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A comfortable silence fell over the boys as they worked their way through the thicket of brush and thorns. Slowly making their way towards the spring that rested nuzzled into the side of a rocky hill. It sat centered in a small clearing, surrounded by thick trees and bushes. A small partially grown over path was barely visible. Their father had been too busy recently to keep up with maintenance, as he had been looking after their youngest brother who had caught a flu.
Kneeling down, Wilbur, the oldest of the three children started filling one of the many bottles that was handed to him. After a few moments all the bottles had been filled and Techno had placed them back into the bag. Swinging the now bottle filled bag over his shoulders Techno let out a groan at the weight, yet refused to say anything as he started making his way towards the trail, wanting to hurry back home. He only made it a few steps before he was forced to a halt, he let out a loud grunt at the sudden force around his shoulder and neck. Before he realized it, his vision started blurring as a red hue started growing around the edge of his vision. His body felt numb and it felt as though time had frozen, his head pounded in beat with the rapid thumping of his heart. His body felt as though it was about to move without his control, this was until he felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder and a smug voice penetrated through the ringing in his ears.
“Okay mister big man, here, let me take that before you hurt your shoulder. Don’t need you using that as an excuse for tonight when we are sparing. Come on let me-“ Wilbur stopped the moment he saw Techno’s face. His brother’s eyes held a look of pure terror as his once icy eyes grew ruby around the edges. Immediately Will jumped into action, having dealt with this for years and knowing Techno better than most he quickly removed his hand from his shoulder.
“Hey it’s okay! It’s just me, it’s just Will. No ones going to hurt you, look see, here’s my hands. No one else is here, WE are okay.”
Will smiled softly at his brother as he saw all traces of red disappear from his eyes. Suddenly his shoulders slumped forwards and Will was quick to ask if he was okay to be touched. After a nod of confirmation Will slide his arm under the youngers, gently leading them both to the ground. After they sat down, he slides the bag off the smaller boys’ shoulders, setting it to the ground off to their side. Will motioned for Techno to lay down and rest against him, his brother had never been one for much physical contact from anyone, but his father and Will had always been the exceptions to this rule. The middle child still even found it difficult around the youngest brother as he was young and always wanted to be clung to someone, he knew nothing bad would come of this, but he always felt as though his fight or flight would go off when anyone was to make contact with him. The older brother had a way of bringing him comfort with his touch though, never crossing the unspoken boundaries that Techno had made.
Time passed slow as Techno finally sat up from where his head lay resting against Wilbur’s leg. His head felt blurry and eyes tired as he glanced around the field before glancing upwards noticing that the light that had been shining though the trees was now no more than a gentle glow.
“Take your time and don’t rush yourself, okay? I’m going to grab the bag and we will get going whenever you’re ready.” Will looked down to his brother who now looked down at the ground with shame.
“Come on, chin up king your, crown is falling.” Will offered his brother a bright smile as he put his hand out to help the younger up. After a moment of hesitation, he accepted pulling himself up swiftly. After standing he still continued to avoid the orders eyes.
“Techno it’s fine-“ The words barely fell from the boy’s lips as the pink haired boy looked at his brother with a wide-eyed fear.
“No, it’s not Will! It happened again! If you hadn’t of snapped me out of it in time I could of-“
“Nothing would have happened Techno. Look you snapped out of it because you would never hurt me.”
“NO! Will, you don’t get it! I could have killed you! Phil’s not here in case anything happens, and you have nothing to defend yourself! If I hurt, you I don’t think I could live with myself Will!”
“Techno…I’m okay, we both are. Try to breathe okay? I’m here, I’m here, come here.” The older opened his arms and the shorter of the two pressed his head tight against the others chest. His breaths came out uneven and sporadic, Will counted aloud, a pattern that Techno knew all too well. He attempted to time his breaths to the counting of the other. As his breathing calmed Wilbur ran his fingers gently through the younger’s long locks.
After a while, a mumble could be heard against Will’s chest.
“Thank you.”
“No problem, come on let’s head back before it gets to dark out. You know how Phil gets; we don’t need to worry him that something happened.” With that the two brothers were off.
