Chimera Fields long intervals of horrible sanity

Wrangling Cypress had been quite the task, but, ultimately, Rannoch ended up on top. This wasn’t to saw that he came out of the brawl unscathed. There was a sizeable notch upon the bridge of his nose that was bleeding and many tinier scare littered the Panting heavily, he looked to his brother with a mixed of emotions and though he was more than elated to see the ragged raven, there was a shadow of concern that darkened his mood. Concern was apparent in his expression as he foundered for the right words. Yet, they never did seem to arise.

Guilt was quick to overcome him at the first sound of Cypress’ voice and it only continued to spread as questions were asked of him. There was so much that he wanted to say, that he needed to say, and yet only fragments surfaced at that moment. “I ---”, “But---”, “I know--” were the only fragments that he could offer between the raven’s thoughts.

There was something terribly wrong with Cypress, this much he knew, and it was only as certain news was delivered that the eldest of the pair made the connection despite Rannoch's primiary disbelief. 

“Noch, Mama-- and Paw-- they’re dead, Noch.”

No, it couldn’t be.

“They died.”

He grew pale at the words, any previous expression slipping away as he attempted to make sense of what had been said. Mama and Paw had… died? No, it couldn’t be. Surely Cypress was joking.

Involuntarily, his grip on Cypress tightened and his jaw slack as he attempted to fully comprehend what had been said. Looking at his brother expression, and only being met with the void that had become his brother’s life, Rannoch knew that he wasn’t be tricked. His breaths grew ragged and tears welled in his eyes as it struck him suddenly, the weight of the news crashing heavily onto his shoulders.
His body began to shudder then, the hairs along his nape spiking and his ears flattening as the magnitude of the situation resonated with him.

How could this be? Paw was so strong, unbeatable even. And Eshe? She was always protected by their beloved evergreen king. How had Scimitar let this happen? How had Eshe?

How had Rannoch?

But he couldn’t ask then, all he could do was cry.

He bowed his head so that it was pressed against his brother’s chest-- his beautiful, breathing chest-- and he wept openly into the only thing that mattered in that moment.

How did this happen?