"Brother, you've returned at last!" exclaimed a voice, ripe with anticipation and relief.
As Logan wearily approached the familiar threshold of his home, a small figure burst through the door with an eagerness that could only belong to someone very dear. The figure was a young beastmen boy, his features mirroring Logan's own, though imbued with an innocence that time had yet to tarnish.
"Kevin, why are you awake at this hour?" Logan queried, his mind momentarily diverted from the weighty thoughts of tribal futures and strategies by the unexpected appearance of his little brother.
"I...I couldn't sleep. Mother, she...she hasn't had a bite to eat today!" Kevin's voice trembled slightly, his youthful eyes clouded with worry.
"Let me see what I can do," Logan replied, a pang of concern throbbing in his heart. The loss of their father in battle had left a void in their lives, one that seemed to grow deeper with the suffering of their mother, his father's first wife.
Stepping past Kevin, Logan entered the home only to be greeted by the sight of four other figures gathered around the dimly lit stove, their faces etched with concern. As they noticed Logan, they stood up in unison, their voices mingling in a chorus of "Brother!"
"Why are you all not resting?" Logan's voice carried a mixture of affection and admonition.
"They're all anxious about mother," Kevin added, his voice a soft echo from behind Logan.
Surveying the somber faces of his siblings, Logan found himself momentarily at a loss. These were his brothers and sister: four brothers, including Kevin, and one sister. Kevin, part of a set of triplets, shared this unique bond with Ken and Relek. The three of them, only eight years young, looked up to Logan with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
Then there were the twins, a brother and a sister, the latter being the only female among the siblings, Ginny.
But this family was but a part of a larger constellation. Their father, having been married thrice, had left behind a legacy of nearly sixteen children, with these six being the offspring of his eldest wife. The rest, born to the second and third wives, lived apart.
In that moment, as Logan faced his brothers and sister, the weight of responsibility felt heavier than ever. Yet, it was a burden he bore, knowing that in their eyes, he found not just a reflection of their shared loss, but a flicker of hope for the days to come.
"Please, take a seat, everyone. I need to check up on Mother," Logan said, casting a tender yet firm glance at his younger siblings, who looked back at him with a mix of concern and respect. Without waiting for their response, he turned and made his way to their mother's room, the weight of leadership and family duty pressing down on his shoulders.
As he entered the dimly lit space, Logan reached out to ignite the wick of an oil lamp, its flickering light casting shadows across the room. In the semi-darkness, the outline of a figure stirred on the bed.
"Besides, father may be gone, but you still have us, your sons and daughter. Your love shouldn't dwell solely on the past; it needs to move on towards us, the living. If you succumb to your grief, what then? Having just lost our father, must we face the loss of our mother too?"
He took a deep breath, a mix of frustration and concern in his eyes. "Please, for all our sakes, eat something. Don't add to our worries. I'm already burdened with the welfare of our tribe. If your health fails too, it would be more than I can bear."
Without waiting for a response, Logan turned and headed towards the door, his resolve clear in his stride. Pausing briefly, he called out to his brother, "Kevin, could you please prepare something warm for Mother to eat?"
"Yes, brother!" Kevin responded promptly, his gaze shifting to Ken, Relek, and the others, who shared a look of surprise. It was a rare sight, seeing their eldest brother so impassioned, directing his fervour towards their mother.
Kevin, moved by the urgency of the moment, quickly went about preparing a meal for their mother. The siblings, still reeling from the intensity of Logan's words, could only watch in stunned silence.
The matriarch of the Silvermane tribe found herself at the brink of tears, a rare vulnerability surfacing as she grappled with the fact that she had become the focal point of her son's rare outburst. A solitary tear threatened to escape, but upon reflecting on Logan's heartfelt plea, she summoned the strength to hold back her sorrow.
Admitting to herself, she recognized the truth in Logan's words. She was aggrieved, yet she could not deny the logic of his argument. Her husband may have departed from this world, yet she was not alone; she had a son, a son who had risen to the role of chief. In her heart, she knew she could not afford to be an additional burden to him.
She looked towards her children, her eyes sparkling with a rejuvenated spirit. "Ginny, my dear, come to your mother," she beckoned with a gentle smile, inviting her daughter into a warm embrace.
Ginny, momentarily unsure, was quickly overcome with joy and bounded into her mother's arms. Witnessing this, Ken, with the unfiltered honesty of youth, exclaimed, "Mom, I want a hug too!" And so, she enveloped both Ken and Ginny, a symbol of her unwavering love.
Then, turning her attention to Relek, who lingered by the doorway, she beckoned him closer. As they approached, she tenderly placed her hands upon their heads, a gesture filled with maternal love and a hint of regret. "I'm sorry for worrying you all and for the hurt my actions caused," she confessed, her voice laced with a sincere apology.
"It's okay, Mom. Just promise no more hunger strikes," Ken responded, his voice carrying a mix of concern and relief.
At that moment, Kevin arrived, bearing the food that had been prepared with care. "Mom, the food's ready. Please, eat while it's still warm," he urged, his voice reflecting a blend of respect and concern.
"Thank you, Kevin. You've worked hard," she said, accepting the meal with a smile that spoke volumes of her appreciation.
The brothers exchanged knowing glances, a silent acknowledgment of their mother's return to her spirited self, all thanks to their eldest brother's intervention.
Meanwhile, Logan remained unaware of these heart-warming developments, his focus elsewhere, absorbed in reviewing his system property board. In his solitude, he missed witnessing the immediate impact of his words.