darkSpyro

"It's okay Rose, I'll be right here when you come back.," Sayan said getting the message from Peepers. "I promise I won't go anywhere.," he then said not wanting to leave the tiger alone for too long.

"Not to worry miss. The warblers are watching the whole forest. If he or that annoying mongoose shows up, we will know in time." Peepers assured, though he imagined that it wouldn't be enough for her.
"Listen miss, I can escort you. Mister Sayan, please wait here. If there's any trouble, I will fly to you." Peepers then said, knowing that, for now, what Jet needed to say was between him and Rose alone.

Soon, the two of them arrived at the beach, without any warning or signs that Shadow was going to appear. They then appeared right in front of Jet, and Peepers became quite nervous.
"Well... here we are. Mr. Jet... Miss Rose, I think you two need some time alone. I'll go to Sayan now, but I'll be back." he then said, leaving the two of them alone and not wanting to witness Rose's reaction. Plus, he needed to tell Sayan the news.

Not looking back, Peepers returned very quickly to where he left Sayan. He then faced the Amur leopard, with his body shaking violently. He wanted to tell the news and get it over with soon.
"Mr. Sayan... I suppose you want to know if what Shadow said it's true... Well..." he halted, trying to get ahold of himself. He didn't know what was harder; the fact of telling a horrible lie or the aftermath of it all...

Quote: Felines

Not looking back, Peepers returned very quickly to where he left Sayan. He then faced the Amur leopard, with his body shaking violently. He wanted to tell the news and get it over with soon. "Mr. Sayan... I suppose you want to know if what Shadow said it's true... Well..." he halted, trying to get ahold of himself. He didn't know what was harder; the fact of telling a horrible lie or the aftermath of it all...

"Just tell me... is it true or not? And-- by jet?," Sayan asked in a serious tone. Right not, the Amur leopard just wanted answers and not more uncertainly.

All Peepers could think of was how Rose was taking the news, but he knew Sayan was not going to leave him alone. With a very heavy heart, he told him, knowing that telling him was going to torment him for a long time.
"It's... it's true! It... it was this morning. But... Jet did it because he had no choice. Shadow and that mongoose, whatever her name is, made him do it. It was either him or Shadow, and... miss Sybil chose. Mr. Jet... he... he... ate... her..." Peepers said with a broken voice, knowing how terrible something like that must have sounded. He was terrified of what Sayan's reaction was going to be...

At Hunted island, Sybil was trying to relax a little bit inside the kea tree, but it was proving impossible. She was feeling too unease on how everybody was going to react to the news, especially Rose.
"You know miss, I can keep an eye on the little lass from time to time. My family can take care of themselves very well." Mambo said, approaching her. The truth was that he, too, was feeling very uncomfortable with all that.
"...Thanks Mambo. I think... I think right now would be great." Sybil finally said, feeling the urge to know how things were going in her beloved Haven. The kea then flew off without haste, even with the fog building up very fast.

At Cairo's territory, the orca leader told the news only to his most trusted subjects. Many of the orcas were quite the gossipers, and Sybil made herself very clear that all that was suppose to remain a secret. There was quite a problem though. Cairo would have to excuse himself on why is he allowing Jet to stay, even if he did what he supposedly did. A meeting was made in order to discuss that...

It took almost half an hour, but Mambo reached the Haven, though not as lively as his usual self. He then saw the striped pattern he knew so well.
"Hello Rose! Long time no see..." he said, trying to sound as his happy-go-lucky self. He then noticed that Rose was sobbing, and remained quiet. That meant she already knew, and he didn't know how to console her...

Elsewhere, Sayan remained quiet and paced in a shocked state. "You're... you're telling me that Sybil is dead and that she chose to be eaten?! And Jet complied with this?! To eat the one leader of the haven and leave a young innocent heartbroken tiger to run it in the aftermath?!," Sayan finally said outing his anger on the poor peepers. He kept pacing, shaking his head in slight disbelieve. "No.. no... this can't be true. But I know it is-- I know you wouldn't tell me this otherwise. Sybil wouldn't just leave us, leave HER, like this unless... unless she had to.," the Amur leopard then said. "Just go. I need to see Rose, I need to comfort her...," he mumbled as he then walked away towards the beach. He was clearly shocked, angered, and heartbroken all at the same time. If he felt like this, he knew that poor Rose felt much much worse.

