Backstage at Glastonbury was a sensory blur \u2014 dim lighting, concrete floors, and crew members moving in a kind of controlled chaos. Cables were coiled like snakes. Stagehands passed by with gear carts. Sweat clung to skin and fur, the air thick with electricity and adrenaline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feral Eclipse had just finished obliterating the Pyramid Stage. Even now, fans could still be heard screaming in the distance as Trivium\u2019s crew prepared for the next onslaught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Gabriel wasn\u2019t hearing any of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stood near the loading ramp, clutching a half-empty bottle of water, his claws still trembling from the final chorus. His ears were perked, tail flicking restlessly behind him, heart hammering in a chaotic staccato that hadn\u2019t slowed since their set ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark gave him a gruff pat on the shoulder as he passed, heading back to their staging area. \u201cBreathe, pup. You didn\u2019t embarrass yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cassie leaned over, grinning. \u201cYou killed<\/em> it. Seriously. Matt Heafy was nodding the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel\u2019s ears swiveled, but he didn\u2019t respond. Not until Thane approached, standing beside him in the quiet corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey watched,\u201d Gabriel murmured. \u201cHe watched<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane smiled. \u201cYou\u2019ve waited your whole damn life for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then the universe shifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGabriel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The voice wasn\u2019t loud, but it landed like thunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel turned slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Standing ten feet away was Matt Heafy \u2014 sweaty from warm-up, guitar still slung across his shoulder, a towel draped around his neck. His smile was calm, easy. Familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel didn\u2019t move. Couldn\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt held out a hand. \u201cMan, that was a killer<\/em> set. Seriously impressive. That solo you did during the bridge of the fourth song? Oustanding!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel blinked once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then he laughed nervously. \u201cI, uh\u2014y-you saw that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt grinned. \u201cAll of it. You made damn sure<\/em> of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel\u2019s ears pinned back, embarrassed. \u201cSorry. I get\u2026 kinda stupid when I\u2019m excited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou get real<\/em> when you play,\u201d Matt said simply. \u201cAnd I respect the hell out of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before Gabriel could melt into the floor, Matt turned and motioned to someone behind him. A guitar tech stepped forward carrying a hard case. Black. Familiar shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel narrowed his eyes. \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt opened the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside sat a pristine, gleaming Epiphone Les Paul Custom<\/strong>, his signature model<\/em>. Black and gold. Polished. Perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI heard from your crew,\u201d Matt said, voice softer now. \u201cYou\u2019ve wanted this guitar since you were fourteen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel\u2019s claws flexed against his own chest. His voice cracked. \u201cSince the day<\/em> I saw it in a magazine. I had it taped to my wall. I memorized the serial number. I almost shoplifted one when I was sixteen and my dad threatened to chain me to the couch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt laughed. \u201cWell, now you don\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He gently closed the case, lifted it by the handle, and held it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom one musician to another. No strings attached \u2014 unless you want \u2018em in drop C.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Didn\u2019t breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then his hands shook as he took the case, cradling it like something sacred. His chest hitched once. Then again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then the tears came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not sobbing \u2014 just silent, overwhelming tears that streaked down his sleek black muzzle as he lowered his head, overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt smiled gently. \u201cYou okay, man?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel nodded quickly, pressing the back of his clawed hand to his face. \u201cY-Yeah. I just\u2026 I\u2019ve worked so hard. I never thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane appeared beside him, placing a steady hand on Gabriel\u2019s back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s dreamed of this his whole life,\u201d Thane said quietly. \u201cAnd I think this might be the first time he realizes that he made it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt looked at Gabriel again and nodded. \u201cYou didn\u2019t just make it. You belong<\/em> here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel dropped to his knees, hugging the case like a lifeline, laughing and crying all at once while the rest of the band stood nearby, watching with soft smiles and misty eyes of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane crouched beside him and whispered, \u201cYou earned it, my wolf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Gabriel, blinking through tears, looked up at the lights hanging over the backstage corridor and said, \u201cThis is the best day of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Backstage at Glastonbury was a sensory blur \u2014 dim lighting, concrete floors, and crew members moving in a kind of controlled chaos. Cables were coiled like snakes. Stagehands passed by with gear carts. Sweat clung to skin and fur, the air thick with electricity and adrenaline. Feral Eclipse had just finished obliterating the Pyramid Stage. 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