AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry this took so long, but here's the next chapter which
is also, conveniently the last. Many thanks to all my reviewers. Without
your encouragement, I never would've written so much for this storyline.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them. *sigh* I want to. . .but I don't.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Six: No Regrets
~
Gelltor's POV...
~
Mokkan and I are going. It's that simple. Truly, amazingly, it is, and to be honest I can't believe neither my fellow siblings nor I ever thought of this sooner. We've always been following orders, and like the water rats, deserting just never seemed to be an option when all along it should've been so *obvious*.
Under the cloak of dusk and shadows, I slip unseen from the camp. No one pays attention to me as they go about their business chatting and eating their dinners. Mokkan snuck away earlier, and not a soul will even realize we're gone until tomorrow at least, which gives us a nice head start.
As the campfires' light slowly starts to fade, I can't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt. Don't I owe my family more loyalty than this? Well, perhaps not my *entire* family, but at least my sister, Predak, deserves an explanation. Not only is she my twin, but she's my confidante too, someone I can talk to in all matters save one. Despite everything, I've never managed to tell her about my feelings for Mokkan.
Speaking of Predak. . . I pause as soon as I hear the bushes beside me rustle. The sound is loud enough to make me observe that the one making it *wants* to be heard. Sure enough, Predak strides out of the underbrush, a seething look on her normally calm countenance.
"So it's *true*," her venomous voice accuses. "You really *are* leaving. Coward," she scoffs.
Turning to face her, I reply hotly, "That's not it at all, and you know."
"Hmph. How would I? You hardly tell me anything important."
""Anything important"?! What are you talking about?"
"Mokkan," Predak retorts, giving me a smoldering glare. "You never once mentioned the two of you were a couple or that you even *liked* him."
I can feel my face blanch. How had she figured it out? Clearly, I've been strongly underestimating my twin. I glance up to explain myself, but her eyes are wide with incredulous shock. The anger drains out of her tone to be replaced by stunned astonishment. "By the fang," she gasps. "I had no idea I was actually *right*."
"It appears you know me well after all."
"You could have told me." Predak's voice is a whisper now. I'm honestly not sure whether she means telling her about my feelings for Mokkan or explaining that I'm leaving. Either way, I'm certain her pride is smarting.
"It's not like we'll never see each other again," I assure her. "This isn't goodbye forever. . .just a little while."
My twin's paws grip my shoulders tightly in protest. "But what if this really *is* goodbye? What if I *don't* see you again."
"Then let us making this parting on good terms," I offer. My words are little consolation to her barely hidden fears, yet it is the best I can do. "But I do intend to see you again, little sister."
Regaining her composure a bit, Predak snorts indignantly, ""*Little*"? Only by a few minutes." She tries to smile, but I can see it's forced.
"My advice to you, sister, don't end up following our mother's rules forever. There are places far nicer by far than our island."
"I'll have to keep it in mind."
Taking a step closer, I place an affectionate kiss on her forehead, and she doesn't pull away like usual. On most occasions, my sister — as well as my other siblings — despises any gesture that could be considered more than simple camaraderie. Predak's composure has returned entirely so that now she only looks rather sad. With a somber — but understanding — smile, she communicates her silent, albeit reluctant, approval.
"Fair seasons to you, brother, until we meet again."
~~~
It was harder than I'd expected. Out of my whole family, Predak is the one I'll sorely miss. Even though she can be horribly snippy and damnably stoic at the most inopportune times, I'll still miss her. For a moment, I wonder if I'm actually doing the right thing. It's probably rather late to begin worrying about my perception of right and wrong, yet I'm dwelling on it anyways. However, as soon as I arrive near the side of the road and see Mokkan waiting for me, I know I'm making the right choice. It's the most difficult one to be sure, but success is not won by the faint of heart.
Walking up to stand beside him, I ask, "Are you ready?"
He lets out a tense breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We've decided to make are way southwest which will eventually take us to a sunny climate leading away from Castle Marl. There is a path on the western side of Mossflower that we'll follow, but first my brother and I must stop at the river near the camp.
Since our unique markings will easily identify us, Mokkan came up with the plan of using dyes to hide are some of our strangest fur patterns. The sound of rushing water informs us that we're nearly there.
"C'mon," Mokkan says as we walk through a few brambles and come to the riverbank. Kneeling down at the water's edge
He grins. "What do you think?"