"Rose?! Are you here?," he called out as he approached the beach. His outburst earlier could easily be heard by those who were listening.

Peepers wanted to console Sayan, but he already left. He felt so tempted to tell him the truth, but desisted. He felt just horrible, and even wondered if Sybil was doing the correct thing doing something like that, but decided to trust her, as he has always done. He wondered how Shadow and the mongoose were doing, trusting that they were lowering their guard down, just as Sybil expected.

Warren, after a very hard flight, managed to reach the outback. He found Shadow, but Sholeh was elsewhere, hunting. He almost asked for her, but didn't want to give the impression that Sholeh is all he thinks about.
"Well Monsieur, it is done. Now everybody will believe you have returned to the other island." Warren said, rather proud, but missing Sholeh.

Warren was taken off guard by that question. Why would he ask something like that? Shadow didn't seemed like the caring type. Either way, Warren did have an answer;
"Well you see Monsieur Shadow, us vultures are treated like garbage, a pitiful creation of nature. Everybody thinks of us as disgusting and coward... but... Mademoiselle Sholeh approached me one day, and she didn't even showed any signs of fear or disgust, and, well, I really loved that. Sure, she is a little mean sometimes, but who can blame her? She was thrown out of her home after all." Warren explained, hoping that was a convincing answer. He was often offended by her, but the naïve Warren trusted that without Sybil around to command and motivate everybody, she would grow nice.

Mambo began to feel offended when Rose didn't even looked at her. She was always so happy and pleased to see him every time he visited, so that really hurted him. He heard Sayan calling to Rose, but he remained there with her, in silence, trying to find the best words to console her, but he was so bad at a situation like that...

Soon, Sayan spotted the sobbing tiger-- and someone else. Though he began to approach the two, he silently held back and merely gave the kea a look of sympathy. Like Mambo, he was unsure what to say and wished to give the two a moment in the meanwhile.

Mambo saw Sayan approaching, and his gloomy look indicated that he too has heard the news.
"S... Sayan, was it?" he asked, almost forgetting his name.
"I... suppose you both heard. I... I'm sorry this had to happen. If only my flock you have been nearby... That mean old Komodo dragon... and that stupid mongoose he allied with..." he said, sounding very angry. He was going to say more, but decided that Rose didn't needed to hear more of the subject. He looked at her, then at Sayan.
"Let's go. He little lass needs some time alone." he whispered to the leopard, still very hurt that Rose ignored him, though he didn't blame her.

Sayan nodded, proceeding to walk away from Rose and out of the tiger's earshot. "It's... it's not your fault. There.. isn't anything you could have gone.," he then said trying to console the kea.

Mambo was glad that at least Sayan was talking to him, but that didn't stop him from feeling hurt for Rose.
"I guess the little lass will be leading now. I promise that we will do anything to help her." Mambo confessed, even thinking of moving his flock to the Haven once more in order to be more helpful to Rose. He then began to think how hated Jet must have been now, so he tried his best to justify him without looking like he was defending him.
"As for Mr. Jet... I... I know it's horrible what he did, but I can guarantee you, he is feeling extremely guilty. I have a very good judge of character, and he looked the most sincere when he showed his feelings." Mambo expressed, though he believed that Sayan was going to criticize him anyway for justifying Jet's actions.

"Rather he feels guilty or not does not make it right.," Sayan replied. "Regardless of what his reasons are, you do NOT just eat our one and only leader. He has not only broken our trust, but he might as well have broken the haven itself. We depended on her... the whole balance of this place depended on her.," Sayan said not yelling but still showing some frustrating at the kea. "And then there's Rose. I mean... I trust her and I even care for her, but she's still young and she shouldn't have had to experience this again. She's heartbroken now-- and now she has a haven to run.," the Amur leopard then said showing concern for the tiger.

