((OOC: The brothers have been led to the aetherial sea by Selune. For context, experience of The Aitiascope will help.))
The two pairs of mirrored eyes watched as Selune’s light brought the glimmering motes toward it like a flame attracted moths. As her words continued, the aetheric density seemed to partly wash her voice around them like gentle waves.
Here, in this mystic sea, where corruption would be cleansed, where, she seemed to imply, reconciliation and resolution could be found.
As the first of the glimmers took shape, both brothers blinked. An inexplicable familiarity surrounded them, and they could not help but draw closer. Legs formed, then the rest of her…
I’ason’s voice breathed out before any part of her became clear. But she didn’t need to fully form. She was faded - perhaps no more than a collection of memories - and voiceless. But it was enough. The younger of the brothers was swift to go to her.
“Mamma, it’s you!” I’ason’s voice was disbelieving, but excited. Joyful. His face was alight even as his eyes began to well with tears. When was the last time he had seen her? The real her, as she truly was? After they had mourned for and buried what I’kaya had brought back of I’mharyus, I’ason’s final memory of his dam was her rage, grief, and a tearful farewell as she promised her kits and tribe justice. A promise that was never kept - and one he had never asked for her to make.
He looked upon her now, was present with her, and she him. Their exchange was silent - a kit who had struggled, now grown, gazing upon his dam with fondness. Love. Every now and then, I’ason’s gaze would flick to Selune - his Bonded and mate, mother to their future. And though I’ghrane’s eyes were impossible to see, words were unnecessary; they would know. In their hearts, she would be heard, felt, and thought of.
I’kaya watched as their reunion played out. He stepped closer when he felt I’ghrane bid him join them, slowly blinked as she embraced him like she had when they first let her fly to join their kin among the stars out with the Brotherhood of Ash. A long nonce of stunned rigidity caught him, even as a low purr vibrated in his throat as their dam greeted them, and it wasn’t until the other blinking motes seemed to steadily take form that he sucked in his breath to look around. To comprehend what else could happen. Whom else he might meet…
Just like the first, the orb elongated with legs, arms, head. Two of them, together, formed - faded and vague, but unmistakable. I’kaya knew them before he could see them.
Water, wind, earth. The patterns of his tattoos touched him, unseen, but there - gentle, capricious, embracing. Memory of the nunh’s braids brushing over his head and cheeks as he was held in loving arms, and a soothing voice that fortified the spirits of the youth that had to bear witness day after day to the violent normalcy of their lives.
Fire, lightning, steel. The other set. The aether was impossible not to know - electric, passionate, forceful. It was his fire that blazed the path for him to follow, his heart that led the fiercest spear that would plunge in from behind I’kaya’s shields and break the onslaughts meant to raze their tribe to the ground.
”We can’t fight forever, brother. Let us ask Baba to parley with our foes and seek passage to somewhere safer, as you both proposed to the Council..”
“Truly? There are those among our fanatical Amalj’aan foes that would hear us, if we but surrender the Homesands to them? Aye.. if there is a way for us to save those we can and find a way to peace..”
“!? No, Baba–! Get ba–!!”
Fire. Inferno. Burns. Death. Betrayal. Blood.
In hopeful naivite, the rising star of the Ee that day brought their nunh to his death. Led on by beloved brother whose Tempered nature did not reveal itself until too late, I’kaya’s hand then did not hesitate to pierce his blade into I’rhaksha’s heart. The Amalj’aa that murdered I’mharyus got away, and the screaming Ee youth was left to gather the burnt corpse to bring back to his people.
Only one time did he ever look back to speak of that day.
The quiet Sagoliian’s eyes widened as he knew who stood before him now. In the span of a nonce, time seemed to dilate. His gut became a singularity of chaos, and it felt as if his very humors split apart and unraveled. His insides became a storm of electricity and bile, and acrid bitterness rose as his knees buckled. His eyes became hot, then wet.
