Chapter 2
A Rising Temper

Seliph could hardly sleep that night from his mother's troubling information. Slowly, he opened his eyes to greet the morning light from the window with the defeated stare of tiredness and uncertainty. With a yawn, Seliph sat up and rubbed his eyes for a second before resting them in his lap as he stared at his floor bed's blanket deep in thought. A noise came from nearby, instantly snapping his attention. He looked at their door to see Jaron trying to drag a sleepy Ciecro to the door.

"Come on Ciecro. We've got to go before mom or dad come to drag us out," Jaron stated, his words spaced out with yawns.

"I don't wanna. I'm tired Jaron, so dere," Ciecro sleepily answered, struggling against Jaron's weak pulls.

Seliph sighed, throwing off his blanket and getting up to stretch his back for a second. They weren't going anywhere fast, so Seliph took the time to ensure he was wide awake before walking over to shoo them out.

Once in the kitchen, Seliph left the two to go get breakfast for each of them. He undid the storage bolt easy enough and opened the creaking door, a selection of different shelves filled with berries and other edible things.

As Seliph began digging around for their normal morning food, Jaron's stomach rumbled as he yawned. Leaning over to his drowsy brother, a grinning Jaron drowsily joked to his tired, swaying brother, "Heh, looks like my stomach is getting impatient. I hope Seliph gets back here with breakfa-" He stopped talking at the sight of Ciecro, fast asleep again. Growling in annoyance, Jaron quickly got up, walked over to his sleeping brother, and started shaking him roughly.

"Wha? Jaron what de hell are yah doin'‽" Ciecro asked, angry and surprised.

"Waking your sorry self up. Stop snoozing, baby," Jaron ordered.

"I snooze if I wanna, so shu'it."

This dismissal just ramped up Jaron's frustrations. "Seliph's gonna be back soon with breakfast and mom said we need to be awake for breakfast," Jaron reminded Ciecro, forgetting that Seliph was only a few feet away, watching them as he felt-searched for the right berries.

"I can catch a few z's before den." Ciecro brushed Jaron's grip off him and curled up to get some sleep.

Fed up by Ciecro's lack of cooperation, Jaron took a little breath before lightly spraying Ciecro in the face with a mild, warm Scald.

Ciecro shot awake with a start, his eyes wide with fright and surprise. He looked at his person, his surprise slowly being substituted with an angry stare as he put two and two together. Without moving his head, Ciecro's orange eyes looked at an unsympathetic Jaron and growled. "Why did yah do dat?" he demanded in as low and threatening a tone that a ten-year-old Charmander could do. "I said, Imma sleep some more!"

"And I said you're gonna wake up!" Jaron snapped right back.

"Yah can't tell me whattah do. I'm gonna sleep now and yah can't stop me!"

Jaron gave a little smirk as he sprayed Ciecro again with a light Scald.

This was the last straw. After wiping the water out of his eyes, Ciecro jumped from his seat and started taking a deep breath, an orange light forming in his deep throat.

Jaron did the same, but with an azure blue color instead. The two were about to fire Scald and Flamethrower, but before they could unleash their moves indoors, a pair of frubble gobbets hit them on their mouths, sealing their mouths shut.

"Can't you two just get along," Seliph scolded, setting a bowl of berries in the center of the table as he eyed them both one at a time with a frustrated expression.

The two pulled the frubbles off their mouths.

"Did yah have tah do dat?" Ciecro said, rubbing his snout from the little pain left from having to pull off the sticky frubbles.

"Maybe if you just woke your lazy tail up, we'd be eating right now," Jaron accused, triggering Ciecro to shout back.

"Yah started it, yah big mouth!" The two pressed their heads against each other, doing an angry stare standoff. "Doofus!"

"Idiot!"

"Baby!"

"Jerk!"

Back and forth, they kept hurling childish insults in front of their brother, who was slowly reaching his last nerve.

Finally, Seliph had his fill. He slammed his hands hard on the table and yelled at the stubborn duo, "Enough both of you!" Once he had his brother's attention, Seliph continued without lowering his voice or easing up his tone. "I don't want to have to separate you immature brats just to eat, because of your childish squabbles. Why can't you two just grow up and stop giving me more problems like good brothers‽"

Jaron and Ciecro froze in their places as Seliph stormed off, leaving the berries on the table. Reluctantly, Jaron reached out for a berry and held it in his hands, staring at it with a guilty look. Even his stomach appeared to share his remorse and had stopped its rumblings or interest in eating at the time.