Mambo realized that Sayan was making perfect sense, and wondered why Sybil was doing this, knowing how loved she was there. But just like Peepers, he promised to hide the truth.
"I know how frustrated you feel Mr. Sayan. But... miss Sybil was captured by those monsters and offered her to Jet. It was either him or Shadow. And... well... either way, she was going to get eaten, and miss Sybil chose Jet. They gave him no choice." Mambo explained, hoping Sayan would understand.
"I know the little lass is miss Sybil's successor. I think... I think that miss Sybil knew something was going to happen to her eventually, but I never expected that it would be so soon..." Mambo said sorrowfully, feeling very sorry for Rose.
"I know about Rose's mother. I know she can't do this alone, I do. That's why I vow to help her in any way I can... she needs all the help she can get." Mambo commented, sensing Sayan's sorrow.
"At least... miss Sybil didn't suffer." Mambo then randomly said, though he was sure that would probably make things worse. He already did the comment, so it was too late.

"Trust me-- she suffered. Even if she chose it, she suffered.," Sayan said with slight frustration. "She shouldn't have gone out this way and not by the hands of an ally. To be eaten by the enemy is one thing, but to know that Jet did it... that is a whole other thing. But you are right... about Rose. Sybil should have been here to prepare her-- but at least we had a clear successor and at least she'll have the support she needs in these troublesome times. It won't be easy though. You... me... she'll need us. She'll need all of us. You and the keas may be even more valuable in the upcoming days and months.," he added.

"I don't think miss Sybil felt betrayed. She... never mind." Mambo stopped, knowing that he could make things worse like he did with that random comment.
"One thing I will tell you; the Haven will go on. Animals in danger will continue with the sanctuary... even if it's not as safe as before. We won't let those monsters intimidate us. We won't let them defeat us. We will protect Rose and help her with this sacred place, and we will beat them, and we will continue miss Sybil's legacy." Mambo commented, rather proud of his unexpected sermon.

Elsewhere around the outback, Sholeh was very upset, and cursing. All she could eat were a few insects and some carrion left by nearby vultures. She really despised that life in the outback, believing she could be feasting on eggs and even some of the birds. She, however, tried to remain in the good mood she was earlier. In her sick mind, the gulping sound Jet did when swallowing Sybil whole was like a melodious lullaby for her. She grinned with the thought that Sybil will never be able to banish or bother her again, and she even grinned with the thought of taunting everybody that loved her.

"But Monsieur, the tiger is too protected. We can't just enter there unnoticed." Warren pointed out, growing worried. Just a few seconds later, Sholeh made her entrance, grinning. Sybil was gone, but Rose remained. And she had an idea on how to get to her without the bird's interference.

Mambo was returning to Hunted island, feeling very bad to Rose. He was determined to move the flock as soon as he arrived. Sybil could stay in the tree, or move with the cockatoos.

"Rose is protected, and the biggest issue is the birds. But we cannot kill them. Instead, we will chain them, with a chain long enough for them to feed, but not to reunite." Sholeh concluded, feeling proud.

After being consoled by the kea, Sayan had gone off on his own for a little while to give both himself and Rose time to grieve. After a few hours time, he had decided to return to the den knowing that Rose would have likely returned there as well. The Amur leopard came in quietly and gently laid down next to the tiger. He remained quiet for now, merely staring at their reflections in the pond. Knowing that nether of them had probably eaten in some time, he gently placed a piece of fish upon the tiger's paws and another for himself.

"I.. I believe he felt he had no choice. Like he was somehow doing the right thing.," Sayan said as he hugged the tiger.

"And a choice that can break us all.," Sayan said agreeing.

At the kea tree, Mambo spoke to Sybil and told her the incredible grief she had caused. Mambo was even at the verge of tears when he remembered the way both Sayan and Rose were suffering.
"Is this really necessary? I mean, the little lass lost her mother when she was so little. Can you imagine how she must feel believing she has lost somebody else she loved?" Mambo explained, and Sybil knew he was making perfect sense.
"I know Mambo that this looks like a heartless thing to do, and I really hope I don't need to keep up this cruel charade for long, but for now, we have to do it. If I know something, is that grief can make you stronger, eventually." Sybil expressed, mistakenly believing that was the way everybody reacted.
"You're wrong miss. Grief can make you stronger, but it can also break somebody further apart, especially somebody who already went through it." Mambo pointed out, again, making a lot of sense.
After a brief pause, Sybil spoke again.
"And that's why... Rose needs all the support she can get. Besides, I'm also doing this in order for Shadow and Sholeh to lower their guards. The mongoose, really hates me. If she knew I was still alive, she would stop at nothing to make me dead, for real. She's very mad, but also very intelligent, not the greatest combination." Sybil explained, remembering the time the crazy mongoose tried to kill her with her own paws.
"What is worse, those two have a vulture on their side. That's why I need to go in disguise." she concluded, pointing out that she was going to continue that charade even after all that grief.

