Swiftcurrent Creek because you live to torture me, don't you?

Two little words, spoken in an equally small voice, unexpectedly pierced Relonikiv right in the heart. At first, he blinked stupidly, certain he'd misheard or misunderstood. He glanced between Trajan and Shadow, his golden ears fanning backward as they exchanged inexplicably meaningful looks. Real comprehension began to creep up on him then and his heart began to race. His face crumbled and he began to cry.

Trajan was his older brother and superior, so Relonikiv didn't feel he could question his motives. Instead of asking him, the boy tearfully looked up at Scimitar and whispered a heartbroken, "W-why?" He then looked at Trajan, feeling confusion, betrayal and a myriad of other things. It was difficult making sense of the situation, since it was a quintessentially nonsensical one.

Nobody seemed ready to argue for Trajan to stay, which made Relonikiv cry all the harder. They were going to let him go, just like that? Scimitar's reply to Shadow was punctuated by the boy's hiccuping sobs and even a ululating wail. He could barely see through the thick flood of tears and he certainly couldn't hear what was being said. But his tiny golden muzzle remained pointed at Trajan in disbelief.