Memories of the Lost Prince - A HENRY STORY 3

by LonelyHuntress

[PART 3] He has come so far - Henry, the exiled prince of Regalia, in what have now been two years of exile. No - Henry's story is still not over. He's made a name for himself as the Death Rider, but his true identity is still at stake. Join him now, for his last shot at redemption, atonement and possibly even... a happy ending? *** Here is the, hopefully worthy, grand finale!

27. Loyalties

Everything remained silent, as Thanatos landed in front of the gaping hole, that led to the prison, from the Plain of Tartarus. Henry felt the unease rise with every second, his hearing was focused, he felt every little sound vibrating through the fibers of his body, yet he sensed no life, not in the cave. Down the tunnel Kismet now gazed into, there was life.

Henry exchanged a glance with her. "They put up a single guard, from what I can hear", he whispered in her direction, and she nodded. "Well perceived. Can you blame them though, if they keep the prisoners in a pit anyway? They will not suspect anyone to escape." Henry smiled at the compliment, while quickly deciding now was a good time to use his extendable fur soles. "Let's go then."

They followed the path for a minute, Henry had only his dagger drawn. A single guard wouldn't pose much of a threat, especially with Kismet at his side as well.

When they finally saw a glimpse of light in what appeared to be the cave with the prison pit, Henry was finally able to make out the guard. He cowered facing the pit, with his back on them. Henry exchanged a glance with Kismet and they took one side each.

The guard let out a surprised cry as Kismet grabbed him. Henry raised Mys, ready to thrust it into his neck, when he saw the expression on Kismet's face shift – "S... Splintleg?!"

Henry lowered his dagger in surprise. For the first time he inspected the rat closer, and, on second glance, realized he recognized the dark grey fur and the torn ear. "Splintleg?", he echoed, and the former arena-master turned his confused, orange gaze on him. "Death Rider!"

To Henry's surprise, Kismet released him, only to take a couple steps back. "So, I see you two know each other, then", she snarled, keeping him in her gaze. Splintleg instantly twirled around to face her, but Kismet left him no time to speak – "Does my memory fail me here, or did you not know something along the lines of honor once, Splintleg? And now you associate yourself with lunatics like the Bane. Oh, how low you have sunken..."

To Henry's surprise, the slightly taller rat did not talk back. Instead, his eyes were round with shock and disbelief. "Y... you... HEY! I'm not here because I WANT to! What was I supposed to do, when the Bane took over my arena? FIGHT him?", he scoffed, before taking a cautious step closer – "It can't be...", he mumbled, but Kismet left him no time to inspect her. Instead, she simply leaped past him, into the pit.

Henry shot the grey rat a final gaze, but then saw Thanatos behind him, nodding slightly. Knowing his flier would watch Splintleg, Henry finally followed Kismet into the pit. They would deal with him later.

The impact his own feet made on the stone floor of the pit caused his peeked ears to vibrate. Henry more felt than saw three rodents, all cowering near the opposite side of the wall, all in notably terrible shape. Kismet beside him signaled to approach, and Henry cautiously stepped closer, to take the sight in.

He had expected Lapblood to confront them immediately, but the first of the prisoners to step forward caused his heartbeat to double. She was actually here. Alive. She who they had come for.

"It has been quite a while, you who they call Death Rider. Or did you drop the act yet, and maybe you can, at last, tell me your real name?" Her voice was slightly distorted, most likely from her broken nose, and she was thinner than before, even thinner than Kismet. Her fur was disheveled and hadn't been tended to in a long time, and her tail was but a stump. Henry thought he remembered Gregor telling him in the jungle a serpent had bitten it off. But she was nonetheless attempting to stand tall, though visibly struggling.

Henry smiled. "It's good to see you. Man, it's really good to see you. And as for the name", his grin widened, "just call me Henry – Twitchtip. Though, Death Rider is fine as well, if I'm being honest."

