chasing shadows | ri

[Deleted]

@cashel

tye was starting to feel like he was chasing shadows. it had taken him till now to hear anything about where his brother might be and it was all based on rumors, whispers spoken in dodgy little pubs that were the only dimly lit buildings along the coast while the waves lapped against the rocks they'd sat on. for the grand total sum of nothing he'd come up with since he'd started his search, it very may well have been the wind that has whispered to him about his brother, because there was no real proof he was even around these parts. it had been the name nightwalker that had piqued his interest and attention as he'd been walking down the alley of a small port. well it wasn't so much a port but just a dock with a few almost derelict buildings around it and a population that looked like they'd rather be anywhere else than where they were.

he was having a little trouble with communication though. either they didn't want to give anything up about his brother or they just didn't really understand what he wanted. numerous people had assumed this morning that he was actually asking for money when he asked any of them about cash and well that had shut the conversation down real quick. he was starting to think it was the fact he wasn't from there that made them wary of him. he knew all too well about what a society like that could be like, his own people weren't exactly a welcoming bunch when it came to mainlanders, but he didn't think he was doing anything offensive. but he'd been wrong before. he walked the length of the dock and as he turned back he saw someone he hadn't asked the question of and he approached him, crouching down to be at the fishermans level while he worked on a net. "hello." he said as he rested his elbows on his knees to better balance. "i'm hoping for some help." he said as he caught the older mans gaze. "i'm looking for a man, a nightwalker." if this turned into another dead end he didn't know what he'd do.

[Deleted]

March 2026
Sometime after this

The last few months had been busy for Ri, but in a good way. He had met Renfri, a woman who had made his doomed life some how better. Then his distillery had been sabotaged, and his body had been burned. Luckily with the help of magical remedies, his skin had healed nicely, and he had even helped save the captains woman. She was nice enough, and Ri liked her, but she was a bit too soft for his personal tastes. After that excitement, business was able to resume. He made his own alcoholic drink that contained magic mushrooms from his original home Hy-Brasil, where he could never again set foot. His drink was strong and not legal in any sence of the word, but still he had some customers whom he made regular deliveries to. That was where he was tonight. He had to get some work done before the weekend, or else it would never happen. He had been spending what time he had free with Renfri, and didn't want to miss out on a moment of it. His deliveries had brought him to a small port town in England. There was a hidden underground pub that regularly purchased his group for the more adventerous clientel. They payed a heafty fee for the drink, and were by far one of Ri's best customers.

Unbeknownst to him, a young druid wondered around, searching. An old fisherman busy ar work was interupted, looking at the strange boy with confusion. At first he was upset for the pointless interruption but, perhaps he could express some of his grief. HE spoke with a thick accent, thinking it strange that he was asking about a night walker, which he took as someone roaming the streets at night. "I dont want no trouble, but there's a place around here, mind you I don' know where, but it's no place for a youngin like you." Footsteps clicked near the small dock and the man moved to look, giving a gruffy sigh. "Now that one is one to be wary of, comes out of no where, with a box, then dissapears after discarding the box somewhere, I don't want any trouble, and that one there is nothing but trouble." He motioned to the figure walking, without a box.

Ri had made his delivary, and was casually strolling around, happy for some fresh air, and time to himself, he had noticed the two at the end of the dock, but payed little mind to them.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

well at least the fisherman wasn't unwilling to talk to him like so many of the others on the dock had been. though tye was sure he'd been misunderstood when the man started talking about a place that was around. well that's not exactly what he'd meant. tye suppressed a exasperated sigh and ran his hand over the back of his neck, ready to thank the man and stand up and give up on the search. well at least take a moment or two to try and find some new avenues to go down because it seemed that this one was exhausted.

though as if some twist of fate or destiny or the gods, the man motioned to some movement down at the end of the dock and started talking about the wrong sort. "thank you." tye said, suddenly distracted as he pushed himself up from his crouch and he watched the figure the man had pointed out. there was something familiar about the way he moved, his silhouette when it created shadows and there was something in the wind that made tye's skin raise in goosebumps. he walked down the dock, following the footsteps he'd seen and he found his pace quickening as he pushed his way past the other people on the dock, not loosing sight of the him. "cash!" he called out, his voice carried by the wind that felt like it was being blown by his ancestors themselves.

