Book of The Lightborn: Rise

Hunt

"Kill one of our own, can you believe it? I certainly can't," Eraanel supported his back against a tree, Piki ran around his legs, digging a small hole here and there, as if searching for her home, only to remind herself that it's better to make use of her master's heat. Eraanel extended his hand, letting Piki climb up on his shoulder, his only eye forcing his head to move with more extremity looking around. He then let Piki climb back down his arm, aiding her with the smallest of movements. Piki then went around the tree, Salvete listening in a frown on the other side, her eyes fixated on the ground, while her mind was preoccupied with the recent actions Manna took. "Although I don't like how you behave around Manna, we're still siblings, and we still care for each other, don't we?"

It was undeniable to their inherent nature that they cared for each other, even if disagreements, conflicts and even hate may form between them. They were made from the same matter, thoughts tied with flesh just the same, no different. Their years that they've spent on Erta so far, were always next to each other, rarely alone. Thus a bond unshaken, unbroken no matter what they did, formed. It wasn't something that time would change. It wouldn't reinforce nor weaken it. Something which has been as strong as it could be since the day they met one another. For these reasons, it was harder for Salvete to think on what must be done in order to prevent any further loss.

"So you're finally agreeing that Manna is not fit to lead?" Salvete asked with snark, an awkward smile on her face, trying to make the conversation less tense. Eraanel didn't respond in any way, not even his glow or eyes reacted to it, he didn't have an answer. "I'm just jesting... you know, like we used to?". She looked at their group, everyone preparing to leave, letting Felemous' group get the lead, so they could follow up. Her eyes were begging for him to be angry, even though they didn't see each other. It hasn't been long since they left the Link, yet with everything that happened, those years which they spent isolated in that frozen place, seemed like mere moments compared to the past weeks.

"Jesting," Eraanel repeated, "I wonder if there will ever be another time for us to enjoy ourselves like that.". His words made Salvete feel a piercing pain in her chest. In spite of everything, she didn't want her, them, to change in such a way. "But we must not think of whether we can fool around like we used to. Not now, not with him out there, the lives of our siblings at the mercy of his hands," his skin's glow shifted, the anger building inside him whenever he thought of Orvus. "Manna, our sister, thinks more with her body, than her mind, much like you and me," he calmed himself, the glow of his body tempered, yet it withheld some of its stinginess. "Felemous is trying to find the logic behind Orvus' actions, while there is none, that much I and you can tell.".

"Can I?" Salvete turned her head towards her left, to make her voice better heard. "How are we two, hunters by nature, supposed to tell whether or not his actions possess logic?" she was trying to argue in vain, her mind was set the same way as Eraanel's since before Orvus ran off and killed their siblings. Though, she still didn't want to accept it fully.

"Talking of jesting, right?" Eraanel responded, his sarcasm unwelcomed in the current discussion. Salvete's skin glow pulsated in anger for a few moments, an utmost rare sight for her who prides herself in her hiding skills. "But yes, you can, and there is no point denying it. From one hunter to another, I can tell that also," he leaned forward, took his back off the tree and circled to where Salvete was, looking at her with his light imbued eye. "Not to mention this. I can see your light fluttering, shifting with your words. I can tell when you lie to me, or even you-" a slap came across Eraane's face before he could finish. Some of their siblings nearby took notice, but didn't give it much attention.

"Do not think you know it all just because you can see more than us!" Salvete snapped at him, her eyes flickering with sparks from within. Eraanel felt the sting of the slap deep inside his flesh. "I know what must be done and what I will have to do, but don't think you can understand me just by looking inside of my light, Eraanel.". Salvete reprimanded him, then took him by the chin, he stood with his face turned, still a bit in shock from the slap. She then pointed his eye upon her body and said, "Well? Now look, do you see me lying brother?!". Her resolution was undeniable, not the slightest waver in her flow. Eraanel couldn't tell, even with his eye, if it was due to her impeccable control over the light flow, or because she actually understood what must be done. Either way, he wouldn't push this further.