A/N: Hello again! I'm sorry if this update was a bit slower than the first two, but I will try to have one up at least one a week, No promises though. The only exception should be this coming week, as I leave this very afternoon to attend my cousin's wedding in Colorado, and then it's straight to Michigan for Cherry Festival and more family vacation. I will, ehue very sadly, not have Wi-Fi for a good portion of this trip.
Well onto lighter matters. My reviewers!
QueenOfThePride
Axelgirl14
My technically sister, Kell, as a guest
J-J-ANIME-ROCKS
I.F.T.S, hello again sweet!
Ahr0, lovely to see you again!
And CoutrygalxHetalia, a blast to see you again too darling!
Many thanks to you for your lovely reviews! They make me so happy and keep me writing! Thank you to all who favorited and fallowed this story as well, you mean the world to me! And even bigger thanks to those favorited me as an Author! I don't know why you would, but thank you!
Also, since I won't be around to say it, Happy early Fourth if July!
Now onto the story! Read read my fluffels! Read!
The first few days after the attack none of the tribes dared to leave Maykelo Island. The fear of the Dead Islanders still roaming the sea and the deep jungles of the island kept the people from wandering more than a mile or two away from the village. The three Chiefs often conveyed in Romulus's home to try and work things out about the new threat of Dead Island Tribe. At least, when Ivan wasn't with his mate and their new born daughter, Anya. The scare of the attack had sent Seychelles (I'm not bothering to change her name it sounds pretty anyway) into early labor, and she had fought through the rest of the day to have her baby. Thankfully the brand new beta girl had been born healthy, small, but healthy, and Ivan was often found with her cradled in his arms while his mate rested. She seemed to be the one and only small joy that had come of this attack.
Feli on the other hand refused to leave the stable for anything but the absolute essentials. He tended to Felicity and Berlitz's wounds all day and night, busying himself to keep his mind off of the fact that his promised alpha was now gone. He didn't even once think the word 'dead'. No he just wasn't. He knew Ludwig wouldn't let them get him, he would find some way to escape from them and come back. Any day he would show up at the Docks in a beaten enemy boat, bruised and battered but alive. He just knew it. There was no other outcome to this.
In the mean time he changed bandages and cleaned wounds, and spent hours just sitting with the big blue casaraptor as he sulked. Having his partner stolen from him, it probably hurt Berlitz as much as it hurt Feli, maybe even more. He rarely left his place by the window, just staring up through the leafy tree tops at the blue sky above. Feli wondered if he didn't watch it because it reminded him of Ludwig's eyes. Felicity often sat with him, tucked in behind him so their uninjured side touched, and crooned what sounded like songs to him often. She wasn't as bad off as her charge, or her new bunk mate, but she worried over their pains, and that pained her.
Lovi and his new friend, Antonio, stopped by every so often to check up on them, or when he came to see Pele. The white and sulfur casaraptor had been injured also, with a long gash running from the middle of his back down into his right flank. Felicity and Berlitz could at least get up and move around, but Pele would be down and out for awhile. So Feli tended him too. Gladiator, sick of all the chicks invading his stable had moved in with Teuton at Aldrich's home for the time being in Berlitz's place.
It was there that Feli found Gilbert on the day he finally left his own casaraptors to check on his Nonno's. He was just outside with a wooden tub full of salty ocean water, with several shredded rags soaking in it. However the water wasn't clear and clean, it ran with a dark pink hue to it. One Feli recognized well by now. He knew that few of the casaraptors had escaped with out some form of wound, but were the old lizards' wounds both so bad that it made the water so dark?
"Feli!? What are you going here? I though you were with Berlitz and Felicity." The albino asked as he rung one cloth out, attempting to get as much us the bloodied water out of the fabric as possible. He wad certainly surprised to see the youngest of the twin princes out and about. No one save for Lovi, Antonio, and the chieftains had seen him all week.
"I just came a down to check on Gladiator." He said quietly. A tiny smile graced Gilbert's face and he tossed his silvery head in the direction of the open stable. He dropped the mostly clean rag into a pile outside the tub and picked up another one.
"He's inside. Mostly graze wounds, nothing like Teuton's though. He'll be unawesomely laid up for awhile." He said with sadness touching the edges of his voice. Feli almost breathed a sigh of relief hearing that old Gladiator was relatively okay, but didn't at the news of Teuton's injuries.
"Is he a ok?" Feli prodded lightly as he peaked around the door into the dark stable. Gladiator was in the corner standing over a bed palm leaves that contained the stretched out form of Teuton. Normally a casaraptor would sleep with their head held up or at least tucked into their side, but Teuton let his long deep green neck stretch out, and head loll to the side. White linen bandages were wrapped around the upper most portion of his neck, and more swaddled his rib cage and left long leg. Even in sleep Feli could read the pain in the giant lizard's expression. Gladiator himself seemed to take a gentle protective stance over his old friend, before realizing it was his own partner's blood that stood before him.