[Deleted]

Ri casually walked passed the dock, not taking a thought towards the two at the end. He was at ease, but ready for anything. The life he lived, one could rarely afford to relax. Especially as he heard the heavy thinking closer. Ready for anything, but not acting as though he felt threatened. He had learned that it was best to pretend everything was find, it would put any potential pressures in a more relaxed state. Once he was sure to be out of site, Ri ducked into a alley way, one where he could stop and observe, preparing for anything. Thanks to the last few months, he felt more on edge, cautious of even those who said they were a friend.

But then, as he was turning to leave, ready to go back to the ship, he heard a voice brought to his ears by the wind. One word, by a voice he was sure he'd never hear again, a voice that seemed older now than when he remembered. With one breath, he stepped back out into the dim light, his body tense, unsure of what would happen next, his eyes met those of his youngest brother.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

he felt a sudden moment of panic when he could no longer lay his eyes on who he was following. he broke through the group of people who had converged at the end of the dock and he'd been gone. vanished around one of the corners. he'd heard his voice carry on the wind, there was no way he could have missed it. perhaps it hadn't been his brother. but he'd been so sure, the feeling in the pit of his stomach that had been filled with hope was slowly sinking as he slowed his pace and walked along the path he could only guess had been taken.

just as he was about to find somewhere to change, to grow his wings so he could leave this place he suddenly found himself face to face with the man he'd been looking for since he'd left the only home he'd ever known. he stopped still, the space between them not great but feeling more than a little vast as the seconds ticked past, the wind blowing around them before it settled into almost nothing. he'd found him. there was a difference, his brother didn't look much like the one that had left but times had changed. times had hardened both of them and it was easy to see.

his body moved before his brain did, the distance between them closing quickly as tye closed it, his feet carrying him forward and he grabbed cash without a word and held him tightly, still slightly unable to believe he was really there. it was like he needed the contact with his brother to make sure he was real. he'd been chasing shadows for so long it had started to feel like he'd never find him. but here he was, in the flesh. "i finally found you."

[Deleted]

Since banishment, Ri had joined the crew of the Jolley Rodger, getting a number of tattoos and piercings. He had gone through a lot, his view on the world was harsh and cold. He could see similarities in the boy that stood before him. The banished druid could tell that his actions, and the choices of his elder brother had weighed heavily on his family. Especially on his younger brother, who once idolized him.

The air seeming to approve of the moment soon died down. Ri unsure of what would happen next. He had reconnected with Stan a few months back, but even that was still fairly tense. But this was his brother, the boy who would follow him around, and listen to only him. He loved the boy still. But their culture had beliefs had marked him to be a pariah. Ri tensed more, ready to disappear back into the shadows without a word. He was confident he could easily get away.

Before he could move though, the boy propelled forward closed the small distance in no time. Tiernan's arms wrapping around Ri's body. stunned, Ri didn't know what to do. He wasn't one for words, but even his actions paused. But then the boy spoke. "i finally found you." And with that, Ri wrapped his arms around the younger man, holding him tight. It had been so long and he never imagined that his brother would be out looking for him.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

he could see the markings on his brothers skin. the jacket he was wearing covered some of them, the material hiding the patterns and markings that seemed to cover all of cash's neck. he knew he shouldn't want to see his brother, he knew that he should turn his back but there was nothing him in that that wanted to do that. that the way they'd grown up and in the culture they'd grown up in had strong beliefs but those beliefs had taken both of his brothers from him. any belief that took the ones he loved from him he didn't want. it had even taken his parents from him in a way because he'd refused to bend to it, refused to just let his brother go.

he didn't know what to expect. there was a second between him grabbing hold of his brother and his brain connecting to the fact that his brother might not be happy to see him. that doubt had never crept into his mind while he'd been looking. but now there they were and that seed of doubt was planting itself in his head. he'd found his brother, his goal for the last few months was over and for the first time since he'd stepped off the island he relaxed. it was the words that did it, the words left his mouth and his brother hugged him back. tye tightened his hold on his brother, almost as if worried that if he let go he was going to vanish again. "you look different."

[Deleted]

The longer Tye held on, the more he seemed to relax, Ri wondered how long he had been searching. After the boy spoke, Ri wrapped his own arms around him. Tye's grip tightened, as if he would never let go. Then he mentioned how much Ri had changed. Ri gave a slight huff of a laugh. The boy didn't know the half of it. From what he was wearing, most of his tattoos were covered. Both arms, along with his entire back, chest, abdominal and even over most of his legs, were covered in the ink. A slight smile came on his lips as he held the boy tighter. "You grew up." He softly said, finally speaking.

