The King's Remorse

Get the Hell Away From Me

 Ragdon Volcano is just peeking over the tree line, and a thin trail of smoke hovers in the air. It looks so far away. How are we going to get there without being caught?  "So are you from the White Tent Sea?" Ky asks after an hour or so of walking in silence.

"Yeah. Well, we used to live there, but we're not going to be going anywhere near there now that the Guard and Soldiers are trying to track us down." Dove shrugs.

"Where do you guys live?" I ask.

"It changes a lot. We're always moving," Phoenix replies, coming to walk beside the rest of us. He has wandered off and returned a while later several times. A trail of ashes follows the black cat. I can't see magic, but I can see the results?  I don't think too much about the thought, and instead focus my attention on staying alert for Guard and Soldiers.

Another half hour has passed by when a deer suddenly jumps into our path. The whites of its eyes flash as it sprints in front of us. Phoenix is the first to react, jumping forwards with his tail lashing from side to side as he turns to where the deer had run from with a snarl. What is Phoenix looking at? I scan the bushes, but I don't see anything. Dove pulls me to his side with a hand as he tenses for a potential fight.

"Chill. There isn't anything," Ky says, turning to continue walking.

But then a scream shatters through the forest. Dove's head snaps up, and he stands straighter.

"What was that?" I ask.

"Dunno. There aren't any Guard or Soldiers, so I'm going to keep walking." Phoenix shrugs.

"No. Phoenix, let's go see if someone needs help." Ky cuts off his brother and pushes him towards where the scream had come from.

"Fine. Whatever." Phoenix rolls his eyes. Dove keeps me close as we cautiously approach whoever had screamed.

There's a small clearing. A sea-green cat lays in the middle of the clearing on his side. Six shards of ice line the end of his tail, three on either side, and swirling black lines curve into spirals from the inside corners of his eyes. Blue horns curl down from behind his ears. His sides tremble with shaky breaths. The cat doesn't appear to notice our presence.

"Are you alright?" Ky asks, cautiously taking a step towards the cat, but he retreats a few steps when the cat shrieks again.

The cat's body tenses as his claws dig carve deep scores. When he opens his eyes, tears flow down his cheeks along a frozen path, and they freeze at the bottom, turning into small icicles. 

"What do we do? He's clearly in a lot of pain," I murmur.

"I don't know," Dove replies just as quietly.

"I'm going to say hello. Maybe he'll tell us what's going on." Ky takes a soft step forwards, and he picks his way through the clearing. Phoenix snorts, walking into the bushes and disappearing behind a tree.

"Get back," the cat snarls, his voice tightly controlled. He rolls so he's halfway upright.

"We want t-," Ky starts.

"Go away. Go!" The cat bares his teeth as his tail lashes.

"Why were you screaming?" I walk towards the cat, and Dove closely follows me.

"None of your business. Now, go away. Leave, and forget you ever saw me." The cat gasps, curling his lips into a snarl as he tries to fight back another cry. Blood dribbles from the corner of his mouth.

How much pain is he in?

"I'm Ky. What's your name?" Ky sits down, and his red bandana falls over one shoulder.