Our Ideals :: Zandom XP x Sanara

[Sanara]

This is a form dedicated to the creative writing of Zandom XP and Sanara for the purposes of a Plumie try out!
Don't know what Plumies are? Check here.

The plumies in question are numbers 434 and 435.
Veritas :: Light Plumie :: Sanara
Kishen :: Dark Plumie :: Zandom XP

A backstory of the two plumies history.
A great lie has broken up our two heroes. We will follow their journey through rash arguments, a one way train ride, and the great distance put between them. However, anger does not last long when the lie is found out, and the two must brave through the elements to return to one another and regain the friendship they so desperately desire from their twin.

Navigation
Prologue :: You are here
Part One :: Found here
Part Two :: Found here
Part Three :: Found here
Part Four :: Found here
Part Five :: Found here
Part Six :: Found here
Part Seven :: Found here
Part Eight :: Found here
Final :: Found here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prologue
Long ago in a land with no name, there lived two brothers- and older and a younger. They had made friends with a strong and mighty dragon. The dragon loved both the boys, and so helped in the creation of a new land based around truth and ideals- honesty and perfection.
It wasnt long before the brothers began to fight between themselves. The older brother believed in truth while the younger believed in ideals. A war broke out between the two, dividing all the peoples of the land. The elderly dragon was torn by his love for the two brothers- so much so that he tore himself in two.
One half of him took shape of a massive fiery dragon. It's scales where a blazing white, and it's eyes where as blue as the sky. This half sided with older brother, and sought truth through the land.
The other half was a colossal electrifying dragon. His scales where dark as the night, with eyes redder than the magma of volcanos. Just as the other had chosen the older brother, he sought for perfection, and so took to the younger.
The war waged on, and the two dragons fought against each other time and time again. Neither won out over the other but time and time again, the field was leveled with both of them still standing.
It was the final battle that made the brothers realize, but by then there had been too many casualties. The brothers ended the war and agreed with the great dragons that if the war was to begin again, there would be nothing that could save the land from the destruction the dragons would bring upon them. A great spiraling tower was built in honor of the event. It's presence to remind the world of the promise the dragons had given for the future generations.
For years, the land had peace. The brothers lived in harmony together. Truth and ideals where the creed to live by and the dragons where pleased. The land thrived, families where started, and even the brothers created families of their own. The dragons, seeing that the world was good, ascended to the top of the spiral tower to rest in the new peace the land was experiencing.
However, the brothers time had come to an end. Their families mourned the loss, and each side blamed the other. They claimed their bodies had been warn thin due to the war the other had brought on. Walls where built and anger began to grow in the land.
History repeated itself as the land divided into two large kingdoms: one upholding ideals and the other upholding truth. The world quickly became lost to their differences, no longer wanting prosperity.
The dragons watched as the kingdoms geared for a greater war that would trump what the brothers had even imagined. Grief struck their hearts, knowing what was to come. They waited, hoping the kingdoms would change their mind, but once the two kingdoms marched towards one another on the battle field, the dragons knew what was unfolding.
The took to the sky from the great spiral tower. The armies where at a stand off, pulling their swords ready to fight. The presence of the dragons where only a catalyst to their hatred, thinking the dragons upheld their beliefs.
It was not the case.
As the armies began to charge one another, ready to spill blood, the dragons met them in the middle with elements. Fire poured from the maw of the blazing white dragon. Electricity cracked the sky in two from the jet black dragon. The armies were horrified as the dragons began to strip the land from its inhabitants and resources. No life was spared by the dragons. They never wanted this evil to take hold again.
Eons passed, and the dragons disappeared from the land. The spiral tower began to crumble with no inhabitants. It was as if the world had been forgotten. That is, until a group of settlers rowed up on the shore of the strange land. They dubbed it 'The Unova Region' and it took no time for the dragons to be breathed back by the legends, however the great beings remained lost to the tides of time...