The banished druid had always been one to speak little, even when younger. There were times when the younger boy, Tye, would speak for the stoic brother. It felt natural to have his brother close to him, he cared for him, having been forced to leave without being able to even see his family.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

something had settled within him. an uneasiness that had been restless for years and it was gone now. he and his brothers had always been close, their own unit of people who had seemed to understand each other completely. and that had been shattered when cash had been banished. their unit broken, the bond seemingly shattered as the distance between them had grown the further away cash had gone. he felt his brother hug him just as tight and he loosened his own hold just a little, not wanting to let go of his brother yet but not wanting to crush him either, they'd both grown up and filled out, though at the quick glance he'd gotten, cash was still slightly bigger in stature.

"not as much as you might think." he said with a quick, soft laugh. his parents would probably disagree that he was grown up. he'd aged, that was for sure but he couldn't deny that there was still some immaturity within him. his quick temper, his quick tongue and his desire to use his fists first rather than his words, he knew he still had some growing up to do. he'd just outgrown the environment he'd be in. he slowly let his brother go, dropping his arms to his sides as he took a small step back, the space starting to feel vast again. "i'm sorry." unable to keep those words back, he spoke them into the space. he needed his older brother to know he was sorry he hadn't come sooner, that he had waited all these years to look for him.

[Deleted]

The bond between brothers had been unique in it's own right. The two were seemingly one at times. Leaving the island without a word to the boy had been one of the hardest things. He had gone on with the belief that his entire family had blacked him out as a memory as a whole. It was their culture to do so. Seeing Tiernan here now gave Ri a feeling he never thought he'd feel from another druid. It was warm and happy. But, he reminded himself, that he shouldn't let his guard down, or even get to comfortable. With that thought, his arms loosened their grip on the young man.

His brother mentioned that he hadn't grown as much as he was maybe thinking. While it did seem that Tye had grown physically, perhaps there were still things that he needed to work on. The two's embrace ended and they parted slightly. With that, his brother apologized. Ri was confused, he didn't know what the boy had to apologize for. If anything, he should say he was sorry, though he vowed to never with to take back his actions. What he had done had been the right thing, no matter what other druids thought. Ri moved his arm up, resting his hand on his brothers head, and ruffling it. A comforting action that he had done when they were younger. A small smile on his face, a big thing for the normally emotional stoic man. "What for?" He spoke, while at the same time, trying to let his brother knew that everything was alright.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

he could see the confused look on his brothers face but for what might have seemed like the first time in his life, he was lost for how to explain himself. he'd just needed to tell his brother that he was sorry. he was sorry that he'd been banished, sorry that he hadn't been able to say goodbye, sorry he hadn't been able to talk to him and sorry that he couldn't make his parents remember him. he couldn't say all that out loud, the words formed in his head but he couldn't quite get them out. he felt his brothers hand on his head and he grinned a little, leaning his head into the hand a little before reaching to swat it away like he had done when he'd been a kid.

there was one thing he could say though. one thing he could apologize for. "for taking so long to find you." he had only been young when his brother had been banished but he hadn't been too young. he'd have been able to leave the island if he'd wanted to but he'd been afraid to leave. everything he'd known had been on the island and he'd held onto that for far too long because it had felt like home for most of his life. but without his brothers it had felt empty, hollow and just a little bit of a darker place than it had been. he had felt it draining at him and he knew the other druids had sensed it too.

[Deleted]

It seemed strange that the young man was lost for words. Perhaps time had changed that. Nonetheless, Tye was still the brother he remembered, leaning into Ri's hand, accepting it before reaching up to push it away. The small smile grew the tiniest bit wider. While it did seem like his brother had grown, at least a little, he was still Ri's little brother. But finally the young man spoke. Ri let out a little chuckle. The a crew member to a ship that could travel in both air and sea didn't make it easy. He had regular drop offs now around the British Isles, but the ship could, and had, been quite literally everywhere, including the island of Hy-Brasil, where Ri stayed below deck, working on his alcoholic drink, fighting every urge he had to shop his face in the sun, and once again look on his lost home.