"W-what just happened," Jaron stated his thoughts aloud, still surprised by Seliph's outburst.

"Why'd he hav'ta go and do dat?" The Charmander growled. Annoyed, Ciecro went to the nearest, open spot on the wall, rested his back on it, crossed his arms, and mused over what happened with an eye-closed, lost in thought scowl.

A few minutes later, Jaron walked over to his sibling and gave him a concerned look. "Ciecro," Jaron meekly said, fiddling with the berry in his hand as Ciecro opened his eyes to watch him.

There was just silence for a little bit, only broken by Ciecro sighing and following up with saying, "I guess we was bein' dum babies?" He uncrossed his arms, stood back on his feet, and plastered a little smile on his face.

Jaron smiled back. "Yeah," he said, earning a little pat on the shoulder from Ciecro.

"So, let's put our heads togeder an' tink up somthin' tah make it up tah Seliph."

Jaron nodded in agreement, however, Gathor's calling for them to come outside for training would have to put the planning on hold.

O

Seliph shouted as he threw his cuts at small wooden logs set up for training today. One by one, he struck the targets, showing his bad mood with the excessive force with each throw. This was noticed by his brothers, watching nearby with Gathor.

"Mon, he still looks pretty mad," Ciecro whispered to Jaron. "He's tryin, dem moves wit pretty stiff arms."

"I hope he doesn't mess up. He hates messing up his throws," Jaron murmured back. "But he only has three targets left and he's been nailing every target so far so he should be fi-"

"Good so fah, Seliph," Gathor shouted, breaking the boys' conversation. "Now show me just as good aimin', while dodging."

Seliph stopped, facing towards his father ready. He took a light stance, thinking it was one of the three who would play obstacle this time.

Jaron and Ciecro looked at each other, clueless. "Did he ask you tah be de-" Ciecro began, but stopped as Jaron shook his head for a "No". At that moment they heard a yell from their brother. Twisting their heads back to the training field, the two saw Seliph on his back, shaking. In front of their brother was a shallow but clear claw slice mark. They followed the direction of Seliph's gaze to see Freya in the air, retracting her Dragon Claw as she stared down at Seliph, as one would prey.

"Mom!" They shouted in unison, earning the "Shut up and watch" look from their father.

Gathor returned his gaze at Seliph and pointed to the targets once more. "Now finish."

Forcing himself to stand, Seliph looked at his father, doing his best to suppress his concern. His eyes trailed to the targets before turning completely in a circle to look back at his mother. Their eyes met. How weird it felt to see her this way. The serious, battle-ready glare towards him felt so contrasting to the mother, who gave him the key last night.

A scowl crossed his face, determination building. He spun around in the blink of an eye and shot forwards, towards the targets. Despite his mad dash forwards, he knew he couldn't beat his mother to the targets. Glancing back to see where his mom was, Seliph drew a Cut.

Freya dove, pulling her wings back so they merely guided her descent to a vertical angle rather than slowed her fall. As she neared her son, the wings began to surge a light blue hue.

In response, Seliph did a little hop to spin himself around without wasting the momentum and pressed his right foot onto the ground, swinging his arm back to throw the Cut towards the Charizard. His cut whizzed through the air but was quickly cut down by his mother's superior Air Slash. Now! He ordered himself as he shot a Water Pulse from his other hand. The ring of water expanded, flying through the air to hit the Charizard's right wing before she could evade it. Taking advantage of the extra time, Seliph resumed his dash towards the targets as his mom worked on getting her avian bearings.

Seeing his brother gaining the upper hand, the younger siblings started cheering him on. "Go Seliph go!" Jaron shouted with delight as Seliph drew two cuts in his hands.

"Nail 'em like yah always do!" Ciecro cheered as two targets were struck with thrown Cuts.

Without any hesitation, Seliph drew the third and hopefully the final one. Drawing his attention to the target, he drew his arm back, but as he was about to throw Jaron called out.

"Seliph, look out!"

Instantly, Seliph turned around. To his surprise, the Charizard he was expecting to come flying in was nowhere to be seen behind him. Shit! Seliph spun around and there she was, standing between him and the target.

Watching the standoff with a displeased look, Gathor gave a little grunt, leading the siblings to snap in attention. "No more interferin', Jaron," Gathor said in a low, firm tone.

