Light or Dark (Silverwyn)

[Silverwyn]

Julius smiled and let himself enjoy the semblance of normalcy while letting Ara and his parents enjoy themselves worry free for a while. After a few hours though, as it approached time for them to leave, his expression turned serious and he cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Sorry to bring this up right now, but it's kind of important. I'm in a unique position that allows me to know what's going on in the council and what parts of the light faction are doing. I was trying to do what I could to save this district, but it's proven to be quite futile. We're going to need to evacuate. Start packing what's important and find a place to go and start spreading word around the district. Try not to let on about the evacuation to anyone who's been in the district less than three months though. All hell my break out." He explained.

[sisne]

The mother titlted her hrad with a small smile, "so that is where you have been, is Petra still around? That old woman had a knack for never dying I swear but don't worry and thanks for the warning we'll be on it we have a code here for emergencies only, Rupert I think it is time," Aine nudged her husband who looked like to be having a fee glash backs from his youth and he went to the window and released a whistle alarm for only the neighborhood community members could hear.

Aine held Julius's hand, "we're a tight knit community remember, we all have each other's backs since the old country," she smiled sadly and got up to grab their go bags.

 

Ara sat there for a moment, "well today has been full of surprises," he chuckled and then things made sense, "is that why you and dad been training me since I was five till I mastered it all?"

Ainr gave a nod, "in our villages it was some dark times, children and babes were being abducted for the light's own gaine for years and some even offered as sacrifices in older times. But I am very proud of you for getting so strong so fast, he mastered his voice just two years ago, takes a little longer once you reach your 20s but his fighting could still use some work," she told Julius and had that same light smile.

 

Ara got up and went to go grab his few things he'd want, just some pictures but he felt a little betrayed for being so in the dark of things but he understood why, just didn't want anymore secrets.

[Silverwyn]

Julius watched in bemusement as Ara's parents started showing their true colors. He snapped out of it after a bit though. "No need to rush. I have some delaying tactics in place that should give you at least a couple of days as long as they don't catch on you're leaving. And Ara can stay with me for a bit. I need his help some things."

He explained.

[sisne]

"His healing abilities? Shh, he thinks I don't know but I've noticed a few thi gs," she smiled and then saw Ara come on down and gave her son a kiss and then went to grab a few other things the parents had the car all prepared .

 

Ara looked at Julius and grabbed his hand, "ready? We can go now and we'll find Mom and Dad later at the shelter underground," he saw his dad and quickly gave him a hug who laughed but kissed his cheek. "Our fight we fought was where we really first met and she saved me many times from wolves and griffins," he gave one more kiss and told him to just sing when things got scary or sad.

[Silverwyn]

Julius shared a secretive smile with Ara's mom and relieved Ara of some of his burden as they said their goodbyes.

"Take care of yourselves. I promise I'll look after Ara, and we'll see you in a few days." He assured them.

 

As they left their house, Julius smiled at Ara. "I'm glad they're doing so well. And it seems they shouldn't have too much trouble evacuating the district."

[sisne]

Aine and Rupert let them leave and the two left themselves after a while and were soon meeting up with their neighbors in the tunnels and marking off the list of people and children as others were helping the elders in.

 

"Oh no, we hold bi monthly evacuation drills, there are the tunnels or the routes leading to higher grounds in case of a flood and the routes are secured with coverings and members keep watch. I guess we've actually been preparing for this for years," he shook his head so shocked but was happy to be with Julius and felt safe by his side.

[sisne]

Aine and Rupert let them leave and the two left themselves after a while and were soon meeting up with their neighbors in the tunnels and marking off the list of people and children as others were helping the elders in.

 

"Oh no, we hold bi monthly evacuation drills, there are the tunnels or the routes leading to higher grounds in case of a flood and the routes are secured with coverings and members keep watch. I guess we've actually been preparing for this for years," he shook his head so shocked but was happy to be with Julius and felt safe by his side.

[Silverwyn]

When they arrived back at Julius' place, Julius helped Ara bring in his stuff and then disappeared into the bedroom with the door closed for a while.

When he eventually emerged, he hadn't just changed his clothes. He was better armed, not that most of the weapons were obvious. He had a bag in one hand that didn't seem to have much in it.

 

"Stay here. I'll bring Alan to you once we find him. If someone other than me shows up, pretend no one's home. If I can't open the door myself when I get back I'll knock twice, wait three seconds and knock again three times."

He explained.

[sisne]

Ara spent his time waiting on Julius and was beginning to think yhis was going to be some serious work and based on Julius's appearance he knew he would need all his strength so he spent the rest of the time napping by the door so he could hear it. He was prepared for what may happen but he couldn't help but be scared for Julius, he just got him back and anything could happen to his beloved.

