𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒓: 𝑬𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒕 (𝑹𝑬𝑾𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬)

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟏𝟏- 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆

Tygren led them down the mountain and when they arrived at the base, some people were there. "I'm not dealing with this." He started to draw his sword. "Why are Voltaris even alive? Y'all should've died long ago!" A human with a Southern accent spat. "Listen here, fuckwit-" Tygren took a step forward and Apexis pulled him back slightly. He glared at her, signaling her to back off.

Azulis stood obliviously in the back, swatting at a butterfly that was fluttering around his head. "Azulis, pay attention," Apexis said through her teeth, holding his hand. The two younger Voltaris stood idly by as Tygren absolutely destroyed the group of humans.

Not literally, he just said some really mean things in a really hilarious way.

After the group backed off, they continued walking. "I wonder why that always happens- it's rather irritating," Azulis commented quietly. "Though I agree I do have to say, stop holding hands. Apexis, I told you this," Tygren reminded her as he glanced back at them. Apexis went red as she tore her hand away from Azulis' frantically. There was a wild pack of horses near Mount Velgrin- so they were going to catch two horses to ride. These horses were used to being caught by the Voltaris.

Apexis and Azulis shared a rather tough horse to guide. Apexis had this weird fear of horses, so she was tightly holding onto his waist so she didn't fall off the horse. Azulis was constantly sneaking looks at Tygren to make sure he wasn't staring daggers at them.

The fifth or fourth time he did this, Tygren was looking at him with a dull expression on his face. He said nothing, though Azulis got the message and nodded.

When it came time to get rest for the night, Tygren actually slept for once. Apexis and Azulis sat there with blank looks on their faces, unsure of what to think about. Something strange about Tygren is how peacefully he slept. Apexis was afraid she would wake him up, so she sat with her knees up to her face and decided to shut her mouth.

Azulis drowzily leaned on her. "Mphm..." He muttered quietly.

Apexis hesitantly gave him a kiss on the forehead, then looked up to see Tygren sitting upright and looking at her. "AH!-" She shouted, having been caught off guard by him. "It's not that hard to stay away from each other. Are you aware of how...off-putting it is to see your sister kiss someone?"

"Well, no- wait what? Sister?"

"Oops-" Tygren smiled slyly- "I'm afraid I've said a bit too much, yes?" He inquired, all the while knowing the answer clearly. "You can't just say something like that and not explain anything!" Apexis yelled, waking Azulis up. "What happened?" He asked as he sat up.

"He just told me that I'm his sister!"

"You are my sister."

"ARE YOU DELUSIONAL?!"

Azulis blinked confusedly, raising his eyebrows. "Uhh...interesting?" Apexis reached to grab Tygren by the shoulders but he stood up and backed away. "I told you I've known you for longer than you remember knowing me. Though I never told you the reason until now," He said, frowning. Apexis stood up as well, this time actually shaking Tygren by the shoulders. "I'll need you to explain a little further, brother," Apexis growled, uttering the last word saltily.

"And don't hit me with that 'in due time all will be explained' shit again," She added, digging her nails into his skin.

"No explanation is exactly needed, you just need to piece it together. A few years back you had a rather severe concussion that wiped both your literacy and memory of me out. Apexis, I saved your life, say...ten or twelve times? There are most likely more that have slipped my mind since then." Tygren remained unphased, pink-red colored eyes wandering elsewhere while he explained. "Over the years how have you not noticed our blatant similarities? Visual, vocal, personality, dare I say anger issues." A slight smile crept onto his face, to which Apexis bit back an insult.

"I do not have anger issues," She argued, letting go of him. She even attempted to push him while doing so, but he didn't even move.

Apexis crossed her arms with a huff, going to sit back down. "Get back up- we're all awake so why don't we continue to Crown Peak?"

"Because I'm still tired-"

"That was a rhetorical question."

They got to the nearest town- that being Oakendale- so they could use the beacon. The little cloak thingies the Voltaris wore had hoods, so they kind of looked like a trio of cultists on their way to convince you to do sin. Some of the more drunken humans and felinas were a little extra rude. "Tygren, do you have like, water or anything?" Azulis inquired quietly. "No," He replied simply, not caring enough to check. "Then why don't we stop at one of the four hundred bars and get some? I'm rather parched if I do say so myself." Apexis butted in, thirsty as well.

Tygren rolled his eyes. "I'm not going in there with you for the sake of my sense of smell."

"What do you mean?"

"It always smells as if someone stained the wood with alcohol, that's why."

"And we don't have any money so you might have to come with us or trust us enough to give us yours," Apexis pointed out, simply insisting that he go inside with them. "Oh, so you need adult supervision? Well, I'll have you know-"

"JUST GET ALONG WITH ME FOR ONCE!" Apexis grabbed him and Azulis and dragged them into the nearest building. It was indeed a bar since there could never be enough of those in human towns. As soon as they entered Tygren physically cringed at the smell. "Rendor save me," He sighed, tensing his shoulders. "It's not that bad," Apexis muttered. "Speak for your goddamn self?"

"Be an adult."

They got to the front counter and were met with a rather rude individual. "What might you need?" He eyed them up and down slowly. "Do you happen to have water?" Apexis asked. "Of course," The bartender replied through his teeth. After having been poured three glasses of water, the three sat down. "Tygren, I know it may be hard for you, but do not start a bar fight," Apexis requested, taking a sip of her water. Some humans gave them a drive-by insult- a slur used against Ardoni. (Voltaris in particular.) Tygren's eye twitched as he breathed a loud sigh.

"Are your eyes watering?" Apexis asked. Tygren gestured to the air as an answer, saying that the fumes were burning his eyes. "Are you holding your breath?" She asked with a wheeze. "Was."

Then a young adult human male yanked on his horn. Bad idea. "You think you're hilarious, yes?" Tygren spun around, still sitting down. Regret flashed across his face at his intimidating voice, going slightly pale. "Uhh...get a load a' this prick!" He covered his fear by standing up a little taller. "I'm sorry," he muttered quietly. "I'm not." Tygren smiled as he yanked him forward and punched him in the nose. Apexis covered her mouth with her hand.

Azulis flinched as the human fell to the ground. Tygren turned back around, drinking some water. "He had it coming."