'Together we will Live Forever' -
--by Clint Mansell
--by Clint Mansell
Nur'yu couldn't put a name to it or even explain its existence, but somewhere out of the dark void, he heard a wordless voice drawing him back. Words that he felt rather than heard, words that urged him to stir when he wanted nothing more than to fall into the warm, safe, everlasting silence.
But its strange call was persistent and after some encouragement, he allowed it to lift him out of unconsciousness to a world where pain was a reality. To a world where breathing was a struggle and his strength seemed to be failing him. And, for the first time in his life, Nur'yu could honestly say that he was frightened. The pain alone would be bad enough to a lion not used to such things. But coupled with the odd sense of detachment - as if his body didn't belong to him anymore - was utterly terrifying. It felt as if something had come by and severed him in half. His head floated and his tongue felt thick and useless in his mouth.
Even still, his fear was dulled by the sense that he wasn't alone. Someone was there with him, though he didn't know who it was.
His throat was dry as he tried to rasp a greeting to the one who was there - even as he tried to gather his memories. It worried him that he could recall barely nothing of why he was feeling so dreadful. He did not know where he was. Did not remember the walk back towards the heart of the pride. Did not realise that he had been lying there, mostly unconscious for the best part of four days now.
But the wordless voice had called him back. There had to have been a reason for it.
---
And for the past four days Kakek had made the decision to stay by his brother's side in the medic's den. To Kakek there wasn't any other choice.
At first his Aunt nagged at him, tried to kick him out of the den, however Kakek laid there. He did not leave the den. After the first day though Ea stopped nagging him and really only gave him annoyed looks. He sat at the front of the inner den, keeping anyone who didn't belong out of it and keeping an eye on his brother. He was facing where his brother was laying at all times. He was hungry but he didn't bother on getting up, and when his ration of water came his way he gave it up to the care of his brother. It was only a few days now but he didn't mind. Normally when he wanted the news to go to his mother he sent them through other lions and when his mother would come in for the few hours that she could give up that was when he took the time to really sleep. When his brother was being treated he closed his eyes and stayed half awake to be aware of everything that was going on in the small den. He was the only one in with his brother at the moment, he wasn't that sure of where everyone else was but Ea mentioned that she was going to be out until the sun came back down.
That was okay because he wasn't going anywhere. Really at the moment he had his eyes closed taking a few moments to relax. However something seemed off today. "Nur, why can't you be okay?" He half huffed out of frustration flicking his tail around behind him. He was so upset he honestly just wished that everything could go back to normal. He sighed and then stared at his brother not that sure of what to do, but then there was movement. Kakek stared, he wasn't sure of what to think about it he just stared. Did his brother really just move, were his eyes really open? He wasn't even that sure. He quickly got to his feet and then stared at the male. "Nur?" He said quietly, it was almost a whisper.
He moved to in front of his brother and laid in front of him. He didn't know what to do he didn't know if he could touch him, but he did, he reached out a paw and carefully moved the lion's face. "Nur, can you hear me?"
---
His vision was not so good either and his eyelids felt gummed together as he peered up at a shaky smudge against the darkness. But even if he couldn't see very well, his ears confirmed that it was his brother there. Nur'yu could have wept with relief. His brother would keep him safe. His brother would protect him. He was a warrior - bigger and stronger than he.
He gave a nod as he tried to clear his throat, one of his forepaws weakly flapping as he attempted to reach out and make contact with him. And then there was a touch on his face and he released a shaky sigh.
He was not alone.
He gave another small nod and tried to get his eyes to focus. "There's..." His voice caught and he gave another go at clearing it. "There's something wrong with me, brother." And the wording of it sent a shudder through him. He had so many questions he wanted to ask but suddenly none of them seemed all that important. Why did it matter where he was when he was with his brother? Why did it matter what had happened to him when the danger was gone and he was safe?
"Have you been here the whole time?" His voice was slow but it was coming easier now. "Were you...calling?"
---
Kakek stared at his brother in almost amazement as he started to come around. that made him feel a lot better. The fact that the other male was starting to rouse out of the almost lifeless state. It was amazing. He wanted to call his aunt in but yet at the same time he was far too busy, jut too busy with watching his brother and even for that matter talking to him. It was extremely exciting to him. When he brother nodded, he too could almost cry, he felt some tears swell in his eyes. He swallowed it back but reached his paw out more and moved closer to his brother, keeping himself close as if they were cubs once again not being able to get close enough during nap time.