[Silverwyn]

Julius left a bit early so he could do some reconnaissance before meeting with the others. He was after all uniquely equipped to get in and out without being seen. As a result he knew exactly where to find Alan and had a plan ready to put into action by the time he met with the others.

 

Of course like most things, it didn't go off without a hitch. Julius ended up playing decoy while the others got Alan out and met with them later. He knew both the werecats smelled the blood on him when he returned. He played it off as nothing and them help him get Alan into the car.

 

"He's needs medical attention Julius." the words came with a look that said they suspected he did too, but the were-cats knew better than to push it. "Where are we going to take him?"

"Don't worry about it. I've got someone already waiting to look after him. I'll take him myself. You guys head home."

 

When Julius got home, it was a struggle for him to get the satyr out of the car and up to the door by himself. He ended up knocking just the way he'd told Ara he would and waiting for him to open the door.

[sisne]

Ara had a bit of an odd dream about Julius and never catching up to him and then it changed to something about wings but yet falling, it was all confusing but he woke up as soon as he heard the knockung and paused too hear it again and then opened the door and helped with Alan who was close to slipping. "Lay him down, when was his wounds last cleaned and bandages? I'll need you to look after them while I get inside his head," he told and made a comfortable spot and he dressed down into his sweats in case he got blood on them.

 

Alan whimpered quietly when he was placed down on the floor on a old blanket Ara had brought and then he laid down by his side holding his hand and fingers laced, then Ara finally began his hushed chanting till his mind connected to Alan and then Ara was quiet which meant he made connection and the two stood in front of each other.

"Hello Alan, my name is Ara and I am a friend of Julius and I am here to help you," he told the satyr who looked so puzzled and scared in this black looking room and then was holding hands with this other man who said would help him and then heard him sing.

 

"You're a siren," he said figuring it all out and little by little the pain he had was being lifted but it was then being trabsferred to Ara and on his physical body all the wounds Alan had were slowly disappearing.

"Ara, your body," he was getting scared and wanted to let go of his hands but Ara had them latched and continued his singing.

[Silverwyn]

Julius hadn't stuck around to watch. Once Ara was sufficiently immersed in his thing, Julius slipped away to the bathroom.

He tossed aside his jacket and winced as he pulled up his shirt to examine it in the mirror. Fortunately the bullet had gone through and it didn't seem to have hit anything major. He glanced at the bloody strips of cloth he'd first tied around it to apply pressure, there was no telling what color the fabric had originally been, it was so saturated.

With a sigh he set to work with deft hands, cleaning and properly binding it. He was well used to tending to his own wounds by this point. It had started with his lost eye.

After cleaning up all traces of the mess from the bathroom and getting rid of the blood stained rags. Julius finally returned to check on Ara and Alan and was horrified when he realized what Ara was doing.

He rushed over and tried shaking the siren. "Ara stop! That's enough! He can deal just fine with the injuries that are left!"

God was he glad he'd hidden his injuries out of habit.

[sisne]

Ara would not wake ans the connection was still strong as their hands were binded together and fingers laced but when it was finally over Ara had stopped breathing and the bind was loosen and his hand fell, Ara had actually died but there was then a gasp of air and Ara was finally breathing on his own and color returned to his cheeks but he remained unconscious having used all his energy for Alan.

 

Alan slowly woke up and he looked next to him and saw the siren, "that's him, he saved my life. Julius, he wanted me to give you a message before the link was broken. He said not to worry he'll be awake soon after he recovers and to look at his right hand," he lied there and looked down at his hand and saw the siren was wearing a family crest ring made from wood. For their family, when a siren in the O'hara family has reached of age they would be given a ring that would save them no matter what brink of death they were at but the sad truth of it, it has been passed down from one head of the family to the other so they may extend the family.

[Silverwyn]

Julius cursed. "Damn reckless Son of a-" He bit back the rest, not really wanting to insult Aine. She really was a marvelous woman.

Taking a deep breath to calm down, Julius sighed.

"Help me get him off the floor. We'll put him on my bed and then I'll take you home."

[sisne]

"Uh, okay but I would rather stay," he had a slight smile and sat up watching Ara and really couldn't explain it, "I think I am in love, Ara is my savior my true angel," he sighed and helf his hand and sat there happily watching the siren sleep and then got up so he could him to a bed.

[Silverwyn]

Julius paused, frowning at the satyr as he let him carry the siren into the bedroom. Only once Ara was safely laid down did he finally ask.

"Alan, what about Lorius?" He hated to bring him up, he wasn't even sure Alan knew he was dead yet, but the two had been practically married for the last three years. As unlikely as it was, even if Alan knew Lorius was dead already, for him to move on so quickly was unnatural. And the lack of any sign of mourning only made him more certain Alan didn't know he was dead.

