[Crocuta]

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The return seemed both dramatic and yet it seemed to have gone expected as well. The traveling had put a toll on most of them, but the reward tasted like the crisp, sweet air that was only found in their land.
Our land  The thought was too sweet to be true.

Crocuta meandered from the pack for a few feet, only to hesitate. With a short grumble, she turned and narrowed her eyes at her white-furred brother. "Walk and talk with me." She'd rumble, lifting her tail in a slow, shallow wag before plodding back where she'd started heading. She'd sniff softly, attempting to find both familiar and new scents--She did want to make sure nothing was around to harm her family; although, if anything did, she'd mercilessly snap its neck.

Assuming Sveyn had followed her, she sighed and spoke with a rather gruff tone without even looking at the male. "Do you remember anything other than the day we were separated?" She'd question, turning over a rock or two as she maneuvered through the land, she tried to stay within sight of the pack, worried for their safety even if they had previously owned this land. She knew Sveyn had attachments to Rainer's daughter just from how he'd been acting around her, so she figured he wouldn't want to move away but so far.

Croc would hesitate her next few steps, turning to gaze at her brother.

I was so scared without you.

The words hung in her throat, not wanting to seem weak or pathetic in front of her brother; after all, who knows how he'd changed over the years.

☄ ☄Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down til the work is done
Waitin' on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on☄ ☄

[Sveyn]

S V E Y N ;

actions - “speech” - thoughts

Shivers fell down his spine. And it wasn't because he was cold, no. His heart was warm with comfort, and a small smile was plastered on his dome-shaped face. He was at peace with himself, in his home. He never imagined he would ever be able to return home again. The range of emotions he felt were extended between pure joy and unmitigated guilt. The bodies he'd seen then, and now. His own kin, his brothers, his family. Had they been tortured? Enslaved? What did the endure while he walked freely as a nomad? As a coward? He would never run again.

His train of thought was split at the sound of his sweet sister's voice. "Walk and talk with me." There was no hesitation as he preceded her gait, matching her tempo. He was sure to keep a short distance behind her, providing her security from the back; this is how it should have been for the last few years. The two of them together, taking on the world as it came to them. He'd wondered what difficulties she had to brave on her own. It made him cringe. "Do you remember anything other than the day we were separated?" His breathing fell short at the memory, looking away from Crocuta as he considered his response.

Of course he remembered. He could recall the days before; the stability, the happiness, and the lessons of his adolescence. He could tell of the days after, specifically the day after. He was terrified, alone, confused, losing his will to live. He was angry, vengeful, he lost the light of his life. All at once, all of it. “I try to forget.” His tone was flat, words dry. He did not wish to dwell on the past, he had lived with it long enough. But he sensed his beloved sister may need to relieve herself of what had happened. He needed to be there, like he never was before, and support her. He had the chance to do that now.

“Crocuta, I'm sorry. I regret having lost you every day I was without you.” He took a step closer, nudging the side of her face gently. He only hoped she could sense he was sincere in his apologies. “It's going to get better from here.”

ooc <3

[Crocuta]

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“I try to forget.”

Crocuta narrowed her eyes; why would he try to forget? The regret is strong and harsh on our souls, but forgetting would make it worse....Right? She'd close her eyes then open them slowly as she gazed as her brother. What happened to you, Sveyn? She wondered with both concern and curiosity. The flat tone of his voice made her worried, but before she could say anything about it, he spoke again and she felt the warmth of his touch. “Crocuta, I'm sorry. I regret having lost you every day I was without you.”


"Its in the past, we must look to our future with the pack, Sveyn." She'd lean forward to rest her chin over his shoulder. “It's going to get better from here.” Crocuta chuckled and stated, "I'll hold you accountable if you run away without me again." She'd tease softly. Gently giving him an affectionate boop with her nose as she took her chin from his shoulder. She'd release a soft sigh, seemingly of relief, as she stepped back. "It...Was hard without my sturdy brother at my back, you know." She'd toss her painted head up high and began leading the way again, her stride gliding across the frosty ground with a slight bounce to her step.

"We need to share our stories, I'd say. What happened after, Sveyn? Lets spill our past, lay it out flat and then put it behind us."

☄ ☄Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down til the work is done
Waitin' on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on☄ ☄

[Sveyn]

S V E Y N ;

actions - “speech” - thoughts

   "Its in the past, we must look to our future with the pack, Sveyn."
He nodded in agreement with his sister, smiling softly as he returned her gentle embrace.
   "I'll hold you accountable if you run away without me again."
He chuckled because he knew she meant no harm by her light hearted threat, but it still stung at his pride. He hid the pain well, but he wondered if his sister endured a worser fate because he'd abandoned her. Would she have been better off with him? He was no witness to the most horrible luck the last five years. He lived a sub-average life, but was that because he had no will to live? He wondered.
   “I know that you will.” Is all he said in return, saving the "what-ifs" for another day.
   "It...Was hard without my sturdy brother at my back, you know."
   He chuckled, tossing his head back as he grinned, “I think I was the one who was at a disadvantage without you, sweet sister.”

He enjoyed the laughter. The time that they were sharing. It felt like they hadn't missed a beat from their last encounter.
   "We need to share our stories, I'd say. What happened after, Sveyn? Lets spill our past, lay it out flat and then put it behind us."
His laughter faded quickly, as he stared off again and considered her offer. Spill the past? How could he explain that he was dealt the most mediocre of hands, he fulfilled nothing in his life while he had the guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders. He was as stone cold as the mountains they were surrounded by. He was bitter and short with everyone he'd passed, until he met Circe. Immediately he recognized she was of Bacchus descent, and in that moment he felt whole again. But between that time, and the moment he had last seen his sister many, many years ago? Nothing.

