Embarrassing Memories Can Still Be Good
AO3 Link
A brief snippet around the comment Travis made about Teor getting stuck in a tree in Episode 7
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Everyone has those moments that stick with you forever; good, bad, or otherwise. Sometimes it’s a loss in the family, others it’s a celebration with friends. For Teor it was the tree.
That stupid tree from when he and Syd were cubs.
Teor was a soldier, compartmentalizing things came with the territory. It was a skill that could decide a soldier’s fate at any given moment, but that tree.
The memory would come out of nowhere much like a hidden enemy, normally right before he fell asleep. A nudge in the forefront of his brain that made him want to fold into himself out of sheer embarrassment.
Cyd had been bragging about how sharp his claws had gotten, claiming that he could dig into materials better than the elder sibling. A much younger Teor took it as a challenge that needed an outcome, and an outcome it would have. With a sweeping gesture towards one of the thicker trees around the siblings a statement was made: whoever would make it to the split of the trunk would have the superior claws.
Was it childish? Yes.
Would it solve the debate? Not really.
Were the siblings, not yet molded by war, under the belief that it would solve everything? Absolutely.
The two took their positions after an agreement that tossing a rock into the air and beginning the race when it hit the ground was the only fair way to begin with only two people, and began their journey towards the goal.
Cyd had the agility to make it up faster but Teor’s strength made up for his bulkier build, allowing the paler coated sibling to almost launch himself upwards from branch to branch till he made it to the split. Only beating his brother by a tail-length.
The duo sat in that tree for a while, making comments and jokes at each other’s expense in good fun, before deciding that it was time for them to go home.
Only to realize that neither of them truly knew how to do that.
Climbing up something was easy, the curve of their claws arching in a way that allowed them to all but crawl up the surface they chose, but down was another issue. Normally the pair would simply jump to the ground, but the siblings didn’t take the time to survey the ground around the chosen tree. If they had they would have noticed the raised roots surrounding the trunk where landing would be available with ease. If they jumped now the risk of a damaged ankle was far higher than either was comfortable with.
With a moment of silence and a glance towards each other they started calling for help. Gaining the attention of a passing traveler that went to find someone to assist. After a bit of time the traveler returned with two of the fire brigade and a ladder.
With ears flattened in embarrassment the boys climbed down the ladder, thanked the three adults, and went back home with great haste; swearing that they would never speak of it to their parents or friends.
That had been years ago. Before Thjazi Fang and Thimble in a time that almost felt like a dream itself at times, but every so often he thought of that day. It was embarrassing, yes, but he cherished it for what it was; a happy memory of his childhood playing with his little brother. A little brother who resided somewhere as a prisoner that he would free and see again for the first time in a while.
Even if that meant climbing a tree again.