Sacred Phoenix

Phoenix sat near the heap of misshapen rocks that her son's crumpled carcass lay beneath. She bowed her head, tears stinging her eyes terribly. "I'm sorry, Quiver. A mother should never lose track of her pups, not the way I lost track of you." She continued to weep, not noticing when her mate, Solly, stood next to her. "My love," he started, "it is not your fault. We could not have known that illness would strike him so suddenly." Phoenix turned her face into Solly's shoulder and sobbed. Oh, how she wished her mother were there. She would know what to say, what to do. Alpha Twilight was her mentor, but she was gone now.