Moonsong Glacier the wayward weeping voices that you will hear

no sooner had those words fallen from arcturus' lips did regret seep into him, dark and as deep as blackened water upturned from a shattered well. he kept his composure, refusing to bend his neck or look away: he had said it, he might as well own it.

part of him wished he had come across yami alone -- maybe then things would have been different.. but this scenario, unflattering as it painted them all, showed each of them in their true light. yami's true light was she wanted nothing to do with the ostregas.

arcturus did not look away as revui pulled off; he was grateful, impressed even, that the leviathan had deemed it appropriate to listen to the rare command of his brother. never before had arcturus bossed anyone around, not in that way -- but in that moment he was resolute his decision was justified.

yami's words still encircled his head, but unlike the first, these did not hurt him the way her initial reaction had. maybe, the first cut had been so cruel that this seemed but a thorn-prick in comparison. the boy delivered a leveled, cold stare to yami, feeling the last of his affection slowly ebb away. "so you only care about making yourself happy." he spoke between revui's reverberating growls. "you're supposed to care about us, too."

he did not mention how much it had hurt to lose a sister. how miserable it had felt to march to the grey keep alone, empty-handed and unsuccessful. the hard hours he and charon had spent away from home, ceaselessly searching.

he said nothing else, pulling his gaze away from yami only to acknowledge dirge's quip. in another situation, the boy might have a response or counterpoint; for now he only acknowledged the elder by giving him his full attention. once dirge had finished speaking, arcturus flicked an ear; the situation was too tense (for him) to humor dirge's attempt at lightening the mood, but he did not wish to come across as ignoring the male's words. dipping his head towards dirge as if to thank him for his attempt to help, arcturus arced his tail over his lean hips, nudged the flank of his brother, and turned away, completely ignoring yami.

he did not look back.