Hugh stepped back in horror. He could feel a large sense of remorse creeping up to him. Rhys was
cut in several places by Hugh’s horns. His front chest had a large, purple bruise. Heads turned
towards him as the crumpled rag that was Rhys shook.
Hugh shrank backwards as the guard Ozzie and a strong gazelle stepped towards him. He
frantically looked around for the pale figure of his mother. Hugh spotted her beside Rhys, wet,
tiny tears falling into his fur.
Hugh was given renewed strength-he had to comfort his mother. Butting through the two
gazelles steadily approaching, Hugh limped as fast as he could to his mothers side.
The state of Rhys up close was terrible. Hugh opened his mouth, before the true realization came
across what he had done. More blood seemed to fall and trickle down the once-powerful gazelle.
Hugh sat suddenly, and Iris jumped and inched away from him. He looked up and around-the
Tribe of Endless Sand, old and young, were watching in silence. Carrott looked pale-Camilla buried
her head in his shoulder. Averting his eyes, Hugh closed his eyes. Tears began to fall-he did this.
“Hugh.”
Hugh opened his eyes with a start-his father was looking up at him. Iris turned her head
towards him slowly.
“That was incredible fighting.”
Rhys weak voice was quiet and distant, but somehow, it echoed around the tribe. Hugh
couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. His tears began to fall heavier, crashing onto the ground.
“I’m sorry!” Hugh cried out childishly, falling level-to-level with his father. Rhys closed his
eyes and shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you badly. I wished so hard for a strong, fit son that when
I got you, I couldn’t see your strengths. I looked past all the good things and focused on your
faults.I just realized...”
Rhys voice was fading away. Hugh groped at the hot sand as if he could do something. It was
impossible-he was obviously going.
“Rhys...I love you.” Iris’s voice was barely a whisper, trickling through the air. Rhys only
smiled-and he was gone. Just like that, reader, he had disappeared.
The silence rang everywhere, echoing across the plains eerily. Hugh didn’t know what to do-as
terrible as he was to him, Rhys always seemed solidly there.
Now he was gone.
Chapter 6
The body was buried the next day, in the only place Hugh and Iris though suitable-next to the
place he lived such a life. Hugh could barely watch as the Tribe of Endless Sand traditionally paid
their last respects. Hugh walked forward, the last to say goodbye-all gazelles stepped backwards
immediately. As he walked down the line, all the gazelles he knew-Ozzie, Alexus, Skylar, Carrott,
Camilla- watched him carefully. Hugh lay down next to his passed father and talked words into
his ear, very quietly. These words, reader, are known by only two things in this world-Rhys’s
spirit and Hugh.
He finally stepped back, dipping his head. Hugh’s eyes were watery, but he daren’t led a single
tear. The elders came forth, picking up the body. The Tribe of Endless Sand bowed deeply to the
spirit they had lost. Hugh couldn’t help thinking. ‘I’m the reason for it.’ Never once again could
