Note: Corvus' older sister is nicknamed Chlo - /k-low/

Trigger warnings: references to death (only in the second part)

Unexpected. Corvus could best summarize the past 48 hours as unexpected.

As he, begrudgingly, sat on the bench of the upstairs loft of his family's house, small cuts and scrapes on his face, with his sister fussing over his hair and needing to "fix it", Corvus tried to itemize the unexpected events:

First, he received a letter from Gren saying that he and General Amaya were going to visit his mom, and their trips might overlap. He appreciated the notice, but it was, well, unexpected.

Second, it was equally unexpected to actually run into the pair on their last leg of the trip - he didn't know the exact date they left, but they must've made excellent time.

Third, being ambushed by bandits while on the last leg because the general looked like she "had some money to spare" was unexpected.

Fourth, while he had heard that Gren didn't fight with a weapon, it was unexpected that Gren would try to talk the bandits down. Although, he supposed, it was a good distraction for some of the bandits and let General Amaya and him fight off the more focused ones. (And, actually, fighting with General Amaya in a real battle was amazing.) Still, worrying about Gren during the battle didn't help. That man could potentially become a hostage way too easily.

Fifth, it was unexpected to see his ex-boyfriend and (what must be) his new boyfriend while riding towards the town's stable. Corvus was friendly, waved and smiled, but still…his face a little scraped and body tired – not his best look.

Sixth, and most upsetting, it was unexpected to see his little two-year-old sister, Asha, hide behind Chlo's legs as they entered the house. "It's just a shy phase" his older sister had told him, but that didn't take the sting out. Asha was so upset that she was now spending time with Kendrik because of course she would be scared of her own brother but not their cousin and Corvus' childhood rival.

Last, he expected to get a little more time with his mother, but as happy as she was to see him, she could see him "anytime" over the next week and "General Amaya and Commander Gren are our honored guests". General Amaya did deserve the special treatment, but it also stung.

He sighed.

At least the bakery shop still looked good, pretty much exactly how he remembered it. The main floor was mostly the bakery store. From entering the house, there was a counter space on the left side – for displaying food and allowing it to cool, additional shelving units were behind it for similar purposes, as well as a door that led to the adjoining kitchen building outside. The wall opposite to the counters had built-in shelves for storing items that could be preserved, and between the two walls were tables and seating - in case customers wanted to eat in. The only section that wasn't part of the bakery was towards the back of the house, which had a staircase leading to the second floor, a small washing room under the staircase, as well as a door that led to what was now his parents' bedroom. Originally, Pops and Grams lived with them and slept on the main floor in the four-post bed. They were so proud when they could finally buy one. "A family heirloom", they called it.

The second floor, which they were fortunate enough to have, consisted of a giant open loft with a few pieces of furniture, all able to fold up in some manner to conserve space, scattered along the perimeter. The back and longest wall looked like storage cabinets with benches in front of it, but they were actually three box beds with sliding wooden doors. Here, most of the family would sleep – it was especially nice in the winter, plus it was the only place where he could have any privacy growing up.

All three "benches" actually opened at the top for storage and could even slide out for additional storage under the bed, but only two of them were used for that purpose. The sliding part of the bench adjoining Corvus' box bed was usually used as a trundle bed for occasions when a family member was spending the night or visiting from afar, and the storage part of the bench was used for storing the linen and wool blankets.

Other objects in the loft included a pole that pulled out to a ladder (in case there was a fire on the main floor and they needed to escape out the window), and a few folding tables if they needed to place an object down. Currently, he sat on the bench legs side saddled, still a little exasperated by the day's events, and his sister hovered behind him; having finished picking at leftover debris in his hair from the skirmish earlier, she was now trying her best to clean and moisturize his hair.

"I thought you were working on being less of an open book," she said while starting to put some leave-in conditioner in his hair.

