Ashes and Silence

The heat was unbearable. Smoke seeped into my lungs, leaving behind a disgusting taste on my tongue and throat, as I lay in Lucians arms. I felt sick to the core. Whatever that man had done to me, it was like he had rearranged my insides with a flick of his hand.

“Please… stay with me.” My strength failed me, the words barely more than a whisper. The anger in his face when I spoke them was terrifying. Him leaving was worse.

I endured the nausea, fought for every breath to stay awake. Even when my ears popped from Byakko’s roar, I forced myself to hold on.

Then Dumas picked me up. I saw several bodies scattered about and Byakko looming over us with killing intent. Dumas was saying something. I couldn’t understand, my ears were hurting and everything sounded as if I were submerged. But it didn’t matter. Still sweating and reeling from the sickness, I took my chance. I stomped his foot, drove my fist into his gut, and fled behind Byakko’s giant leg.
Byakko would protect me from this half-faced fiend. He had to.

Lying on the ground, Dumas argued with him. Pleading, probably. Serves him right. I clung to Byakko’s fur, my legs trembling, but I didn’t want to look weak. Not until the man that caused this chaos was gone!

Then it happened. In unison, Dumas and Byakko turned to me, with Byakko stepping away.

Unable to support myself, I sank to the ground. What was going on? Dumas approached, talking to me. Even if I could understand I wouldn't have listened. My eyes instead fixed on Byakko, who was letting this happen from a distance.
This couldn’t be real. Dumas had brought strangers to the clearing. Strangers that burned their sanctuary. Strangers that he slaughtered like countless intruders before. But Dumas had his blessing?

Tears stung my eyes as I looked at Byakko. If he wont save me, then... I spoke mind to mind. "Lucian… can you please save him?"

My vision blurred when Byakko turned away. "You. Save."

As if to lead the way, he stomped the ground. The fire around the clearing snuffed out and the smoke was torn away by a gust of wind.
He came close one last time. I reached for his face, stroked his fur, losing myself in his soft yellow eyes until a sudden darkness took me.

~✦~

The silence they left behind in this scorched crater came crashing down all at once. I don’t know how long I cried, but the sun had already passed its zenith before I managed to drag myself out of the rut.

After healing my damaged ears, I scavenged through the bodies. I was lucky to find some supplies intact. There was water to wash and drink and even some dried foods. I only managed to chew down a few bites of the tough rations before I began sobbing again.

Something heavy on my chest pulled me out of my dream the next morning. I almost wished it was a monster, looking for an easy meal. Instead, it was a familiar form that greeted me.
"Hey, little friend," I sniffled.

The small Volpa with the light-blue horns rested easily on me, rubbing its paws against its twitching snout. The cute act was enough to cheer me up a bit.

I pulled it into a hug. I was happy that it didn’t resist, only tunneling out to get fresh air. I really needed this. Without anyone left to listen, I confided in the bunny.
"What do I do, little friend? It’s just me now. Byakko is gone, Lucian was taken… where do I go from here?" The best thing to do was wait here. They'll come back for me... right?

But are they really? Did they even make it out alive? How long would I have to wait for them? Are they even thinking about coming back?

Did they abandon me?
The questions didn’t stop, only growing darker by the minute.

Lucian’s words echoed in my mind.
"I… I don’t want to continue living like this."

I wiped my face, set the bunny down, and forced myself to march. My thoughts carried me to the chasm, where we had watched monsters gather a few days ago. They must’ve gathered because of the humans coming. Even the monsters had each others backs, must be nice.

Jealous, I edged closer to the drop, staring into its depths. My body grew heavy, the pull stronger the longer I looked down. A single step and all my troubles would be gone. No silence. No being alone. Just...

An unexpected squeak from behind nearly made me lose my balance. The sneaky rodent had followed me all the way here.

"What’s wrong, little buddy? Trying to stop me? Or angry I’m going without you?"

I stepped back, crouching low as the critter jumped into my arms. Its whole body trembled, its muzzle quivering as fast as its tiny heart was pounding. Looking into its eyes, I saw myself.
Lost, without a family or home, clinging desperately to the first kind being I found.

I laughed, recalling my own words.
“If you’re tired of living for yourself… then live for my sake instead.”
What a selfish demand, I realized now. And yet… it reignited something in me.

“I think I’ll call you… Bibi. You’re like a tiny Byakko, after all.”

I took its squeak as a sign of approval and held my head high again.
There was still darkness in my heart, but for now the fight in me rang louder.
“Okay, Bibi. We can do this!”