CRUMBLING // o, dying

[Suiteheart]

[align=center][div style="width: ##px; height: ##px;"]

There was no way to prepare oneself for death. Even when it was obvious a loved one was going to die (such as dealing with an ongoing illness), death always came swiftly and without mercy. It was harsh. It took no prisoners. It served no purpose but to hurt oneself and those that cared for said person immensely. Suiteheart had been around death all her life. Hell, she had even died once herself, but there was no way to ready herself for this... No, not this.

Starrynight had been a beacon of hope to her. He was upbeat and happy. He was sunshine and starlight; he was everything beautiful and wholesome about the heavens above. He embodied it all so perfectly, and Suiteheart had cared about him from the moment she met him. He had given her the ability to believe in something again when no one else could. He had given her a home and family. He had given her a chance at happiness. He had done and done and done for not only she but everyone else in the Ascendants. And now, there was no way to repay him for any of his kindness.

In absolute horror, she had watched her beloved leader fall. Her mind could not help but connect him with a shooting star - falling, falling, crashing. She was unable to help - this was an unavoidable tragedy. And so she watched, helpless to look away as Starrynight collided with the telescope before falling into the edge of the pedestal. Her dark gaze watched as his blood pooled from the wound, covering the floor that he now rested upon.

Her world slowed. She watched as Margaery and Rin ran forward. Both of them were saying something, but she couldn't quite make it out. Her brain picked up bits and pieces of their conversation, and she knew they were trying to save him. Her chest ached and tightened. The Cosmic General inhaled sharply as her world returned to its normal pace. Her metaphorical eyebrows knitted together in worry and fear, and anguish was the only emotion she wore.

Unsteady paws brought her forward, and the polar bear could only shake her head as if to clear this scene from reality. No use. No use. No use. This was real. Fuck, this was real. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried to remain strong. She would not let these tears fall while Starrynight still lived, however short that may be...

His inner light had burned so brightly, and now, that once blinding light was flickering out. Suiteheart's mouth opened to stay something, but she was searching desperately for words. Both Margaery and Rin's attempts were admirable, but he had lost too much blood. From the gurgling noises he was making, she knew his lung was filling with blood. The sharp corner he'd fallen on had broken a rib, she deduced, and that had tore his lung wide open.

Her eyes fell upon Warringkingdoms, and she gently shook her head. Trying to heal would do no good. The only they they could do for Starrynignt was, like Marg believed, to give him comfort in his final moments. Unfortunately, without an overly skilled healer, there was no chance of actually saving him. The thought burned her mind. Helplessness was such a terrible emotion.

"You'll be okay," the great bear murmured, forcing a trembling smile to rise to greet her lips. As she spoke, a single tear fell. She took a breath to steady herself, and she gently reached for the Astral Seraph's paw to hold. "Just look at the ceiling and focus on the mosaics. I hung them up a little bit ago. They're pretty, are-aren't they, Star? Haze made that one," she pointed to one hanging mosaic in particular, "I think that task you gave me is the best task I've ever gotten. It made this whole room look so pretty, Star. It's all so pretty now. You've done so well, Starry. I'm so proud of you." Her words and actions were to try and distract him from what was happening. If she could offer him any relief, then dammit, she should. It was the least she could do.