Giving over to this side made me closer to someone not even here anymore.
I understood it all now.
I'd give my own life before I saw those of Shie or the children she snuggled in thier nests around me.
I'd kill anyone even wanting to go near this room while they were here. The twinge in my chest whenever I thought of them only bloomed into a deep love I had only felt once before.
I starved myself so that I could keep them safe. I didn't move from the doorway that was the last line of protection to my family.
Whenever there was a noise, I boiled. When I saw faces check inside the room, I snarled.
Missions and the family were the last things on my mind. All I could think about was everything I had worked so hard for right behind me.
I understood it perfectly.
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One week was not enough time.
I wanted to mill over names, spend more time buried in Shie's fur when we slept, and ponder over where our family would venture too.
Would it be safe enough? Could they make the climb to the outside world? Would there be anything in the walls to stop them? How many would survive? Would there be any girls or just boys?
I had never given this a thought before. A new start and I was panicking before they got here.
Looking up at the bundles above, my chest swelled with pride.
Those were ours. I was actually the father of them. Nothing had tainted these ones.
I didn't dare to smother myself in my Skin after the fight between me and Carrion. I wanted to recover from these wounds with the help of Shie so that I could see my children as I was.
My human side wasn't even that anymore. I was just a Skin. I was still clinging to a life I didn't even have anymore because this one scared me too much.
But now, I was accepting things were different.
I was the host of a demon. I was about to watch my own children hatch. I had every desire of my own Queen filled to the best of my ability.
After all this, I had a family I belonged to and a mate who cared for me. My job was to protect my Queen. I could still hold onto the pain of losing Talio before I even fully understood him like I did now.
Through it all, my priorities were right here. After they were safe, i'd simmer back to where i belonged.
But, for now, my protection would keep us alive.
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Everything in me peaked when the time finally arrived for the nest to empty.
The layers of cottoned webs I had plastered on the walls would provide a soft blanket for my babies flooding to the holes within to make thier journey outside.
I wanted to bundle them all into my fur and carry them myself, but there were too many. Shie had given up on brooding her batches naturally years ago. This was safer than being a walking incubator. I already knew how badly that had gone.
But, they had made it.
One week of starvation and careful tending all led to this.
I didn't know I'd be so moved by seeing hundreds of little scuttling bodies pouring around me.
Tears ran with smiles when I felt little arms tangle in my fur and little legs climb thier way down my body.
A feeling I had once screamed and swatted at was now one of absolute joy.
This was actually happening! I had helped achieve this!
Croons purred through me. Little clicks replied as they all scurried for the holes in the walls.
My heat swelled at the sound echoing.
"I need to name them! " I gasped in realization at them all "I... I didn't have this many planned."
Maybe, like, five at the most for each gender; some in-between. Even that was a stretch for me.
"They find thier own names" Shie smiled at me and leant against my side "thier main focus now is to find thier way up into the world and live. Names will come later."
Is that how Darvin found his own name? The townspeople gave it to him? Or his mother and father's?
"One of them is Darvin, and one is Talio" I insisted "and maybe Vinnie too...."
"Phillius" Shie giggled as she nudged me "they'll be fine. Stop worrying. There's hundreds here, one is bound to grow up with thier own family."
"We did that" I beemed to her, crooning again "that's us."
"Yes, it is" she rested her head against my side.
It was a sea of black and white. She's beautiful white glistened across our children in the same way her fur shone against her. She was meant to be seen, even after being born where there was no light to enjoy her beauty.
There were others here too. Greys and speckles melded with the solid colours squirming thier way into the walls. It only made me swell at how nothing else tainted our stream of children.
Just mine and hers.
I felt Shie's hunger stabbing my own. Still, we remained to watch the room drain of everything we had worked towards.
It grew more demanding. Soon, it was crushing my gut and bubbling up nausea.
"I'll get us something to eat" I chuckled at how ravenous it was.
