Ch. 3

They had been searching for the past couple hours. Ariel, Chinook, Todd and Breeze, and even a few other females had volunteered to join the search party for Shade. Earlier on Chinook had been given quite an earful from his mother. Her saying that she was greatly disappointed in him and angry that he would become such a bully. But Isis was even more outraged when she was told about how he also openly insulted Shade's father, and Ariel's husband. Sure, at first she didn't want to have anything to do with Shade after the incident, but was unaware of her son's behavior until Ariel told her. Right then that she ordered him to go and look for Shade or he would remain 'grounded' for the rest of his life.

"I don't care how long I'm grounded for." He had said to her, actually surprising his mother, "All those things...that I said and did to Shade. They were unforgiveable. I can see why he would go off on me like that." He had told them calmly. But on the inside, he was hoping that Shade hadn't run away. Hoping fearfully that he wouldn't actually go and take himself to the owls, "If I was in his position...I'd do the same."

As he and the others flew over the trees, he had been keeping an eye out for the small Silverwing. He couldn't be that hard to miss, right? His blonde hair would be a good clue to watch out for. Ever since Shade finally stood up to Chinook, the heavy feeling of guilt in his stomach had never gone away. At one point, he thought that he would be sick. Different scenario's were running through his head as Ariel was instructing the other's of which part of the island they should start looking. Would Shade really hand himself over to the owl's? Or was he consumed with so much guilt, and by Chinook's harsh and cold words, that he'd fly off somewhere on his own...never to be seen again? But when his thoughts began to crawl into the possibility of death, he furiously shook his clear.

"Chinook?" A voice startled him. He turned to look at Ariel, who had a concerned frown on her face, "Are you alright?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm just...scared for Shade. It's because of me he ran off." He answered quietly, setting his eyes back to his surroundings. He needed to stay alert.

"I'm sure he's fine, Chinook." Ariel replied gently, though her face told him otherwise,

"Don't lie to yourself, Ariel. Please. Shade could have gone somewhere else than some random spot on the island. He...could've left, for all I know."

He really hoped that wasn't true. Shaking his head, he gave a shaky sigh, banking to his left, "I'm going to search this way." With a few flaps of his wings, Chinook parted from the group, Ariel watching with sympathy. She didn't blame him for feeling like this. She turned around and saw Todd and Breeze watching him leave.

"You two go with Chinook. Help him cover more of the area."

"Yes, Ariel." Breeze quietly acknowledged, Todd giving a silent nod, both changing their direction to follow him. Ariel could only sigh as she watched the two newborns follow their former friend. Hopefully that they would have better luck at finding her son. She didn't want to lose him. He was the only thing she had left after Cassiel disappeared.

Please be alright Shade. Please...be on the island...

Please be here...Please be here...Please be here...Please!, Chinook repeated in his mind, head turning in different directions, keeping an eye out for the smaller Silverwing.

The only thing he could see were trees. Trees. And more trees. He didn't see any sign of Shade anywhere. He made a slow descent until he was nearly brushing the tops of the tree's. Maybe getting closer would help him see things better. His eyes scanned both the trees and the ground, occasionally glancing upward, in case Shade was up higher than he thought. From the corner of his left eye...a flash of yellow went behind a tree.

Shade?!, Chinook sharply stopped, hovering in place as he set his eyes in the direction he saw the yellow color. It returned again. This time remaining in view for a few seconds before a tree blocked Chinook's sight. Gasping in anxiety, he quickly flew as high as he could, hoping to get a view of the forest around the island. He saw it again. Nothing obstructing his view this time. The patch of yellow was calmly skimming through the trees. Chinook squinted to get a clearer look. He saw the yellow color, but he told himself it had to be more blonde, then he slowly began to recognize the shape of wings and a body. He grinned ear to ear. It was Shade! He found him!

But...

Where was he going?

Chinook kept his wings moving to stay in a hovering state, his eyes tracking ahead of Shade, to where he might be heading. There was still a thicket of trees for him to fly through. The forest was dense for at least a kilometer, but they eventually started to thin out near the shoreline. Before Chinook decided to do anything, he watched as Shade continued to fly through the forest, wanting to see if he changed direction. Maybe he was just taking a flight around the island. No harm with that. But the more Shade continued to travel in a straight line, the more the dread began to build in Chinook. The lesser the trees began to get, the dread turned into frightened panic.

Shade was heading for the shoreline.

...

No.

Chinook's face slowly began to morph into agonized fear.

No...No...

His vision began to become blurry. He could feel a warm wetness starting to trail from his eyes.

