Polarity

Chapter 12: Eternal Flight

Atlas' eyelids slowly fluttered open and he was blinded by the sudden exposure to light. He looked to his vessel to assure himself that he was, indeed, alive, and then to his surroundings. The brute's visage lifted to Lumière, whose golden pelage was plastered with blood and a multitude of wounds. A shuddering breath outwards notified Lumière of his friend's consciousness. "Atlas? Atlas. Thank the gods, you're awake." "Lumière, are you okay? What happened to you? Where's Torr? Why-" A paw was laid over his muzzle with gentle reassurance. "Shush, Atlas, that's enough. You need to take it easy. We've gotta find Finch so that he can help you recover."

"But what-"

"I said shush. And don't move too much, will you? You don't want to make matters worse."

As he refrained from inquiring further, Atlas' gaze shifted downwards to the rain-laden earth, noticing the pool of blood he had been soaking in. His heart began to race and his breathing quickened as panic arose in his chest. What had happened? Why didn't he remember? Where was Torr?

"He retreated to the East." Lumière nodded in the direction of the faint hints of the rising sun. "I would have pursued him, but you were kinda... Out cold."

Atlas attempted to rise to his paws with a pained cry, and Lumière huffed at him in disapproval, rolling his eyes as he placed his paw firmly upon the young brute's shoulder, forcing him to remain still. "I told you to stay there." From the distance arose a shriek of distress. Lumière's frame instantly turned to stone as his ice blue eyes gazed out into the dim lighting of dawn. His heart began to race within his chest and the world began to cave around him.

Finch.

The brute's paw was lifted from Atlas' chest and he sprung into immediate action, his golden limbs traveling at the speed of light. His mind began to pace circles around itself as he tried to locate his beloved companion. He lowered his muzzle to the ground and inhaled, attempting to track his scent. He quickly found it- however, it was masked with the presence of other wolves. Bear Creek wolves. No. Lumière's lungs refused to deliver fresh oxygen to his vessel as he sprawled across the terrain, desperate to protect his friend's life. He had been so caught up in protecting this new wolf; one he had never met, one whom he owed nothing to, that he forgot about the protection of Finch. He clawed at his mind as he scolded himself for his lack of loyalty. Not Finch. Not Finch. Not Finch.

Atlas had brought his injured body to his shaking limbs and pursued Lumière, his mind racing of the possibilities of what could have possibly forced such a horrible noise from the little Mexican wolf. The golden brute's stampeding frame was all that he could focus on as he pushed himself forward. Until he saw them. The entirety of the pack, twenty-three strong, surrounded their temporary shelter. They had been found.

Finch had been grabbed viciously by the scruff of his neck. Blood ran down his pelage and collected in a small puddle at his paws. He looked to Lumière in despair, his eyes pleading for help. Lumière breathed inward and his orbs pierced into his dear friend's, a silent message passing between them.

This is the end, my friend.

☾

"Now, Lumière- if it weren't for the ruckus you and your... Pets... Caused, perhaps we wouldn't have found you." Riku sneered, his voice rising into a cackle. "And you. Foolish, Finch. Foolish. Did you really think you could escape your inevitable punishment? You're very fortunate that I was tracking you and not... Demetrius. She would have found you pitiful creatures before the sun could even consider rising."

"Leave him alone!" Atlas cried, taking a step toward the circle of wolves. But Lumière struck out and grabbed the wounded wolf by the nape of his neck and threw him to the ground. The young brute neglected to cry out in pain, simply closing his eyes with a shaking breath outwards. The golden wolf bent his crown to his pinna and whispered softly, flooding his mind with hopelessness. "Atlas. Don't take a single step closer. Let them do what they want. It's over."

"You see, I did consider killing both of you, and that wretched black wolf, wherever he is. But then I stopped and considered- well, I know how close you are to Finch, Lumière. When Samandriel was seconds away from obliterating you, this scrawny witch rescued you. Well, what a great choice it was to allow both of you into our pack. It has lead to our trusted alpha- my dear sister's death. Yes, I did imagine tearing into your tender flesh and painting our cave walls with your blood, wearing it as a sign of victory; that we had purged the evil within our pack! But no- I decided, Finch's blood would suffice. There is far worse a fate for you, Lumière. If we were to kill you, your soul would be at rest. You believe you deserve such tranquility? Don't make me laugh, you vile creature. You shall suffer. Until the day you take your last breath, may the image of your friend's death haunt you."

No. No, no, no.

There was a moment of terrible silence before the air was filled with the sound of ripping flesh. The vengeance-filled growls of the pack twisted and coiled around the horrific screams of terror which arose from Finch's throat. The world had become a bloodbath. Finch's beloved companion watched from a distance, flinching at the sound of every bone snapping between the jaws of his former packmates as he held Atlas' back from intervening. He would not allow two lives to be lost today. When the shrieks and cries had finally ceased to exist, the wolves' torture did not subside.

They tore his fur from his flesh and clawed at it, covering his remains in filth as their victorious howls arose into the early morning sky, their banners waving high in the air with pride. Their beloved alpha would not be forgotten! With the blood of their enemy staining their pelage, they would not allow the memory of Demetrius to die. It would become a story passed down from generation to generation; the wicked wolf who ended the life of their alpha, and how their pack persevered under the rule of the mighty Riku. How they tore the witch's flesh apart until nothing remained but blood and shattered bones.

As the pack paraded away, Atlas rushed to the sight of his friend's death. This was all because of him... With a sharp inhale, he rose his crown to the vibrant hues of dawn and poured his soul into the sky. As his eyes opened and he gazed down at what was left of the spunky, endearing wolf he had barely gotten the chance to meet. Maroon and ivory collided with each other- and then there was gold. Out of the corner of his vision, Atlas saw Lumière's somber frame slowly dissipate into the shadows. His light had been extinguished.

☾

Finch's soul fluttered about the treetops, his clear voice ringing through the air. He was free. Free at last- he had broken away from the chains of oppression. He swept down and swept a delicate feather across his cranium before he soared into the pinks and purples of a new, and beautiful day. But Atlas could not admire the stunning hues which lay before him. His body and mind heavy, Atlas slipped away into the towering fir trees, his gaze fixed on the very earth beneath him. He did not deserve to exist here. And he certainly did not deserve to exist amongst the stars. He had been charred into ashes and collected on the gentle breeze, and had scattered. He was in pieces.