// mention of gore in 3rd, 4th, and 5th paragraphs

Her Sanctuary had definitely grown in the past few days. A barrier of Rose bushes had grown around it, arching over the entrance with a divine elegance. Her bed was made of woven leaves, soft as cotton and stronger than usual cloth. Underneath this covering did the undead lioness sleep, breath quick and ragged. Her mind was loud and she was under a strange, surreal nightmare.

It almost seemed real. Had she gone back to him? The dark purple lion who's mane was littered with white roses and ugly thorns nuzzled her. Against her own will did she nuzzle back. The gesture was all to familiar, this routine nothing new. But something was wrong with her lover. His face appeared blurry, dark. His words came back jumbled and wrong.

She struggled to see what happened next. Maye was suddenly alone, cradling the dead bodies of her cubs. Soundless sobs left her mouth, grief apparent and ever present on her face. Three withered bodies who were once plump and happy and full of energy. The sweet licorice scent hit her nose, and she turned to her lover. His face was clear, and she saw him smile. His face appeared rotted and falling away, but this was before she killed him.

Vines stabbed her body everywhere, cutting her body with ease. Her ears ringed. He got closer. She couldn't get away. Closer. Closer. His claws raised up, then swung down onto her face. [color=red]Red. The lioness woke with a yelp, finding herself on the dirt.

She felt something spherical in her paw, and she turned to look. A pale green eye lay there, her own paw bloodied. Lukewarm liquid fell from her face. Maye's remaining eye widened and she shrieked, throwing the eye across the sanctuary, rolling out of the entrance. She heaved, then placed her paw to her eye socket.

Something already began growing in the absence of her eye. Vines constricted her muscles and she felt vines pierce her skin, anchor into her body. A sweet, sugary scent hit her nose, and she pulled at the flower, revealing a light blue rose petal in her claws. A grief-stricken wail rose from her chest as she collapsed, gritting her teeth as she snarled. "Why? Why do you haunt me? You got what you fucking deserve, why won't you leave me alone!"

A ragged breath drew from her as she choked out more words, "You killed them, didn't you...? Why, Valore, why? They-ey were only cubs!" She sucked in air through her teeth as she held back sobs. "Why do you still hurt me.."

"Speech"

A glassy green eye drifted to Firefly as Maye sat up, regaining her composure a bit. "Some.. yes. Some company would be nice. Thank you." She looked at the blue petals before shaking her head. "Ah, My name is Maye, I don't think we've correctly met."

"Speech"

Solitary eye drifted to Aurum, a sick laugh in her head. We are matching. The laugh never came to surface as the lion gave his worried words. Taking a glance to the ground, she shook her head, "I.. I will be fine. I had a nightmare." She didn't mention the eye, only taking her paw back to the flower before she sighed.

A droplet of blood fell from her socket, landing solemnly on the ground. Almost instantly, seemingly out of Maye's control, a red tulip sprouted from the droplet. She just stared at it while her brain suddenly slowed, a faint whisper in her head. You Did it. You did it. You did it. You did it. her lips tightened and contorted in a sharp frown and she looked as though in a trance, glassy eye more hazed as the whisper repeated.

You did it. You did it. You did it.

"Speech"