Kyrennei

Röem races through the battlefield, Razul and Azimaru fending off the masked assailants as best they can. The trio is highly skilled, thanks to being thrown to the wolves when they were just kids.

- Ten years ago -

"Röem, where will we find dinner?" Razul swats tree branches out of his way, ignoring Azimaru's incessant giggles and the way he picks up every bug he sees. "Röem?"

"I heard you," Röem says absently, "You know how to skin animals, don't you Razzie?" He looks over his shoulder at the sudden quiet.

"This again?" Azimaru starts tearing up, clutching a squirming beetle to his chest.

"We can't be vegetarians, Az." Röem sighs, "But you can pray for the deer again. Or do you want rabbit?"

"Rabbit," Razul says, pulling a knife out of his bag. "Az wants rabbit too."

"I do not!" Azimaru protests, but Röem shakes his head as he turns away to hide his smile. "Just stay here and keep quiet."

- Five years ago -

Azimaru helps Razul sit against a tree, and looks over at Röem with more concern than any eleven year old should be familiar with. "Are you sure you don't want me to go? I'm a better pickpocket."

Röem shakes his head. "I've got it, baby brother. Just babysit Razul." He tosses Azimaru his knife, as if his brother doesn't already have several weapons hidden on his person. "If I'm not back by nightfall, hide Razzie somewhere safe and come find me."

Razul had already nodded off, his hand falling from the gash in his side.

"We can't stitch him up here, it's not even remotely sterile—" Azimaru hisses, but Röem cuts him off.

"Nightfall?"

"Nightfall," Azimaru relents.

- Present -

Azimaru lost his weapons some time ago. He doesn't mind; he prefers hand to hand combat anyway. He's been meaning to practice physical and magical skills in unison, and this is the perfect opportunity.

Röem skids to a stop when he realizes there are more assailants now than when he left. Rather than rush into the fray, he scales a tree to better study the situation. The issue isn't so much that they're outmatched, just that they're outnumbered. He hides in the branches, analyzing the present and potential futures. Determining that his brothers will be alright, Röem settles in the trees to observe.

Razul cuts them down with ease, whirling through attackers with minimal mercy. He even smiles, though he's careful not to get too much blood on himself —who enjoys washing out blood stains?—and gives swift, relatively painless deaths.

Azimaru controls his breathing, probing the minds of those around him. He establishes their general tolerance and intelligence, finds their fears. His magic creeps through their minds, lacing their thoughts. He pulls them to the forefront of their minds with no warning, letting each assailant face their fear instead of attacking. Azimaru turns fighters against each other, but he can't reach all of them. He doesn't even want to. Hand to hand combat is his preference, his strong suit.

Razul eases up since Azimaru is hitting twice as many people, fighting on two fronts. He focuses on providing support instead, cutting down anyone who gets too close and nudging Azimaru to ensure he remains grounded and levelheaded.

Röem tilts his head and drops out of the trees once his brothers have done most of the heavy lifting. He too uses hand to hand combat; he has no need for magic. The attackers are untrained, and he has no intent to kill. "Maru? Razzie?" Röem turns to them once he's done with the last of them. "Who's hurt?"

"I'm fine," Azimaru says breathlessly, leaning against Razul.

Razul arches an eyebrow and rolls his eyes. "I'm not hurt. Azi's lightheaded."

"You have bruised ribs," Azimaru shoots back, "Since we're just spilling each other's business."

"Your business is my business," Röem cuts in. "Come on, there should be a safe house around here somewhere. Razul?"

"You know I can only open portals to places I've been before. We've never been to a safe house around here, and the nearest one is far enough away to knock me out." Razul sounds very displeased, namely because he knows he'll open it up anyway.

"We promise to take good care of you?" Azimaru offers, beaming at his big brother. "Please, Razzie?"

Razul sighs deeply. "You and your damn puppy eyes. Grow up."

"No thanks," Azimaru says cheerfully.

Röem smiles, taking Azimaru from Razul. "He's half right. I'll take good care of you. Both of you. Are you up to opening up the—"

"Yeah yeah, Razul interrupts, beginning the spell. "Shut your traps."

"Have I told you lately that you're my favorite?" Azimaru slips through first.

Röem steps through after, holding a hand out to Razul. "Come on, little brother."

His soft voice coaxes Razul into taking his hand.

The last thing Razul sees is his hand in Röem's.