“You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

-David Harkins

 

                                           

                                         Chapter: One

 

 The sky seemed to be the color of ash. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and all around there was a strange, uneasy feeling hanging in the air. Annabel took a breath in as the wind ruffled up her pelt, chilling her to the bone. It was strange enough that she had took an unexpected dip in the lake, now it was just killing her.

Metaphorically, that is.

  She began to shuffle foreword, breathing out through her nose, slipping in air around her teeth. Annabel blinked as the first rain drop plummeted down, right into her eye. She crinkled up her maw and shook her head sideways, getting rid of it. Annabel padded over to a tree, seeking shelter.

  Annabel sat there, huddled below the low-hanging branches. That 'un-easy' feeling started to pick up, seeming to make her edgy. She shifted her weight from paw to paw, looking around her as she did so. Annabel blinked as she saw a figure dart past a clump of trees a few feet away. She sniffed, recognizing the scent. Deadalus. " Deadalus? Is that you?" She left her safe haven, padding over to where Deadalus scent was strongest. " I was..Kind of looking for you. I wanted to talk to you. About flowers. Yea, I know that sounds silly. A female asking a..older..gentleman about flower basics, but, I was wondering what kind Ramona likes. Since..You're like..her father and all." There was a pause, and then that pause turned into silence. Deathly silence. Annabel sniffed the air again, at the same time, she heard something rustle next to her paw. As she looked down to examine the leaf, a blurred object leaped out of the bushes, pinning her to the ground in one fluid movement.

  Andriel squealed in sup rise, blinking rapidly. Instead of putting on her regular Valley-Gall-Toned voice, she said nothing, her eyes the size of dinner plates. It only took Deadalus a few moments to say something. " Well?" He spat, a piece of spit flying onto the corner of Annabel's mouth. " Aren't you scared?"

  Annabel nodded dumbly, not wanting to say anything wrong. Deadalus didn't take this to thought though, not noticing her weak head bob. He flashed out his claws, wiping them up in the air. The sun caught some sort of liquid on Deadalus claws. Annabel heart just as well leapt out of her throat when she realized it was blood.

 Fresh blood, to be excact. "Another killing spree, huh, Deadalus?" Annabel spat, struggleing to get loose. Deadalus held onto her strongly, 4 powerfull claws like a vice around her neck. " Correct, girl." He said, mummering it. Annabel looked around as much as she could, thoughts collecting to her head. " Who did you kill already? Ramona? Nico? Bianca?"  Deadalus shook his head. " Nah..Wouldn't kill my own hatchlin'. "he purred. That made Annabel uneasy. A bead of sweat crawled down her forehead and onto her muzzle. " Nico..He's a strong boy. Could use him for somethin. Bianca..I don't know. Could end up just like you."

Annabel whimpered and tried to whine out, but his paw was pushed down on her throat, making it even hard to breathe. "None of that now.." Deadalus said.Annabel ignored him, screaming out for help. Her small squeak of words echoed around the valley, but died quickly.

  Deadalus growled and slashed out his other set of claws. He held it infront of Annabels face. Annabel screwed her eyes shut and squirmed, waiting for the impact.

  The pain was terrible. Four long, leen claws ripped into Anna's flesh, causing her to shreik in pain. Blood splattered the nearest tree and still Annabel refused to open her eyes. Deada had cut her near the heart, and blood was bubbleing up and rushing out quickly. Deadalus smiled, bringing up his paw to his face he dabbed his tounge into the blood and flashed his teeth. The sun reflected off of it as he chuckled. "I knew only one swipe could finish her." He turned on his heel and fled, satisfied already. 

 All Annabel could feel was pain. And all she saw was red light, red light she knew was the sun, streaming before her eye lids. She wanted to see, but she didin't have the strength. All the months Deadalus had stayed with her family, she knew he was unsual. Like he always had somthing planned, but never bothered to talk about it. Annabel flicked one ear slowly as a twig snapped to her left. She started whimerping, thinking Deadalus had come back to torment her more. But she caught a familur scent, and a voice she knew all her life spoke up against the rumble of thunder. " Annie? My god! What happened to you?"

Nico.

She heard leaves moves and more twigs breaking as Nico moved over to her. " You..Who...?" He asked out, chocking back tears. " Deadalus..." Annabel finished for him. "Don't worry..about..catching him. He...he..." She labored pants out between each word, desperete to talk to him for the last time.

Nico whined more, a growl riseing to his throat. " Don't worry, I'll give him somthing to remember," he siad, getting up to track Deadalus down. It took all Annabels effort to hold Nico back. " No. Stay." She commanded. Nico was hesitant, then sat next to her.

 " Im sure Ramona could help you with the cut..She could-" " No..She can't. Leave it be. It cant be healed, ok?" She snapped. Everything got silent. It was a while before any of them started to talk.

"Its my time, Nico. You have to understand." She took a deep, shaky breath. " Let me go." She said, a small smile on her maw. Nico shook his head. " But..I don't have to..You can still live..."

Annabel shook her head slowly, not being able to say anything. Her eyes closed and her breathing came more softly, and less frequent. Nico watched as her last breath wisped from her mouth, and out into the forest.

 Nico sat there for a moment, not reliazeing what had just happened. He opened his mouth, but nothing seemed to come out. He just stared at the lifeless Annabel infront of his paws, a weak smile on her face. Nico felt a tear slide down from his eyes, plummenting onto Annabels fur. " Rest, sister. " he said, nuzzleing her for a few seconds.

He stepped away and bowed his head, feeling the rain drops coming harder down apon him. Nico sighed loudy, and turned back the way he had come, ready to brake the news of Annie's death to the rest of his family...

 

 

 ( Will be continued in the Second Part. ^^)

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