Castiel Ansoomse:
"Cas... don't do this..."
Castiel opened his eyes to see himself standing at the edge of a cliff on the mountainside. Snow fell into his mane and onto his back like white feathers, dusting his fur and the pelt he wore around his shoulders. The clasp... Dene and Samm had found it for him. It matched the cuff on his ear. He looked down over the edge and saw nothing. No ground, no more of the mountain. Nothing but gray fog. He turned around and there was Ani, staring at him with her blue-gray eyes. She was his sister, his only sister, and he would do anything for her. He didn't know what he was doing, he couldn't remember why he was there, why Ani would be pleading with him.
And then remembrance struck.
Dene and Samm had been playing, Cas had been watching, Ani and Sae had been there too. Their mother was napping, their father nowhere in sight. Dene had tackled Samm, they'd gone rolling. Cas had jumped up, chased them down an incline.
His heart had shattered as he saw the edge, watched them tumble over with terrified cries, cut short as their big brother reached the edge. He had let out a cub's roar of pain and rage. His brothers were gone. When he turned away from Ani, he saw his father there, sitting to the side. He had seen everything and done nothing. Nothing! He wanted to rage at the male, claw at him and demand to know why! Why hadn't he saved them? Why had he let it happen?
But he heard their voices. Samm, Dene, they were calling to him from the fog. He looked back over the edge, then back to his sister. She shook her head at him.
"Cas, don't!"
But it was too late, he'd already jumped.
Cas came awake as if he'd been struck by something. Blue eyes wide and blinking, he looked around hurriedly, trying to part nightmare from reality. Where was Dene, where was Samm? Were they okay? Had it only been a nightmare? He stood and scrambled away from where he had been sleeping, only to land on a warm body. A body that smelled like Dene. He let his eyes adjust in the darkness for one moment, long enough to see the necklace around his brother's neck before he clung to the dark cub, burying his face in his brother's mane.
Dene Ansoomse:
He had been sleeping peacefully, dreams even eluding him. He was just, asleep, and it was nice. He was jolted awake though whenever he felt someone cling to him. He opened one eye, and blinked before lifting his head to look at the tan cub curled into him. He arched an eyebrow, and looked a bit awkward, but his voice wasnt demanding when he spoke.
"Cas? What are you doing?" He asked, voice still groggy from the deep sleep. His eyes hardly adjusted to the darkness, and he just felt more tired.
Castiel Ansoomse:
"I had a nightmare... You and Samm... I thought... And you were here..." His speech was broken as Cas continued to cling to his brother. He didn't want to move, afraid that if he did, Dene would disappear and he would find that this was the dream, that his brothers really were gone. He didn't know what he would do if he lost any of his siblings, his family. They were all he had.
Yes, he had the pride, but it wasn't the same. They were his family. He needed them. Just the thought of losing one of his brothers, his sister, his mother or father was devastating to him. It hurt to breathe.
Dene Ansoomse:
Dene cleared his throat, not moving as he didnt want to upset Cas. Cas seemed like this was important to him, and regardless of how weird it was, Dene wasnt going to upset him further. But once he thought that Cas had clinged enough, he sat up, and patted his brother on the shoulder.
"Don't worry Cas. Sammy and I arent going anywhere." He said. He was slightly bigger now that the time had passed. But he was still Castiels little brother, and he loved him.
Castiel Ansoomse:
Cas let out a shaky breath as he sat up, letting go of Dene. He huddled into his cloak a bit more, still chilled by the nightmare.
"I know..." he replied, letting out a tired sigh as he moved a paw to his growing mane. He was acting irrational, afraid of something that wasn't real. He glanced away and saw Samm still sleeping, curled up with Ani and Sae. It did some help towards calming his nerves.
"It was stupid. I just... It was so real. And when I woke up, I didn't know what to think. And when I found you... I guess I sort of freaked."
