Ruriska wrote:“No. They are not.” He answered with a stern, unhappy look. The question reminded him of never feeling like one of the herd, inciting only awe or fear. “We are neither true Kiokote or Kimeti, so we will never belong with anyone but each other.” And yet they were desperately searching for their ‘swamp roots’. It made him wonder what exactly they hoped to gain. But that was something he always refused to dwell on and like every other time he cast it from his mind.

Ruriska wrote:“Then maybe we had no hope to start with and I just too stubborn to see it.” He answered with a bitter, wry smile. The goal might be unattainable but he would keep striving for it, even if he wasn't sure exactly what he was looking for now. He knew the others would give up and start living new lives long before he stopped his search. “I often wonder what it would be like to be on my own, only caring for my own wellbeing. I imagine it to be blessedly free of responsibility, but quite lonely.”

Ruriska wrote:The Kiokote’s ears swiveled back as her disposition suddenly switched on him. His words had not been intended to strike in any way, and yet somehow they had. Once Forgotten snorted and shook his head; answering quickly and with force, unable to temper his reply.  “I don’t wish to see what else this world has to offer without knowing I have my family by my side. It is not always perfect, they can frustrate me immensely and sometimes I want to just walk away, but without them my life would be pointless. You can not imagine it because you have obviously never felt what it truly means to have family.”

Ruriska wrote:He came to an abrupt halt; shocked by the wrath in her eyes and incapable of acting against a movement unleashed with such speed.  The press of a hoof against his chest caused any protest to die on his tongue and he was forced to listen; his glowing gaze locked upon hers. What could he say in his defense? As the words sunk in they rang in bitter truth. Did not Scattered’s dependence on him make him feel like he was needed He situation gave up his own desires to see that she felt safe. He strove to protect and lead them all, even when they fought against it. For their own good, he always told himself. Yet he knew they would all do fine without his constant, demanding presence.

Once Forgotten found his voice. “Perhaps I am a fool for playing this role, but soon it will be over. I know that in my heart. They will not always be by my side. Some day soon they will no longer need me and I will be left alone.” He pressed forward, regardless of the sharp edge upon his chest. “But I will still be strong because the true meaning of family is that even when we are apart and I have no further use, I will have my memories and my love for them to keep me going. What will you fall onto in your darkest moment? So I am a martyr for my siblings or full of my own egotistical delusions, I pity you more. ”

Ruriska wrote:Then she was gone and Once Forgotten was left to stare into the gloom. His own reaction had been born out of his fear that he was simply using his siblings and soon he would lose them to the swamp. She had struck a nerve and he had bitten back. The halfbreed was left feeling empty as he turned around, heading back the way he had come.

Ruriska wrote:Notice vines in a swamp? It was like asking him to notice one leaf on a tree. In the current mood he was in, somebody could have put a log in his path and he would have simply stepped over it without a second glance. So the kiokote continued on, stepping right over those suspicious vines.

Ruriska wrote:Once Forgotten didn’t see it coming. One moment he was walking along in a fine old funk, and then next his hooves were swept out from under him. Vines tightened and held despite his instinctive effort to struggle and he was left, for a moment, completely baffled.