[PRP] Reunion of the Wretched (Deadly Nightshade x Crimson)

[lilacfishie]

The foxbun was quick, but she was determined. Deadly Nightshade kept her head low to the ground, stalking her quarry. The feathering around her hooves dragged through lush soil, disturbed by the fleeing creature and pungent from the humidity. A shuffling in a fern caught her attention, and she pounced with a growl. Her fangs met nothing as her hooves crashed into the ground. Her feral growl of attack simmered down into one of frustration. One ear flicked to attention as she heard the creature scamper through the underbrush further into the Swamp. The dark doe nearly continued the chase until a new smell passed by her snout.

Deadly Nightshade froze. It had been two seasons since this scent filled her head. The thinly furred and scabbed skin on her neck twitched reflexively. Two seasons, and this mess hadn't healed. Everything went up in flames and all that time was...for nothing? Perhaps. The large doe shook hard, from her head to her tail. It wasn't nerves, no. More pent up energy finding a focus. A feral glint in her eye shined as she pivoted her stance in the direction of the familiar scent.

The dark kimeti moved slowly, carefully. She didn't want to lose this scent and have to wait another two seasons to see if the nightmare returned to the market. The scent of blood was a standard for her, but the roses mixed in was distinct. And getting stronger. By the time Deadly Nightshade caught a glimpse of the kin in question, her eyes were wild and her maw hung open, fangs shining. "Wait," she called lowly.

[Words: 269 | Total: 269]

<3

[Yuki]

"Hmmmm~" Crimson hummed as she went about her walk along the perimeter of her gardens. The thorned, red-stained bushes that surrounded her home shivered in the breeze. The sun was drifting down, bathing her corner of the swamp in an eerie red-orange glow. It was her favorite time of day. The only part of the daytime she enjoyed really was when it was ending. Everything was red and beautiful. Her children buzzed around her and a few of her oldest and largest cave worms were spinning more silk around the nearby trees.

The end of the last winter had ruffled her a bit, but it had served it's purpose. Her children had multiplied thanks to the generous populous of the Winter Market. Those that had been wounded in the fire were already mostly recovered. No casualties, only new family. They were now working together on expanding her gardens. Speaking of family and the Winter Market... She was still waiting for two does to accept her gracious invitation... but it was no matter. In time, they would come or she would have them collected. But, the two were not the only ones to make an impression on her. They were the only two to sacrifice for her children, but there was something to say for those with... tenacity.

As the sun disappeared from the sky, Crimson gathered a few of her babies and set off. Her court was safe with her children and she needed to set off. While their numbers had bloomed during winter, they had begun to stagnate. New family was needed. So Crimson often searched. She'd lead her children on a search for new blood. If they refused to join her beautiful family then... well... they were still new blood.

Crimson laughed, nuzzling against Scream. "Let's go find you some new siblings ~"

It wasn't too long in their journey before a familiar smell came to her on the evening breeze. Blood, but with a distinct undertone of wet soil. A scent she had encountered every single day during the winter market. How unexpected ~.

She turned her head and her gray eyes gleamed, catching the familiar feral expression of the doe standing across the clearing from her. Crimson felt a stirring within her at this surprise development. How fortuitous. How intriguing. How enticing. There were so many different ways this could go, but she had to make the first move. She turned her full attention to the kimeti. Some of her children buzzed curiously behind her, but she paid them no mind.

"Oh, my darling Nightshade," Crimson grinned with all of her teeth, her mouth stretching disturbingly wide. "Wait? I have been waiting. Have you been looking for me?"

[WC: 450 / Total: 450]

<33

[lilacfishie]

Seeing the totoma pause and assess the situation made a collection of emotions roll through Deadly Nightshade. Hesitation. Confusion. Fury. Curiosity. Dread. The constant itch under her skin that stuck to her like sweat and blood for the last two seasons ramped up. The buzzing of Crimson's companions rung in her ears, this time real and not imagined out of paranoia. Instinctively, her ear twitched and a back hoof came up to scratch the offending area. The sting had long lost it's effect with her, and she hardly noticed she'd made herself bleed for probably the hundredth time over the last two seasons. The large and dark kimeti doe did not blink her red eyes, not wanting to open them again to find this had been another dream, another vision. She heaved a breath before clenching her teeth, fangs bared, before she spoke again.