[ghoulbites]

Pᴀʀᴛ 1

The sunshine beat down from amongst the veil of clouds that lined the sky. Fresh morning rain had graced the small town, causing man-made structures and plants alike glisten with their own little gems. Windmills whirred as a breeze swept through the humble town, the hustling of town’s people bringing the place to life. Waking from a good-night’s rest, tucked away in their own little home on the outskirts, the orphaned twins yawned and stretched out their limbs as they greeted the sun for the first time that morning. With white hair ruffled and askew, the light boy peeked his head out from the blanket and glanced to the window. “Good morning, Kishan,” he whispered as he began gently nudging his brother to coax him into waking. A soft grumble of complaint rolled from the moving mass of blanket, a black-haired boy peeking out with his eyelids at half-mast.
----------Slightly disorientated, the dark twin turned his head and faced his brother with a pout upon his lips, “Veritas… It’s too early,” he yawned and stretched out yet again before plopping his head into the pillow again. The white-pelted twin hummed at his brother, getting to his feet and opening the curtains to let in the light.
----------“The market is on today, Veritas is going, so is Kishan!” he announced as he placed his hands on his little hips and turned his nose upwards. Kishan groaned in protest to his brother’s eagerness to move so early. Sliding out from under his blanket in a manner at made him look like a slug, then his top half stayed planted on the bed while his knees headed upwards towards his chest; grabbing his little plasma ball of “lightning”.
----------“I’m up,” he mumbled as he turned his head to the side to watch his brother and his theatrics as the white little boy prepared himself for a day at the town’s market. Grabbing a basket and the money they put to the side for food, Veritas pranced around the little one-bedroom shanty. His brother, on the other hand, was not so eager to rise and start the day. Slowly crawling off the bed, he moved with shuffling footsteps in his brother’s wake, yawning and rubbing at his eyes to make the sleepiness go away.
----------“Do you think Miss Vee will be there with her scrummy cakes?” the sleepy boy asked as he dipped his hands into a bucket of water and then scrubbed it over his face. He startled and turned around rapidly when a chorus of clattering sounded behind him, blinking at the broom and pans that were now splayed out on the floor.
----------“Veritas definitely hopes so!” the twin answered, unfazed by the collision he had with the broom and heading to the door. The black-pelted boy followed behind; having fixed his bedhead and grabbing Veritas so he could fix up his too.
----------“Now… We’re ready,” he said with a nod and opened up the door.

[Sanara]

Pᴀʀᴛ 2
The sun glistened down on the world around the boys, making the long weeds on the path towards town glitter. The rains from the night before left a day world of stars behind, and Veritas was drinking in every shimmer the sparkling green waves had for him.
---------- "This one thinks the day is a happy one," The bright eyed child said, turning his head just enough to throw the words back. The darker of the two, several steps behind, simply gave a small smile that went unseen by the other.
---------- His radiant red eyes where cast elsewhere. In his hands nestled the little plasma ball so treasured, and yet to be tied securely on to his person. Veritas, however, didn't let his brother's eyes stay cast down for too long, for he was at his brothers’ side. "The two are here!"
---------- It wasn't long at all before they were bobbing along the sea of faces bustling around the town's market.
----------Their first destination was Miss Vee's usual stand. While not as fancy as other stalls, this one held a particular interest to the boys, for Miss Vee sold sweets the two of them simply couldn't get enough of! As always, the first is free!
----------Veritas brimmed with excitement when he saw the older woman waving to them from across the mass. Using one arm to wave to the elder, a white arm linked securely to the darker brother's arm. The instant they where together, the snowy colored plummie began skipping towards her, much to the protest of the brother in tote. Once they where in front of the stall, however, both boys held a genuine smile.
----------"Good morning Miss Vee, it's a pleasure seeing you today," The darker of the two said politely.
----------"Kishen and Veritas are very pleased to have seen you," the brighter agreed, still linking arms.
