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Patrick is kneeling at Annie's grave, murmuring sofly as tears fall down
his cheeks.
Burial Mounds
This wide clearing in the midst of short, dark pines is obviously a
burial ground of some sort. The air is a bit cooler up here in the
foothills than below, and the majestic peaks of the nearby mountains
rear up over the eastern treetops. There seem to be two separate areas
of burial mounds, a large group on the far eastern edge of the
clearing, and a smaller group closer to the entry trail on the west
side. Each mound has a small flat stone inset in its surface, carved
with a name and three glyphs. The air is preternaturally silent and
somewhat eerie.
A faint path leading downhill to the west is the only exit from the
clearing.
Swipes surveys the graves of fallen heroes with a strange look in her
eyes, watching the dying flames of Brutus' pyre.
Patrick sniffs a couple of times, still muttering something at the
mound.
Swipes suddenly comes to a decision, and lets rumble a broad, eerie
wolfsong of tribute to Red-Eye's pyre.
Patrick spins in surprise, half-trying to stand, then falling backwards
as his legs refuse to support him at that odd angle. His face
registers sorrow and confusion, and some large degree of surprise, as
well.
Patrick says "Wha ... damn. Umm ... don't mind me. I'll just fade back into
the woodwork...."
Swipes goes silent eventually, and nods at him gravely.
Swipes inclines her muzzle to Patrick. Honor to thy Fallen. Good
evening.
Swipes fades back into the forest.
Patrick turns back around, rather self-consciously, and begins muttering
again.
Patrick sniffs, saying aloud, "You gave yours to Branchsplitter, Annie.
In your memory, here's mine." He pulls a small pendant out of his
jacket pocket, digs a small hole in the mound, and places the pendant
within, covering it back up.
Patrick bites his lower lip as he looks over the mound again. He
swallows before saying, "Hope you can rest better, now, Annie Ceyla
Jumps-Fences. The bastards are dead. Crossing isn't the same without
you." He sniffles as the tears continue falling unnoticed down his
face. "Thanks for everything. For the fun, for the fights, for
Branchsplitter's name...." He fades off and chuckles through his
tears, obviously quoting, "That's one damn BIG raccoon...."
Patrick's chuckle turns into a full-fledged cry as he loses the last
vestiges of control and releases the emotions pent up for months,
putting his head down in the dirt of the mound as the tears flow
freely.
Slowly, the outright crying fades to a slower sobbing, as emotions are
released and control is regained. Patrick lifts his head to look again
at the grave marker through eyes blurred by flowing tears.
Patrick sniffles a few times, finally wiping the tears from his face
with his hands. He coninues looking at the marker, though, seemingly
imprinting it into his mind.
Patrick finally climbs back to his feet unsteadily, favoring his right
leg. "Good bye, Annie. Andrea wants to do it formally in a coupla
days, but I thought I'd say bye alone first." He smiles, somewhat
lopsidedly. "Schoolmates and all." He sniffs once more, before his
tone grows formal, "Farewell, Annie Ceyla Jumps-Fences. Your pack
mourns your loss, and rejoices at your avenging." He finishes,
trailing off, "We'll miss ya...."
Patrick turns and limps off, favoring his right leg slightly, without
looking back.
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