• Logout
  • Beqanna

    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura


    Don't Light My Fire -[Brennen]
    #1
    Everything with the twins was a competition, it was amazing that they did not have burn marks all about there bodies. They were quickly nearing a year old, growing taller every day, perhaps dangerous? Drax grew more aggressive with every passing day, and Dario more and more submissive, it was easier to let Drax feel like he won.

    The twins of course were out in the field, doing none other than fighting. The two were running in the open field, still dumbfounded as how Dario always ran faster than Drax. He might have been born first, but Drax was superior in every way. He had wings, he was taller, he was built better, how was it Dario was always faster! He spit out a flame of fire, furious with his twin.

    Dario kept the secret to himself, he was able to adjust his bones, a little talent he found on his own. He always made them paper thing when they raced, his secret to winning. Of course his brother could not handle losing, he always used his wings to gain ground. He saw the red and orange flames out of the corner of his eyes Hey! watch it! He snorted as he avoided the flame, he turned and shot one of his own at his brother. It seemed that fighting was what they were best at, were most siblings like this?

    @[Brennen] I figured they could have a new thread with papa :p
    Reply
    #2
    hold me in this wild, wild world
    'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
    It’s easy to keep track of the twins at this stage in their lives; they live on an Island, after all, accessible only at the two daily points of low tide. Even Drax, who will one day be able to come and go as he pleases, is currently constricted to that same schedule since his wings are much too small to carry him such a distance yet. Because they are pretty much stuck here, he has pretty much let them run free. It’s good for children to have a sense of independence, while still being quite safe and sound. He knows that soon this won’t be the case; soon they will be old enough to be going places alone – but not for now.

    So they are easy to find in the meadow, and he approaches on foot, ears tuned in to the sound of their voices ahead of him, and he is unsurprised to hear them racing and yelling to one another which brings him to laugh just a bit, because a little competition never hurt anyone and especially siblings, who are often each other’s fiercest adversaries even as they are also their strongest allies. He fully expects his youngest sons to grow to support each other as so many of his older children have.

    Children, however, have a way of surprising you. Their voices rise suddenly, less brotherly competition and more real offense and he speeds up to break through the undergrowth and put eyes on the boys. He’s just in time to see both spurts of fire, and he gives a quiet but firm call intended to halt them in their tracks before things get too heated, and in the meantime long strides allow him to catch up to them, even if they didn’t stop. “It’s good to practice your talents, boys, but you need to be more careful of each other and any bystanders.”

    The slight rebuke is delivered in gentle tones to cushion the landing of the words, and he seeks to further soften it by reaching to ruffle Dario’s mane and straighten some of Drax’s maturing feathers. “What are you up to today?”
    hold me in this wild, wild world
    and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
    BRENNEN
    Reply
    #3
    Drax glares at Dario, he always complained, he could never just accept his fate. Drax was the stronger twin, it was what it was. Of course Darios loud mouth drew an audience, and it was there father of all horses. There father calls out to them, sumnmoning them to stop spitting flames at one another. Rat! Drax hisses at Dario as he trots over to his father. Darios ears lower to his dome, and he slowly follows Drax, finding a spot closer to his father than Drax.

    There father had a way with words, even when he scolded them it was gentle, he tried to really make them understand rather than hide there talents from him. Yes father they both said in harmony, not the first time they were corrected, and ironically the twins both agreed on the same response every time.

    He ruffles Darios mane which makes him laugh, and he grooms Draxs feathers, of course he did not appreciate it. He flaps his wings as if to beg his father to leave him alone. What are you up to he asks them both. Just exploring the island he quickly shoots a glance to Dario who nervously looks back to Brennen. Yes, just exploring The twins 'accidentally' forgot to mention they were here to test out there fire breathing, but no harm done, no fires started!

    @[Brennen]
    Reply
    #4
    hold me in this wild, wild world
    'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
    To his relief, the boys are willing to heed his call to a stalemate, and his heart lifts as it always does when they come towards him. Honey-brown eyes scour every inch of both boys, until he is satisfied that neither one is injured in any way. Briefly, he raises that gaze to investigate the clearing around them and a lack of obvious scorch marks leaves him feeling reasonably sure that they hadn’t been going totally overboard before he arrived. Despite knowing that Drax will object, he takes the time to touch each of them, showing them physical affection that he is quite sure both boys will spurn as they get older; it’s a parent’s prerogative to get the most out of their children’s childhoods before they start to think they’re too grown-up for such things.

    A little half-smile finds it’s way onto his face when Drax immediately ruffles his feathers back up – he knows from vast experience that it’s not comfortable to have feathers out of place, but if being contrary is more important to the bay colt, who is Brennen to object? At least Dario is still young enough to shelter closer to his father, and he supposes if he wants to be cuddled he’ll just go find Galilee and little Khaeli – his youngest daughter is clingier than the octopi who call the surrounding ocean their home. He doesn’t miss the exchanged glances that point out the children are not being entirely forthcoming about their day’s activities, and not for the first time since the boys arrived, Brennen is thankful for the fact that their humid climate and sandy soil prevents fire from spreading, even when their aim is particularly bad. He doesn’t have to worry about the damage they’ll do to the island, just what they might do to each other.

    Still… “Found anything interesting?” he asks innocently, as if he completely believes their story about adventuring and doesn’t have a pretty good guess that it might just be code for ‘getting far enough away from dad and all of our older relatives to set each other on fire’. As he attentively listens to whatever response they come up with, he sends silent thanks to whatever gods or fae that watch over him for that, too – the sheer number of his children and grand-children who currently reside on Ischia make raising children while organizing a mutiny and running a Kingdom bearable. It’s a challenge for the colts to ever be out of sight of an older family member who knows to keep at least half an eye on their mischief.