Jaron held his snout, embarrassed and guilty as his head bent down towards the ground.

Ciecro looked at the Totodile with sympathy, but neither stayed that way for long for the noise of their mother's roar pulled their eyes to the scene of Seliph taking on Freya.

All Seliph could do was dodge her attacks, though even that wasn't going in his favor. He had to do something, since Freya's attacks were carefully timed and spaced to push him backwards, away from the target. Desperate to find a way around Freya quick, Seliph had one plan he could try. He drew a Cut and flung it straight for her face.

The move struck her face, evaporating upon impact. Freya just stared at him with an unhappy look, completely unshaken by the move.

This sturdy response to Seliph's attempt at a fake out did more damage to Seliph's cause than any of her moves prior. He started backing away, defensive and focused on her.

Gathor's eyes narrowed while Ciecro scowled. "Dad, he jus' hasta hit dat last target, right?"

The Feraligatr didn't reply immediately, just let out a sigh. "It's oveh."

"Oveh‽" Ciecro stared at his father in disbelief, appalled his dad was calling it there.

These words seemed to just make Jaron feel worse. The Totodile looked up for the first time since he misspoke and his spirit sank. There Seliph was, desperately trying to dodge his mother's swipes, till finally one landed on his leg. Jaron looked to the side and watched Ciecro stamp his foot down on the ground, frustrated on Seliph's behalf. "No, come Seliph, yah can still do it!" He yelled, then Jaron looked to his father.

Gathor's eyes closed as he gave a little snort, leading to Jaron sniffling. Forcing himself to look back up, Jaron watched as Seliph was pinned down by Freya's firm claw that wouldn't budge no matter how hard Seliph struggled.

Gathor opened his eyes, uncrossed his arms, and called out. "Seliph, yah're beaten. Yield."

Seliph stopped, looking at his dad disheartened.

"It's alright son," Freya consoled from above.

Seliph let a little frustrated noise and reluctantly stated, "I yield." Freya let him go and offered a hand to help him up. Instead of taking it, Seliph just got up on his own and without a word headed off towards the woods behind the targets.

Freya didn't stop him but merely walked over to Gathor, who joined her halfway.

"He did pretty well," Gathor concluded, Freya nodded. Gather was about to leave when Freya moved her left claw onto his cheek, making their gazes meet. Giving a nostril exhale since he knew what we coming, Gathor followed with, "Yes, dear?"

"He looked pretty upset." Freya looked towards the forest, where Seliph went to sulk. "I think you should go talk to him."

The Feraligatr moved his right claw to scratch his chin, much to Freya's annoyance. "Can't yah do it? He listens to yah more an' all."

"But he almost did it and he hates it when he fails by a thread."

"That ain't unique tah 'im," Gathor countered, looking towards the forest opposite where Freya was looking.

This was enough to get on the Charizard's bad side. Twisting to face him with an aggravated scowl, Freya withdrew her claw from his chin and sharply chastised. "Gathor Ergon Almkin, you go talk to your son now."

Gathor smirked and gave a defiant chuckle. "Yah know, dat no one is around fo' dat to be a blow below dah waist."

"Would a real blow below the waist convince you?" Freya said in a low growl, spreading her wings in a threatening manner.

Undeterred, Gathor looked back at her and crossed his arms. "Do dat and I won' be able tah go oveh dere."

Freya growled but strangely let out a sigh. "Gathor, please. I know you think I'm better at talking to him and maybe I am, but this is something you need to talk to him about. You're his father and he looks up to you."

Gathor looked to the forest Freya was asking him to go to and let his gaze grow serious.

Seeing Gathor's inner thoughts be expressed in his facial expression shift, Freya moved her claws up to his face and moved them once more to have their gazes meet. This time his look was the stern, worried one and hers was the calm. "Seliph is a lot like you." Her left claw drifted down, massaging his tense chest in small, gentle circles. "Strong, stubborn, hates to lose, lovable, silly." She looked up to his face and with a mischievous smirk said, "Cute, cuddly, kissable."

Gathor groaned as he took her hands off himself, grumbling, "a'ight, a'ight I'll do it!"

Freya laughed a little at her husband's tantrum and gave him a little peck on the cheek, making him feel a little less sour. "You'll do great. Just don't call him stupid and it should be fine."

