[ set before meeting & tw for nausea / almost throwing up ]

Hazey voices spoken over top inclined head, running together syllables until they devolved into nothing more than meaningless sound. Expectation lacking, unexpected his presence among those who mourned over the fallen — to all leader, many a friend, others a mere common and accepted presence, and deemed a paternal figure to many of the children. Yet he had lingered even as preparations had been conducted, washed from ravaged throat the tacky blood, smoothed his visage with gentle touch, eyes closed.

He seemed almost asleep.

Peaceful the placement the eldest amongst their community guided him into, adorned ruddy strands with petals and stalks, lavender aside put for this, the stench decay brought obscured beneath purple buds. He knew it all the same, how it edged upon the sickening sweetness, an edge clinging beneath heady aroma, tickled nostrils by frail petals. Still was it there, the brine settled among rust hued strands, copper overlaid tongue chewed upon by grinding teeth, something his own. They might not remove it even as work continued, a halo the plucked flora encircling still body.

Hardly does he notice their machinations slowing, work completed and permitted those who bore the closest ties to ring him, shared those moments, sorrow briefly voiced before silence settled. His was this time, remembrance conducted as rest closed in, visitors upon this scene of grief only, other pursuits beckoning until few those who lingered. For them had he perished, permitting the sickness that had ravaged and eaten at the delicate internal tissue sign his death, anew begun the tears dampening silver cheeks. Almost he wished to reach for another, recognised the jagged patchwork, burnt auburn splintered beneath ebony, the scales adorned in dark strands her rage quelled, the multi-hued eyesore that canid made, beside lighter hued brother huddled.

Family they, accepted the one before as something more than their leader. Other faces clustered, settled in placement for the silence of frigid night that closed about them with a clinging shade, lost their identity, blurred the vision barely perceiving each in turn. All of them joined, if not by blood that painted their beings than by choice, chosen from the multitude that adorned the face of once empty Island, shuddering the breath he released. Within the wake of loss they had come together, accepted the inevitable for how cruel the vicious conclusion truly was, for a moment all laid to rest alongside the deceased.

"Love you… Dad." Hushed words muffled as nose was engulfed in chilled coat, close child drawn, a final night spent as the assembled prepared for their watch, disillusioned, yet supposedly hopeful. For a man as good and courageous as Rhinestonestar he deserved nothing less than eternal peace.


Confusion.

The organic compound mixed into a nest largely constructed of plucked strands of seaweed, moss, stalks of grass, and scraps of pelt lacking, chilled the grains that clung to sodden coat. Familiar the weight, another kind in blanketing those who lingered into the early hours covering, beneath still tremor set upon aching muscle, wound about nerves bearing frayed edges. Chore grown the act of rousing self from slumber, light and disturbed as it was, no different this instance that placed atop addition of unknown placement.

Forth extending paws, soft the texture that met, open forced eyes to perceive what mind had deemed only a dream. Proven falsehood this, still even beneath the pale illumination gracing breaking morning, activity slow, routine re-established without guiding hand. Quickened the beat relentlessly hammered against his ribs, disrupted each breath, harsh the coughing fit that seemed to have no end. It burned. Throat restricted, enclosed until the tight confinement was set ablaze, arising bile until it pooled in the back of his mouth. Acidic the tang as he forced himself to swallow, unsteady on retreat conducted with clumsy steps.

Few Foam achieved, collapse jarring, ringing his head with a dull tone, temples ravaged by building agony. Within did he curl upon the snow speckled sand, sole his focus on breathing, each rasping and harsh, punctured by coughing. Never still, once more left trembling, a violent shudder that allowed his teeth to snap shut, a ceaseless clamour the noise further joined by low pitched groans.