Chaos of Elements

Small Burden

As the burning pain seared through, desperation hung heavy in the air as the relentless agony showed no sign of subsiding. The pack settled to rest but one of them decided to relax somewhere else. With trembling paws, they dipped on their own into the small stream, hoping the cool water would offer some respite. The soothing flow made a faint sense of relief wash over them, the sharp sting gradually ebbing away.

Turning to leave, a sudden collision was jolted. "Aqua?" Sparrow's voice became a whisper, filled with disbelief. Startled, she staggered, nearly falling to the ground. In a swift movement, he extended his wings, catching her before she hit the unforgiving earth. 

The softness of his feathers offered a stark contrast to her tortured form, his once-proud white fur, was now marred with crimson stains that paled in comparison to the anguish etched on her face. "I'm so sorry, Sparrow," her voice trembled, the words a fragile echo of her inner turmoil. She attempted to pull away, but his presence was an anchor she couldn't escape. 

His gaze delved deep into her soul searching for the truths she feared to share.

"Why are you apologizing, Aqua? Why didn't you confide in one of us sooner?" his words were laced with genuine concern and pierced through the barriers she had erected around her heart. 
She turned away, unable to meet his firm stare. Shame and guilt whispered convincing her that her pain was hers alone to bear. 

How could she burden, not only the pack but Sparrow with the weight of her pain? "Why, Aqua?" he asked again, his voice gentle but insistent. She felt the weight of his gaze but struggled to meet his eyes before finally looking up, brimming with vulnerability.

"I don't want to be a burden," she blurted out, her voice tinged with frustration and fear. "And I don't want to be in the way of you two." The last part of her sentence was barely audible, mumbled as if confessing a long-held secret she wished she could keep hidden, but somehow, he heard it. Sparrow's confusion deepened, his brow furrowing in perplexity. 

"What are you talking about, Aqua? You are not a burden! And what do you mean by 'in the way of us two'?" His words hung in the air, waiting for a response. The weight of her shyness pulled her downwards. "It's nothing," she murmured, hoping he wouldn't press further. She didn't want to reveal that she overheard the conversation between him and Rosalie, during that night in Vizel. Not going forward with the conversation, he finally let it go and examined her paws.

He was taken aback by the extent of her injuries – her once gentle pads were now swollen and marked by numerous punctures. Concern was shown on his face. "How long have your paws been like this?" his stern yet gentle gaze locked with hers. But she stood silent. "Aqua, answer me. Please", his voice had a tinge of worry. 

Taking a small breath, she confessed, "They've been like that ever since we left the Earth Clan..." Her voice had a soft yet sad tone, feeling the pain surge through her pads. The realization was drawn to him, remembering the time when she came to help him and Rosalie from the flood. Determined to help her, he lifted her onto his back and began their journey, returning to their pack.

As they neared their companions, gasps of shock filled the air at the sight of his stained white fur. Questions and concerns were raised. He placed Aqua in the care of Tor. With a gentle touch, he tended to Aqua's wounds, wrapping her injured paws in vine skin to protect and aid the healing process. When they finally returned to the journey, she rested under Tor's care as he carried her on his back, Sparrow's thoughts lingered on the cryptic words she had mentioned, the unanswered question tugged at his mind, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.

Aqua's POV

As we traveled through the unknown lands, I felt like I was holding everyone back. Yuna's love and my uncle's memory were like guiding lights in the darkness of our journey. Among the pack, I found a sense of belonging, a warmth that I never knew existed. My feelings for Sparrow were pure as I looked at him as just a fellow pack member until he unexpectedly reunited with his old friend and sweetheart, Rosalie. 

Their reunion was a bittersweet moment for me, watching as they embraced, their connection strong and undeniable. My heart ached with an unfamiliar pang as I realized that his heart now belonged to someone else. 

I tried to bury these conflicted emotions, but they lingered, casting a shadow over my thoughts. I attempted to shake off that wrong feeling, to push it away as far as possible, but it clung to me like a thick fog, suffocating my heart and clouding my thoughts. It saddened me even more, knowing that his future was certain with her. 

Throughout the journey, I noticed how his attention shifted to her. The small moments we shared before seemed like distant memories now, overshadowed by the presence of his true love. Jealousy crept into my heart, a feeling I struggled to comprehend. It couldn't be happening.

When we finally crossed the sharp path, all of them cheered and howled in joy, I too, joined but hid the pain that I endured. With each step, my paws left deep red marks on the ground. When we settled, I excused myself away from them, trying to ease the pain from my paws. And I did. When I turned around, Sparrow appeared. 

I stumbled but he caught me with his wings, my paws staining his fur. His eyes looked into mine, looking for answers as his voice was filled with concern, but I denied him till I finally blurted out why I didn't say anything, but I regretted saying the last part. He didn't know what I meant by "getting in between them two".

Finally letting me go he examined my paws and took me with him, returning to the pack. With Tor's expert care, my physical injuries were treated, but the wounds of my heart remained raw, carrying the weight of unspoken emotions unsure of where the path ahead would lead me. But one thing was certain - the bond between Sparrow and Rosalie had forever changed the dynamics of our pack, and I was left to navigate the uncharted territories of my feelings.