Then with the first this his brother said he almost wanted to cry once again. "I know brother." He said simply trying to keep his composure. His voice was a little shaky. He could imagine what his brother must have felt. He was hoping that the roots that his aunt rubbed on the male's wounds help numbed the pain at least a little. He really didn't want his brother to feel any pain, he was honestly hoping that there was no pain at the moment he knew that it was going to be upsetting if his brother was feeling the pain. He gave his brother a soft look and then used his paw to gently move the cub's hair away from his eyes.
With his brother's comment about him being there he let out a very small chuckle. "I haven't left your side." He stated simply. It was the best thing he felt like he had ever told some one. He had no plans at all to leave his brother he wasn't going anywhere. "Even when Aunt Ea was getting mad at me I stayed right here." Kakek had a great love for a few things that included (No matter how much he didn't want to admit it) Kasi, his family and his cubs. He of course had a extra soft spot for his brother Nur. They were always pretty close when they were together. But then the last out of his brother's mouth confused him. "Calling? No brother, I said your name twice though."
---
His brow crinkled a little. Odd. If it wasn't his brother, who else could it have been? He allowed his eyes to fall closed a moment and felt his breaths grow shallower - it was less painful to breath that way; put less strain on his ribs. "I'm glad you stayed." He continued quietly. "I don't think I would much...have liked to have been by myself." He swallowed thickly and let his head sink back against the floor of the den.
Why were the most simple of actions so difficult?
At least his brother's words clarified one thing. He now knew where he was. The ward dens where Ea worked. He definitely was in the best place then. That was a comfort. A great comfort, actually. "That's...because you're so big. You take up a lot of room now, Kakek." He gave a weak sort of smile and something akin to a chuckle rumbled forth. "I hope I didn't worry everyone too much. There's so--so much else to worry about already." His head still refused to clear completely but he did manage to open his eyes a little to see a slightly clearer image of his brother. "Did...did Ea say when I would be able to get back--back on my paws again?"
---
He almost wanted to yell at his brother for moving around, it almost gave him at heart attack that was for sure. He flicked his hair out of his eyes and then waited to see if his brother would yelp out of pain or not. He was hoping not that was for sure. He really didn't want him too but he decided to watch just in case. "Well, I wouldn't have gone anywhere until i knew you could get around with out help." He told his brother semi-seriously before following with a joke. He wanted to keep his brother's mood good and not down. "Well even if I wanted to go do something mom would kill me from leaving the den." He chuckled a little. He knew his brother was about ready to hunt down anyone who looked at Nur wrong. She was kept busy though by helping Kidondo and if not helping him then by Kasi take care of his cubs.
He smiled a little and then nodded. "Yes I know." He laughed a little. He wasn't fat and he knew it but it was something that him and his brother went back and forth with often. An amusing habit but one that he loved very much. He looked at his brother again before laughing a little. "Well of course we're worried, mom is especially but mom would be worried about any of us who had a little cold." He laughed once again a smile growing on his lips. Then his brother's last question worried him. It didn't worry him a little bit it worried him a great amount. He was hoping that Nur didn't ask any questions that were like that. He didn't want Nur to worry about that because truthfully it seemed like no one had any idea of what was going on at the moment. He paused for a moment before speaking to his brother his voice much more serious now. "Well, at the moment I haven't heard much of anything. Nothing as a solid answer right now." He was a little quiet. He wished that he could give his brother a good answer right now but at the moment there was one thing for sure and that was that the news actually didn't look that great last time that he was talking to Ea.
---
It was odd, but the pain seemed to be easing into the background now; settling heavy in his chest so that he felt almost pinned to the floor by it. A weird sensation that prickled with pain only when he tried to move and fight against it. Focusing so much on the oddness of his current state, he almost missed Kakek's reply.
What was wrong with him? He needed to focus. What was the point in being awake if he couldn't listen to his brother? He forcefully drew himself back and looked up again, blinking to try and clear his vision. "She shouldn't worry. It'll be okay. I'm fine." And softer, he repeated. "I'm fine." He was sure he'd be okay and he'd never been one for negative thinking. If you went around believing bad stuff was going to happen, it usually did. He'd never been a pessimist before and he wasn't going to start now.
"I hope it won't be too long..." He trailed, his eyes rolling closed again. His breathing slowed a little and that weight returned with surprising vigour. He tried to move a front limb, but it rewarded him only with an intense stab of pain that had his whole body tensing until it had passed. "But...probably...shouldn't...move now." He gasped between his words, trying to gain control of his breathing. After a moment the tension unwound from his muscles and he felt the odd detached sensation shroud over him again.
