What remains

For a moment the girl merely stood there, her feet rooted to the ground as she took in the empty shed. The smell of wool fat, sheep dung and blood was overpowering, yet still not so much as she had feared and half expected. Her red rimmed eyes took in the lumps in the hay that betrayed the presence of dead animals, those who had not been lucky enough to escape, but inevitably her gaze was drawn towards Nate and the trembling dog under his hands. His instruction was welcome; she nodded without a word and disappeared outside again, returning only a moment later with a bucket of water in one hand and a rag in the other. Picking her way over to them, Maea set down her burdens and hunched down on her heels, heart aching at the sight of the dog. "Frost... hey, sweet girl, you're alright now. Easy lass, let us have a look at you..." Tears began rolling unbidden down her cheeks again as she pressed herself in between the dog and the barn wall, letting the warm body nestle into her as she stroke the matted fur. So much blood and dirt... The shepherd was supposed to be white, but only patches of her actual color could be seen now. "I'll hold her" she told Nathaniel, sniffling a little but not bothering to wipe the tears from her face. Her hands were needed elsewhere, and they stroke the trembling body of the dog as if nothing else existed. MAEA Sometimes darkness can show you the light