When everything changed
By Dragon & Wolf

PART 2
But instead of her having a breakdown and crying uncontrollably she instead had the fighting spirit of her father mixed with the first stage of grief - denial. Lovianne jumped on him, pushing him out of the child seat and forcing him to land with his back on the floor. Her little hands hammered against his chest as her tears flowed freely, screaming in rage. “Liar! This is a cruel lie! He… He cannot be! Mami already left us! He cannot leave me alone! He promised to come back!”
Lorkos just took the beating of the furious brown cat, closing his own eyes tightly to keep his tears at bay, his hands simply going around her and pressing the child-feline against himself. “Why?! WHY?!” She demanded to know, her assault getting weaker with every hit as sadness started to overpower her rage, just crying against his chest and digging her face into him.
“Because… He did not just protect you Lovianne… He protected all of us… Soldiers, civilians, children, women, men… Your dad is one of the greatest people I have ever met… And he made me promise something to him…” Lorkos attempted in his softest voice he could muster without breaking out in tears himself. However instead of soothing the pain he reignited the fire of anger.
Lovianne got up from Lorkos, shoving her crayons all over the floor and grabbing random toys and books and throwing them all over the room. Lorkos slowly rose to his own feet and watched the little catgirl wreck havoc to her own possessions. She only stopped when her hands and eyes reached a toy soldier. He was pulled against her chest and she uncontrollably cried, dragging herself to the bed and rolling into a little ball of fur.
The soldier did not really know what to do, so he just trotted slowly through the damage she had done. And as he reached her bed he sat down next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t push him away, all energy having left Lovianne’s little body as she just cried.
“I promised your dad… To take good care of you, Lovianne… I will be always there for you. Like your dad was there for me… And I won’t break that promise.” Lorkos said, rubbing gently up and down her arm.
“Y-y-yes you will… Like daddy… You will be gone… Everyone leaves me… Going to heaven…” The brown feline said between her sobs, though she turned around and pushed her head into Lorkos’ chest. He smiled weakly on the fact she did turn to him on her own, stroking over her head and back.
“This time it will be different…” Lorkos reinforced what he already said, pulling her in an embrace, letting his tears flow freely as well. Both without any energy left to fight, wept in one another’s arms. Both realized of how much of an important person they lost. They could say and think whatever they wanted, by the end of the day all they had were one another…
“I… I would like to try… Living with you… Lorkos…” She admitted, not even looking up, only knowing that her heart ached and that her dad’s old friend was here for her, holding her like Jack would have. Lorkos kissed her head and continued to hold the embrace.
~~~~~~~~~~
“And that’s why I am leaving the corps, sir.” Lorkos saluted as he handed over the discharge papers.
“The corps might lose another soldier, but a girl gains a new father. I respect your decision and I know how close you and Jack were, Lorkos. If there is ever anything we can do for you and your family… Let us know, we owe you and Jack that much for your service.” The Major said with a neutral face, simply taking the papers. He knew this day would come ever since he visited Lovianne.
“Thank you, sir!” Lorkos said, not breaking his soldier mentality as that is what he wanted to be remembered as. A proud soldier who served to protect his nation and it’s people.
And with that the soldier turned on his heel and marched out of the office. A seven year old cat ran up to him and hugged his leg. “Can we go home now… dad… I mean Lorkos?” Lovianne asked with a wide smile, getting her hair ruffled by the ex-soldier.
“Yes, yes we can. But first… Let’s stop for some ice cream, Lovi.” The new adoptive father smiled bright and picked the catgirl up to carry her on his shoulders as they made for the exit of the building.
~~~~~~~~~~
12 years later, just a few months after Lovianne’s 19th birthday she stood there at the outskirts of the ‘Snake’s Woods’ - a forest which is known for it’s mysterious encounters, serving as source of many local folktales. It always looked ominous, scary even - at night - especially on full moon nights like tonight. Lovianne had nothing with her but the clothes she wore. She took a deep breath, standing in front of the forest’s entrance, when it was just about to strike midnight.
So much time has passed ever since she learned of her father’s death and her encounter with Lorkos and more importantly how he became her new father. He was not just a replacement, she truly felt like that about him, he is a good man who genuinely loves her. “Am I really going to do this?” She asks herself out loud, looking up at the bright full moon, which cane in full view as a cloud before it just passed by. As if it was a sign from above she nods to herself and takes a step forwards into the forest.
“I’m doing it for him. I must… After all he has done for me.” And so Lovianne entered the forest, being absorbed by it’s mystical shroud. First her body would only be a silhouette, followed by fading away completely until she was not seen anymore, disappearing into the thick and luscious forest.

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Part1
Follow up

First part of a story i commission to  DragonAndWolf some month ago via their Patreon ( Original Post )
The artwork was done by ScreamQueen1991 ( Original Post )

Lorkos, Lovianne and Jack ©me