheveled appearance. "What happened?" Taisley gasps.
"Tais…I found out who th' murderer was. Dad came wi' ta confront 'im. Th' murderer was Thomas. I fought 'im an' drove 'im off. That's why 'm injured. Mom showed up after I was done givin' Thomas a beating," I explain.
"Oh! Well…you should get some sleep, then. The kits are asleep. You were injured. Plus…I can give you a little incentive…" Taisley playfully tweaks my ear.
"Tais, please! Th' kits are inside!" I laugh.
"Oh all right! You never let me have any fun!" Taisley whines.
I laugh again. "Come on. Let's get some sleep." We head into the cave. We lay down on our nest next to the kits. I lean over towards Taisley's ear. "As soon as th' kits are old enough, we'll need ta get them their own nests. Then, maybe, we'll get some alone time." I whisper. I flick her ear.
"Yeah. Maybe…" Taisley giggles before she drifts off. I close my own eye. I fall asleep, confident that we won't have to deal with Thomas anymore.