Fault (Closed)

Quailfeather sat in the elders' den, alone, face turned towards the wall. All her companions had gone out to get some fresh-kill, and some rare leaf-bare sun. On other days she would've dragged herself out, but she'd told Silentstrike not to wait up for her. It was around this time, a year ago, that they'd had their kits, Mistkit and Laurelkit. Two perfect daughters... Or they had been, back then. Soon after her apprenticeship, Mistpaw had vanished, never to reappear. And a few moons ago, Laurelsong had attacked the deputy and then run away from camp. If she'd been a better mother... would they have stayed?

The maimed elder stared morosely at the ground, her one good blue eye welling up with tears. How long ago had the dog attack happened- in greenleaf? How had she lived so long like this, a destroyed shell of a former warrior? Though she had to admit, she'd been broken inside long before the attack. Her ruined leg was splayed out behind her, a constant reminder of her mistake. Perhaps she wouldn't feel so bad if it had only affected her- but, to her constant anguish and remorse, her beloved mate Silentstrike had been hurt and forced to retire by those mongreks as well. If only she hadn't frozen, or she'd made him leave, or hadn't let him come.... A single tear dripped down her cheek as she squeezed her eye shut. This was all her fault.