Vulnerable was something she was not, accustom to his sister's valiant borderline obstinate nature it felt quite foreign to be cradling her quivering form against him, feebly attempting to console her, the only sound to pierce the suffocating silence being the proof of her fragility; soft, barely audible sobs.
He couldn't tell her things would be alright. No such words would revive their fallen comrades, nothing would reverse the tragedy that had befallen them and such frustrated him, drove him to dig his finger nails into the palms of his hands, teeth tearing at his bottom lip.
Her own delicate fingers curled into the tattered remnants of his shirt, defeat etched into her countenance, furrowing her brow, causing her lip to tremble; hot tears threatening to slide down her cheeks.
Infuriated, his arms stiffened around her, a impenetrable, fortified wall. The utterance he offered her was an oath, one that he swore to keep.
"I'll avenge their deaths. I promise you that."