I lean over to see my reflection in the river. Although this part is a bit smoother, my image is still blurred, but it doesn't really matter. I can see well enough, and what I see is definitely startling.
"I hardly recognize myself!"
"Good," Mokkan replies as he hands me the dye, "that's the idea."
Shifting into a more comfortable position on the cold ground, I reach forward to begin covering his facial markings with the reddish brown dye. My elder brother slowly smiles as my paws seem to do more caressing than actual dye application. Using the darker brown next, I blend the colors in before adding hints of black. I must say, it looks pretty well done, and when the two of us turn to gaze into the river's mirror-like surface, there's a pair of common, ordinary gray foxes staring back.
"No one will recognize us," Mokkan affirms.
Wrapping an arm around his waist, I kiss his cheek, carefully avoiding the drying dye. "Then I suppose we'd better get going."
I take his paw in mine, and Mokkan smirks that familiar smirk of his. To my surprise, I fear I'm beginning to grow rather fond of that annoying facial gesture. Then, *finally*, he smiles a real smile.
"I love you, you know," he whispers. His voice is soft and — for a change — unsure. "I don't believe I've said it before."
Reaching down, I hold his other paw. "You didn't have to."
~END~
~*~*~*~*~*~
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hmm. . .over all, I'm pretty pleased with how this story came out, although I had some trouble writing Predak. Anyways, I'm definitely taking Flyer Foxfur's suggestion and starting a Silth/Lantur/Wilce triangle thingy, and I've got an idea for an interesting Cluny pairing that will actually be [gasp!] a het fic. It might be a couple weeks at the most before I post something though 'cause schoolwork and other plot bunnies have got me kinda swamped, but I'm workin' on some new stuff.
Mokkan: [sarcastically] Great.
Gelltor: Well, at least she's done torturing us, and by the way, I thought you said this would have a *happy* ending.
VampCat: But it did.
Asrcod: Ziral got killed, how is that considered "happy"?
Ziral: [indignantly] Yeah!
VampCat: [shrugs] Okay, I lied, so shoot me.
Marlfoxes: That's not fair!
VampCat: What?! *You* lot lie all the time!
Lantur: Yes, but when we do it it's to move the plot along. You authors just like to torment us.
VampCat: What do you mean —? Hey! [holding hands up and backing slowly away] Put down those axes —!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them. *sigh* I want to. . .but I don't.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Six: No Regrets
~
Gelltor's POV...
~
Mokkan and I are going. It's that simple. Truly, amazingly, it is, and to be honest I can't believe neither my fellow siblings nor I ever thought of this sooner. We've always been following orders, and like the water rats, deserting just never seemed to be an option when all along it should've been so *obvious*.
Under the cloak of dusk and shadows, I slip unseen from the camp. No one pays attention to me as they go about their business chatting and eating their dinners. Mokkan snuck away earlier, and not a soul will even realize we're gone until tomorrow at least, which gives us a nice head start.
As the campfires' light slowly starts to fade, I can't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt. Don't I owe my family more loyalty than this? Well, perhaps not my *entire* family, but at least my sister, Predak, deserves an explanation. Not only is she my twin, but she's my confidante too, someone I can talk to in all matters save one. Despite everything, I've never managed to tell her about my feelings for Mokkan.
Speaking of Predak. . . I pause as soon as I hear the bushes beside me rustle. The sound is loud enough to make me observe that the one making it *wants* to be heard. Sure enough, Predak strides out of the underbrush, a seething look on her normally calm countenance.
"So it's *true*," her venomous voice accuses. "You really *are* leaving. Coward," she scoffs.
Turning to face her, I reply hotly, "That's not it at all, and you know."
"Hmph. How would I? You hardly tell me anything important."
""Anything important"?! What are you talking about?"
"Mokkan," Predak retorts, giving me a smoldering glare. "You never once mentioned the two of you were a couple or that you even *liked* him."
I can feel my face blanch. How had she figured it out? Clearly, I've been strongly underestimating my twin. I glance up to explain myself, but her eyes are wide with incredulous shock. The anger drains out of her tone to be replaced by stunned astonishment. "By the fang," she gasps. "I had no idea I was actually *right*."
"It appears you know me well after all."
"You could have told me." Predak's voice is a whisper now. I'm honestly not sure whether she means telling her about my feelings for Mokkan or explaining that I'm leaving. Either way, I'm certain her pride is smarting.
