For just a moment, Helotes thought that he might have knocked some sense into his brother. He wondered if anyone had had the balls to stand up to the large Lykoi male, and maybe this blow might have brought him back down to earth. But the red eyes did not hold any hope of this for long, and soon they turned back to anger. Helotes knew those eyes, he had seen them many times before in the face of his father, he had seen them on the face of the wolf who had attacked him and Symera; it was a look of complete, unadulterated rage, a rage that had no purpose or sanity. Helotes was not fast enough.
He might have been able to dodge the blow, if it had been anyone else except his sibling, but the impact of Columbine’s fist into his jaw caused his vision to go stark white for a moment before the dark colors of the evening came flitting back like butterflies. Helotes reeled back, but did not fall, as his brother’s words seemingly hit him like another blow. He truly was mad. How could he believe that Helotes was the one who was like Kerberos, had Columbine even listened to any words he had spoken since setting foot onto clan lands? Helotes shook his head free of the ringing that had accosted him due to the blow. No… He said quietly, No hermano, es usted quien se ha convertido en un cobarde. Usted eligió el camino fácil de la vida, la manera en que todos nos podría haber convertido en el rostro de la ira del padre. Pero ahora, Jacinto, Ilusión y yo, nos hemos convertido en una mejor gracias a él. Pero usted ... usted ha elegido para ser como él, porque eso es lo que te enseñaron. And then he looked upon his brother with utmost pity, as if he were looking at some dying thing. Columbine was no better than dead anyway, no better than a decrepit corpse; how could one truly live without joy? Without love? All of the siblings were tainted, but they could still enjoy life to its fullest, and be gladder for it in the face of their dark pasts. But not he, he was done for, and it was pitiful.
Then drawing himself to full height, he turned to Columbine again, You Hastati, are to learn your place. I am a warrior of the clan and you a mere foot soldier. You will show respect of me when I ask it of you. Then, like the serpent, he struck, grabbing the larger man’s arm and quickly twisting it harshly behind his back. Helotes knew how painful this hold was, Halo having it done it on him many a time in training. It was also a difficult one to get out of, but Helotes knew Columbine could if wanted too, the Hydra was just trying to make a point. Columbine could hurl insults, spew venom, demean Helotes all he wanted, but not when rank and clan loyalty was involved.
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