The Obelisk

-Chapter 46: Part 2-

“Are you Ok?”

A dark brown and blue striped Baryonyx ran forward, panting. “Are you hurt?”

Crimson stared up at her, her face blank. “No.”

“Good,” the Baryonyx let out a breath.

“What happened?” Crimson asked.

“Humans,” the Baryonyx muttered darkly. “Humans and their stupid bombs. Where are your parents?”

Crimson blinked, her eyes getting foggy. “I lost them.”

“Well, we’ll find them, all right?” The Baryonyx said. “I’m Sable. What’s your name?”

“Crimson,” she whispered.

“I’ll take care of you for now, Crimson. Come with me.”

Crimson and Sable travelled acrossed the swamp for a few moons after that, sharing their kills and hunting together. Every day they searched for Crimson parents. They sent messages and asked other Kapros if they’d seen them—The rest of Crimsons family had moved on since the attack. They never found any sign of Crimsons parents. Sable was all Crimson had after that. She grew to love the older carnivore. They became family.

One night, after they’d finished eating, Sable had sighed. “Crimson,” she called.

“Yes?” Crimson asked, swallowing her fish.

“I…” she hesitated. “I don’t think we’re finding your parents.”

***

Crimson screamed. She screamed her anger out, throwing her head to the ceiling. She screamed at the world.

“Crimson!” Forest exclaimed, startled. “What’s wrong? Listen, please if you would just tell us—“

“NO!” Crimson screamed. “I’ll never tell you! You’d never understand! Especially YOU,” she spat, glaring at Forest. “YOU STUPID ROCK DRAKE. All your kind understands is hiding under a rock your whole lives!”

She whirled away, leaving Forest standing there, looking wounded. But she didn’t care.

Spark tried to nudge her reassuringly with her tail. “Don’t touch me” she snapped, stomping away. Spark flinched back.

Sable was right. Leaving the swamp would never help me. Finding “friends” wouldn’t help me. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

I can’t get rid of this grief.

It’ll never go away. My parents will always be dead. There’s nothing I can do about it.

She didn’t dare cry.

***

Forest watched Crimson march away, feeling stupid. He hung his head low with a sigh.

“Wow,” Nyx said faintly. “Did I start that?”

“No,” Spark said. Her eyes gleamed with understanding.

“Something else did.”