"It's not like we'll never see each other again," I assure her. "This isn't goodbye forever. . .just a little while."
My twin's paws grip my shoulders tightly in protest. "But what if this really *is* goodbye? What if I *don't* see you again."
"Then let us making this parting on good terms," I offer. My words are little consolation to her barely hidden fears, yet it is the best I can do. "But I do intend to see you again, little sister."
Regaining her composure a bit, Predak snorts indignantly, ""*Little*"? Only by a few minutes." She tries to smile, but I can see it's forced.
"My advice to you, sister, don't end up following our mother's rules forever. There are places far nicer by far than our island."
"I'll have to keep it in mind."
Taking a step closer, I place an affectionate kiss on her forehead, and she doesn't pull away like usual. On most occasions, my sister — as well as my other siblings — despises any gesture that could be considered more than simple camaraderie. Predak's composure has returned entirely so that now she only looks rather sad. With a somber — but understanding — smile, she communicates her silent, albeit reluctant, approval.
"Fair seasons to you, brother, until we meet again."
~~~
It was harder than I'd expected. Out of my whole family, Predak is the one I'll sorely miss. Even though she can be horribly snippy and damnably stoic at the most inopportune times, I'll still miss her. For a moment, I wonder if I'm actually doing the right thing. It's probably rather late to begin worrying about my perception of right and wrong, yet I'm dwelling on it anyways. However, as soon as I arrive near the side of the road and see Mokkan waiting for me, I know I'm making the right choice. It's the most difficult one to be sure, but success is not won by the faint of heart.
Walking up to stand beside him, I ask, "Are you ready?"
He lets out a tense breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We've decided to make are way southwest which will eventually take us to a sunny climate leading away from Castle Marl. There is a path on the western side of Mossflower that we'll follow, but first my brother and I must stop at the river near the camp.
Since our unique markings will easily identify us, Mokkan came up with the plan of using dyes to hide are some of our strangest fur patterns. The sound of rushing water informs us that we're nearly there.
"C'mon," Mokkan says as we walk through a few brambles and come to the riverbank. Kneeling down at the water's edge
He grins. "What do you think?"
I lean over to see my reflection in the river. Although this part is a bit smoother, my image is still blurred, but it doesn't really matter. I can see well enough, and what I see is definitely startling.
"I hardly recognize myself!"
"Good," Mokkan replies as he hands me the dye, "that's the idea."
Shifting into a more comfortable position on the cold ground, I reach forward to begin covering his facial markings with the reddish brown dye. My elder brother slowly smiles as my paws seem to do more caressing than actual dye application. Using the darker brown next, I blend the colors in before adding hints of black. I must say, it looks pretty well done, and when the two of us turn to gaze into the river's mirror-like surface, there's a pair of common, ordinary gray foxes staring back.
"No one will recognize us," Mokkan affirms.
Wrapping an arm around his waist, I kiss his cheek, carefully avoiding the drying dye. "Then I suppose we'd better get going."
I take his paw in mine, and Mokkan smirks that familiar smirk of his. To my surprise, I fear I'm beginning to grow rather fond of that annoying facial gesture. Then, *finally*, he smiles a real smile.
"I love you, you know," he whispers. His voice is soft and — for a change — unsure. "I don't believe I've said it before."
Reaching down, I hold his other paw. "You didn't have to."
~END~
~*~*~*~*~*~
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hmm. . .over all, I'm pretty pleased with how this story came out, although I had some trouble writing Predak. Anyways, I'm definitely taking Flyer Foxfur's suggestion and starting a Silth/Lantur/Wilce triangle thingy, and I've got an idea for an interesting Cluny pairing that will actually be [gasp!] a het fic. It might be a couple weeks at the most before I post something though 'cause schoolwork and other plot bunnies have got me kinda swamped, but I'm workin' on some new stuff.
Mokkan: [sarcastically] Great.
Gelltor: Well, at least she's done torturing us, and by the way, I thought you said this would have a *happy* ending.
VampCat: But it did.
Asrcod: Ziral got killed, how is that considered "happy"?
Ziral: [indignantly] Yeah!
VampCat: [shrugs] Okay, I lied, so shoot me.
Marlfoxes: That's not fair!
VampCat: What?! *You* lot lie all the time!
Lantur: Yes, but when we do it it's to move the plot along. You authors just like to torment us.
VampCat: What do you mean —? Hey! [holding hands up and backing slowly away] Put down those axes —!