Way of the Slugcat

Reflection

Within Thorn's panicked mind, a single thought reigned supreme.
    Why did I do that!?
    He did not have an answer. It just... happened. Things like that tended to be common in his life, and he had no idea why. Once, he had been sent to detention after breaking his peer's jaw during an argument. The cycles he had spent inside used to be the worst cycles of his life. This experience topped it, however, as he would not simply be sent to detention if things didn't pan out. So far, the situation wasn't looking good.
    The vulture looked much more frightening without its mask, as Thorns could now see its eyes clearly. They shone with hunger and rage as sulfuric gasses propelled its body forwards. Thorns leapt to the side. The bird collided with a mound of garbage, sending bits of metal and shaped stone flying. Thorns searched around for something to hurl at the beast's face. His fingers mindlessly closed around a smooth, round object. Without looking at what he had grabbed, Thorns loosed it from his hand.
    All the vulture had to do was close an eyelid. The tiny white sphere bounced harmlessly off its head. Thorns felt his heart sink to his stomach as the pearl hit the ground. The vulture's wings pulled it closer to him, his legs frozen in place, every cell in his tiny body trembling as the bird's shadow descending upon him.
Then, a black streak crossed his vision. Night leapt from his hole, spear in hand, and latched onto the vulture's face. The creature thrashed and bucked while Night held fast to his target.
    "THORNS, GET TO THE HOLE!" He cried.
    At this point, Thorns was running on pure adrenaline. He stood upright and turned towards the hole, positioned almost directly behind the vulture. An opening appeared between its wings. Without waiting another moment, Thorns made a mad dash for shelter. He dove beneath the vulture's thrashing body and heard Night yell to him again. He couldn't understand what he said. In another second, Thorns threw himself into the tunnel and collapsed on the floor, exhausted. The vulture screeched from outside. Thorns reached into the darkness and dragged himself further inwards.

    Thorns made it a good ways into the tunnel. All noise from outside had ceased. As he lay there, panting in the dark, visions of his encounter flashed back at him. The bird staring him down with its satanic gaze, the mask, the spear... and Night.
    I am a fool... he thought to himself. "...I am a fool!"
Nothing responded, save for an echo. Thorns pulled his ears over the front of his face.
"What was I thinking!? The vulture has him now! Why did I not just run? Why am I such an idiot!?"
How was he going to find Night again? How could he survive in this place without him? Maybe he should just wait for the rain to come and wash him away, like a filthy stain he was. Thorns felt his breathing escalate. His chest heaved up and down in spastic intervals.
    "Are you crying?"
    "W-WHAT!?" Thorns shot up from his position on the ground and whirled around. Night's eyes glared back at him.     A nasty cut ran down the side of his cheek, dripping red.
    "Night! Night, oh good karma, thank the Monks you lived! I was-" Night's finger cut him off as it was placed upon his lips.
    "I understand why you are still here."
    "...excuse me?" Thorns frowned. Night went on.
    "It is not anyone else's fault but yours. You weren't ready."
    "I..." His words caught in his throat. He wanted to retaliate, to yell, to scream. Finally, his voice was cut loose. "No! I am. I have to be. I have worked too hard and gone through too much to be rejected! I am prepared!"
    "Then why do you hold so fast to such a negative emotion? Why do you let it control you? It is not the vulture's fault that it needs to eat."
    If Thorns had been in his own body, his cheeks would have been flushed. He growled back at Night.
    "Well it is its fault that it went after us! The thing deserved to be stabbed!"
    "Do I deserve to be stabbed for eating a batfly or a centipede? What about a noodlefly?"
    "They do not matter! They are all just-"
    "Animals? Yes. And so are you. Now calm yourself and allow me to continue."
    Thorns looked at Night. He was about to continue the argument when, deep inside his chest, he felt a fire beginning to kindle. The same fire had spurred him to his previous aggression. He had not realized his mistake until the spear had left his hand. He did not wish to say something he would later regret, as, like the spear, it couldn't be recaptured after it was thrown. Thorns hesitated, then closed his mouth and nodded.
    "Aggression is something that will drive you to death more often than not. Know that every creature in this land has a purpose, and every single one has the same needs that we do. Food, shelter, and safety. We are all a part of one web. Aggression for survival is one thing. Aggression from anger is another." The black rodent took a step closer. He leaned towards Thorns, consuming his view and staring him down with his pale, star white eyes. Tiny flecks of gold, barely visible from even this close, swam in his vision.
    "Do not let it control you."