A cold breeze brushes the face of Valion as his hologram displays the information of new bulletins and articles of recent events. 'Another victory for the U.S.N!' the headlines of news outlets flashes by as Valion scans each one, his eyes darting across the screen. 'A savage planet raised to modern civility!' the flashing images are burned into his brain as he continues. 'Freedom for all!'. Finally, Valion lets out his breath, as if he'd been holding it in all that time. The breeze flows around him, the only sound in the courtyard is the lively swaying of planted trees and distant conversation.

  Valion leans back to try and take in the fresh air. the smell of floral scents and freshly baked goods of a nearby stall fill his nostrils. he exhales as he rises to his feet with a new found purpose, and he marches off toward his home. his brisk pace slows to a stroll and then a saunter as he approaches the door. finally he rests his hand on the door knob. his anxiety makes it weigh a thousand pounds as he tries to twist it. A thousand scenarios play in his mind as the door opens with a slow audible creak. As Valion steps inside and wanders into his fathers study, Galvion's ears can only be seen above paperwork as he examines it, with his other hand around a short glass filled with a amber shaded liquor.

  "ah finally come to submit your U.S.N military application?" Valion stands at the study doors, as silently as he entered the room, a puzzled look crosses his face. "come now Osiris, you really think i wouldn't-" His sentence is cut short as he flips the page down to his desk and a black furred wolf adjusts into his vision. his eyelids and posture lower, to match his tone "ah... it's just you. I must've mistaken you for someone important, but nonetheless, its about time you hear this too." He rises to his feet, the window behind him casts a shadow that towers over the small posture standing in the doorway.

  "Your both coming of age. Osiris will be attending Vehyma Military Academy, and will follow in my footsteps. Academically he is already keeping up, and soon, from a militaristic point of view, he will be my perfect successor." His tail swishes across the floor as he glares out the window at the sunset. "I expect nothing of you, and if it were up to me, you'd be on the streets by now. one less problem to worry about. However, your moth-... Teresa... has insisted that you will also attend Vehyma Military Academy against my prudent protest. I suppose the least you could do is die for this country after all the trouble you've caused me."

  Valion finally finds his voice amongst the stale air between them. "No..." the tension in the air rises as dust shines with the setting sun beaming through the window. Both of them as still as the furniture around them. Valion slowly lifts his gaze, seeing only the back of the man before him. His voice stammers out a louder tone. "i said n-"

  "YOU'VE DISAPPOINTED US FOR FAR TOO LONG." his voice reverberates around the room, bouncing off the bookshelves lined on either side. "sneaking out after curfew, failing to attend classes, remaining absent during U.S.N ceremonies... YOU NEED TO SHOW ME, THIS GOVERMENT, THE PUBLIC SOME RESPECT YOU LITTLE RODENT" Valion's gaze is hammered back down to the floor as his fathers voice grows louder with his approach to him. "YOU WILL JOIN THE U.S.N'S MILITARY, AND YOU WILL SERVE UNTIL YOUR LAST BREATH!"

  Valion presses his hands against his chest and pushes away with the weight of his expectations. "AND WHAT?! HELP THEM KILL MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE? LIKE MY REAL PARENTS?!"

  Galvion finds his footing, and scoffs in response. He shakes what little remorse he has out of his head. "Innocent? Surely, they haven't taught you nothing in your history classes. We raided that village of yours because the reports said those people were killing our men. THEY INSTIGATED THAT FIGHT, NOT US!"

  Valion tries to lean towards his father and meet his gaze, as much as his small stature will allow. "And who told you that? The government? Right before they continued to FUCK YOU AND CALL YOU THEIR BITCH!"

  Galvion's pupils contract as he scowls at the disrespectful remark.

  SMACK

  Valion finds himself facing the wall, pain swelling up on his cheek as he spins back around to see Galvion's arm out wide beside his body, before resting at his side. "why are you surprised? didn't your daddy ever discipline you? i suppose he didn't have time to put his runt back in his place"

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Valion's rage wells up inside him, like a cup about to overflow with water, until his last comment acts like the last drop that breaks its tension. Valion steps forward winding up a punch before striking him in his jaw. the sheer force of the punch sends Galvion to the floor with a loud THUNK his glass clinks along the floor as Valion's hand grasps firmly around it.

