Cora's Camp 2

"Yes we are. We all blame ourselves and expect others to blame us as well. None of us can control others and sometimes not even ourselves. You know what though we have each other. We know that neither one blames the other and somehow it relieves us just a little."

Don smiled a bit, he put the rag down into the bucket and turned looking over Kaa's body, it was wet now but he'd wait for Theos to finish with Kaa's nether regions before drying him.

"I wonder what will happen now. The battle.....was won but the war isn't over. I don't doubt Cora is in a frenzy over this."

Don sighed, "Frenzy is an understatement...father is so angry. He hasn't shown himself since the battle and has been with Magi for sometime. Magi is trying to prepare him for Kaa if he doesn't make it."

Don rubbed the back of his neck, "I know I'm no replacement for Kaa...but I hope I can rely on you if I wind up becoming heir. Changing will be difficult for me and the people have always been adamant about me becoming their king. They don't approve of me as I am."

"Frenzy is an understatement...father is so angry. He hasn't shown himself since the battle and has been with Magi for sometime. Magi is trying to prepare him for Kaa if he doesn't make it."

Don rubbed the back of his neck, "I know I'm no replacement for Kaa...but I hope I can rely on you if I wind up becoming heir. Changing will be difficult for me and the people have always been adamant about me becoming their king. They don't approve of me as I am."

Theos looked to the ground. He knew Cora was probably taking this very hard. "I am behind you wholly. You don't have to change who you are though. You just have to show you are a good king despite what they think. I know you are a good person Don. They just have to learn and except that as well."

"I know about being looked down upon. I was raise by birds after all. The only ones that accepted me was the nest I was raised beside and the old storyteller. I was shunned for lacking the ability to fly. I made them accept me by learning to climb even the steepest slopes to be with them. It was never easy but before long there was acceptance even if for some it was begrudgingly," Theos finished his part of Kaa.

"In the end though one of the reasons I left my mountain was because of a mistake I made. I admitted to liking one of the young birds I grew up with. Needless to say her parents were less than pleased. The family I had grown beside shunned me because I couldn't fly finally. I was featherless and had no wings and if I could have changed to fit their wishes I would have in an instant. Because I felt like I had lost everything. However it wouldn't have changed anything; the harm had been done and in the end....in the end I found Kemba. Someone who accepted me as who I am. Who's never asked me to change and always stood beside me. I wonder if he would have loved me just the same if I had wings and feathers," Theos smiled slightly thinking about it. He would have Theos knew it.

"The point is Don. No matter what even in your mistakes somehow there will be that one person who just comes along and makes you proud to be yourself. You should hold them tightly and never let go."

"I am behind you wholly. You don't have to change who you are though. You just have to show you are a good king despite what they think. I know you are a good person Don. They just have to learn and except that as well."

"I know about being looked down upon. I was raise by birds after all. The only ones that accepted me was the nest I was raised beside and the old storyteller. I was shunned for lacking the ability to fly. I made them accept me by learning to climb even the steepest slopes to be with them. It was never easy but before long there was acceptance even if for some it was begrudgingly,"

Don listened while taking the bucket and sponges now that they had scrubbed down Kaa, he brought back with him small rags to dry Kaa's body and try to bring the sheen back into his once beautiful scales.

"In the end though one of the reasons I left my mountain was because of a mistake I made. I admitted to liking one of the young birds I grew up with. Needless to say her parents were less than pleased. The family I had grown beside shunned me because I couldn't fly finally. I was featherless and had no wings and if I could have changed to fit their wishes I would have in an instant. Because I felt like I had lost everything. However it wouldn't have changed anything; the harm had been done and in the end....in the end I found Kemba. Someone who accepted me as who I am. Who's never asked me to change and always stood beside me. I wonder if he would have loved me just the same if I had wings and feathers,"

Don looked at Theos when he spoke of a different life he had lived and a different love interest. That seemed surprising more then anything.

"The point is Don. No matter what even in your mistakes somehow there will be that one person who just comes along and makes you proud to be yourself. You should hold them tightly and never let go."

Don remained silent a moment and then handed Theos the rag, once he took it he began starting on Kaa's head and followed the same path he did with the sponge.

"Unlike you...I haven't found anyone like that. Right now...I don't feel proud to be me. I have accepted me, but that is the difference. Ike has been the closest to me what Kemba is to you. Not romantically, but someone I can confide in. Ike's wife will be lucky to have him. Whoever she may be." Don stopped drying his brothers arm and glanced at Theos.

