“One last run.” | A Soulfaith SRP

Instructions

Broken. Soulfaith held the calla lily in his paw, twirling it over. and over. and over. Memoryspectre was dead, Soulfaith knew. One of the best friends the loner had ever made. They had a secret pawshake and everything. When Soulfaith was in danger, Memoryspectre was there. When Soulfaith was hurt, Memoryspectre was there. Soulfaith turned the calla lily over again, holding up in the air and examining it thoughtfully. Was he supposed to cry? His best friend was gone, among the stars once again. Soulfaith certainly hurt, knowing that he would never shake his friend’s paw, knowing that he would never light up his eyepatch as he watched Memoryspectre ignite. Knowing that he would never hear that gentle laugh, never glance over at a mildly annoyed Pyrocat after Soulfaith used a lame joke. Soulfaith exhaled softly. If he was supposed to cry… well, the tears were taking quite some time. Soulfaith had been faced with so much loss, seen so much pain, that it didn’t really sting as much anymore. Like his paws growing calloused against the desert sand, Soulfaith didn’t feel it quite as much as he once had. But Soulfaith still felt a little broken. He closed his eyes, thinking back. What had Soulfaith once heard? You die twice, they used to say. Once when you’re laid down in your grave, and the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name. Soulfaith pulled the lily closer to himself, purring softly. He didn’t cry so much because he knew that Memoryspectre was free of the pain. Free of the chains of borders and rules. He had reached whatever afterlife he wanted… and Soulfaith was happy for him. Even if Soulfaith was left behind in the rubble of whatever Memoryspectre had left. One more to the count, huh? Soulfaith felt the spirits of so many cats that lived on in his heart. Momma. soweli Kili. Now, Memoryspectre too. Soulfaith shook his head with a soft laugh. He glanced upwards towards the ceiling of his den. Past the sand was an infinite sky of many stars, uncountable stars, yet Soulfaith knew that one more was up there tonight. Soulfaith tightened his cloak’s clasp around his neck. He straightened the jackalope antlers on his mossbed. Carrying the calla lily, he stepped out of his den, ready to take his friend for one last run. Wind rustled past Soulfaith’s muzzle, brushing his whiskers and causing his cloak to flutter behind him. The flower in his muzzle threatened to be lost to the wind, but Soulfaith held it tightly– yet reverently– between his muzzle. The sands were vast, yet Soulfaith felt that they couldn’t possibly be vast enough. After all, Soulfaith couldn’t run forever, even as much as he wished he could. Soulfaith could’ve sworn he saw flickering images running alongside him. And he knew that Memoryspectre was there with him for one last run. Soulfaith eventually ran out of energy, but he knew that Memoryspectre’s spirit didn’t. Because Memoryspectre was dead, and was free of the limitations of the feline body. Soulfaith straightened up a little, staring across the midnight desert. Mem was somewhere, probably ready for Soulfaith to do something glorious in his name. Soulfaith smiled slightly. They say that you die twice. Soulfaith couldn’t keep Memoryspectre from the grave, but stars above… Soulfaith would do everything in his power to keep Memoryspectre’s… well, memory, immortalized in his heart. Maybe that’s why he didn’t cry. Because even though Memoryspectre’s heart had stopped beating, even though his flame had died out, the flame of excitement and joy that Memoryspectre had given Soulfaith still burned strongly in his heart. How could Soulfaith weep when he knew that Memoryspectre lived on? Maybe not physically. But Soulfaith couldn’t help but feel, as he looked up into the infinite night sky, that one of those stars was reaching out their paw for him. Soulfaith raised his paw into the air, miming their special handshake. “suno.” Soulfaith’s eyepatch flared up for a moment, and he could’ve sworn in that moment, he saw a shooting star split the sky in response. (ERP)