Final Goodbye [Vorilye]

[Saphira]

Saphira stood still for once in her life staring at the entrance to her father’s den. She could not remember ever having this much hesitance entering it before. For certain, she had not always been excited to enter and speak to not only her father, but her alpha, especially when she was not sure how to live up to anyone’s expectations for her, but she never hesitated this much about anything in her life. She was usually so decisive, quick to act, and optimistic. Not today, however.

A cloud moved in front of the sun, taking with it the remaining warmth and causing Saphira to shiver with the sudden chill from the hidden sun. This did not need to be so difficult. Valeria had told her days ago she should really visit father because he was not doing well. She had not been in a mindset then to visit him, needing to clear her thoughts, but after her chat with Malachi, she had remained in Caurus a few days, hesitant to return and using every excuse to avoid it. The many wolves she had run into there had only delayed her further, and she had hurried home on this morning in the hopes she was not too late.

From the way nothing seemed to have changed and everything was dead still and quiet, Saphira could only assume nothing earth shattering had occurred. She was still not sure how all the Descai wolves would take to being led by Valeria under the name of Valyn, especially once their alpha had gone. But he was not gone yet, and Saphira needed to see him again.

Taking a deep breath, she told herself to put one foot in front of the other, just trying to make it through the entrance. “Father?” Saphira called out timidly, hoping she would not wake him or otherwise be an unwanted presence. “It’s me, Saphira. Can I come in?”

Words: 325
Muse: good
Tags: Vorilye
Notes: D:

[Vorilye]

The days were growing more difficult, and since Valeria and Zofia's last visit, Vorilye's condition had rapidly deteriorated. Finally he had been able to convince his daughter to stop plying him with food; though he was certain it had been a difficult decision for the alpha, it was only in Vorilye's best interest that his suffering not be prolonged. A loud, hacking cough escaped the male's muzzle as the soft sound of Saphira's voice reached his ears. "Of course, Saphira," he nearly groaned out the words. He hated for his daughter to see him this way, but what other choice did he have? He was no more than dead weight to the pack, and he was certain there would be far more peace once he passed.

Though he would not admit it, of all his daughters Saphira held the most special part of his heart. She was the product of the male's successful attempt to find love. And although Atriell had only been with him for a short time, Vorilye had never gotten over her. Angel and Celosia had been a means to an end, but Vorilye had truly loved Atriell. Saphira was the last remaining piece of that love. She was proof that even in the end, the most tainted soul could find true love. She was a piece of them both, and shewould continue to be the bright light in Valyn as she had been in Descai. Vorilye had never quite figured out where she inherited her unfailing optimism; it certainly had not come from him, and Atriell had beeen the most cryptic and complex individual while Saphira was so openly loving and kind to others. "My sweet Saphira, I am so proud of you," he murmured to her, his words muddled with exhaustion. The words were so rarely uttered by the former alpha, and even so he was not sure she had been close enough to hear him. How could he ever show how much he cared for his family?

The years in Anikira had provided him pain, sorrow, struggle and developent. He had grown stronger and more confident as a leader. He had built a small empire of his own, and he hoped that over time his children would continue to spread his legacy. Descai, now Valyn, was stronger than ever under Valeria's leadership And that was a testament to the family he had built here. From a near mute to an alpha of a dark pack to the family male and finally to a loving, doting mate, Vorilye had changed for the better because of his family. They were his greatest creation, the pack be damned. There was nothing the male could claim to be a better representation of his life than the beautiful children he was leaving behind. And although they thought the time was coming too soon, Vorilye knew that this was only a matter of time. He had cheated death far too many times before, and now, it was time for him to face his maker.

"My dear, do not mourn me. Celebrate me..." he wheezed out, his golden eyes flickering betweeen cognant recognition and absence. There was little life or fight left in him, but he would continue to hold on for his darlig daughter. "Saphira..."

---

Count | 552 words
Muse | Good but SO SAD
Tags | Saphira
Notes | I am so sad about this right now. Just saying.

[Saphira]

As Saphira entered upon hearing her father’s voice, Saphira could not help but let out a small gasp at the sight awaiting her. He looked worse than she had remembered, and she felt nothing but guilt. She should not have run off to Caurus for so long and put off coming back. How selfish was it of her to be afraid of confronting this when it was her father that had to face death, not she herself?