Twitchtip managed a hoarse laugh before she collapsed back. Henry thought she would fall, but a different rat now leaped at her, catching and stabilizing her. "Death Rider?", that was Lapblood's voice, she cowered next to Twitchtip, her remaining pup now approached from the other side. "Do you know them, mother?"

Henry thought Lapblood narrowed her eyes. "The Death Rider, he has been with us in the jungle. What are you doing here, and who is –", she left Twitchtip to her pup and took a step towards Kismet, who had remained behind, in the shade.

"She's... a friend", Henry quickly added, "We are here to save you. The rats are all gone, the path is free now." He glanced up in the direction where he sensed Thanatos, "My flier will carry you all out."

"Out?" His news had apparently reinvigorated Twitchtip, who, with the help of Lapblood's pup, managed to take a few steps in his direction. Only when the light from above illuminated her directly, Henry realized in what kind of condition she truly was.

The injuries from the tankard were one thing, but by far not the only. "Twitchtip...", he mumbled, piteously staring at the stump that was now her left front paw. The fur around it was gone like it had been burned away, and now that he looked closer, he saw her body was covered in countless comparable scars. Huge chunks of fur were missing entirely, and the little she had left was thin and of a more bleached out grey than he remembered.

She noticed his stare and shrugged. "They wanted to know... to know more about the humans, and about Ripred. I could not tell them much." Henry felt seething anger at the Bane rise in him now. Twitchtip had saved him, much like he had saved her, by not giving away he was related to Luxa, back on the waterway.

He had just opened his mouth to reassure her the pain she had gone through would not have been in vain when Lapblood beat him to it – "YOU!", she called out, and Henry jolted around to where the cry had come from. "It is impossible..."

They were around the same size. Lapblood with her long, peachy crème fur and those expressive green eyes, and Kismet, with her bleached, grey coat, and the singular eye Henry thought had once been reddish. Now they were standing face to face, and the exiled prince realized they might have a problem.

"I would recognize that smell anywhere..", Lapblood mumbled now, staring at Kismet, wide-eyed. "But she died! Whitespur, she died!"

As soon as she uttered the name, all heads jolted in Kismet's direction. "Whitespur...?", Twitchtip shook the grip of Lapblood's pup and stumbled over to Kismet. "It is Whitespur!", she cried now, "I have only seen you once, and I was but a pup at the time, but you are hard to forget."

Kismet's gaze wandered between Twitchtip and Lapblood. "Mother, is it her? Is it Whitespur, your former general? But you told me Whitespur is dead? Is she not dead?", the voice of Lapblood's pup disrupted the silence and the crème-colored rat sat down on her hind legs. "I believed she was", she mumbled in disbelief. "Everyone believed she was."

"And you all believed right." Everyone twitched as Kismet raised her voice for the first time. "Whitespur is no longer."

The silence that followed Kismet's words was nigh-unbearable. Henry was so focused on what was happening before him, that he almost fell over in shock when Thanatos suddenly touched down next to him. "What the hell is taking you guys so long?" Splintleg was on his back, he didn't look like he was overly happy to be here.

"She is Whitespur!", Lapblood called, pointing at Kismet. "I knew it!" Splintleg took a couple steps closer, inspecting Kismet, "I could never forget you. Not after what you did for me."

Lapblood now inspected Splintleg, Henry thought her expression was scornful. "And who are you even to talk? You betrayed her, as soon as the Bane set foot in your arena, you pledged yourself to him! You're but a miserable traitor!"

Splintleg only scoffed, "Ah, and you remained honorable, Lapblood, as always. And look where it has gotten you – in a prison hole. Who says I WANTED to support the Bane, and not just avoid ending up like you, hm?"

Henry thought a fight would soon break out between the two rats, and from how bad her condition was, Lapblood didn't stand a chance. But before they could leap at each other, a different voice cut through the loaded atmosphere with distinct authority – "That's about enough!"

