The Brotherhood

14

The village was bustling with children running all around despite the fact that it was almost dark outside. The sun was setting overheard and it made the ramshackle log cabins glow a shade of orange and pink that Finley knew was unnatural. It didn't stop her from marveling at them though. Finley had rarely been to the village in her time at the Brotherhood. Usually, only the seasoned packs got to go on patrol for the village. The only time her brothers went to the village was to get drunk and flirt with the village girls. Finley had no interest in either of those things which meant that she rarely came to the village. 

Now, they were all on patrol because the Supreme had ordered it, which meant that she was finally getting to see the village. She didn't know why but she hadn't thought that it would be so lively. People were out on every street, laughing and singing. It was the complete opposite of what it was like to be inside the Brotherhood. Everything there was gloomy and sad and dark, but here everything was filled with light. It made Finley want to dance along with everyone else. She couldn't though, she had to be on guard. She was supposed to be on patrol, not that that seemed to bother any of her brothers. 

Sloan was ass deep in ale and it didn't look like he was going to be slowing down any time soon. Miles was right there with him. Finley had never seen Miles drink so much. It was somewhat frightening. Warren had had just as much to drink as both Miles and Sloan combined, which would have worried Finley if it weren't for the fact that Warren was twice the size of them both. Raynar had been drinking alongside of them, he just wasn't as far down into his cups as anyone else. Even Xander held an ale in his hand as he sat beside her on the village wall looking out at the villagers. The only people who weren't drinking were her and Kane. Not that she'd seen Kane at all since they got to the village. He'd simply disappeared. 

From what she could see, almost every single one of her brothers had a girl from the village on their arm. She wasn't sure when or how that had happened and it honestly kind of terrified her. Was she supposed to have found someone in the village to be with by now? When had that been decided? And why were all of the girls from the village ten times prettier than she was? Why did she care? 

Xander slugged her on the arm. "What the hell's wrong with you?" 

Finley looked at him, completely affronted. "Ow! Why the hell did you punch me on the arm?" 

"To get your attention," Xander said with a shrug, like it was obvious. "So what's wrong with you?" 

"When did everyone get a girlfriend or whatever?" Finley asked, gesturing toward their brothers that all had girls sitting on their laps. Even Sloan. 

Xander laughed heartily, the kind of laugh he only ever gave when he'd had alcohol. He smiled at her before saying, "It just sort of happens. The village girls love us here. They think we're like superheroes since we go on patrols and protect them and shit." 

Finley looked at him, completely disgusted by the way that he kept slurring his words. He was practically foaming at the mouth with ale spilling out. It was disgusting. Finley struggled to believe that the girls from the village actually found any of them attractive. Especially Sloan. 

"I highly doubt that," Finley said with an irritated huff. 

Xander laughed and said sloppily, "Whatever. I told you the truth. Whether or not you believe it isn't my problem." 

Finley shook her head at him. "I'm going to go out to the edge of the village and do a lap. I can't stand being around you when you're tipsy. It makes me want to kill you." 

Finley stood up and walked through the streets of the village, Titan a constant companion at her side. Titan stalked through the crowds of people, glaring at them in the same way that Finley was sure that she was glaring out at them. She didn't know why she was so frustrated with everyone in the village. They were just happy. She couldn't blame them for that. Even if the people did glare at Titan like he might attack them at any moment. Though she supposed they likely did believe that he would attack them. He certainly looked like he would.