"Yeh, yeh," Gathor halfheartedly said as he stomped off after Seliph, grumbling to himself.

Freya just gave a smile as her husband disappeared into the forest. I didn't mention the best ones. 'Good-hearted' and 'brave'. I love you. The victory celebration in her mind was interrupted by the little Charmander jogging over to her.

"Mom, is dad getting Seliph?"

"Yes, Ciecro." She scooped him up in her arms, holding him in front at full arm's reach. "They'll be back, but for now we'll head back home."

"Mom…" Ciecro looked at her with a worried gaze. "Seliph's not in trouble, right?" Freya's confirming "no" brought the smile on Ciecro's face back. "Good, because yah're a hard nut to crack."

"Excuse me?" Freya raised a brow.

"Dat's wha' dad says wheneveh he has to go against yah." Ciecro looked at her with an innocent proud look, making Freya sigh at his naivety.

"Perhaps you're a better sneak then I thought, you little berry." She set him down and called for Jaron to come over.

Slowly, Jaron walked over, head downcast and mood upset.

"What's wrong?" his mother asked, picking him up and looking at him concerned.

Jaron didn't reply, just curled in her arms as he stared blankly in front.

"Jaron's upset because he messed up Seliph's focus," Ciecro blurted out, earning a cold, hard stare from Jaron.

"You smashed berry!" Jaron shouted.

"Jaron!" Freya held him out front, by both arms. "None of that."

Jaron's anger shifted to sadness, as his head drooped down. "I'm sorry mom," he said with a sniffle. "He would have gotten it if I hadn't alerted him and because I did you got in the way and that…" Jaron sniffled and wiped his eyes as Freya pulled him to her chest and tenderly rubbed his head.

"It's alright, you meant no harm," she comforted him. "Seliph is better than to hold a grudge over something like that. You were just excited that's all. He'll forgive you."

"Yeah, Jaron." Ciecro brushed his snout with smugness as he added, "an' if he's still mad I'll knock'em back to his senses." The two fire types laughed.

Jaron looked up at his mother and started clearing his eyes of the sorrowful tears. "I…I guess you're right."

"Guess?" Freya gave him a smart aleck look.

Jaron's eyes narrowed as he stated, "Well, I dunno, maybe you're wrong or right. How am I sup-" Before he could finish, his neck was attacked by Charizard snout nuzzling, a sad Jaron's only weakness. Jaron started laughing uncontrollable, trying to push the snout away, but only succeeding in making Freya more relentless. "Okay, okay! You're right, you're right, stoppit," Jaron pleaded amid his laughing, prompting Freya to honor the request.

Freya then set him down on the ground. "Alright, so let's go home and work on supper. It's getting a little late."

The two boys nodded and were about to race off ahead when an idea crossed Jaron's mind.

"Hey mom, can you do me a favor?"

"A favor?"

"I want to apologize to my brother, but I need you to do something. I want Seliph to know I'm really sorry."

Freya thought for a second, then decided it was at least worthy of a hearing. She leaned down, moving her near the boy's head to listen to her part in Jaron's little apology scheme.

O

Seliph curled himself up next to a tree, angry thoughts running throughout his head while he gazed at a little pond a few feet away.

Stupid exercise, Seliph ranted in his mind, curling up closer to the tree the more he thought about it. Of course, he'd include something like mom. Isn't it bad enough Ciecro and Jaron cause enough stuff on their own without mom and dad making it mo-

His head twisted slightly as he heard some rustling nearby. Calmly, he stood up and pressed himself against the tree, listening in on the stranger approaching. The noise of heavy footsteps upon leaves and grass was getting louder as Seliph readied to pounce. Once Seliph was certain he was in striking distance, the Frogadier leaped from around the tree, punching with all his might. However, his punch was stopped by a much larger hand, clenching over it like one would hold a rock. Seliph's initial surprise was replaced with a scowl as he looked up and his eyes met Gathor's testy ones.

"Threw dat one too tightly. Would also pay tah see me before yah let it loose." Gathor leisurely replied, letting go of the Frogadier's fist.

Seliph pulled his fist back, keeping it close to his chest as if it was holding something dear to him. There was just silence from the two, neither wanting to say anything but knowing no conversation wasn't an option. Finally, Seliph bore out his inward kept frustration by stating, "Leave me alone."

Seliph turned around and started walking away, but Gathor put his hand on Seliph's shoulder. "Wait a minute."

