Chapter 16

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Tern's POV

Tern peered into his parents' room. Aurora's chest fell peacefully up and down. Bear was muttering something in his sleep.

Should I do this?  he thought.

He kept feeling guilty for some strange reason.

Shut up, he told himself. And do it. Quickly, as well.

Tern stepped closer to his parents and then with his own bare talons, snapped Aurora's neck in half. Dark blue blood dripped from his talons.

I was born to be a murderer, he realized. And I will forever be one.

Bear awoke from the snapping sound.

"Tern!" he shouted, horrified. And then he fled.

"Come back," Tern snarled. There was no answer.

He rushed into the hallway and saw the distant shadow of his father. He charged towards the shadow. Then he saw more shadows up ahead.

Guards, he realized with a jolt. Run, run, run!

He lept off a balcony and pumped his wings as hard as he could. Good, I lost them, he thought after flying for some time.

Then he took shelter in a cave and closed his eyes, his mind replaying the same image of Aurora's snapped neck over and over again.

What have I done?  his mind whispered.

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