It was the wind howling that woke him up. It didn't matter because Steven was barely sleeping the past few days anyway, although he could not understand how he was able to function the past three days while Collecting.

Wolfpack 1 was sharing 2's Den while their own was being repaired. Steven was having a hard time getting a hang of it and had a hard time having good finds. Although the others comforted him telling him that it was alright and that it often happens, he wanted to steel himself up because it was going to happen a lot. What a bloody debut. He thought the other day as he got back to The Drop. He thought of visiting Ace in his ward but changed his mind since he remembered that he was going to be discharged the next day anyway.

The funeral was today, all at once for Hopper and those who died from the storm. Funerals were held every nineteenth day of the month. This was in relation to the date of The Weeping, July 19th. Steven knew one of the victims, he was Ozzie. He was his age, and they went to school together as children. Everybody knew him because of his obsession towards David Bowie. Eventually, Steven got to be friends with him in school when they got partnered together for some activity, now he's just gone. He thought about what he'll miss most about Ozzie, and went with his David Bowie references and his colorful posters he painted of the musical icon all over his room.

As they walked towards Soul Hill, he looked at the people walking with him and his family. Going to the funerals was not required at all, although people go anyway not only because of the small community but out of respect to the departed and their families which has grown as a custom knowing that they were what's left of humanity. Steven estimated around seven hundred people going for the ceremony, which was a huge crowd. Usually, they come more when somebody significant to the community dies. Topping the list are Collectors and Hunters, somehow the more dangerous your job is, the more popular you get.

Soul Hill was a hill next to The Settlement which they turned into a cemetery. The graves were all around the hill, dug within, while the top was conveniently a flat surface for leading the ceremony, where a representative from the council speaks. Although the hill wasn't packed with graves yet, it doesn't mean there wasn't a lot buried either.

When they got to the base of the hill, he excused himself from his mother. "Mum, I'll go stand by the pack." She nods with a smile, somehow seeing her eldest as a man now. He stood beside Harry who had crutches. They were in line with a casket for Hopper which was filled with his belongings and was next to his dug up grave. On the other side of the casket was his wife and three children. Mary was crying. While their eldest, Stephanie, who was Steven's age and was part of the mining guild was just silent, holding her younger twin brothers' hands, Adrian and Milo.

In the few days he'd been with the pack, Steven already learned about their backgrounds and countless stories of the legendary Wolfpack 1. Harry was one of the founders along with Ace during the first dive. That was before all the Dens and the platforms, it was just them, their gloves, and their harnesses. No Guardian and no idea what's out there whatsoever. He loved that story of how the guild came to be, how it wasn't even in the list of jobs you could do within The Settlement. Steven also learned that Harry was one of the three remaining from the seven of the first dive eleven years ago, a year after the flood. His call sign was Rabbit simply because of the rabbit he owned, and was so attached to, before the flood which Ace and his other childhood friends used to tease him with, and it just stuck. Ace was one while the other was Mark, the head of the guild in charge of electricity for the city.

Chris was the biggest in the pack, he was hard to miss standing at six feet and nine inches. He towered over everybody around the casket. Aside from this, everybody knew he had the biggest appetite among the guild. Back when food was still rationed in the early years of The Settle-ment, everybody gave him their extra food stubs because they knew how much of an eater he was. That's why the nickname Stubs was born. He was half Russian, and some confusion in his birth certificate spelled his name as Christopher instead of Kristofor when he was born in the States. He was very intimidating although he was the friendliest, always greeting everybody and offering a helping hand in everything.

The ceremony started with six gunshots from the Hunters which made everybody look at the top of the hill. An elder from the council, it was Martha, the guild leader for garments in which Steven's mother worked for, was seen approaching the microphone above. "People of The Settlement, the council would like to thank and welcome you to Soul Hill. We are grateful to you celebrating the lives of the fallen citizens of our beautiful community today. Here we remember them as they were, and how they always will be in our hearts." The city was silent, the howl of the wind and flap of clothes are the only sound heard around as the elder continued with her speech. Her tone was solemn and genuine, Steven looked to see people in tears around him.

