Chapter XII: To Dust You Will Return

"Mira!" A deep voice snapped.
I lifted my head. "Frito? What do you want?"
"There's someone here for you. Calls himself 'Thebes'," Frito informed me.
"Thebes?" I practically screeched, lurching to my feet.
"Yes, he's got a message-"
I interrupted the brown wolf by barging past him, shoving my way out of the den and into the cold winter air.
"Thebes!" I snarled as Frito emerged behind me.
"Ah, Mira," he smiled. "It's been so long! How are you, dear?"
"Why are you here?!" I snapped, avoiding his question.
"Mama has a message."
I hissed. "Mama is dead to me, and you know it."
"She wanted you to know that your pups will all be born of darkness," Thebes said. "It was brought to her a fortnight ago."
"The new moon," I muttered.
"Indeed," he said grimly. "Prophesied at the same time of your birth."
I nodded as Thebes trotted away.
"Oh, and Mira?" He called over his shoulder, pausing.
"Yes?"
"Dust." He smiled tightly. "You'll return to it. And Tuff wasn't lying. He was in Jay's litter, and Mama sacrificed him to keep the rest of us safe."
I laughed coldly. "Mama never wanted to keep us safe. She just wanted the power."
"Stay safe." Thebes rolled his eyes, giving a curt nod before leaving the camp.
Trotting back to the den, I let out a sigh. Clearly Thebes forgot that I had to raise Ava's pups before I could have any of my own.
But his words still rang through my head endlessly.
Dust; you'll return to it.
Your pups will be born of darkness.