Chapter 81: Saying Goodbye

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Saying Goodbye Lily’s hands trembled slightly as she pulled on a simple black dress that Martha had helped her find. Today, she would finally do what she’d been wanting to for years, give her mother a proper farewell. Martha knocked gently on her door before entering, her kind eyes filled with concern. “Are you ready, Luna Lily?” Martha asked, her voice soft. She was still getting used to her official title. She reminded Martha she preferred her to call her by her name, as she’d always addressed her. But the maid refused, reminding her that her position was different now. Lily nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She signed quickly, asking if Ragnar was waiting for them. “Yes, he’s outside. Though he still doesn’t know why you’ve asked for his help specifically,” Martha replied, adjusting Lily’s collar gently. Lily stepped outside to find Ragnar standing stiffly, a shovel in his hand. His eyes narrowed with suspicion when he saw her approach. “Luna,” he acknowledged with a slight bow. “Martha mentioned we’d be going into the forest. May I ask what for?” Lily looked to Martha, who nodded and explained, “We’re going to visit Luna Lana’s grave.” Ragnar’s expression remained neutral, but his grip on the shovel tightened. The three walked in silence through the packgrounds, past the main compound, and into the dense forest beyond. Few pack members ventured this far out, making it the perfect place for Lily’s father to dispose of his mate’s body without a proper burial ceremony. After nearly an hour of walking, they reached the small clearing. There in the center was the half-collapsed headstone with no inscriptions. But there was a small bouquet of flowers, placed by Lily and Martha the day before. The white lilies contrast with the dense green grass and weeds that surrounded the grave. There was nothing to indicate that this was the late Luna Lana’s resting place. “This is it?” Ragnar asked, his voice gruff. Lily nodded, heart aching. She turned to Ragnar, pointing at the shovel in his hands, then at the grave. This didn’t need interpretation. Ragnar’s eyes widened, but he remained unmoved. “She wants you to dig,” Martha urged, voice strained. Ragnar’s brows furrowed deeply. “Dig? You want me to disturb someone’s grave? I won’t dig up some random grave. That’s—” Lily cut him off with a sharp gesture, signing rapidly. “It’s her mother,” Martha interrupted, her voice uncharacteristically sharp. “Luna Lana. Lily’s mother. Not some random grave.” Ragnar’s expression changed instantly. He looked at Lily with new eyes, suddenly seeing the resemblance to the former Luna. His posture softened. “Luna Lana?” he repeated, his voice almost reverent. He looked at the collapsed headstone. “This is how they buried her?” Lily nodded, tears forming in her eyes. “Luna Lily wants to give her a proper funeral. In... In order to do that, we first need your help to dig up her remains.” Martha explained. Ragnar didn’t say another word. He didn’t protest any further. He leapt into action, driving the shovel into the dirt and began digging. As he worked, sweat beaded on his brow. Martha wrapped her arms around Lily as they watched on in silence. Lily signed to Martha, asking why he had changed his mind so quickly. Martha relayed the question, but he didn’t respond immediately. After some time, he paused, leaning on his shovel while wiping his sweat with his shirt. “Luna Lana was the only good thing to ever happen to Thunderpaw,” He sighed, eyes distant. He resumed digging, speaking between heavy breaths. “I’ve never spoken to her directly before, but everyone talked about her. About how kind she was. She treated everyone equally, regardless of status.” He turned to Lily before continuing, “She spoke to everyone like they mattered.” He dug deeper, the pile of dirt growing beside the hole. “Your father treated her like property. But she never let it harden her heart.” Lily fought hard to wipe away her tears. She barely knew her mother, but through Ragnar’s words, an image of her began to form in Lily’s mind. A kind-hearted Luna who made sure everyone felt like they mattered. Just then, the shovel hit something different. The sound it produced was different from when it hit the soil. Ragnar dropped to his knees, brushing away dirt with his hands. His eyes grew wide as he staggered back, quickly realizing what he’d found. “By the Moon Goddess,” Martha gasped, covering her mouth. Lily took a brave step forward to take a closer look. They’d expected to find a proper wooden casket, even a simple