DragonBonds

Heartfelt

It had been a few months since Cloud's ceremony, and adjusting to everything was still a hassle. Mittens was kept away from him for the first few weeks, just in case he lost control and caused her any harm. They assured him it wasn't his fault, as many times as they could, but the calico boy could not get over the fact that he was the one stuck with a Drake as powerful and evil as this. He was stuck with this... thing for the rest of his life, stuck using his magic, his wings, his energy, everything. Cloud, above all, felt completely and utterly hopeless about his situation.

Cloud became secluded, isolating himself from his family and keeping himself in check alone, locking his emotions behind enough walls to make sure he never lost his temper. He refused to be a vessel for something destructive, and what he learned was that his emotions made him vulnerable, made his heart and mind weak. So, he shoved them out, remaining cool and calm.

And alone.

Merlot and Heathcliff, though they did what they could as his parents, eventually left him to figure it out on his own if that was truly what he wanted. He was his own cat with his own ways of figuring things out, and he would, as long as he could keep his family safe.

Pebbles took his isolation the worst; the grey cat would sit by Cloud's door for hours, talking to the open air, waiting to see if Cloud would answer. He never did; they were better off away from him.

The day of his ceremony, they told him they would be there for him, and he was happy they were. But what happens if he lost it at them out of frustration? Out of anger, or sadness, or anything? Would they still be by him if he hurt them? Could he stand to?

Cloud had kept himself holed up in his room, only leaving to eat and do what he needed to do to live. But he didn't talk, didn't look at anyone or anything but the ground or his plate. And as soon as he was done, it was back in his room for him.

One day though, Pebbles had managed to get to his brother's opened door before he could get back after getting himself some food. If he was going to talk to his brother, one to one, he would have to force it. It broke his heart that it came to this, but he knew it wasn't healthy, living this way.

When Cloud returned to his room, and saw Pebbles standing there, her just looked up at his brother. The look he gave him sent a wave of hurt and sadness straight through the older cat.

Cloud's mismatched eyes were filled with defeat, and disappointment. There might have been something else, but he knew his brother.

"Move," Cloud said simply, holding his plate of noodles with both paws.

"I can't. With a good conscience, I can't let you go back in, Cloud."

"Pebbles-"

The grey cat's resolve started to crumble as large tears began to form and roll down his cheeks and drip off of his cheek fur.

"Cloud, you- you have to talk to us. You need to let us help you, please. We're all here for you, don't you see? Me, mom, dad, we all miss you. We- I can't just leave my baby brother alone and you know that."

The calico's paws trembled as he looked down at his food, his wings twitching uncomfortably against his back.

"Pebs... Please, I need to get into my room." he murmured flatly.

Pebbles' claws unsheathed and flexed into his paw pads, clenching them into fists. Why did Cloud insist on doing this all by himself? Didn't he want his family with him? What could possibly be going through his mind to think that being alone would help anyone? He just wanted to understand what was happening; even he was scared sometimes of Cloud and his abilities.