Hospitals, they had never been a favorite place for Eryan, though that was something that could be said for anyone save for a few special individuals who enjoyed being poked and prodded for medical means. Those people were sick in the head, a few cards short of a full deck and she tried to stay away from them if it could be helped.  Their unnatural presence seemed to bother the wolf more than anything else, more so than if she were just a human.<br/><br/>It was likely the amount death that clung to the air and the general unnaturally sanitized scent that caused her the most discomfort. Those were both things that wolves wanted to avoid, wanted to stay away from and so the fact that she was there now showed just how important it was for her presence to be there. The steady beep that droned on from the machine beside his bed was nearly in sync with the robotic breathing that filled the room.<br/><br/>Cancer, the final stages had been rough on her father, already a stubborn man he refused to allow something as small as “cancer” defeat him. Test after test, round after round of chemo and finally his body gave out. It was a hard battle, but now it was over.<br/><br/>A hand came to rest upon her shoulder and she knew it to be her mother’s without even a glance. The weight of the hand was familiar enough that she knew who it was by that alone, mix in her scent and there was no doubt.<br/><br/>“How you holding up?”<br/><br/>Even when she could just about feel her mother’s own heart breaking, the woman was there trying to comfort her; such was the love and strength of a mother.<br/><br/>“About as good as you are,” she remarked with a small smile and turned to wrap her arms about her mother’s waist to pull the smaller woman into a gentle hug.<br/><br/>“I never get over how warm you are compared to everyone else,” her mother whispered to her with just a bit of humor. “It is like hugging laundry fresh out of the dryer, but you know more dog smell,” the jab enough that both gave in to a bit of laughter. When it died down they both looked at the man who had been at the center of their lives for so long, it all felt empty without him. “You ready?” she asked, amongst silent tears that journeyed down her cheeks.<br/><br/>“Yeah, but you know that I can do this alone, right? No need for you to be here too…” Eryan offered her mother again.<br/><br/>“You know damn well he would not want that,” now a smile of courage and life took hold before she nodded a final time to her daughter.<br/><br/>Eryan took a slow and shaky breath before she went to stand at her father’s bedside. The figure that lay there beneath the sheets barely looked human for how much the disease had taken its toll. A final tear rolled down her cheek, as she bent down and gave him one final kiss on his forehead. “May spirits of those who went before you guide you to a place of rest and peace…” a pause as she choked back a sob. “I love you Daddy…” then doing as the doctors showed her, she shut down the machines that kept him alive. The steady beeping of the machine turned to one long beep that eventually just stopped all together.<br/><br/>The coming weeks was spent helping her mother get everything in order, making sure the ranch still ran like it always did and the final arrangements for her father’s body were made. Cremation had always been his wish and she even got a<a class="postlink" href="http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/1136852/Tressa-Sterling-Silver-Horseshoe-Ring-P1013557.jpg">ring</a>made with some of his ashes mixed into the metal. This way he would always be there with her, not matter how far from home she may get.<br/><br/>Though she would have stayed longer, it was her mother that prompted her to go on and get back to the pack.<br/><br/>“I am sure they are missing you and want to know how you are doing,” she remarked one day over breakfast.  “Besides, the farmhands don’t care too much for how you been eyeing them lately, we all know what time is coming up and I would rather you be around those who can handle that…rough side of you,” the twinkle of humor in her eyes match the one that was held in her smirk, though that one disappeared behind her mug of coffee.<br/><br/>One tearful goodbye later and she was on a plane heading back to familiar grounds. A message had been left on Sherman’s cell to meet her at the bus station and she had no reason to doubt he would not be there waiting. He always was. So, it was quite the shock when she stepped off the bus and he was nowhere in sight. The sense of unease that the wolf felt did not help either, everything felt wrong and just off. The large duffle bag she brought was shouldered and she began her trek into the woods toward home. The moment she was sure to be on their territory, she threw back her head and howled to alert the others she was home.<br/><br/>-----------------<br/><br/>While the rest of the pack had this dark and brooding attitude, which was to be expected, Eidhin was blessed with the ability to push pass it all. He and the wolf came to a decision on some level that they were not going to dwell and try their hardest to make the best for themselves and the rest of the pack. Thus, his dreams had been just dreams no haunting nightmares and as usual he slept and slept well. Deep in the reaches of his mind he could feel the others, he always felt them. Felt their worry, their pain and their fatigue at the lack of sleep they have been suffering with.<br/><br/>As per the usual time, his<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk5vRoc0_nk">alarm</a>went off and the cave was filled with his odd choice for morning music and his large yawn.  He grabbed his shorts and pulled them on; all while he hummed along to the song.  Eyes still half lidded for sleep had yet to be fully chased from his eyes; he grabbed up his toothbrush, some toothpaste and headed out of the cave; passing grunts given to those about the fire within the cave. The smell of fresh blood and cooked meat made his stomach grumble though he ignored it for the moment.<br/><br/>Outside he spotted a few of the others, one of which he took a detour over just so that he could bend and kiss the top of her head. After that he disappeared into the woods for a bit to take tend to his teeth and tend to other duties. As he brushed he would sing in between the action; loud and off key.<br/><br/>“Show me your teeth! Show me your teeth!”<br/><br/>That done he returned to Eilidh, Aidan and Cade. A look to Aidan and the passing comment that he heard from Eilidh made him snicker, “Looks like she took a dip in the pool.” His arm draped over E’s shoulder and he pulled her in closer and just enjoyed the closeness for the moment. More than the others he could feel her pain and physical fatigue. He could only hope that she could pull some strength from him and not have to suffer so much; he hoped at least.<br/><br/>----------<br/><br/>In answer to Cade she gave a yip of greeting and trotted over to the other female for brief nuzzle on her leg. Then she continued on to the fire that she saw E had started for her, which she figured she would also have to explain about her current condition. A topic that she would rather not share, at least not until her pride had a time to heal. Already she could tell that most of the pack was up, there was even fresh meat being prepared. Either everyone was really eager to be up and at them, or like her, many of them suffered with an inability to stay asleep. Whatever their reasons, it was nice to see them up and at it together as a pack.<br/><br/>While she settled in beside the fire she heard the comment she had been expecting from Eilidh. Aidan only sighed and snorted, * It would be nice if someone were to fetch me change of clothes…* she shared through the pack’s bond to those gathered around her. While she did not mind being in her wolf form and the fire helped to some degree, when she shifted back it would be nice to have some fresh clothes waiting.