Drakonis

Seperation

I gripped my brother's back strongly as I refused to let him go. Tears welled in my eyes as we stayed locked in our embrace, the world outside our small cocoon seeming to fade away.

"Vorian, you can't send him out there!" I heard our mother argue, her voice thick with desperation and fear. Father remained silent, his disapproval etched in the hard lines of his face.

We sat in our room, the weight of the impending separation pressing heavily on us. I wiped my eyes, trying to blink back the tears. "Don't cry, little brother. It's not becoming of a warrior," he joked, but his voice trembled slightly. I punched his chest lightly, a futile attempt to keep the sorrow at bay.

"I don't want you to go," I whispered, my voice breaking. He nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and sorrow.

"If it's for our family, I will do whatever it takes to protect you," he whispered back, his voice steady but filled with unspoken fears. I nodded, trying to draw strength from his resolve.

The uncertainty of the future loomed over us. The threat of war was a dark cloud, casting a shadow on every goodbye. The thought of him not returning, of facing the horrors of battle alone, tore at my heart. I clung to him tighter, wishing I could keep him safe forever.

As we finally pulled apart, I saw the tears he tried so hard to hide. In that moment, the weight of the world seemed to rest on our shoulders. The room felt colder, emptier, as he prepared to step into the unknown.

"Promise you'll come back," I pleaded, my voice barely audible.

"I promise, nothing can separate us" he said.

The door opened, and Eli and Olympia ran inside, flinging themselves at Uhroh in a flurry of small arms and urgent hugs. Ashley followed behind, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"Ash, not you too," Uhroh joked, trying to lighten the mood, but the effort was futile against the heavy air of impending departure. Ashley rolled her eyes, but the sadness in them was unmistakable.

"Even though I'm older than you... you're still like my brother, Uhroh. Just—just be safe," she spoke softly, her voice trembling as she hugged him tightly.

"I'll be alright! I am the strongest warrior; it's in our blood," Uhroh said with a prideful grin, trying to reassure everyone, even himself.

He looked around at all of us, his eyes lingering a moment longer on each face as if committing us to memory. "Now you all be good and don't cause too much trouble. I'll return soon, and with good news at that," he smirked, but there was a vulnerability beneath his bravado.

"Is there a war happening?" Olympia asked quietly, her voice tinged with fear and innocence.

Uhroh placed her gently on his lap and shook his head, his expression softening. "Not on my watch. I'll gather more allies and help father stop things before a war can begin," he smiled, his confidence a fragile shield against the unknown.

"Then you'll be back to read me more stories," Olympia smiled, her eyes bright with hope.

"I promise," he nodded, though the weight of that promise seemed to hang heavily in the air.

The room was filled with a bittersweet mix of love, fear, and hope. As we all clung to Uhroh, each of us tried to draw strength from one another. The moments stretched, feeling both too long and too short, as if time itself couldn't decide whether to hold on or let go.

Finally, Uhroh stood, gently setting Olympia down. He gave one last, lingering look at each of us, a silent vow in his eyes.

We all walked outside where our parents were waiting. He gave them both a tight hug as we stood watching him place his bags on his beast, a magnificent creature with sleek, muscular limbs and a coat that shimmered in the sunlight.

"Warrior Ink will meet you near the border. He has a team with him and is expecting you," Father spoke, his voice steady and authoritative. Uhroh nodded, determination in his eyes.

"Be safe, son. Make sure to update us and call your aunt," Mother said, trying to contain her tears as her voice wavered.

"I've never been separated from any of you, but I guess since you're of age now, it was bound to happen," she joked, forcing a smile as we all shared a bittersweet moment.

"Mama, I will be alright. Look at me, I'm stronger than any human," he laughed, cracking a joke as usual to lighten the mood.

"I don't know where you get your humor from because it's not your father," she added, shaking her head with a mixture of affection and exasperation.

Father chuckled softly. "That's true. My humor is far too refined for your antics," he teased, ruffling Uhroh's hair.

As Uhroh mounted his beast, the creature's powerful legs tensed in readiness. He looked back at us one last time, his expression a blend of excitement and melancholy. "I'll make you proud. All of you," he vowed.

"You already do," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but I knew he heard me.

With a final wave, Uhroh and his beast took off, their figures growing smaller as they sped towards the horizon. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape, and we stood there, a family united in our hope and love for him, despite the distance that would soon separate us.

Mother wiped her eyes, trying to maintain her composure. "He'll be back soon," she said, more to reassure herself than anyone else.

"He will, Mom," I replied, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Father wrapped an arm around both of us, his gaze fixed on the direction Uhroh had gone. "He's strong, and he's prepared. He'll come back to us, stronger than ever," he said with conviction.

My mother shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she pulled away from my father's grasp and retreated to her room.

As we turned to head back inside, a heavy silence settled over us. I knew this decision weighed heavily on them both, but it was clear my mother was struggling the most, and the strain on their relationship was becoming painfully evident.