"What is surprising to me is that you had a mystery lover before Kemba. A female and an avian? Does Kemba know he isn't your first love?" Don chuckled a bit. "I didn't think you loved anyone before him." He continued to scrub.

"Unlike you...I haven't found anyone like that. Right now...I don't feel proud to be me. I have accepted me, but that is the difference. Ike has been the closest to me what Kemba is to you. Not romantically, but someone I can confide in. Ike's wife will be lucky to have him. Whoever she may be." Theos was unsure if Ike thought of anyone like that. He still seemed so standoffish a bit like Don when it came to feelings. Though Ike just seemed to have this bluntness about him.

"What is surprising to me is that you had a mystery lover before Kemba. A female and an avian? Does Kemba know he isn't your first love?" Don chuckled a bit. "I didn't think you loved anyone before him."

"He knows," Theos said chuckling. It probably was a surprise. "Her name was Chi. A lovely Hawkmon with a big heart. Even after my confession she didn't shun me. However she followed her flocks rules and more importantly her fathers. She would never go against them and probably to avoid the pain of seeing me she started avoiding me. Once that happened my last tie to that place was gone and I decided to leave."

"It is still good memories with her. A first love is just that a first love. Sometimes it becomes permanent sometimes it doesn't. I know Ike is a bit estranged around everyone but he seems most attached to you. I'm not sure he has a gender preference. A lot like Kemba and myself," Theos continued. 

"He knows," Theos said chuckling. It probably was a surprise. "Her name was Chi. A lovely Hawkmon with a big heart. Even after my confession she didn't shun me. However she followed her flocks rules and more importantly her fathers. She would never go against them and probably to avoid the pain of seeing me she started avoiding me. Once that happened my last tie to that place was gone and I decided to leave."

"It is still good memories with her. A first love is just that a first love. Sometimes it becomes permanent sometimes it doesn't. I know Ike is a bit estranged around everyone but he seems most attached to you. I'm not sure he has a gender preference. A lot like Kemba and myself," Theos continued.

Don looked curiously at Theos, his way of emphasizing Ike's gender preference and the comparison between Theos, Kemba and Ike.

"Are you saying you think Ike is in love with me?" Don turned a bit red and scrubbed a bit faster.

"What makes you think that...wh..why would you even say things like that? Ike hasn't showed any interest in me. Besides, I don't like him anymore then a friend...he's....not my type." Don continued to dry his brother, trying his best to avoid eye contact with Theos.

Don wondered if Theos knew? Was he not careful enough? What kind of power did Theos have that he was able to peer into the souls of his loved ones? Theos must be some type of sorcerer like from the books he read. Don thought, he could feel his heart beat a little faster now.

"Are you saying you think Ike is in love with me?" Theos wasn't sure how Ike thought of him. 

"What makes you think that...wh..why would you even say things like that? Ike hasn't showed any interest in me. Besides, I don't like him anymore then a friend...he's....not my type." He was stuttering. Theos turned away hiding his laugh. Don's denial revealed a lot.

"It would be easier to convince me if you didn't stutter when flustered," Theos said chuckling. He calmed himself. "I don't know what Ike thinks of you. It is undeniable that you two have a bond though. Sometimes that is how things start out; with just a friendship that steadily grows. Kemba and me started off as friends. All it took was one of us admitting our love to the other"

"It would be easier to convince me if you didn't stutter when flustered," Theos said chuckling. He calmed himself.

Don looked even more embarrassed, his cheeks became red and he puffed them out.

"I don't know what Ike thinks of you. It is undeniable that you two have a bond though. Sometimes that is how things start out; with just a friendship that steadily grows. Kemba and me started off as friends. All it took was one of us admitting our love to the other"

Don stopped drying Kaa and frowned, "I don't want to lose his friendship..." Don placed the rag down and turned to him.

"Like I've lost growing up...my friendship is always taken as if I'm trying to become something more. Kaa...and I...we fought last night..."

Don proceeded to explain to Theos everything that had happened prior to the battle. The way he and Kaa fought and that Kaa said how he only is around Ike because he loves him and how it always happened. How he confided in Ike about his past, even telling Theos the same memory, and he told Ike that he only liked Ike as a friend. How Ike was happy about that.

He continued drying and eventually they had finished, Don had moved to sit next too Theos now.

"...Ike was happy that I didn't feel love for him as Kaa had implied. He loves his dad very much and has a caring heart. I gave him some advice about feeling what was in his heart...but I ignored mine for his sake. I lied so that he wouldn't think of me any differently...but how did you know...that I loved him?" Don asked turning his head.

