Wolfram's eyes became as round as saucers the moment he realized what the heck had just happened, several moments after she had vanished from sight. A nervous laugh escaped his throat after he recovered from the initially shock, glancing towards the direction she had just went. So...that just happened.
Why that had just happened, he didn't know. What had encouraged her to do that, he didn't know. But he wasn't complaining.
After several moments, he finally shifted trotting back towards the van, hoping she had at least went back and not just vanished. It took all of him not to bounce like a child. For all the destruction and terror around him, all of the horrible things that had happened, it had raised his spirits just the slightest bit.
When he approached the van, he instantly shifter back. "Lachlan, gue—" He stopped as he came up to them, seeing River crouching in front of Alec. He glanced at Lachlan. "...is everything okay?"
Lachlan whirled around to face him. "Thank God, you're back." He sighed, glancing at River and Alec. "So I went to see who that kid was, asked his named. Apparently it's Alec. But he asked me where his mom was. I asked him who she was." He shook his head. "Wolf, it's Mapleshade! He's her son. And that boy, that Toby shot? The one who Mom said killed Sherri? That was his brother. Mapleshade had two sons." He paused, turning back to Wolfram, looking into his sky blue eyes with his grassy ones, wondering how his friend would react to learning that he had brothers-- One being already dead.
"Wolf, I asked who their father was. He said it was Michael. He's got your brother."
River nodded, keeping her un-wavering eyes on the boy. "Correct. I guess you've heard your mother speak of him before, I take it?" She murmured, her voice unchanging.
"I didn't like him at first, either. A little over dramatic in some ways, needs to keep his mouth shut sometimes, has a temper. But he grows on you, gets less annoying. Somehow." She said, giving Alec the same look as earlier, trying to pick up and analyzed his every movement. "Here's one piece of advice you'll always want to remember, Alec. When you meet someone new, be cautious, but be indifferent. Let what they do shape the way you think of them, not someone else's words. Learn them."
Everything in Alec's body wanted to absolutely panic. Wolfram was his brother. But he didn't. Father's words echoed in his head, and he calm down, the emotion fading from his pale face. Some people are very good at reading others, Alec. Remember this. You cannot let them see through you.
"No." That's the only response that forced its way out. "I don't believe you. He can't be my brother. And why should I listen to you? I would rather listen to my mom then some stranger."
Mapleshade had a son. Strike one.
Mapleshade had two sons, one which was dead. Strike two.
Said sons were his half-brothers. Strike three.
The knowledge of this drained the joy in his chest, his gaze snapped to Alec, the little boys face completely emotionless as he stared at River. But those eyes. He should have known. His eyes were all his fathers, and he had a face shape similar to his mothers. He should have known. But he couldn't quite believe it.
"I have a half brother!?" Wolfram stared at Lachlan with rounded eyes. "No...no, two half-brothers. That Shadow kid...he's dead...oh God..." He let his weight fall against the van, shaking his head. "I killed his parents." He knew it wasn't funny, but he gave a harsh laugh, looking back at Lachlan. "I killed his parents! I killed my own half-brothers parents!"
Harshly, he slammed the side of his fist against the van, swearing under his breath. "What am I supposed to do, Lachlan?"
Bleddyn made her way back to the van where everyone important was congregating, using the full moon to illuminate a path through the horrific has-been battleground. Once she'd decided on a route, she kept her eyes fixed on her destination the entire time.
No need to look down and
see.
A spine-chilling sob that erupted to her right almost made her rethink her resolve.
But she
couldn't.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wolfram sprinting for the van. Hmm. They'd probably get there at the same time.
She winced.
Nah.
Not happening. Not now.
So she turned sharply behind another, uninhabited vehicle, aiming to approach from the opposite side.
Bleddyn ended up behind the overflowing van just like she'd intended. Since no one seemed to be looking out this side, she wasted no time in getting herself settled in the sheltering shadow of one of its rear wheel wells.
As she mused over how this seating arrangement felt weirdly familiar, her train of thought dared to backtrack.
Did she regret what'd she'd just done?
Not in the slightest.
But, wow, that brief run made her
hurt. If she thought she'd known pain before, did she ever have a correction to give her past self.
Mentally sorting through the afflictions she'd racked up, Bleddyn didn't realize her support was giving out until she lay prostrate on the dirt and looking at the cold stars. She frowned and painstakingly rolled onto her stomach, looking back to address the wheel that'd just failed her.
Well, it wasn't even a wheel anymore, because the rim had up and evacuated the premises. Actually, upon closer inspection, it was still there, except it was progressively losing luster and withering away before her eyes, almost like burning vegetation.
Transfixed, she watched as the tire, deprived of its supporting skeleton, began to sag beneath the weight it was forced to bear alone.
Aluminum. Her face paled even more than it already was, which one wouldn't think was possible.
The substance Mapleshade unleashed. It's...it's really taking all of our metal. Holy crap.
She let out an incredulous sigh and got up to lean against the slowly disintegrating van, not wanting to try to envision the world working without metal. Instead, she tuned into River talking to some distraught kid that Bleddyn knew she didn't recognize, even without looking at him.
"...but he grows on you." Bleddyn weakly smiled her agreement that and, in doing so, salty streams began slipping into her mouth through her teeth.
Huh? She put a hand to her face and was surprised that it came away wet enough to reflect glistening moonlight. When had she started crying again?
She froze as Lachlan's deep voice suddenly shed a whole lot of light onto the confusing series of exchanges.
That kid's his brother. And both of his parents' blood is on Wolf's hands.
She shuddered as she thought that over from Wolfram's perspective. She didn't think it'd be right for her intrude into his and Lach's conversation, though. She was just fine with unobtrusively staying back here.
Honestly? She didn't want to show her face to
anyone here. Making a break for it...really seemed like a viable option. She could wander the wilds for a couple of years, maybe make an appearance after they'd gotten preoccupied with overcoming this whole metal fiasco and subsequently having forgotten what'd she'd done and the threat she'd suddenly become. Just so she could...figure it all out for herself.
She had to slap herself in the face then.
Ow. That'd stung more than she'd expected.
You're kidding yourself again. Remember? You literally just made yourself a serious promise that you'd make an effort to try?
