Stolen Truth

12

The day we had to leave was a stressful one, everyone who had been putting it off was rushing to get everything ready and everyone who wasn't leaving was too busy being upset to care about our feelings. I normally have a lot of patience, but Viper made us get up earlier than the blanks did when I was with them.

Dove and Bunny wouldn't stop hugging, Fox with her stupid mind powers, was making her new sword fly all over the place, Spider kept packing and unpacking her small bag, and Bear and Viper were desperately trying to keep everything in check. Owl and I were trying our best to stay out of it, we were both reasonably prepared and very tired, so we figured it would be best to distance ourselves from the situation.

I was a tad preoccupied anyway, Shark and Dolphin were plotting something nearby, and although I couldn't quite hear what they were saying, I was sure it was no good. I did consider asking Owl to at least try and hear what they were thinking but I already knew he would refuse.

I decided to walk over to the clearing where the children hang out and play, I figured I at least owed it to them to say goodbye.

"Rat!" They screamed when I entered the clearing. All of the kids jumped on me and tried to hug me, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the ground.

"Hi guys," I groaned in pain as I hit the ground with a thud.

"We're gonna miss you," One of the boys said, tears filling his eyes.

"I'm gonna miss you too," I said, getting up and going over to hug him. "I'm going to miss all of you so much, but we'll be back really soon, it will be like I never left."

"Pinkie promise?" One of the girls asked, extending her little finger to me.

"What's that?" I asked, confused.

"You shake her pinkie finger with your pinkie finger, it's an unbreakable promise," One of the boys declared seriously.

"Okay," I said, taking her little finger in my own, "Pinkie promise."

**********

"Are you ready?" Dove asked with tears in her eyes. Bunny was still stood beside her, trying to be brave whilst desperately wiping her own tears from her eyes.

"I suppose," I said, "I've said goodbye to everyone."

"Not me," Bunny said, "Can I please have a hug."

"Of course," I said, feeling a lump beginning to form in my throat. I leant down and wrapped my arms around Bunny, she began sobbing into my shirt and begging both of us not to leave.

"We have to go," Dove said, "But we'll be back before you know it. And we'll have the prince with us, we'll finally win the war, and then you'll be a princess and we can get you the prettiest crown for you to wear."

"Promise?"

"I promise," Dove whispered, holding Bunny tight.

I stood back from the two sisters, furiously trying to wipe my eyes and wondering why on earth I was crying in the first place, before now I only ever cried when I got hurt, and even then, it was rare. I looked around to see Viper leaning against a tree, pain evident in her face as she watched everyone say their goodbyes.

Viper didn't have anyone to say goodbye to. She was close to everyone here, and she was an amazing leader, but she had too many people to care for, she had never had the chance to develop a solid connection. I related to that in a way, I was close to Bunny and the other children, but I only have that connection with Dove, I'm not leaving anyone behind like the rest of them are.

I walked over to Viper and we both stood in silence for a little while, looking at the world around us.

"It's still midday," I mentioned, finally finding something to say.

"Yeah?" Viper said, looking at me.

"I think we still have time for one last fly around?"

"I think we do," Viper said, giving me a weak smile.

"C'mon then," I said, giving Dove and Bunny one last look before Viper and I disappeared into the woods.

A/N:

Sorry for the short chapter, but the next one on Friday is gonna be a lot longer and this didn't really need much else anyway.