“..Baba..” was all he managed to say before his knees gave way and the bile erupted. The explosive chaos from years of unspoken guilt lurched his torso forward and he retched. On his knees before the ghosts of I’mharyus and I’rhaksha, I’kaya gasped, then heaved - and ultimately failed to hold in heartbroken sobs, then trails of vomit.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…
As the appearance of the two new spirits served to ignite long-neglected rot within I’kaya, I’ason watched his brother crumble in alarm. The comforting warmth of his dam’s present aether seemed to do little to shelter him from what he saw. Confusion swirling in his eyes, he raised his gaze to the new arrivals.
A conflicting mix of his own emotions welled. His elder half-brother had always been severe with him - but he knew what he had meant to I’kaya. He pulled in his lower lip, worrying at it as he watched his sire reach out to touch an intangible hand over I’kaya’s head - a gesture of gentle comfort as I’rhaksha, in all of his fearsome and proud, elegant power, bent down to slide tender hand over the jaw of the wretchedly sobbing I’kaya. I’ason felt his eyes sting as he bore witness to this, as his indomitable brother seemed to absolutely shatter at the gesture from Rhaksha. A violent shudder overtook Kaya as that hand swept under his jaw, and he leaned into it - a gesture of such love and vulnerability, it hurt to see.
Indeed, it hurt to see his ever-stalwart brother on his knees, shaking and sobbing with bile stains trailing from the corners of his lips as he greeted his beloved spearbrother. I’ason blinked back his own tears as I’kaya held no bars to what he expressed now, as he unknowingly reminded I’ason of the sheer depths he habitually kept closed off. He had loved Rhaksha. Truly and absolutely. And if this exchange revealed aught, it told I’ason that there was much more to the story of Rhaksha’s loss than I’kaya had ever shared with him.
More and more, it seemed the grief of the elder living Ee drew more ghosts to form from the dancing lights. Figures flickered into view, young and old - all silent, but hardly distant. I’ghrane remained by her youngest and his mate, her memory strong, embracing, and knowing her elder son needed his space to draw out the rot he had kept in him - how his very soul screamed in apology, sought forgiveness.
It was those two who stood before I’kaya now that could give that to him.
“[Rhaksha…]” The voice came out strangled, the Sagoliian barely a decibel over a whisper. “[My brother.. My flame..]”
Another of I’rhaksha’s hands reached out to join I’mharyus’ on the crouched warrior’s head. Quieted him. Calmed him. No platitudes of apologies needed be offered - perhaps apologies were offered in turn. Love. Hope.
I’mharyus allowed his hand to slowly stroke down the length of I’kaya’s plaits. A smile could be felt as he let his wounded son know he could start healing from this guilt. His other hand seemed to rest momentarily on I’rhaksha’s shoulder - glad for his kits to have this reunion - before he drifted closer to where I’ghrane stood with their younger kit and his Bonded. A flood of gratitude warmed the aether around Selune as dam and sire both not only offered their kits peace, but could now drift freely through the sea with the knowledge that, one day, I’kaya and I’ason could forge ahead.
I’ason inhaled deeply before letting his breath out, blinking rapidly, as he saw I’kaya fall into silence and stillness with I’rhaksha crouched with him, tenderly ‘touching’ his forehead to his. He nearly started when I’rhaksha then turned to face him, tail lashing out of reactionary anxiety before eventually calming.
There was no biting feeling of criticism this time. No insult nor severity. No spear butt jabbing at him to force him to take his lessons seriously. None. Instead, there was acknowledgment. Apology. Regret.
Take care of him, little brother…
The future was theirs. I’ason could teach I’kaya how to build his own, or show him the way, as he had done for himself. Nodding, as I’rhaksha withdrew, I’ason moved to replace his tenderness with his own.
“Kaya..” he murmured softly. Predictably, his elder brother provided no response, so he moved in to fold him in his arms. “[Come along, you stupid sandblob–]”
“[I never told you..]” Kaya suddenly said. “[Never told anyone..]”
I’ason blinked. His brows furrowed, but then he settled in. When Kaya had a story to tell - he always listened.
