have at thee, brother

Hati Catori · 07-18-2012, 03:29 PM

[html]

I have much love for this title! -vomits words all over the page-

Word Count → 727

Hati had been working hard these past weeks, shadowing Alder at the stables and trying to learn as much about the horses as he could. It was starting to feel like a second home to him, the faces and patterns of the herd growing familiar and recognizable. He was still slowly learning how to ride horseback, but also about their care, the feeding and watering and grooming that Alder managed every day. Confidence was gradually replacing doubt, and Hati began to imagine himself as an official stablehand with a co-rank. He felt lighter than usual, pleased with the progress he was making on his own since earning his adult rank. He paused to catch his breath, wiping beads of sweat from his nose tip. This summer heat was oppressive.

Still, he could not keep from analyzing every little thing, finding all the faults in himself and comparing them to what he perceived in others. As always, Skoll was his gold standard; if he could just keep up with his brother, all of his other goals were within his reach. That night they had spent romping through the fields and forest seemed like a lifetime ago. They were now forging ahead on different paths, eager to prove themselves and find their purpose. He picked up the pitchfork again, spreading bales of hay in each empty stall as bedding while the herd grazed outside in the pasture. It was quiet here, and he liked the chores, even if he lacked the stamina to take on a full workload just yet.

Hati paused when he reached one stall in particular: Hwin's. It always stung him to think of Hwin, the beautiful mare that Skoll had been given for free. Now his brother would always be a more experienced rider than him, for all the time he had been able to spend with his own personal steed. Hati tried to push down the resentment, for he had been working so hard to learn riding at his own pace. But he was nowhere near getting his own horse, and since meeting Silvano, it was something he desired now more than anything else. Pressing his lips together in a taut line, he hurriedly finished the task, his previous good mood evaporating.

Hati soon emerged from the barn, feeling suffocated by the stagnant air. He needed to take a walk, clear his head. Alder was out and about with Hawthorn anyway, he wouldn't notice his apprentice missing. Smoothing his mane with his hands to brush free any clinging wisps of hay, the wolfdog strode off, veering past the nearby cabin to head deeper into the territory. He was lost in thought. He had been noticing changes in himself lately, a turbulence of emotion that he normally could keep in check. Usually he was not so sensitive, better at maintaining his calm exterior. He had gotten taller again, as Mother had pointed out, but he remained lanky and thin. The recent labor at the stables did not seem to shaping any muscles, so he would have to try harder.

Hati's pace carried him to a clearing, where he was surprised to find his brother training. The sun prince had been scarce of late, presumably exploring the world further and further from home. It appeared he had the warrior's path in mind, throwing himself with abandon at his targets. He had always been envious of how easy Skoll had it, how good things came to him without any effort on his part, while Hati toiled endlessly in his shadow just to catch up. But it had seemed like the natural order of things; Hati was simply slower, more modest, a follower instead of a leader. This was the first time he had actually thought about being on equal footing, because they were diverging into different training and no longer in competition. As he stood watching his brother snarl and attack the wooden figures with a raw animal energy, he was suddenly inspired to step up to his level. He was tired of being left behind because of his own reticence. He wasn't sure how, but he had the desire to prove himself worthy to Skoll. He stared in silence, pale eyes unblinking as he studied his brother's every move. They could both feel something changing between them, even if Hati could not pinpoint what it meant.

Table by Raze!

[/html]

Login




Remember me Lost Password?