(CHAPTER FOUR)

Karkat choked back a disgusted sob, sick deeper than his stomach. Taking a shaky breath, he stood and went searching for Nepeta's body, fearful for what he would find. Stumbling along the little trail made by Nepeta's blood, and into the room where she had died. Karkat kept his gaze under control, making sure he didn't immediately get an eyeful of Nepeta's body. He shakily gazed forward, fearful red eyes searching the floor carefully before finally meeting with the pool of dark olive. Lying perfectly still in the room, surrounded on all sides by her own blood, was Nepeta. Sweet, innocent, little Nepeta, who had died face first in her own blood, had been moved to the middle of the room to bleed out. She was now gently wrapped in white cloth, soiled by the so-well-known olive liquid. Her eyes were closed, and a soft smile was on her face. If the blood wasn't so evident, she would look as if she was only sleeping. But of course Karkat knew better, she was too pale and still. Soft shaky steps brought Karkat closer to her, before stopping at the edge of the wide puddle of olive. In all reality, a single step would bring him to her, and the height of the liquid wasn't enough to even reach the fabric of his shoes, but to Karkat, she was on an island a thousand feet away, in the deepest ocean in the galaxy. The stillness dared Karkat to disrupt it, and he just couldn't bring himself to do so. Sadly, his body did, for pinkish red tears slipped down his face, landing with a 'drip' into the deep green before him. The two colors didn't mix, of course, they sat there, contrasting each other in mockery. This simple disruption of the liquid was what pushed Karkat forward to go to the cat-loving troll. With diluted red tears still streaming down his face, Karkat picked her up, the white cloth still dripping with blood. He quickly wrung it out, keeping his clothes from being ruined any more, and from it to drip onto the ground when he left with her. He had never noticed how light she was, for a troll who took down beasts six times her size, she couldn't have been more than 112 pounds. Of course, she was slightly lighter now that she was missing parts and fluids, but that didn't count. What did was that Derse dreamers had been destroyed too, and he would never get his wonderful cat troll back. He had taken her for granted, and they both paid the price. His only hope was to be able to see her in the dream bubbles, but even then, who knows what the hell is done with their souls, their dream selves are dead, so no real way to know. Maybe the humans could go look, or another troll has a clue. Really, theres no way to get to anyone without dying at this point. Karkat paused lightly in his thought… Then he would just have to die too. That would be the only way. Maybe that would be too rash; he was still the leader after all. Karkat's attention was quickly taken by the piece of hair which obscured the olive troll's last eye, drawing him back into reality. He had walked out of the room, and was working his way back to the platform where he, Gamzee, Terezi, and the other trolls were. Nepeta was curled delicately in his arms, cold and light and tiny as always. A soft sob bubbled from his mouth, guess he wasn't calmed down just yet. He continued his slow trek, eyes burning gently with unshed tears as he rounded the last few corners and slipping into the last hall. The end was nearly there, and he could hear the faint talking of the last few trolls. Instead of hurrying, he slowed down, staring down at the tiny body in his arms. Would it be selfish to only bring one body back? Equius' had already been grabbed and moved with the others, and Nepeta was the only one left. Maybe it was her death that made her special. She was the only one to be killed slowly, everyone else had a quick death, painless or not. It still seemed wrong though, like an unwritten rule. He didn't stop though, but continued to walk, albeit slowly as he inched along to the others. Soft light bathed him in greeting as he finally made it onto the platform, the rest of the trolls gathered in a small spot, watching him as he came closer. Everyone had turned around to look at him, yellow eyes scarred and judging. It made Karkat squirm, but he did not slow down anymore. Terezi had perked up slightly, sniffing gently as Karkat brought the tiny body closer.

"OH N3P…" she murmured gently, reaching out blindly for the olive blooded troll. Karkat had crouched down, gently setting the body into her blind, waiting arms. She held it close like a baby, making soft incomprehensible noises and soft sniffs of both upset and to see as she hugged the body gently, rocking slightly. Karkat had set himself behind Terezi, gazing down at the body sadly, a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. Gamzee was looking away in shame and upset, while Kanaya was only watching sadly. The room slowly filled with silence and sorrow.

I think I'll end it here, depends on what you guys want. I might make a sequel when I get past Act 6. Just tell me if you want another chapter, I like this story a LOT.