Kinu
(Good lord, 2008. *nudges skeletons out of the way.*)
It should have felt silly by now to stick around, to maintain empty homes and tend abandoned gardens. If she were any other wolf, she would have left. Hunting was far less fun by oneself and perhaps she was looking a touch thinner these days, but it felt right to stay and keep things tidy. What else was a caretaker good for if they did not take care?
Kaori sat in the shade of a tree and replayed memories with closed eyes; she had watched pups come into the world and grow up and she would be lying if she said she did not miss that. The company of the adults, the playful energy of the pups. The atmosphere was stagnant now but she held tight to hope. The Pack had exchanged hands once more. They would bounce back, she knew this even if there was not yet proof. Gears were undoubtedly turning, however slowly. She had an infinite amount of love and patience for her pack members and her love was certainly not fragile. It withstood the tests of time, the difficulties they had to get through.
"All in due time," a whispering sigh to herself, a little use of imagination to envision their home lively again. The bustle of every day life, the hunting and friendly competitive natures of adolescent minds, the warmth of companionship and many individuals working together as one. If Time thought it could win then it had not yet challenged a spirit such as her own.