Chapter 37

Finifugal

n. Hating endings; someone who tries to prolong the final moments

The moment I had been dreading arrived all too soon and before I knew it, I was standing with the other spirit wolves and Elders in the gardens, facing a very somber Diana.

We all stood in a perfect line, our mates all waiting behind us. There wasn't a single white cloth today as we wore the traditional mourning colour: black. The moon shone down on us, in all her brilliance in the otherwise pitch black sky.

The First Elder spoke up, breaking the deafening silence.

"Diana, your time with us has come to an end," she began, her voice even and the epitome of controlled. "Letting you go will no doubt be difficult on us, but you deserve your happiness," Diana nodded at the First Elder, standing before her to receive a gentle hug.

"I know this isn't the way you wanted things to go, but I am more certain than ever with my choice," Diana spoke resolutely, stepping back from the embrace to face the next elder.