When you can't sleep at night. (Open, injury.)

This was, without a doubt, a lengthy and horrible death. The worst imaginable. Losing your life before your comrades and those you loved. At least his victims would've been killed in his laboratory, and he would've been the sole witness. This was different. The domestic feline pursed his black lips tightly and stepped back, his paws pressed close to one another. His face was, without a doubt, as blank and dull as his usual gaze.

Some called it not having a heart—an empty shell of sentient creature, a coldhearted beast. Others gifted it the alias of a "thousand-yard-stare." And what he had was both, but most certainly more of the latter. He blinked slowly and watched the bleeding corpse that was once living just mere moments ago. Project K. had gone through his slow and painful demise before Toxicwaste's very own eyes. Before the eyes of the Cartel's medic and, allegedly, his own grief-stricken lover.

Memories flooded his mind of Bentley Harbringer and StormClan. He recalled Project confronting him, prepared to claim his life in the name of vengeance. And then he was spared mercifully in exchange for a well-crafted blade and a bit of assistance with the Clan's defenses. He had kept his promise and provided both for a drink with Project—it all seemed like minutes before this all happened. He remembered being led through some hidden entrance in the trenches to have some tequila shots in the midst of piles of gear. And the sight led up to a far worse memory that really did impact Toxicwaste.

His mother's demise. In the Arcane, when he was a mere kitten, he had watched her die in her home, surrounded by those she loved. His mother was, without a doubt, one of the only people he truly loved and desired to protect with his life. To see her just...die before his childish eyes was too much. The feline's eyelids clamped shut and he released a short, choked sob. He wasn't upset because of Project's death. He was upset because of the thoughts and ideas and flashbacks it gave him. And it hurt. It fucking hurt.

Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as his eyes flittered open at the sound of paper, and his hollow gaze landed on Viper. "Wha-What's that?" he stammered, eyeing the letter curiously. He wanted to stop looking at the body and focus on something else, and fast.

//well this muse explosion was not expected

Ryūsaki would remain idly, his dull baby blue gaze focused on the freshly deceased corpse that had once belonged to Project. It was an empty husk now, and the blood pooled around his paws slowly. He swallowed thickly, his brows slowly drawing together. The ghoul's eyes had turned their alternate colors of red and black though this was mostly due to the overwhelming emotions surging through his body and seizing his mind and heart. Ryū blinked slowly when he felt Viper place his forehead on his leg and he flicked his gaze down towards him, looking lost and confused as he was thanked. Why was he grateful?

"D-Demo... Watashi no s-sei da." He wept, his eyes puffy and red. He turned his head towards Viper when he walked towards something, his gaze following after the serval. He stood and walked after the wildcat, coming up beside the male to find that there was a satchel the other had found. It had Project's scent on it, and so he naturally assumed it was the leopard's. "I-It's Project's... his satchel. He l-left something for us." The medic hiccuped. As Viper got the note, the coydog would look into the satchel himself.

In there, he found a small dagger that had a decorated hilt with a wonderfully modeled rose at its bottom. It had very nice writing on it. It had his name tagged to it. This was... for him? He felt his eyes watering up once more as he held the weapon close to his chest. He'd keep it for as long as he could.

Ryūsaki whipped his head around at the vultures when they circled down to start pecking at Project. The coydog growled and jumped up and began barking at them - yelling in Japanese, anything to get them away. When they did, he sat down and sighed. "W-We need to go bury him with his h-home clan..." Ryuu would murmur quietly to those gathered.

Ryuu would nod his head towards Viper, sniffling quietly as he rubbed at his eyes. He believed he could carry the leopard just fine. He had his super strength, after all. "O-Of course..." He murmured before he would find his way to get Project's corpse onto his back. He lifted it effortlessly off the ground, all thanks to his handy super strength...

StormClan. Bentley was there. Bentley was armed. And Bentley was in Project's will, inheriting a ring. That dog would kill him on sight. He was rowdy and surely vengeful. Toxicwaste would carry the leopard's body to the borders, but he couldn't stay there, lest he risk his life. "I'll carry him home," he meowed in reply to Viper, "but...b-but I'm afraid I cannot remain for the burial. Please send his Clanmates my condolences on my part." His voice was shockingly firm and relaxed, though he seemed to be broken, bitter tears still streaming down his cheeks. But for once, as he approached the medic to help him with the body, he felt at peace with himself. And he just didn't know why.