ORIGIN - Healing

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After another moment's hesitation, the hybrid finally tensed, bundling their legs under them before unfurling, springing forward to where they were sure the rodent was stood.

They felt their claws sink into warm fur and heard a shrill squeal that lingered out in their ears, bringing tears to their eyes, and in their jaws tasted a warm, fresh flow of fluid that tasted metallic, but oddly savoury. The hybrid quickly clamped their jaws before they could back out, and felt a sharp crack. More of that warm, metallic fluid filled their jaws and although they didn't know it, a small rivulet of red ran down their chin.

Subconsiously, the hybrid began to shiver, their wings quaking mildly at their back and eyes watering, the mouse's final screams still ringing in their brain. They shook their head, ears flattening against their skull, and slunk back the way they'd come, trying not to think about what they'd done. The heavier-than-expected weight they now carried in their jaws made them ache, but it was nothing compared to the burden in their heart.

They were silent as they returned to Winter, bloodied jaws laying down the fallen creature as close to winter as they could with their nose still clogged with blood. And then they backed away, their eyes wide and shiny, oblivious to the red stains on their muzzle or claws.

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"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

Winter followed Kielo silently as she went on the hunt. For a moment, Winter dared to believe that Kielo would enjoy the thrill or the final push and the moment of capture when the prey becomes food. But then she noticed the hesitation in her friend's face and she remembered that Kielo was a gentle creature, not one for killing or harming, even for food. Winter watched Kielo's hunt with horror, her eyes glued to the shivers running down their body, the revulsion in their eyes, and how they seemed to have broken from just a hunt. She felt a pit open in her stomach. She hadn't done anything, yet her friend had been hurt deeply. She shouldn't have them them hunt for her, she should have insisted she did it herself. They were not accustomed to hunting and shouldn't have the bear the burden of killing.

But she couldn't tell this to them, it would have made the whole thing in vain. So when Kielo set the bloodied mouse in front of her, she murmured a thanks before, as quick as she could, she engulfed the mouse and pushed it down her throat. Blood stuck to her tongue and mouth and she shuddered, knowing that Kielo would be tasting it too. Her own kills were cleaner - a quick bite and they would die from the venom in a moment. She had never needed to create such a mess. But Kielo was bigger and a different creature. That was how they hunted.

As soon as the mouse was merely a bulge in her stomach, Winter looked back up at Kielo, unsure of what to say. She wasn't sure if she should voice her concerns for how they had reacted to the kill, but she wasn't sure if it was appropriate to move on. Instead, she eyed the blood covering Kielo's muzzle and claws. "Oh, you have um, something on your chin. Give me a moment." Without really thinking, she slid to her side and dipped her front body in the nearby stream before turning back and reaching up to Kielo, pressing herself against the blood to try and wash it off.

After a second, she realized what she was doing and retreated, embarrassed. "Uh,
sorry, I kind of just..." her voice trailed off. If she had warm blood, she would definitely had been blushing.

When I speak.

When I think.

@Kielo

Almost robotically, Kielo slumped themselves down nearby and laid their head on their paws, ears twitching upright for an instant to Winter's murmur of thanks, before promptly folding back again, to join their flattened feather crest. A quiet whine echoed in their throat for a moment as they contemplated speaking, and finally raised their head, though their eyes remained closed. The taste of blood clung to the inside of their mouth, not unpleasant, but not something they ever wanted to taste again.

Kielo swallowed as they realized that Winter probably felt bad for seeing them go through this, especially with their efforts going towards feeding her. they couldn't have her feeling that wayt for something they'd wanted! She'd tried to stop them! this was their fault. The hybrid finally opened their blind eyes, ears pricking to their words. They couldn't see, so how were they to know that blood made such a stark contrast to their previously pristine white fur. "Y-you can tell?" they stammered in barely-concealed horror, flinching slightly as they felt the snake's cool scales against their fur.

