REACH INTO YOUR LOCAL BOG // joiner

[wormwood.]

NOTHING BESIDE REMAINS — Aurum knew a thing or two about family, but his connection with his blood family had been one fought with trials and tribulations. He and Poet had gotten along well enough when they were cubs, but as they had grown and Aurum had grown used to his mother and father's constant bickering and abuse – whether direct or indirect – he had also grown resentful. He regretted the chain of events that had led to him trying to kill Poet, and he was glad that their bond had changed for the better afterwards, but that didn't last. He had lost his brother seemingly over and over again, constantly following the other's footsteps until eventually the path as a whole had just disappeared. As of right now, the angel had no idea where his brother had gone, or whether the other was even alive to be found. Needless to say, Aurum's relationship with his adopted sister, Moth, had always been far healthier, and easier to manage. He knew that she was angry at him now, for allowing Atticus to try and sneak out, but he also knew that they would eventually be able to make up. They had never gone through a fight so bad that it had broken their bond forever, and he hoped that they never did.

So, in a way, the former proxy could understand the connection between Khajhad and Elsweyr. However, in another way, he simply couldn't. He had been through too much, to consider family just a simple thing – although he did consider family to be a cherished thing, even after everything. That wasn't the first thing that was on Aurum's mind as he approached, though. Instead, he was just curious as to who Khajhad was, and why Elsweyr was speaking to him with such warmth in her voice. Obviously she knew him, but that didn't mean that the lion was completely relaxed. With everything going on within Tanglewood at the moment, anyone was game to be a foe, even if they tried to talk their way in with a false smile and a silver tongue. So, as he made his way over, Aurum cleared his throat, tail flicking high behind him as he came to settle beside Elsweyr. Looking between them, the angel found himself questioning, "Elsweyr? Who is this? He doesn't seem to be a stranger..." Khajhad being a cheetah might have tipped Aurum off to their relationship as siblings, but that wasn't a guarantee. Elsweyr had presumably come from a whole tribe of cheetahs, so the other could've easily been a friend, or even a mate. — OF THE MAN WHO WAS BORN AND DIED A KING.