Lost Creek Hollow Butterflyfish

Ruenna had left him? 

Crowfeather could not hide his shock and anger. 

How dare she? How dare she take his heart and abandon it? Who did she think she was? 

Germanicus bowed his head, as though his words were too difficult to utter with his chin held high and proud - where it should be. 

Crowfeather couldn’t stop. 

Tentative, whiskers quivering with the breath that he held in his chest, the dark star reached for him and pressed his nose to the space at the bridge of the older man’s snout. Air quavered through flared nostrils, drawing in his scent. It was as though he had been away for years. The smell of him, so familiar and yet so foreign, filled him. 

A new wife had sent him here. And though he did not wish to know it, though it burned like fire in his throat and scorched his tongue as it left his mouth, the shadow whispered, she is good to you? 

Tears fell from his eyes. 

That was all he cared about. It was all he needed to know - that Germanicus was loved, treasured, cared for in the way he so deserved. For if it could not be Crowfeather, he could try to release his heart’s twining from this man. If only he was given everything in the world that he deserved. 

The dark star could not breathe. He feared the answer he hoped for. 

I’m sorry.

Starlight danced in his tear stricken eyes. 

I should not have- I never should have left you the way- 

All those angry words. Crowfeather was ashamed.