[PRP] Family Troubles

[Kimaria]

Charon let out a great breath.

His life had always been complicated when it came to family. So complicated, in fact, that he didn't think it could get any worse. Ha. He should have known that things could always get worse. It was sad, too, to think of it that way. It should have been a good thing; to have more family around him. But the hate and the bitterness and the grudges lingered having festered for years.

And now he was stuck in the middle of an old argument, not wanting to take a side and hoping that somehow it could all be fixed. Except that it was an empty wish. It all seemed utterly hopeless and he knew - when all of this was said and done - that he'd be left to pick up the pieces.

He wanted to cry and his eyes burned as he dipped his head to drink from the stream.

And for the millionth time he wished his family could be normal.  

[Kimaria]

He almost jumped out of his skin at his name being called, turning, wide-eyed, to look behind him. A moment later - when he realised that it was Imarika - the surprise transformed into a smile and he turned to greet her, a gentle purr rumbling from his throat.

He hadn't seemed her in forever - or it seemed like it anyway. He wondered what she had been up to and whether it had been more fun than his time.

"Imarika! You almost scared the life out of me. I didn't hear you coming. How have you been? I'm sorry I've not been by recently. Things have gotten a bit...well...turned upside down as of late."  

[Kimaria]

It seemed that she had been kept busy, too. With family things, perhaps? His tail twitched as he considered that, scolding himself for getting so wrapped up in his own problems and blinding himself to those of others. He took a step towards her and sat, giving a long sigh. "Too much is going on, 'Rika." He replied after a moment.

He thought of Nissa and decided to plough on, straight to the heart of the matter. "I found out that my mother had a litter before she came to these lands. A long time before, I think. She'd never mentioned them. Probably never would have. Except one of the lionesses from that litter has turned up here and gained membership."

He glanced away. "I have a half-sister....I have lots more, too, out in rogue lands somewhere. But...Mother isn't happy about her being here and now I'm stuck in the middle of some old feud that neither of them are willing to give up. I don't know what to do. I wish they'd just get along but the moment I mention it to either of them, they get so angry." They were too alike...that was their problem. Both stubborn and fiery and had hearts that held grudges.  

[Kimaria]

"It's all right." He replied. He knew that she'd help him out in a moment's notice if she had been able to. But at this point in time he didn't see how things were going to ever be okay. "They can't be in the same pride and never talk! Except...well, my mother doesn't leave her den all that much and Nissa wouldn't have reason to go there..." He sighed, staring down at his paws forlornly.

"Perhaps I should just leave it alone. I can be in both of their lives without them being in one another's and at this point I'm not sure whether I have the energy to deal with two angry relatives in my life. Maybe in time they'll come to realise how stupid they are being."

And there were the cubs, too. Nissa's cubs. Perhaps they might be able to build better bridges than he ever could.

"You think I should just tell them that I accept their choice even if I don't like it? Who knows, maybe knowing I won't sort out their problem for them might give them the initiative to do it themselves?"  

[Kimaria]

The story of his life. He'd always felt tethered to his family. And whilst he had never minded, his mother's lack of want to change was beginning to wear him down. He couldn't help her if she couldn't help herself and if she wanted to stay holed up for the rest of her life than there was no way anything was going to be settled between the two of them.

"I think I'll go with that option." He replied with a grateful smile. "It has the potential to get nasty otherwise." And then the gratitude turned into an apology. "And I'm sorry, Rika. I didn't mean to land all of this on you. I just...didn't have anyone else to talk to and you appeared as you did." It was easy to talk to her, too. She listened and she cared and she seemed to affirm what he was thinking, making him more comfortable with the decisions he could make.

"Thank you."