I'll Keep Dancing On My Own

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31tGy…

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A gentle breeze would tug at the oddly pigmented pelt of the stocky, petite feline rendered Rive. The aphotic night sky sending the vaulting trees into ominous shadows above. It was only the filtered rays of the blood moon that ensured the forest did not descend into total darkness while it highlighted the female's refined features and adding a visible shine to the pale azure gaze. 
It had now been at least two moon's after she had stepped down from her thrown as the Regal of BBC due to her madness stemmed from the alleged death of her mate. Her outrageous aggression and unprovoked attacks upon members of the clan upset her greatly and she knew she had not been herself for a while now yet something about this particular night calmed her somewhat...she no longer felt the bubbling anger or the unbearable pangs of sadness.
Her nostrils flared, drawn in by a highly recognisable scent. A scent that brought her serenity and settled her soul like nothing else could. Almost inaudibly did she prowl to a vast clearing unscathed by the crippled branches of the trees above. The varying scents of prey almost dominated the scent that drew her here as her icy gaze fell upon a distant pool of water and...the owner of this vivid aroma...

Her heart rate noticeably increased, her short limbs almost unable to carry her weight anymore as they began to quaver beneath. Curved weaponry grappling the lush terrain below her as a whisper exited her jaws. "Pantherstar..."
There was no denying it was he as his bulky structure lay facing toward the lake with his back to the female. His powerful remained elevated, just how he used to lay when observing their kits. 
She did not wait any long, instantly she broke into a purposeful gallop, her short structure causing the elongated grass stems to bat her visage as she hurtled toward the figure. Ceasing her movements, the oddly pigmented female stopped beside the colossal brute, her broad skull making firm contact with his shoulder expecting to feel the warmth from his huge torso and a reassuring nudge back but nothing of the sort happened...instead, she was met with an ice cold chill that shot through her spine, there was unquestionable resistance as she tried to further nudge him.
Her icy gaze remained wide, confused and above all; heartbroken. Turning her dilated pupils to the tom's visage there was nothing but deathly silence. He simply gazed into the lake as if she wasn't even there.

"Panther? It's me, Rive!" Came the shrill, desperate tone as she continued to nudge his colossal neck this time with her forelimbs but it was completely hopeless. The tip of her plume twitch with visible defeat, her broad skull lowered as she stared at the lush terrain before her.
That same pang of unbearable sadness dominated her nerves only this time a thousand times worse. She was slowly coming to the realisation that this was simply a dream...
She was standing in the very place they first met. The pool that her mate was staring at was where they both went swimming together, under the blood moon...
She glanced at the huge brute before her quickly noticing the mass of dried blood that littered his dense pelt. Such a sight instantly brought her back to the nightmarish night of the wolf attack, the blood that stained his form was clearly from that very night.

"Y-You're not actually real are you..." She choked as she studied the tom, his figure not once moved from where he lay, staring blankly into the distance. A desperate chuckle escaped her lips, the sheer sadness that misted her gaze was more visible as she made a move towards the Regal, settling her form down beside him. Her whole weight was applied upon his torso as she searched for any means of comfort. Her feathered plume was wrapped around his own. 
Tilting her broad skull; the female pressed her cheek into his own crimson sodden one stifling the urge to burst into tears as she choked once again. 
"The kits are doing great! They've all moved on to follow their own paths in life..." She trailed off as she realised that she was completely alone now. Yet a small smile slithered upon her lips; some would say it was her madness getting to her while others would say it was simply the only thing that kept her alive these days.
"I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet..." She muttered as she stared at the still pool of water before them, silently reminiscing about that very night they met...

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Good God o.e Wish I had my tablet to actually draw the scene out (hence why Panth doesn't have his collar on) but I had to settle with this.

What's basically going on here is that Rive is dreaming that she found Panth in the place they first met. Quickly realising it's not real she pretends it is and starts talking to him as normal wishing it was. (She still thinks Panth is dead**)
The song 'Dancing on my own' inspired me to do this for some reason!

Rive (c)

Pantherstar (c)

Lineart (c)