Her hair was in large cornrows that came together in a loose bun in the back. After looking at Corvus' loose mop of curls she had deemed it "unacceptable" for his job. ("What if your hair gets in your face when battling elves? No, we're pulling it back." ) Corvus knew when to pick and choose his battles with his sister and hairstyles wasn't one he wanted to fight. Truthfully, he was going to ask for her opinion on what to do with it anyway and was just grateful that his previous shaved sides grew out enough to be weaved.

"I just had a lot of things happen over the past day," he mumbled as she worked through his hair to part it in half.

"I can tell, open book," she replied with a playful hint in her tone. "Hold."

And Corvus held down both halves of his hair with a hand each as she came around and inspected her work from the front and the back. "I just wasn't expecting things," he continued.

Chlo returned to the back, freeing one of his hands, and started parting the other side of what would become his first cornrow, "Says the master tracker. I thought you're supposed to easily adapt to your environment?"

"That's different, that's like a puzzle or mystery that Boss taught us how to find the clues and quickly respond. This feels more like an annoying riddle Grams would give us to think about for the day. The riddle is: how to handle all of this stuff thrown at you in a day."

Chlo sighed, "So no clues, you're just going to constantly mull it over in your mind until you may have a solution? - Hold." She commanded, and Corvus now held down both parts of his hair that weren't being worked on.

"Exactly."

She continued, her expert fingers tugging on his hair, pulling a little at his scalp. "So let's figure this out together."

Chlo was always better with people skills than he was; she was very down to earth and had a voice that made you naturally trust her. As a child, she was usually the one to get the group of cousins out of trouble by "reasoning" with the adults. Even knowing this, the immature part of Corvus gnawed on his irritation - he could figure this out himself. While the logical part of him knew - he was definitely making a bigger deal of this than he wanted to. If it was any one event in isolation, or even a few of them, he would've been fine, but seven all within a day – and some hitting on more emotional/insecure levels – it was probably better to talk this out.

"Fine." He consented. He could feel her smile as she continued to weave his hair. "I guess I'll start with General Amaya visiting."

"Oh yes, mom told us about it. Her letter came maybe a day or two after your letter, around Breach day."

The reminder of Breach day shook Corvus and made his brain go off on a tangent, "How was Breach day? I'm sorry I didn't have a letter prepared to arrive on the day of the anniversary."

Chlo made a hmm sound and pulled a little tighter, now getting towards the end of the braid, "I was a little surprised, you were so good about it your first year away, but…" She finished the small braid, coming to the front to face him and shrugging, "We managed." She smiled.

"Chlo, I'm so sorry, I was on a mission in Xadia and didn't keep track of the days there. By the time I returned it was the actual day." Corvus dropped his head, guilt weighing on him.

"Hey, we managed." She said softly and tilted his chin up, "It wasn't an easy day, never is, but each year it's improving. Mom had all of us here - everyone, and letters from those that served under her help, and your letter too, when it arrived. Mom liked reading about Xadia through your letter, so don't give the timing further thought."

She raised her eyebrows and Corvus nodded his head back and forth, "Understood."

"Come on, let's continue." She freed his other hand and started parting his hair again to make the path for another row. "So when General Amaya's letter came a few days later, we were surprised. Kendrik was joking that you had been kicked out."

"Ha-ha." Corvus said flatly.

"But the General just wanted to talk with mom, and she also had a favor to ask." She started weaving.

Corvus didn't say anything, but his curiosity was piqued.

"I guess the commander that's visiting had a sister who served under mom and died in battle. She thought it would be nice if they met and talked."

Gren had a sister that died during the Battle of the Breach…? So he was grieving her when he went to service.

Then it hit him: maybe he wasn't supposed to know. That was fairly personal and, certainly, Gren would've told him if he wanted that information shared.

"Oh. You're right. Maybe I should've kept that to myself. He is your commanding officer after all. He might've not wanted you to know…"

And for a second Corvus wondered, how did she know what I was thinking? Then he remembered, "Right, open book."