"I'd like to" she stopped me "we can all go together and watch the babies up there."
Instantly, I was defensive. My eyes tore from the room to glance at Shie's.
"They won't kill them?"
"I've already been mated by them" she reminded me "there is no threat to our babies if we are already Bonded."
Right. I had to remind myself that Shie wasn't completely mine to selfishly lock away.
Just like that, I was one of the others. My time with her was up and I wasn't needed to guard her anymore.
"I enjoyed this" she nuzzled my side "it's been a while since someone fought so hard for this."
She's done this before. Remember, they broke bones. You almost tore Carrion's arms and legs off.
Carrion. He'd fucking kill me once I left this room.
Now I didn't want to leave. It was safer here by her side. I couldn't die after seeing my children barely minutes into thier lives.
"Let's hunt" Shie pressed her head against me "then, we can try again."
"Again?" I choked out.
"You won't be able to keep me for yourself" she chuckled as she slinked past me and started to grow skin along her fur "you need to learn to share."
Again, I understood Talio when my gut fell while watching Shie smother herself.
I didn't want to, but I wasn't the one to say what she could do as the creature she was.
Of course she was going to have others in a horde. I had to learn the pain of that.
She'd be right under another man once we were back. That was her duty. I couldn't stop that.
The rage Talio had tried to tear through Ransom was understandable now. I wanted to do the same thing to anyone coming near her or our children.
"Phillius" Shie walked naked to her cupboard to tug down a dress "come on. They'll be fine."
I let my skin smother me, cringing at how tightly it felt as it stretched around my back and arms that fused together.
Once she left the bedroom, she was out of my grasp.
"I just..."
"I know" she smiled at my grimace "you'll feel like this for a little bit. It's only normal to be defensive of things so precious."
"Like you?"
She blushed, fixing her front. I could see she didn't cover her breasts or pussy beneath the thin dress. She was ready to have her needs met again alresdy.
"Just try not to kill anyone" she soothed when I felt myself being squeezed and constricted into the false body again "they are here to protect me and our babies too."
Our. After this, there would be no more just 'us.' She was 'ours'.
Or Blight's. He was always there when she needed us.
Did I want that? Couldn't I just be selfish for a little longer?
"Phillius" her hand found my newly formed face "you can help me most by protecting me with them. The family isn't here to hurt you or me."
I pressed against her hand, using my own to hold hers there.
"I'll keep you safe" I vowed "until darkness takes me again."
"Phillius" she sighed, gently kissing my lips "thank you."
I watched her head for the cupboard again to dig out a pair of longs. She bent again, tempting me, before she straightened with a plain blue shirt.
"I always have spares if you need them" she said as she handed them to me "I've got more sizes too if those don't fit."
She knew they would fit. She had seen every part of my for a week now to know what would cover me best.
She had a solution for everyone who shed thier skin for her. She had to be prepared for all situations.
I felt her call again. Buried deep beneath the raging hunger, it was there.
I wasn't the one to sate it. That would be up to all of us now.
No doubt, they'd be waiting outside the room to see if I had come to my senses yet.
"Let me go first" I insisted when she approached the door.
"They aren't going to hurt me" she found my worry amusing and stepped aside "by all means."
I took the lead, slowly opening the door to peek outside.
Sure enough, Blight was already here, leaning against the wall.
His arms were folded and his face was l scrunched into one of deep irritation. I saw part of his lip curled as he waited there, huffing.
His eyes snapped to me when I meekly smiled back. His arms shoved me from the doorway so he could storm inside.
I turned to see Blight holding Shie's head in his hands that she grabbed. His eyes were running over her, searching for injuries.
"Are you ok?" he fretted "are you hurt? Did anything happen?"
"I'm fine" she pulled his hands down to hold them "honestly. You know how things go. Everything ran smoothly. I'm fine."
"Things are not fine when you are being guarded like that" he growled under his breath to her before his eyes snapped to me.
I smiled again, nervously looking to the door of the nest.
