From the moment their mother died and their father went into seclusion, he was made to play the part of not only big brother, but sect leader. It was a great responsibility, one that he didn’t have help with. While his uncle was an integral component to his sanity and wellbeing, often helping him relax and calming him to sleep when he stayed up for too many days focusing on the responsibility and stress he was under, the tom had zero interest in assisting with the duties that came with his newfound role. Despite his uncle being the brother of his father, thus logically the next in line to take on the responsibility as sect leader, the older tom had quickly flung it at his nephew and turned away, only offering assistance when he felt his nephew was teetering on the edge.

Long gone were the days when he was allowed to run through the Cloud Recesses – of course, being reprimanded for breaking one of the one-thousand rules of the Lan sect immediately during or afterwards. Vanished were the days when he could laugh freely, love openly, and dream abundantly. His dreams now centered around the welfare of his sect. His love was devoted to his sect – and, one day, to the one that would serve as Madame Lan. His laughter… He feared it had been too long since he had genuinely experienced such joy.

He carried on for his uncle, his younger brother, and his father who remained in seclusion – who, for all anyone else knew, might as well have passed away in said seclusion. None would be the wiser. It was forbidden to approach one who had been placed in seclusion. One who voluntarily placed himself in it? If their family was lucky, they would see them again near the end of their lifespan.

The white tom smiled gently, as was everything he did – delicately, gracefully, calmly, despite the roaring under his skin – while gazing after the young ones that ran after one another and toppled over, giggling in their merriment. This was his favorite pastime: looking after the young, imagining a time in the future when he will have his own, pondering at how lucky they are to be so innocent and ignorant of the pressures of the world.