Jo Shanks stared into the fire as he listened to his friends talking around him. Normally he was cheerful, joking with the others, but tonight he couldn't. His heart was heavy with memories. Today was Captain Helmer's birthday, but it also marked the day his mother died. It had happened years ago, but he still missed her. It wasn't long after that, that his father changed, he became bitter, and harsh.
Suddenly Jo was shoved, and he almost toppled off the log he was sitting on. He turned to Picket "What?"
Picket jumped back playfully holding his hands up in defense "Easy! You just seem tense. What's wrong?"
Jo just shook his head in disgust and moved further away from Picket. From across the fire Cole spoke up
"We all know that everyone fights with swords because they are better, but tell us. Why do you claim the bow is superior? And no telling us about all the times you've saved our lives, those were just by chance."
Jo rolled his eyes, but couldn't smile; that memory was one of the worse ones. He desperately searched for a story that was funny, but his mind was blank, except for his fathers glare. He shook his head "No."
The others stared at him and he shifted, embarrassed by the sharpness in his voice "I mean...sorry. I just- you don't want to hear about that."
Helmer stood and put some more wood on the fire before going to Jo "Son, we can see somethings bugging you. It'll be better once you let it out."
Jo looked at Helmer in surprise; he was always gruff, and very rarely did he have a heart-to-heart talk with his young bucks. But, Jo knew, when he did, he was strait to the point, but never trampled on their feelings. He was grateful that Helmer was doing that for him tonight. But truthfully he was in no mood to share about his mother. That could wait for another night. He looked into the flames devouring the logs of wood "Did you know I had a brother?"
The other shook their heads but Jo didn't notice "Well technically I still do. We were attacked by wolves one day."
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Flashback
Jo's older brother, Dan, came rushing into the room "Jo! There you are. Father wants us to practice with our swords for a bit" he lowered his voice "Then he said we can go meet with cousin Moonstone!"
Jo's face lit up, they rarely were aloud to go visit their cousin alone because he lived out side of the citadel. The two brothers rushed through their practice, Jo was as clumsy with the sword as always, but Dan was, in Jo's eyes, a master.
They were done practice, and had left the citadel about half a hour ago, when suddenly Dan spun on Jo and shoved him. Jo stumbled back and tripped on a stone, falling to his back "What are you doing?!"
His brother's eye's had a angry glint in them, something that scared Jo. Dan fell on him, kicking and scratching, and Jo struggled, trying to get on top of his brother. Eventually he managed to wrestle his brother, till he was the one pined on the ground, heaving heavy breathes. Jo held his brother down till his eyes cleared and he took a deep breath. Jo let him go and stepped away "What happened?"
Dan looked at him blankly, and Jo sighed, his brother had been like that ever since he had been found alone, half dead, from wolf wounds. Most times he was normal, but other times he grew angry, then he became blank, not remembering what he did in his anger.
He went to Dan and pulled hum up, letting him lean on his shoulder. They moved their way back home, stumbling over roots, and rocks. They were still some way away from the Citadel when Jo heard growling, and rustling, then felt a heavy weight slam into his back throwing him to the ground. He felt a searing sharp pain along his back, and he went limp.
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When Jo awoke his back felt numb, but when he touched it his hand came away stained with blood. He slowly pushed himself up, nausea making his stomach clench. He looked around, and saw a lone wolf advancing on Dan, who was laying with his face to Jo. He saw terror in Dan's eyes, and his stomach rolled. He wouldn't reach then in time. There was nothing he could do. He shifted as a sharp rock dug into his leg, and a idea came into his head. He slowly reached for the rock and grasped it, he would need to get closer to the wolf to be able to hit it. Jo started crawling, and suddenly the pain came back in a burst. He slumped forward, but took a deep breath and pushed on. When he got close enough he threw the rock, and saw the wolf growl, advancing on him. Just as the wolf pounced, the world became dark.
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Once again Jo woke up, but this time he was laying in a bed. He pushed himself up, wincing at the bolts of pain going through his back and shoulder. He was gently pushed down, and he turned his head to see his friend Haydan
"Slow down! You'll open your wounds again."
Jo looked around as best as he could laying on his stomach "Where's Father?"
Haydan sighed a look of compassion in his eyes "He hasn't been to see you yet. He's with Dan right now."
Jo's eyes widened "Dan! Is he fine?"
Haydan nodded "Yes, he has a cut on his arm, and some bruises, but thanks to you he's fine."
Jo looked at him "What happened?"
"The scouts found you just as you threw the rock at that wolf, they weren't able to kill him though before he did some damage to your shoulder."
Just then a big rabbit, with steal grey fur entered the room, Jo took a deep breath "Father."
The rabbit stood by Jo's bet "Jo. You seem to be healing. Now." his voice hardening "Now. Dan tells me of his panic attack. Why did you not keep him safe? You allowed the wolves to attack, then you allowed you brother to get hurt. He may be better then you at fighting, but you need to protect him after a attack, you know that."
Jo sighed, his emotions that were already tense, were taking a battering at his fathers cold words. "Yes Father." He thought about what he realized during the wolf attack "Father, can I learn the bow?"
His father stared at him "Why?"
"It's easier to reach the enemies from far away if you can't get to them on time."
Jo's father snorted "You wouldn't need to do that if you killed them sooner. But do what you want."
Jo lowered his head "Yes Father. Thank you."
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Present Time
Jo continued staring into the fire as he was talking, so he didn't notice when someone knelt by him and put a hand on his shoulder
"Your father loves you."
Jo looked up at Helmer "How do you know? He loves Dan, but-"
Helmer broke in "I know because I met him once, and he talked a lot about his sons. Both of them. He is just harder on you because you have more responsibility with the family, and he needs to make sure you are able."
Jo blinked and looked over to Helmer, then to Cole who was speaking "Sorry I made you talk about that."
Picket nodded in agreement and Jo smiled and shoved him "Don't worry about it. What you should worry about is what the others will do when I tell them about the time you threw you sword into the water."
Picket's face suddenly shewed a horrified expression "No!"
Jo just grinned.
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Hope you enjoyed. I wrote this only for personal enjoyment.