Rift flicked the tip of his tail and his eyes glanced towards Sebastian. A small smile spread across his face. "Yes, for all of us." He was right, so much had changed now. It felt good to know that the Kingdom he had dreamed about and brought to life had become almost a pillar of healing, of a rebirth, a revival for many. Of course, he wished that such a thing was necessary but wishful thinking would get nobody anywhere.

As Sebastian expressed his doubts, Rift stood up and narrowed his eyes. "I've never been more sure. What you're problem is, Sebastian, is you doubt yourself too much. If you don't think you can do it, then you go into it expecting to fail. And if you do fail, then you learn from your mistakes and I'll put out any fire you start."

He took a few steps back and flicked his tail. "Go on - test it out! Burn something, I'll put out the fire. Just...uh, don't make a big one."

@Sebastian

Brothers aren't simply close,

The puma twitched his ears, claws needing the ground, as Rift stood up. Had he said something wrong?

But no, Rift began to talk, insisting that he was positive. He averted his eyes, feeling ashamed--he did expect himself to fail. He expected his Magic to get out of hand, his fires to flare up into infernos that would consume anything in sight.

But his brother said that he would put out any fires that he started, and he couldn't help a sheepish smile. "Thank you, Rift."

Worry pooled in his chest as Rift told him to set something on fire, the fur along his spine standing on end. But he trusted him, and so closed his eyes in focus--and faltered. Nothing happened.

brothers are knit together

Brothers aren't simply close,

A deep breath.

Even if he failed--even if the fire grew rapidly out of control--Rift would stop it. And Mercurius was around here somewhere, and Oliver, too. They would help to put it out before the flames could destroy their home.

Raising his paw, he brought it up to stare at his pawpad, willing it to heat up, to burn. And it did, as he thought of his faith in his Brother. That his brother wouldn't let him down, wouldn't let him make the same mistake twice.

Carefully, he brought his paw to the ground, ears flicking back as the ground beneath his paw began to sizzle and, when he drew it back, the grass caught alight.

@Rift

brothers are knit together

Rift's ear instinctively flattened as the smell of burning plant matter reached his nose. It brought back memories of the fire, ashes falling from the treetops, branches burning and falling to the ground. He didn't like that smell and he doubted that he ever would but he convinced himself to stay calm, keep cool, and allow all of this to happen.

He watched the small flame for a moment, glancing up to Sebastian a couple of times before stepping forward and cracking open his jaws. A small burst of water shot from his throat, bathing the fire and dousing it completely. With a sizzle, the burned plants calmed, leaving a patch of charred black in its wake.

With a gentle paw, he swiped forward, clearing away the ashes. "It looks bad now, but plants are smarter then you give them credit for. They'll grow back, stronger then before. More beautiful." He glanced up at his brother, humor dancing in his eyes. "Perhaps you should consider learning how to put them out as well! It's a useful skill to have, especially if there's an accident." He paused, rethinking what he had just said. Perhaps he hadn't have said it. "And...don't blame yourself if there is an accident. It happens sometimes to everyone."

@Sebastian

Brothers aren't simply close,

The black cat hunched his shoulders as the plants set the alight, fighting the urge to flinch back and run. But he trusted Rift, more than anyone else, and so he watched his Brother, unable to help the bristling of the fur around his neck, along his spine. His tail thrashed behind him, and he glanced at the fire, grimacing at the way it seemed to lay flat on the grass, struggling to determine distance now that he only had one eye.

The moments seemed to be hours as he waited for Rift to put out the flames. But he finally stepped forward, dousing the flames with a blast of water. The fur that had been standing on end settled, flattening against his skin, and he gave a soft, relieved sigh.

He couldn't help but to chuckle, agreeing "I suppose so, it might be a good idea." Sebastian leaned forward, butting his head against Rift's shoulder, and grumbled, "I love you Brother."

@Rift

brothers are knit together

Rift chuckled back, raising his paw to start cleaning off the ashes that were still left in his fur, grimacing a bit at the taste. He paused when Sebastian butted his shoulder and Rift leaned forward, giving the top of his head a lick. "I love you too, Brother. Don't be afraid of yourself."

He went back to cleaning out between his paws before placing his leg down again and glancing back towards the tree. "We're small in numbers now, I know, but hopefully one day we'll be able to defend our home better. We're all still shaken up but we'll grow strong again." He looked back at Sebastian for a moment before his gaze moved to the trees.