----------"It's very good to see you boys," Miss Vee purred to them in her age worn voice. "I was wondering if I would be giving these two puffs out today." Her words where accompanied by a playful grin as she turned around to retrieve the small cakes she had made, only to return with a green and a brown pastry: Mint and Mocha. The two simply drank in the sight of the cakes for a moment before taking them from the woman.
----------"Thank you, Miss Vee," Kishan said after he had taken a polite bite of his cake. With a smile from the motherly woman, she patted them both on the head, and they where off.
----------"These are Veritas' favorites," The white mop said twirling around with his puff, which the darker replied "They're mine too."
---------- "Maybe this one should get the milk if Kishan gets the bread?" Veritas said, taking all of his puff in his mouth. Quickly licking the icing from his lips, his crystal eyes moved quickly from one stall to the other.
---------- "I can do that," Kishan said, splitting the final bites of his pastry. The two departed from one another to continue their shopping separate to quicken the commute. Kishan clutched the small orb on his trek through the market for the baker.
---------- The crowded market hardly seemed to notice the small child. He recognized faces of men and women he had known for years. Each one had their own lives and families, both good and bad. But this small drift into space left him blind to the real world until something barrelled against him. He was tossed backwards, not steady enough to keep his footing. When the dark pelt was able to regain his composure, he recognized who had run into him. The boy, a teenager, recognized him as well.
---------- Kishan was dumb founded, unsure what to say to the other, but began to grumble to himself before he realized he no longer was holding anything at all! He wheeled around when hot panic washed threw him, but it was converted to grief when he spied the shattered reminisce of his orb.
---------- His breathing hitched and his lip began to pout when he turned back to the teenager. "Look what you did!" He said, gritting his teeth. "It's broken."
---------- "Yeah... So?" The other boy said, not quite sure what to do. "It's not me you should get mad at!" He lied "Blame Veritas for braking it first and replacing it with a cheap knockoff." The lie filled Kishan with surprise and hurt towards his twin, though little did he know lies where also filling Veritas' head.

~~~~~~

---------- Veritas had wasted no time in finding the dairy, and placing an order for some milk. "Two gallons for This One, please," he said, hardly able to look above the counter. Beside him, a child with its mother giggled.
---------- "You talk funny," the kid said.
---------- Veritas frowned at the other kid, and stuck his nose in the air. "Well, the looks on That One are funny."
---------- The other's brow furrowed with a small 'humph' "Well at least my brother doesn't think so! Yours thinks you talk like-a idiot."
---------- "Kishan does not!" The pale child said, crossing his arms angrily.
The other child, seeing how upset Veritas had gotten, simply smiled. "He sure does. He thinks you're messed up in the head!"
---------- Veritas growled angrily to the boy, and showed his teeth, "Get away from Veritas!" He yowled. In his sudden anger, he pushed at the other child, causing it to fall, and stormed off forgetting his milk.

[ghoulbites]

Pᴀʀᴛ 3

The ruckus of the town’s market was a mere buzzing of white noise in the back of the twins’ heads as they ducked and weaved their way through the multiple bodies of the town’s folk. Both had one thought on their mind, a burning disgust towards the other’s actions that ignited a flame inside them that neither Kishan nor Veritas had known to have. Each twin only had their other, since they were very young and thrust into the world of having to care for themselves. Kishan was the first one of the two to reach their little home, slamming open the door and doing a quick stomp around the house to see whether his twin was home. He growled and began to pace as he waited for his other half to come through the door.
----------A deep frown marked Veritas’ face as he trudged towards the shanty, fists clenched and tongue itching to call the other out for what he’d done. Passing through the already open door and spotting Kishan practically wearing a hole in the floorboards with his pacing; he exchanged a heated glare with the other victim of harmful lies. A sharp hiss tore through the air, the sound coming from the first of the two to arrive home, “How could you?!” he screamed at his brother; chest heaving exaggeratedly with each deep inhalation he took.