"And Lorius aside, pining after Ara won't get you anywhere. He's been in love with someone for the last 8 years or more.

And now that he finally has a chance with that person, he's not about to give it up. Now come on. You're brother probably won't sleep until he knows you're safe."

[sisne]

He didn't hear anything about Lourius and continued to watch his new love who burned in his heart, "he has a chance so that means nothing has happened yet for them, I also have a chance then and I'm sure he'll want me," he smiled looking a little too unatural when he looked at Julius, "he has been in me and we have a connection, he'll want me I know it," he sighed so infatuated he laid down by his side just watching him sleep.

The way he was acting, was the same way a lot of men would react after they had been charmed by a siren so that means he was under his spell with a little too much emotion packed into his voice given the healing treatment. "Do you think I should change his clothes, they're covered in blood now and he may want to be cleaned up," he looked down his body and touched his stomach, pulling the shirt up.

[Silverwyn]

"Alright that's enough of that." Julius said, grabbing his wrist. "You're not molestesting him on my bed while he's unconscious. And if you make me slap you I'm going to make sure it hurts." He dragged the satyr off the bed and towards the door.

[sisne]

"I wasn't going to molest him, he needs his clothes off and should be cleaned up or are wanting him all yourself?" he growled being thrown out and the door was locked, "I see how it is, Julius has finally found someone he wants and as soon as anyone else tries anything you're going to just going to kick me out, you're the one who is going to molest him," he hit the door and went to leave back downstairs, he'll get his chance with his beloved one way or another.

 

Ara lied there looking peaceful but having a dream of his own and mumbled his name, "Julius," he sighed and rolled over on his side with a small smile on his face, he was dreaming an innocent dream of the two snuggling and that was all he was wanting but of course when he is awake he wants more after watching Julius just breathe but things were too complicated and timing isn't right bt in his dreams he had Julius.

[Silverwyn]

Julius sighed. He hadn't meant to kick Alan out like that but the satyr was clearly not in his right mind and letting him stay near Ara while the siren was unconscious didn't seem like a good idea.

That said, Alan did have a point about Ara's clothes. And if the blood was any indication, the siren needed some medical attention as well.

Grabbing his phone, Julius called Mark. "Your brother's alive and well. I had to kick him out of my place though. The siren is unconscious and Alan somehow got himself enchanted by him. Ara's in no condition to leave alone and I can't deal with Alan right now. You should come pick him up."

 

That taken care of, Julius started looking over the extent of Ara's wounds to see what he would materials he would need to tend him.

In the end he had Ara cleaned up bandaged, and dressed in something clean. He checked his own wound, carefully considering his options. On the one hand he would heal faster in his other form. On the other hand, he'd have to stay in that form until he healed and it would still take a few days.

After careful calculation, he decided it was the best option. he just needed to make a few phone calls and write a note first.

The note he left on the kitchen counter for Ara read.

 

[You're an idiot and I'm pissed at you for not telling me it was going to be like that.

Never do that again.

Unfortunately I can't stick around. I'll be gone a few days. The fox will keep you company. I haven't named him so call him whatever you want, but just so you know, he tells me things. I wouldn't say anything you don't want me to know. Also, he's injured, I've done what I can for him, but you're absolutely forbidden from trying to heal him with what you did to Alan. I'm serious. Never again Ara.

That said, he's probably lost the bandaging by the time you're reading this. Please make sure the wound stays clean as best you can.

 

Look after yourself, you better be in one piece when I get back. Also, watch out for Alan. Reverse the enchantment if you can. He's totally and unnaturally infatuated with you. Don't do anything reckless. I'll be back soon as I can.

Love,

Julius]

 

He read it through and once he was satisfied, he turned his attentions once more to his wound.

He wouldn't be able to bandage it in his other form and he couldn't leave it alone or he'd bleed all over the place. So steeling himself, he set about stitching it up.

 

When all was said and done, an exhausted red fox curled up at Ara's side, hoping the siren woke up soon.

 

---

 

After receiving Julius' call, Mark set out at once to retrieve his brother. He'd been irate to hear the man had kicked him out in the condition he expected Alan to be in, but was amazed to find Alan in remarkably good health other than his apparent mental state. Had the idiot seriously let himself get charmed by a siren? What about Lorius for god's sake?

"There you are Alan, thank god you're okay. Let's get you home."

[sisne]

Alan sat by the door and he sang quietly to Ara till he finally saw his brother and gave him a smirk, "so I have been fetched for aye, I guess it is time for me to go then," he gently stroke the door and he left wiyh his sweet brother with a chuckle.

