And it was the end.
"Don't just stand there, idiots! Get them, NOW!"
Pike, wheezing incoherently.
Time slowing down.
Her eyes, crystal blue. Shimmering like they did on her birthday, swelling with tears of happiness.
Eyes that could not see, till she helped.
Or was it helping? Was it selfish? Was she ashamed-ashamed of having a blind girlfriend, of having a girlfriend at all?
No. She did everything for Tamarin.
Didn't she?
Her talons shook.
Lungs threatened to choke.
Trying to make a choice.
Terror overwhelmed her.
Crouching into a ball, trying to escape the noise.
Wings flung over her body.
Words, flickering around her head.
Traitor. Anemone. Princess. Traitor. Girlfriend. Sister. Traitor. Daughter. Student.
Noises escalating around her suffocating safe haven.
Sounds escalating.
Becoming aware of Pikes dry blood coating her talons.
Light seeping in.
Being dragged along the floor.
Crying. Was it her, or someone else?
Salt water flung over her head.
Gills clogged with salt.
Her whole being flung into water, floundering against the current.
Traitor. Yes, she was a traitor. And she was going to pay dearly.
Maybe she wanted to.
A precious pearl, sinking below the surface.
Could she though? She couldn't.
She was still anchored to one word.
A single light. A small hope.
The tether.
"ANEMONE!"