Castiel Ansoomse:
Cas stood on a rock, looking out over the lands that were not home. They were not known to him, they did not have his brother and sister, did not have his mother and father. All that they held was danger, mystery.
And his two lost brothers.
Samm, Dene, not a day had gone by since they had disappeared that he didn't think about them. Sometimes he dreamed they were out there, that shadows he couldn't see were watching over them, protecting them. And then there were some horrible nightmares, of sickly yellow eyes piercing his brothers with more hatred than he had ever fathomed.
Cas had never truly known hatred or malice until those dreams. When he was young, he thought he might have hated his father. But as he grew older he learned better. It wasn't hatred for the male, it was simply mistrust and disappointment. No, the only creature he was angry at was himself. He was the eldest. It was his job to watch over his brothers and sister. And he hadn't. He had let himself take time with his mother, had shirked his duties and his brothers had paid for it.
Ani was growing into a strong lioness. He would do anything for her, and in their youth had proved it with varying results. And Sae... His brother and sister could take care of themselves now. He needed to leave, to find Samm and Dene.
Rashida & Azrael:
Rashida was a bit more solemn since the dissappearance of her boys. She had not taken it well, and it was hard for her to get over the sorrow she carried in her heart. Azrael had suggested more cubs, and she had thought about it carefully. She wanted so much to fill the void Samm adn Dene had left in her heart. But she was sure that more cubs would no more fill that void than her Cas, Ani, or Sae could. She had a place in her heart for each of them, all irreplaceable and treasured.
Azrael was not far behind her as she walked to the outskirts. She had seen Cas head this direction, and she wanted to check on him. Even if he was older now, she was very conscious about where her babies were at all times. Azrael never left her side, wanting to make sure not to let his eyes off of any of his family anymore. Not again. Never again.
Castiel Ansoomse:
Cas' ears perked up, swiveling to angle behind him when he heard someone approaching. His cloak still wrapped tightly around him, he turned, seeing his father and mother walking towards him. His heart fell, seeing them when he knew what he was about to do would break his mother's heart. And probably hurt his father as well.
But what could he do? He wasn't just going to disappear on his parents, that would be even worse. And he had to find his brothers, he had to fix their broken family. Before something even worse happened.
"Mom..." He had long since stopped calling his mother Mama. And since the day Samm and Dene disappeared, his father was simply that, Father, no emotion in the tone. Only out of respect for the parents that bore him did he continue calling the older male that, otherwise he would by calling him Azrael.
Rashida & Azrael:
Rashida smiled gently when her boy turned. He was as big as ever, growing into a strong, brave lion. She felt nothing but proud when she looked at him. However she saw a look in his eyes that had her suspicious. Though Rashida was ever the kind, gentle, non-confrontational soul she had always been.
Azrael bowed his head in greeting to his son. He knew he had screwed up. The boy hardly looked at him with much regard anymore, and he really couldn't blame him. Though he wondered if his own father had anything to do with the rift between he and his son. Azrael had longed for his fathers love, doing everything he could to meet his expectations. When that never worked, Azrael had decided that it was futile. And in every relationship besides Rashida, he had kept that feeling. He sometimes wondered, if his fathers disapproval was what had made him such an unfit father.
"My Castiel. What is it you are doing out here alone?" She asked, though she knew he was the type to be alone more often than not.
She leaned in to him, nuzzling his cheek before smiling.
Castiel Ansoomse:
Cas' smile was bittersweet and alien on his face as he leaned into his mother's touch. The sweet innocence of cubhood was long gone, leaving behind the serious young lion before them, a male who had only smiled once or twice since his brothers had disappeared. Emotion wasn't something that took him over. He had become a rock brought to life, stoic and serious. Of course, some things hadn't changed since his youth. He still didn't understand or register sarcasm, couldn't rid himself of a strong curiosity of why things were the way they were, and he still kept mostly to himself. He always watched over his brother and sister from a distance, never engaging unless they asked him to. When the family slept, he chose to sleep apart from them, not curled close like he had as a cub.
It would make life on his own easier, he hoped.
