Overcome with unending grief Lilith's body shrunk even more underneath the quilt, her emotions chaotic. Though she was the only female cub of her alpha father she wasn't weak. She had to compete for everything with her older brothers and no matter how hard they pushed her during a fight she would never cry.
But today her rarely seen vulnerable side emerged and she didn't want anyone to see it. Her tears flowed like an infinite river. A sharp pain stabbed at her chest as an inconsolable wail escaped her throat.
She clutched the corners of the quilt tightly till her knuckles turned white. Her tightly shut eyes felt hot and swollen but Lilith didn't stop crying. She vaguely heard someone walk in and stand beside her for a minute or two before the person left.
That was Merida. She had come back with the bowl of medicine but when she saw Lilith curled up underneath the quilt she felt helpless.
Lilith might not remember her but she remembered Lilith. She aspired to be as tough as this sister but today she saw her heroine break down and she couldn't do anything to ease her pain.
Short of breath and feeling uncomfortable she took a step back and walked out of the cave. Feeling weak at the knees she shakily sat down and hugged her knees burying her head. She broke down too.
She had lost her mother and brother as well but couldn't even stay and bury her family. Her grandfather had sent her off with Lilith in fear of another attack on the pack.
They needed to get help by any means necessary but she couldn't even bring herself to convey this message to Lilith.
Like this an hour passed with the sun rising higher into the sky. She had intended to give Lilith as much privacy as possible but she still had to give her medicine.
Her grandfather had clearly instructed her to maintain consistency when administering the medicine thus she got up.
When she entered the cave the cries from earlier had died down and the person had fallen back into a coma. In a panic, Merida examined her as she scolded herself for being careless.
Overcome by extreme grief the poison in Lilith's body spread further into her system causing extreme agony that she couldn't handle.
Her body instantly collapsed and she didn't even have time to cry out for help. At that moment she was prepared to die. With everyone gone she had lost the will to live.
***
She might not have the intentions to carry on but the heavens had other designs for her. Two days later she opened her eyes again with a slight sense of unwillingness.
She lay there with her eyes facing the ceiling like a lifeless corpse her mind as blank as a sheet. Every inch of her body ached like she had endured a great tribulation.
Sensing her emotions on the verge of destabilizing again she swallowed down her pain her bloodshot eyes watery. "You-young miss," said a soft voice beside her.
Lilith who wasn't prepared to showcase her vulnerabilities kept her gaze transfixed on the roof of the cave. Afraid she would lose it again she didn't respond. Her lips twitched repressing something threatening to burst forth.
Merida wasn't at all discouraged. She brought over a bowl of meat porridge and sat next to her. Biting her lower lip tightly she helped Lilith sit up enough to feed her and brought the spoon over to her lips.
In tacit understanding, Lilith opened her mouth and let her do as she pleased. Her arms were heavy and she could barely lift them thus she couldn't feed herself.
For five minutes one fed and the other ate in silence with the only sound coming from the gentle rain pitter-pattering outside the cave.
As soon as the bowl was empty, Merida brought over a warm bowl of medicine. Lilith saw that bowl of brown liquid and wanted to ask but she didn't have the strength to have that conversation. She just drank it and as expected of the pack doctor's descendant the effect was especially good.
Like gentle water streaming down the mountain, the medicine swept through her body washing away the pain and fatigue keeping her affliction at bay. If only this medicine could cure her emotional pain.
She closed her eyes for a second taking in deep breaths like she was meditating. For a moment Merida didn't disturb her. She sat there quietly as she watched the embers of the dying fire in the center of the cave.
The crackling sound of twigs burning in the fire and the showers outside were calming to one's soul. She wanted to tell Lilith what happened and convey her grandfather's message but she also didn't want to overstimulate her.
She was so terrified last time when Lilith passed out. Those two days were the most difficult and stress-filled days of her life. Fearing Lilith could die she barely got any sleep.
Merida had no idea what to do if Lilith died thus she feared to speak again worried that Lilith would be overstimulated again.
Surprisingly, it was Lilith who spoke first. In a hoarse voice, she asked, "What happened to the pack?"
Merida unfolded her arms that were hugging her knees and looked at her with a fretful look in her eyes. Lilith was still lying flat on the stone bed her eyes still facing the ceiling.
"A lot of people died..... and *whimper.... they didn't spare anyone. My mother and *whimper....," replied Merida as her lips curled in a contorted way about to cry. As she struggled to restrain her grief she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
The hand squeezed her shoulder weakly to comfort her. Merida couldn't help holding it as she continued.
"The attack was vicious this time.... if they attack again then we will all perish. Grandfather asked me to tell you to pay Lycius pack a visit and ask for help," she said while biting back her tears.
Hearing this Lilith's hand on her shoulder loosened before it slipped out of Merida's hand. How could she not understand the meaning behind those words? Asking for help could only mean two things.
One, she was giving up her pack to the Lycius alpha, or two giving herself up to Lycius pack through marriage. Lilith was as beautiful as the moon goddess with enchanting eyes that dazzled plenty of alphas.
She looked exactly like her deceased mother and when she reached the age to get a mate, alphas from other packs offered to help Linus through marriage. Her father stubbornly refused. He would not give up his daughter to anyone.
Now that he was gone she was now compelled to seek assistance by the very same method his father refused over the years.
Back then she also didn't want to find a mate under duress. Like her parents, she believed in falling in love but now when she thinks of it, it was selfish of her.
For the sake of the pack, she should have agreed maybe then her pack wouldn't be destroyed before her very eyes. She raised her trembling hand and wiped her uncontrollable tears with her fingertips.
She weakly raised her hand to her face and stared at the wetness on the tips of her fingers. That is when her eyes glanced down at her hand.
Her pupils jumped as she noticed a faint azure crack peeking through from underneath the fabric. It is then she realized that something about her had changed.