Finally, they relaxed, allowing themselves to slump slightly, nuzzling the serpent along her length as they followed her movements. They opened their eyes in surprise as she recoiled, and tilted their head, hoping that she'd return. "U-uh... Don't be sorry. It helped, a lot." Kielo was silent for a time, crossing their sticky avian paws, which had become coated with dust on the way back. The hybrid forced a reassuring smile, feeling guilty for the self-pity that probably hurt her too. Winter couldn't help what she needed to survive. "I-I'm sorry. I'm making this b-bigger than what it should be. I j-just..." Kielo fell silent, trying to think of what they were trying to say. "I-I mean... I d-don't think I... b-but..." They heaved out a long sigh, the feathers along their spine prickling upright.

"I d-don't think I was m-made for this, b-but... I-if you need me to I'd do it every single day j-just to make sure you're okay!" Their shiny eyes blinked , moisture leaking into the fur around their eyes and a whine creeping into their voice. They didn't try to stop the tears; they saw no reason to.

_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

Winter shivered at the horror in Kielo's voice. This was not going well. What had happened between them all of a sudden? What was once tenderness and healing was now just more hurt. They couldn't keep doing this, hiding feelings and slipping over each other. Winter couldn't eat what Kielo was giving her and Kielo couldn't hunt what she needed to eat. That was simply it. She would not put her friend through that torment again. They were not made to hunt and kill for food. They were too gentle, too good.

Winter sighed and curled up around her friend, pressing her head against their cheek to catch the tears that dripped from her eye. "No, Kielo. I'll hunt for myself. I know how much you hated that, I can't put you through that again." Knowing that she would protest, she continued on. "You've already done so much for me. I can hunt for myself because of how you've helped me so far."

And then, suddenly, the words were spilling from her mouth before she could stop them. "I never want to see you like that again. It hurts, Kielo, seeing you hurt like that for me. You're so kind and so gentle and you would never hurt anyone, even if it were for food like I would. Ever since I met you you've been so good to me even when I was scared and threatening and I was new and hurting. You're wonderful and strong and seeing you in so much pain is the worst. Hunting hurts you just as much as the prey and I don't want you to hurt like that because I lo..." she trailed off, her throat catching just in time. She shivered as she realized what she had just been about to say and swallowed, trying to push down the emotions clogging her mouth. "I-I like it when you're happy."

When I speak.

When I think.

@Kielo

Feeling the cobra's long body curling around theirs, and the snake's cool, scaly face against their cheek sent a flush rippling from their nose to the end of their tail, one that they didn't quite understand. The feeling resulted in more tears spilling over the lids of their sightless eyes, a confusion of sorrow and warmth bubbling in their chest. They sniffled at her words, ears lowering towards the back of their head.

"B-but... What if you can't? You're hurt. What if you starve? I'm here to take care of you..." Kielo blinked slowly, listening patiently. They closed their eyes, appearing to consider deeply, nuzzling the snake's neck as if to reassure themselves she wasn't going anywhere. "...A-are you sure? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened..."

Kielo sniffled once again as Winter's words came, long and fast, dropping their head in shame. "I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you..." Kielo whispered, a tremor running from nose to tail. They hadn't meant to make things worse. They just wanted to help Winter get better. They knew that self-pity wouldn't help anything, they'd learned it long ago; but there was nothing they could do to take back how they'd made Winter feel.

Though Winter's speech passed in a blur, there were things that stuck with them in that moment, things that they felt would stick with them forever. Guilt rushed through them in waves, but her warmth helped to drown out the sorrow, and keep out the cold. A small sob emerged, but her words awakened something in them, a warmth in their heart that they'd felt before, but never like this.

You're so kind and gentle... A feeling something like pins and needles burned in their cheeks, heat building in their skin. Their heart was beating harder than it ever had before. They didn't know why it made them feel this way, hearing the words spoken out loud; but it made them want to burst into fresh waves of tears. "B-but, you are too, Winter. You're always so sweet to me, and you make me happy just by being there. A-and... B-being scared and threatening only means you need help, right? I couldn't just leave you. Wh-when we first met, it reminded me of when I came out into the world. I had someone there to help me, as well, so I wanted to do the same."

