Blood-soaked Innocence

Edmund fell silent as Jude rained down his judgement. Only it's not what he expected. Even as his brother rages, all Edmund can feel is a bubbling warmth. The Ancient drops his bag and his empty, bloody, hand comes up to hold the back of his brother's head. Knocking their foreheads together, he makes no move to pry Jude's fists from his shirt. Speaking softly, Edmund tried to soothe the rage in his brother's heart. "That's exactly why. I was only planning to be gone a week, but they were onto me from the beginning. I couldn't lead them home. Not to mum, not to Harper. Not to you. You were still little when I left, remember?" Jude hadn't even been a teenager yet. The Ancient's eyes narrowed suddenly, the tiger still at the forefront as he appraised his brother with new eyes. "You're not anymore." Edmund spared a glance at the bodies before his eyes locked on his brother's once more. "Will you help me now?" The Ancient's tail flicked behind him, restless energy finding an outlet as he waited for Jude to decide. Edmund Reborn In Fire