"I was trying to be so careful. Are you sure you're not a soothsayer?"

"I don't want to lose his friendship..." It was understandable. Kemba had been afraid of the same thing.

"Like I've lost growing up...my friendship is always taken as if I'm trying to become something more. Kaa...and I...we fought last night..."

Theos listened intently as he spoke of his ordeals. Realizing Kemba and him there was only two of them. They had given Kaa and Ban so much attention Don had to have felt left out even then. Just like in his story. He was constantly alone.

"...Ike was happy that I didn't feel love for him as Kaa had implied. He loves his dad very much and has a caring heart. I gave him some advice about feeling what was in his heart...but I ignored mine for his sake. I lied so that he wouldn't think of me any differently...but how did you know...that I loved him?" Don asked turning his head.

"I was trying to be so careful. Are you sure you're not a soothsayer?"

"I guess it is what one calls intuition. I love Kemba and he loves me and maybe a part of me has simply come to recognize love," Theos said not really able to explain it.

"Ike says what is on his mind. I think you are trying to make each other feel better by acting like nothing is there. Just a hunch mind you. I can't read Ike very well. He doesn't seem to smile or show affection outside of being with his father. Yet he hugged you and told you everything was okay," Theos continued. Scomparsa's lifestyle probably left him a bit desensitized after his mothers death. Which wouldn't surprise Theos; though it seemed the only other person who hid his emotions was the one who brought out Ike's. It was kind of ironic.

"I guess it is what one calls intuition. I love Kemba and he loves me and maybe a part of me has simply come to recognize love,"

Such a simple answer, as expected from a soothsayer, Don thought.

"Ike says what is on his mind. I think you are trying to make each other feel better by acting like nothing is there. Just a hunch mind you. I can't read Ike very well. He doesn't seem to smile or show affection outside of being with his father. Yet he hugged you and told you everything was okay,"

Don snickered and looked at Theos, "A hug hardly qualifies as a sign of romantic love. Ban hugs you and Kemba and nothing comes of it. I'm sure if Kaa wasn't so pent up in becoming heir, he might be a little more affectionate too. I think I've seen him only hug you once since you're arrival. Ike was doing what anyone can do, cheer me up."

So maybe Theos wasn't a soothsayer after all. He patted Theos back, "I know you want the best for me...but I'm not written a happy ending. I'll tell you what I've told Ike, I'm meant to play the villain. I've done well thus far, especially with Kaa. Then there was the situation with the suicide mission that ended a young Agumon's life." Don sighed.

"I've already decided to do what it takes no matter what, so I can show Ike a peaceful life. I keep my promises, that is why I have to assassinate Natalie...to force Scomparsa's king into a frenzy...he'll come at us with full strength of the Scomparsian army and I'll know how to handle it and finish this war. Kaa will hate me...but I suppose if he doesn't wake, it won't matter. I've even prepared myself to be hated by you, Theos. I'll probably come up with something that endangers you or Kemba...for the sake of winning. It's okay though because I was never the favorite."

"A hug hardly qualifies as a sign of romantic love. Ban hugs you and Kemba and nothing comes of it. I'm sure if Kaa wasn't so pent up in becoming heir, he might be a little more affectionate too. I think I've seen him only hug you once since you're arrival. Ike was doing what anyone can do, cheer me up." True....maybe Theos was reading too much into it. Even though it seemed out of character for Ike.

"I know you want the best for me...but I'm not written a happy ending. I'll tell you what I've told Ike, I'm meant to play the villain. I've done well thus far, especially with Kaa. Then there was the situation with the suicide mission that ended a young Agumon's life." Don sighed.

"I've already decided to do what it takes no matter what, so I can show Ike a peaceful life. I keep my promises, that is why I have to assassinate Natalie...to force Scomparsa's king into a frenzy...he'll come at us with full strength of the Scomparsian army and I'll know how to handle it and finish this war. Kaa will hate me...but I suppose if he doesn't wake, it won't matter. I've even prepared myself to be hated by you, Theos. I'll probably come up with something that endangers you or Kemba...for the sake of winning. It's okay though because I was never the favorite."

Theos laughed at his comment. "I could never hate you Don. Your stand offish and calculating. Admittedly we never gave you much attention because we didn't know what you were thinking. It was wrong of us but I never wanted you to feel like I could ever hate you. Kaa and Ban they both see me as a big brother. And I see all three of you as siblings. Each one unique and yet all my family."

