A fine sheen of sweat glistened over Eilidh’s shivering form as consciousness suddenly gripped her, forcibly jolting her awake from the nightmare that she’d been trapped within for the duration of her night.<br/><br/>And each night prior since the attack.<br/><br/>Hand reaching up, it pushed back at the strands of hair caught on her forehead, chest heaving while she struggled to catch her breath, to push the images out of her mind yet again. How vividly she’d seen them, felt them, heard them. Each night, she relived the terror that’d taken their alpha from them, that had lessened their ranks and killed those she’d come to know as family. Each morning, she awoke from a restless sleep, saying a silent prayer that they’d survived the night and hadn’t been claimed by the Claws in a second attempt to end their lives. Another prayer was said shortly thereafter to thank God that Eidhin had, too, survived.<br/><br/>This was her schedule each morning. Nightmares, memories, that she couldn’t escape assaulting her unconscious mind and then the several prayers after when she awoke. Sure it may not have made sense to some, that she would cling so desperately to a religion with practices that could have killed her after it came to light what she was…but she needed it. She needed to hold tight to traditions and what she’d grown up with. In a world that was changing around her, the peace of faith was what kept her from throwing in the towel and saying that, after everything they’d been through and survived, it wasn’t worth it.<br/><br/>A quick glance over at Eidhin to reaffirm that he was alright, and breathing, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.<br/><br/>Eidhin had been her one constant throughout the entirety of this life. He’d been the one to change her, to bring her into this life, but he was also the first to be completely honest with her. He’d been the one to teach her about what she was, about how to embrace it. How to feel the pain and accept it, to work through it until she and the wolf had become one. He’d also been the first to tell her that they weren’t siblings…and had been there to save her from their father’s crazed conclusion that it was demon taking her over.<br/><br/>The same thought he’d had when Eidhin had changed in his eighteenth year.<br/><br/>Pressing a soft kiss into his cheek, she crawled out of the fur bedding. Snagging one of various sweaters she had brought with her, she hugged it about her form tightly, a hand brushing through her dark hair to shake out any of the tangles. Then, a quick stop at the fire with a nod in silent greeting to the pair around it, she warmed up before departing into the cold. Something about how vivid the memory had been this time around had her needing fresh air before she could pray. Everything about the den felt stifling…and cold…despite the blood she swore she could still see soaking into the floor.<br/><br/>That night had changed Eilidh, as much as she didn’t want to admit it. It was a change that couldn’t be anticipated (as the attack itself hadn’t been), but was expected. Even as she prayed, the doubt that had been in her mind was looming, a dark presence she couldn’t shake. That night had called into question her faith and the very thing she’d lived by: God’s Will. “It wouldn’t happen if it weren’t meant to,” one of the ways she’d often explain things away. …But there was no way to explain away the deaths of those she’d come to hold so close, so dear. There was no way to explain the constant fear that the others would fall to similar fates…<br/><br/>How could such an act have been deemed necessary by God? What could have been so wrong that they needed to die?<br/><br/>The smell of wet dog overwhelmed her when she stepped outside, eyes sweeping the area for the source and spotting a dripping Aidan, brow quirking up; There was one that she constantly worried over. Eilidh considered her someone she could confide in, considered her one of her closest friends and the thought of losing her physically hurt.<br/><br/>Now, just seeing her had her cold, leading her to get a fire started. It was a quiet labor, making sure she didn’t disturb those that still managed to sleep as the light began to crest over the mountains surrounding them. Only when the dripping figure got close did she speak. “…Dare I ask what happened?” E started, tone cautious and voice quiet, glancing up and regarding her over the flickering warmth before her.