The boys were quick on their feet to make there way down the path. The clearing was just in their line of sight as an inhuman feral snarl sounded from the brushes to their right. Without a moment hesitation Will stepped forwards putting himself between Techno and the sound. Fear stricken Techno found himself frozen in place hardly processing what was going on around him as a figure emerged.
“Techno, very slowly I need you to start backing up, okay?” The words did not prosses as his mind flooded with every scenario in which this could go. Why am I doing nothing? Move, fight, keep your brother safe! Techno’s thoughts exploded in his mind, all he could think of was keeping his brother safe, yet his body refused to move. His mind flashed with thoughts of his past, he could not save anyone before, what is the difference now. He was going to lose another family he thought, and it’s only because I am so weak.
“Move back!”
A shout took Techno out of his thoughts as he felt an arm wrap around him yanking him back sharply. A pair of evergreen-colored wings filled his vision as he noticed his father putting himself between his boys and the creature. With torch held tight and sword gripped in his dominant hand Phil waved it sharply, creature instantly screeching before fleeing deep into the woods. Phil turned to look at his boys after he was certain the creature was gone. His eyes flicked up and down multiple times looking over both his boys, after he was sure that neither was injured, he sighed.
“I- are you guys okay?” Phil’s eyebrows furrowed.
“We’re fine. Thank you.” Will gave Phil a kind smile hoping it would show the other that he meant his words.
“You boys are lucky I just had to fly into town quick to get Tommy some medicine. When I got back Tommy told me he was upset that he had not seen you two all day, so I was doing a quick fly to the springs.” Based off the change on Phil’s face it was obvious he wanted to be mad, but the relief he felt outweighed his anger and he motioned for the boys to follow him back towards the house.
That night Techno lay sleeplessly in bed, events that had taken place still haunting his mind. I could have hurt Will. Why do I lose control? Why didn’t I help when he needed me? I am weak, too weak to help those I care about…but I can change that. Suddenly the pink haired boy sat up, eyes moving from the place in front of him to the other side of the room where his training weapons sit. Eyes scanning over all the wooden sparing tools until they landed on the freshly sharpened stone sword. Sword in hand Techno silently worked his way out of the house. Once the boy was outside, he took a deep breathe of the icy night air. Turning on his hooves he made his way towards the forest. He would learn to be stronger on his own.
Months passed and Techno continued to leave every night, only returning just before the sun rise. As far as he was aware no one had noticed him, but the effects were seen. Not only had he hit yet another growth spurt as his fifteenth birthday had passed, now standing close to six feet. But his shoulders had also squared out more, along with noticeable muscle gain. His physical changes were not the only thing that his father and brother had noticed though, the boy had also appeared more tired then ever, sleeping in often past noon the few days he could get away with it, and keeping to himself more than usual. Techno did not care though, he was stronger, he was getting better. His and Will’s daily training had changed from the normal ten to one loss on a good day, to Techno taking victory on more rounds than not. He could not stop though, this had started because of a desire to get stronger to protect his family, but now…he found comfort in his nightly fights.
Glistening icy eyes stared at the clock as it reached quarter after one, by now the house will have been long to sleep. As he had for every other night, he grabbed his sword, carefully making his way out the door. Unknowing to him, he was not the only child leaving that night.
Will sat with his ear pressed to his door, waiting to hear the quiet clicks of hooves on the wood floor stop. Once he was sure that Techno had left, he made his way out the door quick in tow while also maintaining space as not to be seen. Wilbur had first noticed his brother leaving long ago, but he understood the trauma the boy had suffered with, assuming the boy only needed air and time to himself he left him to go about his business. It was not until the night prior to this that his fear grew. He had been restless, and after rolling over for what felt like the hundredth time, he finally sat up, glancing out the window he had expected to see nothing more than the view of the moon. Instead of this though his eyes caught the figure of a pink haired boy making his way into the forest, sword strapped tightly to his back. He knew he would not have been able to catch up to him in time, and secretly he hoped it was a one-time thing, but as he now followed his brother towards the woods, he understood it was not.
