Firefly Glen And what once was a world is a star

She realized she hadn't acknowledged Fennec beyond a look which her sister wouldn't even see. "It's good to see you too," Meerkat said belatedly, the memory of their recent nighttime talk flitting through her head and leaving behind a touch of warmth despite everything. Her focus then shifted back to her brother as he said her name, her heart clenching in her chest at the tone of his voice.

Her lips parted, a sense of alarm flashing through her body and setting it to trembling slightly as he managed a few more words. Meerkat wanted to tell him to stop talking as fear swallowed her. Who was it now? Towhee? Phox? Niamh? Who else had fallen victim to this seemingly endless string of suffering and tragedy, leaving the rest of them behind to shatter apart with no hope of ever really picking up all the pieces and putting them right again?

She swallowed when he whispered Primrose's name. He didn't even have to say the words outright, the implication was clear: Prim was gone. Meerkat let out a breath as relief flooded her. She felt horrible by the next heartbeat, cringing inwardly at her own involuntary response. Maybe all the prior deaths had desensitized her or messed with her ability to process further tragedy. But she was not as deeply attached to Prim as to others, something which was both a godsend and a shame in this moment.

Meerkat continued shivering, feeling weak. She sank to her haunches, thinking of how her little brother's life had been cut even shorter than Toad's. She waited to see if the overpowering grief would come, with it the tears, but the moments ticked past and she could only breathe shakily into the heavy silence.