Both Lapblood and Splintleg, like the watching Twitchtip and Lapblood's pup, jolted around to Kismet. The scarred rat sighed. "It is of no use to anyone if you waste your energy on pointless brawls. We need to make a decision." Her gaze landed on Splintleg, "Where does your alliance truly lie?"

Splintleg fixated her now, "With you, Whitespur. It has always been with you. Had I known you were alive... Believe me, Sizzleblood and I had attempted to rescue you when the humans caught you, but we failed. And then they announced you had died. Had I only known..."

Henry thought his voice sounded genuine. He had never cared much for Splintleg, he in fact remembered a time when the arena-master had left him to Cleaver and his friends, to toss over the edge of a cliff. But in times like these, they couldn't afford to be picky with allies, and he seemed to know Kismet – Whitespur – fairly well. Well enough to still feel a sense of loyalty for her, at least.

His gaze darted to Kismet for confirmation, but to his surprise, the rat had lowered her eye. "Sizzleblood", she mumbled now, "Sizzleblood, how fare she? Are you two still acquainted?", Kismet hesitated, "Has she also pledged herself to the Bane?"

Splintleg sighed. "How fare she? Well, ask your great Death Rider over there. If my memory doesn't fail me, it was him who finished her off – your little sister. It was a really impressive battle too, actually."

Henry's head jolted up, only to meet the gaze of Kismet. "I – I'm... I'm sorry", he stammered, his mind void of words. She was her sister, he thought. They had indeed been related.

Henry saw the former champion clearly, before his inner eye. It had been almost two years since he had seen and killed her, but he remembered her vividly. She did look a lot like her. "I had no choice! He pinned us against each other, it was kill her or die!", he pointed his finger at Splintleg. Asshole, he thought, gritting his teeth.

Henry thought Kismet would be mad at him, but to his surprise, she gave something like a chuckle. "Killed in the arena... by a worthy opponent. At least sister died like she always said she wanted to die." Noticing Henry's concerned face, she added – "Do not feel ashamed, boy, you did what you had to. And it is not a bad way to go, in the arena, that is."

Despite the calm front she put on, Henry still saw the subtle pain in her gaze now. "I know", was all he responded.

Then, Kismet turned her attention back at Splintleg – "You would go against the Bane, then? Would we take you with us, you would fight him at our side?" The grey rat hesitated, then raised his gaze, determinately. "I'd follow you to the ends of this world, Whitespur. You know that."

"Not just he", Lapblood stepped forward now, she seemed equally determined. "We all." Twitchtip behind her shifted. "I have not fought for you in the past. But if you wish to fight the Bane, I will help you as best I can. He is not the king we need or want. Not I, not any rat with a last rest of sanity."

Henry and Thanatos, who had watched the scene quietly, exchanged glances. If only more rats had the courage to speak like this, Henry thought. Ripred and Kismet could have an army of their own.

It took less than five minutes to carry the rats to freedom. Splintleg, Kismet, Lapblood, and her pup, who had introduced himself as Sixclaw, could run, only Twitchtip had to ride Thanatos to the camp.

Their flight back remained uneventful, so much that Henry started seriously worrying where the rats had disappeared to. And the Bane. But before he could voice any of his concerns, his flier had already landed on the very same ledge he had kept watch on, last night.

"I see you have returned." Henry stared into Howard's somewhat suspicious, somewhat concerned face. He eyed the assembly of rats around the exiled prince until his gaze met that of Twitchtip. He instantly leaped forward, and Henry saw his face lighten up. "Luxa! Luxa, come, come greet her! Greet Twitchtip!"

It wasn't long until Howard called all the rats together for a medical check-up. Kismet's and Twitchtip's reassuring they were all on the same side, did the job well enough. While he was busy bandaging and cleaning wounds, making splints, and listening to their stories, Henry took to prepare dinner.

Only Luxa remained on the side. She exchanged a few words with Twitchtip, so did Aurora, but they did not approach any of the other rats. Only when Henry called for dinner, she cautiously joined them.