----------“How could Veritas? More like, how could Kishan?!” the paler boy seethed as both sets of eyes narrowed threateningly. “No! Veritas will not be doing this!” he suddenly yelled, shunting past the darker boy and sending Kishan toppling onto the ground with an outwards whoosh of air as it was knocked from his lungs. Tears formed in the dark-haired boy’s eyes as he stutteringly tried to draw in breaths that seemed to be evading him; sobs breaking from his chest as he glared at the back of Veritas’ head. The other boy – unaware of what he’d done – was hastily shoving some clothing and what little money he had into a backpack. “This one doesn’t want to live with a stupid poo-poo liar head! Veritas is leaving forever and ever and ever!” he exclaimed, turning his nose up into the air and abruptly heading back to the door.
----------“Fine! I don’t want to live with a stupid poo-poo head liar either!” he shot back, his voice cracking as he got to his feet and watched as Veritas’ head moved past the window and away from the town. Kishan snuffed in a deep breath and tried to hold his head high, but he knew that he’d never been without his twin and now his heart ached to have him back. In a last ditch effort to appear strong, he whipped his hands over his tear-streaked cheeks and slammed closed the front door.
----------Fuming and on a one-track state of mind to get as far away as possible, Veritas headed to the train-station and hoped that a train was there to take him away.

[Sanara]

Pᴀʀᴛ 4

The white head trudged further and further away from his only known home. He refused to look back and reward his twin the satisfaction. Veritas held his nose high all the way to the train station at the edge of town, practically fuming smoke all the way. His mind was a battlefield of thoughts and words.
----------"How could Kishan," Veritas finally shouted to himself. One of his hands where thrown up in the air while the other drug his small satchel of things behind him.
----------"Who does that one think that one is!" He growled, shaking his fist in the air and kicking at a rock in the road. "Veritas doesn't speak funny, I that one speaks like an dummy!"
----------He stopped in his tracks for a moment, and let out a yell as loud as he could manage. His small voice rang through the countryside. And he began storming away again, this time with much more determination to reach the train station before noon.

~***~

A sigh of relief settled over the small child when the train station came to view. On either side of the station, rails stretched away into the distance, being blotted out by aged trees. Veritas worked his little legs to span the distance between him and the station, and pushed the glass doors open with a huff. He was surprised at how the terminal looked, so open and large compared to the outside of the station. Dragging his things over to the help desk, Veritas stood on his tip toes trying to get the receptionist's attention.
----------"Excuse this one, but may Veritas buy a train ticket?"
----------"Where would you like to go?"
----------"Anywhere," Veritas huffed. "Anywhere but this place."
----------The woman gave the child a puzzled look. "Do your parents know you're here."
----------"Veritas has no parents," he huffed. "This one lives with Kishan-- lived with Kishan." Veritas corrected himself bitterly.
----------With a hint of nervousness, the help began to type away on her keyboard before looking over the counter at the child. "Does Mistralton City round ticket sound fine?"
----------"One way," Veritas demanded before digging into his bag for the money he had taken. After the exchange, Veritas thanked the woman and made his way over to the platform doors. Beyond the glass, he could see the large engine, and was thoroughly amazed. Pushing through the doors, the child was surprised by the noise radiating through the room. Smoke rose from below the train platform, but was swept away by the wind coming from the open roof. The monster before him was a bit intimidating. It was nothing like what the boy had seen before. Moving forward, he took the steps onto the train, and was greeted by a surprisingly quiet train car. Most of the noise around him came from the carter of the passengers.
----------Slowly, Veritas came forward and looked around, but saw no vacant seats. Instead, he opted for a booth with someone in it and found a bench with a young girl.
----------"May Veritas sit here?" He ask the girl, who promptly nodded.
----------"Of course," she said. "My name is Sophie. It's nice to meet you."
----------Veritas smiled faintly and took a seat beside her.