"You" he snapped "get here."
I shuffled in, opening my mouth to explain myself until Blight snatched up the front of my shirt he glared at, twisting it tightly in his fist.
He knew they were borrowed from the stash. I think that only enraged him more.
"You have no right doing that to her!" he snarled at my face "she is not something you can just lock up and dig into whenever you want! Shie is more important than all of us, got it? You treat her with respect and you keep her dignity. We work together to keep her fed, happy, and healthy. Together."
He shook me on the last word before releasing my shirt and fixing it up for me until I stepped out of his reach.
"He poisoned Carrion" Blight told Shie who gasped "he's fine, just a bit pissed about the whole situation, as is everyone."
Another glare. This time I folded my arms and huffed at it.
It wasn't such a big deal. I treated her very well from how she had always returned to me.
I could have fed us better. Other than that, I thought Shie had been very happy with me.
I didn't even know I was poisonous. If I had, maybe I would have tried harder to kill Carrion when he had been so helpless.
I gulped, thanking whatever was out there that I didn't know that until now.
"Blight, I'm starving" Shie placed her hands on his shoulders "and I'm fine. Let's hunt and then take it from there, Mr Double- Standard."
I smirked at her teasing and went to follow her out the door. Blight shoved himself in behind her instead, lip curling again at me.
Whatever. He was just sour he had missed so much time with her.
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We all descended the stairs, and Shie was swarmed again with concern.
Ransom hung back, swooping in at my side to nudge me and pull me aside with a smile.
"So? How was it?" he whispered.
He set me up? He knew that was going to happen?
"Obviously, I didn't know you'd take it so seriously. I thought you'd just get in and out, not leave me hanging for a whole week, arsehole."
He nudged again, making me smile.
"They were beautiful" I grinned "they're heading up to the top now."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" he exclaimed and pulled from me to snap his fingers at the others "she's hungry! Let's get to it!"
He wanted to see them as badly as I did. Ransom didn't want me to miss this opportunity.
"Come on, Boulder Shoulder!" Ransom hurried Carrion along and out the door "move it along, Philly!"
Everyone was already walking with Shie when Ransom made sure the door was closed and he was firmly by my side.
"I thought it'd happen sooner or later" he began when he saw how uneasy I was being so far from Shie "it's happened to each of us. Hell, when I first got here, all I wanted to do was keep her for myself too. Then, after I got that beaten through me, I turned to someone else to focus all that on."
"Someone else?"
"Everyone has thier favourite" Ransom gestured ahead "Noma; Dashiell and Plague. Stone; Havok and Arson. Carrion; Rush..."
"Rush?" I choked out.
I guess that made sense. He was the one who knew a little too much about him.
"Talio had you, Blight has Shie, and the triplets just float about in there somewhere. When Tor was still sane in the head, he was always fucking around with Silver. He died on a Mission before I came along. I think that's what sent him into his brooding, since he couldn't just turn to Shie alone."
"And where does that leave you?" I asked.
"With you" Ransom smiled back "I'll be the one you can help get you through it all to get everything out of your system. You don't want to turn into another Tor."
Crammed in a room, forever trapped in a state of desperately wanting more children I'd never get.
"Fuck no" I laughed with him, hiding the pain.
But, Ransom had someone before I came along. He was dodging around it so he didn't have to bring it up.
Maybe it ended tragically like how Talio had with me?
Still, it made sense for them to have thier preferred partners. It helped them get through this overwhelming feeling gripping deep within me whenever I saw the others get too close to Shie.
I wanted to be up there with her. Shove them away, fuck her until she saw she only needed me.
Jesus. I couldn't be thinking like that, not now.
"Hey, it's hard" Ransom patted my shoulder when I groaned "and I'm not talking about that."
"Fuck."
I covered my cock, burning in shame. I couldn't hide it in these longs either. They were built for lounging around in. They had no support or rough material to conceal myself.
Ransom snorted.