"Veee~ Poor thing. I a hope he heals a quickly." Feli mumbled quietly as he shuffled inside and over to the larger stormy gray casaraptor. Gladiator lowered his head to brush the boy's shoulder and rumbled a bit in greeting. True to Gilbert's words, his sides were littered with small scales and cuts where his smooth waterproof scales had been ripped off. But he didn't appear in any major pain. The young Omega gently ruffled his frill like his Nonno did every morning and then stroked his cheek affectionately. In return he cooed nudging the stiff bamboo bark wrapped around his wrist. He had taken a nasty fall off of Felicity, and while it wasn't broken, Kiku had wrapped the sprain any way.
"Me too." Gilbert whispered quietly, as he continued to ring the dark water from the rags. Feli turned back to the casaraptors and let his hand rest in Gladiator's warm red feathers. The humidity in the air seemed to become even more heavy with the silence that surrounded them. Feli didn't quite feel like going back to Berlitz, Felicity, and Pele just yet. After all Lovi had been pestering him to get out for some time now.
But the silence between the two was neither the companionable kind shared between he and Ludwig, nor the tense one when he and Lovi fought. It just was, and it was mildly awkward. Like they both had something to say but couldn't quite get it out into the open. There was something bugging both of them.
"Hey uhm, Feli?" Gilbert was the first to break the heavy muggy humid air. The omega started slightly at the sudden sound of his voice. He turned halfway around from where he had shifted to sit beside Teuton to look at him. The albino teen was standing in the doorway rubbing at the back of his neck. "Uhm I, I'm sorry about Ludwig and all. I know its not easy, he's my awesome bruderlein, so I just, I thought you might like to know you're not alone." He said quietly. He continued to stand there awkwardly for a moment before Feli beckoned him over to come and sit with him and the lizards. He scrambled over quickly enough and settled himself behind Teuton, resting his hands in the old casaraptor's dulling yellow fringe.
"Ve~ It's, it just a hurts so much!" Feli whimpered. He hadn't cried, at least not in front of an actual person. Felicity had cooed and nuzzled him all night when he cried after waking a day after the attack. He had ran to the stable and found her and Berlitz put up with Pele and collapsed in a heap of a shaking trembling mess of tears. He felt like doing that again now, and could feel himself just starting to quiver.
The hand that alighted on his shoulder was both startling and gentle at the same time. He had watched Ludwig and Gilbert rough house and wrestle in the sand before and knew the strength and power that the lithe albino alpha possessed. But this did not feel like his sometimes too strong pats on the back. This was the touch of an older brother.
"Hey. If you vant to cry you can. I'm not going to judge. He's mein bruderlein, and since you are promised to him that makes you my awesome little brother too." Gilbert whispered. Feli needed no other encouragement. He practically flew over Teuton and into Gilbert as new tears steamed his face. The older boy's arms held him tight in a hug as a few of his own tears fell. They wouldn't have to be sad alone at least. The little omega curled himself up against the albino alpha and cried into his shoulder while a gentle soothing hand carded through his hair.
Teuton, despite his injures lifted his head from the cool palm leaves and ever so gently nuzzled into the omega's side. His nose just bumped the sprained wrist, causing a slight whimper of pain, but it got Feli's attention. He looked at the casaraptor's head in his lap and reached down with his good hand to stroke the smooth almost snake like deep green scales of his snout. His tears still fell freely, though much more quietly now, and a few landed on Teuton's own cheek.
"I-I bet you m-miss him too." Feli babbled quietly. He gave a low sad sounding keen in response. Even he missed the little blond alpha. He had watched the boy grow up, and considered him as much a part of his family as he did Aldrich. Feli continued to pet him and stroke his fingers over the few feathers at the corner of each eye. He gave a soft hm and reached his bad hand up to gently whisk his tears away.
"Hey G-gilbert? You're promised. Who is yours?" The question seemed to come out of the blue. But considering his own was currently missing, Gilbert thought it might be out of curiosity, since Feli had never seen him with his promised. But then there was a very good reason for that.
"My little Birdie? His name is Matthew. He's from Tiberi tribe. I plan on going there vhen I'm old enough." He answered as a vague smile crossed his odd features. He remembered the sweet boy so well. His evening sunshine blond hair with its strange loop-da-loop curl, and eyes the exact blue violet of a pansy flower, and he had a smile so shy and gentle it was hard to dislike him for anything. It was that same innocent smile and shy kindness that had led the blond omega to him one Storm Festival when they were but six.
"Vee~ Tiberi? How did you even meet him then?" Feli asked snuffling and looking up at him with wide still wet curious eyes. It seemed so strange that the two knew each other so well yet they came from two very different tribes. Even stranger that they were promised. It seemed almost like a fairy tale.
"At Storm Festival. And he's uh, he's, he's their chieftain's little brother. And he likes to tag along vhen he comes to talk your grandfather. Ve just, it kinda just happened. Ve vere meant to be. And even if he dose live far away now. I know I'll get to be vith him all the time someday." His voice held and affectionate wistful tone that convinced Feli further of the fairy tale part. Yet it sighed him at the same time. If Gilbert and his promised Matthew could still love each other as much as they seemed too, from so far away. Then maybe there was hope that even if Ludwig didn't return any time soon, he would still love Feli when he returned.