Among those in tears was Hawk. His nickname was because he was the best at identifying finds and seeing them the quickest. He kept a straight face as he looked up the hill while tears streamed down his cheeks. He was Hopper's best friend, Steven found out when he broke down right after they got rescued. His real name was William, and he grew up in Chelsea before the flood, those closest to him called him "Will" or "Billy". He was older than Ace and Harry who were twenty-seven, being thirty-eight making him and Hopper the eldest in the guild. He was nice to Steven because they lived in the same rock despite most English people being hostile towards the Irish and their bloody history. He joined the guild some time after it was formed and is one of the oldest members. David came after him shortly after one of the original members died as a replacement, he was a tall dark man who hailed from Brooklyn. He also volunteered like Steven. He was the most quiet in the pack and earned his nickname, Deep, because he holds the record for the deepest dive which was at twenty feet underwater and came back unscathed with a satellite console under his arm. He was Steven's favorite in the pack, because aside from his jokes, he feared nothing and was just pure badass.

The speech ended with Steven not even listening, he just stared at Hopper's coffin. He did not realize one of the elders was there to bless the casket already. "Chase Montasser. Beloved husband, father, friend, and inspiring Collector." He gives a wreath of flowers to Mary in which Stephanie received because she had started sobbing. William and his wife went over the other side to comfort her as the twins looked up to them. "Chase was from Versailles, he grew up to a loving family and was the best track player I knew." William started his eulogy. "I grew up with him, survived with him when the world weeped. We called him Hopper because of his bloody brilliance in the two hundred meter hurdle event." The people around were closing in now, looking at the closed and empty coffin. Listening intently as he sighed and sniffled his way through his speech. "He met Mary back in university. My goddaughter Stephanie here was lucky to have seen that beautiful world even as a child. He did not fall short for his family, he was the most admirable man there is." He went on with his eulogy when Steven started looking around for Ace, he found him behind the pack with Ingrid standing beside him. "We outran the flood together, reaching The Settlement as the oceans rose behind us. Building one foundation at a time for years until the waters stopped rising. We became Collectors because we missed being in the fray, the thrill of it, it's nothing like facing the seas again. The toughest competition of our lives, something that we could not outrun we turned to face instead. Hopper knew that. Right 'til the very end, I knew he wouldn't have regrets." He looked around the people surrounding them as he spoke. "He gave his best in everything he did, that's because he wasn't afraid of doing what's necessary for humanity. We lot should learn from him, always be on the lookout for each other as he looked out for us out there for years. Always live to the fullest without regrets. For Hopper!" He cheered in which everybody roared in response. Hundreds of voices. "FOR HOPPER!" Followed by the cheers for the other victims. Steven heard Ozzie's cheer last as it echoed all around as it was followed by collective silence.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

People were starting to go back to the city after the burials and the ceremony, getting ready for the Feast of Souls for tonight. It's a custom every month after the storm, after the funerals they held a festival making shrines for those who lost their lives and celebrating the life they lived, a citywide party. It was kind of a monthly holiday until the next day to rest and just take it easy. To shake off the weight of a loss of friends and family.

During the whole ceremony Ace did not fall in line among his pack, he stayed behind. Everybody was used to it though, and admittedly they all know how much he takes it personally every time he lost a part of his squad. Ingrid held his hand which he didn't notice was shaking the whole time, so nobody else noticed. He nods towards her thankfully, knowing that he needed her to be strong for everybody.

He stepped next to Chase's grave when things had settled down. What's left of the crowd was just the pack and their families. Standing a little bit further was Mark, staring at him with a blank face. "I- I don't have anything prepared to say, to be honest." Ace stuttered. "But then again, how does one really prepare for this?" He looked at all of them before he continued, feeling the icy wind on his cheeks making it turn red. "Let me start by apologizing. I'm sorry to you, Mary and your children. It was my fault everything went to shit back there, I take responsibility. Firstly as the head of the pack, and genuinely as your friend." They did not blame him, but he opposed that idea anyway. "A simple irresponsibility cost the life of one of my oldest friends, a brother even. I have been thinking about how I could take it back every day since." He was looking down now, Steven dumbfounded seeing his pack leader like this. "I will not let this happen again. I can only hope you can forgive me for this mistake. I apologize to all of you for putting you in danger." There was a long silence and for a while there was just the wind and the flap of the grave banners that filled the air.

"We don't blame you. Although we forgive you." Mary broke the silence with her soft and broken voice.