It was almost night. After a couple of hours, Mambo convinced his flock to move once again to Hunted island. Some of them were furious, but he was the leader, and they respected that, wether they liked it or not. They hoped that was the last move, as all of them were packing some food and prepared to leave immediately to the Haven.

Cairo took some time to pace after the meeting. Then after a while, he approached the Haven's shore, knowing that by that time, the news had probably spread. He was very nervous when he thought about confronting Rose, but decided to do it anyway.
"Rose! Miss Rose... We have returned." he called to her, not having any idea on what her reaction would be.

Just one glimpse of Rose, and Cairo knew that the news reached. He wasn't that much of a motivator, but he tried his best anyway.
"Miss... do you... want to go surfing? Or... I can teach you to swim." Cairo suggested, wondering if suggesting her a little fun was going to make things worse...

"... Why, of course." Cairo said pleased, shrinking into the water for her to get on his back. He was determined to make Rose as happy as possible. He was extra surprised that she didn't touched that particular subject, which meant that she was a little ready to move on even after the apparent tragedy.

Sayan watched from the edge of the woods, happy to see the tiger having fun. He hoped they could both eventually move on from what happened.

At the horizon, the kea flock could be seen approaching. They were only half of them. The rest were still busy preparing for the move. Hopefully, the big tree was still accessible, since Yodel was put under house arrest. Cole and Mambo stayed behind, but Cheryl was part of that flying group. While the other keas entered the forest, Cheryl landed on a palm, not even noticing Sayan below her.
"Why!? Why!? We were so happy there! If that stupid warbler bother us again, I'll... I'll...!" she said, as she continued mumbling. Se was acting like the Ceryl everybody knew...

Cairo smiled a bit when he heard Rose. He could feel her sorrow, but admired how she tried to move on and loved how she kept his dear Sybil's memory, even if he knew the truth.

Sybil was still at the kea tree, helping Mambo and Cole pack. After the tree has become empty, she would move with the cockatoos. Barloc already authorized it when he arrived, though he didn't like the idea. His family was a mess after the terrifying Shadow incident, and they were still having trouble organizing, something in which Sybil offered help once she was done with the keas.

"Um... sure." Cairo answered, wondering if she wanted to get back so soon. It was then that he realized there were a few keas on the move.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you; the keas are coming back to the Haven." he explained, only hearing the news from Mambo when he was pacing earlier.

"Everybody." Cairo answered, even forgetting about Rose's early grief.

Quote: Felines

At the horizon, the kea flock could be seen approaching. They were only half of them. The rest were still busy preparing for the move. Hopefully, the big tree was still accessible, since Yodel was put under house arrest. Cole and Mambo stayed behind, but Cheryl was part of that flying group. While the other keas entered the forest, Cheryl landed on a palm, not even noticing Sayan below her.
"Why!? Why!? We were so happy there! If that stupid warbler bother us again, I'll... I'll...!" she said, as she continued mumbling. Se was acting like the Ceryl everybody knew...

Sayan watched as the keas flew in, surprised to see so many of them. It seemed they were moving back in-- possibly at the influence of Mambo. He then looked up as he heard and recognized Cheryl above him. "Hey.. Cheryl! Is that you?," the Amur Leopard then said even more surprised.

Cheryl didn't looked surprised when she looked below. She recognized Sayan immediately.
"Oh, it's you." she said unenthusiastically.
"You really have the tendency to appear out of nowhere, you know that?" she then commented, though secretly, she was glad she could speak to anybody. That whole situation had her upset.