 

Ara finally woke up by mid morning and he got himself cleaned himself up and finally found the note and he balled it up and threw to the side, "oh fucking course," he sat down on the bed and checked his wounds and they have healed up and now his wounds looked like scars, "oy fox if you see Julius tell him I hate him now," he sat there for a while till he finally got dressed and he went to find Alan by going to Mark's place and as soon as he got there Alan had answered the door and quickly grabbed Ara and kissed him.

Ara was shocked and taken off guard and once he could breathe he knocked him off and began to remove the enchantment and Alan had fallen down and yhen it was like a veil had been removed and he began to cry for what he had done, thought, and wanting his true love back.

[Silverwyn]

The fox gave Ara the dirtiest look a fox could give in response to the message. It was kind of a 'well there's the door, if you hate Julius so much you're free to leave any time' kind of look.

 

Despite that though, he kept close and curled up beside Ara until the siren got up to get ready to head out.

As Ara left the house, the fox slipped out behind him and followed.

 

He bared his teeth when Alan suddenly grabbed the siren, but settled down when Ara fended him off for himself and settle himself with satisfaction as Ara reversed it. While Ara worked, the fox was nosing his own wound, starting to regret the impact the trip had on it. He licked at the blood seeping through the stitches.

[sisne]

"I'm sorry, let me help you I can calm you," he tried to help Alan but he was only kicked away by the satyr's hoof and Ara gasped for air having it knocked out and lied there holding his stomach till the ring did it's thing and slowly healed him, "I'm sorry," he cried till he finally got up and he left wit the fox following as his watch dog and instead of going home he hid at a near by park and near the water which called out to him when he felt this way and if he wasn't in the human district he'd go for a swim but he wasn't now.

"I don' hate Julius but I feel like he doesn't want me around or something, if I never went to that party I would had never met Julius again and I think maybe that would be best... I hate this type of shit where a man makes me feel it makes me think when I'd rather just act but he doesn't respond to anything I do. I always thought he had the same type of feelings for me but maybe I as wrong, he says he has missed me and thought of me and even had someone search for me and that made me feel so happy and I even kissed him but still nothing so maybe he is just figuring out his feelings or can't express them," he sighed an picked up the fox and he cleaned him up with a new bandage on.

"I'm just being selfish bu I have really missed that idiot and love him that I hate his guts, just like when we were kids but then night would come and I'd find him by my side," he shook his head with his fingers gently rubbing behind the ears and feeling like such an idiot. "Well now, how about we head on back and I'll make some breakfast, kinda just got dressed and left," he told and got up to leave after resting a bit.

[Silverwyn]

The fox nuzzled Ara's face in an attempt to be comforting. It was the best Julius could do in that form. If he wasn't stuck while he healed, he would have probably changed back to try to clear things up with the siren.

As they headed home though, he was thinking that it might be for the best that he couldn't change back for now. It gave him a chance to really consider what needed to be said. For now, giving Ara some hints about his fox form being him might be a good start.

He glanced up at the siren skeptically, not sure how to even start giving him clues at this point. Not after having thoroughly convinced him Julius and the fox were two separate entities.

Really, he just wanted Ara to know he hadn't really gone anywhere. Huffing out a sigh, the fox looked away and picked up his pace. This trip was taking a lot out of him and he was just eager to get home. He didn't want Ara to notice how weak he was starting to feel.

By the time they arrived and he'd slipped in through the pet door ahead of Ara, Julius was feeling dizzy and knew something was wrong. Trying to keep up appearances, he carefully made his way out of sight as Ara started cooking.

Not having the energy to climb onto the couch, he went to curl up in the corner behind it. He'd be out of sight there. At least until Ara really came looking for the fox. He just hoped he'd be feeling better by then.

His initial plan had been to use the time to himself to figure out what was wrong, but his consciousness, already feeling kind of fuzzy at the time he'd made the plan, had only become fuzzier and fuzzier as he'd made his way to his corner until he ended up more collapsed than curled there.

[sisne]

Ara had finally finished with cooking and had made their plates and was expecting for the fox to return but he wasn't showing, "oi fluff ball red rat!" he shouted something offensive he thought would work, he was an odd thing who seemed to understand him but still he wasn't appearing. "You annoying little booger," he huffed and went on his own fox hunt and walked around the back of e home but nothing so he then went to the front searching every corner and even rooms, so when he finally spotted the little fox he scooped him up fast and checked his pulse, it was there but he felt odd. "I know what you said Julius but there is no other option, he needs me," he cried holding the little guy and laid down on the floor and close to his chest while singing his song till he went into a trance and then he made his connection with the tiny beast. "Dearg," he sighed calling out for him inside of his mind which dearg means red in Irish Gaelic.