  SMASH

  Glass scatters along the study floor as blood drips from the son's hand and the fathers head. pools of blood start to grow at the feet of both of them as Galvion snarls and bears his fangs. he leaps off the floor and grasps Valion's throat squeezing through the fur to his windpipe. He thrashes under his father's grip and claws at his face, his short arms flailing in the air before bearing its claws and striking at his eyes. They miss their mark but he scathes his ear, earning a howl of pain from his assailant. Valion finds the strength to get him to his feet and rush toward his reeling father. He clenches his fists with boiling blood pumping through them, landing strike after strike in his fathers back. A sudden elbow strikes at his nose with an audible crack. Valion stumbles backward as he approaches with lethal intent.

  The noise of the short scuffle attracts the other inhabitants of the house, as Teresa's alarmed voice fills the study. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!" she pushes her way between them as they barely take notice of her presence. They practically climb over her to continue assaulting each other. The front door swings open as Osiris takes one step inside and recognizes a familiar sound of yelling and grunting. "Shit, not again." he remarks as his bags slam the floor and his footprints lead to the study. Osiris's arms wrap around his brothers shoulders as Teresa's places her arms on her partners chest, pushing him as far as she can extend.

  "please son, brother. I can't bear to look at the two of you at each other's throats" his sincere eyes finally meet his, as his rage is tempers at her brothers cooling voice. his fists unclench, his fangs hide under his parted lips, and his brow straightens. silently, his arms slump to his sides and he follows his brothers lead, as she brings him into their kitchen. creeeeaaaak, clunk... creeeeaaaak, clunk... cupboard doors each get opened and closed in turn. "where did we put that medical kit?" Valion's arm points toward the top cupboard above the sink as he softly informs his brother. "that one up there..." Osiris follows his brothers guidance and brings the medical kit to his brother's side. the silence in the kitchen is drowned out by the arguing overflowing from the study.

  Osiris lets out soft words to his injured brother "alright, here we are, now let's see what damage he's done now. A few bruises, tch that's a nasty cut, let's get that dealt with first." Alcohol sloshes in it bottle before being dampened onto a sterile cloth. He presses it against his open wound as it absorbs a dark red. Valion winces at the searing pain before the cold relief takes its place. "You were late today" Osiris lets out a short huff of amusement. "I had late studies... you did too. Seeing as how you didn't show up, I thought you two were at it again, or you were sneaking out. Guess my first hunch was right. What'd he say this time? Talked to mum wrong? Insulted you?" Valion's gaze lowers as he recalls the early evening. "he- OUCH! gentle please! He told me to serve in that insufferable army of his."

  Osiris's eyes widen in response, he continues cleaning the various wounds while looking out the top of his eyes to his brother "You? Serve? I guess he didn't think that one through. What'd he think you'd say? 'Thank you oh so very much father, I'd LOVE to perish for this rock of a planet i don't even like!'..." His eccentric mockery movements pair with his sarcastic tone as he stops mid performance to look out the corner of his eye at his brother before his cheeks puff up, attempting to stifle his laughter. "Bahahaha!!!" both the brothers laugh in unison at the ridiculous display, and find a moment of peace in each others company.

  They both don't notice the silence from the study as Teresa stands at the kitchen doorway with her hands full of broken glass. She snickers to herself as she adds to the mockery "Ha ha, i think he sounds more... grumpier!" Teresa and Osiris's laughs fill the kitchen as Valion lets out a playful shrug and retorts. "i do not!" all three mouths spread into grins before letting out their own harmonious laughter. The shards clatter against the other rubbish as they are disposed of. Teresa slowly approaches her two boys as they form a circle around each other.

  "Listen, i know you two don't think too fondly of him, but... he is your father" Valion's smile quickly fades away, replaced with a roll of his eyes. "Not my father..." She places her fingers on his chin and lifts his head to meet her gaze. "He's as much your father as i am your mother. Promise me you'll listen to him. I'm scared I'll have to choose between the two of you. I don't want to make that decision so please, just a little bit, listen to him... for me?" there is a pause between the trio, as Valion's lack of response creates tension. he finally opens his mouth to respond. "Alright mom, i promise"

  She releases his chin and wraps her arms around the both of them like a warm blanket as the night grows darker.