The days following their mother's departure were quiet, almost too quiet. The air in the estate felt heavy, weighed down by a loss none of the children fully understood yet. Elu, the eldest, took on the role of caretaker without being asked. At twelve years old, she felt a responsibility for her younger brothers, even if her own heart was still aching.
She sat in the grand hall, watching over Amon and Adam as they bickered over a small toy sword. Their laughter and playful arguments felt out of place in the large, cold mansion that had once been filled with warmth. But Elu stayed silent, her sharp mind running over the events of the past few days.
"Give it back!" Adam protested, reaching for the sword Amon was holding just out of his reach.
Amon smirked, his two-minute advantage as the elder twin fueling his teasing. "Make me, shorty."
Elu smiled faintly but couldn't shake the feeling that their lives had changed forever. She wondered where their mother was now, and if she would ever see her again. As much as she tried to put on a brave face for her brothers, the weight of uncertainty was starting to wear her down.
From the shadows of the estate, Jaguar watched them. His dark figure was almost invisible against the dim light filtering through the windows. His once-proud stature seemed diminished, as if the burden of his own decisions had begun to crush him. But what lingered in his eyes was not regret—it was resentment.
Lunara's departure had felt like a betrayal. And now, every time he looked at his children, he saw echoes of her decision. A part of him knew he should be there for them, but the greater part of him was too consumed by the thought that everything he had worked for was slipping away.
That night, the mansion was quiet again, save for the faint sound of Elu turning pages in a book. She sat at the large oak desk in the study, trying to focus on anything other than the emptiness around her. The flicker of candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, dancing with every shift of the flame.
Suddenly, Amon appeared in the doorway, his face solemn. "Elu... Dad's in his room again. He didn't even say goodnight."
Elu looked up, her eyes tired. "He's... dealing with things, Amon. We have to be patient."
Amon's face scrunched in frustration. "Patient for what? He barely talks to us anymore. Adam and I are worried."
Elu set the book aside and rose from her chair. "I know it's hard. But we'll figure it out. We have to stick together, okay?"
Amon nodded reluctantly, but Elu could see the doubt in his eyes. She understood it all too well.
The following morning, the mansion's doors opened, and for the first time in days, the children saw their father. Jaguar emerged from his chambers, his tall figure clad in dark robes, but there was something off about his presence. His usual commanding aura was tinged with something colder—something distant.
"Elu, Amon, Adam," Jaguar's voice echoed through the hall. "Come here."
The children approached cautiously. Even at their young ages, they sensed the shift in their father's demeanor. Elu stepped forward first, as she always did, her brothers following close behind.
"Things are going to be different now," Jaguar said, his voice low and detached. "You'll need to grow up faster. There's no room for weakness."
Elu blinked, trying to understand the meaning behind his words. "What do you mean, Father?"
Jaguar's gaze lingered on her, his eyes dark and unreadable. "I can't protect you forever. You'll need to learn to survive on your own."
Adam and Amon exchanged a glance, confusion etched across their young faces.
"Father..." Amon began, his voice uncertain. "Is this about Mother?"
At the mention of Lunara, Jaguar's expression hardened. "Your mother made her choice. Now we must live with it."
Elu felt a chill run down her spine. She had seen her father's cold side before, but this felt different. It wasn't just anger—it was bitterness. And she knew, deep down, that it was only going to get worse.
Later that day, Elu found herself alone with her thoughts, standing at the edge of the estate grounds. The wind tugged at her long hair as she gazed out over the rolling hills. She wondered what the future held for them. Would their father ever be the same? Would their family ever be whole again?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Adam, who appeared beside her, his small hand slipping into hers. "Do you think we'll see her again?"
Elu's heart ached at the question. She looked down at her younger brother, his bright eyes filled with hope and worry. "I don't know, Adam. But no matter what happens, we have each other. We'll get through this."
As the sun set on another day, the siblings sat together by the fire, the warmth of the flames offering little comfort against the coldness creeping into their family. Jaguar had retreated into his world, consumed by his own darkness, and Lunara was gone, leaving behind the broken pieces of a once-perfect home.
But despite the growing distance, Elu, Amon, and Adam held on to one another, their bond unshaken, for now.
The first cracks in their family had appeared, and though they didn't know it yet, it was only the beginning of a much longer, more difficult journey.