Regicide

Chapter 2

About a month passed since that night. Time crept closer and closer to the dry period, when the desert was at its most cruel. Dune remembered that night as the final time Fern joined him before they began to become more and more distant. She seemed to visit him less and less, and didn't really update him much on anything anymore. Sometimes she would even be outright cold to him, telling him to shut up, telling him that he's 'annoying', which was almost baffling. Occasionally, Dune would notice himself feeling quite sad about it all. He had tried in so many ways to bring her back, but nothing he did seemed to work. He was scared to lose her, after all, he did trust her more than anyone else in his pack.

He tried not to worry himself too much, though.

He had noticed four raptors constantly following her. They were rather shady- they didn't like him very much, and he didn't like them- but his sister was constantly with them. They were almost never apart.

He had decided about one week ago that he would build up the courage to be with them the next time he saw them together. And, today was the day. He would not be afraid. He had prepared himself for it, for everything that could possibly go wrong.

The pack had just hunted, and everyone was full, in a good mood- though, Dune himself had not eaten. There wasn't enough for everyone, so he decided that he wouldn't eat that day- he would just have to hunt something small later on. They were all resting, and Dune saw the five of them sitting in a circle. This was the moment.

He approached them. They stared at him, all of them disapproving. Even his sister frowned at him, and he had to stop himself from flinching.

'Hello...' He said, ruffling his feathers uncomfortably. Their gazes did not soften. He sat down. 'Is there a problem?'

One of them- a brown raptor, the biggest of them all- blinked, and turned to the others, whispering discreetly. Dune leaned in, straining his ears to listen, but could barely hear a thing. His sister all but ignored him, acting like he wasn't there.

'May I join you...?' He felt his hope slowly leave. He thought he had prepared for everything, but not for this.

They all ignored him, still whispering to each other in a tight circle.

Maybe I should leave, He thought, somewhat disappointed. If they don't like me, so be it. As long as my sister doesn't completely abandon me, it will be okay.

As he turned to leave, his sister suddenly called out 'Wait.'

He turned back around to look at her.

'You can join us,' She said.

The six of them sat together in the sand, relaxing. Dune mostly stayed quiet, but they didn't talk much either. They all just glared at him, sometimes whispering to each other certain things. Even his sister didn't seem to like his presence.

'You are all certainly very... interesting,' Dune said. Their bitter facial expressions did not change. Not even his sister's, who would normally laugh at such a comment.

He sighed, got up, and left, shooting them a death stare of his own as he walked away. He didn't like the situation at all. He wasn't particularly close with many, and to lose his sister would not be good, not at all.

No. I won't lose her, He thought to himself. We were so close before. There's no way she could throw that all away.

(One must have faith in those they choose to trust.)