Shards
She knelt before the small opening between the rocks, peering into its darkness. A frail whimper drifted out. The sound was what had drawn Lerin here; it had weaved its desperate notes around her weary heart and she knew she had to ease the suffering of its creator. One way or another. She unstrapped the dagger from her leg and slid its blade into the opening. The creature inside was silent. Lerin's stomach growled; if she killed the animal, it would be the first time in months she had fresh meat. She began to carefully pry the biggest rock loose; there was no telling what was in there, and if it was capable of making a meal out of her. Finally the rock was loose enough for her to slide it away. Through the foot-wide opening, nothing was visible. Lerin reached into the weathered pouch at her side, fingers searching for a familiar smoothness and finding it. She brought out a slender rose quartz and blew on it gently. The crystal glowed warmly, illuminating the cave. Her gaze quickly focused on the silvery ball of fur in the corner, its eyes and nose tucked under a thick bushy tail.
"From the disproportionate size of its paws, must be a pup," she mused. "Odd for it to be down in the caves - " she paused, and a look around the stone walls confirmed there were no signs of the pack "- alone." She made quick work of the rest of the rocks. As the crystal's light began to fully bathe the pup, its warmth energized the little body. The pup lifted its head. Bright emerald eyes stared intently at Lerin. Embedded in its throat was an onyx dragonshard; the silver fur around it was matted with blood. "Oh," Lerin whispered, as a tear glissaded over the dust coating her face. "So that's what happened to you."
