I dreaded the days of school as much as any other 10 year old mewman, but not studying was going a bit far. And that's exactly what I told River. River protested in that way that he did. I stubbornly told him to get that homework done or i'd not play another round of Castle Defender, see how he likes that! River grumbled, and got started on the mathematics homework.
I smiled proudly and turned to leave the room, when a rock hit the window. Luckily, the windows can't break. I walked over to the window and opened it. I looked down and saw the floating pony head me and River grew fond of, Pat. I waved at him, and he smiled, but it looked rather fake.
"Hey, Moon! River there? Something happened to his dad.." Pat sighed. I frowned in worry. I nodded that yes, River was indeed here.
Pat gave me a generous smile and floated into my room. "River!" He yelled, making River jump and stare at him.
"Hey, uh, River, your dad was- was injured while fighting. Severely. It's unknown if he'll live or die.." Pat really didn't want to be the one to tell River that his dad could die at any day, I understood.
River blanched. "But- but..." He shook his head in denial. "It's impossible!"
I sighed sadly and looked him in the eye. "No, River, it is not."
Pat nodded in agreement, or it looked like he was nodding.
"Moon, Pat, stop! Stop playing this cruel joke on me!" River yelled in his desperation to not face the facts: Nobody was safe.
"You know we don't joke about death, River."