The weather was getting colder in the forest and it seemed like it had been ages since Chase had been gone, even though it hadn't been but two months.
It was then that Spin smelled fire and the most terrifying scent.
Humans.
Every one of his instincts screamed at him to run and leave, but then again, he had never listened to those very instincts that much.
He felt a pang of melancholy when he realized it would have been his big brother the one to dissuade him from investigating.
With tense muscles and steps as light as feathers, he came close to the fire.
When he peered through the foliage he saw a camp and various humans around a fire.
He didn't move.
"Stop being such a coward! Chase wouldn't have hesitated to rip their throats to protect you!" His mind yelled at him.
And so, he leaped.
By pure luck he didn't land on the flames that would have licked his fur as if it was made of paper.
He conjured his mightiest roar and pounced on a tall boy, but he was distracted by a scream.
"Spin!" He stopped mid-jump and landed on the frozen earth awkwardly.
The ground was hard and he heard his shoulder crunch; still, he bounced to his feet in a second, staring at the girl who knew his name.
"What did you call me?" Bree stared at the boy in front of her with a concerned look.
Chase had been right, he was young and his fluffy winter fur made him look even thinner.
"Spin. That's your name isn't it?" The boy shot her a cautious glance while dusting-off his tail.
"How do you know that?"As he spoke his tail lashed behind him and he flattened his round ears to this scalp.
"Chase told me." His attitude changed completely as he jumped on her and threw her to the cold floor, his face inches away from hers.
"Where is he?!"Bree felt her vision go blurry with tears and sighed softly.
"He's dead." At her words, he jumped backwards and started backing off while staring at her in utter shock and horror.
"What? He can't… He promised he wouldn't die!"And Bree's heart broke when she saw tears stream down his juvenile face.
She was surprised that he was still able to talk coherently and Chase's words echoed in her mind "He's more human than I could ever be."
"Spin, listen to me. It'll be okay." In all honesty, the girl felt useless, not knowing how to calm the young anthro.
"How can you know that?!" She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, like a fish. And then the most unlikely person came to her aid.
Adam, who passed his free time pranking every living soul in the lab and was never seen without his trademark goofy grin, spoke wisely with soft words and a soothing voice.
"Because he told us he'd come back to this forest. And I believe him and so should you. He is here, in the air, in the trees and in your eyes. And I promise that as long as you don't forget him, he will always be in your smile."
Bree observed as Spin smiled at Adam and purred quietly.
She intertwined her hand with Owen's and wondered what the future held.
The amur leopard race was going to become extinct, that was for sure.
And maybe it was for the best, because the Amur kind's past was tinted with blood and sorrowness.
And maybe Spin would find a mate one day and create a new species of hybrids who would have Chase's eyes and mightiness.
Victor Krane had shattered their lives and had broken Spin a little bit more, but they would all heal.
Bree knew it.
And from the skies all kind of spirits were watching.
And Chase smiled at Spin one more time before becoming a silvery shooting star.
αιώνιος
aió̱nios
-Page Break-
God, I can't believe it ended.
I had an amazing time writing this au and it's all thanks to you guys!
Special thanks to ShyMusic, Dirtkid123, Yukiandkyo and arashikageriverflower; thanks for being there and keeping up with my insanity!
I don't know when or what my next project will be but keep an eye for my name (or nom de plume) ;)
You are amazing!
σ'αγαπώ πάντα
s'agapó̱ pánta
(love you always)
Tamo;*