ooc: =( (338 words)

Liam's entire body ached and his mind was a jumbled mess. He couldn't remember just when he'd separated from Robin and Ayasha but he had. In fact, he'd shifted from his Secui form into his preferred Optime form a couple minutes ago and had gotten most of the blood out of his brown fur. A scowl seemed to have sarred his face as solemn eyes glanced around the Court in despair...

“The King's brother-in-law... Zafier. He's dead.”

Liam heard the words but they didn't fully sink into his cluttered, blurry mind until minutes later. It was then that he started running, ignoring the pain in his legs as he did so. His features were strained and a low growl crept from the inside of his chest and into his throat as he glanced around for his family – his dad, his mom, Kable or 'Mara... He wanted to know if the rumors were true. Was his Uncle really dead? If so, who had killed him? Liam had never been close to his Uncle but he wanted to know. Whoever had done it... whoever had struck the fatal blow... Liam shook his head aimlessly. What was he going to do? All of the pain... the idea of hurting somebody... it was slowly driving him crazy. This whole war thing really wasn't for him.

“Mara.” Liam whispered as he walked over, a careful hand resting on her furry red shoulder. He was still a bloody, muddy mess and a few scratches and bruises plagued parts of his body but he didn't care if she saw his state or not. He was old enough to fight – no one was going to scold him for being a hero today. He stared down at the fresh grave for a few seconds before his eyes moved to his grieving red and white half-sister. “This sucks.” was all he could say.

So many people were getting hurt – physically or emotionally – because of this and it just had to end.

ooc: Poor Catori family. (336 words)

Amaranth looked sad and broken and Liam wanted to do something about it. He hated seeing her like this. The brown Catori boy's frown deepened even more at her words. “Yeah.” he told her simply, not wanting to get into the details right now. He wondered if anyone was going to ask – would his mother want to know what he'd done? What would she say if he told her about the wolf he had injured and then killed? He had done it to save his best friend Robin, but it was still killing and the look on Robin's face... He had clearly noticed the fear in her eyes at the sight of him ripping and clawing that body. “I'm fine though.” he added as a reassured, although a part of him wondered who exactly he was trying to convince. Himself or his older sister? Physically he would be perfectly fine in a couple days – maybe a little sore but otherwise fine. Mentally though? Liam decided he'd probably be fine too, but chances were it would take a little longer.

After Mara explained what had happened to their mom and uncle, Liam's legs gave way and he fell on the cold October earth beside her. His eyes fell on the grave again. “Do you know anything else? Dad... Kable... the pups?” Liam wondered, his face an expressionless mask. His heart was aching and in his mind so many scenarios were playing out – what if he'd stayed with his mom? What if he'd fought with his uncle instead of running off to be a hero by himself? Could he have saved his uncle's life? “I should have been around.” he muttered finally. But then he thought about Robin and how she would probably be dead – or severely injured – if it wasn't for him. He liked Robin a lot. She was like a sister to him and the idea of not having her around anymore didn't please him one bit.

ooc: I blabbered a lot. I was at 470-something words and wanted to hit 500. LOL (508 words)

Liam listened to Amaranth speak, his bi-colored eyes filling with hate towards Aniwaya, if only for a moment. Seconds later they were cold; emotionless again.

Yes, Liam was a Catori but Zafier had been one first, and now the older man was lying crumpled and lifeless under a pile of dirt, his niece and nephew mourning him. Liam didn't say anything though, merely nodding. He was glad that Mara wasn't making a big deal out of him fighting. He had half-expected his family to glare at him in fury, telling him that he was too young or too vulnerable – that he was forever forbidden to do anything anymore. But then again he sure hadn't expected one of his own family members to die fighting. For now Zafier Catori was the one that truly mattered, not Liam. Unlike his brave, brute of an Uncle, Liam was very well alive. The thought brought yet another pang of hurt in his chest. His heart was aching with sadness, although his face remained expressionless. This really sucked. Why his Uncle? Why now? Why like this?

At least Jiva and the pups were all fine. Liam wondered about Niro and if 'Mara had any news on her mate. “Good. That's good.” was all he could muster though, not wanting to make Amaranth worry if she didn't know where Niro was or whether or not he was safe. Who else had died fighting today? Liam knew Robin was safe – or she had been when they'd parted ways not too long ago – but what about her family? The storyteller and the knight? What about her brother Linden or her sister Felicity? Liam was worrying about so many people, yet to be honest he only new a few of them well. The stress of everything was really taking its tole on the young Catori wolf and he just wanted it all to end.

Liam hated to admit it, but his sister was right. What could he have done? He felt like arguing though, a bitterness inside of him wanting to get out. “You never know. It would have been an extra pair of hands. I could have tried to save him.” Even if that meant Liam dying in his Uncle's place? Liam wasn't sure what to think. He had never been close to his mother's brother. Would he have truly given his life in order to save Zafier or was it just the guilt plaguing him now? He sighed, his hand moving down to touch the dirt on top of Zafier's grave. “At least he died a hero. We'll always remember him that way.” It was the only thing he could say now. Everything other word, every other thought... everything else imaginable made him hurt.

Liam just wanted the day to end. He wanted to go sleep for days without being bothered. He wanted to wake up with the innocence of a pup again. The innocence he had lost today. He just wanted to pretend none of this had happened.

ooc: Kit is sadface. (537 words)

Liam nodded. As much as he wanted to argue, there really was no point. Amaranth was trying to make the situation better, telling him that they were brave and stupid by nature. To be honest that didn't help him all that much – maybe he was brave, which sometimes made him do stupid things, but he had never really considered himself (or any of his family members) stupid before. Nonetheless, all he did was shrug and utter a simple “Mhm.” as he returned 'Mara's smile with a forced, false one of his own.

Liam sighed as he gave his Uncle's grave one last look. For a moment his eyes went and rested on his sister's own grave – it was almost a year old. To think a tiny body was resting below, a body that had been in his mother's womb with him. Liam knew about his sister. He didn't really remember how or when he'd found out – had he always known? – but he did know. Along with Noah, Ame had been born into the world but unfortunately for her she'd never gotten to experience a single breath. Liam often wondered what it would be like to have a sister his own age. Would he have liked her? Would she still be here? Maybe she would have fought alongside him, Robin and Ayasha? Or maybe she would have been more like Felicity, Robin's sister. Maybe she would have been too girly too fight...

As quickly as he had glanced at Ame's grave, Liam glanced away and fell into step with 'Mara. He was a little caught off guard by her sudden demand. He had to promise that he wouldn't die. As morbid as it sounded, Liam knew that wasn't possible. No one could 'survive'. You were born, you lived and you died. The circle of life... What? Liam was scared and angry and sad and... and he had every right to think such thoughts in his condition! He knew she didn't mean it that way though and that she was telling him that he needed to not die on her during the war. Then she spoke of him taking care of their mother and the young pups – three little ones that were still so vulnerable... Liam nodded firmly. “I promise, sis.” he said softly. He did see through her words and noticed the meaning behind them. He could tell a part of 'Mara was considering the possibility that she wouldn't make it. 'take care of mom and the pups'. She was saying it as though she wouldn't be around to help out herself. Liam's heart ached. He wouldn't be able to handle any more loss... especially not his sister. She had Niro, Jiva... their mom...

She had a lot more to lose. She couldn't die. “According to me, Uncle Zafier was a great wolf, in life and in death. That's what I'll tell our little brothers and sister.” he said with a certain nod. It was odd how he had never really said much to Zafier – a few greetings, answering questions when he was addressed... but otherwise he had never actually struck a conversation with the man. Liam regretted it.