King Elk Forest Entrañable y Lamentable

Damien knew that bitterness flooded every one of Burke's words and a smirk was drawn across his face, perhaps corrupted by a smudge of guilt. It hadn't been his fault entirely, though. Nemesis had had a lot to do with it and every ounce of disgrace that had befallen Blackfeather Woods rested on her shoulders as it did on Damien's. Things were easy with Burke on top of the command chain, maybe a bit stagnant, but it worked alright. With Damien and Nemesis... It was an absolute mess at the very best.

For as bad as it was, Damien's mouth started watering when Burke threw up for him. He hadn't eaten in days and his stomach churned at the wet sound of Burke's pre-digested offering spilling before them. Like a shadow Damien approached cautiously and silently, head low looking up to Burke's chest minding his manners. For confident as he was that Burke wouldn't harm him there was still an inmensurable chance that things would end terribly for both of them. As soon as the bile was within reach Damien threw himself on it eagerly, ignoring the rancid, acid taste of his supper, for it could very well be his last.

Between bites, retching and heavy breathing Damien didn't find an answer to Burke's question. Damien had indeed been dethroned, but it hadn't been an uprising as it was in Burke's case. Damien had fallen on his own, broken down to pieces perhaps too small to repair, and the way back to the top was steep and full of challenges that he wasn't sure he could take on. You could have stayed, he said between grunts and chewing, I needed you to stay... he added thoughtfully, almost whispering before diving his nose back into his meal.