The King's Remorse

Just a Few Short Hours

Reborn

DOVE

King Garonda XIV wasn't always evil; I can remember a time when he wasn't, when Wolf and I weren't the brother and sister in The King's Remorse prophecy, when we were just two nobodies living in the White Tent Sea and trying to make it to the next day. 

But that was years and years ago. I don't remember what day it was that Wolf and I gained our powers and the ability to shift, but I know it was the same day that Freedom died, the same day that The King's Remorse poem was first spoken- King Garonda XIV would come to power and Wolf and I were supposed to be able to defeat him. It's been so long, but we'll have to succeed eventually; Wolf hasn't died, so this life will be the one.

It has to be.

xxxx

Where is Wolf? Where is she? Arcane just died, and now Wolf is nowhere to be seen. I told her to stay with Ice -she seemed to get along with him the most- but Ice is here with me and Brook, but Wolf isn't. This can't be happening. Wolf's gotta be here somewhere.

"When was the last time you saw her?"

"Before this whole fight began," Brook says.

"You?" I turn to Ice.

"I-I-I, uh."

"Just spit it out." I realize as soon as I'm done that I snapped at Ice, which I didn't mean to do. Ice still hasn't recovered from King Garonda XIV and the Amethyst Throne, something that will take a long time, and the scars, both physical and mental, might never fully heal.

Ice squeezes his eyes shut, swallows thickly, and draws in a trembling breath.

"Sorry," I murmur, voice softer. "When did you last see Wolf?"

"Shortly a-after the battle started. We got surrounded by a crowd, a-a-and then the crowd split us up. I-I don't know where she is. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for her to go away. But I don't- I don't. I don't, don't know. I don't know. I don't know where she is. She just went away. And I don't know where she went. I tried-. I saw Clap. I tried to help her, but I didn't see Wolf anywhere. I-I-I..." Ice trails off. His eyes water, and his sides tremble with fear. I kneel in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder, staying far away from the scars on the back of his neck.

"Hey. It's alright, Ice. We'll find her." He can't worry any more; he's already got enough on his plate.

"Yeah?" Ice doesn't look at me. Tears roll down his cheeks, forming icicles that he snaps with a forepaw.

"Yeah." I nod.

She's gotta be here somewhere. We'll find you, Wolf. I'll find you if it's the last thing I do. We're siblings, and nothing's taking you away from me.

I offer Ice a small smile, which he returns, taking a step back and looking at the ground.

I stand back up, and survey the White Tent Sea. Or what remains of it, at least. Despite the tents being burned hours ago, they still flicker with embers. I shake my head. What a day it's been. First the White Tent Sea being demolished, and now Wolf being who knows where...

"Come on, guys. You gotta remember something about where Wolf might be, right? Where was the last time you guys saw her?" I try to keep my voice even, but it wavers and I have to force it not to crack.

"Before the fight began, just outside Ice's tent. Calm down, Dove. Worrying and panicking isn't going to help."

"I know, I know." I take a few deep breaths, hoping it would help, but it doesn't.