A Wilting Flower [PK]

[doreebear 605]

A WILTING FLOWER

Anastasiya Petra Stafyr, c. 1776

                                                                                                                                                   

 

---

 

The sound of thumping echoed across the empty mountain road. In the distance, Anastasiya Stafyr could be seen running for dear life. Her clothes and hair, slick with perspiration, clung to her skin. The sound of chains, dragging across the roads, rang loudly. Beads of sweat rolled down her face as the beaming sun beat down on the exasperated woman. Her breaths came in short gasps whilst her calves burned as the adrenaline coursed through her veins. She quickened her pace until steps became leaps. 

 

She could feel her heart throbbing inside her chest, her eyes squinting as she muttered to herself, “Keep going! for Anna! For Sofi, for Rob-.” She paused, Valwyck coming into view in the distance. Her face lit up, her pace quickening as she continued towards her home. “I'm coming! Al-” Her words cut off, one of her binding chains caught in between two rocks, sending her off her feet and bashing her head against a large rock. After a moment, the stunned woman lifted her head, blood trickling down her forehead profusely. She could hear nothing, her ears filled with a constant ringing. As she sat there dazed and confused, several memories flooded through her head.

 

 

---

 

Ana walked into the grand hall of Valwyck, her eyes panning across the room before resting her gaze upon her older brother. “Emerich! congratulations!” The woman flashed a smile at her kinsman. “I’ve brought you a little wedding gift. Your favorite!” She pulled back a cloth, revealing an exquisite bottle of Carrion Black. Emerich paused, turning to Anastasiya before answering softly. “You were always my favorite.”

 

As one memory faded, soon another came rushing by. “They're drunk!” Sofiya sighed heavily before shaking her head in disapproval. “They're what?!” Ana then snapped her head toward Alaric with a furrowed brow. “Niet, niet, we are not! I swear!” Alaric shouted as a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. “Neither am I!” Petyr barked before hiding the tin flask in the pocket of his coat.

 

Anastasiya tilted her head up to the bright clear sky, fluttering her eyes slowly. “Do you, Alaric Stafyr, take Anastasiya Petra Gant to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Alaric then turned to the woman with a smile. “I do.” The elderly priest then turned his gaze to her. “And do you, Anastasiya Gant, take Alaric to be your lawfully wedded husband?”  Ana then fixated her gaze upon Alaric, smiling, “I do.” She then dipped her head, a smile on her face as the priest continued. “You may kiss the bride!” Bishop Benedict announced joyfully, bringing both of his hands upward. Soon a cross bearer came forth, offering the Bishop a tin bucket filled with water, dumping it on the newly wedded couple. 

 

A new scene replaced the old. The sound of battle cries and swords clashing echoed through the forest. A woman passed by, running as fast as she could through the burnt grass. Anastasiya looked down to the crying baby in her arms, “Shhh, mamej is here little one!” She continued her trek, throwing open the doors over a small hut. “Sofi?! Where is he?” Sofiya looked up from the wooden floor before motioning for the frantic woman to follow. “Here..” She then brought her to the end of the hall, where her bandaged husband laid. Ana let out a sigh of relief before gazing down to the now silent babe. “Look Anna, it's your papej..” She stated gently, pulling a piece of the blanket away from the child's face. Alaric slowly turned, extending his finger out to the babe. “A-Anna.” Anna then looked to her father, offering a faint smile before firmly grasping his finger and cooing. 

 

Little Petyr looked to the dark bottle his aunt was holding before motioning toward it. “What’s tha’?” Ana held up the bottle to her nephew, displaying it. “This is Carrion Black.” Little Petyr raised a brow, interested by the weird liquid. “Can I ‘ave some?” She shook her head, bringing the bottle to her lips and taking a small swig. “Ah’ want some,” Little Petyr demanded! Anastasiya raised a brow before offering the bottle to her nephew. “Alright, but do niet say I didn’ warn ye, and don’t you dare tell your mamej!” Little Petyr nodded before taking a small sip, the boy's face scrunched up with disgust, and he coughed before dragging his tongue against his sleeve. “Yucky! Why would ye drink this?” Ana’s lips curled into a grin before laughing. “See? I told ye it was gonna be awful!” The woman took the bottle, downing the rest of it. 

 

The weak woman then brought her hands forward, dragging herself across the scorching stone. Her vision blurred, another memory coming to mind as she continued on. “Mamej! Look at the fishes!” Anna chirped before running toward her mother with excitement. “Da, I see Anna! They are lovely looking aren’t they?” Anastasiya offered her child a faint smile before taking a small sip from the mug she held. “Where is papej?” The small girl rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, eagerly awaiting her mother’s answer. “He’s in a meeting dear, I know you don't get to see him often but it’s his job to protect the city.” Ana then offered her daughter a reassuring smile. After a moment, the woman would extend her arm toward the table, setting down the mug of Carrion Black before drawing near her daughter. “What is that, my dear?” She gestured to the nearby pool. “What? What? Mamej?” The girl lofted a brow in confusion, leaning closer to the water that her mother pointed at. Anastasiya then swiftly submerged her hand into the water, splashing it in Anna’s direction. “That!” Anna burst into laughter as her mother splashed water in her direction. “Niet! Take that!” The little girl retaliated, bringing her hand around and splashing water at her mother. Anastasiya continued to laugh gently. “You’re going to regret tha’ little one.” She kicked her slippers off, dipped her foot in the water, and sent a large wave of pond water at Anna.

