>>5850354In the evening, mother returns with food. Like earlier, she no longer spews out half-digested meat from her throat. Instead, she drops a deer straight into your midst, nearly crushing one of the middle siblings. She stares at you all furtively, as though having a brief moment of contemplation, then wanders out of the cave. Despite becoming familiar with the formidable mental presence of your parents, it feels... Distant.
You're drawn to the sound of your eldest sibling snapping and snarling, pushing the others away so that he can get at the meat first. You've since given up on attacking them directly. You'll want to guarantee success before even attempting it. However, what catches your attention this time is the fact that your youngest sibling is charging straight ahead. The little one slams into them head-on, eager to get a bite after gaining such an enthusiasm for hunting. No matter what your eldest brother does, the little one fails to relent. Even as the vines push and shove him, and the oldest sibling butts him away as easily as you knocked the beetles around, they don't stop trying to steal the first pickings.
The eldest <span class="mu-s">snaps.</span>
The next thing you know, blood is being drawn. Your younger sibling's cries of rebellion turn to screeches of pain. Mother doesn't so much as turn tail to come investigate. You watch as your sibling slashes at their hide with sharp claws, failing to gouge through the armored scutes on your youngest ally's belly. Their jaws descend a moment later, gripping their tiny limb and beginning to crush it. Vines reach out, wrapping around their neck and beginning to choke them. A picture of your father executing that struggling buck flashes through your mind.
They're trying to take your youngest sibling out for good.
>Interfere. This isn't like a normal fight. Nothing like that first beating you received at birth. Your eldest sibling is going wild, they're genuinely going for the kill. If you try and save your sibling, you will be injured as well. Nothing else is guaranteed afterwards. Anything could happen if you're in a weakened state, and you cannot yet rely on any loyalty from your siblings to protect you while you recover.>Allow it to happen. You won't be hurt, of course. Your youngest sibling is the runt. Despite your intent to be nurturing, you're still a dragon. Mother has impressed upon you how much strength matters. Let them suffer the consequences of trying to battle your brother alone. Perhaps the extra food from now on will let your two siblings grow stronger, and they'll also see the need to form an alliance with you. 