Juno. 1286 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Spoiler Please do not Metagame the following information. - There is no such thing as a normal childhood on LOTC, enjoy! -=- -=- She had been cleaning her shoes when her mother entered, a thick veil covering the features of her face. Isabel paid no mind, abandoning her task to give her mother a proper welcome back to their home off the Orenian canal. Kisses were peppered across her face through such lacy fabric, giggles echoing off the walls of the entrance hall. “Amaranta, would you like to go to a party? It will be at your Zia’s house, but first we must make a short stop.” The young girl was excited, as most would be at the prospect of their first party. She rushed her goodbyes to her father who had come to inspect the commotion, waving him off hurriedly as he too kissed her cheek. If she had known this would be the last, she would have attempted to savor it, clung to her father’s affection, but even if she wanted to, she would have been unable; her mother was already rushing her out the door. She should have known something was wrong when they turned right instead of left, and entered the creepy warehouse that neighbored their own home. She should have run as soon as her mother released her hand to speak with the pale, elven man, and her eyes witnessed the oddities stowed on shelves and hanging off walls. She should have screamed at the initial prick, as her blood was drawn by the strange man and a trickle of such ichor leaked down her arm. “Mama please…I’m scared.” “Hush, Amaranta. You are not weak.” The girl was guided to sit on a table, her anxiety only increasing as the man questioned her mother, who gave hasty replies. She should have resisted as her soft skin was injected once more, and the pain hit her like a wave of the plague. Her soft cries and sobs echoed off the high ceiling, but were not loud enough to invoke some sort of aid from outside. And so she curled up into a ball as her skin prickled and face itched, her back to the two adults as she was changed into someone new. “Come Amaranta.” Her mother called for her, and yet she was ignored; Isabel could not move, could not think, could not feel, for what sort of reaction was she to have at this odd sensation? Her arm was grabbed and pulled towards the two waiting figures, a red hot iron now held in the man’s hand. “MAMA NO! PLEASE!” Isabel fought and cried as her mother held her still and shoved a fist in her mouth, skin that was soon bitten down on as the metal met her tanned hand. Agony like no other over took her senses, leaving her a puddle of warm tears, muffled cries, and trembling limbs. As soon as it came, it was over, and she was pulled once more, taken towards somewhere new. — Paved roads and mild weather turned to hot sand and a blaring sun when they finally stopped, her mother ripping off her veil to reveal a face entirely new. Isabel gasped as she looked at the woman, her features now entirely unrecognizable. “Amaranta, look!” The mother urged her to look into the mirror she had brought out, and to the young girl’s horror, she did. Gone were the sea-green eyes and bronze skin of her mother’s original appearance, gone were her father’s raven black hair, high cheekbones, and effortless smile. She supposed she still looked like her mother, both donning their new appearances, but nothing was left of her father’s, as if he bore no part in her creation. The revelation made her feel as if a part of her was missing, something so key to her life and being. She found herself unable to keep down the fresh fruit she had just eaten earlier, spilling herself onto the sparkling sands. Her dress which had only ever been stained with the juice of clementines and dirt from the Imperial gardens was now tainted with dried blood and bile. “Mama…what about Papej! We must go back for him.” “He will not miss you, he is a busy man.” “No! Papej loves us! He will miss us!” Her arm was harshly grabbed once more, though this grip now promised pain. She could not handle any more agony, any more pricks and brands and trickles of blood. “He will not. UNDERSTOOD?” Her mother’s voice was stern and final, her eyes glazed over in some sort of emotion Isabel did not recognize; she did not recognize any of her mother at all. She cried out her agreement, if just to save her own flesh, and they were off once more. They continued to walk until they came to a settlement, walls high and tents full of color. It all went by in a blur, the concerned faces of it’s dwellers, the bitter drink and sweet fish, the reassuring smiles and waves from strangers. She tried to wave back, to show some gratitude for their kindness, but how could she do that with hands and lips that were not her own. They were given a house rather quickly, about the same size as their one back in Oren, except this time Isabel had her own room. It was not a welcome change. The child could not sleep, for every time she closed her eyes she experienced it all over again; the white-hot agony, the goat on her hand, her father’s last kiss. She sat up screaming and with fresh tears, holding her hand to her mouth to not wake her mother slumbering nearby. The blankets were thrown off her small body as Isabel darted outside, the sands now cool against her bare feet. She would escape now, run through the dunes until she found someone, someone to take her to her father. She didn’t make it far until she heard the cries of some sort of animal, and rounded the corner to see a pitiful lamb. It was tiny, smaller than it should be, and sick, calling out for some sort of help, some food and warmth. It couldn’t have been more than a few days old, clearly the runt, and it was sick. It was dying. Isabel knew young animals could not survive without their mothers, doomed to fail without their milk and nurture. How was an eight year old girl any different? Her father had warned her of the dangers of this world, both human and not. If she were to leave the protection of these walls, she would be killed in minutes, her fate the same as the lamb’s. It took all her effort to lift and carry the weakened lamb, for she was in a pathetic state herself. With the last of her strength, she ran all across the settlement in search of some cattle, the moon acting as her only light source. When she finally came across a mother camel, Isabel did her best to mimic the farmers she saw working out in the countryside, filling a nearby bucket with the fresh milk. With both the bucket and lamb, she made her way back home, bringing both into her room where she fed the lamb. Stars began to twinkle out as midnight turned to dawn, and the bucket was finally empty. The lamb had made it through the night, so Isabel supposed she could too. If for nothing else, she would live to see her father once more. -=- 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobBox 3211 Share Posted January 31, 2022 The Doctor worked his magic. A dosage administered, a brand delivered. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaiderBlue 616 Share Posted January 31, 2022 A Nameless Father work throughout the night within a glimmering forge. Rage within his mind as he had been wronged and was soon to set it right. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melpomenne 1553 Share Posted January 31, 2022 The MOTHER scrambled, sorting her next move- allowing her DAUGHTER to bathe in the sun for some final moments TRANQUILITY. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon 1434 Share Posted January 31, 2022 "L'ultima goccia." An aged Illatian spat with a sharp sniff to follow. Gloved hand gripped tight against the treated wood cane he wielded- and his sneer was unshakable. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRCHENN 3663 Share Posted January 31, 2022 “Promise me, Franco, you will not visit your Zia. If you need rest, you’ll go close up shop, but please promise me you will not go home, not to her.” Words like daggers pierced the teen’s features as Gracia’s voice rung throughout. Was Ludo not his home? The very woman that took him in from afar? Trembling hands fit a cigar into his maw, between his estranged aunt and forlorn sister — tobacco was his solace. The Falcone tugged on his hat, chin high, as a scent of smoke pervaded the Providence sky. He refused to pay mind to this, there was business to be done - a legacy to be restored. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonito 2264 Share Posted January 31, 2022 36 minutes ago, RaiderBlue said: A Nameless Father work throughout the night within a glimmering forge. Rage within his mind as he had been wronged and was soon to set it right. Elimar watched him work away, eating soup off to the side. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CherryBoy 151 Share Posted January 31, 2022 A young Illatian child vibes with his brother. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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