Dene Ansoomse:
"No worries, Cas. I get it." He said, and smiled at his brother. He had no intentions of ever leaving his family. They needed him after all. He was the tough protector. He sometimes saw himself alot like father. Only there were so many differences in the two..and he knew it.
"I told you, you think too much. You get paranoid." He said, but his heart sort of ached. He could see how shaken up Cas was.. and he didnt like it much.
Castiel Ansoomse:
He had to smile at that one. Dene was always picking on him for thinking too much and this just added to it. Unable to sleep any more, or maybe it was that he didn't want to sleep any more for fear of nightmares, Cas moved past his brother to the den's entrance, stepping out into the night. He looked up at the star-filled sky, looking to the world like a young sentinel standing guard over a room of precious treasures. And to him, he was. His family was beyond precious to him.
He should go back to sleep. That was what the rules were, and he was ever one to follow the rules. But tonight... He was willing to break them to stand watch. He wouldn't let anything happen to his family.
Dene Ansoomse:
Dene, assuming he wouldnt be able to sleep again for the moment, stood up and stretched out his paws. He was getting taller, putting on a bit more muscle. He was getting handsomer by the day, as were all the siblings. They definitely had good genes.
He moved to stand beside Cas, and yawned. He looked up to stare at the stars, and then grinned. Shaking his head he looked at Cas.
"Castiel, its a big world out there." He said, a random thought yes, but the stars tended to remind him of it.
Castiel Ansoomse:
Cas turned to Dene when his brother spoke, frowning.
"Yeah... But here is where we belong, right?" Oh, he was certain of this. This was home and he was meant to stay there as were all of his siblings. Their parents had come from other lands, he knew this, but they had come here for a new life and this was where he was meant to stay. Maybe not in his clan, but within the pride, on these lands.
"Why do you point it out?"
Dene Ansoomse:
"Of course it is. This is where the family is. And in my experience family is important." He responded looking over at his tawny colored brother. He wasbt sure why he had brought it up. Not really. But he shrugged and smiled. "Maybe its just an effect the stars have on me."
Castiel Ansoomse:
"Oh," Cas replied, nodding his head. So Dene didn't have a real reason for it, he just happened to say it. It was kind of like his fear of losing Samm and Dene, it wasn't a rational thought. He allowed a small smile to make its way onto his face then. No matter what mood he was in, he could always look to one of his siblings to feel better.
"Family is important. We need each other," he added, wrapping a paw around Dene's shoulders and giving his brother a squeeze. "I donno what I'd do without you guys..."
Dene Ansoomse:
"Probably forget to breathe. I mean..after all.. Take away that fancy mane fluff and youre like a baby in a pelt." he teased, winking at Castiel. He knew what his brother meant and he felt the same. Only unlike Cas he would never actually say it aloud. He chuckled abd pushed his brother gently with his paw. "But its okay. We wont find out." he reassured.
Castiel Ansoomse:
Cas chuckled a bit and nodded his head. Dene was right, probably about the breathing part. He didn't think he was much of a baby, though. But then, maybe he was. He was, after all, making so much fuss about just a dream. But it had seemed so real and... it almost felt like on of the things he Saw. But that couldn't possibly be, because he'd never go on a mountain like that and his visions were always moments before they were to happen. None of it made any sense to him.
So he chose to ignore it.
"You're right, I should stop worrying," he replied, pawing back at Dene with a smile and a yawn.
"We should get back to bed, shouldn't we?"
Dene Ansoomse:
Dene yawned and nodded. His eyes droopy from the thought of sleep. He could hear mothee stirring and he knew she would be nervous if they werent by her side if she opened an eye. "Yeah. I think thats a good idea Cas." He said and motioned with his head for Cas to follow.
Castiel Ansoomse:
He nodded to his brother and looked once more up at the sky, as if looking for the answers he needed. But all he saw were stars winking back at him from the inky blackness, telling the young lion nothing. With a huff, Cas stood and followed Dene back into the den, nudging his brother fondly with one shoulder before they curled up back with their siblings.
