#Chapter 45: Silver Tears

Raven I stared in horror at the sight before me. My horse was now laying on the ground, her leg twisted awkwardly, the arrow I had loosed embedded deep into her knee. Blood seeped around the shaft, staining her glossy coat a dark crimson. Panic surged through me as I scrambled off the ground and rushed to her side. “Oh no, no, no…” I murmured, dropping to my knees beside her. “I’m so sorry, girl. I didn’t mean to…” The horse groaned softly, her eyes rolling in pain. My heart clenched at the sight. I had never intentionally hurt an animal in my life and never planned on it, and now, because of my own recklessness, she was suffering. Neil approached us, his expression unreadable. “We need to end her suffering,” he said flatly, already drawing his sword. I looked up sharply. “What are you doing?” He sighed, as if this were the most obvious thing in the world. “She’s lame, Raven. The kindest thing we can do is give her a swift, painless death.”