"You are the queen", Lapblood recognized her. "Ripred spoke surprisingly highly of you." Luxa looked up at her and nodded. "It is good to see you again, Lapblood. I am glad to know we still have some rats on our side."

"Queen Luxa, what an honor", Splintleg snarled now, "I've always wanted to meet you. And – did you just say Ripred? Is that old sucker still around? Not that it would come as much of a surprise, really. After all, we were rescued by the one and only Whitespur today. And her everyone had considered dead, too."

Both Luxa and Howard raised their gazes. "Who?", Luxa's cousin asked, and Henry froze in his tracks. This couldn't be good.

Kismet sighed. "Maybe you kids should hear it, at last. It's not like there is much use in denying it anymore." With that, she shoved her bowl with fish stew to the side and started talking.

It was a much shorter version of her tale, similar to the one Henry himself had told Gregor earlier, but it summed everything up fairly well. Kismet talked of Whitespur, Gorger's top general, her mission to defend the Garden of the Hesperides, and how her king had betrayed her, leaving her to the humans, after the battle was lost.

When she spoke of Gorger's betrayal, Henry noticed even Splintleg and Lapblood looked unbelieving. Had they not known? Then again, the king had hardly been going around, bragging about it.

"And finally, it was Ripred who got me out. He offered me a place in his newly formed gang, but, after that, I desired to stay out of the hairs of others. Even Ripred's. So I left to find a place in the Firelands, to live. I called myself... Kismet. I was at peace, until", her gaze met Henry, "a certain exiled prince disrupted my peace, demanding I should teach him. And now, now these kids convinced me to join their fight, their war."

Kismet sighed. "Then again, it is our war too. The humans fight the Bane because he killed the nibblers, but we gnawers must also fight him – for condemning our own species. It is a cause worth fighting for."

The end of her tale was met with a long period of silence. Luxa and Howard stared at her, before exchanging glances. Henry wondered if they would mind, that she had been a general of Gorgers, but they said nothing.

"So, you fight for the humans. And for Ripred", Splintleg, at last, broke the silence, addressing Kismet directly. She nodded, "That is who I fight for." Lapblood and Splintleg exchanged glances, but it was Twitchtip, who responded – "So, will you ask us to join your cause?" Kismet's head jolted up. "Would you... follow me if I asked?" Henry thought her gaze was almost unbelieving.

"I already announced I would follow Whitespur anywhere", Splintleg fixated his gaze on her, "You saved my life countless times, you saved us all. Do not think any of us forgot you were the one who sent our warriors out to evacuate as many pups as we could, before the dike broke. We could not save many, but not many are better than none."

Twitchtip's head jolted up. "You did?" Kismet turned her way. "I did not trust the silence", was all she responded, but Henry saw and recognized the look in Twitchtip's eyes. It was... gratitude. He suddenly wondered if she had been there. If she had been saved.

"I will also follow you always, Whitespur", Lapblood addressed her. "I have fought at your side in the Garden and countless times before." She paused for a moment, "Longclaw always bragged about inheriting the crown from Gorger, but everyone knew it was you we wanted as queen. In my eyes, nothing has changed."

Lapblood's words did not miss their mark. All eyes were on Kismet now, even Luxa and Howard stared at her with newfound respect. But the scarred rat did not reply.

The silence rang in Henry's ears almost painfully, and he was about to break it himself when Kismet finally stood up. "Your loyalty is admirable." Her voice was hoarse now, "but it is mistaken." She took a shaky breath, "because Whitespur is dead." With that, she rose to her feet and disappeared deeper into the tunnel.

Henry could still hear them. If he focused, he could still hear their voices echo in his head, upset, confused, annoyed – or all at once. They had all remained outside the tunnel, where they had eaten, Luxa, Howard, the bats, and the rats. Howard had called to bed, only a few minutes ago. They could already be on their way back, Henry thought. If only Kismet would have made a decision.

