As the sunset came to an end, purple twilight enveloped the world, bidding goodbye to the Day and inviting Night to take its throne in the sky. But it did not last long. Twilight bowed to their new king, before taking their leave as well. That left the lone king to fulfill her duty, masking the dark world in her azure essence and showering it with her starry glory. A beautiful display of serenity, but the Night seemed to hide a growing sadness.

And under the lone new-crowned king, hidden in a canopy of trees, was one of her subjects. The subject's silence would seem to an outsider to reflect the same sadness as their liege's. If not for the growing frown and dilating eyes that colored the subject's face, the world might have agreed.

.....

The subject lay atop the earth, limbs sprawled across it. The body, despite its size, was clearly juvenile in appearance. The quadruped possessed large eyes, dull and un-sharpened claws, and fur that seemed to be in the middle of transitioning from white to green, splitting the creature horizontally. It might have become old enough for its fur coat to fully transition into a verdant green. But it could not, for "it" was a corpse. No visible bite marks or stab wounds, nor sign of poisoning or weakened physicality, nor did its still white fur stand on end. A sudden death is the most probable conclusion. Murdered in the most brutal way.

And how, might you ask, am I so certain that a brutal murder was the cause of death? Well, if not for the already listed evidence, the missing head was a telltale sign of the unnaturalness of the creature's demise.

Correction; The head was not missing, just put a meter away from the body. It was most likely not moved purposefully by the perpetrator though. The perpetrator, after all, was in plain sight. Standing atop its victim, basking in its glory.

As the world transitioned into a noble azure, my vision was still clouded in deep crimson. The neck of the victim spewed out liters of blood by the second. Not helped by the fact that my prison lay atop its victim's corpse. Weighing down on it, sinking even, in tandem with the outpore of lifeblood.

My head turned to the now Night-time sky. Stars were littering the dark carpet above, shining blue. Together though, was another, darker, celestial object. Well, object might be a bad term, as the dark blue spot in the sky was, in actuality due to a lack of such an "object". A hole in the sky. Void filled its form, a tiny speck of light within it growing smaller as I looked on, until it disappeared.

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Somehow, instinctively, I knew that was where I came from.

Then, looking at the ground I saw my prison sinking into the earth breaking through the "resistance". From there I followed streaks of blood running from neck to head.

A few seconds passed, but to me, it felt like an eternity. Finally, it all came together, like a magician had snapped their fingers and made an answer appear. And that answer was...

Ah fuck! I'm the murderer!?

All facts lead to the same answer. That I, a ... person without a name, had ended the life of this young "child".

No, no, no!

In my mind's eye, I stood on stand in a courtroom. Familiar eyes glared accusingly into me.

Then, an idea came to mind.

Wait a minute. I wasn't the perpetrator, "he" was!

I said in my head, pointing accusingly at my, now previous, prison.

Right, I did not choose to be a murderer, nor was I one. Of course, I could not be. If the prison had not, you know, imprisoned me, then would not even be here. I was a hostage, a victim even! How could I be a murderer? I even-

Pointing continuously with my claw/hand, I blamed the prison. And it just stood there, gloating as if saying, "Yes that was all me! Am I not awesome?"

As I monologed on, vapor formed on my forehead from my continued physical pose. Yes, definitely from the posing.

I rest my case, your honor, I said in my head, talking to the imaginary jury.

Having successfully pushed the blam- I mean, accusing the perpetrator of their great crime, I wiped the sweat off me before turning around... And then turned back.

Sigh

Still, that was not to say I had nothing to do with this. If I had broken out of my prison earlier. I might have been able to steer the prison away from the "child". I should feel ashamed, sad, maybe even despair, but. but. but. but!

Huh?

I felt nothing. No negative emotion evoke from me having taken this young soul's life. None at all.

I only felt relief.

That I would not have to face the creature in front of me. That I wouldn't be "defeated" by it. I was sure that if "it" was still alive, I would be the one on the ground, being nothing more than a lifeless carapace. My instincts evoked such an ominous feeling that rang throughout my being.

I thought that would happen, I "knew" that would happen, and I hated that.

And as these contrasting emotions collided, like my body and soul seemed to be on the precipice of a common understanding, I heard a loud howl in the background.

It was a loud howl, but not a "strong" howl. Yet still I knew that whatever creature made that sound, it could easily defeat me too.

Looking back at the corpse, sprawled out on the grass, an epiphany overcame me. It probably moved naively out in the open, not even seeing the "prison" as it came crashing down. And above all, while it gave off a dark aura, it was dead. Cursed to never move again. That was fact. That was reality; my reality.

As the finality of the creature's death passed through me, I came to a simple conclusion; I did not want to end up like "that".

And so, I moved. Out of the open. To hide. For I was weak. Weaker than anyone else in this forest.

A fact which I despised.