what-are-you

[what-are-you]

"Maybe."

It was not there then. It does not know, and does not need to.

"I hope that I can learn not to care about it. Somehow."

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

"I don't know how it could."

That thing shattered them, scattered their family to the wind, nearly destroyed the door and the thing behind it for good. How can they forgive? They know the why of it, but they don't know how.

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

"How do you forget?"

It's not being sarcastic, because it's not capable. It's an actual question. Does this just come with being severed, losing that vital tether?

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

"Dreaming?"

It remembers.

"Oh."

It remembers much too much.

"The little traitor."

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

It brings What some peace to know they won't be alone through this re-becoming. To know they are still beloved by their friends and kin, and that their god will protect them.

Some peace. But not enough to fully kill their concern.

"Another of our - of my kind?"

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

"Of course we can. But you'll be gone from us. And that makes me...I think a little bit sad."

It's not used to such things, even though it's known them since time beyond recounting.

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

They can feel it still, the mark of the puppet god upon them. If he loves them, why take them away?

"You're honored. And you'll be missed."

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

"You're different. You've been severed from us."

It has hands to reach out, but it cannot feel like it used to. Not anymore. And it's frightening to one who has already lost so much.

"Why?"

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

Amelie wakes up crying. There's a pain in faer heart that feels like grief. But who are they mourning? Is this grief actually theirs?

The grief echoes and echoes and echoes, all down through the chain of their twisted being. It is a grief shared by many, the grief of a world undone and a dream unrealized.

It is a grief What knows much too well.

"Eye of the Spiral. You're hurt. What's happened?"

What has changed it so terribly?

[what-are-you]

"It would be."

It's missed them so much it's unbearable.

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

They hope it's right.

Their thousand wings take flight, and they go to find Pamela.

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

It nods and wraps itself a little tighter around it.

"That woman frightened me. I thought she wanted to hurt you."

She wanted to protect it. That's almost worse.

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

It comes out the other side, still holding its child and shaking. It almost never shakes.

"Are you hurt?"

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

"I'd like that."

It'd like to know she's still there.

"Wait - wait a minute, I'm sorry, you said Niki, yes?"

That's her. That's the child she stole.

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

"But she couldn't see me."

"No," she admits. "I think it's because I wasn't looking."

That gets it quiet.

"I think I know Pamela. Or don't know. She was part of this, but then she got lost, and we can't find her."

It seems strangely saddened by that.

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

"My child."

Its essence flickers and flutters for a while before settling.

"And you are its mother?"

"In - in part, yes, I'm one of them."

One of the few ones that won't live forever.

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.

[what-are-you]

It is awake. it is aware. And it is angry.

"Did you hurt my son?"

"What? No, no, never. I was - I wanted to meet you. They said that I could."

What the hell is that?

Rye is the best predator. The best out there. No one can compete with it, it’s so skilled. It may just be a baby to Lucy, but Rye is actually a ferocious beast.

It found the kitchen, finally. On the counter was some strange thing that made noises when tapped. Food, clearly. What else could it be? Rye was immediately engrossed, eyes dilated to the nines as it stared at the food. It suddenly pounced and began going feral. It didn’t know a thing about what it was eating, but it knows sugar when it can taste it.

(@vapor-web)

"Rye?" Lucy trills. "Rye, why are you eating my Hydrox?"

If the damn thing weren't roughly the size and shape of an angry baboon, she'd try to pry it off. But as it is, she tries to behave reasonably.

"Rye, those were for the children."

Shit. It doesn't know about the children.