| Chapter 3 Morning came almost immediately. The celebration was over, and no one had returned to their homes for sleep. Instead, all the cat warriors had passed out on the ground where they stood, some of them laying half-over each other. Men and women lay scattered all over the forest, some against large trees, some in utterly humiliating positions only appropriate for the bedroom. And Juvid and Corsine were both asleep on the cold ground, Corsine only steps ahead of her pursuer. At the center of the village were Nola and Asmodo. Asmodo had fallen onto his back to sleep; the vines that Nola gave him were around his head like a crown. Nola lay a few feet away, her legs still stained red with the berry juice. Nola was the first cat warrior to wake up. Her eyes opened slowly to see the ground, then she lifted her head to see more. Around her lay all of her friends, none of them even making a sound. Nola walked among them to find a sign of conciousness, but nothing was there. Everyone was gone; none of them would wake up. Nola began to panic. Could I have murdered everyone? she wondered. She ran to find a sign of life; there was no one. The young lioness sat down next to Asmodo and cried. She knew not what to do; if someone was to find her, they would cetainly have her executed for her crime. She turned to Asmodo's tranquil form and found a small dagger attached to his belt. Nola took the blade from the belt. She wished herself goodbye and plunged the dagger into her belly with both hands. She moaned slightly as tears ran down her face; blood ran out of her abdomen onto her hands and ground. Nola fell onto her side and looked off into the distance before her vision blackened and faded, dying almost immediately. Several hours later, the kingdom slowly began to return to life. Men and women rose up and stretched, feeling horribly embarrassed because others had to see them sleep on the ground. Juvid and Corsine awoke at almost precisely the same moment. Corsine immediately discovered that her clothing was gone and that she was completely bare. Juvid looked up to see her crying and covering her breasts and groin. In a panic he removed his cape and gave it to Corsine so she could be clothed. He did not even remember stealing her clothing in the first place, nor did Corsine. Juvid picked her up in his arms and carried her to the center of the village. Asmodo was just waking up; the leaves on the vine were brushing against his face. He looked over at Nola's dead body, which he did not assume dead, because she was facing away from him. He stumbled over to her. "Nola?" he said, quietly. "Wake up, Nola. You're lying on the ground." At that moment, Asmodo turned Nola onto her back, only to find his own dagger imbedded in her torso, her eyes barely open. He was shocked. "Nola!!" he cried, as several cat warriors ran toward their king, as he held Nola's body in his arms. Asmodo wept for her; he could not believe what happened. He then stood to address the kingdom. "Who is responsible for this?!?" he roared. "Who murdered young Nola?" None could answer. They could not remember what had happened the previous evening, not a single thing. "We know nothing, master," Juvid said, Corsine still cradled in his arms. "We know not how this could have happened." Asmodo was heartbroken. "She was such a lovely girl," he wailed. "I cannot punish anyone, because we have no evidence against man or woman. We can only mourn her death." Juvid spoke again. "Master," he began, "I have a much better idea. We cat warriors have been sad all our lives; we have not seen happiness ever. We all loved Nola very much; why not celebrate her death, remembering only who she was?" Asmodo cracked a smile. "You are right, my friend," he said. "Nola was a wonderful girl and all. She would be happy to see us remember her as you described." A joyous funeral was held for Nola that evening. As the night before, people were entertained and engauged in conversation about the girl; topics dating back to her infanthood were brought up and laughed about. Before they buried her, Asmodo walked up to Nola while she lay in her coffin. Atop her head he placed the ring of vines, to symbolize the friendship they had together. A few minutes later, they buried her, then returned home to sleep and start a new day tomorrow as a free civilization. Epilouge |