The exiled prince gritted his teeth, determinately taking a step forward. He needed to find her. This was too important to just – "I presume you are looking for me?", her voice greeted him from the darkness, and only now Henry's echolocation picked up her shape, cowering in a corner.

"Yes", he tried to smile. "Kismet, we were worried about you. We need to get going soon. You saw it yourself, the rats moved out. They probably plan to march on Regalia again, and this time, we can't let them beat us there."

Kismet averted her gaze. "And you are so sure it is a good idea, to go back to Regalia?" Henry furrowed his brows, "Of course – what else would we do? It was you who said we needed to bring Luxa home." He sank against the wall next to Kismet. "Hey – what's the matter?" Henry thought something was wrong with her, ever since she had left the group after dinner.

The rat took a while to respond, and when she did, she ignored his question. "I have been thinking, since I said that. As obvious as it seems that we have to get Luxa home, there is also the threat of the spy, and the trap she was lured into earlier, to consider. If the traitor is in Regalia, and if their goal is to kill her, they would have an easier time with Luxa in the city, then out here."

Henry bit his lip. Kismet had a point, but still. "Yes, but... Luxa can take care of herself, and the people need to know their queen is safe. In times like these, we must consider the morale of the people alongside the practicality of our actions." He pondered, "Maybe we can get a message to Ripred, to keep an eye on her, or something. Fact is, if the Regalians don't get confirmation their queen is on their side, they will lose motivation and hope soon."

Kismet growled approvingly. "You... are right." She paused for a second, before turning her head, "But if Luxa needs to go back to Regalia so badly, then why are we still out here and not on our way?"

Henry glanced at her, from the corner of his eye, "Well, what do you think? Because of you, of course." Kismet instantly jolted up, her eye round in surprise – "Me?"

"Yes, you." Henry sighed, "You left before we could decide what the rats we saved today should do, if anything." He turned her way, "Because, none of us have the authority to decide that. Only you can – Whitespur." Kismet winced at the name. Henry had never called her Whitespur before, and even now it felt strange to him.

His words were followed by prolonged silence. She was quiet for so long, Henry thought he would have to repeat the statement, but finally, Kismet spoke – "But... I can not. I am not... Whitespur. Not anymore."

Henry furrowed his brows, before sighing. "Look, I know what it's like to... to... desire to reinvent yourself, to seize being the old you. I know that far too well. But... we need you, you know? You said it yourself, we fight for a worthy cause. And our cause, it needs... Whitespur."

The two stared at each other for a while, before Kismet suddenly sprung to her feet – "Have you not listened, boy? I am NOT Whitespur!" Her voice was cracking now. "I... I... I am not like you. Yes, I desired to reinvent myself, but I...", she averted her gaze, "I... failed. You, you are lucky, boy. You don't realize it, but you are. Because you... succeeded."

Henry could not tell if she chuckled or sobbed, "I know you need Whitespur. They need Whitespur", Kismet scoffed, "everyone needs Whitespur. They loved her, they admired her, they needed her, and she... she abandoned them. She was the only one who could never love herself."

Henry opened his mouth to say something, but Kismet left him no time – "Whitespur... I... oh, how much I wish I could be her again, for you, for this cause. But...", she heaved, "but I can not."

Henry shut his mouth again, that had been standing agape. "I wish... I wish you could have met her...", she mumbled now, her voice was barely audible, her eye half-closed. "You... you remind me of her, sometimes, you know? In the way you pursue your goals, in how you know what you want, in how they all listen to you, follow you. I only wish I... I could...", she opened her eye a little more, to look at him, "I wish I could... do what you need me to do. Be her... be Whitespur. One last time."

Henry realized he was biting his lip and his hands were slightly trembling. We are not the same, we are two sides of the same coin, he thought. I would give anything to escape my old self, she to return to it.

He wanted to say so many things, about how that wasn't how it worked, about how he loved Kismet for herself, how she didn't have to be any different from how she was now, to lead, to inspire, but he dismissed them all. It wouldn't help her if he rambled now. He needed something else.

