Mend this Burning Bridge

It was the best response Art could have given, not the words but the hug.  There could be no distance between them at the touch.  He let Art bring him in for a huge and even lifted his head up so that it rested against his brother’s jaw.  Rudy wasn’t getting his mom back but at least he had his brother back.  This was his brother and the bond it was supposed to be.  The bond so necessary at this moment for both of them.  Relief actually made things feel good for a moment.  There was still a horrible horrible reality to face but at least for a moment, he could acknowledge relief that at least something was right.  It’s a lot easier for a rope to be strong when it was two braided strands instead of one.

“You always were the more hotheaded one of us,” the words offered in mild jest.  Maybe not as chipper as always, but it was still said with a bit of mirth not used in a good while and also doing his part to toss away any tension.  

“C’mon, of course, I’m alright.  I’m a Carpathius, we’re too tough to let a little time roaming alone be any problem.  Though, maybe I missed you a little.”  Time to wear the name as a badge of honor, right?  Mom's name would at least live on and they'd make themselves worthy of it.  Rudy soaked in the contact another moment but then pulled back but now it was actually looking at his brother instead of the scenery and instead of guarded face there was that old amused expression offered to Art.  Things between Art and Rudy at least were right.

“Oh, several places.” Rudy hesitated as he hadn’t planned on going into tales of exploits with so much wrong at home but with the opening surely at least a little could be offered up, “I started off close enough, just over at the dam.  When that didn’t work out I went north back to Boreas, skirted around the pack out past the fjord and made my way north.  My last stop before turning around was a prairie.  Things look different there than before ya know?  Not just the snow but nothing looks as big as it did when we first moved here.”  When they had traveled to their new home they had been smaller and the world a big place they weren’t able to go exploring on their own.  

Fur Rudy it was still a short enough answer.  After all if he went into who he met then it would bring into the conversation that none of them had the answer he sought which meant back to the horrible fact that neither of them could save mom so for now, no need to chat about the meetings he had. “Next time I go traveling I’ll be sure to drag you along.  It’d be a lot more fun that way.”  That wouldn't be any time soon.  It wasn't time to play and it could be a good while with how things were shaping up.  There was work to be done but, they would do it together.

Rudyard Carpathius