Extinction

Florence yelled in panic as the stars fell, running through the tribe and looking around in frantic panic, yelling and flinching every time the earth shook from an impact. "A-Akuji!" He yelled, terror in his voice as he searched for his mate in panic, putting his arms up to protect himself as others ran by in equal fear and terror of what the sky was doing to them. 

Giving a squeak he stumbled forward as a star landed close enough to make him lose his balance, another toskal knocking into him and sending him flying, striking the albino hard enough to make him lose consciousness, his last thought that of his mate. Of his beloved Akuji and the hope that he was safe, that the sky might spare him...

The first thing he recognized was a throbbing pain in his head. A dull, pained ache. The ache soon becoming a near unbearable pounding. The next thing he recognized was the pain in his chest, burning and struggling for breathe, enough to make him sit down... bad choice. Dust and ashe cascaded off his pelt as he began to cough up the ashe he had inhaled in his time knocked out. 

It was an ugly business, hacking up black ashe over and over again, every cough sending a throb through his head, the pain and pressure of coughs both making his eyes stream with tears as his body attempted to expel the worst of it and provide him with fresh air... a thing that seemed impossible in and of itself, as the ashe clung to the air and hung there. 

He reached out on instinct, looking for Akuji to be beside them before tensing, as he raised his head, more dust cascading from his head and mane, making him shake his head and starting to dust himself as he forced himself to stand. 

"A-akuji." He croaked out, coughing as he stumbled through the village, coughing and a hand pressed to his forehead. He pinned his ears back a little as he first started to hear the sounds of the others. The loud sobs and wails of adults and pups alike. Mourning losses, groans of pain from injuries. The panic in his chest stirring. 'What if Akuji is dead?' the thought terrifying him, making his breathing become harder for a whole new reason. No. No, Akuji wasn't dead. He couldn't be. He would know if he was dead. He would feel it.... wouldn't he? 

He struggled to keep himself at bay, but he tried. There was no use crying before he knew. "Akuji! Akuji! He called, his voice mingling with those of others who couldn't find their loved ones. Already others of the clan were moving and starting to move debris and start uncovering bodies, placing them at the center in an untouched place so others could easier try to find who they lost. 

He wasn't there... nor was he with the injured. The panic starting to build in his chest as it neat harder and harder in his chest, his callings for the other getting more and more frantic. And then just as suddenly as the panic rose it stopped, and it felt like he was suddenly doused in water, his heart dropping like a stone to the pit of his stomach. 

He stood there, still and trembling, his breath held for several moments before taking in a loud gasp, his breath heavy pants once more as he inched closer. It wasn't him. It couldn't be him. It was just a hand. He couldn't determine his mate was dead just from a hand. He should walk away and find him... but he couldn't. Instead he moved closer, and he was moving the debris and dirt away. 

The hand uncovered to an arm, and then a shoulder, and then he couldn't hold it on anymore, a sob finally escaped his throat. Because he knew that pelt anywhere. Dirtied and blood smeared as it was, he knew it. He knew every inch of that pelt. Of his mate. Of his beloved Akuji. 

He sobbed openly now as he uncovered him, gripping at bis fir and trying to shake him. But nothing, his head lolling to the side and the mask je had been wearing half broken and cracked. A chill going down his spine as an unblinking stared at him.... no. Not at it. It stared through him. There was no recognition. No nothing in that eye. The ashe covered albino bowing his head and sobbing his sorrow, his voice joining the chorus of other mourners now. 

He didn't know how long he had stayed there with the other. He felt numb. Things were going to fast... or too slow. He couldn't even tell that anymore. The sounds of the rest of the village behind him a dull thrum around him. 

His gaze suddenly shifted to the others masks. Most of them broken and shattered beyond repair. His head cocking a moment. 

'Why do you wear those masks all the time?'

... 'Because you can be anyone.' 

His hand reached out, taking the others main mask, broken, but still whole enough. He swallowed a moment before pressing the mask to his face, putting it on and closing his eyes. 

He smiled a little, giving a little snicker. "Oh Sweetheart, you didn't think you'd be rid of me that easy did you?" The voice odd and almost distorted, not sounding anything like Florence, until the moment it did. The albino laughing a pnd shaking. "That was a mean trick! It was mean Akuji! You can't do that to me!" He accused, hugging himself a moment before he suddenly straightened up. "I'm sorry princess... are you okay?" "Of course I am, its you I'm worried about. Come on, we should get checked out anyways." He told him, standing up and heading for the healers, talking in two different voices the entire time.