[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Years ago, when Pestilence was still very small, he sought a connection with his family that did not seem to come as naturally for him as it did his siblings. He remembered sitting outside their nest, pensive and quiet, observing his loud and sometimes quite vicious clutchmates. Why were they like that? What made them the way they were? And why was he so different. That feeling of difference hung upon him like a heavy stone tied around his neck. Sometimes, he remembered, it made it hard to breathe.

But, thinking back, he remembers the effort placed in trying to help him fit it. Whether it was in the form of his siblings pushing him away from his projects, or pointing out his flaws and oddities, in a way, they were efforts. Failed ones, of course, but efforts made none the less. Closing his eyes in thought, he dredged up a memory of him and his mother, burying the first dead kin he ever found.

- - - - -

"Mother! Mother!" He had called, panicked as he raced back to their nest.

He skidded to a halt before the acid-green doe who towered over him, his eyes wide and his mouth unable to form the words he searched for, "I-I... I, uh..." He looked around at his siblings rolling around in the dirt, probably ripping the fur off an unfortunate victim of their unnecessary hunts. He gulped and tried his best to settle down. "I found something. I don't know what to do." He looked up to her skeleton grin, trying to read her. "Please, help me."

@LOLLI qAq

Devil's Claw was used to Pestilence being a touch more sensitive than her other children. Something she was both relieved by and, as much as she hated to admit it even to herself, irritated by. Barely a day went by that she didn't have to mutter something to her clutch about "not drawing blood" or "maybe you need to leave him alone now, please." She wanted to protect him, but gentle nurturing wasn't in her blood. Why couldn't he be more self-reliant and easy like his twin? At least he was usually very quiet and reserved about whatever was happening in his brain. Whatever this was must have really shook him to his core. She stifled a sigh and bent herself to be at his eye level.

"Show me what you found, son." Nothing was to be done until she knew exactly what had worked him so thoroughly. It was hard for her to express love, but she did love him dearly. If being the fixer was how she could help then she was going to do some fixing.

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Through the brambles and scree he raced, always checking over his winged shoulder to ensure his mother was kept in sight. His heart was racing as he did his best to follow the mental directions he gave himself. Back to his spot. Why? Why had he appeared there, of all places!

He found it at last. His tree. It had been a pretty large tree, or at least large to him at the time, before a storm long past toppled the thing. Despite its exposed roots, the great tree lived, and its leaves adapted. The inner boughs died, creating a hollow space surrounded by leaves. Ground vines and climbing plants quickly took hold.

He pushed through, coming to a halt just inside, his huge, green eyes scanning his thicket. It was a special place. A hidden place. One that his siblings had yet to find. It was here that Pestilence had been bringing the little dead things he found. The remains of hunted suppers provided by his mother, decaying and rotten, the white of their bones peeking out from beneath the large leaves of the plants that surrounded his hiding place.

It was also the place this stranger had chosen to die.

Before him lay a kin, bloody and battle-worn. Pestilence did not yet have his years of experience to read the body before him, the caiman marks spun into terrifying tales of monsters and the like crafted by his child-mind. Why here? This was his place... But most importantly, what was he supposed to do with him?

The young colt turned to his mother, eyes wide with uncertainty and tinged with fear, "Help," he choked out, pleading.

@LOLLI qAq

It took her a moment to really comprehend what she was looking at- a body. Possibly caiman related death, but ... an aching question pulled at her soul. Devil's Claw felt weak.

"You didn't do this."

She phrased it as a statement, MotherFather let this be a statement, but it was really a question.

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]He wasn't sure why he started crying. There were many emotions in his weeping eyes, fear, confusion, hurt. But there was no guilt. This wasn't his fault, that he knew.

It took him a long while to answer, but his voice finally came, cracking with the weight of the situation at hand, "No, mother. I would never..." This vow was solem and not one he would ever forget. He sniffled, then inhaled deeply, trying his best to calm himself. "What do I do?" It was his place, his responsibility, he had decided. But while he tried to convince himself of his resolve, his stick-thin legs shook with fear.

@LOLLI qAq

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Bending down to be more on Pestilence's level, she kissed his nose before pressing her forehead to his. Her poor, scared, boy. She hadn't wanted any of her children to learn about death this way. It was much more than any child could fathom. Yet he had a resolve to him she'd never have expected.

"Of course you didn't. My good, good, boy."

She held her nurturing and protective touch for a beat more before straightening back up letting her face sink back into the familiar mask of calm and calculated non-emotion. She needed to get a better look at the corpse. If they were lucky he'd have lost his-- She started to speak aloud so her son could hear her thoughts.

"If he's been here for long enough then the body should have lost the stiffness that afflicts the recently dead. That's good and bad. You should come here and watch, because I might need your help."

@Blinded By Silence (Sorry this took so long. )

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]The dark buck let his eyes close as his mother pressed her head to his, reveling in this rare moment of maternal warmth. He let out a shakey breath, a sobbing sigh and for just a moment, he knew everything would be just fine. His mother knew what to do. He took this moment and held it tight in his memory for when he would need it later. He sniffled and a heartbeat later, the moment was over.

"Yes, mother," and he followed her with wary eyes that held a mix of grusom curiosity and hesitation, "What can I do?"

@LOLLI qAq