"And I know you so well, I can read you without looking. I can hear your thoughts." Likewise, he could hear her grin.

"Well, I don't actually report to Gren. I report directly to General Amaya herself, but we are friends, and maybe he wanted to tell me that in his own time…"

He felt Chlo's fingers stop for a moment, before picking back up, "Oh, Gren is it?"

Woops.

"You're on a first name basis? No rank needed?" She was trying to sound nonchalant as she finished the row.

"Like I said, we're friends."

Chlo returned to face him, eyebrow raised and a sparkle in her warm brown eyes. She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to - her expression was pointed enough. She refocused on his hair, parting down the opposite side of the first two rows, returning to the back – thankfully her scheming eyes no longer in front of him, and he held the rest of the hair away without further directions.

Great, Corvus thought to himself. Just great.

"Historically speaking," She started, and Corvus cringed, "you and I have always had the same taste in men, and I know I found the commander to be quite attractive, so, if history is the base of reason, I imagine you have probably noticed his attractiveness. Hmm?"

Corvus wished he could sink into the floor. He sighed; he was not having this conversation.

"Gosh, those freckles were so cute! And he's tall too." She was practically nudging him with words, "Plus you're friends so he must be nice." She was beaming, he could tell.

"Chlo, I don't want to date anyone I work with." And his tone stated clearly: enough.

There was silence for a moment, "Then how are you going to meet anyone? All you do is work," she mumbled.

"I don't know. Maybe I'll meet someone in a town I visit, or maybe here while I'm on vacation." He softened. "I know you want me to be happy, and I am happy. I have my dream job. I feel like I'm finally getting to where I want to be in my career. I feel like I can make a difference, like mom! Besides, a relationship alone doesn't guarantee happiness, we both know that."

"I know." She was quieter too as she finished that row. "It's just… don't you ever feel that pressure? Mom and dad practically loved each other since they were kids. They started courting at fifteen. Fifteen, Corvus! You're seventeen, I'm nineteen, I just feel like I'm behind in, I don't know, finding my soulmate?"

"Heh, soulmates? You need to stop listening to dad, you know he's a romantic. Mom says we forge our own soulmates. You need to find good materials, but you design and smelt the materials together – it's your joint creation."

Chlo laughed and resumed parting his hair, now making the row curve to match the curve of his head on the side. "I never thought that was a good analogy."

Corvus shrugged, "Well mom is a warrior, not a romantic like dad, and definitely not a poet like Grams." He could hear a soft heh.

Her voice hesitated momentarily, "Leo has a new boyfriend now. I just...wanted to give you warning, in case you see him."

Corvus half laughed, "Oh, too late for that. Guess who I saw as I was riding in with my stylish hair?"

He felt Chlo pause, "No. I mean it wasn't that bad but it was bad enough. And to have Leo see it...No."

Corvus chuckled again, "Yea. That was another reason why I was in my earlier mood." Although Corvus would have to admit, he didn't feel so agitated anymore. It's amazing what talking with his sister could do.

She chuckled too, "I take back all of my teasing, seeing your ex on a bad hair day is – yikes. I won't say the worst, but it's high up there."

Corvus smiled.

She let out another long breath, "But, in equal warning, he still visits. You can't date a childhood friend and then expect us to break up with him too. Well, that and dad does have the best bakery in town."

Corvus smiled sadly to himself. He had "dated" a few people before Leo, a girl and another boy, but Leo was his first real "boyfriend" with all the emotional weight behind it. They started officially dating when he was thirteen, but then his mom returned home that summer without her legs and the world got heavy. As supportive as Leo was, Corvus was taking more from the relationship than he could spend time giving, and they mutually broke up, but stayed friends. Things slowly got better in the house, and they got back together when he turned fifteen. Five months later Asha was born, and while he was getting less sleep, either from Asha waking up in the middle of the night or staying out a little later with Leo, life felt like it was on track for being "normal" again; they were even talking about officially courting and their families kept comparing them to his mom and dad's love story. But there was a gnawing inside that appeared ever since his mom first started recovering from her loss that Corvus was having a harder time ignoring: Corvus wanted to join the army - wanted to serve their country in her place. He wanted to help to create a world where no child had to lose a parent physically or mentally. He believed King Harrow could build a better world and he wanted to serve his kingdom on the front lines.

