Grief

ㅤ The animals fled the forest in panic, condemning the frenzied nue to starvation. Or worse, attracting the attention of humans. In desperation, the nue began attacking livestock during an already difficult year of poor harvests. 'This is bad,' Arietta worried. 'People won't understand. People will kill.' Once, as a very young child, Arietta, who had little understanding of the concept of "territory", wandered into nue's territory. But instead of killing child, the nue, like the ligers, took Arietta in like a true mother, allowing the ligers to approach her and take the child. The nue became like an aunt to her… That's why her concern for her was so intense. When things got really bad, Arietta decided to get some food for the nue. Remembering the nue's kindness, the ligers were willing to help. 'I won't be able to feed her constantly until spring,' Arietta said, barely suppressing her fear. 'Van won't let me stay here that long…' But it didn't take long. After his first hunt, the liger dropped the hefty carcass of his prey and sat down, allowing Arietta to descend. She approached the nue on wobbly legs, its entire appearance oozing determination and menace. And no matter how imposing it was, there was no life left in the nue. And worst of all… 'They've been dead for a long time,' Arietta looked at what remained of the cubs. Humans weren't to blame for their deaths, she understood that. Just as it was natural for humans to come for the nue's souls. Her heart was breaking; she wanted to howl louder than the wolves, to lash out and lash out harder than a wounded and cornered liger. But all she could do was fall to her knees and cry… First the liger queen and her cubs, now the nue… Ion… Loss after loss. 'Why…? Why couldn't you come to terms with it…? Why couldn't you accept it…?' Arietta didn't understand that she, too, couldn't accept everything. For example, that there was no longer a place for her with Ion. That he was no longer her Ion… 'Why…?' ㅤ