Tales of a Shifter (P5) The White Mountain

Chapter 106 - His Choices

Landers words were shocking, but more then that Ezekiels brothers words made all of the fear Brandon had carried all of this time bubble to the surface. Once again the ones he loved were targets because of him. Once again the Alchemists were sure to come against his home...against Ezekiel.

"No! I dont want a War." Brandon swallowed and tried to argue. " Besides Im not a member of the Leopard Clan yet. I never got accepted by Mantilo or Glen. I don't want you guys involved. When its time to answer for Jacobs death I'm the only one that needs to be held accountable! I will face the Lions alone. Nobody else!"

Lander smirked, and shrugged. "Yeah? Sorry. Too late. Your our brother now Candy Pants. Dad made it official the night after you made it back. You are under the protection of our Lands. You're our Clans Men." Lander smiled his face tight but kind. "Your actions will be the actions of this Clan. There is nothing you can do to change that. Just know that we stand with you and will answer with you."

Brandon swallowed and closed his eyes. Landers words cutting him deep. "Oh god Mantilo. No, please don't....Im so sorry. Please don't do this...Ill leave the Clan. Ill go away. You can make me leave!"

Erin cut in. "Oh Stop it Brandon, what's done is done! We defend our own!" The young Leopardess joyfully called out. "Oh and don't scare him like that Lander! Even if Jacob is dead. Im sure the Elders will understand everything when we explain it to them! Brandon was not solely to blame for all of this! Also there were bigger things at work when he was still living with the Dark Ones and when he killed the others he was not in control either!"

Nate cast everyone a barking scoff. "Will they really understand? Erin there's a shit-ton of history, blood feuds, death and confusing impossible facts that are all mixed up at this point! We can hardly understand any of it and we've been living with it for the past few months! And I dare to say that most stories I heard about Dragons never depicted them as patient understanding creatures!"

Nate flashed his canines in a grimace as if remembering something unpleasant. "Truth be told Balder is kind of a hard ass most times and the Elders are not very patient or forgiving individuals either...trust me on this. We cant be entirely sure how things will go with them... "

Ezekiel snarled suddenly cutting off everyone.

"Enough!" he glared at his brothers. "Guys! This isn't helping! We're all aware that there's a million things going against Brandon, but outlining it and being NEGATIVE is just cruel!"

Glen cut in, making a gesture. "Ezkeiel honey calm down. We don't mean to be cruel." She asserted. Then Glen swiped her hair back from her shoulder and took Mantilos hand in her own.

"We just...we are all worried. We don't know what to do for you Brandon. We don't know how were supposed to help you. We want to. But we just...don't know what we can do. All me and Mantilo can think to do is offer Brandon the safety of this Clan and of our home, but that all we can offer you that at this point." Glen whispered big green eyes glossed and she put a hand over her heart. She looked worriedly from Brandon to Ezekiel. "I wish we could do more for you sweet heart."

"No, you shouldn't even offer me that Glen, but you have and I'm thankful..." Brandon gripped his arms and held his swirling stomach. Anxiety rolling into his heart. "I know all of this sounds insane and so far-fetched. I know how much of a burden I am.... I just....I just I don't know what to do about any of it or where to start to unravel it all...its..." Brandon swallowed and closed his eyes. "Its so much."

"Brandon..."Ezekiel sighed at his deflated tone, before the Shifter reached out, and gently pulled Brandon's head into his chest, half hugging him in comfort. "I know it seems like a lot, but lets focus on at least one positive aspect in this situation, okay? You're not alone in this. And even though we aren't really sure about what the Elders and Dragons may do in a few days, they are more than likely both allies to you and to this Clan against Hovel and the Bane and the Lions."