As my grandfather told my mother, as my mother told me, so I tell you. Hundreds of years had passed with the same fears and the same small joys. Sounds from the wilds at night were chilling to the bone as the Kord’emuri and Dra’ken swarmed the lands devouring any that dared to step out into the night.

The same old songs would repeat in the mind:

“At twilight no more fire, less the beasts find the light. Do not let them find us, do not bring the blight. Close tight the doors, shore up the cracks, keep captive sound and smell, and sleep like death. Move not, stir not till another day rises, and even then keep your camo disguises.

Stay in shadow and silence, let sleeping beasts snore. Touch no strange thing, do not strive for more. Collect kindling and food from carcass remains. Drink dewy waters, caution near rivers and lakes. Any that lift their head too high will curdle the air with their dying, ‘goodbye!'”

We protected the babies and the mothers first, for they were the future and filled the present with joy. First scouting always made sure the ventriloquy tubes were free of any growth that threatened to clog them and would repair any damage. These tubes provided breathe and projected a new pup’s cries away from where they slept with their mums. All of the mums and pups slept sealed up tight and separated from each other. That is how we survived. That is how we grew. Sad were the days when a new pup was carried away, but grieve and renew our efforts was all that remained. They were the future for everything changes, and those that heeded the message and were deft of step carried us forward to this new day.
We set our focus on what we had and what the future might be to fill our souls with light. There has always been darkness, even in the best of times. If you focus on the darkness, it fills you removing the light that guides you to a better future. Mourn your losses, but do not make your home in them. Life is for the living. Those that have moved on from life moved into the company of all those that have gone before. So too, we shall soon meet them again and from that side of the veil attempt to be a light to guide our descendants forward.