~ Chapter 18 - The Heart ~

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hey guys

trigger warning here for blood and dead bodies, as well as panic attacks and self-harm

if you're uncomfortable, please skip! I will give warning as to when the good stuff shows up

my job here is not to make anyone uncomfortable. I simply want to write and express my characters' stories

anyways

yOu'Ve BeEn WaRnEd

-Mango

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Soot pounded his wings. His back and shoulders pulsed in pain. He knew they'd be sore for a while.

But that didn't matter right now.

He shot around the kingdom, diving to a position in the sky where he could see the ground clearly. As he flew, there was absolutely no sign of either Cinder or Ronin anywhere.

Soot cursed in his head, biting his lip as he turned to the beach. With his keen eye, he could spot figures lying on the beach.

He landed, now seeing the dragons up close.

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here's the first warning

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Soot ran up to the first figure. It was a red-and-yellow RainWing. His eyes were now foggy, instead of his usual bright blue with their familiar red haze. His chest had a hollow wound in it, which was supported by a puddle of scarlet blood underneath his form.

Beside his body, Cinder's armor, and a horn ring. It looked to be Cinder's, but was painted scarlet.

She didn't, Soot convinced himself.

Did she?

He turned around, almost seizing at the sight.

"No..."

Soot walked up to the blood-red SkyWing. Her once piercing yellow eyes were now faded. Her ears bled, and Soot noticed her earrings were missing. She must've ripped them out.

He also noticed a freshly opened wound on her chest. It was the same one he gave her when he almost killed her.

The stab that barely missed her heart.

"No..."

Then, the worst part.

There were two arrows stabbed in either of her wrists. Blood trickled from her wounds, dying her scales even darker.

"NO! CINDER!"

Salty tears began to fall from Soot's eyes, blocking his vision as he pursued for his sister. He halted at her position, grabbing her heavy form and hugging it tightly. He let himself get dirty. He embraced the stains of scarlet.

"Cinder..." Soot managed to squeak as his voice broke. He choked on the rest of his words, only mustering sounds of grief.

"CURSE THE MOONS!" he shouted to the sky. "HOW DARE YOU TAKE HER FROM ME!"

His eyes only continued to fill in tears.

Soot lied her body down with reluctance.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't get t' y'a in time."

Soot was so tempted.

He'd been clean for, what, 6 months?

Screw whatever the streak was.

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here's the warning for self-harm

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Soot held out his arm, turning over his pale wrist. He could still see the scars.

Might as well.

Soot used his index claw to trace over a scar closest to his wrist, soon digging deep into it. He winced in pain, more tears arising from the pain.

"Oh, what'll this do?" He removed his claw and covered the bleeding wound. "Nothin' can bring 'er back."

"Except..."

Soot looked to Cinder. "I promise, I'll get'cha back." He then lifted her body over his back, looking to Ronin. He pounded his wings and flew to the palace, holding onto Cinder with all his might.

He flew to the palace, gently dropping Cinder's body in front of Queen Phoenixfire.

The new queen looked disgusted. "Quite a morbid gift, General."

Soot, panting, quickly explained. "I need you t'  watch 'er while I get 'er soon and then fly to the delta to get my boyfriend and ask them to revive 'er and 'er son."

The queen blinked. "Okay, then."

Soot nodded, flying back to the beach as fast as he could.

When he arrived, there was nothing. No armor, no body, not even a trace of blood.

"Shit!" Soot panicked. Did someone steal his body? Did he magically revive and run away?

Did someone eat him?

Did someone...

Did...

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here's the warning for panic attacks

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His heart suddenly became louder.

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

An overwhelming sense of dread overcame his mind, body, and soul.

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

His throat closed. Where was the oxygen? Why couldn't he breathe?

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

His body became numb. Why couldn't he feel?

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

His scales felt pricked, like someone shot pins and needles over his body.

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

His eyes moistened once more, salty tears flooding from his ducts.

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

His head hurt. Bad. His heart was in his head.

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

He could feel vomit in his throat. Was that why he couldn't breathe?

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Soot tried to breathe with what air he had.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

The world started to fade. Soot could barely see anything.

Why?

Why is he feeling this way?

Why can't he calm down?

Thump thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Soot collapsed to the ground, his world fading as he felt his consciousness slip.

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