[size=1]... Would be lighter if you would only help me bear it.
<blockquote><blockquote>A large brown paw landed on the soft hay, shaking with unease. Green orbs scanned the area hesitantly, wide with apprehension. It had been a long time, far too long it had been. His green eyes glazed over as he remembered that day, the day it had all changed. Shrew had thought it was all over, but suddenly it seemed his past had caught up on him. Shaking his head in wonder, the tom turned back. Today wasn't the day it was going to happen. Every morning when he woke, his paws would lead him to this spot where he would hesitate before turning back. This morning had been different, he'd taken a step further. But it hadn't been enough.
Padding back to his lonely nest, Shrew passed a cat he hadn't seen before, but didn't bother with greetings. There was a mutual respect that protected this barn. Everyone was friendly and they hardly recieved hostile visitors. If things had been the way they were before, Shrew might have said hello and welcomed them with a happy smile. He could barely find the will to open his eyes every morning, let alone manage a smile. His long tail dragged close to the ground as he walked forward, staring at his paws. He suddenly felt something heavy hit his shoulder. "Sorry." He muttered, guessing he had just walked in to someone.
---
Sonnen's eyes widened in surprise. His father hadn't even noticed him. Scowling at the mopey tom, he hissed quietly but Shrew still didn't look up. Padding slowly after him, the gray tom shook with anger. Merlot or Kitti might have been able to handle this situation better, but Sonnen was not like them. "Why won't you just snap out of it, dad?" He snarled, realising he was nearly as big as his father now. "You've been... Wandering around the barn like a lost soul for ... Moons!" His eyes suddenly became tight with pain and his snarl turned in to an agonised grimace. "What's happened to you?" His hoarse whisper died away and he turned, stomping away to find his mother.[/size]</blockquote></blockquote>