    When they’ve finished talking, Brennen offers whatever response is appropriate and then injects a note of solemnity in his voice to get their full attention. “I have something to tell you both,” he starts, making sure they are listening before he continues. “This morning, I became King of Ischia. That makes the two of you royalty, but it’s not all fun and games. It means anything you do, good or bad, will reflect on Ischia and everyone who lives here, not just on your mother and I. It also means that you’ll be more important in the public eye than you were, and so will all your siblings and your cousins.” Everyone knows how strongly Brennen feels about his family; they will be the easiest way to strike at him or his Kingdom. “You’ll have to be very careful; the island should stay very safe with all of the new Brothers to guard it, but I don’t want either of you to approach any stranger alone unless the parrots know them as friends, and under no circumstances are you to leave Ischia without an adult escort.

    As you get older and stronger, we’ll renegotiate your boundaries. Okay?”
    He takes the time to meet each boy’s gaze fully, waiting for their agreement.
    hold me in this wild, wild world
    and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
    BRENNEN
    Reply
    #5
    There father saw right through the twins, but he played along. Found anything interesting? He asks and for a moment Dario was confused at what he meant but than remembered Draxs cover-up. Maybe a blue parrot? Nothing exciting. Drax rolls his eyes at Dario, what a lame response he thinks to himself. What Dario said, nothing exciting He concurs, shooting a glare at his bay brother. Dario catches his brothers gaze and presses closer to his father. He quickly looks away and up to his father We did find another filly! She is a bit older....Maiven was her name! He shares his story with excitement, it was hard to come across a foal that they did not share blood with. She was pretty! He spews without thinking. Drax snorted and rolled his eyes, He just can't keep anything to himself He thinks to himself.

    The discussion came to an end and when they thought he would take his departure he grew serious and noted he had to share something with them. Both twins gazed up at him, there attention was fully on him. I became King of Ischia he speaks, the words ring through there ears. Brennen moves on to discuss that they are now royal blood, and they had to be on there best behaviors in the public eye. For Dario that would be no problem....for Drax....It could prove to be more of a challenge. Drax ruffled his feathers back into place and raised his head like a king would he prances around his father and Dario Is this how I should act in public? He mocks.

    Darios eyes grow wide, he wanted to run and his gaze quickly shot to his father, he had to protect his brother. Think of something to say stupid! he yells at himself before quickly running over to Drax and pushing into him. We will be on our best behavior A giant fake smile grew on his maw hoping his father would dismiss Drax's behavior.

    Brennen moves on to note that the twins are not to talk to strangers, and they are absolutely not allowed to leave the Island without an escort. Awhh dad!!! one whines No fair!! the other cries out, both boys detest there new rules. Given the title of royal blood, and then sentenced to a life on the island. He thinks we can't handle ourselves Drax whispers in Darios ear, he must forget they have firebreathing. No one can stand up to our flames Drax announces he puffed his chest out attempting to look larger than he was. Dario gives a nod Yea.....he does have a point he thinks to himself. Plus! There is two of us, together we can take down anyone the bay brother joins in the attestment.

    @[Brennen]
    Reply
    #6
    hold me in this wild, wild world
    'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
    Brennen listens to them try and come up with interesting things they had seen, a hint of a little smile on his face. Dario does have something exciting to report, at least in the eyes of a young man, and eagerly spills his story of a pretty filly even as he presses closer to his sire. Brennen doesn’t have the heart to tell him the girl probably left with Durotan. Ah, well, he’ll be a year old soon enough and there are lots of girls out there to meet still. And if he’s really intrigued by this Maiven, he can go find her when he’s old enough to go places on his own.

    He’s not entirely thrilled with Drax’s display, and gives the colt a paternal look that communicates exactly that; but Dario interrupts his train of thought and when they collide, Brennen is reminded that boys will be boys, and these particular boys are only only in the beginning of their third season; nobody expects them to have the poise of an adult, least of all him. So he lets it pss without further comment, expecting them to push back on the other restrictions and they do, and this time he’s more concerned about the attitude because this could mean a matter of life or death for them - they think they are untouchable because they have a special power, but they have no inkling of the types of powers that belong to others who share Beqanna with them.

    In an instant, the work of a mere thought, he has them surrounded by a cage of solid ice, more than a foot thick and stretching well above their heads, too narrow for Drax to even spread his wings in an attempt to get airborne and go over. It would melt when met by fire, of course, but someone of Brennen’s age and amount of practice could easily add ice as fast as the boys could melt it, and his stamina would far outlast theirs. He holds it there a long couple of breaths, just long enough to make his point, before dismantling it back into the humid air as quickly as he had summoned it. They will be very powerful men, but right now they are just boys - his sons, and he won’t have them harmed by their own overconfidence.

    “You’re not ready to take on the worst the world has to offer - yet.” He keeps his words firm, unyielding; he doesn’t have to be harsh. In a few more months perhaps they will begin to challenge him over such things (or Drax will, anyway, he doesn’t see the same need for rebellion in Dario) but for now he’s confident he can get their compliance, and spend the time honing their skills so that they will be ready for whatever the world throws at them. “The more you practice - carefully! - the sooner you will be ready.” Please, whatever beings watch over them, don’t let them start any major fires on the island.

    “In the meantime, if you really want to go someplace, I’m sure someone will take you,” he tries to sound reassuring; it’s not like they don’t have more than a handful of family members bouncing around, not to mention all the new Brothers - and despite their isolationist tendencies, he’s met very few Brothers over the years without a soft spot for children. “You just have to ask.”
    hold me in this wild, wild world
    and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
    BRENNEN
    Reply




    Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)