"Sparrow came back when you were doing your own thing" he tried to distract me "when he got told what was happening, he went off to focus on some thing about bringing Tor a baby if his own. I don't know, maybe hearing about you and Shie snapped something in him to go for it?"
"He's been after it for a while" I sighed back "he told me about it ages ago."
And he was still trying his hardest, poor guy.
"Well, he's really been going for it. Every day has been something new to try and make Tor bond to it instead. I think with his brother dying and only five of us left to protect Shie after Dasher and Rush leave, he's been a bit frantic to give Tor something to make his life worthwhile."
We continued to walk, watching Shie be guarded as we headed downstairs.
My gut clenched at seeing Carrion and Blight by her sides.
It should have been me up there instead!
"Six isn't a big number, but it'll have to do until we find more. Blight still needs to approve of them before they can join too."
"Blight?" my voice soured "why not Shie herself?"
"You want to keep her out of danger" Ransom explained "besides, he's always the one to check over anyone wanting to join the family. If he doesn't think they'd fit, or if they'll harm Shie or us, he ends them."
Ransom ran his finger along his throat with a noise.
"He's been with her since the start. It's only right that he gets a say in who will be sleeping with her."
So, my life was up to Blight this whole time? Walking through those doors, it wasn't Shie I needed to be accepted by, but him?
"Don't worry about it. We will also have a say in it when we find more. We know what is best for Shie."
They'd be judged like I was. Talio had already faced that without me and wedged into the horde. I was more of a struggle to accept.
"With Tor beside us, nothing will get through!" Ransom beemed "the guy was always putting Carrion to shame; a real suck-up too. Shie loved him."
She loved me too. She breathed it countless times when I filled her.
"How are you with your legs?" Ransom piped as we slid in through the tunnel "when we hunt, you don't want to be left behind. I can always help you if you need it."
I felt his head press against me in the darkness and his hand squeeze my arse.
He loved thinking about the time I had depended so much on him. He liked keeping me for himself and doting over my helplessness so tenderly.
We were mated. He would make sure it stayed that way with me as his preference amongst the others.
Talio wouldn't have any of this. He'd already be snapping at Ransom if he knew what he was doing now.
But, when he knew he was going to die, he had approved of Ransom. He blurted out everything he thought he needed to know to make sure I was safe with him. Talio didn't want me falling into the arms of the others. He already knew that Ransom was ready to viciously defend me against them like Talio had with him.
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Still lingering when we slid out into the light, Ransom stayed beside me when we all gathered around Shie who was facing her right.
My children would be streaming somewhere over there. We just had to find the holes that linked to the walls below.
Would Shie be right about not having to worry about the others?
I saw she was already slipping out of her dress so she could Turn.
I followed, folding up my longs and shirt to hand to Blight who collected the pile to walk over to the nearby tree and stash at the trunk.
Skin tore, peeled, or floated off our bodies.
Different forms of Spider Demons rose up to shake off the constricting forms and stretch out thier cramped legs.
I saw Carrion had a black ring around one bulging shoulder that blackened the veins the poison surged through. It branched down two arms before dying out completely.
"Hey, I'm sorry about that" I muttered, only to have him hiss and turn his back on me.
"Ignore him" Ransom glared beside me "he's just sore he lost."
"You weren't even there!" Carrion snapped back.
"I was at the door, dipshit!" Ransom defended.
"Boys" Shie spoke up now "there's already been enough bloodshed."
Carrion and Ransom flared, but fell silent behind our glistening Queen.
She really was beautiful in the light. She looked like something I was dreaming. Her white fur, fluffed and slightly messed from myself, was far too wonderous to keep locked in darkness.
She still smelled like me too. I bubbled at the fact as I kept to her right.
"Here they are" her voice softened as she turned to me "already finding thier own way out."
I pulled forward to see tiny children tugging themselves up from the grass to scurry along it towards the trees. The brighter ones made it easier to track the streams branching along the ground as they all scurried as fast as they could possibly go.