"I've been looking for answers."

[Words: 149 | Total: 418]

<333

[Yuki]

"Answers to what questions, my dear? Has something been troubling you?"

Crimson's nostrils flared at the scent of fresh blood and her children's buzzing started to ramp up excitedly. She smiled and shooed them off into the forest to find their own meal. This one was hers ♥.

"I would be happy to help you in any way I can ~" Her grin stretched further.

[WC: 65 / Total: 515]

<3333

[lilacfishie]

Deadly Nightshade, admittedly, was thankful when the totoma dismissed her pets back into the depths of the Swamp. Their buzzing in reality brought back memories of the buzzing in the maze and it had all sort of swirled together into a cacophony in her mind. The large doe clenched her jaw, glad to have a moment to collect her thoughts. With her mind set, she released her jaw once again and the questions began.

"What...was the purpose of it all?" Deadly Nightshade rasped, memories of her countless entries into the maze passing by her eyes. "What was it for?"

[Words: 99 | Total: 517]

<33333 I'm so sorry it took so long!
I'm going to take the questions slow for now, but depending on how it goes, she might start firing them off hahaha

[Yuki]

Crimson took a moment to consider the question. "Hmm, well originally I was just meant to be keeping an eye on that stump,"

Her thoughts drifted back to Feed and Follow howling about a terrible green menace that had maimed Feed. "But while I was there, I learned there would be a big event. I'd never been to a market before. I was quite intrigued by it all."

Crimson stepped closer. "My children were already spinning webs, so I thought - Why not participate?"

She grinned. "My family really enjoyed it, and it even gave us a chance to grow," Another step forward.

"There were so many that stepped into my maze, but you," Her eyes danced across Nightshade's tense, fidgety form. "You were special. You came to see me every day and, by winter's end, you had showered me with flowers. It's really me who should be asking... What was it all for?"

[WC: 153 / Total: 668]

Wahh I'm sorry this got lost in my notifs ; o;

[lilacfishie]

Deadly Nightshade clenched her jaw more, somehow not breaking her teeth, as the totoma began to speak. It was no surprise to her that that cursed stump acha had enemies in many places and had earned the ire of kin from all regions. The totoma didn't outwardly say anything about Mischievous, but that could be the only possible explanation for keeping an eye on the stump. Before she could think about it more, Crimson stepped closer to her.

A tingle of adrenaline roared through her body, but Deadly Nightshade kept all her hooves on the ground. The itch in her neck flared again, but this time her focus was too drawn to the other doe in front of her for her to even reflexively scratch at her mangled neck. Crimson spoke of her "children" and her mind flashed through the many creatures she'd seen within the maze and those fleeing the blaze in the end. How many did she have? That was not a question the large doe wanted to think of further. Words of her family. Another flash in her mind of The Last You'll Ever See leaping through the flames towards her. Another step closer.

The kimeti was getting tired of the mind games. This whole thing was just a bunch of mind games. Deadly Nightshade glared at Crimson. "I wasn't about to be scared away by your pets or your maze. I came back for answers. I-" she paused. She..what? Wanted to know more about Crimson? About her power in blood and flowers and insects? What, exactly? She exhaled roughly through her snout, neck twitching again.

[Words: 269 | Total: 786]

"Feelings? Don't know her" - Deadly Nightshade, probably

[Yuki]

Crimson tutted as she continued to approach. "Oh, my poor Deadly dear,"

"To get answers ..." She stood solidly in front of the Kimeti now, and dipped her head to peer directly into the doe's eyes. Her sharp teeth spread into a sickly sweet grin. "You need only ask more questions."

Her eyes trailed down the doe's face to her neck. Crimson's brow furrowed and her lip twitched for but a moment before her mask was back in place.

"Perhaps we can do a question for a question. It'll give you time to... think," She flipped white curls over a shoulder before staring into Deadly's eyes.

"I'll go first. Why are you still injured from winter?" Crimson tilted her head. "Did no one take care of you?"

Crimson could take care of her. Take her back to her home and keep her safe and fed in her web. New blood. New family.