"I'm leaving, Mom." Short, to the point, Castiel understood subtleties as well as he did sarcasm. He didn't see the point in beating around the bush or taking a long time to say something that three little words could. He pulled away so that he could look at his parents. They could try and stop him, but try was all they could do. He was going to go out there, he was going to find them.
Rashida & Azrael:
The look of sadness was immediate as she heard his words. Her brows knitted together as she looked confused. Why would he want to leave? She found herself not wanting to ask him to stay.. He was almost an adult.. But she couldn't help but -want- him to stay.
Azrael grew serious, his face almost unreadable as he registed his sons words. So two boys had dissappeared, and now here was his other son wanting to leave the family. He couldnt help but think the worst. He couldn't. It was just his nature. It wasn't like he was trying to be.. He just -was.-
"What do you mean you are leaving?" He asked, curious as to the answer. He hadn't spoken to him, but as his father he thought he deserved to help his mate on this one.
"Why, Castiel?" She asked.
Castiel Ansoomse:
Blue eyes met his father's gold, an ache in Cas' heart.
"You can't leave, Mom needs you. Ani and Sae... They can take care of themselves, at least for now. That leaves me," he replied. But that didn't explain anything, not really. And it took a moment, but he realized it didn't.
"Samm and Dene need me. I'm going to find them and I'm going to bring them home, like I should have done a long time ago." It hadn't been that long, but it felt like an eternity to Castiel. "I'm strong enough now."
But was he really? Was he strong enough to leave his home, his family behind? He kept telling himself, it wouldn't be long, he wouldn't be gone forever, he would find Samm and Dene and they would come home and everything would be all right again. It wouldn't be the same, it could never be the same, but... They would be a family again.
Rashida & Azrael:
Azrael nodded. Though he had long wanted to go after his sons, he knew leaving Rashida was something he wasn't sure he could muster. Nor leaving his other children after he had already lost the two. But he felt wrong... Trying for help from his son. A son that wasn't even quite the adult he was going to be yet.
"There's nothing I can do to convince you otherwise?" Rashida asked, voice soft. She was sure there was nothing she could do. And though she looked to Azrael to try to convince him into staying, she could see on Az's face that wasn't going to happen.
"I can't lose you too." She whispered, eyes full of pain. Though Azrael nuzzled her throat gently, before pulling away.
"He's a strong boy Rashida. A brave son you should be proud of. Don't hinder him." He said softly, trying to comfort her.
Castiel Ansoomse:
"You won't lose me. I will come back, my brothers with me." Castiel bled a confidence far greater than a lion his age should have had. He was so sure of himself, that he would be able to find his brothers and bring them home. What else could he believe, after all? If for one moment he thought that they might not be alive like his heart knew, if he ever thought that he wouldn't be able to find them and get them home... It might just break him.
"I will bring them back, Father. I swear it." His father had faith in him. It was as if a single log fell into place across the river that separated them. It was a thin, fragile length of wood, but maybe, just maybe, given time and fortification the broken bridge could be rebuilt between them. It wouldn't be the same, that bridge had been swept away, but a new one could be formed.
He stepped to them and slipped his head under his mother's chin, still short enough to do so, though probably not for too much longer.
"Please don't cry, Mom..."
Rashida & Azrael:
Rashida heard the conviction in his words, but all she could do was feel sadness. Maybe more cubs were a good idea.. More cubs to keep her busy, and keep her from having to do nothing but sit and worry about her babies that were out on their own. She smiled sadly, listening to both he and Azrael, proud to have two such strong males in her family. She sighed, taking a deep breath. She had to calm herself, getting upset would get her nowhere at all. And it wouldn't stop Castiel from leaving.
Azrael nodded at his son, his eyes serious though the smallest twinkle of pride was evident. He was proud of his son, for going out to save his brothers. Proud of him for his strength.
"I know you will, Castiel. I know you will." He said softly, a small corner of his mouth turning up into a very small smile.
Rashida nuzzled Castiel as he slipped his head under her chin. She purred, bringing him close to her in a hug. She held him for a moment, before pulling away.
"Be safe, my child." She said, smiling sadly once more up at him.
