I miss them. A lot. I still can hear their voices ringing in my ears, but that shouldnt happen. They hurt me, right? Right?

Wake up.

Where am I?

Oh, right.

Acrisius sat up shakily.

His bones throbbed, and he felt as useless as every other day.

It had been a year since his mate, Whisper, had been murdered.

He turned to stare at his wings.

Once pretty and luminous, they were no longer.

He felt his stomach throbbing with fresh pain of having Whisper not wake up beside him.

“ Father Father!”

Hawk squealed a little way off from a slope.

_My son_,

Acrisius felt warmth spread over him head to toe as he ran to greet Hawk.

“ I glided! You said I would learn, father! I did it!”

Hawk was jumping all over the grimy earth, his eyes shining with giddy pride.

Acrisius felt his sudden warmth dissapate.

He felt cold, almost angry.

“ Very.. nice.”

He forced a praise out of him, looking down at his paws.

“ Yeah..” Hawk seemed confused, and he had every right to be.

His father wasnt really there for him, and was always distressed.

“ When will you be happy for me, Acrisius?”

Acrisius was taken aback by his sons question.

Why had he said Acrisius’ name?

“ I am!” He snapped, feeling as if Hawk were challenging him.

“ Even the littlest bird could tell that your lying between your teeth.”

Hawk looked at the ocean behind him, his tail now drooping.

“ I am happy for you, stop trying to guilt trip me.”

Acrisius felt his blood boil, and his fur bristled

Along his spine.

Hawk gave him a last look of distress.

“ No..”

Acrisius felt his heart rapidly beating, his paw began to shake.

That night, he bathed in the stream, looking as sad as he did that morning.

He turned his head to stare at his sons wide eyes.

With a scowl, he turned back to washing his sons blood off his paws.

.. The river ran red that day.