*author's note: there was a mistake in a previous post with regard to ages. Boomer is 17, Sweetheart is 16. Alder, Arjuna and Palm are 18.*

When Palm entered town, he immediately began his task. He needed to figure out what had happened and the circumstances that led to this catastrophe. To do that, he needed to head to the watchtower. He hurried over to the lookout and ascended the stairs leading to the viewing platform. There, he found the messenger that had been dispatched from the palace to sound the alarm and the person who had failed to do his job.

"He's just a boy," Palm thought, upon looking at the tower watchman, "even younger than I am."

Indeed, the grey striped tabby youth was younger than the princes by two years. The boy huddled in a corner like a baby in the womb, with a look of abject horror and guilt etched upon his face, as he gripped his head between his furiously shaking hands. His damp, blue eyes were wide as he stared at the wooden planks beneath him.

Palm studied the young watchman for a moment, his keen mind processing various things, all at once. He cleared the distance between himself and his junior and knelt before him. He continued to study him, then turned to the palace messenger.

"Has he spoken to you?" he asked.

"No, My Prince." the man answered.

"Did you wake him, or was he like this when you arrived?"

"Ah, no, he was sleeping." he answered, surprised at the question. "How...how did you know he had sleeping?"

"It's written on his face." he answered, nonchalantly. "It is not at all surprising, however, seeing as how he is inexplicably exhausted."

---

✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