As the two Fighters left her office, Ryder sighed and leaned back in her chair, her eyes shut as she pointed her head to the ceiling. "Father, I've never asked for much in my life, but please just get me through tomorrow..." It had been hard for her since her father's passing, having to take care of his mansion herself. And not only that, she also had to part ways with her best fighter.. Damien.<br/><br/>Her eyes opened again, and this time they weren't harsh or intimidating. Her irises held pools of sadness and regret. As if the falcon could sense her change of mood, it cooed softly and flew down from it's perch on the window sill, landing gently by a picture frame.<br/><br/>Ryder sat back up in her chair, catching eyes with the bird and then to the picture it sat next to. A man stood fiercely in the frame, only wearing his breeches. His chest was torn and bruised, his eyes on fire with rage. He held his claws out menacingly, his sharp and deadly teeth bared. Even in his human form, Damien was terrifying. Even Ryder could admit that.<br/><br/>He was a werefox, pretty obvious at first sight from his rusty red hair. Her first Fighter. She had found him herself, or more rather he had found her. Actually older than she, he agreed to be hers, and to fight for her. Ryder didn't even have to ask him, or order him. Once he started training under her hand, a friendship bloomed. Everyone knew he was her favorite. He was even more than that... She thought.<br/><br/>It pained her that she was the one who had to kill him in the end. Why had he tried to escape? He had a bed, food, all he could ever ask for.. But he stole the keys and then...<br/><br/>Ryder shook her head, turning the picture away for a moment. Even now she couldn't fathom why he tried to leave her. And take everyone else with him. But her father always told her... If a Fighter tried to escape. You kill them. No punishment was worse. So that's what she had to do.. Kill the one that meant the most to her.<br/><br/>She sighed and started to stride out of the office, trying to leave the thought behind. It had been a month, and still the emotional scars burned like a fresh wound. Her world was crumbling down around her, and sleep was the only remedy. As temporary as it was.<br/><br/>She opened the door and closer it behind her softly, the falcon just squeezing through before the door would have closed on it's wings. She walked down the lone corridor by herself, heading to her room, lost in her thoughts.