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The time they almost lost it completely.
(This got long af oops. I accidentally skipped over the word āalmostā in the prompt so Reyson does go kinda nuts in this lmao my poor bird boi. I had a lot of fun with this prompt though! Thanks for the ask man. I was a tad tipsy when I wrote this but hopefully itās still alright.)
The heat of the fire still burned freshly on his skin, as though he was still trapped in the remnants of his former home. The Laguz man barely had any time to process what was even happening at the time. Why was Serenes Forest on fire? What happened? What caused it? Reyson only vaguely remembered his father and Tibarn pulling him out from a fallen tree and the mad escape they made with their very lives. He knew Rafiel and Lillia had made it. He was absolutely certain heād seen them make it out. His youngest sister howeverā¦
The Heron felt a boiling in his blood as he watched the forest slowly be turned to ash from a nearby cliff. The only home heād ever knownā¦ being destroyed right in front of him. Were there any other survivors or was it just him and his family? The thought burned at Reyson sharper than any of the flames had. Was he watching his entire race being slaughtered right now? He felt his hand clench in fists of rage, an emotion foreign to all Herons. They were going to pay. Whoever did this was going to pay.
In the Laguzās fit of rage, he remembered a detail he had almost forgotten in his newfound anger. This sudden yearning for revenge had almost misplaced a far, far more present and concerning thought.
Reyson had not seen Leanne on his way out. She was still in there. In those hellish flames.
His feet had started moving before he even realized it. The Heron was about to fly back into the burning forest despite the heavy damage to his left wing when a strong hand pulled him back to the ground. Reyson turned quickly to challenge whoever dared to interfere. It was Tibarn. A rare concerned look was spread on the Hawkās features.
āUnhand me, Tibarn.ā Reyson spat in anger, attempting to dislodge the Hawkās hand from his shoulder though his strength proved no match to his fellow Laguzās.
Tibarn shook his head, still holding tightly to the Heronās shoulder(though not enough to cause harm). āI will not. I donāt know whatās possessed you to want to go back into that forest, Reyson, but it would be suicide. Iām not letting you throw your life away.ā Came the Hawk Laguzās answer. They had barely made it out the first time. No way was he going to risk it a second.
Still struggling against the Hawkās grip, Reyson unveiled his reasoning for such an insane action. āLeanne is still in the forest. I have to rescue her, Tibarn. I refuse to let her die in there alone. Leanneās life is worth far more than mine. Sheās my sister, Iām not leaving her there so unhand me!ā The Heron had meant to express an aura of confidence in his action but it came out sounding like a desperate plea.
Tibarn sighed. So thatās what this was about. He understood Reysonās plea completely. Hell if that was him, he sure as hell would be going back in there too. But there was no way Leanne was alive as much as the Hawk hated to admit it. It had almost killed Tibarn just to get Lorazieh and Reyson out alive. He just couldnāt see any way how the young female Laguz couldāve escaped.
Reyson meant well but it would be a suicide mission for absolutely nothing as far as the Hawk was concerned. Tibarn knew damn well how stubborn Reyson was despite being a Heron. He wasnāt going to give in just because Tibarn said no. The Hawk Laguz didnāt like where this was going but it had to be done. No matter how painful it was.
āSheās dead, Reyson. Leanne is dead.ā
There was a small twinge in Tibarnās heart at the look on his fellow Laguzās face. It was for his own good though. Rather face the truth now than later.
āHow dare you suggest that!ā
The sound of cracking bones suddenly rung out louder than the distant burning of the fire. In all honesty it had taken Tibarn completely by surprise. He hadnāt even realized Reyson had punched him until he saw the Heronās hand retract and the hiss of pain from his broken bones. The Hawk was quite literally fine from the attack. It had done far more damage to Reyson then him.
āIā¦ā Tibarn paused for a moment choosing not to acknowledge Reysonās attack on him. Was he really going to say this though? Yes. He had to. Reyson wasnāt going to kill himself for nothing if he didnāt. āI saw her body as we escaped, Reyson. Sheās gone.ā
āYouāre lying!ā Was the only response Reyson could conjure up as he watched Tibarn shake his head sadly.
It couldnāt be. It just couldnāt. His sister couldnāt be dead. He tried searching Tibarnās heart for any sign of dishonesty but the Heronās panicked state refused to allow him. His little sisterā¦ Leanneā¦ Burned to ash in what was once their sanctuaryā¦
It was as though Reysonās whole world was slowly collapsing in on itself. They had made it out, why not Leanne?! He should have done more. He shouldnāt have left without her. It was his faultā¦ Wasnāt it? They would still all be together if only he hadnāt been so cowardly.
Hot tears formed in the Heron Princeās eyes. The pain of his broken bones in his again clenched fist was dull compared to what his heart felt now. He turned back to the dying embers of Serenes Forest with a distant look in his eyes.
āI will avenge her, Tibarn. I will find who did this.ā Reyson spoke solemnly. āThere will be hell to pay.ā
The Hawkās tight grip on his shoulder only turned into one of comfort.
