Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Delaran household was strangely silent. There was no laughter, no stern reprimanding, no yelp of surprise. There wasn't even a creaking door or television buzz. It was quiet. Of course, there was an occasional glimpse of mint through the home windows as Eiry played "ghost" with the walls, ducking and dodging interaction for the sake of remaining silent. Rivener's whereabouts where unknown and the other household pets were unusually noiseless, even Shalbriri. Besides the occasional glimpse of mint, there was only one other thing moving and that was Percy, the forlorn ghost on the front porch steps.

Isi was no where to be seen...At least...From the driveway.

After his explosive outburst, Isi had stayed for a while near the railing, just staring bitterly at the clouds above. But as time went on and he was discovered by his prying frei, Isi removed himself from the premises. At the time, he couldn't stand Eiry's good-intentioned questions and the way his raevan flitted about him like a fly. It made him feel claustrophobic. So with another outburst, this time directed at Eiry, Isi pulled himself up and unsteadily walked away. It was hard, considering that he had thrown his crutches into the front yard, but this, to him, was just another way to prove to the world (and mostly to himself) that he was not as weak as he thought he was.

Good thing he had a lot of time. The trip to the Willow tree on the edge of the property was a long one.

So by the time Aphi had returned to the household later on that night, Isi was tucked in the tree's roots, listening to the gurgling of the little stream that ran into the marsh.

Startled, Isi jumped and snapped his head to look up at Aphismet. He hadn't even heard him coming through the field! He must've been drowning himself in the music of the stream. In that brief moment, relief and thankfulness for his brother's safe return swept over Isi's face. Catching himself though, he turned his face away and set a stony mask over it. He reached underneath his tired achy legs and pulled them up to his chest.

"I'm alright," was all he could manage to say. He was still hurt, and he felt stupid for acting this way, but there was a part of him that dictated him to act like he felt. Isi laid his chin on his knees and focused his eyes on the water gleam in the dying light. "Are you okay?"

Forgive him?

Isi mulled over the thought and the proposition. Well...How could he not forgive Aphismet? He knew he wasn't that kind of kid, the kind that would scream and writhe and claim to hate their loved ones, no he wasn't that at all. He was, though, prideful. He understood Aphi's position, his reasons, everything, but it didn't change the fact that it had scared Isi. It was like watching someone run into a dark black cave and not hear anything afterwards. Anticipation is a terrible thing, and it's an even harder thing to bear.

That's probably why Isi gave a "Mmph..." in response as he tightened his arms around his legs. He didn't mean to be tough, but, at the moment, there was no other way for Isi to really communicate.

For the first couple moments Isi stuttered and he shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. What was happening? For some reason, Isi choked on his words every time he tried to come out and tell Aphi what he felt. It was like there was a magic spell cast upon him that killed whatever sound he tried to make. The hand on top of his head made him feel comforted, but he had no voice to tell Aphi that.

He was thankful though, that Aphi chose to sit beside him by the the split willow tree. They were tucked underneath the part of the Ancient One that had peeled away from the main part of the tree and curled over into the stream as if it were thirsty. It was better to hear the stream there because the tree's limbs would dangle its fingers and play in the water.

"I already yelled at Eiry," Isi said finally with a gulp, "I don't want to yell anymore. I just..."

Isi took a deep breath. How could he tell his brother everything that he had felt on the porch when he had thrown his crutches into the mud? There was no way that he could tell him that without making himself seem like a whiny possessive child with a self-esteem problem (which Isi feared that he was sometimes).

Finally, Isi couldn't hold it in anymore. "What if you got hurt and I wasn't there to help you? I'd feel terrible...I mean, I understand why you didn't think or want me to go, I understand all that! I'd just be in the way, but if anything did happen maybe I'd be able to...You know? I just..." Isi kept his grey eyes focused on the water of the stream, hugging tighter to his aching legs, "I don't know, when you left like that, I couldn't help but think and imagine and it scared me, it really did! What if something happened? I...URGGGH!! I wish these damn bloody legs of mine would bloody work so I can actually help when you need it and do more than hobble around like a freaking toddler!!"

Isi stopped himself and softly he stated in apologetic wonder, "Sorry...I said I didn't want to yell."

Well...Isi had never thought of it like that before.

Turning his head toward Aphi so that he laid his head upon his knees and pushed up his cheek into one eye, Isi looked at him carefully as if he were carving that image of his dear brother into his memory. How lucky was he to have someone like this looking out for him, Isi thought. It was only then that he realized that he had only been thinking from his standpoint this entire time, pondering behind defense walls and barricades. It was only when Aphi pointed it out, that Isi realized that they were the same. And it didn't feel like he was very much alone anymore. Slowly, very slowly, his brows knitted together and a small embarrassed smile flitted at the corner of his lips.

"You're right...I guess I would've done the same thing if I was in your shoes," Isi admitted in defeat. Then he gave a small shrug to his shoulders, his grey eyes now less cold and less hurt than they were before, "I forgive you, Aphi."