one. But there was none. Lily’s mother had only been wrapped in cloth before she was buried. The foul smell of decay made their stomachs turn. Lily collapsed to her knees beside the grave, tears streaming down her face. The cloth had partially rotted away, revealing glimpses of bones and the tattered remains of a once-beautiful dress. This was all that remained of the woman who had given her life. How could her father be so cruel? Lily stood up shakily, staggering towards the grave. “Luna, you shouldn’t—” Ragnar began. Lily shook her head firmly, her resolve clear in her eyes. She wanted to carry her mother out herself. Martha stepped forward to help, but Lily gestured for her to stay back. Ragnar wanted to help, too, but hesitated after seeing Martha being rejected. He got up quietly and searched around for long branches. Martha helped too. Together, they made the base of a pyre. Lily shakily lifted her mother’s remains. It was lighter than she expected. The years of decomposition had eaten away at her late mother’s body. Ragnar and Martha guided Lily to the pyre, helping her lay her mother’s body to rest on the pyre they had built. “In our pack,” Ragnar said quietly, “the traditional way to honor the dead is through fire. A funeral pyre would be fitting for a Luna.” Lily nodded, wiping her tears. They worked together collecting wood. Lily gathered smaller branches while Ragnar handled the larger logs. Martha helped arrange them in a pattern that would burn steadily. When the pyre was complete, Ragnar fashioned a torch out of a carved branch, lit it rom a small fire Martha had created on the side. He walked over to Lily. “It is tradition for the eldest child of the deceased to light the pyre,” He explained while he watched Lily carefully. He held the torch to her as he continued, “But it only seems right that you have this honor now, as your mother’s daughter.” With trembling hands, Lily took the torch. She looked to Ragnar and Martha, who both gave her a small nod of approval. She turned towards the pyre and lowered the touch, igniting the pyre. The flames grew quickly, circling the pyre before lighting the center. Lily watched as the fire grew bigger. The heat licked her face, cautioning to step back. She joined Ragnar and Martha, looking to Ragnar with questioning eyes. She placed a hand over her heart, then pointed at the fire. Martha understood her. “She wants to know what other rites would be performed,” Martha explained. “Usually, there would be a speech,” Ragnar replied. “Memories shared, accomplishments honored.” Lily instinctively touched her throat, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn’t speak. Neither did she have many memories to share of the mother she never knew. Ragnar’s eyes softened. “You don’t need a voice to honor her, Luna. Neither do you need to have known her. Follow your heart, let it take the lead.” Lily felt a warm spark in her heart. She looked towards the fire, smoke billowing in the sky. She began to sign her farewell and Martha translated it into words. “I never knew my mother,” Martha said, quoting Lily. “But through those who remember her, I learn a little more about her. She was kind. She treated everyone like they mattered, like they were equals regardless of status. I wish to keep her memory alive, by living up to the path she had laid before me. To be a good responsible Luna to our pack, as she once was.” As Lily finished, she felt a warm sensation on her shoulder, as thought someone had placed their hand on her shoulder Could it be her mother’s soul, comforting her? When she looked behind, there was no one. But Lily sensed movement in the forest. Someone was watching them. Ragnar tensed immediately, cursing himself for not noticing. Just behind the line of trees was a figure hiding in the shadows. “Is someone there?” Martha asked, looking in the same direction, squinting her eyes to try and get a better look. Realizing there was no point hiding, Zayn stepped out from the shadows. He’d been out patrolling the area and happened to chance upon them. “Alpha,” Ragnar acknowledged with a low bow. Lily stepped forward, signing quickly to prove their innocence. She was afraid he might think she was causing trouble or performing some forbidden ritual. You’re not in any trouble,” Zayn said quietly. “May I stay? I would like to pay my respects to your mother.” Lily blinked in surprise. She wondered how long he’d been hiding for. How much of what they did and said did he hear? She stepped aside, allowing him to join her side. Together they stood in silence before the funeral pyre, watching as the fire continued to burn.