"I don't remember much, Kakek." His voice was hoarse and quieter still. "Was...I in a fight? Were you there?" A flash of sand-covered lions with claws splayed flitted through his memory.
---
Kakek could almost feel a tense and different feeling in the air. It just wasn't one of a normal situation, not even one of a sad situation. There was one thing for sure and that was that he didn't like it and he had never felt anything like it before. He scooted a little closer to his brother and watched in half fear as he watched him move and listened to him talk. "I'll tell her not to worry brother, you're in good hands." He said almost painfully. He felt like he was lying to his brother, one of his closest brothers and to him he had no other choice but to. He had to lie to his brother in this situation, he didn't want to be truthful. He couldn't be in his mind. It was like trying to explain to his cubs that there isn't a sand fairy, he had to let them believe it. He had to let his brother believe that everything was okay. He wanted to believe it too he wanted a miracle to happen but at this current moment he had no idea what was going to happen.
"Of course you're going to be fine brother! You have things to do. Our best watcher has to be up on his feet and working right? Beside you need to teach my little ones how to sneak up on their mother, remember, you said you were going to teach them to do that?" He was almost trying to convince himself of this instead of reminding his brother. He wanted his brother to be better right now. He wanted it more than anything. He was holding himself together the best he could. He was not going to let his brother know he was uncomfortable and upset he was holding himself together the best that he could. He paused and a small smile grew on his face. "It probably will be getting better, I mean this is a good start!" He told the male excitedly but then the male winced and he couldn't help but to do. "Yes, resting would be a very good idea, you need to relax and let everything heal."
And then there was his brother pushing for answers again. He didn't want to answer them he wated to tell his brother to shut up and enjoy his company but he couldn't do that to him. "I wasn't there." He stated simply taking a moment before explaining. "From what I understand you were attacked, by who I wasn't sure I haven't heard the news yet. Grandpa was with you and he took you home. A few more were injured too," you were the worst. He wanted to add that but at the same time he didn't know what to think about it. "Luckily probably the most painful part you were out, Vlam and I carried you back and Ea fixed you up the best she could for the moment." He nodded proud of the help that was given to his brother.
---
He smiled a little at that. He would be fine and then no one would have to worry about him any more. He didn't like to think that he would be the cause for upset, especially with everything else that was going on. "O-of course it'll be fine. Don't I...don't I always say that? Am I--not always right?" His smile increased a little more.
"Well, I'm glad you weren't there. Wouldn't want...two of us hurt." His body felt like it was sinking into the ground and so he stayed very still, not even twitching a whisker. "Can you...can you imagine what mother would have been like, then?" He seemed to want to laugh but it came out as a wheeze. "I--I guess that sort of makes me a hero...right? Maybe..." There was a long pause, as if he were losing a battle to stay awake. "Maybe I should have been...a soldier after all."
And then there was a long moment where he was very quiet, aware only of the strange sounds of his breathing in the silence. The warmth of his brother's presence seemed to be growing dimmer, somehow. Was he moving away? Leaving?
"You're not..." He fought for breath, getting frustrated now. "You're not leaving me, are you, brother? Please...please..." don't leave.
---
Kakek smiled a little more at his brother and nodded. "See! I tried to convince everyone that you were going to be fine but they didn't believe me. I know you'll prove them all wrong Nur, everything is going to be okay." He grinned at his brother, he was trying to convince himself of this too once again. He wanted everything to be okay so badly, he just wanted to almost go back to when he was younger when he could spend his time with his brother with out worrying about anything, the only thing him and his brother had to worry about then was who was going to get to spend more time with their mother. "You are always right bro, I don't even understand why I questioned it." He chuckled a little more before pausing and listening to his brother's words carefully.
Kakek was starting to notice a little more of a difference. He waited and watched, he as convinced that his brother was just not feeling good. He was convinced that his brother was just getting much more tired and he was convinced that his brother just wanted to go to sleep. Yeah that was what was going on, his brother just wanted to go to sleep and he needed to let his brother rest. He laughed a little more at his brother's comment. "Oh mom would have been so angry." He commented to his brother. Maybe it would have been better if she was there? he thought to himself, in his mind just wishing that this wasn't happening. But everything was going to be okay Nur said so. "Yes! You are quite the hero Nur, you showed them." He wasn't sure if he showed them anything other than a lion on ground injured and needing help. He wasn't sure at all but he wasn't goign to tell his brother that. Another lie, he hated himself at the moment.
