Let Go

Clocks Short Story
I might expand this, or I might make it no-spoilers and make Heartache the full explanation. For now, mild spoilers.

Chapter One
Jae held withered flowers in her paws. Kel noticed a broken clock on the ground.

"Jae..."

"Leave me alone," she said hunching forwards.

"Who did you see?"

"Stella."

Kel sighed. "Before she...?"

"Yes." Jae said, voice wavering. "She was kind. Once. Surely you remember, Kel?"

He smiled dryly. "Vaguely. As I recall, she was never at terms with me."

Jae let out a chuckle despite herself. "Yes, you two were always arguing."

Chapter Two
Kel worried. This time it was worse.

Jae still wasn't normal yet.

Any attempts to get her to come out of her room failed.

"Food!"

"Put it by my door, thanks in advance."

"Come take a walk!"

"Not feeling up to it."

The tiger sighed. He needed to take care of the poor wolf. "Jae, come out."

"No."

Chapter Three
"Can I come in?"

"Why?"

"I want to speak with you."

The door was pushed open. Jae's orange eyes shone with grief.

Kel sat down. "Jae, I thought you said you would--"

"I was so close, Kel. So close."

The tiger looked down.

"I saw red. And.. blue. Like your fur. It was an animal. Looked like you." Jae mumbled.

Kel mused over that information for a moment.

There was a long, heavy silence.

Chapter Four
A young deer bounded in. The newest recruit. His fur was a deep blue.

"I spotted somebody outside today!" He said.

"Oh," Kel muttered, frowning.

"It's almost like you don't want people here or something," the deer - Oceanis - said, gazing at Kel with a smirk.

The hyena, another new recruit, walked in. "Shut the snarky remarks, Oceanis."

"Come on, Rift, why can't we have an open house or something?" Oceanis said, skipping sideways to give the black hyena room to enter.

"Ha!"

Kel shook his head and walked outside. There was no sign of anybody around.

Chapter Five
"Jae?"

"What?"

"It's Kel."

"Come in."

"You realize it's been a week... Right? The guards are starting to worry about you."

"I.." Jae hesitated. "No. I'm sorry."

"Jae, it's all right to grieve, but sometimes.." Kel placed a paw on his old friend's shoulder. "You need to let go."