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1077 Words
The council was interesting. Tiger gathered all the family around the table, for dinner, and they all talked all evening.
It was a good thing that they all talked. They spoke about the powers and they all explained to the little ones how they work and how to harness them. They found out everybody's powers, and they knew about 2 powers of each, but it appears most of them developed the third too... This was great, because now they knew what they could count on, in case of any emergency. They were strong, her brothers and sisters. She was so proud of them.
Especially little Niord. He was so sweet!
After dinner, she went searching for Xande. She did not find him in his room. She looked for him until she decided to use her hunter power. She needed to track him down, and she did not want to use the mind link so he would not get the chance to hide from her and avoid the conversation she wanted to have with him. So she caught his smell leading outside. Great! Did he just go outside the safe zone, leaving his brothers and heading out alone? He could be a target, and a good victim out there, all alone...
-You think so?
His voice startled her. She did not expect to find him standing on the fence of the fortress, present to the guard switch. But then again, the defense was his thing, it has always been his "thing".
-We need to talk.
-I need you to answer me when I ask you, he just turned his back on her and jumped over the other side of the fence, heading towards the forest.
-Errr... Moon had to make a run to the gates, in order to get out of the fortress and head along the wall, towards the forest. She wanted to talk to him about what had happened, but he would not make it easier for her, it seemed. He was out of her sight, of course, she knew that would happen if he knew she wanted to talk to him.
-Is that what you think again? His voice came out of a sudden from up, somewhere, he must have been in a tree, close by.
-Xande, stop playing, please! I need to talk to you.
-About? He just jumped in front of her like a big feline, and started walking next to her, just like nothing was ging on and they were walking under the moonlight.
-I want to explain myself.
-Why?
-Because I misunderstood, and I don't want to leave things like that between us, is not right.
-Why not?
-Because you are my brother.
-Yet you keep assuming things about me, and do not even stop thinking about it for a moment.
-Ohh...? His words took her by surprise, but at least she understood where he was going. He was right.
-Of course, I am right.
-Ohh, and now you brag about it? Huh? She smiled at him, looking at him playfully, while a smirk escaped his lips.
At least you are not as serious as Shade is...
-Ohhh... do not even start that... But I am serious too. When I want to be.
-Of course... Xande, I am sorry I assumed the worse.
-So stop. Alright? You should know, I would never hurt, any of you.
-I know, I just... Moon left out such a deep sight that made Xande turn his face to see if she was alright. She was closed to crying, her eyes were two full pools threatening to spill out... I know how hard the awakening was for Tiger, and I could not help him... and... I am just so afraid that mother and father...
-Don't!
Out of a sudden, Xande just hold her tight in his arms. She had just realized how tall her little brother had grown; he was holding her and her head was sunk in his chest. And his chest was so strong... like a hard rock...
-Hey... Stop that...
-Stop being in my head if you don't like to hear my thoughts...
They both started to laugh. They reached the river shore, in the exact spot their parents always used to make the fire when they were getting out for night, long walks into the forest. They sat down just like they used to when they were little. Holding each other.
-I am sorry, little brother. I was afraid.
-I know. I have felt that too, for so many nights.
-You did? But you have always shown so much strength...
-Mind control... remember? Just like you...?
-Damn... Moon looked at him, trying to face her feelings. She could not believe how she was fooled for so many years, by her little brother's mask. Just as she had also fooled everybody else, right? That must have been it.
-Pretty much... she heard him whispering.
-How is it? Moon's question made him turn his head to face her.
-How is what?
-The thirst? That thirst?
-Hmm... you don't want to know, Moon.
-I think is worse than the hunger?
-Yeah. Is like... killing you from the inside. Your own demon eating you alive.
-And how can you control it?
-Meditation. Take control over your body. Is something mother was taught by the blind monk.
-The blind monk taught her that?
-Her and me too.
-What??
-Yeah. She took me to him to train me there. Trust me, I had never felt so bored in my life. Always meditating, morning, afternoon, evening... nothing else to do but meditating...
-Really?
-Yeah, so don't feel bad about not meeting him. You, most of all, would have died out of boredom. Nothing else to do there. I was not allowed to leave the cage. Just to sit there in the darkness... Nothing to kill, but a fly... You don't even want to dream about it. Trust me on that.
-Xande...
-Yes, Moon?
-When did you find out about being a wraith?
-On the battlefield. I killed someone on a mission, It all went dark and I lost control. But on the battlefield, I gained the vision. And it just happened. Mother knew before me, that was why she started to train me, then she sent me to the blind monk. Then she sent me with Shade into the war zone. I needed the blood.
-How did it start?
-With the liking, Moon. Then came the thirst for it.
- Writer