[WC: 151 / Total: 819]

[lilacfishie]

It was rare that Deadly Nightshade met a kin that was bigger than her. When Crimson stood directly in front of her, Deadly Nightshade did not love having to tilt up to meet her eyes. The pungent smell of roses and blood flooded her nostrils now, and she had to admit to herself that it made her sweat. And she hated it. She hated the power this totoma and her machinations seemed to have over her from something that happened two seasons ago. A low grumble rolled in her chest as she tried to clear her mind.

The dark doe listened intently. How was she supposed to ask more questions when this doe made her mind feel like a hornet's nest? The longer that Crimson spoke, though, the more the overwhelm came down to a simmer in her mind. Deadly Nightshade kicked herself internally for forgetting the whole purpose of all that nonsense at the market. Her amber eyes didn't miss the minor twitch from Crimson as the other doe regarded the damage to her neck, and Deadly Nightshade wasn't sure how to interpret that. Was she going to see right through to the weakness flickering in her and attack? Unclear. Once again, she was thankful she sent her pets away.

Deadly Nightshade let that wondering roll around in her mind a moment while she spread her own lips back at Crimson's initiative and first question. It was...not what she expected. What was that supposed to even mean? Maybe the weakness was more apparent than she thought. A little flicker of anger ignited in her chest at the thought. She pinned her ears and her tail thrashed slightly. "I don't need taking care of," she responded.

The kimeti was willing to play along with this game, though she had a feeling she wasn't going to get any real answers out of Crimson. Still, it was worth a shot while she had the totoma's attention. Maybe she would warm up to more honesty and less mysteriousness if she started small. "The symbol, in dirt and blood on the ground, what does it mean?"

[Words: 352 | Total: 1138]

[Yuki]

Crimson clicked her tongue at Nightshade's angry dismissal. "That wound is from when I last saw you, oh so long ago. It should be long-healed by now."

"But instead, it's still angry. Reopened endlessly, no doubt. Destined to scar." Her eyes crinkled up with sudden joy. "A memory of our first meeting, forever carved into your flesh. It's quite beautiful in a way."

She backed away a few steps and stabbed a sharp hoof into the soft earth, going through the practiced movements of drawing out her family's symbol.



"Flowers are beautiful, yes, but underneath their petals are thorn-filled stems. Like teeth, they pierce the flesh and bring forth the greatest gift. The blood. Can you see it?" She quickly drags her fangs across her leg and holds it over the symbol, letting the red slowly drip down her hoof and into the dirt. "What is love without sacrifice? Be it flowers or blood?"

She stared at Nightshade's neck.. "Do you think of me often?"

[WC: 165 / Total: 984]

[lilacfishie]

A memory etched into her flesh forever. Deadly Nightshade had many of those across her body, under her fur, but she had never given any of them the context that Crimson had. Beautiful? She wasn't so sure about that. Some were points of pride, sure, but beautiful? That was probably too soft a word for her. A few times, she dark doe found herself wondering if the wounds would ever heal or if she would be stuck scratching and soaking and scratching again for the rest of her days. So, maybe scarring would be a blessing at this point, if it meant it got to heal. She cursed focusing on it too long, making it twinge and itch.

Deadly Nightshade's eyes widened at Crimson's display. Her eyes flicked from holding her gaze, to her now openly bleeding leg, and then to the symbol carved in the ground that was being scattered with red drops. A sacrifice. The kimeti staved off a shudder at the thought of what might have happened if she had willingly given her own blood to the symbol each time she encountered it two seasons ago. Not that her blood wasn't splashed all over the maze by the end anyways. That was not in the name of love or sacrifice, though. She hoped.

When Crimson spoke again, Deadly Nightshade's amber eyes quickly flicked to meet hers again, trying to discern what the angle was. The totoma continued to grin widely, putting her own sharp teeth on display. What a strange question. Her stare on her ruined neck made the hairs stand up on her spine. Of course she thought of Crimson often. She turned over the situation in her mind as she soaked in rivers and scratched at phantom itches. Deadly Nightshade wasn't sure what she would lose or gain if she was honest or if she lied. She closed her eyes a moment to gather her thoughts, but not long enough to let the totoma get a move on her. "I've been turning over the events of the last market, with you and your maze, since it happened."

The kimeti met Crimson's eyes again. "So what is this great love and sacrifice for, or to, I guess, then?"

[Words: 372 | Total: 1510]