No no no. No!

He was actually going to leave the island! He was leaving them!

"No! NO! PLEASE, NO!" Chinook yelled out, beginning a frantic descent to the trees, pumping his wings as hard as he could.

He was responsible for this. His endless time of teasing and tormenting Shade was catching up to him. The harsh words he spoke about both the Silverwing and his father. In mere moments, he was going to see Shade leave and pay the price for it. The cool wind stinged at his eyes, panting as hsi vision kept getting blurred by tears, frantically blinking them away. Panting from the effort of flying as fast as he could, Chinook took in deep, wheezing breathes, unable to control the torrent of emotions he was feeling. Shade was getting much closer to the shore, getting closer and closer to massive expanse of water laying before him. If he didn't get to him in time, he would be too late. Shade would be gone. Possibly forever.

He took in a large gulp of air, and used for one purpose. He screamed.

"SHAAAAAAAAAAADE!"

He had to call out to him. He needed to get his attention. Hoping that Shade would at least listen to him if he was planning on leaving. If he left...he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

Huh? What was that?

Shade hovered in place, his wings pumping up and down to keep himself up. Something had reached his ears. A voice. Yelling his name. Who was calling him?

"SHAAAAAAAAADE!"

His ears twiched at the sound.

"DON'T GOOOO! PLEEAAAAASE!"

Shade recognized the voice. He looked around in the forest he had exited from, the source was coming from somewhere within. It couldn't be. He had to be hearing things.

"CHINOOK?" He called out, this time, the sound of wingbeats was starting to form. He focused his eyes to a moving speck coming towards him. It was coming fast. He flew over to a thick branch on an old pine tree, landing on the top of it to give his wings a rest. The wingbeats were getting closer. So was the figure. Shade could make out the dark-blue fur, the thick crest of fur around it's neck, and the familiar spiked light-blue mohawk. What made him do a double take about the appearance, wasn't because it was Chinook, but because his cheeks were stained with tears.

"Chinook?!" The Silverwing called out in disbelief, "What's wrong?!"

The bigger bat's eyes seem to lighten up, though he didn't smile.

"SHADE! SHADE!" Chinook called out frantically, panting heavily, chocking back hiccups. Landing roughly on the branch, without even slowing down from the descent, he lunged towards the smaller newborn.

Shade could only utter a strained, "Oogh!" Chinook's large powerful wings were wrapped around him.

He found himself being pressed into the larger male's thick crest of fur around his neck. But what he felt next shocked him.

Chinook was quivering. His body gave short spasms of movement as he sounded out of breath. But...the way he was breathing. He was giving off short hiccups, and what sounded like choked sobs.

He was crying.

"Ch-Chinook?"

"I'm sorry, Shade. I'm so...so sorry." The large bat whispered in a quivering voice, shutting his eyes tightly as the tears didn't stop.

"Chinook...it's okay. I'm-" Shade spoke up, but only for the sobbing Chinook to cut him off.

"No. I-It's not." He sniffled, hugging Shade closer, like he was afraid he would disappear if he let go, "I never...should of...said those things to you. I-I didn't mean to hurt you so much."

Shade wasn't sure what to think, but he was slowly being overcome with the same emotion. Tears were beginning to sting at his own eyes, "I'm the one who wanted to see the sun, Chinook. Tree Haven was my fault."

Chinook could only let some silent sobs out at his friend's words, "No...it's not, Shade! I'm the one who should be to blame!" He softly cried, "This never would of happened...if I never said those horrible things to you." Chinook softly nuzzled his chin onto Shade's shoulder, "Please forgive me, Shade...please...I'm so sorry." He weeped. It was only making it tougher for Shade to try and keep it together.

Chinook said he was sorry. It sounded honest. It wasn't some trick.

The bully who had teased, tormented and insulted him for months...had apologized to him in tears. Shade wasn't sure what to think. Why was he crying over the runt of the colony?

"D-Don't...don't leave, Shade."

Wait. Why would Chinook think that? He was only coming to the shore to think. That was all.

"Please," The larger bat sniffed, not letting go of him, "Don't leave us. I can never live with myself if you're gone."

He...thought I was leaving?, Shade thought to himself. He wasn't sure what else to do. He wiggled his other wing free from under Chinook's wing, then proceeded to wrap his own wings around his neck, hugging him back comfortingly. Chinook's body gave a small twitch, as if reacting to his touch. Shade nuzzled his face into the crest of fur on his neck.

"I won't...Chinook. I'm not leaving." He shuddered, tears springing from his eyes.