It was so beautiful. They were so helpless yet so independent all at the same time.
I wanted to smother them in my fur and make my own nest to keep them safe.
The thought of them running into gaping mouths or off the edges of cliffs had me fretting for thier lives.
Hurrying for the trees they trickled around, I saw that nothing laid in the shadows. Thier little legs fought over the leaf litter and powered through the dirt to carry further within.
My precious babies.
"They're amazing" I gasped back to Shie "and so fast!"
"First time?" Blight called with a smile on his voice.
"I'm surprised he's not following them to see where they go" Dashiell jeered at his place away from everyone.
"Like you did?" Ransom bit back, laughing at his embarrassment.
"Days, wasn't it?" Carrion turned on him "you made sure they didn't get run over or eaten by seagulls?"
"I wouldn't say it was that bad..." he mumbled back when they roared with laughter.
I smirked, looking down at the streams proudly again.
"Where do they go?"
"Wherever they think is safest" Shie beemed down at them too "dark areas are best to blend in until they grow larger to go further."
I picked my way back towards them, still entranced by what I had helped create.
"Will that be as big as me or you?"
More snickers. Blight approached Shie, almost meeting her large size.
"Who knows?" she replied gently "I think they'll be perfect like you."
"Dont inflate his ego anymore!" Dashiell called "he's already had it good enough!"
It was too late for that. I was already burning at the praise and holding myself back from smothering Shie beneath me again.
I swallowed, letting Ransom distract me again when he bumped my side.
He knew how much I was battling myself. He was my diversion so I didn't do something stupid.
Carrion took the left of Shie and Blight took the right. I followed behind with Ransom on my left. Dashiell kept his distance far behind us.
"Where should we hunt? The grounds are still poisoned, aren't they?" Carrion huffed to Blight.
"The Blood Demon has still been delivering food from the fields further ahead. He said the deer there are clean."
Carrion grumbled with Ransom.
"Deer" Ransom complained "can't we chase down some rabbits or birds? Something that actually tastes...I don't know... edible?"
"If they were safe, then yes" Blight replied bitterly as he glared back at him "but, we have to stick to what the demon tells us is OK."
"He could be lying" Ransom muttered to himself.
"He's not" I shot a small smile "I trust him."
Oxalis wouldn't lead us to death. We had a deal that he had bound in blood. That was his absolute oath.
I keep his family safe, he returns the favour.
"Besides, Sparrow should be around there" Blight brightened "he said he was doing some hunting himself out here somewhere."
Shie bubbled at the news, eagerly powering on.
Everyone loved Sparrow. Funny, yet serious when he needed to be.
If Ransom hadn't been there.... maybe....
I rattled my thoughts and focused on Shie instead.
Seeing her right there was doing my head in. Having her so close, smelling like me, free from carrying our children; I had to bite back on the urges that kept my arms reaching out towards her with each long stride.
If the others weren't here, she'd feel me all over again.
"Phillius" Ransom bumped me "focus."
I was focused alright. Right where I needed to be behind her.
I felt myself dripping. Ransom nudged again to knock my eyes off Shie.
"Think of something else. You're getting carried away again" he muttered "I'm here if you need a distraction."
Burying myself into Ransom instead of hearing Shie gasp for me like she had this past week?
I snorted, letting my screaming desire wander back to Shie.
Fuck. I really wanted her round with my children again. It was such a good look for her. She was such a gentle and attentive mother.
I quivered at the temptation now, still following along, until Carrion straightened at something he saw ahead.
"Is that Sparrow?"
We all stopped, lining up so we could squint at the creature in the distance dominating the field speckled with deer.
This one herded them by thundering after them in the same way he did. It looked the same too, with white skin stained with black.
"Must be" Dashiell mumbled to us, taking a breath inwards to call to it until he let it fall out of his mouth.
Another creature, identical to the first, raced into the scene to help herd the deer the first couldnt keep up with.
