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Description

The wolves of Riverfell had survived.

Beyond all hope and in defiance of her worst fears, they had survived. And with the alliances that could only be forged during the darkest of times, they had not only survived, but won the War by ‘defeating’ the Queen and her armies.

Shiloh had made a promise to her enemy that she would not stop until every Hive drone was dead and the Domain was cleared of their kind. And on their journey home, she made good on that promise by hunting down any trace of them and showing no mercy. In her mind, their deaths ensured that evil would never touch her pack again.

Her nights were sleepless most of the time as her failures replayed on repeat and forced her to relive every painful memory of the last two years – and beyond. At this point, there was nothing she would not do to protect Riverfell…and her children. By spilling the blood of their enemies and watching the life drain from those that wished her and her packmates harm, it brought her a temporary sense of both relief and control. Out here, in the Wilds, it was life or death, kill or be killed. Out here, she felt some semblance of control over her life again.

And yet the closer they came to their return to the lands of Riverfell, the more her anxiety began to escalate. When they had all left nearly two seasons ago, the land was drenched in blood and bodies. Traces of the sudden invasion of Sledge’s army would be everywhere and she would be forced to face what had happened all over again. There was a lot they would need to do to make the territory feel like home again; to feel safe, to feel like life could return to normal.

To feel in control again.

One such loose end she would need to address was the subject of Jed. The old male, while forever a traitor to Riverfell, had been true to his word and provided the packs of the Domain with the location of the Hive Queen – as promised. In exchange, Shiloh had spared his life. While Jed was not an active participant in the final battle, he had devoted himself to protecting those that had sought refuge at Tell Bagastana. Shiloh knew that if he turned on them again, he would be killed on the spot. She also knew that if he decided to run, it would be no different than his exile and would simply prove his cowardice.

Some part of her was mildly surprised to see him still lingering about when they returned with news of the Queen’s death. She decided that Rocko’s need to keep watch over him was finished on the journey to unite with the other packs, thus marking their deal as done. Jed was free to leave if he so chose, yet he decided to accompany the pack back to Riverfell despite Shiloh’s warnings that he would not be welcome into the territory.

“We should be home by tomorrow afternoon,” she said quietly. It was early and the sun had barely brightened the sky when she found Jed and asked him to walk with her. “You know what that means, right?”

Jed was initially startled by her invitation and the calmness in her voice as she spoke. Drifting further from the pack, he listened without meeting her eyes, then nodded slowly when she questioned him.

“Yes…I’ll take my leave tomorrow morning, then. Say my goodbyes to…well, anyone that might care, which isn’t many I’d guess.” He huffed in amusement though there was clearly sorrow behind his words.

“No. You’ll leave today,” Shiloh said firmly. “Right now. You’ve traveled with us long enough and there’s no point in dragging out the inevitable. The sooner you’re gone, the better. The sooner you’re gone, the sooner we can all move on and stop worrying about what you may do next.”

Jed’s walking slowed to a stop as Shiloh continued on without him for a few paces. She never looked at him as she spoke and seemed lost in thought; a state he’d noticed her in on multiple occasions since they first left Riverfell moons ago.

“What I may do next? What more could I possibly do to prove I’ve no desire to hurt anyone?” He couldn’t help the slight edge to his tone as his ears flicked. “I’ve done all you’ve asked without question. I gave you what you needed to end this War. I looked after your packmates; your daughter. I–”

His words caught in his throat as he realized the weight of her final order; to leave without saying goodbye to Fiadh, Mutt, Sawyer. The only wolves he wanted to wish well and see one last time.

“I-I just want to wish them well. Please, let me say goodbye, at least? I will leave as you say, today, but I–”

Jed’s ears fell back when he saw her stop. Her eyes remained on the ground as silence fell between them. Was she considering his plea? Would any mercy be shown to him – just once more?

“Why would I grant you something that your betrayal stole from me?” Her voice was low and barely hidden behind a growl as her eyes lifted to study the horizon. “Who will I never see again that I was able to say goodbye to, Jed?”

Finally, her head turned and eyes fell upon him as she glared from over her shoulder. Jed could feel his body instinctively and submissively shrink down into the tall grass as she continued.

“I let you live in exchange for the Hive Queen. I owe you nothing and you owe me everything for your treachery. You should have left already and said your goodbyes sooner if it was so damn important to you. No...I won't let you put this family at risk again. I will never let you become a threat to them again.”