"I hope I don't have to wait long to see my Luddy again." He whispered quietly Gilbert wasn't sure at first if he had heard him. But he had and he simply nodded his silent agreement as Feli curled up closer to him. Tears no longer rolled down his face and while sadness still lingered in the air, the easier brotherly company the two shared drifted about as well.
Gilbert held him like that for a long time. He didn't bother to actually calculate it in his head but he knew it had been several hours and getting late into the evening by the time someone came looking. Teuton had long since fallen back into sleep soothed by Feli's light touches and hadn't even stirred when heavy foot falls sounded outside. Both doors to the shelter were thrown wide as several people appeared in the doorway.
Firstly he recognized his own grandfather, and then Feli's. Lovi, Elizaveta, and Antonio were with them as well. Trailing behind were the other two chieftains, Ivan and Alfred, and peaking out shyly from behind the latter's legs was his precious Birdie. Feli was on the verge of sleep himself when they came storming up to the shelter. He only sat half way up in a bleary daze to see who it was.
"Oh thank goodness, we though you'd run off looking for Ludwig." Romulus nearly cried with relief as he strode in and picked up his oldest grandson. He was still small enough to do so, even at ten. Feli almost instantly fell back limp again and sleepily nuzzled into his Nonno's shoulder.
"Mm a sorry for a making you worry Nonno." He mumbled as his dull amber eyes drifted to less than half open. Romulus soothed his grandson's back with gentle touches as the worry and panic drifted from his face. Gilbert too stood as Matthew approached and all but leapt into his waiting arms. He wasn't the jealous type, and he loved seeing his promised alpha stepping up for his younger brother's own promised. But that didn't mean he couldn't see that Gilbert needed some comforting too even at fourteen, because, it was after all his brother missing.
So Matthew let the alluring albino hold him close and tight while Lovi and Elizaveta fussed over Feli for a moment before Romulus lead them out with the boy in arms. Ivan gave a gentle relieved sigh that the boy was in fact safe. He had seen the terror in Romulus's amber eyes and being a new parent himself, couldn't stand the thought of another child gone. Alfred and Matthew had joined them when Lovi had thought he might be with Gilbert looking in on Gladiator. Lovi, despite his annoyance with him, knew his twin very well and loved him none the less. Antonio and Elizaveta had trailed along for support and in worry as well. Feli had many people looking out for him, whether he realized it right now or not.
Feli was carted home and set in his hammock, leaving the care of the casaraptors to Lovi for the night. Though he didn't mind. He had been neglecting his beloved Pele in favorite on Antonio for a few days now. And Pele was equally happy to see his partner and spend a few hours with him. Felicity enjoyed the fresh face as well and even Berlitz, who didn't particularly like Lovi at all, was happier to see the younger twin.
By the next morning, it was determined that the other tribes would leave that evening. Nothing was getting done, and nothing could be done until storm season passed and they could launch a counter attack on the Dead Islanders. So the chieftains decided to adjourn and call a proper council when dry season rolled back around.
By birth, Feli and Lovi were obligated to see the other tribes off of their island. It was good diplomatic practice, some claimed. Lovi called it discipline training. Gilbert joined them at the end of the Docks as sails (yes the boats have sails, mind you though, their like a bed sheet tied to a stationery post, nothing fancy) were unfurled and people began saying goodbyes. He left his Birdie with a lingering goodbye kiss and a promise to wait out the toughest storms to see him again. New little Anya was given a rare blessing. Though born as the princess of Kilowe Tribe, she was born on Maykelo's soil, and so held a special place in both tribes. She would be welcomed with open arms to either with no rituals necessary.
The peoples of the two tribes were sent off with the blessing of safe passage home, and strong winds in their sails. They cast off into a bloody sunset filled with thick puffy clouds, one promising fair weather for the next day. The gods' storms held off for now, being kind to their chosen children. Feli should only have had to stay as long as there was a boat on the horizon, but even once the golden sea had swallowed them he did not leave. He stayed there, letting the ocean breeze pull his hair back even as the sun disappeared and the sky turned indigo and the stars appeared. Eventually it was Gilbert who returned to lead him home.
With one last sad glance at the darkening waters, he turned, "Luddy will come back. Even if it's not soon, I will wait until he does." and left the Docks.
A/N: Well, midly un eventful chapter, but it contains good character development. And we got to meet Gilbert's promised, Matthew! I'm a sucker for PruCan. And I needed it for Feli's sake. To prove that yes, even a long distance relationship where you don't see each other works!
Also, the new cover image? Yeah I drew that. It is up on Deviant Art if you want to see a bigger version, along with a drawing of the Casaraptors, if you would like to see. Just search the fan fiction's title. My Username there is NarukaUzumaki13, because I was, and am, a massive Naruto nerd too. Well, Bu-bye! I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July (Should you live in the US)!
