Chapter XI

 Sorry that it has to be so fast-paced. It's just that I'm writing another story right now that is the prequel to a long series, so that is my top priority and I'm not going to just abandon a story. Don't worry, the story will still go as I planned it originally.

Chapter XI

            Thorn struggled up through the crowd and into the sky, granting himself temporary wings. The frustrated leopards tried to follow him but couldn’t. There’s only one place I can go, Thorn told himself. He turned away from the kingdom and flew to the Everdark Forest.

            Rose sat on the ground, watching him, wishing he didn’t have to go. Her father nudged her. “Don’t worry, he’ll never show his sorry face around her again!” He led her to the castle for the wedding with his tail.

****

            Tiger looked at Rose. They had been married for over two year now and she had been recently acting very strange. He prodded her with his paw and swallowed. “Rose, I have to go on a quest…” Rose nodded, staring off into space. “Uh-huh, be careful…”

            He snorted, put on his armor, grabbed his sack, and walked out the door, nearly running into Lee, a yellow snow leopard Rose had found outside the kingdom and brought in. Lee was still young, but growing very fast. “Bye, Lee,” Tiger pushed past him, anxious to get away from this crazy kingdom.

            Lee turned to narrow his eyes at Rose. Tiger hadn’t been the only one noticing Rose’s strange behavior, so tonight… he would follow her.

****

            Lee growled in frustration. He had been following Rose when she suddenly disappeared. He shook his head to clear it and rose his nose to the wind. Luckily he had a very good sense of smell, and he could smell magic. Huh… there was nowhere far enough worth going to use magic… except for… Lee gasped. The Everdark Forest! Luckily he knew a shortcut that could get him there in a few hours.

            When Lee got there, Rose was just leaving, but he saw enough to know what was going on. Rose and Thorn stood at the front of the forest, Thorn nuzzling Rose and wishing her goodbye.

            Rose stood, watching Thorn disappear into the forest, before trotting forward and running straight into Lee. “L-l-lee! H-h-how long have you been here?” Lee narrowed his eyes and ran off, screaming over his shoulder: “Long enough!”

            “Lee! No…” Rose raced after Lee. Lee turned to face her, growling. Lee clawed her amulet off and disappeared. Rose screamed her sorrow to the sky.

****

            Everyone was there: The guards, the king, Lee, and even Tiger, who had been stopped by Lee. They all trudged into the forest, catching Thorn. Tiger held a struggling Thorn down, ready to deliver the fatal blow, when Rose ran over. “No! Don’t!” Tiger gave Rose a vicious glare before slicing his claws through Thorn’s throat, enjoying the feel of the blood seeping into his claws. Rose howled in despair, turned around, and ran as far as she could while the group headed home.

****

            Rose sat in her room sobbing. She knew her father was standing outside, also sobbing. But she didn’t care. She didn’t love Tiger, she loved Thorn, but now he was gone. The night came and the castle was quiet. Rose slipped out and transported using the amulet she had stolen back to the edge of the kingdom. She silently slipped into a cave and rested. There she would stay, until she could go back. 

End Chapter XI

-Frost