By now, Shiloh had closed the few paces that separated them to face him. Jed could sink no lower into the field and remained silent beneath the fire of her eyes and shimmer of her teeth as the sun broke over the horizon. He nodded obediently and would not challenge her again.

As soon as he was sure she was finished speaking, he began to slither away with his tail firmly tucked beneath him. Thoughts of Riverfell filled his mind with each nervous step as he wondered where he would go and what he would do. In truth, he had not fully decided his next path and was only trying to decide what to say to Fiadh and Mutt before leaving, as he knew his chances of speaking to Sawyer were zero.

Each step carried him further from Shiloh and the pack and closer to his new life as a Loner of the Wilds once again. The direction she had led him was back the way they'd already traveled and in the opposite direction of Riverfell. If he were lucky, perhaps he would find others to band together with him? Maybe another Heather-equivalent to bring back to Riverfell to win Shiloh’s good graces? There was at least some hope he would return someday and be allowed back in…right?

“Goodbye…” he whispered quietly to the wind with an exhaled sigh.

It was spoken to those he may never see again; to a life that he would potentially never know. Could this be a turning point for him? A lesson to take and use to better himself? He surely hoped so. Perhaps, with a clean slate, he could become the wolf Riverfell had deserved – that Mutt, Fiadh, and even Shiloh had deserved. Only time would tell.

Goodbye.

The sound of Shiloh’s voice echoing his farewell was the last thing he would ever hear as he turned to look back at her and suddenly felt her teeth close around his throat.

No loose ends, and no survivors – just as she’d promised the Queen.

There was nothing she would not do to protect Riverfell now.

Jed's story within the Domain is now officially over! And what a ride it has truly been the last few years. I appreciate everyone's love for my greasy scoundrel and never anticipated that he would develop any "fans" as his story and role in the Hive Wars gradually unfolded. That's still so awesome and I'm honored folks enjoyed following his arc. <3

I've had this bit of prose written for months and the artwork half-finished for even longer. Life's become rather chaotic lately so I'm trying to tie up loose ends, get caught up on owed replies/collabs, and finish out some old stories so I can hopefully embrace new ones. I appreciate everyone's patience, as always!

Other (recent) pieces related to the end of his story:

WC: 1347
Shiloh, Jed, & Artwork © Quaylak/Me

Description

The wolves of Riverfell had survived.

Beyond all hope and in defiance of her worst fears, they had survived. And with the alliances that could only be forged during the darkest of times, they had not only survived, but won the War by ‘defeating’ the Queen and her armies.

Shiloh had made a promise to her enemy that she would not stop until every Hive drone was dead and the Domain was cleared of their kind. And on their journey home, she made good on that promise by hunting down any trace of them and showing no mercy. In her mind, their deaths ensured that evil would never touch her pack again.

Her nights were sleepless most of the time as her failures replayed on repeat and forced her to relive every painful memory of the last two years – and beyond. At this point, there was nothing she would not do to protect Riverfell…and her children. By spilling the blood of their enemies and watching the life drain from those that wished her and her packmates harm, it brought her a temporary sense of both relief and control. Out here, in the Wilds, it was life or death, kill or be killed. Out here, she felt some semblance of control over her life again.

And yet the closer they came to their return to the lands of Riverfell, the more her anxiety began to escalate. When they had all left nearly two seasons ago, the land was drenched in blood and bodies. Traces of the sudden invasion of Sledge’s army would be everywhere and she would be forced to face what had happened all over again. There was a lot they would need to do to make the territory feel like home again; to feel safe, to feel like life could return to normal.

To feel in control again.

One such loose end she would need to address was the subject of Jed. The old male, while forever a traitor to Riverfell, had been true to his word and provided the packs of the Domain with the location of the Hive Queen – as promised. In exchange, Shiloh had spared his life. While Jed was not an active participant in the final battle, he had devoted himself to protecting those that had sought refuge at Tell Bagastana. Shiloh knew that if he turned on them again, he would be killed on the spot. She also knew that if he decided to run, it would be no different than his exile and would simply prove his cowardice.

Some part of her was mildly surprised to see him still lingering about when they returned with news of the Queen’s death. She decided that Rocko’s need to keep watch over him was finished on the journey to unite with the other packs, thus marking their deal as done. Jed was free to leave if he so chose, yet he decided to accompany the pack back to Riverfell despite Shiloh’s warnings that he would not be welcome into the territory.

“We should be home by tomorrow afternoon,” she said quietly. It was early and the sun had barely brightened the sky when she found Jed and asked him to walk with her. “You know what that means, right?”