"You and Kaa are both doing what you think is right in this war. Both of you following your instincts both learned and unlearned. I know you are both torn about the princess. However you both need to just sit down and ask yourselves if there is an in-between. Kaa doesn't want her dead and you want to bring her father into the field. Maybe we could do a hostage situation or even capture her and fake her death to earn his ire. Your smart Don and Kaa thinks with his heart not his head like you do. Honestly if you two worked together; the power of brain and heart coming together is a lot more powerful than if they were separate. You don't have to play the villain Don especially if you don't want to."

"I could never hate you Don. Your stand offish and calculating. Admittedly we never gave you much attention because we didn't know what you were thinking. It was wrong of us but I never wanted you to feel like I could ever hate you. Kaa and Ban they both see me as a big brother. And I see all three of you as siblings. Each one unique and yet all my family."

"You and Kaa are both doing what you think is right in this war. Both of you following your instincts both learned and unlearned. I know you are both torn about the princess. However you both need to just sit down and ask yourselves if there is an in-between. Kaa doesn't want her dead and you want to bring her father into the field. Maybe we could do a hostage situation or even capture her and fake her death to earn his ire. Your smart Don and Kaa thinks with his heart not his head like you do. Honestly if you two worked together; the power of brain and heart coming together is a lot more powerful than if they were separate. You don't have to play the villain Don especially if you don't want to."

Don listened to Theos words and stood walking to Kaa's bedside, "I woke up...an entire hour before Kaa did in our eggshell. His was the first face I saw, in fact, it was the only face I could see. I had no idea Ban was even there until after we hatched. I thought about hatching and escaping the cramped eggshell but I heard something that stopped me. I heard Kaa's short, peaceful breaths. His small heart beating behind his chest. I wondered to myself, who is this person?" Don looked at Kaa's claw and held onto it.

"He had this...redness in his cheeks and our claws were together...just like this. I moved my claw in the shell, and I felt his grip tighter. I remember how soft it was...fragile. Mine was probably the same so it was silly of me to think that. Anyway, I felt something in my chest. This...emotion...it felt good and made me happy. I found watching him slumber peacefully enjoyable, his grip...comforting. So I gripped his claw back. The light from the outside lit up our shell pretty brightly and I noticed a small dribble of drool running down the side of his mouth."

Don teared up and had to pause to collect himself, "Ah...At some point I heard voices outside. Father and Mother, they spoke of something called an heir. They said they couldn't wait to meet. They didn't know there were three of us. Mother...read a story. She felt it would help us grow inside the shell, it was a book about kings and queens and princes and a glorified kingdom. I listened to it and through that, I learned what we were...what an heir was. I looked over to Kaa and I felt that this person who holds my claw could be just like the kind king in the story."

Don took his other claw and enclosed Kaa's claw between both of them, "Such a gentle heartbeat and peaceful face. I want to see a king like that. I want this person who shares this space with me to be that. Then Kaa stirred, he moaned a bit but then he opened his crystal blue eyes and looked directly at me. This unknown person who I spent the last hour with, looked at me and then after a moment...he smiled at me and I felt his claw grip mine as tight as it could. When he did, this surge of something filled me and I knew then that I wanted Kaa to have everything. He let go, feeling cramped and he hatched...I followed at his heel, noticing Ban as I did. I was confused to see him cause I didn't know he was there. He cried when we hatched, not wanting to wake." Don laughed at the memory.

He wiped his eyes and sniffled letting Kaa's claw down, "Instead...I sent him down the path of an heir...and the person in that egg with me...went away. He became someone else...and I ignored it...keeping to my own studies to become his adviser. I didn't even consider if he wanted it. He hadn't smiled in a long time. He's trying so hard to be the heir. Making rash decisions. Now because of what I've done...he could die. I've been the villain far longer in his story then you know. If I had just hatched...none of this would be. He'd still be smiling...or at the very least I'd be laying there instead."

Don looked at Theos, "It wasn't until you showed up, the hero, that Kaa's smile returned. He tries to do as you do, helping who should be the enemy. He doesn't know anything about war, I do. That is why I sought to kill Natalie, she can't be trusted. There is no middle ground for us...to protect him, I have to kill her. He will hate me...because I always steal his smile. I have been...since our hatching day. That...is if he lives."

"Theos...this is entirely my fault. It always has been, from the beginning. Now it is too late to fix it. If Kaa dies, I become an estranged king...if he lives, I lose him anyway. I won't compromise as his adviser. It is all so tiring."

