Romans & histoires Betray Songbird Or Reed

“You just never looked close enough.” I shook my head, my stomach churning with a wave of nausea. “I trusted you,” I spat, each word heavy with the weight of betrayal. “You were my friend, my ally. How could you—how could you be the Prophet?” Reed’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “The Prophet,” he repeated, as if savoring the words. “It’s amusing that you still don’t understand. You’ve been running, searching for something you didn’t want to find. Something I didn’t want you to find. But here we are.”

“It’s not even what he did. It’s how he did it. Like a fucking snake. He could’ve told me, Kairos. Just said, ‘Hey man, I know she’s your girl, but I’ve caught feelings too.’ We’ve shared girls before.” Kairos gave a short nod and Reed leaned forward, shaking his head as he stared down at the counter. “If he’d said that… yeah, I’d be… whatever I would have been because I wouldn’t have wanted to share her. But I wouldn’t have felt betrayed.” He slammed another empty glass down and the bartender barely flinched, clearly now used to Reed’s spiral. “He toyed with me. My bro… my best friend. He pretended like he didn’t know. He watched me fall apart over her while he stood there like he was cluel

“And what did you plant, Mr. Gardner?” Somehow, his skull smirked. The brightest seed of rebellion. The act of life is war. But I showed you that this morning. Mourning my impossible dreams. “So angels dream, Samael?” I do. Perhaps it's sin. He whistled with his bare teeth. Two birds darted from the canopy: one lush red with black wings; the other a crow. I scrutinized the first. “That's a Scarlet Tanager.”

Remy stands in the center, shirtless, the locket catching firelight, blackbird bead braided tight into my hair brushing his shoulder every time I move. He lifts his chin and starts the song. Not the one from two years ago. A new one. In Caddo first, then in English so I can follow. Remy (voice carrying over the crackle of flames): “She came from across the water, lightning braided in her hair, thunder laughing in her throat. The valley opened its arms. The coyotes opened their hearts. Blackbird flew ahead to guide her home.” Every shifter in the circle tilts their head back and howls (one long, perfect note that makes the stars feel closer).

"They want to see us, want to see us alone They want to see us, want to see us apart They want to see us, want to see us alone They want to see us, want to see us apart," She smiled, pausing taking a breath. He narrowed his eyes. Will you keep singing Songbird? She smiled. She would. "And I, just want to feel you're there And I don't want to have to share our love I try, but I get overwhelmed," She reached out. To him. He just smiled, nodding to her. She only saw him.

he said coldly, “from this moment on, if you betray me, you die. If you lie, you bleed inside. If you defy me, your bones will snap one by one.” My throat dried. “You said you didn’t choose to be a pawn,” he said. “Now choose to be loyal. Or end this here.” The bird shrieked again. I closed my eyes. And whispered, “I choose.” The woman stepped forward, slicing both our hands. Our blood mingled in a silver bowl. She chanted in the ancient tongue. The bowl glowed. It was done. The bird vanished. And Fabian leaned in, his voice like ice against my ear.

"This song was written by Hope Ahlers but it's dedicated to you by me ." Dear baby bird Dear sparrow You look alot like me when I lost my wings Dear baby bird don't be discouraged maybe freedom doesn't come in touching the sky Chorus You can fly in the ocean You can soar in your soul you don't need wings to feel free Dear baby bird Dear sparrow Don't feel pressure I know you just wanted to heal Dear sparrow Just hush now may be freedom comes when We don't need to make a sound You can fly and the ocean You can soar in your soul

And, he planned on keeping such a high promise. Even so, that hadn't stopped Reedriver from narrowing his eyes at Flamestrike. The orange tom was curled up beside Birdpaw, fur rising and falling as he slept. Reedriver suddenly wished he could sleep that soundly. He was anxious about the Tribe and what they would find when they reached their destination.

I had always believed that even if he grew close to Summer, the class beauty, and even developed feelings for her in high school, our place in each other’s hearts would remain special. In sophomore year, some jealous girls had spread rumors that I was obsessively chasing him, trying to come between him and Summer. When Jason found out, he kicked over a desk in front of the whole class. Pointing at the girls, he shouted, “Emily is my childhood friend. If anyone dares to spread lies about her again, don’t blame me for being merciless!” At the time, I was certain I had a place in his heart. But now it seemed that had only been an act to maintain his image as loyal and sentimental.