Jed was initially startled by her invitation and the calmness in her voice as she spoke. Drifting further from the pack, he listened without meeting her eyes, then nodded slowly when she questioned him.

“Yes…I’ll take my leave tomorrow morning, then. Say my goodbyes to…well, anyone that might care, which isn’t many I’d guess.” He huffed in amusement though there was clearly sorrow behind his words.

“No. You’ll leave today,” Shiloh said firmly. “Right now. You’ve traveled with us long enough and there’s no point in dragging out the inevitable. The sooner you’re gone, the better. The sooner you’re gone, the sooner we can all move on and stop worrying about what you may do next.”

Jed’s walking slowed to a stop as Shiloh continued on without him for a few paces. She never looked at him as she spoke and seemed lost in thought; a state he’d noticed her in on multiple occasions since they first left Riverfell moons ago.

“What I may do next? What more could I possibly do to prove I’ve no desire to hurt anyone?” He couldn’t help the slight edge to his tone as his ears flicked. “I’ve done all you’ve asked without question. I gave you what you needed to end this War. I looked after your packmates; your daughter. I–”

His words caught in his throat as he realized the weight of her final order; to leave without saying goodbye to Fiadh, Mutt, Sawyer. The only wolves he wanted to wish well and see one last time.

“I-I just want to wish them well. Please, let me say goodbye, at least? I will leave as you say, today, but I–”

Jed’s ears fell back when he saw her stop. Her eyes remained on the ground as silence fell between them. Was she considering his plea? Would any mercy be shown to him – just once more?

“Why would I grant you something that your betrayal stole from me?” Her voice was low and barely hidden behind a growl as her eyes lifted to study the horizon. “Who will I never see again that I was able to say goodbye to, Jed?”

Finally, her head turned and eyes fell upon him as she glared from over her shoulder. Jed could feel his body instinctively and submissively shrink down into the tall grass as she continued.

“I let you live in exchange for the Hive Queen. I owe you nothing and you owe me everything for your treachery. You should have left already and said your goodbyes sooner if it was so damn important to you. No...I won't let you put this family at risk again. I will never let you become a threat to them again.”

By now, Shiloh had closed the few paces that separated them to face him. Jed could sink no lower into the field and remained silent beneath the fire of her eyes and shimmer of her teeth as the sun broke over the horizon. He nodded obediently and would not challenge her again.

As soon as he was sure she was finished speaking, he began to slither away with his tail firmly tucked beneath him. Thoughts of Riverfell filled his mind with each nervous step as he wondered where he would go and what he would do. In truth, he had not fully decided his next path and was only trying to decide what to say to Fiadh and Mutt before leaving, as he knew his chances of speaking to Sawyer were zero.

Each step carried him further from Shiloh and the pack and closer to his new life as a Loner of the Wilds once again. The direction she had led him was back the way they'd already traveled and in the opposite direction of Riverfell. If he were lucky, perhaps he would find others to band together with him? Maybe another Heather-equivalent to bring back to Riverfell to win Shiloh’s good graces? There was at least some hope he would return someday and be allowed back in…right?

“Goodbye…” he whispered quietly to the wind with an exhaled sigh.

It was spoken to those he may never see again; to a life that he would potentially never know. Could this be a turning point for him? A lesson to take and use to better himself? He surely hoped so. Perhaps, with a clean slate, he could become the wolf Riverfell had deserved – that Mutt, Fiadh, and even Shiloh had deserved. Only time would tell.

Goodbye.

The sound of Shiloh’s voice echoing his farewell was the last thing he would ever hear as he turned to look back at her and suddenly felt her teeth close around his throat.

No loose ends, and no survivors – just as she’d promised the Queen.

There was nothing she would not do to protect Riverfell now.

Jed's story within the Domain is now officially over! And what a ride it has truly been the last few years. I appreciate everyone's love for my greasy scoundrel and never anticipated that he would develop any "fans" as his story and role in the Hive Wars gradually unfolded. That's still so awesome and I'm honored folks enjoyed following his arc. <3

I've had this bit of prose written for months and the artwork half-finished for even longer. Life's become rather chaotic lately so I'm trying to tie up loose ends, get caught up on owed replies/collabs, and finish out some old stories so I can hopefully embrace new ones. I appreciate everyone's patience, as always!

Other (recent) pieces related to the end of his story:

WC: 1347
Shiloh, Jed, & Artwork © Quaylak/Me