ORIGIN

The hybrid looked up in a daze, listening to the bird as it preened through her feathers. Eve... Eve, her momma, she remembered... But this bird was filled to the brim with fluff, feathers that had not developed yet. Too white, too bright, too not like Eve-- where was those black feathers, so pretty in the light? She searched for purples and greens, catching on the glint of light on shadow, but there was nothing. Just dusty colors, and slowly she shoved the memories of Eve away. She wasn't here. None of her family was.

The half fisher wanted to cry for them, but she swallowed and focused on the words instead. The fairy had been failing, somehow, though the words were foriegn and distant compared to the ringing in her ears. She opened her jaws to tell Giga to continue, to try again, to reassure that she could do it. Memories of black feathers-- different this time, younger, like Gigatsuhali, but still black, saying they could do it, that they could find her, her, her-- Cure. They could find Cure. Ashtoreth frowned and closed her eyes, trying to chase out the memories, shoving her muzzle into the bird.

She had to stand. Her legs trembled as she slowly rose, finding the world under her for once. Her body leaned into the bird, and she exhaled, not so much as a whimper escaping her throat even as it hurt. Slowly the battered creature opened her eyes and found the dark stone floor under her, blood smeared down her leg. There was no way she could go anywhere like this... But she knew someone who could carry her. She would hate to ask it of him, but at least he would understand her question, understand her words. Maybe... Maybe together, the three of them, they could escape. She turned her muzzle towards the buildings once more, and despite herself, she started to stumble deeper into Orion, instead of away.

Ashtoreth paused, her head turning back to the kind bird who had helped her. The words made her ears twitch and she nodded, agreeing. This wasn't the way out... She knew that... But there was no way she could walk to safety. Every step was agony as it was, and although she had more strength then she had felt in days, Hasira would notice long before they even got to the edge of the stone city.

She needed her friend. Closing her eyes, she pointed, gesturing deeper into the buildings and rubble, a painful grimace on her face. Words... She had to find the words, and she knew it... But the words failed her, her wing aching as she tried to twitch the good one and not the bad-- flinching at the pain. More fervently, the once-child pointed towards the buildings, and then she waved, beckoning the bird to come with her.

It would be quicker this way. Eosphoros could carry her. She turned to stare into the rubble, a shiver racing down her spine. He would do this for her... He still knew her, still cared for her. Despite everything, they could escape together. Maybe Giga could heal him, too... Maybe it would all be okay...

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself into a stumbling run, racing towards the Throne-- though she would not go directly to it, but instead to a building nearby. Hopefully, Eos would be resting there, recovering from his wounds... The agony spread through her limbs but she forced herself to keep going. If she could find him, he would take her out... And then she could collapse, and let the world spin by.

Strong. He had to get strong, fast, powerful enough to get his sister out of here. He'd helped the little angel escape, urged her on to one of the tunnels, watched until she faded into the dark. He could do the same for his Sister, he had to, because she wouldn't survive and the demons would come and take her away and he'd be alone, again. The darkness would come back. The doe with her words and false light and sharp hooves digging into the corners of his mind like scalpels. He wouldn't survive another onslaught.

Strong.

He needed to be strong.

So he waited, biding his time, catering to the orders passed down through gestures and nudges, annoyed reactions to his constant inability to comprehend. Waited and watched, still aching from his "training" with the armored twins. The blisters along his front half had slowly begun to thick and lay flat, deep, pink-red, angry scars crisscrossing his chest. Everything hurt, but nothing toppled him to his knees, anymore, of kept him secluded in shadow. Now he waited in the still-standing building alongside the throne, eyeing it, wondering if, some day, someone would take the massive stag's place.

The thought made him angry.

The stag had been marked by the demons just as he had been, and if someone could brutalize an angel... it made him shudder to think of what they would do to his sister. Standing at the doorway of the hut, staring blankly out over Orion, it took the gelding a moment to realise something was coming his way - and fast. His head swiveled to peer down at it, cloudy eyesight tracking better than it had in weeks. A soft, panicked whine fought its way from his throat at the sight of his Sister, obviously in pain and forcing herself to run, and he ducked his head down to her level, hot breaths puffing over off-green fur.

Safe hurt what if you're too late are they already here? They could take her away now steal her put you back in the void. You need to go. Make her safe again.

There! There he was. Shaking with effort, she practically smacked into his face as he lowered his head. She scrambled up, not even bothering to reach his shoulders-- instead she clung to his mane, twisting despite the searing wince it brought across her face. She tugged at his mane, and flashed her eyes towards Gigatsuhali on her tail.

After about a moment-- it really only took a second-- the noodle relaxed a paw and stroked at Eosphoros' ear, gently, soothing. It was okay, for now, but they had to hurry... Ashtoreth was afraid of asking to much of her friend, but if they could all escape... They just had to make it to Canis. She pushed herself up and on to the gelding's brow, pointing a paw over his eyes, towards the tunnel.

He would understand her, he always did. They spoke the same language, even now.

Safe, safe, safe, she was safe and secure holding his mane, and it was a familiar, settling feeling, from memories still foggy and fleeting. The nameless gelding relaxed, slow - only to freeze at the sight of a stranger, trembling, terrified by the sight of a sharp hooked beak and claws racing towards them. He almost reared back, fled, but there was a gentle touch at his ear, and he whinnied instead, caught between terror and loyalty. His Sister climbed up to his forehead, pointing, and silver eyes followed the signal, locked on the tunnel. Something in him surged - adrenaline mixed with hope.

Safe. Make her safe.

He takes off like a shot on shaking legs, stick-thin, skin stretching across every rib. There is something in him, something that screams to take the rest of them, save them all, get the children out before they become like the twins, before the demons come and take them in angel skin - but he can't, he can't, he's not strong enough to save them all. He's not strong enough to save himself.

But he can save Her.

He can take her home.

[ exit Eosphoros ]

The gait was wrong. Too high. Ashtoreth blinked, clinging, but she forced herself to accept it was Eos. She was used to Kings steps now, the way he pranced about with no respect for the rag on his back, but never this quick, never so forceful. As exhaustion hit the child she felt her limbs slack, her paws curled tight around his mane, something the prince would never allow.

As fast as Ash had been, Eosphoros was faster. He raced, her body lurching with the unsteady gallop, wincing but so glad she didn't have to force her own body. She stroked at his neck as he ran, frightened for him and herself, but so glad... They could escape. They could be happy again.

They were going home. Back to safety. Ashtoreth's eyelids drooped, exhaustion taking over her. She felt blackness seep over her from the cold tunnel and in an instant, she was out like a light, clinging to her hero but otherwise barely breathing.

Everything was going to be okay now.