Chapter Text
Ember was supposed to be the cool-tempered friend. That was his role: level headed enough to keep other people from doing dumb ideas. He never thought he would have to be the one to make something happen, but he was growing desperate.
His friend, Gale, had been radio silent for a few days. That wouldn’t be worrying normally, but as the wolf glanced over to the pig beside him- Gust, who was currently trying to contact both his parents and little brother- was getting nothing back either.
The two of them had gone camping; a trip originally planned for three, but Gale wasn’t feeling well that day and stayed home. Now, Ember walked with Gust alone, returning from their trip a day earlier than planned.
Gust was idly chatting as he walked, seeming to be unaffected by the lack of response from his family. He schooled his expression to neutrality, and even if he was worried—which he was—he didn’t let it show.
“That was when I learned tortillas are NOT good frisbees. Gale still laughs about it though—“ The pig was interrupted by rapid footsteps. His hair stood on end as one of his neighbors ran up to him, horror on their face.
“Oh Gaia, you—you weren’t home?”
Gust took a quick glance to the left, and everything went quiet. The wind stilled as ash brushed the toe of his shoe—for where his house once stood was a pile of burnt rubble. His body lurched forward, desperate to see his mom and dad waiting for him to come home, for Gale to greet him at the door with a smile—but he was greeted with silence. This wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real, he was only gone for a few days! Nothing this drastic should have happened!
His knees had hit the pavement, the skin scraping as his body collapsed from shock. “Fuck.” Gust’s voice broke. “Fuck, no- no I was supposed to be with him—c’mon Gale this isn’t—this isn’t funny! Mom, Dad, you can come out now! I—“ The man looked back at the mobian who confronted him. They averted their gaze, and shook their head. Gust helplessly turned and grabbed at the piles of ashes coating his lawn, raking through them as if looking for his family as a sob wrecked his body.
Ember had covered his mouth, staring in shock at the sight of Gust’s home in tatters. He never showed emotion on his sleeves, but at this moment the wolf didn’t care what he looked like. He stepped to place a hand on the grieving pig’s shoulder, but was harshly knocked back by the force of wind.
“You! You were the one who suggested this stupid trip! You knew this would happen! You-“ Gust could barely keep his eyes on the wolf, always darting back to the remains of home. He lost everything because of this.
Ember could feel the air thinning with each breath he took. Gust was unstable, and he would hurt himself along with the orange furred mobian if he kept at this. “I didn’t know what was going on! I’m just as devastated as you, Gust—“
“—My mom and dad are DEAD, Ember! And Gale—“ The pig was shouting, tears running down his face as he stared down Ember with the same fire in his eyes that had caused this mess. “Gale could barely move to start with! He wouldn’t have had TIME to escape! He’s always been weak—and now he’s fucking GONE because I wasn’t there to help him!”
Ember gripped at the fur on his chest as his mind raced. He was supposed to be the cool tempered friend. He was supposed to think rationally when others couldn’t—but it didn’t matter what he was supposed to do or be in this moment. All that mattered was that someone took the lives of his friends.
Rage heated the base of his neck as his face began to shift. The tips of the hair-like-fur that fell to his shoulders began to curl up and glow like metal fresh out of a forge. He snarled, small puffs of smoke flaring from his nostrils as he stepped back from the destruction, anger clear on his face.
Gust watched the other step away. Even through his grief ridden mind, he could recognize Ember’s behavior had changed. With wide eyes, the pig let his arm drop limply at his side. This stopped the effect of his power—as he now noticed every breath Ember heaved was filled with sparks.
It was quiet for a moment other than Gust’s soft panting and faint crackling from Ember’s fur, one unable to process and the other unable to think—until the latter spoke, breaking the silence. “Whoever dared to step foot onto these grounds and rid me of my muse will be begging for mercy when I find them.”
Gust felt his breath hitch. Ember was as ready to kill for Gale as he was. Heterochromatic eyes, full of vulnerability that was rarely shown, locked with the other. “…Promise?” He murmured, tone sounding more like his brothers than his own.
The wolf snarled, “I swear, I will end the one who took your life away.” Gust lost his home, and Ember lost his light. From that moment on, he would either find who did this and serve justice—or die trying. Sure Ember’s role changed, but it didn’t matter to the two anymore. Besides, what good was a voice of reason if the reason was gone?