Regicide

Chapter 4

'Sister?'

A three-month-old Dune sat at the edge of the pack. He didn't understand why his sister approached him, why she had even bothered protecting him from his terrifying father two months ago. He was a runt- he had to die, didn't he?

You said it yourself, sister. The weak do not deserve to live.

Ever since the incident, his father had ignored him. Mother reluctantly continued to look after him. The rest of the pack would insist on killing him, but Fern would always object, saying if anyone dared harm him, she would swear vengeance- and, considering that she had been born so much stronger than her siblings, the others knew better than to anger her.

Why did you care so much before when it was so easy for you to abandon me now?

'You look so lonely...' She looked at him sympathetically.

'I'm used to it,' Dune replied, glancing at her, then looking away. He stared at the setting sun. He always spent the nights alone- he wasn't allowed in the nest anymore, that was the price he paid for staying alive. However much he hated it, he didn't complain. He knew no one would listen or care anyway.

Why did you listen? Why did you care?

He felt a whoosh besides him. Quickly, he turned and saw his sister sit down next to him, ruffling her white and black feathers. He watched her, with a small surprised look in his orange flaring eyes. She smiled at him kindly. He didn't smile back, though his face was not unkind. He looked thankful, and while he didn't say it, he did not have to.

The world is grey. Everything is grey.

'Are you afraid of trusting others?' Fern said the next day.

Dune nodded.

'Don't worry, brother. You can trust me.'

Liar.

You brought me out of my shell, only to thrust me back in it.

'Come with me!' Fern nudged Dune onwards, excitedly, striding past the massive rocks shooting up from the sand. 'You can play hide and seek with us!'

Dune saw his other siblings waiting up ahead, most looking neutral, one or two looking excited.

'Don't be scared, they don't mind if you join in!'

Most of those siblings would be killed by a drought only a few months later. Fern, Dune, and their now deceased sister Claws were to be the only survivors.

'I'll be the seeker,' Fern grinned at the others. 'The rest of you hide!'

The rest of them scattered, but Dune remained. Fern clicked her sickle claw on the ground ten times, and opened her eyes, only to see Dune right in front of her.

'I'm sorry...' He said apologetically. 'I don't really know how to play...'

'That's okay!' Fern giggled. 'I'll tell you how while you help me find them, how about that?'

Traitor.

'You can trust me.'

Killer.

'You don't have to be alone'

Liar.

'Come along! I'm not going to leave you behind.'

If only that was true.

'I won't let them hurt you.'

You ended up hurting me more than anyone.

T R A I T O R .

K I L L E R .

L I A R .

I  T R U S T E D   Y O U .

(A N D  Y E T  Y O U  B E T R A Y E D  M E.)