ORIGIN

For a moment, Sebastian felt guilt, seeing Rift back away from him. He never wanted to harm, or scare, his brother, only to startle him into his senses. He had long learned his brother had a fear, an aversian to fire, and to his shame he found himself using his Element to scare him. But the guilt was quickly snuffed out, his keen ears picking up the sound of Rift's growl growing louder.

And then, as if a switch had been flipped, Rift stopped gorwling. Their gazes met, Sebastian's red meeting Rift's green. Rift looked... frightened, and Sebastian didn't like it. But he needed to get through to his Brother, and this was the only way he could think of to do it.

However, slowly, the fight seemed to leave Rift, and Sebastian felt hope. Had he gotten through to him? Had he made his Brother understand? Sometimes, he feared, Rift focused too much on his Forest. The Forest was grand, and needed protecting, but it wasn't healthy to focus only on that.

His ears twitched as Rift spoke, feeling relief spread in his chest. So he had managed to make Rift see what he saw? Slowly, he straightened up, relaxing the tensed muscles, retracting his claws. He began to approach Rift, shaking himself to try and disapate the smoke that clung to him. "Rift, I forgive you. But you have to remember, there is an entire Cave System outside of the Forest. There are plants to be discovered, to be protected, not just our forest. There are Gembounds who might want to help us, and it's not healthy to stay in one area forever. And..." he butted his head gently against Rift's shoulder, "No matter how far I may wander, the Forest will always be my home."

@Rift
"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

When a response wasn't quickly forthcoming, Sebastian began to purr, a low, rumbling sound in the back of his throat. It was an attempt at soothing, at putting an end to their quarrel. He never wanted to fight with Rift, never had and never would. Rift was his brother, his family. He would never let harm come to his brother, especially from himself.

Relief soared in his chest when Rift turned back to him, returning his affectionate gesture. And he knew all was well when Rift gave his ear a lick, as he'd done since he was a mewling cub. He listened, taking his words to heart.

He allowed himself to lean on Rift, rumbling purrs rolling in his throat. "I know, Eridanus is your home, as it is mine. And I will always return to it, no matter what happens. If you ever need me, I will be here."

Sadness quieted his purrs, feeling bad for Rift. The loneliness... the black puma was rather a loner, only able to tolerate Rift (as poor Splotch had quickly learned), and so he couldn't quite understand what Rift felt. But, he sighed, If you ever get lonely, just look for me, I won't be far. And there are sure to be other Gembounds who share your ideology, who would be willing to be your friend. I can't keep you to myself forever, can I?" he chuckled.
"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

It seemed, unfortunately, that Sebastian had not chosen the best wording. The look on Rift's face was sheer panic, and guilt roiled in his chest.

"No, Rift, of course not." what had brought this on? He felt worry for his brother, had something happened? "I'll always come home. And I'll never be away for long. But if anything ever happens while I'm gone, I'll know, and I'll be here. I promise."

In hopes of cheering Rift up, he began to groom his brother, rough tongue flattening the other's tawny pelt. "Who knows? Maybe I'll even find like-minded others, who would like to help you protect the forest?"

@Rift

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.