"Why... why can you not be her anymore?", he asked, firmly fixating his gaze on her. "What makes the difference... between Kismet and Whitespur?"

Kismet closed her eye again. "You know that, boy. Where Whitespur was ambitious, had goals and the means to achieve them, Kismet is aimless, she invented her own reason for existence, some pointless research that will never truly aid anyone. Where Whitespur was loved and respected, needed, Kismet is forgotten and alone. They do not want her", her voice was so quiet Henry needed to focus to understand her, "Not even Ripred wanted her. He wanted Whitespur. He loved... Whitespur. Kismet...", she took a shaky breath, "she is loved by nobody."

Henry didn't care anymore, about being cautious or thoughtful, he instead wrapped his arms tightly around her. "You're wrong", he mumbled, as Kismet gasped in surprise, "Kismet is loved. And wanted. I want her. She is needed, and she accomplished the nigh-impossible", Henry chuckled, "She... TAUGHT me." Even quieter he added, "She saved my life. Is that... pointless?"

Kismet remained silent, so Henry spoke on – "You and Whitespur, you can not differentiate between the two, you know? They are the same. They are... you. Kismet, Whitespur is still a part of you. All you have to do is embrace her again. These rats out there, they believe in you. And so do I, and Luxa and Howard, I am sure. You can lead them, inspire them, not as Whitespur or Kismet, but as you."

Kismet took a shaky breath, "That is... that is what Ripred told me. That I can never seize to be Whitespur, that we are one and the same. He said I needed to use her for the sake of this war. That she can... can aid us. But I... I am not sure if I can."

Henry shook his head, still leaning into her, "Of course, you can." After a short silence, he added, "And I'm sure he still loves you. If he even told you he believed Whitespur was still a part of you, that you were one and the same, he has to... to love you, not her."

Kismet didn't reply. All she did was lie still, letting Henry embrace her, for what could have been minutes or hours. When she finally spoke, the pain and insecurity had left her voice almost entirely – "Henry?", he looked up – "Hm?" The gaze in her misted eye was determined now. "I will do it."

The exiled prince rose up to look at her properly, "Yes?" Kismet sighed. "I will... try." She blinked, "You are right. You and Ripred. When you say Whitespur and Kismet can not be differentiated from each other."

She sighed, "At times, I hated her wholeheartedly, so I desired to reinvent myself. But when I realized there was nothing else I could be, no other me I could love, I started wanting her back." She wasn't looking at him anymore, instead, she fixated the floor, "In that sense, I admire you, Henry of Regalia... of the Dead Land. Not many can so seamlessly better themselves, turn a traitor to a hero. You should be proud of yourself." She hesitated for a moment, "I am, you know? Proud... of you. I always was."

Instead of a response, Henry wrapped his arms around her again. "I know", he mumbled, though he was overjoyed beyond belief to actually hear those words from her mouth. He had almost given up hope.

But something about her compliment felt wrong. He suddenly thought back to his own doubts, to how torn he felt about himself, still. "But it... it isn't as great as you think", he finally admitted, "having reinvented yourself. I... I like the new me, I am proud of him, but I feel like I can never shake the old me, like I am still caught in his clutch." Henry swallowed, "I wish I could just... just cut him out, remove him entirely."

Kismet sighed. "But you can not." Henry shook his head. "No... I...", he hesitated, "I can. And I know how now."

When he looked at her, he realized her gaze was curious. Henry bit his lip – "It is the guilt resulting from his mistake, that weighs me down. I... I strived for atonement, these last two years, but it has gotten me nowhere. All it did was slow me down." His gaze hardened, "It can't go on like this. I have made a decision." Kismet nodded, almost like she knew already.

Henry took a deep breath, "After this war is over, I will leave. Leave them all behind, everything that wants me to feel guilty, everything that ties me down." He realized he had averted his gaze, "Even if through some miracle Luxa decides to pardon me, I will not return to Regalia. I have no place there anymore."