You're wonderful and strong... This time, the tears did come, and they let out a quiet fluting note in their throat. They nosed softly at Winter, unsure of what to say. As she cut herself off, a questioning look crossed their face for an instant, and they nuzzled closer. "It makes me happy enough that you're here with me... but I'd do anything to hear your happy voice," Kielo murmured. "I have other friends, but none of them make me feel like this. It's a little scary, and I dunno if I like it. But it's also the best feeling in the world."

_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

Winter couldn't cry but it was now that she wished she could. She pushed herself closer to Kielo, desperate for the warmth of her fur and wishing that the tears would stop. "I know," she sobbed, "and you've taken such good care of me already. But I don't want you to have to hurt for me. I'll get better so that you don't have to. I promise."

As Kielo's words reached her ears, she felt her whole body shudder at the meaning. All the hurt, the pain, and the hate that had been simmering in her body, ever since the day of her birth, was challenged. The fear that gems seemed to hold for snakes, the hatred for her because she was one, the mocking and the hurting she had experienced from the goose, the bird, the cat, all of that meant nothing because Kielo thought she was sweet and that she made them happy. Did it matter that others saw her as a monster when Kielo did not? Did it matter that she had caused hurt as long as Kielo forgave her?

Did anything else matter besides right here, right now, shared tears (in a way), and melting hearts?

She leaned into Kielo's soft nosing and her body shook with the force of the emotions that were pouring over her. It was the last night all over again, but this time is was all in the open. Everything was on the ground, everything was poured in front of them. "I'm happy, Kielo, I'm very happy, because I'm here with you. I don't ever want to leave now because...because..."

She paused, taking a deep breath. She had to say it, what had been building up for the past cycles of her life, something she had always known, but never allowed herself to admit, because she couldn't show the weakness. But was it weakness? It couldn't be, if it made her so happy to finally let it in. There was nothing weak about it. It was strong, it was almost too much for her to handle and fear built up within her. She did not know where the fear came from, but it was not fear she had known before. She had to say it. Say it. Say it!

"Because I love you, Kielo," she sobbed. "I've always loved you and I love you more then anything or anyone else." Unable and unknowing of what else to say, she pushed her face into Kielo's fur, her breaths heavy as the burden of the words finally lifted from her body.

When I speak.

When I think.

@Kielo

"I'll hurt every day for you if I have to," Kielo whined firmly. "J-just... promise me you won't push yourself too hard, okay? If you need me, I'll be right here. P-please, if you feel anything different, tell me. I want to know, especially if it's something I can help with." Kielo's voice shook, and they sniffled softly, the sob in the serpent's voice causing them to fold, knowing that they were the cause.

They felt Winter shaking beneath their touch, and shook their head so that their eyes emptied of moisture, though they could do nothing to stop the floodgates now that they were open. "W-winter, are you okay? You're shaking so hard-" they began, but her words helped to ease the worry and fear. Tentatively, the hybrid poked out their small pink tongue and gently licked their own salty tears from her scales, doing what they could to calm the shaking, even though they were in just as much a bedraggled state- still drying, still stained with mouse blood, and now their cheek fur straw-like with newly drying tears.

They felt relieved as Winter murmured that the tremors were born of happiness, but Kielo had never felt anyone like this before. There had to be more to it. "I'm h-happy to be with you too... I p-promise, I'll never make you worry again," they managed, a tired smile tugging at their jaws. As Winter said she never wanted to leave, Kielo sniffed, fresh tears welling up. "I'm not going anywhere." Again, Winter cut herself off, and there was a long pause between them once again. Kielo's heart beat fast with worry. What was it that was so hard to say? Were they doing something wrong? Were they supposed to say something? Unsure, they kept on licking Winter's scales and waited patiently.

Then she spoke, and Kielo finally understood; not only why Winter was so afraid, but why the guilt hurt so much, why being here felt this way. What was making them feel so happy when they were around her. At first the hybrid was unsure of what to say, a small whine emerging. They opened their mouth, and choked on the words as they emerged, nothing seeming to come out right. "Wh-why are you so afraid?" Kielo asked gently, nuzzling the snake once again, their words breaking into soft sobs. "Th-there's n-nothing to be afraid of. B-because... I l-love you too!" their words dissolved in the wake of choked, relieved laughter.