Wilbur keeps distance between them as he knew he could never walk as silently as the hooved hybrid. Anxiety for his brother’s actions built as he worked his way deeper into the thick forest. Under the orders boot a small twig snapped, eyes wide he pressed himself against a tree hoping that the younger brother had not been alerted. After a few moments of continued silence Will popped his head out from around the tree. Scanning the area, he realized that Techno was no loner in his view, Will left out a curse under his breath as he picked up his pace hoping to catch back up to the boy.
A small clearing could be seen only a few meters up from where Will stood. He stopped to listen if he could hear Techno anymore, and to his surprise he could. It was not the sound of hooves on twigs as he expected, but instead grunts and an inhuman screech ran through the once silent woods. Eyes shooting open Will flew towards the source of the sound, heart pounding as his fear grew. He halted to a stop at the edge of the clearing as the other came into view. From here he could see his brothers back facing him, swords held high and coming down against the neck of the creature in front of him. Bodies of several creatures lay sprawled out around him, and he watched him pull his sword from the now fallen monster. Wilbur did not even have time to process the brutal scene laid out before him as his eyes caught the shadow of a creature creeping up behind his brother. His body flew into motion and he screamed at the younger to turn around, everything after this moved too fast to process . A grunt, a flash red, and a searing pain. Will’s hands had not even had time to knock the creature away from his brother as Techno turned. Now Wilbur stared into glowing eyes, blood red and emotionless. Techno had turned and plunged his blade through the creature behind him, but the creature was not the only thing the long blade had plunged through.
“Techno?” Will’s eyes were wide with fear and Techno swiftly pulled out his blade. The monster that was between them dropped dead; blade having been plunged all the way through its heart.
“Techno?” He repeated looked at the still emotionless eyes in front of him. Will attempted to back up but a numb shooting pain caught him in place. Eyes leaving those in front of him he instead looked down to his upper stomach were the pain was stemming from. Red? He thought, why was there red? Suddenly his body dropped to the ground, and he found himself struggling to breathe.
“Wilbur?” At the sight of his brother collapsing Techno could feel his consciousness taking back over. As his vision cleared, he noticed the scene that had transpired in front of him. His brother lay bleeding out, wound from his own blade.
“Oh god, Will… no, no, no.” He found his body shaking as he moved closer before collapsing beside his brother.
“You’re okay, you’re going to be okay, please, please.” Tears streamed down as he put pressure on his brothers wound. Will lay motionless but his stomach moved with shallow breaths. Before he could say anything, he heard screaming from the air above the boys. Their father practically crashed into the ground from the speed and unsteadiness of his wings.
“Will! Techno what happened!?” Phil quickly moved his son to the side taking over by putting pressure on the still heavily bleeding wound.
“Talk to me Techno! I need to know, depending on what monster did this I might have to remove poison! Quickly!” His father’s eyes looked pleadingly at him as felt tears streak down his face.
“Techno now-“
“Me.”
“What? Techno this is not your fault, but I need you to tell me what did this-“
“I did, I’m the monster that did this, I’m so sorry.” He barely managed to choke out the words as the fled into the woods away from the scene he had caused.
Blurry eyes opened as sun poured in thought he window. Confusion filled the boy’s blurry mind as he attempted to wipe his blurry eyes of sleep. Confusion turned to fear as he felt a shape pain in his chest at the movement.
“Will? Oh thank goodness. Try not to move to much, okay? You’ll pull your stiches at that rate, and I don’t think my heart can take another scare like that.” The man’s smile was weak, and bags sit dark under his eyes. Tommy lay sleeping in his arms as Phil held him close. Will smiled at the small boy, his complexion was much healthier, he must be doing better he thought. His heart hurt to look at the man holding the boy though, his face had never looked so aged. It hurt him to see him feel so much pain, fear of losing one of his boys. His boys… wait.
“Phil…” The man looked up at his son, having obviously been zoned off into into mind.
“Yes Will?” Will’s eyes fell to the ground for a moment before looking up to meet his fathers.
“Where’s Techno?” At this, the heart break that had been showing on his fathers face finally made sense.
“I don’t know…”