But, understandably, Leo was hesitant about this dream. He remembered how much pain their family was in when his mother returned. Saw how hard it was to work through it. Saw how hard they continued to work through it. Leo didn't want a future where that history could repeat itself.

Leo's future was one where they courted for a few years, Corvus would slowly take over Boss' business selling hides and meat as a professional hunter, and he would continue working with his father in shipping goods, then they would get married and start a family in the town they grew up in with all of their family beside them. It was a beautiful dream and perfectly suited for Leo, whose idea of excitement was taking a boat ride across the other side of the gulf. There was nothing wrong with it, except, it wasn't what Corvus wanted.

Corvus wanted what his parents had. Court at fifteen, join the army at sixteen - visiting twice a year for a week or two, become engaged at eighteen and marry at twenty, children a little later – maybe? He wasn't too sure about kids. He wanted Leo to continue to pursue his dream and allow Corvus to pursue his dream too, independently but still together. Growing up, his parents always made it look easy.

Arguments then always started small, just a snide comment – probably said out of hurt, but then they would grow…and grow…and never got anywhere. Leo's dream was right for Leo, and Corvus felt his dream was right for him, the only thing that was wrong about each of their aspirations became increasingly clear: they weren't supposed to be in the other's.

The second mutual breakup hurt way more. It felt like failure. Like, if I can't make it with Leo, whom I've known since I've been old enough to remember anyone, then I can't make it with anyone. It was easier to force himself to stay in the present, to focus on his mother's blessing to join the army, focus on Chlo becoming a doctor and all the good that would do, focus on training, on work, on helping dad help mom, and focus on Asha whom he watched as often as he could until he was old enough to join the armed forces after a few months.

The morning Corvus left for the army Leo was waiting for him outside his door, dark brown, tightly curled hair pulled back, tawny beige freckled face looking determined to not cry. They hugged for a minute or two, the only physical contact since they broke up, and it was nice to feel connected again, but then it was time to say goodbye, wish each other good luck and leave.

The last thing Leo said was, "Make sure she's worth it."

"She" being Katolis. It was the first time Corvus realized he had abandoned his childhood sweetheart because he was in love with his country more.

"Corvus…" Chlo broke the silence, snapping Corvus back into the present. She was finishing her work on his hair.

"I'm fine, Chlo, really." He took another deep breath. "See, too much in one day." He tried to sound lighter.

She took a deep breath too, "You're right," She hugged him from behind, pulling her arms around him tight, "Too much for one day."

He rested his hands on her arms and they stayed embraced for a few moments longer before Chlo pulled back. From the corner of his eyes, he could see her wipe her cheek before refocusing on his hair. She gathered the braids and tied them together. "The ends of these braids will unravel but the tie will keep your cornrows in place." She was using her motherly voice now as she inspected his hair again, "This will do until you come home in the winter. You know how to maintain it, right?"

Corvus turned around and resisted rolling his eyes. "Yes, ma'am," he droned.

She grinned, "Good. Now let's go see what dad is baking outside. It smells good."

Corvus smiled, "It always smells good!"

Amaya had spent the past hour or so listening to General Tishala recount stories about the Third East Battalion to her and Gren. Looking over, she could practically see the stars in Gren's eyes. The past two days had been eventful, saying goodbye to her nephews, meeting up with Corvus, followed by being ambushed and the fight that followed, but the rest of the trip had been very pleasant. Up till this point, Amaya hadn't taken a vacation that didn't involve visiting family, but she was glad she came up with this idea, because Gren was family.

