Celtis

(Cedar: link)

Celtis often came off as rude or stoic, but mainly he was mourning. Cedar was his best friend, his partner in crime. They did everything together, but now she was gone. All because they snuck away from their pupsitters one night to frolic by the lake. But, neither of them anticipated the events that would closely follow. As Cedar was bouncing in the water, her ankle got caught in a tendril of spiky seaweed. She thrashed and pulled, but she seemed to only sink deeper in the lake. By the time Celtis reached her, she was already gone, her tiny lungs flooded with murky water and Celtis screamed as loud as he could after he dragged her limp body from the lake by her scruff. He panted and screamed some more before Fox, a novice pupsitter, came sprinting for the two pups. He crouched low and sniffed at Cedar's body before looking over his shoulder and shaking his head tragically, his ears flat against his head. Moonlight choked back tears and shoved her face into Sunny's shoulder, her body wracking with sobs. But, no one's heart was as heavy as Celtis, for his had sunk all the way to the bottom of his paws, filling his veins with lead until he couldn't move, not even to walk away. His eyes were trained on Cedar's lifeless ones, the pungent scent of death plunging into his nostrils and down his throat. Cedar, he thought mournfully, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.