   “Crocuta, I... I led a very boring life after I'd last seen you. I spent many weeks terrified and alone, and then soon thereafter I was broken.”
He felt weak for even admitting it.
He hated to speak of it, like he'd said before.
Sveyn wished he could forget.

ooc <3

[Crocuta]

speech ☄ ☄ Profile

She could see his change with ease; something was going on through her brother's head, but she refused to prod into it until he was ready to speak to her. Crocuta lowered her head some, turning back around towards her brother and with a short few steps, began leaning over to nudge him gently, a small attempt to comfort him. Green eyes gazed warmly, but her shoulders stiffened with her seemingly upset brother.

 “Crocuta, I... I led a very boring life after I'd last seen you. I spent many weeks terrified and alone, and then soon thereafter I was broken.”

"Sveyn, brother." Crocuta came close, pressing her chest against his and throwing her head over his shoulder. She'd sigh and close her eyes before cracking them slightly open, "I believe we both became broken then. Brother, if you are unready to speak of your life after, theres no need to rush it." She'd give him a nuzzle before backing away, though she still stood close. "I will not judge those on their past, after all, you are here in front of me...If anything, thats all I've ever wanted."

☄ ☄Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down til the work is done
Waitin' on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on☄ ☄

[Sveyn]

S V E Y N ;

actions - “speech” - thoughts - "response"

   "Sveyn, brother."
He welcomed her embrace as he listened,
   "I believe we both became broken then. Brother, if you are unready to speak of your life after, there's no need to rush it."

He was relieved to hear she wouldn't push any further, understanding that all she wanted was to comfort him and to hear his story, but today wasn't the day. He wondered, though, if this was also a plea for her to share her own happenings? Had something happened to his beloved sister in his absence?

   "I will not judge those on their past, after all, you are here in front of me...If anything, thats all I've ever wanted."

Sveyn started to think about how much his sister has grown, how she's matured and leveled up in her years. No longer was she the playful, obnoxious little sister he'd last knew. He could tell she'd seen things, experienced things, that hardened her. Things that opened up her heart, or maybe destroyed it?

He missed years of growth, and he would owe it to Crocuta to be her big brother now. To be her shoulder, her support, her strength. If that started with listening to her story, he would be her ears for hours. He had a lot of making up to do.

   “Enough about me, Crocuta. Please tell me what happened to you."
He demanded it, knowing there was something that tainted her heart.

He wanted to take it away.

ooc <3

[Crocuta]

speech ☄ ☄ Profile

“Enough about me, Crocuta. Please tell me what happened to you."

Crocuta blinked slowly, green eyes becoming distant for a moment-- the distance of memories flooding her face for a mere heartbeat. She'd take a few steps back, grunting uncomfortably. Would he think I failed too? Would he not care? These questions and many more burrowed into Croc's mind suddenly then with a heavy sigh, she seemed to slowly transform from a nervous rabbit into a sure-footed, heavy stag-moose and she took those steps right back up to her brother. It didnt matter, it wouldnt matter. She was here, that was then and nothing else would get in her damned path again!

Shoulders tense yet her face calm and steady, Crocuta spoke with a deep, reverberating growl. "When we were separated, it took some time to learn how to hunt just by myself-- I'm not sure if I just never hunted by myself or if the shock of loss and separation confused me; I just remember it took some time." She'd sit down with a heavy 'flop'.

"Once I became confident in my hunting skills I began moving around a lot. I saw all sorts of lands, brother. All sorts of hells and heavens--beasts too." Crocuta narrowed her green eyes, " Males as well." She'd scoff, shaking her head. " I was so stupid..."

☄ ☄Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down til the work is done
Waitin' on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on☄ ☄

[Sveyn]

S V E Y N ;

actions - “speech” - thoughts - "response"

The moments of silence would normally have made him uncomfortable, normally he might have taken back his curious probing, because the silence allowed him to asses that his sister was unsure about sharing. Sveyn watched as Croc shifted positions, sighed, and took her place back before him. He wanted to know, he wanted her problems to be his problems, too. He wanted to fix them now because he couldn't before, so he waited.

And she finally explained, but just a bit.

   "When we were separated, it took some time to learn how to hunt just by myself-- I'm not sure if I just never hunted by myself or if the shock of loss and separation confused me; I just remember it took some time."
They were young, so this made sense. Sveyn could recall a similar struggle, not being able to catch game much bigger than small rodents for years. He was so used to hunting in small groups, not in solitude. But in order to survive, he had to overcome this. Crocuta did, too. He sat in silence, allowing her to continue. He knew that the conflict of learning to hunt couldn't be wait weighed her down. There must have been more.

   "Once I became confident in my hunting skills I began moving around a lot. I saw all sorts of lands, brother. All sorts of hells and heavens--beasts too. Males as well..."
His ears twitched slightly -- males? Undecided about whether he was ready to pry that deeply, he sighed.

   "I was so stupid..."
Oh, and his heart - his soul, his entire being ached for her again.
“Crocuta, what happened?”
He needed to know what happened while he was gone. What were the trials she experienced without him? What did he need to shield her from to avoid the trauma from returning? He didn't so much want to make her relive her nightmares by telling him, he just wanted to know enough to save her from enduring the memories alone, and to help avoid them from happening in the future.

ooc sorry it took so long, my DEAR SISTER!