Tourniquet

The wee morning hours brought about the end of a chapter. The flames had fully consumed the body of her golden brother. Nothing but ashes were left when she peeled herself from the cold stone where she'd been curled all night. The pressure of her body on the wound in her foreleg had forced it to clot, but rising had ripped the wound open once more. It didn't flow as wildly as it had when fresh, but it resumed a steady dribble. Each step left little droplets as she made her way away from Aerie. She simply couldn't be there right now. It was too much. And yet, at the same time the midnight woman was numb. Feeling wasn't in the cards at present.

Her subconscious must have thought she needed something. Moving on autopilot, Fel made her way to the rocky river and the cave nestled back among the trees. She was tired and she was weak but she didn't stop. Fel still didn't know if she could trust them but they had fed the affection starved woman when no one else would. It seemed that she was ravenous yet again.

They weren't awake when she stopped outside the den. The birds themselves had only just risen. The first tentative chirps broke the silence of night. Rather than disturb the pair, Fel curled herself in a tight little ball on the very rock where they'd all rested together. The wound still seeped and soon a single rivulet swept over the side of the stone. Ruby eyes were wide and unblinking but she saw nothing. If she gave way to sleep, Aureus would be there. She wasn't ready for that just yet.