_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

A huge shower of relief fell over Winter at Kielo's words. She had been scared that she was the only one, that Kielo had not returned the same feeling that she felt throbbing within her all the time. That her desire to be with her best friend in this way was unnatural or unwanted. But Kielo felt it too. And that was the most comforting thing she had ever felt.

She pushed into Kielo's fur, happier and lighter then she had ever felt before falling into the same laughter that had caught Kielo's words. They were both relieved, both so happy and they both laughed together.

The wound still hurt, still throbbed dully, but it was nothing compared to this moment. It wasn't important, it didn't matter. All things would heal now that she and Kielo had shared this moment. Her tail curled happily around Kielo's paw and she sunk into their warm white fur. "Everything will be okay," she whispered. "I'll look after you and you'll look after me and we'll be happy." She hoped, she hoped with all her heart that they would be happy.

But what would happen now? How could they step forward from this? Where was there to go? Settling down and living together? Winter wasn't sure she could do that. While she loved Kielo and she loved Polaris, there was still something desperate within her that urged her to travel, to explore, and see everything, meet everyone. But she didn't want to leave Kielo now. Perhaps she could stay here for now, in Polaris, until she was pulled into the caves once again.

But it didn't matter now. She pulled herself back into the present and back into Kielo's soft, warm fur. Her laughter died away as a serene peace came over her, filling in the places where the burden had been lifted away. She relaxed into Kielo's neck fur and feathers, warm both inside and out. "I could stay here next to you forever," she breathed, softly.

When I speak.

When I think.

@Kielo

Kielo grinned, suddenly feeling bashful as they felt Winter coiling with her entire serpentine form into their warm body. Her soft murmurs brought fresh tears to their eyes, and their heart, so full to burst of so many emotions, swelled with warmth. Finally, their laughter faded into quiet chuckles, their breaths deep as they caught up, and fell silent to listen, their swiveling ears taking in the wonders of the small world that they knew; Polaris. They turned their face down towards Winter so that she could see their smile.
"Forever?" they asked quietly, as though hardly daring to believe it. At first, they seemed entranced by the very idea of it. After a few moments had passed, though, the hybrid hesitated, their smile faded slightly. "P-please. J-just don't hold yourself back for me, okay?"

They weren't sure where the worry had come from, but their thoughts turned towards the others they'd met, who'd seen so many things and been to so many places. Had Winter seen such things? Did she want to? Kielo couldn't help but worry that she'd hold herself back for them. They didn't want Winter to stay if it meant she couldn't explore, and hunt, and be happy.

Kielo relaxed themselves as they felt Winter sinking into them, and slowly, hesitantly, they laid their chin down onto the ground, relaxing percetably, folding their wings into their sides. Their eyes closed fully in contentment, almost as though they were asleep, though their ears were still perked. They felt their worries, having been voiced, drift away into the present. They had all the time to worry about that in the future; for now, they were together, and they were happy together. "I could, too. It's so perfect here."

_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @winter
notes: here

Winter shook her head at Kielo's words. "You would never hold me back." But there was a twinge in her that made her uneasy about her answer. She had wanted to see the whole cave, all of it. Every room and tunnel, every nook and cranny. Would her love for Kielo hold her in Polaris? She wondered about staying here. It wouldn't be so bad. She liked Polaris, with the rive and the spire and the crystals upon the walls. But she knew that she would get tired of it eventually.

She wanted to voice her concerns to Kielo, but she wasn't sure she wanted to. She didn't want them to feel like they would hold her back from all she wanted to see. But then an idea sparked in her head and she wondered if Kielo would agree. She had no idea what they did in their life, if they stayed here or wandered around. "Hey, Kielo," she asked, after a few more moments of silence. "Would you like to travel with me? See the caves?
I've always wanted to see all of them and it would be even more wonderful if I had you with me."

She thought of her confrontations with the creatures of the other caves and shivered. She wouldn't have had such a hard time, probably, if Kielo had been there.

"But,
I mean, if you don't want to, that's fine," she continued, quickly. I don't want to go anywhere right now, I only just got here. But when I do...eventually."

When I speak.

When I think.

@Kielo

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