[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=navy] {ooc; I realize that we are not open yet, but I had a lot of muse, and extra time, so yeah. Please don't shoot me. Rose, feel free to reply, or if you'd rather not, you can wait until we open, either way is fine.} Tired paws carried his aching body across the terrain, rocks scuttling beneath his cracked pads. They scratched the surface of his toes and pads, but did not phase him. They simply blended in with the rest of the pain that slowly encased him. His eyes flicked back and forth and his heart rate sped up quickly. He stumbled and fell to his knees, muzzle hitting the ground, he had no strength left. Curling his body he laid near the Sitara river, eyes rolling backwards slightly. His mind could not focus on one thought at a time, but rather everything spun around like a circus within his cranium. His paws tried to lift himself, but he fell to the ground, the dry earth caving in slightly, causing a large ball of dust to erupt from beneath him, whooshing out in all different directions. He let out a chorus of painful yelps, but could not choke out a howl. Jaero's usually emerald eyes faded to a pale sea-foam green as he began to lose consciousness. His right hip lay up toward the sky, trailing a little blood. The viper that had bitten him must've been poisonous, and he could feel the venom trickling through his bloodstream, he had merely a half hour, at best, before it reached his heart and it was all over. How could it be that a wolf of his stature could be struck down in his prime by two simple fang marks? The scar he bore showed a worse fight than this, and he had won that one. Now, he was fighting a losing battle, he simply couldn't win. His paw began to twitch, and he could not control it, that meant the blood was still advancing through his body. He didn't have long. A stricken howl erupted from somewhere within him, and he hoped someone, anyone, would show up and be there when he passed. He had very little worries, he had taught his son well, he would be able to take care of the pack, or, what was left of it. Perhaps they would be able to somehow rebuild under his son's stature. Maybe.. But what would happen if he wasn't around? Would things change drastically? Toapa had disappeared, Rook was gone, he was the last of the original quarry. Would this whole dispute change once he was done for? Would his son carry the grudge that he had taught him to for so long? Or would he turn over a new leaf and start his own legacy? His breath became labored as his heart worked double time, trying to pump blood, if only it knew that inevitably it was killing itself by working harder, it was just pulling the poison in faster. He let out another wimp of a howl, but it was not nearly as loud as the first, hopefully someone would come, if not, he would die alone, his son would come over his body most likely, unless some scavenger ate him first.. Jaero could feel the buzzards talons now, ripping open his flesh and gobbling at his innards. He could feel them pecking away like the trash they were. Sighing he closed his eyes..

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=navy] He inhaled one last time before the breath left his body for the last time. He had reached the climax in his life, and now it was all over. There was nothing left but the falling action. His heart stopped, and surprisingly, no pain engulfed him, instead, it was a peace. A shadowy figure stood and stepped out of his empty body that lay on the earth, and he spotted another that looked like him, hard to distinguish, because she was see through, but he recognized her at once. Instantly he was on his paws, running toward her, nearly floating in air. He had never felt so good in all of his life, it was as if he was in a land of peace, and nothing could go wrong anymore. His thoughts raced and he spoke. "Rose? Rose.. where am I? Am I.. dead?" He knew the answers to his question almost immediately, as her thoughts entered his translucent cranium. He could live, just as before, but now, as a ghost. He was permitted to breed, love, live, laugh, and be with his loved ones, but he could never fight again. It was fair enough. Jaero's body was engulfed in happiness, as he was no longer in pain, he could now live with a trusted friend, and still be near his son. He could roam the vast lands outside the pack grounds freely, and not worry about being hurt by any other wolves, he was safe.