Blackfeather Woods flesh and blood

Cicero watched as Maegi seemed upset. His voice remained void of emotion as he stared at her as she made excuses to go. He opened mouth to offer that she could find him later if she wished but since she was so quick to gather herself and depart all he managed was a quick nod that she might not even have caught. He looked back to the boys, who did not really care, which was more or less in his line of expectations. It made Cicero wonder if Potema or Vaati or anyone else had said something about this or him to Maegi, or about his supposed role as uncle as opposed to father: Cicero had never named himself either of those things up until this point, but maybe someone else'd named him uncle and explained their vision of what ways siblings should love each other. The kind of hurtful propaganda that'd made Damien turn away from him, too.

Ramsay did not respond beyond calling after his sister, but it was no use. She was already gone. Cicero elaborated: "There is no harm in the love between siblings, if both wish it so." He left out that Potema had not wished it so — mostly because it was irrelevant to them, to who they were and who they would become. It may cause only pain and insecurity that would do them more harm than good. Yet he felt it important to emphasise it was only good if both wished it so. He had never imposed himself upon Damien despite his unwavering love for his brother because Damien had not wished it so. Had he been in charge he would not let Sheogorath have, either, but it was hard to regret the turn of events when he had children that he loved in a different yet similarly significant manner.

Ramsay was next to ask a question and he moved on quickly. "Everyone is scared at times," said Cicero. "To say one is never scared would be to lie. Yet all wolves are scared of different things. Cicero..." He halted briefly, ears tilting back and forward. "... Is afraid the most of losing his brother Damien, or to see him harmed." In a way, his fear had come true — and the worst part was that he himself had had part in shaping his brother's insanity. "But Cicero is not afraid of pain or death, like most wolves."