The One Where Moth Dies

[Atticus Roux]

The rumbling. It woke Atticus up quickly. Grey ears perked up from his pillow and yellow eyes dilated wide as he looked around feverishly for help. A shiver ran down his spine, fur spiking up on his haunches. His mind raced, searching for answers that he wouldn't find until the aftermath. Distressed, the child kicked off his bed and landed on the floor with a thump. Urgently, he scrambled to his feet. With one last look around, he let out a screech.

His desperate yowl echoed through the hollow walls of the home, attracting the attention of his mother. She rushed in. Atticus could see the panic in her gaze and the tension within her body, causing his heart to skip a beat. Something was wrong. She knew what too. "Momma?" he muttered softly, his voice wavering in concern. Unfortunately for him, the kitten was met with no answer. Teeth dug into his scruff, causing him to grow limp in her jaws, and they were off. Nevertheless, his mind kept racing.

As his siblings traveled down the stairs, the tremors grew stronger. Atticus began to quiver. His mother's grip never faltered nonetheless. They would escape together and rejoice. The kitten didn't want to leave her side. If she was not safe, neither was he. Mama's boy felt comforted in her jaws, but he couldn't help the doubt in the back of his mind. His mind told him to leave... To go far from here. He needed to run and escape the house, but he was stuck between her jaws. Despite her good-will, his soul felt trapped. Woefully, the guilt of leaving her would have killed him inside.

Then the next tremor came.

Atticus' vision wavered as she staggered forward. For a moment, he thought all was alright. They would escape. They would be just fine, but the fate rose against them. Moth continued to fall forward and her jaws opened, releasing him into the air. The kitten flew forward. Panic rushed through his system as he flew through the air and debris. Unbeknownst to him, part of the house's jagged interior sliced through his left ear during his flight. 

He plummets to the floor, tumbling over to face his mother. A soft cry left him. Tears filled his eyes. Not only was the mental agony torturing him, but the physical pain of the slam on his ribs echoed throughout his body.

Calamity.

Chaos.

The torment was not over.

Through blurred vision, yellow eyes widened. The world around him came crumbling down in slow motion. Violent tremors continued shaking their home and the walls began to crack, leading up to the ceiling. Painted plaster walls crumbled. Windows began to shatter. Support beams within the home began to come undone, causing the house to collapse inwards. The wooden beam on door frame caved in, slamming down onto his mother. Unpleasant cracking of bones overwhelmed Atticus' senses as he watched her succumb under the weight. He let out a scream, but the falling of debri tuned him out.

He remained frozen. Atticus quivered in his place, shock flowing through his system. What horror had been laid upon his eyes. As the others swarmed around him, he just watched. His mind was still processing the trauma that happened in front of him. Meanwhile, Simon was digging, his Papa was wondering where Alice went, and Ivan fell to the floor. Aurum was calling out, looking for any sign of faith. Despite their hopes and his own ignorance, her pessimistic child knew deeply nothing could be done. She was gone.

As time passed, anguish weighed him down. The crimson from his ear and tears mixed together on his cheeks as he ruthlessly bawled. Wretched sobs left him. He felt helpless. Guilty, even. If she hadn't watched her kids go down the stairs... If she had just ran... If she hadn't been carrying him... she would of survived the fall.

Even with Selby by his side and Aurum supporting him, the kitten just buried his head into his paws and cried... What else could he do?