She stood there, wordless, with nothing to say, nothing to offer her dying alpha, her dying father. He deserved better. He deserved more from her. She should have been here for him. Her eyes burning with hot tears, she moved towards him swiftly, lying down beside him and pressing her muzzle into his side in a gesture meant to say, I am here, and I am not going anywhere.

The silence was finally broken by the most beautiful words Saphira thought she would ever hear. My sweet Saphira, I am so proud of you. She was unable to stop the drops of liquid from escaping her eyes, though she refused to entirely succumb to them. She needed to be brave for him. But the words had touched her more than she could express. A sad smile crept up on the corners of her mouth. It was all she could have hoped to hear. She knew there was much she still had to figure out, and much she wished he could have seen, but this was enough for now.

My dear, do not mourn me. Celebrate me...

The sound of his weak words was almost too much to bear. She was torn between wanting to keep him from speaking to conserve his energy and wanting to drink in every last word he had to offer her. “But I am not ready for you to go.” It was all she could manage to say before she buried her head in his dark fur again.

He spoke her name softly and Saphira looked up at him, searching for his eyes to make contact. “Yes? I am here. I won’t go anywhere.”

---

Words: 365
Muse: SO SO SAD
Tags: Vorilye
Notes: URU WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

[Vorilye]

Though Vorilye knew his daughter was near, he could hardly bear to keep his eyes open, let alone acknowledge her. His soft words were forced at best, and there was little more he could do to keep himself conscious. The pain was nearly unbearable; oh how he wanted to succumb and move on from this madness. But his daughter was not ready for him to leave, and so he forced himself to linger a bit longer with this world. Her presence could be felt all around him, and as she laid beside him, his grey and golden muzzle moved slightly to rest on her delicate front paws. He was exerting far more effort than he might have wanted, but he had to let her know how dear she was to him. His head rolled sideways, nuzzling into her as best he could without allowing a whimper of pain to escape his muzzle.

"It will be alright, Saphira," he murmured into her side, his eyes sliding shut as he rested there. "My work here is done. I know you will make me proud, my sweet girl." He could not think of a better place to spend his last moments. He was surrounded by family and those who loved them, whether they be present in the dens or not. His daughters were much stronger than they gave themselves credit for, and he knew in his heart that they would move on from this. His sons would be stronger and greater than he had been, and his legacy would continue on. As his daughter's hot tears dripped down and fell on his tired form, he allowed a single tear of his own to fall. The amount of love and admiration he felt for the strength of his family was immeasurable.

"Saphira, you are so much like your mother... you are strong," he breathed out, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the debilitating pain he suffered. "I love you so much, baby girl. You and your brothers and sisters... you all are my life. I can live on through you." A hot breath escaped his muzzle as he rested patiently upon his daughter's paws. No child would ever want to see their parent suffer, but Vorilye was happy to not be alone.

For when one light went out in this world, another one was born. He would be gone, but he would never be forgotten.

---

Count | 408 words
Muse | TOO HIGH FOR THIS SHIT
Tags | Saphira
Notes | I'm legit going to cry over this.

[Saphira]

Saphira tensed every time her father moved, noticing his labored breathing and stiffness. It was obvious he was trying not to let it show how much he hurt, and that thought made Saphira cry all the harder. She might not be ready for him to leave, but he needed to. She knew that. She had known that. It was purely selfishness that told her to beg for him to stay. It was his time, and she needed to stop running and face it.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded at every statement he made. She knew he was proud of her. She knew she would do her best to make him proud. Her nod was as much of a promise as she could muster without being able to speak due to the tension in her throat. Why did it hurt so much that he was leaving? She still needed to speak with him. Still needed to know what he wanted of her.

Saphira, you are so much like your mother... you are strong

“I wish I were stronger. I don’t feel very strong right now.” She wished she had known her mother better. She did know her father loved her mother, and to Saphira, that was enough to know she was good and that she should feel honored to be compared to her strength.

I love you so much, baby girl. You and your brothers and sisters... you all are my life. I can live on through you.

Saphira could only nod again, more tears running down the length of her nose. She would do her best to continue to live her life to honor him, to do all he wanted of her. But what did he want of her? “I don’t know what to do.” She had no more words and hoped he would understand that she was asking him a question. What did one do when their parents died? How did one honor them in death? How did one move on?