He was about to say something else, something cheerful that was until he heard his brother telling him not to leave. That was when the panic set it. "Nur, I'm here. I'm right here Nur." He spoke quickly, franticly he moved closer to his brother carefully pushing himself closer to his brother, curling next to him. "See Nur, right here." He half cooed to his brother at that point. Something wasn't right there was just something that wasn't right at the second. "I promise Nur, I wouldn't leave you, I wouldn't go anywhere." He said he didn't want to. "I'll never leave you Nur." His throat was closing up. He was getting more andmore upset. But he tried to calm himself and he tried to keep himself calm. He didn't want his brother to panic.
---
He smiled on the inside even if it was too difficult to let it show on his face at his brother's words. It was nice to know that there was someone else who was looking positively at the future. There wouldn't always be a drought. There wouldn't always be monsters. There wouldn't always be a reason to struggle to keep on living. Perhaps if more of the Firekin thought like that, things would be easier. "It's all right." He murmured. "We just need to show them. Show them that not everything is always so bad."
His whole body seemed to relax as his brother assured him that he wasn't going anywhere. It was a comfort to know that if he returned to that darkness where the wordless voice called to him, that he knew he wasn't there alone. That there was someone watching out for him even though he might not be aware of it. He breathed in deeply, just to reassure himself that his brother was there and very real. He wouldn't have liked to have thought that this was some dream his confused mind had made up.
"Maybe...do you think it might get painted...on the stones?" He imagined seeing it there; the battle that he could not quite recall. Cubs would ask about it and he would proudly tell them that he was there. That he had fought the monsters alongside trained soldiers. "I...I think I would like that." He continued. He was growing wearier by the moment. He couldn't remember that talking had taken so much effort before. Maybe all he needed was some rest. Maybe when he woke up again later he'd feel more like himself. The cold weight in his chest seemed to be growing heavier and he felt it, pulling him down, pulling him away.
His fear returned a little and he tried to keep talking, to stay awake just a little longer.
"When I'm better, you'll have to--to teach me a...a better way to defeat the monsters." His eyes fluttered beneath their lids. "Thank you. Thank you for staying with me."
He didn't want to be alone but that wordless voice was whispering again, lulling him back to the darkness where he had been wallowing only a short time before. Except this time it seemed darker still.
"I...I think I need..." He gave a short, shaky breath. "To go..." He wished he had the strength to throw his sibling a grin. He did not know how long it would be before they would see each other again. Hours? Days, even? "To go to sleep." He finished at last.
And he drifted.
Then he was gone.
---
Kakek took a moment to listen to his brother and then quietly spoke to him. "I'll tell everyone that it is going to be okay one day." He said simply before then getting more and more upset as he thought about it. He got more upset because of the fact that he knew his brother wasn't doing good and he wasn't that sure himself if everything was going to be okay because it wasn't looking like it was so and that really upsetted Kakek. His brother meant a lot to him. He didn't know what he was supposed to do with out him. As his brother relaxed he got a little concerned a little more upset but before he started to get upset a little more and he was about to say something that was until his brother started to speak, that made him feel better.
"As soon as I get the chance i will go over to Fia and tell her that she needs to start painting you up there, because you are a hero Nur." To Kakek even if that means that he was a hero to Kakek, he was going to make sure that Fia did it, he would bother Fia every day if he needed to, he knew how to drive his aunt crazy and he was more than willing to drive his aunt crazy. He had done it before and he was still more than willing to. "You will be on that wall Nur." He said quietly before watching his brother not sure of what to say to him he wanted to help his brother feel better but he knew he was basically helpless at this time. "i'll teach you whatever you want as long as you feel better Nur." He encouraged his brother trying toget him to hang on he wasn't sure how it would work but he was hoping so much that it would work he wanted it to work so badly and it looked like at the moment he had to wait and hope more and more.
He took a moment and then quietly sat there trying to figure out what to say to his brother that was until his brother's weak voice started talking again. He took a moment thinking. "Nur." He said as his brother started saying that he had to go even if it was that he had to go to sleep. "Brother?" He said a little louder.
And it was like that that his brother was gone for his life. He sat for a while repeatedly saying "Brother?" His throat tightened and his mind went everywhere. He couldn't do anything and he knew it. "Nur." He choked and with that Tears spilled out of his eyes, a sob escaped from his throat. There was something he had to do. He stood and nodded toward his brother and nudged him. "Sleep well Nur." He said simply, he didn't know what else to do when it came to his brother but he had to go talk to a few others. His first stop was to Fia, he had to go find Fia and tell her to start painting his brother.
He had to make a lot of changes and it was for his brother
/fin.