Theos listened to his heart clenching story. Don loved his brother even before his brother even knew he existed. Some part of Theos wanted to have been there and to have seen that. A part of him faintly remembering his own egg. Yet there was nothing like that to remember within it. Instead it was what he saw when he first emerged that he remembered so clearly. A night sky filled with shining lights that put wonder in his eyes.

"Theos...this is entirely my fault. It always has been, from the beginning. Now it is too late to fix it. If Kaa dies, I become an estranged king...if he lives, I lose him anyway. I won't compromise as his adviser. It is all so tiring."

"You know I often think the same way. About Stall, Dan, Jared....Blake... It is all my fault. If I had just stayed in my mountain and lived in a lonely cave none of this would have happened. You remember when Kaa blew up the day after Jared died because Kemba and me were acting like everything was fine. That night after the coronation Kemba and myself talked about splitting up. About leaving one another and this kingdom once the war was won," Theos said looking up remembering their faint quarrel.

"Magi was the one to change our minds. He came in laughing at us. At our blame and showed us the future we had if I hadn't come. Jared would have died that day by drowning himself. Dan would have been eaten by spiders regardless. Kemba would still be in the mines and Scomparsa's soldiers would have been at your doorstep. You are no villain Don. Fate chose you to make this world better. Without you we may have never attacked those catapults and saved countless lives. Without you he would have no one to lean on and force him to better himself. Without you these two kind brothers of yours may have not seen past the first day."

"If you don't believe me ask Magi. Ask him to show a future without you. Then see just how much joy you bring even if it is a small amount. At least for half a year I made everyone smile. Something that would have never happened if I had chosen to be alone and miserable. I treasure these moments because I know they don't last forever," Theos smiled.

"You know I often think the same way. About Stall, Dan, Jared....Blake... It is all my fault. If I had just stayed in my mountain and lived in a lonely cave none of this would have happened. You remember when Kaa blew up the day after Jared died because Kemba and me were acting like everything was fine. That night after the coronation Kemba and myself talked about splitting up. About leaving one another and this kingdom once the war was won,"

Don remembered that day well, it was a bad time. He had no idea that it effected Kemba and Theos that much. He had always thought their love inseparable.

"Magi was the one to change our minds. He came in laughing at us. At our blame and showed us the future we had if I hadn't come. Jared would have died that day by drowning himself. Dan would have been eaten by spiders regardless. Kemba would still be in the mines and Scomparsa's soldiers would have been at your doorstep. You are no villain Don. Fate chose you to make this world better. Without you we may have never attacked those catapults and saved countless lives. Without you he would have no one to lean on and force him to better himself. Without you these two kind brothers of yours may have not seen past the first day."

"If you don't believe me ask Magi. Ask him to show a future without you. Then see just how much joy you bring even if it is a small amount. At least for half a year I made everyone smile. Something that would have never happened if I had chosen to be alone and miserable. I treasure these moments because I know they don't last forever,"

Don rubbed his arm as he reflected on Theos words, "I love my brother Theos, I love Kaa more than the air in my lungs and the stars in the sky. I still see the kind king from that story. The king chose to live among the peasants and built no castle. He gave all he had, and took nothing from his own. The king knew nothing of evil. Until a witch showed up one day and cast a spell over herself, to become grossly attractive. She tried to seduce the kind king to allow her to stay with him in his home. The kings adviser, a trusted friend, saw through her ruse and confronted her."

Don walked back towards Theos, sitting beside him again.

"...the adviser, killed her to save the kings life and the king saw it all. His heart had broken twice. Once because of the advisers betrayal and the other because of his lover. Despite what the adviser told the king, the seductress spell lasted. The king was to kind to punish the adviser and instead kept him at arms length. In the end, the adviser wound up leaving the kingdom for the sake of his king, and friends happiness." Don looked over to Theos.

"When I see Kaa...trying so hard to save Natalie, a sworn enemy, I am reminded of that seductress. That is why...I need to kill her before she can harm Kaa. We've already learned Scomparsian nobles can't be trusted. Even if he hates me for it, I will save him from her. I love him to much not too...but I'm also deathly afraid of losing him too. I am so scared he won't wake up."

Don's voice cracked as he spoke and he tried so hard to fight back his tears. He looked like he wished to cry but refused to. He was trying to keep his emotions at bay, to prevent himself from feeling hopeless. Don was trying to be an adult, even though he is a child. Don looked at Theos, his lip trembling.

"I don't want him to die...Theos."