[ghoulbites]

Pᴀʀᴛ 5

Hands balled against his chest and eyes squeezed tightly shut, Kishan fought back the sobs that wracked his tiny form. He’d never felt this kind of loneliness in his entire life, Veritas was always there to keep him company, to make him smile on the worst of days and to let him know he wasn’t alone. But now… Now his beloved sibling was gone and the dark-haired boy didn’t know quite what to do with himself. Mucus rolled from his nostrils, only to be hastily wiped away by the back of his hand; tear-blurred eyes looking to the window for any sign of the paler-boy’s return. He didn’t like this, the silence that enveloped the house and the remnants of the carefree twin’s mess scattered on the floor. What had he done?
----------A whimper left his being as he held close his brother’s feathery wing-like shawl close to him, in the rush of leaving; Veritas had grabbed Kishan’s black shawl and shoved it into his bag instead. Drawing in a shaky breath, he put the white wrap around his shoulders and stood. Even without his twin, he still had to feed and look out for himself; no matter how little money he had. Collecting the mere few dollars he’d had left over, he blew his nose into a tatty handkerchief and wiped his eyes before leaving to buy what he could. Leaving behind the empty house for as long as he could possibly manage; he didn’t want to be reminded of his brother’s absence.
----------Meandering through the maze of legs, loud voices and cheery laughs; the darker twin managed to haul his catch of a fresh loaf of bread, a small carton of milk, some jam and some cheese. It wasn’t much, but he’d have to make do as he’d spent every last cent. Sighing to himself with his eyes downcast, he headed back to the little shanty of a place he called home. But something else caught his attention before he could reach the front door; the teen that had knocked him over and told him about what Veritas had done. He gasped and ducked behind a stall selling cakes and pastries, peeking his little head out and listening in on the conversation.
----------“It was so hilarious! I can’t believe he bought it!” said the familiar adolescent as he barked with laughter. “Stupid kid really believed that his brother broke his plasma globe and replaced it with a cheap one!” he howled amusedly to his friends; who soon joined into the laughing fest.
----------“What an idiot!” one of the girls laughed, and the words hit him like a freight train.
----------It was all a lie?! Veritas didn’t do anything wrong? His chest clenched painfully as his jaw dropped, he’d yelled at his brother over a lie?
----------Tears now brimming in his eyes, Kishan bolted for his home and ran inside; sobbing as he tried to get his head around what had happened. He wanted Veritas back, he needed him!

[Sanara]

Pᴀʀᴛ 6

Veritas sat with the girl, Sophie, in quiet, listening to the unfamiliar clickity-clack of the trains wheels meeting the steel rails. The time that passed seemed like hours, but he knew it couldn't me more than minutes.
----------"So where are you going?" Sophie ask, braking Veritas thoughts. He turned his eyes away from the landscape rolling past to look at the orange female.
----------"Veritas is going to... Mistralton City? This one has never been there before."
----------"Oh that's great," Sophie said. "That place has a really nice market."
----------The words Sophie spoke sent a whole new wave of frustration through Veritas. The scene in the market played out once more in his head.
----------"Why are you going?" She ask. "Do you have any family there"
----------"Veritas has no one anymore," he said, pulling at his backpack. "Veritas is alone, and he just wants to stay that way. If Kishan wants to make fun of this one, than Veritas has no need to stay!" He huffed when he unzipped his bag and began to root around inside of it.
----------"Who's Kishan?" Sophie ask curiously. Getting the stranger to talk with her was definitely the highlight of her trip.
----------"Kishan was my brother. Now that one is just a stinky doo-doo breath butt." He scowled, almost frustrated that he could not find a better name for him.
----------"Oh wow," Sophie said, her eyebrows rising. "What did he do?"
----------"He made fun of Veritas' speech. It hurt Veritas feelings."
----------"Well that's mean... Has he done it often."
----------"Never," Veritas signed, pulling out a black cloth from his backpack. "Kishan has never made fun of Veritas before. This one thought he liked Veritas' way of talking."
----------"So he's never made fun of you before? What made you think he doesn't like how you talk, then?"
