Raven

[Spotify]

Barrow phased just in time as Ember jumped from the tree and into his arms. Of course, Ember phased mid way, before her body collided with his."Barrow!"she giggled as they tumbled to the ground. He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her waist and than he brought her mouth to his. Soon enough they were just a pile of tangled limbs.

The small taste of freedom had Ember jumping into Barrow's arms and soon enough kissing him sweetly. She knew it was wrong, but she wasn't in love with him anymore. She couldn't bring herself to tell him. A snarl ripped her from her thoughts as she saw the powerful form of her brother standing over them. A whimper escaped her lips as she was dragged up onto her feet and slammed into a nearby tree. She knew better than to fight him off though, it just made it worse.

[Cloudy]

<sub>The lithe form of Jai turned into a scruffy mutt and he leapt from the tree, prowling towards Alec with a low growl. Release her, milord, he said, though his tone brooked no room for argument. In a burst of power he stood before Alec, Barrow and Ember in his full humanistic glory, arms crossed, green eyes narrowed dangerously. Jai was not someone you wanted to fight; he'd take you out so quick you wouldn't even know what hit you. His face was a mask of disinterest, his posture relaxed, head tilted back slightly. He simply waited, looking lazily at the Schimba Prince.

"I don't want to ask again, Milord." The respectful word took on a mocking tone, the very corner of Jai's mouth tilting into a smirk. "But I suppose I may have to, milord."</sub>

[Spotify]

Alec's body went rigid and his tone was cold as he spoke,"This is none of your business, Jai. Return to your post and leave me and my sister be. You can take that mutt with you."he snarled, his fingernails digging into Ember's skin. Fangs slid out from under his lips and he did not turn to look at the Schimba. To him, Jai was beneath him and was dirt beneath his feet.

Ember didn't look at Jai, she was too ashamed. She didn't want any of her people to see her weak. She whimpered slightly as Alec's nails bit into her skin and than he punched her, hard in the stomach. She bit down hard on toungue to keep from crying out.

[Cloudy]

<sub>Jai huffed. "I'm afraid I cannot do that, sir. Strict orders under Unole himself, you know." His piercing green eyes watched Alec, his gaze searching the Schimba for any sign of hostility. "I'd not do that if I were you. Unole's not gonna be to happy to see his heir and whatnot hurt and scarred."

He gave Barrow a swift look, raising an eyebrow at the Priciolici. He jerked his head to the side, as if to say, Get out of here, kid. It's about to get messy. He gave the wolf a curt nod and returned his attention to Alec. He'd never fought the Schimba before, but he'd been there, watching over the two siblings, since their birth. He'd been there in their training, their first day of school, all of it. He'd been in the shadows, lurking, waiting and watching for any sign of danger.</sub>

[Spotify]

Ember glanced at him than, she knew that while Alec would receive a beating, her beatings would only get worse. She opened her mouth and three drops of blood rolled down her chin."Jai, stand down. Leave us be."she said, her voice strong, even though she felt anything but. Her eyes searched Jai's, Please she whispered into his head. Her eyes were pleading as she sank against the tree trunk.

A twisted grin appeared on Alec's lips,"You heard us. Leave."he snarled, as burst of cruelty shot through him. He punched Ember again and again and than he slapped her."You're a whore. How could you? You mean nothing. You're a disgrace. Mom would be ashamed of you."he hissed, ignoring Jai's presence.

[Cloudy]

<sub>One moment, Alec had his hands wrapped around Ember's throat. The next, Jai's hand was closed around Alec's and he held the Schimba prince aloft, eyes glowering. "I warned you," he said quietly, his voice deadly calm.

Silence, he snapped to Ember. Do not succumb to fear. It only destroy you. He returned his attention to Alec. "I warned you to let her go," he growled, a deep anger rising in the depths of his green eyes. "There was a time I was not strong enough to protect the woman I care about. No longer. You, Alec, are the disgrace of your family." He casually tossed the prince away, stalking towards where Alec struck the ground. "Torturing your own blood, your own kin? Beating her senseless? Your mother would've been ashamed of you." The look on Jai's face was of pure, animalistic fury. He was scary, and that was certain.</sub>

[Spotify]

Ember was speechless, her brows knitted together as she sank against the oak tree's trunk. She didn't feel anything, her body was numb. It often did so when Alec began with the beatings. A small almost whimper escaped her lips as she vanished. In her place was a hummingbird. It circled for a moment and than it shot forward, away from Alec and Jai.

Alec snarled and he was up in one fluid moment,"Who are you tell me what is right and what is wrong? I am royal descent, you, however, are not and you're dust beneath my feet. She's my blood and I can do what I want to her. Why do you care anyways? This is family buisness. You have no voice in our affairs."he snarled and than phased into a panther. He leapt at Jai, claws extended. They were meant to kill.

The hummingbird collapsed on the floor of her living room floor. She phased and began to sob. Her heart ached as well as her mind. Her body began to quiver. She had enough.

[Cloudy]

<sub>Jai easily sidestepped, his fist flying out. It slammed into the side of Alec's chest and Jai himself phased, slipping into the form of the black leopard. He snarled, curling his lip back over glittering white fangs, tail lashing. He fell into a smooth crouch and waited for Alec's move.

"U-we-tsi-a-ge-ya," Unole said gently, approaching his daughter, "why does your soul carry such sadness?" Anger flared in his eyes for a moment when he caught sight of the bruises on Ember's form. He sighed. "I should never have let it get this far, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. I am sorry." His soft brown eyes grew sad as he kneeled next to the weeping form of his daughter. He bundled her into his arms. "Why do you cry so?" he asked softly.</sub>

[Spotify]

Alec grunted as he got back to his paws, he roared his fury. His powerful form fell into a crouch, his tail lashing, and teeth bared. Stand down. he snarled, his claws digging into the earth. He sprang his form slammed into Jai's side.

Ember raised her head to look at her father,"Its her fault. It's her fault. If she never would've left. He would've never had done that stuff to me."she whimpered, curling into her father. All she wanted was to die.

[Cloudy]

<sub>Jai rolled easily with Alec's blow, kicking the feline away before he was able to pin the warrior down. No. His green eyes flashed and he stood lazily, as if Alec didn't scare him. There was no way he was going to let Ember down. He'd failed his mother once, and she'd die. He wasn't going to fail again, even if it meant guarding her against her own brother.

"Nonsense," Unole said softly. "It was never your mother's fault, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. Alec... was aggressive even as a child. Your mother and I were horrified to see his actions towards you, but we figured he'd grow out of it. He never did." Unole sounded so heartbrokenly sad. His brown eyes swam with sorrow, and he clutched Ember a tad closer to him. "It's no one's fault buy my own. I should have stopped the behavior long ago, but I did not."</sub>