You were automatic, as hollow as the 'o' in God.

Fear doesn’t best her, not entirely. I smile at that, it is a victory even if it is a small one, have to start somewhere I suppose. In any case she seems to agree to joining me and while I am happy about that there is an inkling of uncertainty with my offer. I had things to explain.

I nod my cloudy colored head, closing my eyes as it dips down then rises once more. “Very well,” I say, opening my copper eyes to peek at her again, holding her gaze when I can manage. “It’s easier said than done though, it isn’t an accommodating place. There is little food and water, I travel back to the common lands most days to eat and drink.” Most days, if not daily, thus I kept myself alive but I also expended a lot of energy just to do so. My body stays toned, I am in good shape and I am thankful for that.

As I speak I move, nodding in the direction of the Waste and taking up a slow pace. There is no hurry to get there, she might even change her mind on the way and I could not hold it against her if she did.

“The others are just as hard and unforgiving as the land.” I make a point to speak slowly and seriously on the matter, taking my time with the words that come so thick from my lips.

“You must always be on alert and do not assume they will befriend you, let alone like you. It matters not to me what they like but I understand not everyone is so comfortable with solitude as I.” Of course I was, I’m deaf, my world is silence and I have spent many years becoming one with that endless quiet. The twins had kept me company but outsiders weren’t often in my circle, partially because I did little to seek the comfort of company. Even if and when I was lonely.

“The ruler is the one to be the most guarded with too if you happen upon him, he’s a Magician. A dark one and he takes and breaks all that he touches.” That was certain in my mind, I had witnessed his ill attempts at taking and I was not impressed by the outcome. My distaste for the Dark God was deeper than just that though, he and I went back but not in the way others might think. “He broke my sister once and in turn she broke our Mother, if it was possible to break her more. The twins have him to thank for their destruction as well, creation but destruction all the same.” My words took on a shadow of their own as I spoke, my eyes set on the path in front of us because I did not seek a comforting gaze. No one could apologize for these things, others feeling sorry for me or my family wouldn’t fix them.

I’m not sure we even needed fixing.

{TIOGA}

khaos x wichita

You were automatic, as hollow as the 'o' in God.

I could expand on the devious qualities of my counterparts and the land in which we lived but I may have never quit speaking. The other woman deserved to know though and I felt it was my duty to inform her. Had I not coaxed her into living in the very bowels of Beqanna? In a manner of speaking I had done just that and whether it was selfish of me or not I did not dwell on it overlong. I did not mean for her to suffer, to have a hard life or be stuck with one but being with someone, anyone, was better than being alone.

I am a prime example of that. Look which basket I had thrown my eggs into.

She presses into my hip and sadly this only makes me feel better about my actions. Did she know I needed reassurance, could she the doubt in my heart, the weight of the burden in my mind?

In any case I do not push her away, instead I let her cling to me like a babe velcros itself to a mother. I too am a mother, believe it or not, but Lysenth had long grown into a man years ago. That’s what they do babes, they grow and then once again the mother is alone. Perhaps the timid woman feels that void, even if the years are far too long on her to be coddled in such ways. I can not help but have a soft spot for the meek.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

And what a grand inheritance he had left them. Speaking of the presence of the gray Magician brings my forward progression to a halt, heaven forbid I run into him, that would require touching him. My side aches where Rhae touches, it feels like she is trying to get me to absorb her but I make no comment, instead my eyes never leave the beast before us. I do however dip my head, even if only just. While I do not care for our host, I have a healthy dose of respect for him. I am a woman but not a stupid one.

He speaks of Devils, of course he feels inclined to speak of his own kind and my mouth finds itself in a hard flat line. I can not hear Rhae’s outburst of laughter but I feel the shift of her head against my side and my ears flatten against my skull. She moves away from him, placing me in the middle and I do not quiver at the prospect of being the receiving end. “Carnage,” I begin, “this is Rhae. She’s decided to come stay.” I take my time placing the syllables together, even if it does not help much with my delivery of speech.

“Rhae, this is Carnage. The ruler of Pangea for all intents and purposes.” Ah a ruler and here I am doing the leg work, though it is for my own benefit and not his. Of course I tack on that last bit because I’ve yet to see him do anything but lay waste to the land and toss us to it- sink or swim.

“To what do we owe such an audience?” I ask but keep the majority of my bile in my head. Oh do tell us great one, I think, but do not linger too long. We might start feeling special or something. My thoughts leak sarcasm in rivers overflowing, the exact opposite of the dust covered riverbed Pangea harbors.

{TIOGA}

khaos x wichita