Henry had no idea how much time had passed when he finally stepped out of the tunnel. "Just be careful you are not just running away from what is difficult", Kismet's voice rang in his ears, but he shook his head. He wasn't running away. He was... starting fresh. Yes, that was exactly what he was doing.

His gaze fell on the four rats, who had huddled together to sleep, in a corner of the cave. Kismet and he had decided they would send Splintleg and Lapblood to gather followers, in Whitespur's name. Splintleg surely had enough friends among the Bane's followers he could convince, and Lapblood was acquainted with Ripred's gang. Henry thought Sixclaw would probably want to accompany them as well, he knew he would, in his stead.

Twitchtip would have to come with them to Regalia, though. She was much too hurt to fight. Kismet herself had announced she would come too. Henry sighed and smiled. They had a plan, at last.

He carefully made his way back over to where he had left his backpack, to finally go to sleep himself – Kismet had said she'd keep watch – when he suddenly stepped on something and almost tripped.

Irritated, Henry fixated his perception on the floor and furrowed his brows in confusion when he realized it was his own waterproof container he was staring at. He bowed down to pick it up and only now noticing his backpack was lying only a couple steps ahead – its contents scattered across the floor.

Henry quickly leaped forward, yanking it up. Had someone gone through his things? As well as he could, in the dark, he checked if anything was missing. His carving utensils were still there, the waterproof container had everything it usually held as well. A shiver ran down his spine when Henry suddenly realized what was missing – his old dagger.

His gaze jolted up as if he could spot the golden blade in the dark. Why would anyone take that? He dropped his backpack on the floor and started making his way across the cave, in search of it, when he abruptly stopped in his tracks.

"I do not blame him, you know? Not really." Henry felt his heartbeat quicken. It was Thanatos, just beyond the small rock he was facing now. Last time he had listened in on one of his conversations, it had almost driven them to kill each other, but he couldn't just leave again, could he?

"So I will never see you again, after all this is over." With something like surprise, Henry realized the second voice was Nike's. His own bond sighed, "I wish it didn't have to be this way. I wish things could be better, for Henry, for you, and for me... for us. But I will go with him."

His words were followed by silence. Henry realized he had sunken against the rock. "I know", Nike finally responded. "I wish I could do something, anything", Henry thought she was almost sobbing, "I... I almost... wish I would have never told you... never acted on how I felt. It would have made everything so much easier." Her voice cracked.

Henry heard Thanatos move, "No, do not say that. Do not ever say that. Had you not... wouldn't it have been for you, I would...", he didn't finish his sentence, instead, he sighed. "I am glad... glad, you know? Glad that things were the way they were, even if only for a short while."

"Yes, you are right", Nike finally responded, and Thanatos continued – "All I am sorry for, is that it has to end like this. But I can not... not betray my bond, I can not. Not even... for you."

Henry only realized he was moving away from where the two bats had talked when he was already in the middle of the campsite. His head was spinning. Thanatos – Henry had made his decision to leave without consulting his bond, he had not even for a second considered he could have his own reasons to want to stay.

Henry clenched his fist, how could he have been so selfish? At the same time, he knew his decision was made. There was no place for him here. The thought of Thanatos and how, by choosing to leave, he was essentially robbing him of everything he had here, all the ties, especially the one to Nike, clawed at his heart, still.

Henry hadn't even realized his eye had filled with tears. Why was everything so complicated, all of a sudden? He eventually realized he had made his way back to his backpack and dropped beside it, shutting his eye firmly, curling up into a ball. He needed to make a decision, but for now, he wanted to escape it. To... run away. If that's what it was called, so be it. What was so wrong about running away?

Henry gritted his teeth and shut his eye almost painfully hard. He would confront it. But he would do so tomorrow. Now all he wanted was to drift away into the dark oblivion of sleep – and not wake up for as long as possible.