How could it be a surprise to anyone that in a litter of eight there would be some strife? Well, it certainly shocked the middle child, poor little Gavriel every time his eldest littermates fought over one thing or another. As he would grow up, the fighting between Lus and Mik would eventually turn his heart bitter and numb, would make him take it out on strangers and his older siblings. But for now, he was still just a little cub, confused over why his big brothers fought, why they had been banished to opposite sides of the den.
Slowly, Gav crawled over to Lusaefer. Mikhail was the eldest of their litter, just like Castiel was the oldest of their parents' first, but it was always Lus whom he ran to. Mikhail was stubborn and sometimes too serious. Gav didn't like serious much, he liked to laugh and while Lus didn't really do that, he at least smiled more and learned fun little tricks he could teach Gav and his next-younger brother, Balthazar.
Lus was sitting facing the wall of their den, his head sunk a little, shoulders squared. His coat shown in the dim light. In all ways, he was the odd-cub out from his family. Where their coats were black or brown, he was the color of clouds as a small storm was starting to build, the white feathers on his back the only markings marring the uniform color. And no one in their family had his grassy-colored eyes.
"Lus? Are you in trouble?" Gav asked, his voice soft, quiet. His brother huffed but didn't move.
"Of course I'm in trouble. Mom said sit here 'n think about how I shouldn't fight with Mikhail." Gav flinched. The words were harsh, but at least it wasn't sarcasm. Lus was quickly learning that way of speaking and Gav was still trying to figure it out, so it was sometimes hard to follow.
"Is it my fault?"
Lusaefer sighed and felt some of his anger fade away. Yes, it was Gav's fault they'd been fighting. Well... sorta. Lus wanted to go to the nearby river to explore the shallow places and when Gav found out, he'd wanted to come. That wasn't a problem, Lus wouldn't have really wanted to go alone anyway. Now that he knew was dangerous. He didn't think there'd be a problem with him and Gav going, buddy-system and all that.
But Mikhail had overheard them talking about it and butted in. All about how that was dangerous and that he was setting a bad example and that was how they lost Samm and Dene and blah, blah, blah. In the end, Lus had had enough of it and had pounced his older brother. Lus might have been a little bit taller than Mik, his brother was just stronger enough to cause him problems. Mom ended up separating them and sending them both to opposite corners. He couldn't help but wonder if Gav had gone and gotten her or if she'd just overheard the commotion.
Lus glanced over at the side where Gav's voice was coming from and the rest of his anger melted away, ears falling low. Gav was pressed down close to the ground, his ears back and eyes wide and shining, as if he was contemplating crying. But he knew better. As emotional as Gav could get sometimes, he never liked anyone to see him cry. Lus couldn't remember a time when he had seen his brother cry. Not even the time he'd fallen off a rock and knocked his head. He knew it had hurt Gav, but still his brother hadn't cried, just sniffed and hissed a lot.
"No... Mom's right, we shouldn't fight. I just wanted to go-"
"I did, too," Gav interrupted and Lus nodded before continuing. "And it bugs me he's always doing that. Sure, Mom or Dad or Cas or Sae or Gogv telling us we can't, that's okay. They're older. But he's a cub, too. What makes him think he knows better?"
Gav laid down at his brother's side and curled a bit, pressing his body against Lus'. He thought about the question for a moment, even though he knew that Lus was probably just saying it because he was frustrated. Still...
"'Cause he's the oldest. I donno, Lus, you two... You're just strong, you know? Maybe Mik doesn't wanna be like Cas was, doesn't want us being another Samm and Dene. But stubborn, and that makes you fight. Maybe he's right, we should have asked Mom or Dad to take us." Gav paused, shrugging a bit as he looked up at his brother. "Don't make it right that he'd get all mad like that, don't make it right you two fighting, but maybe we were all wrong."
The last thing he wanted was for Lus to get mad at him over that, but he'd yet to learn when to keep his mouth shut. Someday he would, and no doubt with a vengeance, but for now he was just a cub who couldn't help but think out loud, ask his questions, share his feelings.
Someday, he'd learn.
Lus huffed and settled down next to his little brother, always surprised at just how little Gavriel was. Even their litter-sister was bigger than he was. It was one of the things some of the siblings worried about, Gav getting teased someday for being the runt of their parents' cubs. If anyone ever dared to call his brother that, Lus would definitely get in another fight. It was one thing he hoped to have Mik at his back for.
"I guess. Don't mean I have to like it, though," he replied and gently knocked his head against Gav's in an affectionate way. He nudged Gav's shoulder with his own then, giving him a fond smile. "Go bother Cas. Mik or Mom catch you, you'll get in trouble too and my time-out will be even longer."
Gav nodded once before he got up and left, his paws as quiet as his voice could be at times. For as small as he was, Gav was going to be a sneaky little snipe someday. He'd make his brothers proud.
(WC: 1,034)
