literature

Brothers

Deviation Actions

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Literature Text

Aurelius crashed through the underbrush, shouting so loudly into the trees that he disturbed the birds nesting in the branches.

“He-ey, brother! I’m comin’ for you! I’m gonna get you—waaoo—” Aurelius paused mid-holler as the colorful cloud of redbirds burst from the tree above him and fanned out beneath the canopy, fluttering like a single, many-winged body. They disappeared into the lace of the canopy’s treetops, chirping to one another indignantly. Aurelius refocused his attention on the hunt, blue eyes wide with wonder.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are! You just missed something great, yanno. A whole flock of birds, Adra, red as Mom’s ruby necklace! Thick as a cloud! And you missed it, cos you’re hiding. Really a shame.”

“What? Where?” Adra cried, shimmying down from the very top of a nearby redwood.

He lost his footing halfway through the enterprise and cried out in terror as his little body slid down the redwood’s soft trunk, its fibrous bark offering no purchase for his skinny arms and legs. “Augh! Help, help!”

Aurelius dashed towards his brother and shouted, “Just let go, I’ve got you!”

Adra scrambled to regain his grip on the tree, digging his fingers into any groove in the bark he could find, trying to stint his momentum. But he was too small, and the tree was slick from morning rain.

“What were you even thinking?” Aure shouted up to him, his hands outstretched to catch his brother. “You’re no good at tree-climbing.”

“I know,” Adra bawled, clinging to the trunk like a frightened squirrel. He was at least thirty feet from the ground; if he tried to jump now, he would surely splatter his guts all over the grassy forest floor. “I’m scared.” He squeezed his eyes shut; looking down was making him sick and dizzy.

“How did you get up there in the first place?” Aure said.

“I, well,” Adra said nervously, “Well, I just looked up and thought the top of the tree would be the best hiding place ever, and then I was thinking, and thinking a bit more, and suddenly I was up at the top!” He faltered, pressing his forehead to the smooth, yielding bark. “And it was pretty good. ‘Til just now.”

“Think yourself back down, then!”

“I can’t! I told you, I’m scared!”

“This is why magic is stupid,” Aurelius said. “Stupid and weird and also dumb.”

“It just happened—I didn’t do it on purpose—aahhh!” Adra’s anxiety had caused his body temperature to spike, and the heat from his skin was burning the wood. He watched with abject terror as the redwood’s bark curled and crisped against his palms, smearing his skin with black ash. He lost his grip and began to slide rapidly towards the earth.

“Jump!” Aurelius screamed.

“I can’t!” Adra managed; he reached out wildly for a branch and caught it, kicking off from the trunk. He hung there precariously, thinking that if he fell now, he might live, but any number of important bones could be broken.

Aurelius stood under the branch, urging his twin to let go, his voice filled with the promise of safety and rescue.

“If I break my back, you gotta carry me around everywhere!” Adra shrieked.

“Yeah, yeah! Just come on!”

And he let go.

The descent was quick and done with his eyes tightly shut; he felt a soft thwump as his body collided with Aurelius, then a yelp from his brother, and then quiet, relieved breathing as they lay there in a heap of limbs and blond hair.

“You’re it,” Aurelius said finally, once Adra opened his eyes and could definitely be assumed alive.

“What! No way,” Adra said, leaping up off of Aure and planting his hands on his hips. “You tricked me.”

“Reckon I just saved your life, actually,” Aurelius said, getting to his feet.

“By tricking me!”

“Whatever,” Aurelius grunted. “Some gratitude.”

“I am very grateful that you saved my life,” Adra said demurely. “But I’m not it.” He knocked his brother on the head and then jumped back, grinning. “You are!”

“What—you little—“ Aure tried to grab for Adra, but the smaller boy ducked and ran, laughing hysterically.

Aurelius gave chase, shouting, “Next time you get in a life or death situation, I’m gonna walk on by, Adra!”

But they both knew that wasn’t true. They were twin brothers, after all.
Written especially for :iconaltana:. <3
© 2009 - 2024 thornmallow
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Altana's avatar
T______T
You are the most wonderfullest person. Ever. <3 <3 <3

I love this story so much.