I could hear the distant scream from our position when it rounded the startled animals into the lunging arms of the first.
They bought down a large beast, feasting on it together happily.
The first's head snapped up when it ripped up the stringy veins from the neck. It's voids didn't move from us.
"Is that him?" I worried now.
He couldn't be a rare species. He was a triplet after all. It just made me concerned that we had caught it's attention when I now knew what his species were capable of.
The first turned to the second before prowling off to snatch something up in it's mouth that dangled there.
A baby? It was so small compared to the two now cautiously approaching.
Carrion stiffened as he placed himself before Shie. Blight did the same before I moved behind them, forcing her further back.
"Guard up. We don't know if it's him or not" Blight mumbled to us.
"There's two of them" Ransom spoke nervously "even if it is, whose the other one?"
"Is that a baby in it's mouth?" Carrion squinted.
"Thats what I thought" I added to him leaning forwards to try and make it out "but it's not the same."
"Whatever it is, they are wary too."
I peered around to see one of the creatures had slowed to a crawl in its pace. It kept it's head low when it approached, the old scar from it's mouth to it's chin resting beside a fresh one.
The other straightened and kept its mouth secure around what I could now recognize it carried.
"That's a kitten" I gasped.
The creature lowered it down, grinning and bounding on the spot. I saw the middle of its chin had been gouged through up to it's mouth in a single line in the same way the first's had.
"Almost didn't recognize you!" Sparrow's voice came from it "except, no-one is as big and brawny as you, Blight!"
Blight grinned, walking forward to meet Sparrow and the brown and black kitten he gazed at.
"I think I might have it this time" he breathed while we gathered opposite him "they say the mews of a kitten are similar to a baby, so I think this could work. Rabbits, birds, deer, spiders, dogs, and ducks were a bust, but an actual kitten...."
He grinned, dragging the crawling creature back towards himself as it cried out and trembled around his blocking arms.
The thing barely had it's eyes open. It was tiny and still trembling under the finest cost of baby fuzz.
Where did he find it out here?
"Whose with you?" Dashiell leant over to look at the companion now unmoving on the spot several meters away.
It still held the same wary stance as it's eyes darted from Sparrow to us. It's mouth was bared slightly in anticipation of attack.
Sparrow turned to them, smiling again.
"That's Ever. When I was finding Resolve a nice resting place, Ever was already there with his brother. Things were a little rough, but we both got to lay our brothers down and get to know each other."
Ever looked a little younger than Sparrow. He sure was more cautious as he chose to keep up the defensive rather than following Sparrow's lead.
"He's lost both his brothers now. He's alone out here. I want him to come back with us."
Eyes drew to Blight who wrinkled his nose.
"We've already been through shit with..."
"I chose him" Sparrow drew himself up now "so either you let my mate come, or... I leave with him."
"A guy you met for a day?" Carrion scoffed back.
"Five days" Sparrow snapped back "and we needed each other. We can figure out the rest later."
"I don't know" Blight sighed "he looks a bit skittish."
Sparrow smiled back to Ever who still hadn't moved.
Even Shie was looking sympathetically at the frightened creature.
"He's used to fighting for his meals. He's had it rough out here now his family is gone."
"I think he's a lost cause" Blight shook his head "we'll find you a new mate, Sparrow."
Sparrow's hands dragged the kitten back as he snarled at Blight. He took the same stance as Ever, hunched and ready to attack.
"Sparrow" I soothed now, taking a step towards him "don't go making hasty choices. Come home. I'm sure Tor misses you."
"Don't" he warned me as he backed up "every one of you has mates you can turn to. I've always been the one who just gets thrown in when he wants. I deserve someone too! And now that I've found one of my own I want to have a connection with, you are all too good for him."
His eyes narrowed at all of us as his mouth seized the kitten around it's middle so he could lower it by Ever.