----------"A Child told me Kishan said this one speaks strange." His voice trailed away when he found the cloth he had pulled out to be Kishan's shaw. The dark wing-like shaw had been made by Miss Vee from the market and he frowned. "This is Kishan's" he pouted.
----------"So wait, a kid you didn't even know told you that your brother thinks you talk funny? But you grab his shaw?" Sophie huffed in a laugh. "I think that's a little backwards. How would he even know you where Kishan's brother if you didn't know him?"
----------Veritas was surprised. Up until then, he hadn't really thought of that. He simply blinked at Sophie's words, dumbfounded.
----------"And why would you take his word for it? I mean, he's just a little kid."
----------To Veritas' dismay, the red-heads words made sense. The only thing that came from Veritas in response was a tear pooling in the corner of his eyes.
----------"What has Veritas done?" He ask, his body beginning to tremble. "This one needs to get off!" As Veritas spoke, he pushed himself from the bench he was sitting to go for the door, and was stopped by Sophie.
----------"The trains moving! You can't get off. You'll have to wait for it to make a stop at Icirrus before you can get off!"

[ghoulbites]

Pᴀʀᴛ 7

Kishan briskly paced around the small living room of the house, soft sobs breaking from him and small sniffles filling the silence. What was he going to do? His dear Veritas was probably far, far away now and he didn’t have any way of communicating with him. Whining and stopping with his repetitive striding through the room, he glanced out the window with tears settled on his lashes. Maybe… Maybe he would have to go on an adventure; a quest to find his lost brother! Yes, yes that sounded like what he needed to do. Turning up his head and puffing out his chest to seem brave, he looked to the hills in the distance and said, “I’m going to find you, Veritas! Don’t you worry!” even if his brother wasn’t worrying, he didn’t know either way. Doing a quick few laps around the house, stuffing food items, a blanket and some spare clothing in his little bag; he donned his precious brother’s wrap and headed out the door. Glancing back at the market that was slowly beginning to empty, he nodded goodbye before hiking off down the dirt road in the direction the paler boy had headed off towards.
----------Little feet crunching over gravel, Kishan found that being out in the big world was a whole lot scarier than he thought it would be. No home to hide inside, no brother by his side… the land outside of town was enveloping him in a shroud of uncertainty. The only thing making him trudge on was the thought of seeing Veritas again! Clutching at the shawl around his shoulders, he drew in a few deep, calming breaths as he continued on down the path. As long as he had this road, he was sure nothing bad would happen to him! Looking around at the trees that lined the road and the tall, wild grasses that swayed in the breeze; he tried to think of a way to get his mind off the unknown. Humming a soft tune to himself, Kishan tried to remember the lyrics of the song he and Veritas used to sing together. “An… Another day… Another… fight. Another chance… to… make things right. We… We will be strong, the way… it should be. R-Ready for the… challenge, you and me!” he started as he kept his eyes focused ahead of him.
----------“We… We will be heroes! We can… change the world if we try! I… I go where you go! For… Forever friends, you and I! We will be heroes!” he said, his confidence slowly growing as he sang to himself, “The moment’s right, the time has come! For us to stand, together as one! So take my hand, and follow me! To win it all’s our destiny! We will be hero-oes?” he continued before coming to a fork in the road. He stopped and looked down both of the paths, one lead straight ahead, but was a tree-shrouded grove… the other, headed in the wrong direction.

[Sanara]

Pᴀʀᴛ 8

After Veritas epiphany, the train ride was much, much longer. The small child's eyes followed the trees as the train bellowed past the country side. His strange-looking companion, this Sophie, mindlessly chattered away, trying to lift his spirits, but he was only half listening.
----------"...cats are....like Maine coon and American short...."
----------Veritas hardly made the effort to figure out what she was talking about. Her favorite cats, perhaps?
----------He pulled his brother's shaw to his face, longing to be back with the darker companion. How could he have let his anger go like that? So stupid! He pouted as Sophie continued to speak until she got really excited in her words.
