"An Honourable Death" by Adam Stevens

Amora stared at the face before her. A kindly leonine visage stared back. She worked desperately to repair Amora’s wounds, but the pantheress gripped her arm, and with the last of her strength shook her head.

Nodding in sympathy, Liana stood back and watched as the life drained from the feline’s body. A tear trickled down her face staining her golden fur a dark brown.

She looked at the body on the floor, her black fur matted with congealed blood. Liana leant down, and gently closed Amora’s eyes.

Looking round, Liana surveyed the carnage that the girl had reaped. Men lay dead in a circle around her, bodies covering the floor as she had fought to protect the crying cubs.

Amora’s paw still clutched a lock of fur from her sister who lay dead beside her.

‘She saved the children?’ a figure asked from over Liana’s shoulder.

‘All except her sister.’

‘She’s with her now.’

‘If it wasn’t for her, the cubs would have been taken as slaves. Or worse.’

‘Her deeds will be remembered. Many would have given up in despair.’

Liana turned towards her companion and embraced him.

‘It was an honourable death. She saved many lives today.’ Liana nodded, and held her partner closer so that he didn’t have to see the pain in her eyes.

In the centre of the village now stands a stone statue. A feline standing over a small cub, the phoenix covering them with it’s wings.

An inscription on it’s base reads: ‘She died that we might live. May your soul rest in peace for eternity in the knowledge that we are forever indebted to your sacrifice.’