She starts down the path past the herbs, stooping to pick a sprig of rosemary, for remembrance. She carries a stone in her left hand and the rosemary in her right.
She reaches the little wooden bridge over the stream and stops for a while to listen to the sound of water. It is a peaceful sound, but her heart is not at peace. There is another stone to place today on the bier of remembrances.
The path turns upstream and up hill along the water. Her steps are heavy as she ascends. She has been up this path too many times too recently.
On the summit of the little hill, above the spring that feeds the stream, she sees the pile of stones. So many stones there now. Too many.
She kneels down in the grass contemplating the stones and naming them in her mind. There is the one for Wolfjack. And Shanna, Damainae, Nickademus, Leander. Valant is there, too. Phaelos, Leto, Kelerian, Shaykajirus, Speede. Cymrick, Gremphor, Hawkien, Windarii. Dracloth, Wolfsoul, Lonewoolf, Sandain, Cadanyth. Tukyll, Giladriel, Sardilaav, Wooky. Leissa, Deidas, Juntah, Conifer, Zalastar, Chichuri.
With a heavy heart she places the newest stone on the pile. Rosemary for Remembrance. She breathes the last name as a tear falls to wet the stone..... Laelia.



