Poem 5

The soft padding

Of pawsteps on

Hard tile was the

Only thing heard.

The humans had

Disappeared, along

With those bears.

I walked in silence.

...

When the humans

Returned, their smiles

Were flat and their

Eyes were barren.

There was one

Human missing,

Aside from the

One who died

Where the books

Were all kept.

She had lilac eyes

And a patient smile.

Where is she?

The human with

Light gray eyes was

Always with her,

Perhaps he knew?

...

"What- hey, how

Did you get in here?"

His eyes reflected

Pools of hollow ash,

Somber and burned-out.

I knew that expression-

Mourning and loss.

My ear twitched as

I flicked my tail before

Walking out the door.

"Do you want me

To follow you?"

A spark ignited

In his smoldering

Gaze, although there

Was no smile to match.

"Alright, where do

You want to--"

The spark flickered

Out as he abruptly

Paused in his tracks.

"Oh…"

I cocked my head,

Looking up at him

As I batted a paw at

The missing human's

Door in silent question.

...

A moment of silence

Passed, his shoulders

Tense as a sigh was

Slowly breathed out.

He clocked his gaze

From the door to me,

Eyes mournful.

"I'm sorry... she's gone."

His stare was widowed

As he sank down,

Reaching out a hand.

"I miss her, too."

Deft hands scratched

Softly at my blue-gray

Fur while I closed my

Eyes to mourn with him.

...

My nose scrunched up

As I felt a dewdrop fall

Onto my twitching ear,

Despite there being

No plants around.

I opened my eyes again

And looked upwards to

Find the source of water.

My gaze softened as

I leaned forward and

Tilted my chin up.

I lapped at the droplets

Staining the human's

Cheek, and tasted

Saltwater on my tongue.

His eyes fluttered open.

A deep rumbling

Grew in my chest.

...

His smile returned,

Ever so slightly.

♡

Character Key (Based on Eye Color):

Lilac- Kaede

Light Gray/Ash- Shuichi