Chinook gently, but firmly took hold of Shade's shoulder's, stepping lightly so that he could look the smaller Silverwing in the eyes. He took a deep quivering breath, swallowing hard to try and clear his voice, but his face still held a pained but relieved look, despite the tears.

"Shade...promise me," He uttered, "Promise me...that you won't leave us." He hung his head down, a look of utter shame on his face, "I know that...I may not deserve to be forgiven. Especially after all those things I said about you and your father. But please just promise me this."

Chinook looked back up at Shade, his eyes filled with utter regret, struggling to keep his voice from breaking. His only answer was silence, and a teary eyed stare from Shade. With only a few small steps, the smaller Silverwing wrapped his wings around Chinook's neck in a gentle, and comforting hug.

"I... I promise." He whispered softly, new tears beginning to run anew.

Breeze wiped away the relieved and happy tears from her eyes, having heard every word the two bats exchanged with other. Todd looked on with a calm but proud face, turning to the female with a comforting smile. Breeze smiled back, brushing away the last of her tears. After watching them for a few more minutes, the two bats took flight, quietly flapping their wings to head back to the colony.

Chinook, having spent most of his emotions, could only sniffle and choke back small hiccups. The only thing he could do was to return Shade's hug, his large wings wrapping him in his own comforting embrace. In his mind, he didn't know how Shade could be so forgiving. He honestly thought that Shade would yell at him, or at least tell him no, that he didn't want an apology from a bully like him. He deserved it after all, if that's how things had gone.

But no, Shade had accepted his apology, though he also tried to apologize back to him. It wasn't needed. Everything that had happened hours before, had been his fault. Shade wasn't to blame.

"I'm sorry, Chinook." Shade's voice broke him out of his thoughts, "I...didn't mean to make you worry so much." He whimpered, his chest quivering from his own emotions, "I never should've taken off. I could tell you wanted to fix things. I didn't give you that chance before because...I was angry." More tears began to fall from both Shade, and Chinook, who was slowly understanding what was being said, "You...you see your dad...whenever we get to Stonehold. I-I...I never...get to see mine. I...honestly...feel jealous of you for having such a...great dad. I...just wish that I...I...I-!"

It was too much. Shade began to cry. It was the truth that caused him the most pain.

He might not ever get to see his own father again.

For Chinook, something began to stir inside him. Through his own tears and feelings, an old instinct he had, though one that had been left dormant for so long, was beginning to resurface. Shade needed someone to comfort him.

"Shhhhh," Chinook soothingly uttered, remaining calm despite the emotional pain he was feeling for Shade, "Just let it out, Shade. Let it out. I'm...I'm here. I'm here to help you." He whispered softly as he gently rocked himself side to side. Tears ran down his cheeks as he did his best to comfort the Silverwing, who could only cry harder from the tender words being spoken to him.

Burying his face into Chinook's crest, Shade sobbed as he hugged tighter, the Tree Haven incident fully catching up with him as he let out his emotions. Not ones of anger or hatred. Nor envy or jealousy.

But of regret and sadness over the events that had transpired.

"I'm sorry, Chinook! I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, Shade. Shhhh, it's alright. It's not your fault."

"I never meant to get our home burned down! It's all my fault!"

"It's not your fault," Chinook whispered in a soft, comforting tone, "It's not your fault, Shade." The gentle rocking didn't stop.

"It is, Chinook! We...we would still have..a summer home if I didn't do such a...stupid...thing! I never...I should've...I...I..." No more words could be formed, only letting out a long and emotional cry. Though he still hugged with a tight grip, his sobs slowly ebbed away into small hiccups and quiet sniffling.

"Shhhhh. It isn't your fault. I'm also to blame here, okay?" Chinook choked out, "If it makes you feel any better, I can share the load. Let me take weight off of you. It may not seem like it, Shade, but seeing you in this much pain...it...it hurts me, too. So please...don't beat yourself up over this. Let me take the weight off of you. We can both get through this." He gave a comforting squeeze to Shade, sniffing back his own tears.

The smaller Silverwing remained silent in his wings, only giving quick and soft hiccups. As the two remained silent in each other's wings, they both began to reflect on past events, and memories that went even further back when they were just small pups.

Back to when they weren't bitter rivals before.

But when they were friends.

Shade had to admit it, but he enjoyed the larger bat's company. Especially if it was protecting him from other bully's in the colony. It was hard to remember, recent memories had clouded his much earlier ones, but one single detail he did remember clearly. It was as clear as the daylight he had seen for only a brief moment.

