[SRP] Different. (Dione x Tethys)

[Epine de Rose]

It hadn't been long since he had recovered from the last attack... His wounds had just healed up and fresh fur had begun to cover his scars. Yet the string of bad luck had chosen to follow him tirelessly. They had deliberately chosen not to bring anyone new, anyone not completely versed in their methods. it had been a cautious expedition to a 'safe' region to ensure that they were all ready to strike out properly again. For all intents and purposes it should have worked, and yet, here he was, limping home again.

However this time his band came back in a state of grief and fury.

They had lost one of the most valuable members of their crew; their Captain had been massacred. Identified as the most 'dangerous', he had been swarmed before any of them could come to is assistance and in no time at all he was dead. It had been an absolute frenzy, and one they had almost won, in a manner of speaking they had won but it had come at significant cost...

In away the fallen Captain had sacrificed himself to ensure the safety of his men, he had made himself the target with his clear and concise orders. His strategies had worked and the beasts had failed to kill them the first time, let alone the second. The beasts' casualties had been higher and it had all been because of their captain and the strength of his men.

Unfortunately, this did not mean that Tethys was unaware of who and what they were. The fact that they had shown up again was no longer a coincidence. It seemed that his father's concerns had been warranted and now it was because of Tethys that his band had been so heavily burdened.

It was for this reason that he had sworn vengeance on the shores... He hadn't intended for them to follow, but he had no intention of bowing down to something like that. His father had instilled him with a greater pride and strength than that...but that didn't mean that he could ignore the cold hard truth.

It was his fault.

Consequently, it was with a furrowed brow that he strode towards the Warlord's home and disregarded the confused gazes of those who had only just saw them leave recently. He needed an audience with their leader, if only to cement his claim to the band so that he could set about preparing for his war. Even without her support, he suspected he would still go, but he would at least follow protocol to begin with...

Words: 433

 

[Epine de Rose]

He was back?

he had walked straight passed her, utterly oblivious to her existence as he swept through the otherwise bustling township. Most of the freeborn had simply going about their day when this particular band had returned early. They were battered and bruised (again), but there was something in their demeanour that had given the lioness considerable cause for concern. While the others in the township might have been too busy to acknowledge their return, Tethys sister had at least glanced up from her 'shopping'.

Perhaps they were now accustomed to this band returning with signs of battle, they might even hope for an interesting tale or two over a brew, but on this occasion as none seemed to be at death's door, they had avoided the hustle and bustle of before.

...That being said, it was incredibly unlike her brother to simply ignore her. He was normally capable of 'sensing' her, hell he'd even look around and acknowledge her briefly. However on this occasion he had been blind, it was almost as if the lion was in a completely different world at this precise moment in time, distracted by whatever thoughts were going through his mind.

Well, no one else might have been curious but she was, something had most assuredly happened.

"Tethys!" she addressed him as she strode towards him, gently pushing her way passed those in the township as she closed the gap between them. "You're back early," she continued as she matched his stride. "Have your wounds reopened?" she hazarded, aiming to be more optimistic than she felt... This was definitely not like her brother.

Words: 270

 

[Epine de Rose]

Hm? Oh, it was Dione. He briefly flicked his gaze towards her, it was the very least he could do. He couldn't be so far gone as to not acknowledge his own family, even if she was electing to pry into his reasoning for returning home. Unfortunately he wasn't quite ready to inform her as to why he had come home, but the very least he could do was reassure her that he was more than healthy... well, as healthy as one could be following their skirmish.

"My wounds are fine, Dione," he replied in a measured tone. He didn't seek to slow his stride, instead continuing to move along. Eventually she would be smart enough to get the message, that much he was sure of.

"As are the others," he added calmly, as if to pre-empt her follow-up question. However, he simply had no time for further queries at the moment and instead, he quickened his steps to an unreasonable pace. It was with a gentle nudge to her shoulder that he made it absolutely clear that he shouldn't be followed.

He would permit questions later, but for now...it simply wasn't his priority.

Words: 194
Total Words (Tethys): 627

 

[Epine de Rose]

Briefly acknowledged, afforded no questions, and then carefully pushed to the side. Now she knew that there was something wrong, if there was anyone who was to be so aloof, it was her. She was the one who was supposed to act with a chillier air, she was supposed to be the harsher one, the one that needed to be thawed before they became lovable...and yet, all she could do was watched her brother as he strode away from her.

His answers had been curt, and as she watched him walk away she couldn't dispute them. All signs seemed to point to the fact that the lion was in fact as healthy as he could have been. He had more cuts, more bruises, but the worst had healed and these ones seemed to be new. How he had got these ones was the question, but it was a question that he didn't seem to have any intention of answering at this current moment in time.

In fact, as his sister she could do nothing more than watch as he made his way through the throng and towards the Warlord's den.

Wait, why was he going there?

"Hes dead," she overheard one of his band discussing whatever had may have come to pass on their latest expedition. She glanced round, catching sight of another reaver who had come to ask about the early return. For the Reavers it really was a source of interest, what had been found after all, that would warrant an early return. It seemed that on this occasion death had been found, but given the vast majority seemed to have come back, who had died.

The Captain.

So that was why he was walking that way, the warlord needed to be informed, but surely that would have been done by the next -

Oh.

"Oh Tethys," she murmured and heaved a soft sigh. Her questions would wait, but she would need to ask them when he returned. Suffice it to say that she knew this probably wasn't how he imagined his ascension...

Words: 344
Total Words (Dione): 614