Ronn And Keilen

CYRAN

I take steps torward him, attempting to put myself between him and my sister, when Caivan rounds on him in a flash. 'Where were you?!' he snarls, 'And why the fuck would you keep them in the store room like animals?!' The silver coated man doesn't flinch, he stares at Caivan squarely, assuming a straighter stance. 'Instinct. Precaution against possible escape. Perhaps if you were here in person, you would have done it your way…'

He doesn't finish. Caivan moves like lightening, grabbing him by the throat and pinning him to the wall of a nearby hut. Struggle as he could, he could not get the larger man's hand off his jugular. 'I let you go once. Cross me again, Ronn, and there'll be no third chances', Caivan says calmly, like he was having a lively conversation and wasn't choking a person. The sight is horribly satisfying, because I see the fear in his eyes, the same one he must have seen in mine. 'Caivan, enough!' snaps Veesa. He holds on for three seconds longer before he releases Ronn, who drops to the ground, face turning purple.

Folk are already gathering now, some of them half-transformed, the others as human as possible. 'Do what you can for her', Caivan says to Veesa, 'Please'. Then he turns to me. Fixed with those black, merciless eyes makes me grab Saelyna's hand but he only motions to one of the wolvens at hand. 'Give him a room, food and a bath'. And he's off in a swish of his black coat.

I turn back to my sister. It really is a fever; her skin burns so much I'm surprised it's still on, and she mutters incoherently as she shivers terribly. 'Is she…is she going to be okay?' I ask. I hate the way my voice breaks, the way my vision blurs with tears. Saelyna would never break like that. I'm not sure she would anyway. Still, I don't know who I'd be without her. We have always been the elvish twins. Alone, we are nothing.

Veesa smiles thinly at me. It's reassuring, in an odd way. 'Be at ease, child. You won't be of much help to her if you remain here, famished, dirty and tired. Go with Seirmon. He will see to it that you are refreshed. You're in safe hands now, and so is she'. I shake my head. I still don't know what can separate Saelyna and I, and it sure as hell isn't going to be a strange wolven healer. 'No', I say stubbornly, 'I'll stay here till she wakes'. I sit at a corner of the hall, cross-legged and maintain a stoic expression. A wolven moves towards me and I prepare for a fight if necessary but Veesa calls him back. 'That's alright, Seirmon'. Then to me she remarks, 'For your sister, I will do what I can'. She motions to an assistant and they set to work while I try to reach for her, but the channel is blocked. 'Hold on for me, Saelyna', I whisper, 'Hold on'.

RONN

The water is cool to the touch and for once, I'm grateful for that as I splash it over and over again on my face. All around me, there is only the song of birds and chirping of crickets. The forest is quiet today.

I lean back on a rock, wincing as my neck makes a small cracking noise. His face comes to mind now, unbidden, but threatening; the flashing black eyes and the fangs that had begun protruding. I've never seen Caivan wolf out before, but today's experience tells me I wouldn't need to know.

Not that I haven't met him in combat before. But Caivan has always had a dark part to him that he keeps chained up. Today I saw that part again, and I wished I hadn't.

'There you are'. I'd recognize that voice anywhere. Keilen hops daintily and easily from rock to rock over the rapids without fault, crossing over to my side. She sits by my side even though I'm sure my face clearly reads, "Do not disturb". 'I want to be alone', I snap. She doesn't quail, she pinches my cheek instead. 'Where were you? I didn't see you when Caivan brought your brother in', she says. 'What?' 'You don't know. Wow. Things must be getting really hot between you two in that cave', she whispers with a smirk. I bristle at this and bark at her, 'Where is Gylen?!' A frown creases her brows then, and her amber eyes flash gold. 'Easy tiger. I'm not like the rest of us, remember?' she snarls. 'Just tell me', I reply. Keilen might scare the rest of the pack with those eyes, her huge fangs and wild attitude, but I easily curtail her. It's getting harder these days, though. 'He was injured badly. I don't know the nature of it all. You should go see him'. She's watching my face for a reaction, and I don't give it to her.

I yawn instead and ask what she's been up to. She flashes those fangs again. 'Nothing'. 'Right. You fucked Tylan again', I say tiredly. I still can't unsee the first time I walked in on them down by the canyon. She giggles. 'Maybe. But you were busy as well, so…' She reaches up and touches my neck; instinctively I grab her hand. 'What happened?' she asks. 'Nothing'. 'It's Caivan, isn't it? He attacked you?' I purse my lips and look away. 'Right. I thought father forbade him'. 'Well your psychotic brother clearly did not heed that order, did he?' I snap. 'Well if it's any comfort, technically he's not my brother…' 'No, Keilen, it's not comforting'.

Even though Keilen was adopted when she was four years old, she still bears some resemblance to Caivan. The deep, staring eyes that mostly give a merciless look, the same threatening attitudes, the same cruel nature. They are alike in so many ways, but look very different.

Keilen runs a hand through her spiked red hair and leans back. 'Time is what we need, Ronn. Fortunately, these days, it seems to be on our side. Father isn't exactly as strong as he used to be', she quips. 'He still is strong though'. 'So what? I made you Gamma, didn't I? You can be Beta, just as easily. You just play along. Time will smoothen out this plan. Easy peasy'.

I lean back as well. Next to those moments in the cave, imagining being Alpha is my second favorite.