Brushing it off, Seliph attempted to leave without having to turn around. His tracks were stopped, however, with a firmer repeat of the command.

"Seliph…wait a minute."

Reluctantly, the boy complied, stiffening his body as he angrily stared at the pool of water. "I don't want to talk about it. So just leave me alone."

"Make me," Gathor answered, getting tired of Seliph's attitude.

This was enough to push Seliph over the edge. "You know I can't," Seliph replied in a hostile but still non-shouting voice. "Like you can't take a hint."

Gathor's scowl stiffened at this sass from his eldest. Despite this, Gathor uttered no reply, nor did he say anything when Seliph mustered his defiance to walk over to the pond staring into the water from his standing position.

Gathor's fists tightened as he let out a little growl. Mid-growl he stopped it, and looked at the tree Seliph was curled up at. Reflecting upon things, Gathor bent down and just looked at the spot. Symbolically letting out his aggravation in the form of a sigh, Gathor stood up and walked over to his son.

Seliph's glower grew as his father's reflection appeared behind his in the water. Without a word or any form of movement, the Frogadier watched the mirror image of Gathor move his arm slowly to rest on Seliph's left shoulder. Seliph tried to shrug the hand off again, but Gathor wouldn't give him ground this time. The clenching only tightened till Seliph's gave up, submitting to the stronger mon's wishes.

"Sit down Seliph," Gathor asked in a dominant but attempted soft voice. His son obeyed, and Gathor joined him, sitting on his left. There they were. Father and Son, staring into their reflections, their minds steeped in hard thoughts. Once more the dilemma of silence crept up as neither could muster a word.

Getting impatient at his hesitation, Gathor almost snarled at his reflection. What's de matter wit you? He asked his reflection. He's only twelve fo' Arceus's sake. Not everytin' is a battle, yah're supposed to be past dat now. Gathor's eyes softened as he took a glance at his son's reflection.

Anger seemed filled in those eyes, but an anger Gathor knew all too well. The type of anger that hated everything in that moment. Everyone involved, including the self. The kind of anger that would resist even if the battle was unwinnable.

Gathor stared once more at his reflection, but now with a sorrowful look. Damnit…Dis is hard. I dunno what tah say. Wha' would dad say? His searching for a starting phrase was halted by a grumble from Seliph. "Why are you here?"

A little bit relieved Seliph talked first, Gathor mustered up a serious but confident look at his reflection and replied with, "Tah talk wit'yah."

"About how I shouldn't have let a distraction keep me from hitting the damn target!" Seliph shot back with a tone that felt like it was being said to Gathor's face.

Gathor scowled at this heightened aggression, responding with a countering. "I don' appreciate yahr outburst after I came tah talk."

"You mean after mom had to ask you to." Seliph crossed his arms and curled up, staring angrily at his reflection in the water. "Face it dad, I failed the exercise so just leave me alone. I don't want to hear some dumb lecture from you about stuff I already know.

Gathor sighed, slightly turning to face his angry son. "Seliph," Gathor calmly said, "yahr not wrong about yah mother tellin' me tah talk tah yah. But it's not like I never wanna talk to yahs, son."

"Sure," Seliph rolled his eyes. "I'd be lost without your criticizing, wouldn't I?"

"Criticizing…" Gathor repeated, this time with a faltering in his tone.

Confused by the tone change, Seliph looked at his dad's face. All that he saw was the Gathor looking at him with dismay, almost as if Seliph had said something horrible. "Dad?"

Gathor's eyes lowered, looking back at the pond with a remorseful look. "Criticizing huh…" In a lazy tone, Gathor asked, "So is dat all I say to yah?"

The uncanny reaction caused a small bit of guilt to creep into Seliph's heart. Keeping up a firm tone and face, Seliph looked back at his reflection in an attempt to hide any backing down. "…Maybe that's an overstatement, but…argh." Frustrated and at a loss of words, Seliph firmly planted his hand onto the right side of his forehead, overwhelmed with a wheel of emotions going too fast to pick one to feel.

"I'm not good at dees things like your mother," Gathor admitted.

Seliph no longer could keep up his angry stare in good faith. Relaxing his muscles, Seliph sighed and blinked his eyes a few times, pondering what to say.

"But I guess I shouldn' be surprised. She's always been dah betteh talker…and encourager." Gathor turned again to his son, this time with an interested gaze and asked, "Did mom eveh tell yah how we met?"

Skeptically, Seliph replied calmly. "Yeah, she was tasked by her captain to capture or take you out due to your criminal reputation. She outsmarted you in y'alls fight and defeated you. Once she brought you in they offered you a job as a way to get you back on your feet."

"An' eventually she an' I worked hard enough tah join Team Alpha an' later become mates. I was a hard bastard in my youth, but yahr mother broke me outta my dat state. She's a wonderful person, takin' a punk like me as her bitch, heh." Gathor finished followed by a chuckle.

Seliph hid his face, trying to obscure his childish grin at Gathor speaking of himself that way. Leaning in closer, Seliph devoting his full attention to whatever Gathor's was about to say next.

"Yah know she taught me somethin' that I'm still trying tah do."

"Speak Eastern," Seliph joked, earning a smile from Gathor.

"C'mere." The Feraligatr head locked Seliph, rubbing his son's head while the two of them laughed. After a few more seconds of playful punishment, Gathor let Seliph's head go and lowered his head slightly as a smile crossed his face. Despite the smile, Gathor's eyes indicated seriousness.

Seliph stopped his laughing as Gathor looked back to the pond. Slowly, inch by inch, Seliph scooted over and rested on his dad's side as his father began talking.

"She taught me dat I'm okay bein' weakish an' flawed. Yah know, my father was critical of me too."

"Really?" Seliph's eyes widened a little at the mention of his grandfather.

Gathor nodded, keeping his eyes on the pond. "I was really a great son an' he wasn't a great father either. I suppose it took yah mother to help me make up fo' a lot of tings. Like." Gathor shifted in his seat and put his right arm around Seliph's smaller body, pulling him closer to his side. "I remember bein' on a mission wit' yah mother an' another teammate. I wasn't strong enough tah cover dem both an' as a result yahr mother got injured bad. I hardly left 'er side fo' a while. It was de first time I was truly afraid foh someone else instead of bein' mad at failin' because I wasn't strong enough."

This was a side of his father Seliph had heard from his mother, but never from the Feraligatr himself. Hearing this disclosure from his father sent mixed feelings into his heart.

"When she recovered, she assured me it was a'ight." Gathor gave Seliph a stern look, snapping his son's to focus, "I didn't believe 'er, so I trained every day. Pushin' myself furter and further, so I could neveh fail 'er o' anyone else I cared abou' ever again. But one day she asked me tah spar wit her an' I agreed. In our fight, she left herself open. Intentional or not I dunno fo' sure, jus' dat I had a clear solid hit. 'Owever, I couldn't attack 'er. It was den she show me how much she cared."

To Seliph's surprise, Gathor started rubbing his cheek like he had been slapped.

Taking a moment to think back and reflect, Gathor closed his eyes and turned his face upwards finishing his story in an almost trance-like fashion. "She punched my face an' shouted, 'yah tink yah're so strong dat yah rather not fight me with yahr full power an' treat me like I'm some pansy in de wind!? Yah need to get yahr self-righteous 'ead out of yahr weak mouth an' fight like de mon I know yah are. A bastard dat will die fightin' alongside me an' will neveh give into damn self-doubt cause he knows I like a man I can punch hard an' can punch me back harder!'"

Seliph tried his best but couldn't hold in his barrel of laughter.

Gathor blushed from embarrassment at his son's chortling, but the chuckling was contagious. After the two calmed down from their laughter, Gathor turned to Seliph and said with a caring gaze, "Seliph I don' want yah to be strong tah please me. I want yah to be strong so yah can surpass me an' keep what yah value safe. Same foh yahr brothers. I want y'all tah be able tah fight wit' me and laugh wit' me. We may be an annoying fam, Seliph, but I hope yahs won't forget we want yah to go as fah. I love yah, son, an' I'm sorry I neveh say it often."

Not quite understanding the concrete though Gathor was saying, Seliph checked by asking his father, "So you're saying love you all by being distant?"

"Naw, we still should try an' be a close family, but you're yahself an' so am I. Don' do yahr battles wit needin' tah please me. I wanna rely on yah when I need yahs and I want yah tah do de same. Watch my back and let me watch yahs. Be angry at me. I want yah to be honest and I don' wish I was de perfect father, but one yah can love while punching his face in and one yah know would be proud of yah."

Seliph felt all cozy inside as he moved his hand onto Gathor's burly arm. "Dad."

Gathor replied with a grunt.

"Did grandpa support you too?" Seliph looked up curiously.

Gathor's eyes lowered, deep in thought. Giving a small grunt to break the silence, Gathor looked to his son's anticipating face and said with a little grin, "Dat's a story for anoter time. Besides, yah'll get to see 'im one day."

"Really?"

"Yeh. But fo' now, let's go see yah mother before she comes out tah find us."

Seliph giggle at the joke and was about to get to his feet, but was swept up by his Dad's arm. "? Hey?" Seliph laughed as Gathor grabbed his side with both hands, lifted him high, turned him around carefully, and finally placing the Frogadier on his large shoulders. Gathor gave a goofy smile as Seliph hugged his dad's head.

"Thanks, dad. You're a brute, but I wouldn't want any other dad."

"An' I'm happy wit you, Ciecro, an' Jaron." Gathor started walking home, brushing aside the branches and occasional brush as Seliph rode on his shoulder, holding his father's neck tightly. Seliph rested his head next to one of Gathor's Feraligatr spikes and asked, "You think grandpa would like me?"

Gathor smirked, answering without hesitation. "Of couhse. He'd like all of yah even if he's bad at showin' it."

"Like you?" Seliph jested.

"Don' make me hang yah upside down." The two laughed once more as they journeyed homeward.

O

Freya peered out of the window, wondering what was taking her husband so long. Surely he wasn't that bad at talking to his own kid she reasoned, but the reality of how much time it was taking was staring to get on her nerves. Giving an annoyed growl, Freya turned to walk away from the window, but out of the corner of her eye she spotted movement. Returning to the window, she spied a Chesnaught stepping out of the forest. Oh? She peered closer at the mon and noticed he was wearing a green bandanna that had some hard to see red dots.

A ranger. A scowl covered her face, not one out of anger but worry. If one of the rangers is here something must be wrong. Those two better get back soon. I better see what this ranger wants. Leaving her watch at the window, Freya walked over to the kids' section of the hut, peering in at the two boys playing inside.

She knocked on the doorway, grabbing the two's attention from their play, Freya instructed, "Jaron, Ciecro, both of you stay and play in here till your father gets back, understand?"

The two nodded their heads, hints of curiosity on their faces as she shut the door.

After putting on an arm packet as a precaution, Freya headed out to meet this unanticipated visitor.

"Hello miss, how are the young ones," the Chesnaught politely greeted.

Freya focused on the bandanna and confirmed the signature red leaved bandanna the rangers in their region wore. Despite this revelation, she remained uneasy, nodded her head in greeting and answered with, "They're healthy. I assume something is going on for a ranger to come here."

The large mon looked around a little and let out a little sigh. "I'm afraid I do have bad news."

Freya's heart sank. Tensing up, the Charizard asked, "Have you seen any of them? The ones I and Gathor have informed you about?"

Filled with consternation, the Chesnaught nodded. "Yes, I and other rangers have spotted mons that fit the eye description you talked about except that color was only in their irises. We've also found-"

Their conversation was interrupted by a shout from Gathor, stepping out of the woods with Seliph riding on his shoulders.

Freya let out a breath of relief at them being back. A smile crossed her face at seeing her husband had succeeded in his efforts. Reluctantly, Freya returned her focus to business and signaled Gathor the importance by flexing her right wing.

Gathor's cheerful expression left him at receiving this message as he picked the Frogadier off his shoulders and set him down.

"Go inside an' play wit' yah brothers. Yah mother and I have business wit' dis mon 'ere. Be good and don' leave de house."

Seliph become nervous due to his father's sudden seriousness, but understanding nod and headed inside.

Once Seliph was safely inside, the Feraligatr joined his wife. Without introductions, Gathor asked to be filled in on the news. After being brought to speed, Gathor's seriousness was replaced by anger at the mention of these threats nearby. However, he kept his composure as he faced the Chesnaught and asked, "Have dey done anyting?"

"According to other ranger stations, there have been proven attacks on rural families. No more than a collection of one or two in a spot, but still nothing left but ashes. What you've told me about that group, it isn't hard to deduce it's likely them."

Freya sighed. Despite the sympathy she felt for the victims of these recent attacks, she took relief at the thought that the enemy hopefully wasn't aware of them yet. Gathor let out an angry snarl, pulling in Freya's gaze.

Noticing their reactions, the Chesnaught adjusted his bandana and stated "It's awful, I know." Gathor just growled in reply, making the stranger feel uneasy. "I'm sorry if I misspoke."

"No, you did nothing wrong." Freya explained, "The red eyes are no doubt doing a 'life gathering' project in the area and well…we both detest the act."

"Life gathering?" The ranger replied confused.

Freya nodded. "It's what some of the red eyes prisoners called it when interrogated. All that's been gathered is that it is attacks on small, rural areas. Enough to, I guess 'gather life' while not being big enough to grab too much attention. Sadly, that's about as far as the Norfarion interrogations have gotten on that subject. We still don't know why they're doing it or what they're gaining from it."

This disclosure was a bit unsettling for the ranger and Gathor looked to the side, also clearly bothered.

Freya looked at her husband and with a bit of cheeriness in her voice asked Gathor, "So how was your talk with Seliph?"

The big Feraligtr scratched his head a little. "Well um…it wen' okay. Wasn't easy at first, bu' at least he feels betteh an' uhm-"

She walked up and gave him a little smooch on the cheek. "That's my husband." Gathor couldn't help but blush and let out a slight titter, while Freya nuzzled his neck a little.

A fake cough from the Chesnaught snapped the two out of their moment and back to the situation. "Well, I'll inform the other rangers to evacuate the more rural families. You two should come as well."

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Freya answered, surprising the ranger. "Considering your report of the mons doing these attacks implies that there's a good chance they don't know our existence here. Otherwise, if they did your town would be overrun with them trying to find us. We should stay here and try to weather this out. It'd be better for both our sakes."

A nervous chill went down the ranger's spine at the bluntness.

Gathor gave a short laugh and said, "Guess it's a good ting dis place don't look too suspicious. Dough, yah migh' wanna keep casual if yah don' wanna be killed off."

Despite this just making his nerves worse, the mon gave a light laugh as well, bidding the two farewell. Although, before he left, the ranger pulled an orb out of his travel pouch. "Excuse me." Turning around, he started conversing through the communication orb while the couple watched. After a few exchanges with the person on the other side, the ranger put his orb away, took a second to clear his throat, turned back to Freya and Gathor, and after a deep breath said, "Miss Freya, apparently a mon has arrived in town. Says he knows you."

"I wasn't expecting anyone else," Freya muttered to her husband, who was rather concerned by this information as well.

The ranger scratched his head, perplexed. "Well, if it helps you. He says he's your brother."

Instead of putting her at ease, the ranger's news only made Freya give a low, angry growl. She muttered fiercely under her breathe, "Why in Arceus's name did he come‽"

After a gulp from her reaction, he continued. "He said that he wished to join you both after uhm … being smart and that he'll join you two asap."

Freya face-palmed and grumbled in annoyance, "Does he have a fucking death wish?"

With a smile, Gathor put an arm around Freya's shoulder as he jested, "I wonder what he did to 'be smart'."

Freya clenched her fists and started shaking them slightly. Her tone grew rough amid her growling. "When he gets his sorry little ass here I'm gonna take his head in my claws and brea-"

"Welp, I need to go now. Those families aren't going to evacuate themselves," The Chesnaught said, hiding his discomfort under a mirthful tone. Darting away before Freya finished, the ranger waved back to the startled two and darted into the forest without glancing back. "Have a good day and stay safe!" And with that, he disappeared into the forest.

Gathor laughed into his hand at this unsubtle action while Freya rolled her eyes. Upon finishing, Gathor said to his annoyed wife, "Yah brother is pretty stubborn. He probably will be in biggeh trouble goin' back den whatcha do tah him 'ere."

"When he gets here I'll pound that idiot's face in!" Freya shouted, shaking her fists at the forest as if it was listening.

"You might not wanna, afteh all, we could use all deh help we can get. Especially if dey figure out we're 'ere." Gathor pointed out.

Freya gnarled as she buried her face into her hand and gave a muffled scream.

Gathor just laughed as he pulled her close with his arm behind her neck and whispered, "Come on, it's been a while. He can help us an' let's face it, he still is yahr little brother yah love."

Despite the slight teasing tone, Freya couldn't deny he had a point. She nodded, but added, "I'm still going to punch that loser's face in."

Gathor gave a nod, saying, "Let 'im have it, honey." After sharing little nuzzle of snouts, the two went back inside to tell the kids the news.