A Mistake’s return in Red pt.2
Blood colored the bunnelby’s arm as she held it close to her body; her other paw doing little to stop it. Her feet dared not touched the ground as the snow hissed and stung at her burned feet. A cold breath escaped her as she groan in pain, but she relaxed a little as the Espeon touched her nose to Red’s. “I’m so sorry honey.”
A drop flowed down from her eye, her voice cracked a bit as she spoke,“I- It’s okay mom, it hurts, but I’m okay.” Her paw started to move away from her injured one but the Espeon moved it back with her own. “I- I just can’t believe you’re here too, I wanted to make sure you were real but I’d get mud on you. I- I know you hate that.” A soft laugh escaped her as the psychic type smiled down on her.
“I’m here, don’t worry.” Her gaze shifted away from her hurting daughter for a moment, but her smile quickly returned, “Stay right here and rest alright? I’ll make sure your father is... okay.” Red nodded, the Espeon turned away and her face became filled with anger and rage. The path of embers his last attack left was where he came to rest, his shaking and weak legs tried to make him stand again. “You had best stand down Warren, you know Blue wouldn’t want this.”
The Flareon spit red as he shook dirt from his fur. “Yet you can still call the one who lead him to his death your daughter! How do you know he would want that?” His eyes still burned with a passion for his own twisted vengeance.
The psychic type shook her head, her tail wildly flailing behind her, “You don’t know what happened that night. You’ve assumed this whole time she’s the villain, yet you never searched for those that actually sunk their teeth into our son!”
“I did Morgan! But I’m not invincible like when we first met!” He struggled to stand as chunks of mud dripped from his face and smothered the fires below. “I can’t even beat my own- her! I can’t even beat... her.” Warren watched as Red walked up beside the Espeon, each step looking like it hurt worse than the last.
She could hardly stand, her weary right paw held her up against mother. “Is Blue... really gone?” Both parents looked away. An answer they had practiced telling their others rang in their minds once again. One word, yet neither could say it.
Warren’s head was looking down, unable to look at what damage he had caused. Morgan was the first to speak over the embers that brightened the night around them. “I think he followed you that night you left... but you were too fast.”
The Flareon lifted his muddy head, still averting his eyes. “He was too tired to run from them or- or...”
“Too scared.” It was a speech, one they had planned to tell her if she ever came back. “Red we buried him outside that den if you would want to go back and see him.” The bunnelby took a moment, closing her eyes enduring the pain from both her battle and the news. She was brother-less. She’d never see one of her best friends again, and it felt like her fault.
Not tears fell from her face, no sniffling, nothing. “I- I can’t. I want to, but I can’t. Not right now.” She dropped down on both her front paws, a groan of pain following. “My friend is in trouble and I- I can’t abandon her like I did Blue. I’d regret leaving like I did before.” Sorrow ran through her face as she looked to her dad who still looked off into the dark woods. “Dad, I’m sorry for leaving. I should’ve helped but I know now I made the wrong choice. I can’t fix any of this... so all I can do is say, I’m sorry.” The Flareon couldn’t stand the apology, his ears drooped and his eyes shined in the flames he made. He turned around and started to limp away without a word.
“Warren.” The Espeon called after him but he didn’t stop.
“Mom, it’s... fine.” Red didn’t expect anything back, just knowing he gave her mercy was a start she could handle. Though, she did worry about the aimless Flareon who was about to leave her life. He may have caused this pain, but he still taught her how to defend herself. How to run and how to chase. Maybe one day they can forgive each other completely and go back to the way they were. Just a father and his daughter.
With her next step onto her bleeding paw a greater yelp of pain escaped her. That was about all Morgan could take of hearing her daughter in pain as she laid down in the snow next to her, “Rest on my back, I’ll carry you to where you need to go.” Red was a bit stubborn, but anything to get her off her feet was welcome. With a struggling groan she was ready to go, and a point in the right direction they were trudging through the snow again.