“I know you need to go. I’m sorry. I will try to be strong.” The arctic wolf could not bring herself to say the word “goodbye.” This would have to suffice.

Words: 377
Muse: good
Tags: Vorilye
Notes:

[Vorilye]

The sweet words of his young daughter were all that a father could ever hope for in his life. Though Vorilye had many regrets in his life, his family could not be listed anywhere among them. Every one of his children had been such a delight to raise and see as they came into their own. The Mackenzie Valley male was content in the outcome of his life; though he was leaving far sooner than he expected, he had overcome the odds and tests of time. Saphira was proof of this, along with Valeria, Zofia, Pharaoh... Though many of his youngsters had ventured outside the borders of Descai, the alpha remained content in the thought that if he had achieved nothing else in his life, he had a beautiful family to carry on his legacy.

"Whatever you choose to be in your life, you will be the very best," the aged male wheezed to his daughter, a quiet groan escaping his muzzle as he found fiercely against it. To his dismay, the pain was growing more unbearable by the moment. "You are the best part of me." The male was acutely aware that he was no saint. But he had seen Saphira grow up and morph into everything he had ever wanted his children to be. Unlike the others, he had experienced multiple years of her life. She was his daughter through and through; her loyalties never wavered from the family. She would go on to do great things, and his only regret was that he would not be there to see her grow and develop into an even greater wolf in the years to come."I love you so much."

The male's golden eyes flickered briefly, blinking erratically as he stared up at Saphira's right side so that only the blue eye and gold were visible. In that moment, confusion set in as he stared up at her, his vision blurring as he stared in awe. "A... Atriell?" he murmured, unable to discern his daughter from her mother. "I've been looking for you my love... where have you been?" he wheezed, the words barely above a whisper as he felt his eyes drift shut for the last time.

"I could not leave without you..."

---

Count | 378 words
Muse | RIP Vorilye Sr.
Tags | Saphira
Notes | I AM SO NOT OKAY WITH THIS BUT IT WAS A GOOD ENDING POST AND I CAN'T EVEN.

[Saphira]

Saphira buried her face in her father’s fur again, trying to hide her pain. She knew his pain must be so much worse, and part of her wished for his sake that it would be over soon. She had entered the cave so determined that this could not happen, but after seeing him suffer, she wanted nothing more than to see him at peace again.

Whatever you choose to be in your life, you will be the very best. You are the best part of me.

This was not at all what Saphira had hoped to hear from her father. What had she expected? That he tell her her path in life? That he tell her in one short sentence what he wanted for her and what would give her a direction and make her happy? Now that she phrased it that way, of course not. But with him leaving, she once again felt so lost, like a small pup.

I love you so much.

It was near the end. Saphira knew it was. But she had nothing to say. She had said all she could think of to say, except perhaps reciprocating his words. But surely he knew that she loved him. Just as she had managed to swallow the lump in her throat enough to try to tell him, she heard his voice again, almost sounding stronger.

A... Atriell?

“Daddy?” Saphira responded, wondering what he meant. “It’s me.”

I've been looking for you my love... where have you been?

“Daddy??” This time her voice carried a hint of hysteria. “No! Dad! No! You can’t leave!” She nudged his side and his face, continuously harder, desperately trying to get him to come back. “I need you here! You can’t leave me yet. You can’t leave me.” Her words calmed as she continued to speak, losing their franticness. There was nothing she could do.

I could not leave without you…

Suddenly all the hurt, all the grief, all the desperation that she had been carried with her gushed out and she began to sob violently, eventually giving up and burying her face in her father’s fur. He was gone. Her father, the great alpha of Descai, was gone.

Saphira did not know how long she lay there next to the empty form of her father, crying all the energy she had out. Finally, the sobs and tears came to an end. It was over. His life and her grieving were both finished. She stood up slowly, feeling completely dehydrated, tired, and almost numb, both physically and emotionally.

With one last long glance at her father, she whispered, “I love you, dad.” Pain shot through her chest once more at the thought that he had not gotten to hear her say it. She had not said it in his last moments. But it was too late now. She needed to move on. Silently she turned away from her father and padded out of the den in search of Valeria. She needed to know.

Words: 524
Muse: ... I don't even know
Tags: Vorilye
Notes: