@Undercover
Pine was exhausted. He had met Menalorie near former Dusk Syndacite territory after their defeat, expecting a victory, only to be greatly disappointed. His eye had been torn out by a healer trainee and it pained him to see his beloved mate’s shocked expression. They had been meeting in secret for a long time now, and at the idea of taking over the Clans, he figured that he could let Menalorie in after their victory. Now they would have to survive on their own.
“I.. I’m sorry.. we lost. Horribly. We were greatly outnumbered. I don’t think Halite expected there to be that many Clan cats.. we’re on our own now.” He nuzzled her cheek, his wounds still stinging and his vision still adjusting. He somehow felt like it was his fault that they were defeated, and subsequently that his mate was unsafe. “I’m sorry.”