Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Xena's Pov

Logan walked toward the pile of wood where Dad's body lay. The tor flickered in the breeze, casting dancing shadows across his face. When he touched the flame to the kindling, the fire caught immediately, crackling and growing with each passing second.

"Goodbye, Dad," Logan whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the flames.

I closed my eyes as the fire grew higher, the heat warming my face ven from this distance. The smell of burning wood filled the air, and I knew that soon there would be nothing left of the man who had shaped my entire world.

Ryder's arm tightened around me as my body shook with silent sobs This was really it. Dad was gone, and there was no bringing

him back.

Leonard approached carrying a large elm tree. After placing it into the pit, he finished the planting with his shovel. "We're not moving his ashes. We're letting them become one with the land where he died. This is what Dad wanted, Logan said as he walked over to sit beside Penelope. Leonard took a seat in the second row, next to Viola and his parents.

Everyone sat quietly, watching the ashes dance in the wind before settling into the earth. A low rumble in the distance told us a storm was approaching. How perfect that his body would seep into the soil, truly becoming one with the earth we all came from.noveldrama

One by one, people began to rise and return to their homes or safe places. Logan and I just sat there, watching what little remained of Dad until the flames died out. Leonard stood and began digging a pit to bury the bones that hadn't completely burned in the fire. Only after Dad was completely buried did Logan finally stand up.

"Come on, sis." I finally tore my gaze away from the freshly dug grave to look at Logan. “I have a few things for you in the office."

I just felt numb. Not sad, not angry, just a blank emptiness.

Part of me wanted Ryder to hold me, but my pride stopped me. Instead, I gripped his hand and stood up, following Logan. My pace was much slower than Logan's, so I fell behind as we quietly walked down the hillside toward the pack house. Ryder never tried to make me walk faster, didn't even try to take charge. He just stayed beside me, being my anchor.

I'm not sure if it was out of habit or what, but when we climbed the steps, my heart started pounding violently. More than once I reminded myself that Martha wasn't here, that I was finally safe here. I could safely come back to visit my brother, to see my old pack members, friends, and any children they might have in the future.

Logan left the office door open since he and Penelope had arrived a few minutes before us. When we walked in, he was doing something on the computer. Penelope sat in an armchair, so I took the other one. Ryder stood behind me as we waited to hear what my brother had to say.

Logan sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, then rubbed his face before looking at me. "Dad left you this letter. He wrote it this morning. Logan handed over a vanilla-colored envelope that clearly contained more than just paper.

"What else is in here?" I asked as I took it.

Keys and some other miscellaneous things." The pearl strand was still wrapped around my wrist. Logan's gaze fell on it. "Mom wore those at her Luna ceremony. It took him months to find those. He refused to put them in the envelope-he wanted to give them to

you personally."

"Can I see her house?" I asked, my voice quiet but steady.

"Of course," Penelope said. "Actually, I have some things I want to offer you. Since I've been living there, away from Martha, I've organized and cleaned the house. I'm guessing you already discovered from the food that the recipes are in your mother's house. I made copies for you, but if you want the originals... I would understand.