Sweetkit had been looking for Tortrix all morning. He'd promised yesterday- they were gonna sneak out after nap, practice their "battle moves" in the clearing, maybe even try a stalk or two. Sweetkit had barely slept, tail twitching with excitement. But when he padded out and spotted the small shape crumpled near the edge of camp, something felt wrong. "Tortrix!" Sweetkit's voice rang out, too loud for the hush that surrounded the still body. He bounded over, soft white paws thudding clumsily. "Hey, c'mon, you're gonna make us late for training!" He nudged Tortrix's shoulder with his nose. No response. He tried again, harder this time. Still nothing. Sweetkit frowned. "You're not being funny," he muttered, giving a soft laugh that wobbled. "C'mon, wake up. We- we said we'd impress everyone, remember? We can't if you're just… sleeping here." His peach-colored eyes darted over Tortrixkit's unmoving flank, waiting for the rise and fall. Waiting for the huff of breath. But it didn't come. This remembered him faintly of Softie... Sweetkit pressed closer, curling against his friend's side like he could warm him awake. "It's okay," he whispered, voice suddenly small. "You're just tired. I get tired too. We'll just… we'll rest now, and then we'll train later. Okay?" Silence. Just like it had been with Softie. The reality was too big for his mind to hold, so he tried to twist it into something he could. "You'll see," Sweetkit insisted stubbornly, as if Tortrix could hear. "We'll be the best. We'll impress everyone and get a cool mentor. We'll... we'll make it happen." His words cracked into a hiccup. Sweetkit buried his face into Tor's fur, breathing in the cold, fading scent. "You're just… sleeping. Right?" But even a kit could feel the difference. The stillness. The finality. Sweetkit didn't move for a long time, his tiny body pressed against the one that would never move again. Just like Softie's.
<- sweet rn