"Sir, with all due respect you had a choice to make and you chose to lead us with what you had at the moment." It was David who spoke. "Broken comms or not, it could've happened anytime and to anybody, it's not the first time either. We know very well the vows we swore upon and the shit we got into, you made sure we understood every time before we went out there to do our jobs, you're doing more than enough keeping us alive. Leading us everyday to make sure we'd see tomorrow and get back to our families. We choose to be there too, not only because we're part of the guild but because it's also our job you get back to your family. Don't beat your ass up too much, sir. It's stupid."

Harry snickered first which was followed by everyone except Mark who just looked away at the distance. Ace stepped lower to join them in which he received hugs and regards from his pack's families. "We celebrate Hopper's life today, eh? Happy feast." William said. "I'm sure he'll love that." Ace replies with a smile. He looked at Harry talking to Mark, which looked like they were catching up. The two of them shook hands afterwards then Harry together with his wife went back to the city, excusing themselves. "We'll see you tonight, okay? I'll bring some barbecue!" He waved, but when everybody saw Mark they followed suit.

Steven wasn't sure what happened between him and Ace, all he knew was that they'd stopped being friends long ago. He can't help but keep on looking back as they walk back to the city, just two figures standing at Soul Hill with its colorful banners and dead residents. "They'll be fine." Ingrid smiled at him, seeing him look. "It's not my place to tell. Maybe he will, tonight." She looks back at them. "That's if he comes." She chuckles. He doesn't reply because he was just coming to terms on how this legend, this person he's looked up to his whole life, is so unnaturally human.

Ace didn't approach Mark, instead he just turned to look at Hopper's freshly covered grave, catching a whiff of dug up soil every time the wind blew towards his direction. Mark with his permanently damaged spine hobbled towards him. "Really making a handicapped go after you, huh? Given the chance to help even just a bit, and you still don't take it. You haven't changed, old friend." Ace doesn't answer, keeping his eyes on the grave. "Don't worry, I'm not here to gloat as much as usual." He holds up his hand, on it was Ace's newly recharged batteries. Ace takes it, "Thanks." He still wouldn't look at him.

"Oh, I'm not done yet." He fishes his repaired watch and comms from his coat pocket. Ace takes them as well.

"I haven't felt this sorry since..." He trailed off.

"Since my brother." Mark finished.

"Jesus, what happened to us, Marcus?"

"You let him die, that's what happened."

"Yes, and not a day goes by that I would-"

"Oh you know I'm past that. We all are. Ings, Rabbit, even when the others were still alive. The only thing different about me is that I never forgot." He looks at the top of the hill, a single banner flying, a grave almost forgotten. "It's just you who needs to sort yourself out. See, that's what's going to kill you. Your guilt, not the ocean. You gotta be aware of that, Robert."

"Dark thoughts, empty words. Right? That's what you told me before. Until I haven't forgiven myself, my words will always be empty."

This time it was Mark who didn't answer. "I really am sorry about James, Marcus." Ace finally faces him. They both glanced at James's grave above. "Still empty, my friend. I said come to terms with your mistakes, not forgive yourself." He pats Ace's shoulder. "Don't shut yourself in tonight. You got boring when you started being an edgy teenager. The kid would appreciate it. He's almost the same age as we were, which is why it's all coming back to you, I'm sure. Hopper didn't help. Take my advice, you badly need it." He starts walking away from his once best friend, wobbling his way back to the city, leaving a single silhouette standing on the hill's slope, a silhouette filled with regret.

Evening came when Steven was picked up by Ingrid to go to Chase's while his mother hosted the clothing guild in their house, leaving the hell to his younger brother. "Why doesn't Ace ever come to the Feast of Souls?" He asked on the way as drums and music filled the air coming from all around the city. On the streets, inside the house. Laughter and lights were bright tonight. "It's a really long story, but I guess the best way to describe it is that he likes to rest when he can. And these are the times where he actually gets to rest without worrying about tomorrow or anybody else." She had a crate of beer on her arms while Steven carried the food she cooked.

He continued walking in silence, still not able to comprehend how Ace was nothing like he expected. Ingrid was about to start talking again when somebody from behind took the crate from her, "I'll get that for you, ma'am." He didn't recognize him in the dark at first, but it was Ace. "Let me walk you to your party, just happened to be passing by." He looks at his new recruit and smirks at him. Ingrid's startle turned into a laugh. "What a gentleman. Montasser residence, s'il vous plaît." Beamed Ingrid, her face lighting up with a smile, as she took an arm offered by her childhood friend while he carried the crate under another. Somehow Steven knew that he wasn't there just passing by.