Swifttail’s ears sagged, and his shoulders seemed to fold inward at the Minister’s words. Despite the praise, he looked down at his own paws as though he were a scolded kit avoiding his master’s eyes. He nursed another sip of rum before answering, voice quieter now.
"Aye… it was the first." He gave a small shake of his head, ears flicking. "I lost count how many, but I’d never spilled a beast’s blood... Never sent a beast to the dark forest before...Urk."
He shuddered, the memory catching in his throat. "I keep tellin’ meself they were savage, bloodthirsty monsters... That it was us or them. But…" He trailed off, curling his claws against the rim of the crystal glass.
"...It feels… hollow."
"Aye… it was the first." He gave a small shake of his head, ears flicking. "I lost count how many, but I’d never spilled a beast’s blood... Never sent a beast to the dark forest before...Urk."
He shuddered, the memory catching in his throat. "I keep tellin’ meself they were savage, bloodthirsty monsters... That it was us or them. But…" He trailed off, curling his claws against the rim of the crystal glass.
"...It feels… hollow."
