/Preface/Ro
"Come on, Ro!" Tess called out to me. I looked up to see her smiling face, trying to hide the sadness that filled her.
"Tess, where are we going?" I asked, trying not to trip as I ran. "Are we going to see Ty?"
All the color and happiness drains out of her eyes. She looks empty now, and I feel a surge of guilt as I watch her fall apart.
"Y-Yes, Ro. I need to see if he's okay."
I walk silently behind her, keeping my head low as the cats of the Clan looked at us with sympathy as we made our way to the medicine den.
"Julius?" Tess pokes her head inside the den, and I see the dark tabby come to answer her call.
"Is Tyberius here?"
Julius nods, but sadly.
"He might not make it."
I stare at him, and he finally notices me.
"Come on, Ro. Let's go see your father." he says gently.
I don't buy it. I don't think i ever will.
Because this - this is what happens when you become a Legendary.
I walk into the den, stopping at the nest with the brown tom.
I can't contain the gasp that escapes my mouth.
He looks dead.
His fur is sagged and unkempt.
You can literally see his ribs from underneath his fur.
He's gone.
My father's long gone.
He's holding on for someone...
Me.
"Ty?" I whisper.
He opens his eyes, the once-pretty irises now black.
Internal bleeding.
I have to hold back my cry.
It's too much.
Just too much to bear.
"Ro? Rosemary?" he calls out blindly.
"Father I'm here. I'm here." I end it with the whisper, and I let the tears roll down my face.
"Oh, Ty..."
I look up to see Tess walk over to us.
"Ty, can you hear me?" Tess asks, sitting next to his nest.
"A-Anastasia?" Ty looks up, and even I can tell that all his misery had washed away.
That's something only love can do.
Love makes you stronger.
Love makes your happier.
You fight for love.
But most of all, you don't give up on love.
~
At the end of our visit, and lean down to hug my father with my tail.
"Ro!" my mother called.
"I'm not giving up on you, Ty. I'm going to fight - fight for you, and for Tess." I whisper.
"I'm going to fight oo, Rosemary. I'll fight until my very last breath." Ty murmered.
I watched him fall asleep, a smile creeping up on my face.
"Ro? Come on!" Tess called.
"Coming, Tess!"
I run out of the den, coming to a stop at my mother's side.
A new determination seeped through me.
I'm going to fight.
I'm going to make sure that our enemies pay.
I'm going to train as a Legendary.
My name is Ro.
And I'm going to win.