She was happy to see that Tish looked well too. Her hair was short with small twists at the top, streaks of gray mixed with her natural dark brown. Her face could tell a story in itself, she could see the lines furrow on her forehead from sad and worried expressions she must've worn many times, but the corner of her eyes had those signature crow's feet from smiling and laughing. Tish had certainly experienced her share of ups and downs, much like many of the citizens that served in Katolis' military and their families.

Early in Amaya's military career, both she and Sarai had trained with Tish. Sarai and Amaya outpaced her in both rank and close range combat skill, but Tish was no pushover. Extremely dedicated and loyal, she also rose through the ranks at an admirable pace, and she was skilled in long range weapons as well as evasive combat. If Amaya remembered correctly, her father was a hunter and taught her from an early age how to set traps and track animals. She was very calculating, and very much like Corvus. Seeing Tish now made it more obvious to Amaya how the two were related not just in cognitive strategies, but he even looked like Tish in terms of facial structure and eye color.

The room they were in was nice as well. Amaya was situated so she could face the door that stood in the distant corner. This allowed her to see the whole room, as well as both Gren's and Tish's faces at the same time. The room wasn't big, but big enough for a four-post bed, a small table with some low stools to sit around, and a nice window to look out of as well as bring in a fair amount of light. It also seemed big enough for Tish to comfortably move around in her wheelchair.

Amaya jolted her head - her mind had wandered. She needed to return to the conversation. She knew how to read lips, but it could get tiring after a while; context helped a lot to help her know what the word was and, now that she zoned out, it might be more difficult to jump back into the conversation.

Gren continued to lean in towards Tish, completely enamored by the story, but almost like he sensed Amaya looking at him he shook his head out of the story and asked the other general to pause.

"I never knew my sister liked reading so much! She would mention books, sometimes quote them, but she never mentioned a book club! Oddly social of her, although I can see her enjoying debating points in the book." He spoke and signed to catch her up on the topic.

In the corner of her eye she could see Tish laugh and nod. Amaya nodded as well – all caught up – and the smile on his face and stars in his eyes told Amaya that Gren was still over the moon.

Gren partially turned towards Tish, both were making efforts to make sure their lips were at an angle where Amaya could read them. "Thank you again, General Tishala, for taking the time to talk with me and tell me all these stories about my sister and your battalion. I don't know if I'll ever have the words to properly express my gratitude."

Amaya smiled fondly at Gren.

"The joy is mine as well. It's so wonderful to meet you. I can see the resemblance between you two, especially the freckles," Tish replied.

Gren blushed, "Embla's hair had a tad more of a reddish tint, and she had my mother's green eyes, but all three of us inherited how quickly our face freckles."

Tish's smile grew, "Well, not just in looks, you both have good hearts – I can tell. Embla was a wonderful lieutenant, and a good person – very supportive to any person in our battalion. I adored having her and it's so nice to meet the brother she would often talk about." Tish's smile turned a little sadder, "She couldn't have been prouder of you. Each letter she received from you, from the time you were nine, she cherished." She wiped a tear that streaked down her face, "When we became closer she would tell me about them, I almost feel like I watched you grow up through your letters. She talked about visiting you and your battalion during that past winter solstice up until the day of the..." She trailed off.

Gren placed his right hand on Tish's, "Thank you. Truly."

Tish wiped another stray tear with her other hand before placing it over Gren's and giving it a squeeze.

"You don't have to answer this, but I'm curious, did you receive a letter from her before the..?" She didn't finish but the question was understood.

A small movement from the door caught Amaya's attention; light came in from the other side, but then it quickly shut. She quickly refocused on Gren, catching him mid sentence; thankfully it helped to already know the answer.

"…I still have it to this day and I'll read it sometimes when I need her encouragement."

Tish visibly let out a breath, "I'm glad it made it to you." She took another visible breath, "I was debating about telling you this, but I think it might bring you some comfort."

Gren leaned forward, Amaya too, focusing on Tish's face.