----------"There it is!" She chattered. "That's Icirrus!"
----------Veritas' eyes pulled up at the name he had come to know as his new destination. Icirrus was more like a small town with not many houses. His eyebrows pulled together, surprised at the lack of the town, but waisted no time in thanking Sophie.
----------"Thank you, Sophie," he said, pulling his brother's shaw off and stuffing it back into his backpack. "This one's life has changed thanks to Sophie. This world would be nothing to me without Kishan." Quickly, Veritas donned his backpack and stood just as the train was coming to a halt. "Veritas will never forget this one." He put a finger on her heart, emphasizing each of his words. His eyes hung against hers, taking in the last few moments of being with the older girl. When the decompression sounded from the large monster, Veritas made his way to the train car's door. He found himself standing alone on the depot, but not for long.
----------He ran. Ran as fast as his small child's legs could cary him. He didn't know where he was going, or how long he would have to keep going to get to his home, but he would have to find his brother. His twin!
----------But... Where to start? Which way was home? How would he get there?
----------Nervously he glanced around the terminal, seeing all the busy faces- but there was always the help desk! Scurrying over to the terminal help, he stood on his tippy-toes.
----------"Excuse me!" He ask.
The man looked down at him from behind his computer.
----------"Yes? How may I help you?"
----------"How much for a ticket back the way we came?" Veritas ask, craning his neck to maintain eye-contact.
----------"I'm sorry, we don't have another train that way until tomorrow."
----------Veritas frowned at the man with a small pout coming to his lips. "Okay, so which way do I need to walk to get to the next town over?"
----------"Do you mean Mistralton city?"
----------"No, the other way."
----------"Oh, well, there's a path to the north that, if followed, will take you back the way you came. But it can be a bit treacherous. I wouldn't suggest going anywhere on your own, given your... Stature.."
----------Veritas scowled at the man. "Veritas can handle himself on his own!" He pushed himself away from the desk and the man without so much as a goodbye. With a new pep in his step, Veritas stormed out of the building with a passion.
----------Outside, a chill was in the air. Veritas was surprised by how much colder this area was compared to his home, and worked to get his brother's shaw around himself. Looking around, the town had many puddles, and was overall sodden.

[ghoulbites]

Fɪɴᴀʟ Pᴀʀᴛ

The spindly branches of the trees swayed and bowed with the soft wind that was tunneled through the naturally occurring passageway. Shadows upon the ground looked as though bony fingers were reaching out to grab unsuspecting prey, young Kishan was very unnerved by this. Frowning at the ground, his song long since left his attention, he trotted rather briskly through the grove. His bag bounced at his back as he went, items clanking against one another from within the confines; which was wrought into the scary thought of somebody following him, by imagination gone awry. “I should have gone the other way,” he whined to himself, continuously looking over his shoulder as though he was expecting to see somebody pursuing him, “Definitely should’ve gone the other way,” he huffed to himself. What he wouldn’t give for his brother to just magically appear in front of him, so he could get out of this place.
---------------
Hurrying down a sodden pathway that was no more than an area guided by walls of trees, Veritas’ feet sloshed through puddles and were soon caked with mud. Despite the squelching of wet dirt underfoot, his head was pounding with determination to find his beloved brother. He’d been lead astray, blinded by a rash decision towards a harsh lie, he knew that he had to make things right between him and Kishan. “Veritas is coming, Kishan,” he said to edge himself on, the prospect of being able to hug his twin again was ever present in his mind. Apologies raced around, chasing his desire to find the darker twin again, how would he apologise? A simple ‘sorry’ and a hug? Maybe something more over-the-top, just to make sure his dear twin knew how sorry he was for leaving him. Gasping softly as he trod through a puddle that was deeper than he expected, he grumbled for the first time about the annoying puddles. “Kishan would tell this one to be careful for deep puddles… Veritas wishes he never left that one behind,” he sighed, shaking out his legs to flick off most of the excess water and mud that had gathered there.
