I admit I had no idea what to call this chapter.

Evasion & Silence

Nashia didn't apologize later or the next day or any days following that one either. Not only did it put a strain on their relationship, Nashia was also acting more and more distant from their mother. It was mother she was really angry with, Vervain realized, and he could see how it broke their mother's heart to see her daughter like this. Vervain tried to comfort her the best he could but it only did so much good. It angered Vervain. Why was Nashia acting like this? She knows Thyme is only doing what she feels is best for them, what she feels will help them survive in the increasingly more difficult times (because morale had plummeted again in Efrafa and elil were breathing down their necks now). So why was she being so stubborn? Why didn't she admit she was wrong and apologize to him and make up with mother? The fact that Thyme had turned down the Captain's proposal to allow Nashia to join the Owsla certainly hadn't helped the situation. The tension between Vervain and Nashia hadn't gone by unnoticed. It was difficult not to notice after all. They used to spend so much time together and now they couldn't even look at one another. To make matters worse, their sister and Campion kept throwing him worried glances and even though Vervain knew they meant well, he really could do without them. Both of them had also come to talk to him, separately, and asked him to make things right with Nashia.

"Why don't you just apologize?" Phyla had asked him once when they were alone underneath the rock.

"Because I have nothing to apologize for! She's the one in the wrong here!" Vervain had bit back annoyed.

"So what? Who cares about being right or wrong, just apologize to her!"

Vervain didn't reply. Phyla sighed, something she didn't do often, "You've always accepted your differences before. Why can't you do that this time?"

"It's not about that." Vervain whispered. He did accept Nashia's choice and he understood why she was frustrated but their mother was suffering as well. Why couldn't she consider her feelings? Why couldn't she accept their mother's choice?

"Then what?" Phyla asked. She sounded desperate, at wits end even.

"Nevermind. I'm not apologizing when I did nothing wrong." Nothing... "I did... nothing at all." In the back of his mind, Vervain realised he had also been stung by his sister's accusation. It had felt like... like she had denied him by scorning his way of life. Like she didn't really accept him for who he was and what he did. Had Nashia been pretending all along? I'm proud of you. All three of you. Had father? He looked at Phyla, wanting to ask her but didn't, afraid of the answer.

"You certainly got stubbornness in common!" Phyla had exclaimed exasperated. Vervain hadn't replied and simply hopped off to their burrow.

Despite the tension between them Nashia still slept in the burrow with them but what had once been cosy and comforting was now anything but that. Phyla, who had decided to stay with them as well instead of moving to her own burrow with Flax, acted as a mediator between them. She always slept between them and tried her best to relieve the tension but it helped little. Still, Vervain had decided to try and act normal with Nashia when Phyla was around and he noticed Nashia did the same. He suspected Phyla had tried to talk to Nashia too but she must have refused as well because still no apology came.

One evening Vervain really didn't want to go to the burrow so he had stayed outside and climbed the warren up to the tree that held it together. He sat down and stared up at the moon. It was his favourite way of mulling over things that were bothering him. He'd done this as a kitten when his father had been disappointed in him, he'd done it a few times after his father's death to hide his pain from any other rabbit (and to silently ask the Black Rabbit why he took his father. No answer ever came of course) and he was doing it now about Nashia. Campion had chosen that time to ambush him. That seemed to be a thing with them: serious talks under the moon. They only ever discussed serious matters under the night sky and preferable with a full moon. How peculiar. But Vervain preferred it that way.

"How are you?" Campion asked as he sat down next to him. Vervain didn't look at him. He knew Campion would have that sympathetic look on his face and for some illogical reason that sometimes angered him. He didn't want to snap at Campion like he had at Phyla. He felt frustrated though.

"Wonderful." He replied simply, wincing at how sarcastic it sounded. Campion sighed. Vervain seemed to have that effect on rabbits lately.

"What happened between you and Nashia?" Of course that he has to notice.

"What makes you think something happened?"

"Everything. You avoid each other and when you are forced to be together you don't talk to each other at all." It occurred to Vervain that Nashia spent more time with Campion now than him. It was silly but the thought hurt even though he knew she simply wished to train. Part of him wished he hadn't talked to Campion on her behalf. Maybe then they'd never have had their falling-out.

"...Has she... said anything to you?" Vervain asked tentatively. Did she miss him or did she find herself better off without her brother?

"No." Vervain's heart fell. "But she doesn't have to." Vervain looked at him then. Campion's eyes were soft as he gently whispered, "She misses you."

Vervain felt tears threatening to well up in his eyes. The rush of emotion at hearing those words was so sudden they left Vervain shaking. He swallowed and then, barely audible, whispered back, "I miss her too."