 

(music https://youtu.be/52wByO_SFxA jump to 0:25 )

 

“Auntie Ana-sya!” Robert darted toward Ana’s direction with open arms. “Robert! How are you dear?!” The woman beamed with joy as she lifted up her small nephew, spinning him around. Isabel clapped her hands together excitedly. “My turn! My turn!” Ana turned to her niece, setting Robert down before picking up Isabel and swinging her around. “Upsie Daisy!” Isabel burst with laughter as she was spun around. “Auntie Ana look! It’s a cat!” Kamila raised both arms, holding a rather rotund raccoon. “‘is name is ‘enry!” Anastasiya set down Isabel before taking a hold of the fat raccoon and flipping it on its back. “Kammy, this is a girl racc- i mean cat..”

 

 

---

 

Anastasiya laid solemnly on the pavement as her strength began to fade. Her dark sapphire eyes slowly fluttered open as she gazed into the bright cloudless sky. As she continued to lay there motionlessly, a figure wandered up the road, pausing to look down at her. There stood Emerich, kneeling down quickly to lift his sister from the ground. Ana gazed up to her brother, offering him a weak smile. “E-Emerich.” The woman’s breathing grew shallow; she knew that it was the end, and she brought her hand to her brother’s cheek. “Take care of her..” Her lips parted, but she could not find the right words. There was so much to say yet so little time. “I-I’m so sorry..” As she uttered her last words, the life drained from her body. Her chest lay still, no flicker of life or her usual innocence remained in her bosom, a surefire sign that she was dead. Emerich embraced his sister, clenching his fists tightly as he grit his teeth with great anger, He let out a great roar of anger, his howl echoing through the mountains. A small child soon came running up the hill. “Papej! Wh-” The boy fell silent as he saw what lay in his father’s arms. “Auntie Ana?!” He shrieked in disbelief. “Go to your mamej! Now!” the distraught Gant demanded! Tears welled from deep inside and coursed down Robert’s cheeks. “Mamej! Mamej!” The small boy cried out in panic, darting back to Valwyck as fast as his weary legs could carry him. 

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Anastasiya Petra Stafyr

1745 - 1776

”to suffer is to truly live.”

 

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

[Juli 1341]

Sofiya Baruch sat at the bank of the sea in the Seven Skies, digging her hands into the course sand as her son Matyas crouched next to her building a sandcastle. The sound of boots approaching caught Sofiya’s ears as she spared a glance over her shoulder only to see her closest friend, Ana. She gasped, frantically racing towards her friend with outstretched arms to capture her in an embrace, “It has been far too long, my dear friend. Come come, you must meet Matyas.”

 

Isabel Baruch once again found herself locked in her chambers at the news of another one of her family members tragically passing. Almost every parental figure in her life had died leaving her with just her wounded grandfather whose life was almost cut short. “Ah’ll miss ye auntie.” She said as she sat curled up on her bed, blankly staring out of her window with her teddy bear held tight in her clutches.

 

 

[Piov 2643]

“Wave to mother moon on your way to the Skies!” Bishop Benny says upon hearing the news of Anastasiya’s death.

[MissToni 3565]

Rozalina Erika Baruch frowned, she still remembered the memory of her aunt shoving her fingers down her throat to save her life after she had eaten some bad cake. Or so she was told at least, she never felt there was anything wrong with the cake... But out of her stomach it had to go anyways. Was that truly all she could remember of her aunt? No... No it was not, she remembered her smiling at her and being kind to her when she was little. But those memories seemed so distant compared to that one. Perhaps that is all she would ever be able to remember of her auntie Anastasiya. At least it was a fond one she had as it made her laugh.

 

“Ah will miss vy...”

[Erilobar 139]

Reserved ;-;

[Apeena_ 60]

From within the kitchens of Valwyck, the aging Ada solemnly slaved away at batches of baked goods, the continued quietness of Valwyck growing evermore quiet after Ana’s demise. The maid fondly recalled her select dear memories of the Gant; from first meeting her child, to her silent admiration of her as one of the only women to stand up to the late Petyr Baruch.

“A tough woman til the end. I am glad to have known her, even if it was only for a short time.” 

[Pureimp10 5691]

Alaric Stafyr took his wife into his arms after two years apart. As they embraced, all the memories of their life together came rushing back to him, causing tears to form in his eyes.

 

“I missed you.”