A Queens return

Remembering not forgeting

As I walked through the somber halls of the school, my footsteps echoing in the silence, I felt a heavy weight pressing down upon me. Jack walked beside me, his usually bright demeanor overshadowed by the pall of grief that hung over us.

"Hey," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper, as I glanced over at him.

Jack met my gaze, his eyes weary yet filled with a quiet strength. "Hey," he replied, his voice tinged with sadness.

I paused for a moment, searching for the right words to express the turmoil raging within me. "I can't stop thinking about them," I admitted, my voice catching in my throat. "About the wolves we lost... They didn't deserve this."

Jack nodded in understanding, his expression grave. "No, they didn't," he agreed, his voice heavy with sorrow. "But we'll make sure their sacrifice wasn't in vain. We'll find whoever's responsible for this and make them pay."

I drew in a shaky breath, the weight of his words offering a measure of solace amidst the darkness that threatened to consume me. "I just wish we could have done more," I murmured, my voice filled with regret.

Jack placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his touch a silent reassurance in the face of my doubts. "We did everything we could," he said firmly. "And now we'll honor their memory by continuing the fight, together."

We took our seats in the quiet classroom, the air heavy with the weight of our grief. As we sat side by side, there was no defined seatplace here which made this possible. I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in Jack's presence, his steady presence a reassuring anchor amidst the storm of emotions swirling within me.

Glancing out the window, I caught sight of the ravens circling in the sky, their dark forms a stark contrast against the pale morning light. It was a sight that never failed to stir something within me, a connection to the creatures that had guided me through the darkest moments of my life.

"Look," I murmured, nodding towards the window where the ravens soared. "The ravens..."

Jack followed my gaze, his eyes tracking the graceful movements of the birds as they danced upon the breeze. "They're always watching over us," he said softly, his voice tinged with reverence.

I nodded in agreement, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Yeah," I replied, a sense of gratitude welling up within me. "They've always been there for me, guiding me when I needed it most."

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to the presence of the ravens. With each passing moment, their movements seemed to grow more purposeful, as if they were trying to communicate something to me.

Leaning closer to the window, I squinted against the glare of the morning sun, studying the ravens intently. There was a sense of urgency in their flight, a subtle insistence that demanded my attention.

"Jack," I whispered, turning to my friend with a furrowed brow. "Do you see that? The ravens... they seem... different somehow."

Jack followed my gaze, his brow furrowing in confusion as he watched the birds circling overhead. "I'm not sure," he replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But it definitely feels like they're trying to tell us something."

Feeling the urgency of the situation pressing upon me, I turned to the front of the classroom where our teacher stood, engrossed in delivering the day's lesson. Clearing my throat, I raised my hand tentatively, waiting for her attention.

"Um, excuse me, Miss," I spoke up, my voice trembling slightly with nerves. "I, uh, I'm not feeling too well. Can I please be excused to go to the nurse's office?"