soon it will be over * feral

[buckingham barnes]

When Bucky's tired eyes opened to the night breeze against his fur, his gaze landed on his front door, which was left open. It swayed back and forth from the breeze, and with a quick scan of his boathouse- Harland wasn't anywhere to be seen. And Harland's scent trailed out of the door, it was still fresh, but was going faint too. Bucky must have been asleep, the one time he sleeps during the night, when Harland snuck past him. I have to go find him, He thought to himself as worry began to swirl in his chest- how far did Harland go? Did he leave the sea-village, head out into the territory? Oh god, if something happens to Harland it will be his fault, he'd never forgive himself! He brought his brother here to be safe, not to wander off and become prey for some larger animal! Without another thought, the male jumped off of his bed and began to head to his front door- when he heard a scream. Not long after, the smell of blood reached his nostrils- Harland's scent entangling with it. Fuck!

Without another thought, the Warden was running, heading towards the scents. His paws moved as quickly as they could, the maine coon feeling his heart beat worryingly in his chest. When he finally arrived at the scene, skidding to a stop, he wasn't the first one to arrive. His gaze landed on Gordon, a goldenblood who he knows is squeamish towards blood, who was trying to keep Harland from hurting himself. Bucky found himself making his way over to the two, glancing at the corpse for a moment. His gaze was pulled away from the corpse when Har's pleading words projected in his mind. "I didn't mean to..." The words were set on a repeat, Bucky's gaze snapping towards his brother- who was on their side again. Harland did this? Bucky could see the blood on his muzzle and chest, blood dripping onto the boardwalk. At first, Bucky had no idea what to say or even think, how could a child like Harland do this? But as he looked more closely at the blood, how it stains his muzzle, the pieces began to come together.

Is Harland... a vampire? Bucky had his fair share with vampires in his past- his first original clan was full of them. And then, they became his enemies once he got brainwashed by an enemy clan- which became his home for a long time, even after he got his identity back. Buckingham knew vampires needed blood to survive, and that their instincts can take over if they're in a desperate need for blood. It actually reminds him of the Winter Soldier- while the Soldier doesn't take over for the urge for blood, it can be destructive as hell. Bucky has done things as the Winter Soldier that he'd never do in his right mind. Harland seemed to be going through something similar to that, Harland doesn't seem like a person who'd murder just for the hell of it. Something must be out of the child's control, an inner instinct taking the reigns in order to survive.

"I'm a monster."

"Har..." The Warden spoke up slowly, as he got himself closer, crouching onto the ground so he didn't seem much bigger than the young feline. Harland seemed shaken up, it was clear as day that Harland didn't mean for this to happen. This attack, it wasn't filled with hatred and evil like the murder committed by the 'lion with an injured eye'. That murder was full of intent, it was the Ascendants showing Sunhaven that they'll stoop even lower after their treatment & half-ass apologies got the alliance dropped. This on the other hand, it's not even the same. Harland was calling himself a monster, seems petrified & shocked by what he did. Bucky hated hearing Harland call himself a monster, especially at such a young age. "You are not a monster," He tried to reassure the child, attempting to gently grab Harland's shoulder, "You didn't mean to do this, this wasn't in your control. A monster is someone who intends to hurt people, and knows they meant to do it. That isn't you, Har." But someone was still dead, the male glanced back over at the corpse, knowing that they'll have to bury another member.