Fade to dust ((WILLCAS I KNOW WE SAID THEY WERE A STRICTLY FLUFFY SHIP BUT I CANT HELP IT))
Âť Send me âFading to Dustâ for my muses reaction to watching yours die right in front of them.
âI promise Iâll take a shower as soon as I get home. Iâll even give Cenau a bath so she doesnât reek either.â A small laugh emitted from Caspian as he embraced Will there on the dock. As per usual, they said their goodbyes, and Will turned to head home while Caspian retrieved his bag and ushered Cenau up the boardwalk to the shipâs deck. The dog bounded up onto the ship and bolted to greet the other fishermen and Caspian was not far behind. Setting his bag down by the others, he started to turn back when a sudden gunshot rang out.
People yelled and rapid footsteps on squeaking planks all sounded at once. The fishermen all looked up and saw a small crowd already gathering at where the dock met the land. Cenau instantly became alert with her ears rigidly upright, and she took off down the boardwalk, running directly for the group without hesitation.
Caspian ran after her and became distraught when he saw her wriggling through the crowd. A few people were starting to peel off as orders were being given, some for an ambulance and others for medical equipment, and a hand suddenly landed on Caspianâs shoulder to snatch his attention.
âCas, you gotta get up there. Itâs Will.â
Instantly his heart sank to his stomach. Will? No, it canât be himâHe lurched forward and shouldered around the onlookers, begging and pleading his way through in a frantic manner until he made it.
Will was lying on his back with a single bullet wound to the chest. Blood already had soaked his shirt to near black. Cenau was nudging the manâs hand and whimpering, licking at his fingers.
Tears started running down Caspianâs face and his knees buckled, collapsing him onto the dock in a shroud in denial. âWillâŚ? No, n-no, Willââ He pulled himself over the last few feet to the silver-haired man, searching his face for any sign of life in a panic. He bent over and cupped Willâs face in his hands, thumbs rubbing and smearing small droplets of blood across the cheeks. âCan you hear me? Câmon, Will, stay with me. Open your eyes, please!â
Nearby, Cenau whimpered still. The wailing of sirens sounded from the distance and steadily grew louder. Another hand lightly landed on Caspianâs shoulder and soft but stern words followed.
âThe medics are going to be here shortly. Let them do what they need to do.â
But the fisherman shook his head and started to refuse, only to be grabbed and hauled back by two men. âNo! Let go of me! Will!â He struggled furiously and threw his weight around in a futile manner, trying in any way to get back to Will even as the medics swarmed his motionless body. After checking the manâs vitals, their hurried efforts slowed down significantly.
Cenau backed away from the group and tucked her tail, lowering her head.Â