That's the price you pay
Leave behind your heart and cast away
Just another product of today
Rather be the hunter than the prey
And you're standing on the edge, face up
Leave behind your heart and cast away
Just another product of today
Rather be the hunter than the prey
And you're standing on the edge, face up
.
" You look weary, gem. " came a low, rumbling purr from the shadows, carrying both amusement and a hint of warning. Jadethorn's ears twitched as she scanned the darkness, and for a moment her gaze met two sharp pins of golden eyes, unblinking, burning through the gloom. Then, as if the shadows themselves had shaped him, a massive form emerged, stepping into the dim light of the living world. He stood tall, imposing, yet there was a weariness that clung to him, subtle but unmistakable, the kind of fatigue born from lingering too long between life and death. Each step seemed to draw from some hidden reserve, the effort of existing in this half-world evident in the tense muscles along his flanks.
His gaze swept over her, sharp and assessing. Blood still matted his dark fur, the mark of the killing bite upon his throat a permanent testament to the violence that had brought him here. This was the cat who had carried their kits, the one who had ensured their survival even as death loomed so close. Yet despite his injuries, his presence radiated power, authority, and an undeniable reminder of the bloodline that ran between them.
" Do the little ones keep you busy, hm? " he hummed, his voice low and resonant, carrying the weight of experience, battle, and the lingering scent of the Dark Forest upon him. He moved slowly around her, a shadow among shadows, his amber gaze never leaving her for long. Each motion was deliberate, calculated, like a predator taking in every detail of the space, the air, the life around him. The claws of memory, of purpose, of unfinished business, dug deeper with each heartbeat, and yet for now, he lingered here, allowing her to witness his presence before the pull of the afterlife reclaimed him once more.
" As I promised... I linger. "
Speech, thoughts/emphasis
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