Patiently, Night wiped the tears pouring down his brother’s young face. “Shade, honey, people suffer through loss all of the time, but they have to learn how to cope with their grief and move passed it. They can go on to live happy, fulfilled lives once they learn the coping skills to be able to overcome their sadness. You don’t have to do this. People can find closure, it just takes time. Leave this to me, alright? This is what I was trained to do. Just like my patients have to learn how to adjust, I had to learn how to teach them to be able to do it.

“Your gift is amazing, but right now, it’s too much for you to handle, especially after a disaster like this. You’re still very, very young. Even shamans that have spent decades honing their ability would find this a daunting situation. You’re doing your best, but it’s important for all of us to know our limitations. I realized what mine was after spending a few weeks here.

“I really wanted to help these children, but I was quickly approaching my emotional limit. When you help assuage the suffering of others, you take in a little of the pain you help others expunge. After going through a tragedy that left so many little ones without the safety and shelter of their families in such a short amount of time, their misery was multiplied by the grief of the other children around them. I knew that this was a far greater intake of pain than I could manage on my own. It was starting to wear me down and I knew I couldn’t keep giving it my all if I kept trying to do it by myself. I needed help, so I sent for your mother. I realized that I couldn’t keep supporting these children without having someone to support me, and that’s fine. I want to help others, but I also know that I can’t help anyone if I’m drowning under the weight of my own struggles. That’s why I want you to go away from this place. I want you to go somewhere that you can be safe and where you can rest. You don’t have to deal with this and I don’t want you to think that you have to. Let me handle this, alright?”

The younger, empathic wolf sniffled and sobbed, but nodded his head.

“That’s better.” Night said, kissing the top of his brother’s head. “I’ll talk to Dr. Cherry and ask her opinion on what’s an ideal island for you to visit and I’ll send you, your mother, and your brothers off on the first ferry to have a little vacation there.”

Shade nodded his head once more, but stopped mid nod as a thought came to him. He looked up at his brother with wide, weary eyes and said, “But, you said that you were at your limit and that’s why you sent for Mama. But, if you send Mama away, you’ll be alone, again. You’ll be beyond your limit."