I pull the plank over the entrance

Sealing out those howling winds

And turned to my family

My husband, Gerald lay beside Asha

Our malamute, gentle giant

I grabbed a fur and laid down

Laying it over all three of us

Warm bundle cuddled tight

No snow could find its way

Not here in our lovely warmth

Gerald grabbed the wooden bowl

Laden with powdery snow

And dumped it on the small fire

Crackling beside him

Soon sizzling flickered and died

I closed my eyes slowly

Face full of wooly fur

An arm stretched out

Hugging both Asha and me

Darkness enveloped lovingly

Dream haze came quietly

Heedless of those rumbling winds

My babe lay in my arms

Breath gone but body warm

The moment she left us

Asha

Then the next day

Asha returned

Black ball of cloud

Crested snowy dune

Howling to us

Reborn from a wintery grave

To watch us once more

From tragedy sprung

Such wonderful life

I was suddenly cold

So very cold

Shivering

My eyes flew open as sound cascaded

Crashing down as our plank had

In the entrance crouched two figures

Eight paws

Two maws

And low growls full of death

Wolves

Asha already guarding me

My husband holding a dagger of bone

He slowly, carefully, hands me one

I grip it tightly, eyes transfixed

Then one lunged

Asha ducked low teeth twisting up

Burying in the wolf’s soft throat

A cry and yelp of pain

The other wolf launched over its companion

Tackling Asha to the ground

Our babe cried out for us

A roar bestial and full of fury

Issues from my throat

As dagger dug deep in its throat

Warm blood spurting my eyes

I blinked away the viscous blood

But all was still pink and crimson

The other wolf had no chance

My husband already was cutting away

Slicing sinew and tendon

Breaking bone and separating head

From neck

I panted heavily

My heart in my ears

Then the sound cut through

A shuddering whimper

Asha

I turned her over

Whale eyes pleading

Life flowed from her

Gouges cut in neck

“No please

No

Not again

I can’t do this again

No please Asha”

I held her close to my chest

Her whimpering gasps shuddering us both

My husband was holding us both

Arms held what couldn’t be saved

What wouldn’t be stopped

Blood

So much

Asha coughed

Sighed

And was still

I screamed

I screamed so hard

So bitterly

My throat felt torn

That I would tear the sky

Damn the gods and all their thrones

Damn nature itself

If it would bring her back

But she was gone

I had lost Asha

I had lost life

I had lost hope

Again

If you enjoyed this make sure to check out Amberley’s poem for today right here! If you’d like to read the rest of them check out our collections “After the End” and the hashtag AfterTheEnd