Rolf sat on the couch against Yam’s wall, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, her fingers clasped together. Aey was perched on the edge of one of the wooden chairs, her shoulders hunched and her face shadowed and tense.

Soft whispers were coming from the bathroom, where Yam and Ari were desperately trying to save Bread. But otherwise, the house was silent.

After what felt like hours of agonising waiting, Yam stepped out of the bathroom, her tail dragging behind her, her ears flat and her eyes cloudy. “Guys.” She turned to face Rolf and Aey, and the former perked up eagerly, eyes wide, wondering if Bread was doing okay. Aey glanced up from her knees, silently urging Yam on.

The Tabaxi was silent. Rolf and Aey stared at her, not knowing what to do. Then, suddenly, all at once, she collapsed to her paws and knees, thumping the wooden plank-floor with a fist, practically crying her eyes out. She wailed at the top of her lungs, her scream hoarse and raw, a scream that only one who had lost a part of their own soul could make.

“Bread,” she choked out, “h- he’s not going to make it. He’s gone. Go and say your goodbyes.”

Rolf let out a gasp, her hands jumping to her open mouth, her pointed elf ears drooping as she took in what Yam was saying. Aey’s eyes widened and she immediately got up and rushed past the Tabaxi, racing down the hallway and slipping into the bathroom, where Ari’s comforting whisper could be heard, ever so softly.

“Is- is he really?” Rolf forced herself to ask the question, her tone strangled, as if she were having trouble speaking. Yam was silent for a minute or two, but finally, she nodded stiffly. Rolf stopped short. “No. No, this can’t be happening. No. Bread. No.” The Gnome shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, trying to somehow reverse time and make sure that Bread wasn’t dying, that he wasn’t injured, or suffering, that Yam wasn’t wailing on the floor and crying like her very soul had been torn in half, that Ari wasn’t trying to quietly ease Bread into a permanent sleep, that a whole life and future had been ripped away so carelessly tonight. She got to her feet and stumbled over to Yam, blind with grief, wrapping one of her arms around the Tabaxi’s back and squeezing her into a tight hug.

Neither of them said anything, but it was clear in the comforting silence that nothing needed to be said. There was nothing that could be said. And Rolf wasn’t sure that Yam could even say anything anyway, even if she wanted to, what with being in her state of crouching on the floor, crying her heart out.

A sudden clattering came from the bathroom. Yam’s paws tightened around her sickles, looking for something- anything- to take out her grief on. She rushed towards the noise, stopping right outside the bathroom door. She rattled the doorknob.

“What are you doing in there?” she screamed, howling her fury to the world upon finding it locked.

“Hey, that’s a good question. Aey, what are you doing?”

Ari’s bemused voice seemed to placate Yam (slightly), knowing that nothing too horrendous could be going on.

“Ari, I appreciate the questions, but-” Aey’s voice broke, but she quickly recovered. “But I do need you to focus now, alright?”

Yam and Rolf listened intently- although they didn’t really need to.

They could have heard the screaming from a mile away.