"I'm staying out here until you figure it out" Sparrow kept his back to us "I'm sorry Shie, but I have to put myself first."
"Sparrow..." she whispered sadly.
"Also" he huffed, pacing "I'm claiming this hunting ground. If I'm not going to be in the family, then this meat is ours."
"You don't need to be such a cunt about it!" Ransom snarled now "we need to eat too!"
"And we aren't on the same side until you make up your mind about my mate. Ever found them fair and square. You can't just take what we killed."
"Watch us" Ransom stepped forth, triggering Ever into screaming at him.
The burst was short, but enough to startle Ransom into staggering back with painful groans.
"This field is ours" Sparrow bared his teeth and planted his hands around himself "you can take the prey further out."
"This is bullshit!" Ransom snarled "stop being such a prick!"
"Sparrow" I begged his hateful glare "we came this far."
"Then you can go further" he replied simply as he nudged Ever into picking up the kitten "if you don't want to accept it, then we can fight over it like rivals."
"Sparrow" Shie spoke up and pushed forward "please don't do this. We do love you and want the best for you."
His eyes glistened, but he blinked the tears back.
"If you can't accept it, I'm sorry. I won't come back if you only want me there for this field. You have to accept Ever too."
"I can't do that" Shie choked.
Sparrow hesitated as his arms trembled.
"Then...." he sniffled "....i'll find a new Queen and break my Bond."
"You can't just say that!" Dashiell interrupted fiercely.
"And why not?!" Sparrow whined back to us "you're infected! You'll be gone soon anyway to keep everyone else safe! I can't go through that all again, I can't! If I'm better off out here with a mate and new territory, then so be it. We'll find a horde that is outside the Base and live safely in it!"
"But, the Band...." I grimaced at his painful words stabbing through every one of us.
His eyes darted down to it, then to me.
"I won't have to hide out here. I have plenty more arms to spare."
"You'd cut off one just to run off with someone else because they look like you?!" Carrion scoffed and gestured to Ever still holding the complaining kitten in his mouth, ready to run.
"YES!" Sparrow raised his voice back that had a little scream at the end of it "I'M SAFE WITH HIM!"
"This is bullshit, Shie" Carrion laughed coldly "stop him!"
"If that's what you believe, then I can't stop you" she simply stated to Sparrow panting with anger "I'm not going to change a mind already made up."
"It's safe where we are" I fought back uselessly to Sparrow's scoff.
Even I didn't believe my own words. The Base was filled with death, Sparrow was just awake enough to see it now he had something else to protect from it.
Would this be me if I hadn't decided to drag Talio into those walls? Fighting through tears with other Souls to try and keep him as a free man? So ready to amputate my own arm for a life out here?
"Ever, let's go" Sparrow nudged him to make him walk ahead.
All of us were dumbfounded to do anything.
Shie was the only one who broke from the line to sprint to Sparrow and embrace him.
Thier bodies trembled as Sparrow sobbed against her. He ran his head along her and gritted his teeth at her leaning into his arms snatching up handfuls of her fur.
"I'm sorry" he choked out.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you more" Shie whispered back to his nods.
"I'll be back for my brother tonight. I can't leave him behind."
Shie whined as she agreed silently.
"It's for the best" she blew out with her shaking breath "he needs you."
Sparrow pulled from her to smile at us. He blinked back tears, remaining silent, as he turned to hurry over to Ever waiting for him.
Sparrow paused again, looking back, before nuzzling Ever's side with his own and marching off to their own territory.
"We'll find new fields" Blight whispered to us through his own tears "let's not take the risk here."
Circling wide, one by one we continued around Sparrow's field and blindly toward ones that laid beyond.
The next time we walked through here, we would be nothing more than enemies to him.
Sparrow would defend his mate with everything he had. He had a new outlook that seemed brighter for the both of them.
To threaten his happiness was a risk we all knew we couldn't take. It would be easier to avoid our old family member and the bittersweet memories than to face him and let it tear us apart all over again.
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