Its still the day I intended to post, lol, but I'm so blasted tired; so I'll be quick and go to bed!

God bless,

A. R.

Sorry for typos!

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Laurel gasped and fell into a coughing fit as her lungs and stomach burned in pain, staggering backwards and nearly collapsing to the ground.

Dylan caught her quickly and spoke in a low voice. “Laurel, it’s okay… it’s just Admiral.” He assured, not realizing how tight he held her hands in his.

Laurel somehow managed to slow her breathing and looked up at the bird. She now recognized him. The friendliest bird that possibly ever lived.

He tried to give her a smile, and hung his head. “Hello, young doe. We meet again.” He squeaked quietly, ruffling his feathers against the chilly air.

Laurel smiled despite the trembling in her legs. “H-Hello, Admiral. We do…” she trailed off, looking at Dylan a little quizzically.

He gave her a small smile. “Admiral will be taking us to what I need to show you.” He explained, leading her towards the veteran hawk. Laurel began to protest as Dylan prepared the saddle on the birds back, but one look from Dylan silenced her. She let him help her onto the seat and made sure she was comfortable before taking his place in front of her.

“Ready?” He asked, turning his head as far as he could to see her.

Laurel was shaking, but nodded.

Admiral looked back at Dylan and nodded, spreading out his wings and leapt into the air. A powerful gust of cold air hit Laurel and she gasped, upsetting her balance for a second.

Dylan turned in the saddle and grasped her arm. “Careful.” He shouted over the wind. Laurel glared at him.

He smiled and shook his head. “Hold onto something.” He mouthed to her.

Laurel raised an eyebrow. But before Dylan could explain, Admiral shot straight up towards the sky. Laurel wrapped her arms around Dylan to keep from falling as the hawk soared higher and higher into the dark night sky.

Then, just as suddenly as he began, Admiral leveled out and sailed smoothly, finally parallel to the ground that was so far down below.

Laurel relaxed slightly and looked around, amazed at the view. The forest stretched far and wide, out into the horizon and unknown. But the mountains, the place she called her prison and home, grew smaller and smaller, until they ceased to exist.

She looked up at Dylan and blushed slightly, hoping that they would arrive soon.

Dylan hadn’t said a word during the ride. He didn’t even turn towards her. Come to think of it, he had been acting strange since she woke up…

After at least fifteen minutes of silence, Admiral began to descend, circling as the ground slowly grew closer. As they sunk lower than the tops of the trees, Dylan began to loosen some ties on the front of the saddle and let something drop to the ground.

Laurel let go of him and grasped the back of the saddle, watching the ground become closer.

Admiral reached the ground and landed gently, balancing himself before hugging his wings against his agile body.

“There.” He exhaled, ruffling his feathers and shaking his head slightly.

Dylan slid off the bird's back and reached up to help Laurel down. She grasped his offered hands and jumped, jarring her whole being. She winced.

“Thank you, Admiral. We won’t be long.” Dylan assured him, offering Laurel his arm.

She looped her arm through his and let him lead her up a hill into the forest. It was absolutely beautiful. The smell of the forest was heavenly compared to the cold air of the mountains she had grown up in. The colors, despite the darkness, were lush and vibrant. The trees, the grass, everything. Laurel had never seen anything so beautiful, so lively, compared to the barren stone of the High Bleaks.

Laurel looked up at Dylan in the dark, her eyes full of wonder and confusion. He turned to look at her and gave her a smile, then looked ahead. As they crested the hill, Dylan stopped and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

Laurel was about to ask him what was wrong and what was going on when he continued forward. She followed him and stopped abruptly when she saw what he was looking at.

Her mother’s grave.

Laurel felt tears well up in her eyes as she realized what this was. Dylan had brought her here. He had buried her mother so far away from the wretched birds and wolves so that Fern Evergreen could rest in peace.

She knelt beside the mound, her tears rolling down her bruised face. A stone sat at the head, but she could read its engraving even in the dark.

“Fern Evergreen, mother, wife, and friend. My place beside you.”

Dylan stood behind her, his face downcast as he remained silent. Laurel turned and looked up at him, her green eyes full of sadness. “Did… did Vitton make you clean it all up?” She asked in a quivering voice.

He knelt beside her and nodded. “Figured it would be a good thing to bury her here where nothing will disturb her.” He answered softly.

Laurel sniffed and nodded, looking at the headstone. But then she noticed something beside it. She squinted at it, then realized what it read.

“Dylan, what…” she trailed off, turning to look at him. His eyes were looking to the other side of the hill, the trees creating a embroidered canopy around them and the moon shining coldly down on them.

She followed his gaze and noticed three more grave markers. Her heart grew quiet and she wiped her tears away. “Your family,” she whispered.

Dylan closed his eyes. “Yes. But I didn’t bring you here to see their markers. I brought you here for your parents.” He staggered to his feet and walked towards the three stones, not saying anything.

Laurel watched him for a moment, her heart aching. How long has he been grieving? Alone? She wondered.

She turned back to her mother’s grave and her father’s memorial stone and tenderly touched the mound. She whispered a quick prayer, then got to her feet. She quietly came to Dylan’s side, looking at the three stones. They were blank.

“What was their names?” She asked, turning to look at him in the dark. From where they stood, she could only see his outline.

Dylan exhaled. “Laurel, this isn’t about them. Let this night be for the memory of your loved ones, not mine.”

His words cut her, and she felt her anger stir. “At least tell me what your sister’s name was.”

Dylan growled and stepped back, a sudden distance between them both. “It doesn’t matter, Laurel!” He shouted. “I’m going to wait with Admiral. Take your time.” And he turned and headed towards the waiting hawk.

Laurel’s blood boiled with anger as fresh tears burned her eyes. “Dylan Walters, don’t you dare walk away from me!” She choked angrily, clenching her trembling hands into fists. To her surprise, he stopped, his back to her.

She tried to keep her chin from quivering as she came up and stood in front of him, looking up into his face. “Please Dylan… tell me,” she whispered.

His eyes were downcast, and a sad, trembling sigh escaped him. When he spoke, his voice was broken and hoarse.

“Eira. Her name… was Eira.”

Laurel grasped his hands in hers and he cursed. “Laurel, don’t. It will only make this worse.” He growled. But Laurel knew he wasn’t angry. Where they stood now, she could see in the moonlight the tears that rolled down his face.

“No, Dylan. You’ve borne this grief on your own too long. You’ve borne mine; now let me bear yours. Share it with me,” she whispered, tenderly wiping his tears away.

His face fell and his knees buckled. Laurel caught him in her arms and winced as he sank to the ground, sobs wracking his tall, strong frame. Dylan’s heartbroken cries were the only sound in this quiet place.

Laurel held him in her arms, smoothing his ears and speaking softly to him. Her own tears flowed, for the pain of her friend; for his loss, just as well as hers. “Its going to be okay, Dylan. I promise.” She whispered, holding him close as his grief of how many years was finally being released.