Trailingear hadn’t thought she’d die. Not her. Not like this. And not so soon after they’d last spoken. If he’d known, Dark Forest help him, he would have said more. He would have told her she mattered. That he was proud of her. That she wasn’t alone. But now she was gone. Her life had been stolen, ripped away in the chaos of battle like a leaf torn from a tree in a storm. One heartbeat she was there, and the next, she was just... gone. A still shape among the blood-soaked grass. Funny, really, how he never had seemed to think anyone he cared about would ever die. Pathetic, really, that he hadn’t been prepared. It didn’t feel real. Couldn’t be real. She was an UrchinClan warrior. She wasn’t meant to be defeated in a fight But no. Not this time. He tried to tell himself it was just bad luck. That she’d made a mistake. That maybe her opponent had gotten lucky. But deep down, a darker truth festered in his heart like rot. Someone had killed her. Someone had dared. And he would find out who. His claws flexed into the earth as a low growl rumbled in his throat. The grief that gripped his chest twisted, burned, and morphed into something sharper. Anger. Rage. Vengeance. How dare they? How could the world keep turning, everyone keep breathing, when she no longer did? She didn’t deserve to die like that. Alone, only with her kiII3r for company. He should’ve been there. Maybe if he’d fought with her, he could’ve saved her. But he would make it right. He had to. He would find the cat who had ended her life, and when he did, they’d know pain. Because they should suffer too. Shouldn’t they? StarClan could preach forgiveness, peace. But what peace was there in this? Where was the justice in a life like hers being ended so soon? No. This wasn’t fate. This wasn’t destiny. This was murder. And Trailingear wouldn’t let it go unpunished. Even if he’d have to do that very thing to avenge Illusionear.
Sorry, I forgot to post this so it’s a little late!
