Swiftcurrent Creek redefine what was at stake from the hindsight of a god

@Zephyr

Helios wishes he hadn't been weak that day Zephyr rushed out of the den. Kavik went after the silver dagger, and he wishes he experienced a proper way to deal with this situation.

Right now, the raven boy is torn. Hurt because Zephyr bit him hard enough he bled, and uncertain why Zephyr went to attack Minnow without warning. But also regretting his own actions, for it would matter less to him if Minnow was the one hurt.

A few days have passed since, and he avoided answering his parents questioning to the injury... gave them excuses that they obviously weren't satisfied with. What bothers him most, however, is Zephyr avoiding him. The cold shoulder given whenever he does manage to spot the youngest of the litter.

Zephyr, Helios says when he finally spotted the sulking pup after searching all this morning.

The rift between Helios and himself has inspired a foreign, aching coldness in the sprite. His sulking might be noticeable if he didn’t already do it so often. Still, the shift is rather drastic, considering Zephyr had hardly let his oldest sibling out of his sight before. He doesn’t like it at all — but he’s far too ashamed to break his silence now. At some point it had occurred to him that perhaps he was wrong, that he should not have turned his teeth against his closest friend. Another failure on his part, Zephyr had realized, and any notion of apologizing had disappeared with that.
He’s busy being particularly miserable when he hears his name, but his eyes light up and his ears perk for a moment when he registers that it’s Helios, turning to greet him immediately. But then he remembers, and he wilts. His posture drops and his ears flatten, tail tucking between his legs as he looks at his brother. Hi, He murmurs, gaze dropping. It takes every ounce of willpower he has to resist the urge to apologize.

Ears perk, Helios’ own mimic the movement—his eyes lighting with surprise, for Zephyr turns to him, instead of fleeing. He expected running, perhaps a half-baked excuse thrown over a silver shoulder before the sibling disappeared off into the void.

Instead, he gets a tease of interaction. Helios exhales, stepping closer. Uncertainty gripping his frail heart when he sees Zephyr sink away, posture crumbling towards the ground with tail tucked between legs. Various emotions swim within the young raven boy, unable to determine what exactly they meant.

One of them, however, screamed the loudest amongst the crowded bunch. Relief.

His lips part, a half-snarl curling around teeth for a precious few seconds before it is gone. In its place, the raven boy approaches with a deep sigh, and greets Zephyr as he always does; a cold nose to the cheek.

The hint of a snarl that briefly crosses Helios's expression does not go unnoticed, and for a moment, Zephyr wonders if his brother is finally seeking revenge. But it's gone before he can even question whether he might deserve such a thing, and then Helios is approaching with a sigh. The sprite cringes a little instinctively before going perfectly still, lingering just close enough to feel the touch against his fur. He finds it comforting, yet not enough to calm his suddenly-racing heart. His lips part slightly, words festering on the tip of his tongue — but all he can manage is a soft, mournful whine. The sound sparks hot shame within him, but the effect is muted, and what might normally have turned into fiery rage at his own weakness simply fizzles and melts into despair.

Helios expects to find nothing; for him to slip through Zephyr as if the silver pup were but an illusion, a phantom out of his reach. It is painful, in a way that he has never experienced prior, but it is his first encounter with loss. For he misses his sibling’s shadowing steps, he misses pressing against Zephyr’s side to soothe or seek comfort from, and he misses their quiet moments spent together.

Underneath his touch is instead a very still form, frozen where Zephyr stands. Perfectly still, crafted to fit the landscape that surrounds them. Helios inhales; recognizing the familiarity in the smells, and the touch. It is enough to overwhelm him, and it has only been days of cold shoulders and avoidance. The whine echoes near endless in his mind—repeating over and over. Until Helios’ dam breaks.

The raven boy tucks close to the silver sibling, begging for anything, for Zephyr to no longer ignore his existence. Before the youngest, the eldest cries openly.