[poppy]

birdpaw

Her father's voice was incredibly raspy, and Birdpaw's eyes widened as she registered the wounds marring his skin. "Dad... what-?" She choked out, eyes staring straight at the throat wound in horror. "What happened?" And even though she knew her father was too strong to have let someone do something like that to him, her mind immediately went to rogues. Did someone hurt him like those rogues hurt her? Her mind went to how her legs had been snapped, how her skin had been shredded. How her throat had been-

No. That hadn't happened to her dad. He was too strong. Too strong to be treated like that. But his words caused her tears to overflow, pouring down her face as she swayed on her paws, the tightness in her chest loosening so suddenly it almost swept her off her paws. And she was even more relieved to see her dad move towards her, and as he quickly moved to wrap her in a snug embrace, she let out a relieved sob, burying her face in his neck fur, feeling him press his in her scarred shoulder. "I missed you so much, Dad." She blubbered, breathing in the warm, comforting scent of her father. The scent filled her heart with joy and she hugged him back without missing a beat.

"You're home. You're safe now. It's gonna be okay. I'm here now, baby girl."

The words had the most calming effect on her, and she completely broke apart in his embrace, sobbing out of relief and happiness to finally be safe. "I was so scared that the rogues were gonna get me again." She breathed through sobs, wrapping her arms around her father tighter at this confession. "I was so scared, Daddy. I'm so glad you're here. I'm so glad I'm safe." She sounded like an absolute child, falling apart like a baby, but she didn't care. She wasn't scared like she was out there. She was vaguely aware of how many times she was saying 'dad', but she didn't care. The name sent a wave of calm and security through her every time she said it.

His apology made her heart twist. Not only was her being a trauma magnet hurting her, but it was causing her father grief and guilt too. She needed to stop somehow. She could bear listening to him blame himself for this. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, either." She murmured sincerely, closing her eyes to stop the tears. "There's nothing to forgive. None of it was your fault. And I'm not telling this to make you feel better, I would never lie to you, Dad." She pressed her muzzle into his shoulder, letting out a trembling gasp as she reeled her emotions in.

The small ragdoll moved her sore body so that she could more easily murmur in his ear, voice trembling as she spoke, asking about the whereabouts of those she cared about. Pebblesplash. Gingerfrost. Fawnlight. Flickerpaw. Stormpaw. Silverpaw. Lilycreek. Otterfluff. Kestrelpaw, the pretty tabby who she had missed much more than she had expected. "Have you seen Flickerpaw or Stormpaw? Is Kes okay? What about Silverpaw and Pebblesplash? is everything okay? What happened at home, Dad? Why are you hurt? Am I... Am I still able to come home?" Firing questions off after their loving reunion may seem selfish, but even though she had missed her father more than anything, she was desperate to know if everyone was okay.

And she was desperate to go home.

[ @Captain ]