Darkness.
It engulfed his being. He was not aware nor conscious to understand it. It was all darkness, darkness for some time, and he remained that way. Suspended in inanimation, not even a speck in the cosmos.
But then, suddenly, there was light.
It streamed down through the canopy, bright beams of light that made his yellow eyes narrow. He was covered in dirt, petalmane a crumpled mess from supposedly being on the ground for some time. Birds, however sparse from the autumn cold, chirped overhead, and he immediately felt a cool breeze wash over him. Despite this, he felt warm, as if he had been wrapped in a blanket, and he rose with a strength like he had just taken a very long, very pleasant nap.
Laying next to him was Aguipua, a cactus cat whose body was made entirely of cacti. He looked healthy and revitalized, unlike the state he had been when... “What happened to Dorath? Where did that barkless softhide go?” he demanded, his voice loud and angry. Solrentorro felt for the bleeding wounds along his flank and legs, and found that they were completely healed. How long had he been out?
"Well..." Aguipua began, immediately rising to his paws to face his King, "You might not believe me, but um... You died. He won."
“WHAAAAAT?” his voice boomed through the jungle, and a flock of birds overhead took flight in alarm. Aguipua was right. He didn't believe him.
And yet, Solrentorro could remember so clearly, his life force ebbing away from him, his throat slashed open, his latex and strength pouring out of him...
It didn't stop his anger from boiling over. In a fit of rage, the Dandylion struck out at the nearest sappling with claws outstretched. The blow didn't so much as shatter the tree as topple it over, and in anger at having not obliterated the tree like he intended, he leaped on it with feline fury, and toppled it over with tooth and claw, splinting the sappling into bits on the floor.
Aguipua kept his distance. He knew not to disturb the King when he was mad like this.
Though the rage still boiled in his belly, he composed himself enough to turn slowly to face Aguipua and say, “Tell me... If I'm dead... Where are we now... And how are you here?” every word was measured, slow. Aguipua cleared his throat, and smoothed out one of the petals of the pink cactus flower atop his head nervously. Carefully, he said, "After you died, he said he didn't need my service, and ah, I guess the Gods decided we should have a second chance." Aguipua had no idea what was happening, or why the Gods decided to take pity on them, if they did. For all he knew, this could actually just be the afterlife, and he'd be in a world of trouble if that were the truth after he had just suggested reincarnation.
After hearing his explanation, Solrentorro marched off without a word, a flicker of his tail beckoning Aguipua to follow, which he did without hesitation. "Where are we going, Your Highness?"
Without looking back, the plant beast announced, “I'm going to murder Golve Dorath like he murdered me.”