The Bracken Woods there is no absolution for the fallen

As expected, his smartass remark was met with a flash of teeth and a verbal reprimand. Surprisingly, it didn't go beyond that. There was a glint of mischief and accomplishment in Vercingetorix's eyes when Gavriel looked away. They stopped, and Gavriel ordered him to find food. Big, stupid, bossy brother. Vercingetorix wondered if it was a family curse for all of them to have sticks up their butts. Maybe he'd pooped his out before exiting the womb by some miracle. Or somebody had beat it out of him during his training.

"Do I have to catch it, too?" he smirked, though he didn't give Gavriel much of a chance to answer before whisking himself away into the trees. It was perhaps half an hour later when he returned with two squirrels hanging from his jaws. They weren't plump by any means, but they were something. Vercingetorix dropped both at his own front feet, then glanced to Gavriel. He thought of saying another sarcastic, smartass remark, but held it back. As much as he could be a little shit, he did have to admit that family meant something to him. Instead, Vercingetorix snapped up the larger of the two squirrels and tossed it to Gavriel without saying a word.