War Is Madness

Chapter Eight: The Royal Capture

            When I awoke next, Rastus was trying to wake me for my turn on watch. Brother looked exhausted and let out a sigh of relief when I finally opened my eyes to the darkness of the forest. The small fire we had burning was now just dull embers.

"You seem happier? Have a good time with Rose?" Rastus teased and laid down on his bedroll.

I chuckled lightly in response and rolled my eyes at his teasing. Rastus smirked with a knowing look before pulling his blanket over himself. I got up and stretched, letting my wings fully expand out. The moon was just starting to move to give way to the sun when I looked up after stretching.

I opened my senses to everything around us and still felt no Humans. In a way I was relieved but at the same time, I was anxious to get to Rose and Dendra. I tried not to let my mind wander to what the Humans could possibly be doing to them. But being the only one awake in the darkness made it difficult.

I could feel the sadness settling deep within again as I sat against a tree by the embers. I prayed Mother and Father make it safely home as I watched the twinkling stars. Heavy clouds started to roll in as I continued to keep watch throughout the rest of the night.

It smelled like it was going to rain soon. I debated waking Rastus, but he really needed the sleep. So, I took my blanket and made a makeshift tent using the nearby branches. It looked horrible but it would get the job done.

I walked around to find small twigs to bring the fire back to life. I needed to keep my own body warm so it wouldn't deteriorate any faster. After I got the fire going again I packed up our little campsite and just waited by the warm fire for Brother to awaken. The sky rumbled a warning before the rain came in a downpour.

Rastus still didn't awaken. I assumed he was visiting his Mate as well. But something didn't seem right. The longer I watched him, the more I noticed was wrong. He wasn't breathing.

Panic and adrenaline shot through me. I dove over the fire to him, knocking over the makeshift tent in the process.

"Rastus! Brother! Wake up!" I yelled and checked him for a pulse. Nothing.

In desperation, I called forth my flames and to my surprise, they roared to life. I manipulated my flames to engulf my Brother's body and focussed on healing thoughts. Positive memories of us before the war. We were running, playing tag as children.

We were happy, healthy, normal kids. I begged Rastus to wake up and when I opened my eyes my flames were blue! Rastus shot up into a seated position and wiped his face from the pouring rain.

"Ptolemeos? Am I back?" Rastus questioned, still dazed.

"Y-Yeah. You're back, Bro." I replied and let out a breath of relief.

I collapsed onto the muddy forest floor below me as my flames were snuffed out by my loss of control. It was hard to breathe and Rastus quickly came to his senses after that.

"Whoa! Whoa! Are you okay?"

"You want the truth or a nice lie?" I chuckled quietly and clutched my chest.

It felt as if someone was stabbing me in the chest repeatedly. Rastus looked unbelievably guilty and used his one wing to stop the rain from pouring on my face.

"I'm so sorry, Bro! I n-never meant to be gone that long. I didn't realize crossing over meant my body would stop functioning here."

I waved him off and tried to get up, which only made another wave of pain strike.

"What happened anyway?" I managed to ask as Rastus helped me into the sitting position.