Confessions
Chapter 25
NOT MINE!
This is one of my favirote chapters in the whole story!
Oh good timing, this is the half-way point in this story.
I hope you enjoy it.

"Aster? Who's that?" Jack asked, coming up behind Aster.

"This is Gavin. He...he was my mate," Aster said, showing Jack the picture.

"Did Pitch...?"

"Yeah, he fought so hard, trying to protect our burrow, our kits..." Aster said, the image of Gavin's last moments filling his mind. "He was so weak, but he fought so hard," his voice was cracking, tears filling his eyes. "I almost saved them. I had gone out to see what was going on...and when I got back...I saw...I saw Pitch standing there, standing over him. I thought he was there to help, I thought he was still Koz. He was covered in blood, and he...he turned around and I saw his eyes. Cold, and hard, and unforgiving, and I knew...I knew he had killed Gavin.

"I attacked him with everything I had. But I was angry and my rage made me sloppy. He was able to defeat me and he tied me up. And...and he made me watch as he murdered the kits. They were only two days old, and he killed them.

"He left me tied there. Manny led Sandy to me and he untied me. I cried for four days solid, when I wasn't unconsius.

"I burried them on the fith day. It took a whole month to gather and bury all the bodies. Everytime I closed my eyes I saw my family, my friends. I was blinded by grief. I threw myself into Easter, kept to myself, avoided others unless absloutly nessacary. Then I met you and everything was brighter."

"What were their names?" Jack asked softly, resting his head on Aster's shoulders.

"They didn't have any. Pookas don't name their children until they're a week old. They were so young...I can barely remember them now," Aster said, crying freely.

"What did they look like?" Jack asked, rubbing soothing circles on Aster's back.

"There was a doe and two bucks. The doe was white, just like Gavin. The older buck looked like me, same coloring, same markings. The younger was black. Pure black," Aster said.

Jack didn't say anything for a moment, "I love you Aster," he said finally.

"I love you too Jack," Aster said, kissing the top of Jack's head.