"Ever since General Amaya wrote I've been reflecting about that battle...and on you…Were you the voice who called "retreat" from Amaya's horse?"

Gren nodded, "Yes, that was me."

"When Thunder turned around and hit us with his tail… … You see, Embla wasn't far from me… She… She probably…"

Gren fully faced Tish now, both hands on hers. Amaya couldn't read exactly what Gren was saying, but seeing his head shaking, reading his body language, and knowing Gren, it was probably something like, you don't have to continue, it's okay.

Tish paused, closed her eyes, took visible breaths, then half-laughing, half-crying took the handkerchief Gren must've insisted she use and wiped her tears before returning for a few more deep breaths.

With one more breath that moved her shoulders, she continued, her face showing determination to finish, "As I was being carried away, I could hear your voice call out to retreat. If I could hear your voice...and she was not far... then it's likely that yours was the last voice she heard." She took another visible breath, "I think that would have brought her great comfort in her final moments." Tish wiped new tears streaming down her cheeks, and Gren wiped the tears that escaped him as well.

Amaya took a deep breath, looked up and blinked rapidly to try to clear away the tears forming in her own eyes.

When she had her tears under control, and looked back towards Gren, she was unsurprised to see him out of the stool, kneeling next to Tish, clasped tightly in one another's arms.

Amaya took another deep breath. She was not going to cry, she was not going to cry, she repeated to herself.

As Gren pulled back, both him and Tish still wiping tears away, Gren lowered himself to make sure to catch Tish's eyes. She couldn't read exactly what he said, but she instinctively knew: Thank you.

Tish half smiled, half sobbed as she pulled him into another hug, gently swaying him back and forth. "You too, thank you."

Amaya stood up. Focusing on the door, she wanted to give them a little privacy, but as she passed Gren she felt his hand on her arm and he pulled her into the hug.

Amaya couldn't hear their sobbed words as she was squished in between the pair, but she understood it all the same: Thank you.

The three of them stayed in the embrace for a beat before both Tish and Gren pulled back and looked towards the door. Someone was probably knocking.

"Do you want a moment?" Amaya asked Gren, standing up and not sure if she should stay or go.

Gren wiped his face and shook his head, "No, this was needed. Thank you." He wiped the last of his tears away, "Do I look presentable?" he signed, face still flushed from earlier.

"Not yet." She half smirked and ruffled his hair affectionately. Gren always tried to look and act professional, but honestly, worrying about professionalism after the news he was just told, sometimes he needed a reminder that it was fine to let your guard down around friends. "Much better," she signed.

Gren batted her hand away, a small grin on his face. "Remind me not to ask you next time." He signed.

Amaya grinned cheekily and returned to her stool while Gren tried to fix his hair with his fingers. When he was done he nodded to Tish, who must've shouted for the person to come in.

Corvus peeked in before fully entering the room with a large plate of cookies. "Chlo and I thought you might enjoy a little snack." He smiled, hesitantly walking in.

Amaya looked at Gren to start translating, "You've found my weakness, Corvus. Cookies are my favorite type of sweet."

Corvus walked with more confidence and placed the plate in the center of the small round table before sitting on the last stool. "Well, today is oatmeal raisin. I made them, but it's Pop's recipe. Enjoy!"

Amaya dug in - they were delicious. She'd have to think of an excuse to have Corvus make some at the breach.

"Corvus, these are amazing! Thank you." Amaya signed and Gren translated.

Covus flushed, "Thank you."

"I second that Corvus, these are great! Also, your new hairstyle looks nice." Gren said, gesturing to his own hair, which helped Amaya know he changed topics.

"It does look nice." Amaya agreed.

Corvus blushed further, "Thank you. My sister styled it for me."

"Chlo did a nice job." She read Tish saying, her eyes soft and affectionate.

"Sisters can be pretty great." Gren said, his face a little absentminded.

Amaya looked down to her second tasty treat. It wasn't a jelly tart, but Sarai would've loved these. "Yes, sisters are wonderful." she signed.