---------------
----------Though separated by a distance unknown to the both of them, each twin’s stride was in sync despite neither of them being by the other’s side. Determination riddled with worry burned in the pair’s eyes as they sought out their brother. One headed north, the other headed south, towering before each of them was a tower that seemed to stretch to the sky and tear through the clouds like a clawed foot through fabric. Veritas and Kishan looked to the structure from where they stood and then to the colors that were beginning to dance on the horizon as the sun began to set. Were they running out of time to see the other before the night consumed the land? Kishan whimpered and trudged on, now determined to at least make it to the tower before the moon made things even scarier to be amongst. Gait picking up a few paces, he could see the warmed orange-pink light illuminating what looked to be the entrance. “I’m not travelling during the night… My feet hurt, and I don’t know what comes out when the sun goes away,” he said to himself, merely to disperse the sense of being alone. With slicked leaves underfoot, he hurried himself up as his eyes stayed trained on the building before him. Sure, it was very intimidating, but being outside at night was even more nerve-wracking that staying inside a spooky tower. With his destination slowly coming into reach, he held his breath as he just about sprinted the rest of the way; air whooshing from his lungs as he trotted through the
arched doors.
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----------Although his determination to get home and see Kishan was still at the forefront of his mind, Veritas had a bit of a roadblock to deal with. Frowning displeased at a group of strange looking people that were dancing around and blocking his path. What they were doing was beyond him, all he knew was that he wanted to be on the other side of them. Puffing out his chest and tilting his chin to the air, he marched up to one of the people on the outside of the group and poked them to get their attention. “Excuse me, Veritas would like to know what you are doing!” he near demanded as the woman looked upon him.
----------“Aww, are you lost, sweet heart?” she cooed as she crouched down to get eye level with the pale child.
----------“This one is not lost, Veritas is on a mission!” he said, narrowing his eyes at the woman’s babying of him.
----------“Oh, on a mission? I see. Well, little one… celebrating… war that was one… thanking those involved!”
----------Not really listening to what the woman had to say, Veritas rolled his eyes as the baby-talk tone still riddled her voice. “Veritas does not have time for this,” he said as he began to weave through the crowd. Once he had broken through, he began to run as though he was running out of time. The tower ahead was close, and he hoped to make it there for a little bit of rest.
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----------A little short of breath after having hiked all the way to the top of the tower, well as far as the stairs went anyway, Kishan set up a makeshift bed and stared out at the sunset. A soft frown settled on his face as he wished Veritas could see it with him. Making himself a quick jam sandwich and sating the beast that grumbled in his belly, he was none the wiser to the slapping of wet feet over the stairs as a paler boy set off towards him without knowledge of his position. Just as a sigh left his lips, a familiar voice echoed through the building; calling his name. “Kishan?!” Veritas called, causing his brother to startle and turn around abruptly; a wide smile on his face.
----------“Veritas!” he near cried, scrambling to his feet and running towards his brother only to meet him in the middle in a crushing hug.
----------“Veritas is very sorry! Very, very, very sorry! Oh, Kishan, this one did not know he was being fooled! Please forgive Veritas!” the white-haired twin gushed, out of breath but not caring as he clung to his brother.
----------“I am also sorry, I didn’t know I was being lied to either! Veritas, I hope we never get separated again!” Kishan sobbed as he hugged onto his brother tighter.
----------“I really, really truly forgive you!” they said to one another in unison, managing a laugh once they realized. The two brothers made their way over to Kishan’s makeshift bed, the darker twin giving his brother some clean clothes as soon as he noticed Veritas’ mud-coated and wet ones. Settling down, hugging one another and pressing their foreheads together; they both smiled and giggled at one another.
----------“Brothers forever and always…” Kishan murmured.
----------“Together forever and always!” Veritas announced, the declaration bouncing off the walls of the tower as though it were to be heard by a mighty force that would make sure those four words would stay true.