https://www.deviantart.com/ifritnox/art/3-2-Pictor-s-last-Song-967562678

It's the Silent who hear the most.

In the final days of Light, the darkness hid from the Titans. She was in Corvus' realm, and as it would show, the raven was less vigilant than he should've been. But there had been peace for a long time and nobody suspected any danger.

In these days, Deneb and Pictor walked Lightreach together. They were searching for Erakis Crimsonstar, for still nobody knew of his fate. The singer and the poet wanted to hear his memory of his friend to make a song about the fox.

On the red wolf's trail they neared the place where the Eclipse had entered, and finally discovered her lair and all her servants.

The brothers turned to flee, but even though they had the same father as Sabik Arrow-Star, they weren't as fast as the hero. Deneb and Pictor got caught by the snakes, and dragged in front of the Darkness.

Fear took hold of them as they faced their enemy and realized Darkness had been in Andromeda for a while. Deneb and Pictor saw the sleeping Draco and knew that this creature could destroy all of Lightreach. They knew they had to warn Lupus and the Titans, their Children and Allays and Creations.

But the Darkness pushed her claws into the earth around the brothers and imprisoned them, so that they could warn nobody.

The cage was dark, nobody could see inside it. But a small light came through a crack. Pictor, having the power of poetry in his soul, make a few lines, and Deneb sang them for his brother, and together they could widen the crack so far that they could fit through it.

But the Darkness was often smelling the cage to make sure the wolfs were still inside. If they flew, she would soon notice, both brothers knew, and give chase and imprison them better next time so they couldn't escape again. But escape they must, to warn Lupus. With a heavy heart they understood they had to seperate. Only one of them would escape, while the other would stay behind in the Dark Cage to trick the Darkness as long as possible.

Maybe their trick would work so well that the one brother to stay behind could be saved, but since they were no foxes, the brothers were sure they couldn't deceit this well. Vulpecula could've find a way, but Vulpecula wasn't there!

They also knew who would have to go, even though they argued about it for a while. But Pictor was mute, only Deneb could understand him. So only Deneb could warn the Titans.

Finally they had to act and said their Good-Bye. Pictor gifted his brother a final song, so that it would keep the Darkness from him.

Pictor's last Song:

I wanted to sing to you of dew,

of the call of wind, the bird's flight-hymn.

There should have been a thousand tunes,

not fox's deceit or shadow's sin.

Do not talk about tomorrow,

the world today is bright and free.

You, my brother, far from sorrow,

I hope this song can let you flee.

Beloved home, o Lightreach mine!

To you I gave my every song.

My brother, when the world is fine,

then we will meet again, so-long.

Pictor stepped through the crack and started to run.

Not long after, the Darkness smelled the cage again, but she smelled a wolf, thought everything was in order and went. On the second try she still didn't suspect anything, but on the third round she noticed the small had become weaker. She pulled back her claws and saw only one wolf in the trap.

She sent her servants to catch Deneb, and he saw them close in. With much sadness he understood that his brother was lost, and ran faster. As the servants were about to catch up to him, Deneb raised his head to sing. He sang Pictor's song and the sound scared the servants of Darkness away, so they had to return empty-pawed.

The Darkness grew angry and she swallowed Pictor; since then he is trapped inside her stomach. He is still burning with the light of poetry and he consoles everyone that laters got swallowed by Darkness. But since he is mute, he can't share his gift anymore.

Deneb reached Lupus and could wanr him and the Titans. Hastily, Lupus sent out scouts and convinced himself of the truth in Deneb's words. Then he called forth all warroirs of Andromeda and told them to prepare for war.

But first, he spoke to Corvus, in who's reach the Darkness was lingering, and asked him how he didn't see the danger in time. Corvus had to admit he was too preoccupied with the Court and had neglegted his tasks.

"Everybody should see on which side you're truly on", the First Wolf said in anger. "For with your treason you have helped the Darkness. You could've saved Pictor, all it would've taken are your eyes!"

Then Lupus began to sing. He sang the raven's white feathers black, and this is the reason why ravens and crows are still dark as the night today.

Now all warriors of Andromeda came to Lupus. Only three animals refused his call. The first of them was Apus, the Bird of Paradies, who had helped in the Twin's Prank. He had seen Corvus' punishment and feared his own fate, since he had known of the Invasion for a long time and not said anything.

As they saw him flee, the Giraffe and the Tucan joined him. They ran to the farthes part of Lightreach and hid from both sides, and are known as Cowards ever since.

Deneb would never sing another song. Not, until Pictor was freed. Thus, the first battle was already lost, before the war had even started, for the Singer and the Poet both fell silent.

Deneb didn't sing anymore and walked the forests alone. But from time to time, when fogs rises from the grasslands or a gentle rain falls, you can hear him call softly. Some even say they witnessed him talk to somebody, as if he could still hear his brother with all the distance between them.

My brother, when the mists rise high,

then we will meet again, so-long.