"How long." He finally said, curious to know how long his brother had been searching. Had it been possible that they could have just missed each other? Had Tye been searching for him during his month long recovery that he spent in Hogsmeade with Renfri? Had he known that his brother was searching for him, perhaps he could have been doing the same.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

it was still something he was struggling to believe. that his brother was right here in front of him. he wasn't sure what he'd expected but the way his parents and everyone on the island had acted and refused to talk about him or think about him. it had led tye to believe his brother had turned into some sort of monster. that would be the on reason their family would turn their backs on him right? the only cause of why they would cast him out. it had been six years and it still drove him a little mad that he'd never been given the whole story. that there had been no explanation and he'd been expected to forget about his brother.

"one year." he'd been searching for his brother for just over a whole year. there had been rumors he'd followed, leads that had been nothing but dead ends and false hopes. then there had been times that he'd felt like cash had been just within his grip then he had slipped away like smoke through his fingers. it had been a year of getting his hopes up only to have them fall even further every time he had failed to find his brother. there had been moments where he'd longed to go back to the island that had been his home for all his life but then he'd remembered what he would be going back to and it made him all the more determined to find some word of his brother. and how here he was, he'd found him and there would be no falling hopes, at least he hoped so. "you've been very hard to find." he said with a grin.

[Deleted]

Ri had no contact with anyone on the island, well except for Stan, but even then, their relationship was still strained. But he knew that from the moment of his "crime" had doomed him. He knew from that moment on what would have happened. The island would avoid talking about him, even avoid his name. He knew that his own parents would refuse to acknowledge that he was even their son. He had been removed from the family tree, not just burned off, but cut out, permanently erased, and forgotten. A part of him felt happy that his brother was hear, and had been looking for him. Worse yet, no one had bothered trying to learn his side, all they knew that his brother was dead, and that Ri had Laird's blood on his hands. That was all the information the council needed.

When asked how long, The young man stated that it had been a year. Wow. Well Ri knew that he wouldn't have been the easiest to find. His main residence for the past many years had been a mobile ship, one that was enchanted to be able to fly. They could have bene quite literally everywhere. It was only recently that Ri had started working on building a small cabin. One that he and Renfri could share. After his time recovering from his burns at the woman's cramped studio apartment, it got him thinking about having just a little bit more space for them to share. She still kept her small place, and he had a room on the Jolley Rodger, but soon they would have a place to share, one that was protected by a number of enchantments. Both would feel safe and warm there.

Ri was careful not to leave traces of himself where he went. Sure, he delivered his alcoholic masterpiece, and he would often drink in run down pubs, but he rarely gave a name, and he never overstayed his welcome, often delivering, or having a few drinks before returning to the ship. Of course, some of that routine had changed at the start of the year. The change was for the better. His career and livelihood wasn't exactly legal, he knew that, but it was what he had. The man's lips curled up slightly, his eyes glinted with pride as the younger man stated that Ri had been hard to find.

Before he could speak though, he noticed that even though they were away from the main thoroughfare, they were still attracting unwanted attention. "There's a reason." He said, as he moved so that his arm was around his brothers shoulders, and he was starting to lead the man further into the familiar alley, into darkness. he knew there was a perfect, unseen spot where he could apperate. "I'll buy you a drink." Was his way of saying that it was best that they leave this area.

TIERNAN PHOENIX AINSLEY

[Deleted]

@cashel

there was a few beats within the silence that followed his voice. it had been that long since he'd started out his journey to look for the brother that his culture had taken from him. the people he'd grown up respecting, learning from and believing in had been the cause of pain in his family. he'd never forgive them for not letting him say goodbye to his brother, he'd never forgive his parents for refusing to talk to him about it and he'd always look back and think of the island with some contempt. there were aspects of his life he missed greatly, some of the people, he'd miss his family and he'd miss the quiet of the woods, the serenity of the lands and the animals that roamed there but there was nothing left on the island for him. what he missed wasn't enough to mend the bridges he'd burnt when he'd left.

"you put my skills to the test." he said as he felt his brother put his arm around his shoulder and he glanced back behind them, aware of the eyes that were gazing in there direction. he didn't know why they looked with such suspicion but he could feel it, there was a tension resonating from the people in the market and it was starting to upset the calm that had settled when the two brothers had met once again. "that's good. i have no money to buy one with." he said as he moved in step with his brother as they walked to a shadowed and darkened part of the alleyway.