(REMAKE IS UP!) Restitution (CLOSED)

Chapter 17: Don't Say Goodbye

As I walked out of the hallway into the front room, it was empty for the most part, but I did catch Erika at the kitchen doing something. When I came out and stretched a little, I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned, I saw Sky coming up behind me. She looked at me with a smile, then it seemed to fade as something was troubling her. I got down on a knee and brought my hand out to scratch the side of her head as she came close enough. She pressed her head on my hand as I ran my fingers through her fur.

"Is something wrong?" I asked. Sky looked at me, then came up to me and gave me a peck on the lips.

"Cassius, there's something Erika and I need to tell you." Sky said. I nodded, then put my forehead to hers.

"Alright."

"Not here." Sky said. "For right now, I think I just need to talk to you on the couch." She started walking towards the couch. I turned my head and watched her in confusion, then I looked at Erika and saw she was doing something else. When she saw me looking at her, she smiled, then continued with what she was doing originally. I walked over to where Sky had sat down and sat next to her. She then climbed on my lap and sat down, looking right at me. The look on her face made me grow uneasy.

"Sky?" She looked at me, then tried to smile.

"Cassius... there's no real easy way to say this." I looked at Sky a little nervous. "I-I know that we... we've only known each other for a few days, but... well...." I tried to ease her into talking by rubbing the back of her head. It seemed to help her relax, but then she pushed my arm down with her paw.

"Sky, what is it?" She was struggling to get to the point.

"It's... you..."

"Me?" Sky looked at me for a second, then sighed.

"You... you need to go Cassius." I felt my heart freeze for several seconds before it started getting back to its rhythm again.

"What?!" Sky looked away from me, trying to avoid eye-contact.

"Cassius, you have to understand, it's for your own safety." Erika said. I turned my head and saw Erika making her way over to us. She jumped up on the couch on my left side, facing me.

"But... but why?" I asked. "Is it something I did? If it's something I did, I swear, I didn't-"

"It's not you Cassius." Erika said. "It's more of..." She seemed to trail off on her words.

"It's more of what?" I asked. "Please, tell me what's going on!"

"It's Laurine." Sky said. I looked at her, her eyes trying hard not to release tears. I looked back at Erika who was still looking at me, but I could tell it was hard for her to look me in the eyes.

"Because... because they saw you... they'll be searching this entire town until they get you." I started to quake. I heard this before, but I really didn't want to hear this, not again. Sky put her paws on my shoulders. I wanted to pull away, but I wouldn't get anywhere.

"Cassius... I'm... I really... don't want to... I don't want to-"

"Then why not come with me?!" I said. "What's stopping all of you from following me to the City of Flares?!"

"Cassius, you have to understand that we can't just go up and leave like you can." Erika said. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to contain my emotions.

"Please..." I pleaded. "don't put me through this again."

"Cassius..." Sky pressed her paw on my cheek, trying to get me to calm down. I recoiled and turned my head to the side, making her pull her paw back.