It was the promise that the two had made. After being called weak, small and from one bold newborn who dared uttered the word: Runt.

That one single harsh word had sent him flying off crying. After more than an hour, Chinook had found him, and had let him know that he had told the newborn's parents of what he said. He learned that the newborn had been grounded for a week. But it barely made him feel any better. It was then that Chinook had comforted him, then told him something that slowly brightened his spirits.

And strengthening the bond of friendship that they had. Evolving it into something more unique.

I promise, Shade. No matter what happens, I'll protect you! If some other kid tries to hurt your feelings again, I'll kick their butts and show them that they can't mess with you!

*Sniff* R-Really? You'd...do that for me, Chinook? Wouldn't you get in trouble for it?

Well...I probably would but, yeah! After all, it's what a big brother is supposed to do, right? He's supposed to protect those who are important to him!

Big...brother? *Sniff* You...really think of me...as a little brother? But we're not even related.

...

Well...that's if...you think of me as a big brother. I know we're friends, but...How would you like to be my little brother? We'd still be friends. We'd just be...unofficial brothers!

What do you say, Shade? Brother's?

Shade remembered that Chinook had extended his wing and claw out for a shake. A hopeful and bright smile on his face.

He remembered his own claw, still a little small compared to Chinook's, had grasped his. He remembering smiling as he spoke the next words to fulfill the bond between them.

Brother's.

That was a long time ago. And in that amount of time, they eventually grew apart, once his 'brother' had started hanging out with other newborns instead of him. They grew further apart, until they became bitter rivals at the smallest things. How fast or far the other could fly before tiring out. Who could catch and eat the most tiger moths. Chinook stealing his food if he was too slow to catch it. Until Chinook had become a bully as well, and calling him a runt on every occassion. Never once, calling him by his name. It had all built up to there, and it left the two with wound that had festered and grew in their hearts. Presumably to never be mended.

Until now.

With the emotional wall that hid their past feelings finally gone, and apologizing for each other's actions, that wound was slowly beginning to heal. Shade eyes drifted up to Chinook's face, seeing just how pained and repentant he was from the confrontation and the accident. Lifting up his head slightly, Shade softly and affectionately nuzzled his cheek against Chinook's, causing the other bat's tear-stained eyes to open in quiet surprise, looking at the small Silverwing with a soft and curious glance. But what he said next made his heart swell and new tears to start running down his face.

"I...I missed you...big brother." He uttered softly, sniffling as he rested his head back onto Chinook's shoulder, "I missed you so much."

Big brother.

The two words he never thought he'd hear again. One's that had been left forgotten by bad recent memories and feuding rivalry's. He stepped back and leaned against the bark of the tree, before letting himself slide until his was sitting.

Chinook leaned down and returned the gesture, nuzzling his nose against Shade's forehead, the instincts of a loving older brother overwhelming him.

"I...missed you, too." He whispered back, smiling through his happy tears as he prepared to use the words he hadn't used either.

"My little bro'."

The two bats stayed in each other's wings, warmed and comforted by the physical contact, as the night seemed to pass by in minutes. The moon once sat on one end of the horizon, above the tree line, but as time passed by, it now sat just a few inches above the horizon of the water, it's surface reflecting it's image and light. It was almost a beautiful sight, if it weren't for the nagging feeling to return to the colony before sunrise.

Chinook had sat quietly, watching the view of the shoreline as the waves quietly washed up against it. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he breathed out a calm sigh, turning his head in the direction their colony was roosted.

"Alright, bro', I think we should head back. Everyone's probably wondering where we are."

Only silence seem to answer him.

He looked down into his wings curiously, "Shade?", Softly shaking the small bat's shoulder wondering why his little brother was so quiet. But once he fully saw the reason, his face melted into a soft smile.

At some point when they sat down, Shade had soundlessly fallen asleep in his wings, his soft breaths brushing against the fur of Chinook's crest. Despite how red and sore his eyes looked, he seemed to be finally at peace with himself, tiny snores escaping him as he slept.

Chinook got up as carefully as he could without jostling the smaller bat, before gently lifting him up and placing him on his back. Shade only gave a small tired mutter when he was moved, latching onto his back firmly.

"C'mon, little bro'" Chinook said to his sleeping passenger, "Let's go home."

With one graceful leap, though with slight difficulty to the added weight, he took flight. It would be likely that the rest of the search party would be waiting for them. But that didn't stop him from thinking about how things were going to change with his former friends. But for now, all he could think about was getting his little brother, and best friend, back to the safety of the colony.