He suddenly stood up and bunched his muscles, leaping at the closest tree. The small hooks that were now a part of his pads helped him easily climb up the side of the tree and crawl onto one of the lower branches. He looked back down at Sebastian and flicked his tail. "We haven't gone on a patrol together in a while!"

@Sebastian

Brothers aren't simply close,

'Don't be afraid of yourself.'

That gave the panther pause. He had never thought of it that way. For as long as he could remember, he had tried to keep himself seperate from his Magick. The fire was just Magick, something called upon. But it was not him. So he was afraid of it. Yet he viewed Rift and plants as nearly one and the same, so intwined they walked in the same skin.

Did that mean he and the fire was the same? It boiled beneath his skin, and thus it was a part of him. So fearing it... did that mean he feared himself?

Since when had his Brother been capable of causing him to think so deeply? 'He should be a philosopher,' he couldn't help but to think, licking at the back of his paw, grooming the side of his face.

He stood when Rift did as well, grinning as he watched him climb the tree. They were both naturals at it, able to quickly scale a tree, but Rift seemed to do so much more easily now, scurrying up the bark in a manner that reminded him of the geckos he enjoyed watching scurry up trees. Sebastian couldn't help but to chuckle as he coiled his muscles, clambering up as well, "We haven't! I've missed it."

@Rift

brothers are knit together

Once Sebastian had gotten onto the tree as well, Rift started off, leaping through the trees. He actually found this to be a lot easier now, almost gliding over the forest below, never fearing a misstep or a slippery surface, thanks to this new paw mechanic. And his tail, which he hadn't actually noticed had gotten longer until now, waved behind him, keeping him steady and stable. It was a wonderful feeling.

He glanced back every so often to make sure Sebastian was keeping up, slowing down or waiting when necessary before he felt a rumbling in his stomach. He hadn't eaten for a while and he wondered if Sebastian was feeling the same.

There were some birds perched on the branches ahead. Perhaps he could catch one of those. He hadn't eaten meat in some time, but he could feel his stomach yearning for it. He wasn't meant to eat fruits and vegetables all the time, nor was he properly built to get his food from light. Maybe this time he'd eat like a cat was supposed to eat.

As he leaped to the next branch he extended his claws, hoping to snag one of them before they flew away but his clumsy, unpracticed swipe missed and they fluttered away before he could get them. "Shit." He jumped up to a higher branch to try and grab one but it was in vain. They were too far away.

Panting, he looked down at where Sebastian was. "It looks like I'm a bit out of practice."

@Sebastian

Brothers aren't simply close,

As it turns out?

Trying to run on tree-branches with poor depth perception is hard. The panther found himself having to focus on his pawsteps where once it had come naturally, moving more slowly than he would have cared, although miraculously he managed to keep up with Rift.

He had to admit, he was shocked when he saw Rift attempt to catch a Lesser bird. It had been Cycles since he had last seen his brother eat meat, preferring instead to photocynthesise or eat plants, but it seemed his brother was up for variety that day.

Sebastian couldn't help but to chuckle when Rift failed to catch any of them, and coiled his legs to leap, grabbing one in his teeth. He jumped a bit higher than he meant to, and had to scrabble to keep from falling off his branch when he landed, but he presented his prize to Rift, "Looks like you are," he laughed, "Good thing I'm not." he offered the bird to Rift.

@Rift

brothers are knit together

Rift watched as Sebastian easily snapped up one of the birds he'd lost and for a second felt a bit of jealousy. He was a puma too...why couldn't he hunt as easily as him? But it was a stupid question - because he hadn't hunted for a long time. No matter what kind of dumb creature he was, not practicing was going to make him worse at it.

He looked down at the bird that Sebastian presented to and, just for a second, felt a twinge of doubt. Meat didn't taste the same way plants and light did. He was eating the carcass of a creature that had been living just moments before. It had been thriving, breathing, its heart had been beating, but now it lay still before him. Its blood was chilling. It wouldn't live again.

He forced his head forward and opened his jaws, sinking his teeth into the bird's flesh. He tore himself a strip, spitting out the feathers, and tasted meat once again.

The taste of blood was familiar and alien at the same time. His head wanted to reject it because it wasn't sweet or bitter or fresh like the lights - it was meaty and savory and warm. Chewy, but satisfying. He had a lot of mixed feelings about it but his stomach cried out with delight at finally being able to eat as he was supposed to.

He swallowed heavily, licking his chops, staring a bit blankly at Sebastian before leaning down to take another bite. He didn't hate it, but he still preferred fruits. It just felt good to eat properly again.

@Sebastian