[SRP] Unwelcome Surprises (Echo's Song x Midnight's Whisper)

[tefla]

(( I figured it was time to get this rp done in which Echo's Song learns the truth behind what happened to her eldest daughter with Dradneos. I have had this reveal in mind ever since I won corpse powder for Midnight ))

 

[tefla]

The barest whisper of a breeze playfully picked up a few strands of Echo's mane as she stood silently. Her heart was in turmoil. Even as her gaze travelled over small parcel of land that her family claimed as their own with a bit of pride shining from her eyes could she not hide the pain that recent rumours had caused her. She and Dradneos had carved out a small place in which their family could live out their lives in relative peace and quiet. Or at least that was what she had hoped would happen. It seemed as if those hopes had been shredded by one individual alone.

The news though that her eldest daughter had seemingly disappeared from the land caused the mare some degree of uncertainty. It had been whispered words between Northern Sky's Finale and Vega's Overture that had finally put some doubts about Midnight into her mind and yet she still wanted to believe that her daughter wasn't capable of the actions that had once been described to her.

No, she'd almost certainly misheard her two youngest miracle children ... but at the same time ... what good would it be for her children to lie about the possibility of danger lurking from deep within their family tree?  

[tefla]

There was something deliciously wicked in the way that the cursed shifter remained in the shadows, observing the mare that once held an important title in her life. That had changed the day that Echo's Song, her own mother, had made fervent wishes on the bright star that shone above the land. If it had been just the one time, as an experiment, then maybe she could have forgiven her mother, but the fact was that Echo's Song had gone back a second time to make a similar beseeching request to the star. That was when she had felt her mind snap.

Careful planning had gone up in smoke when her own idea to use the strength and inherent evil of a pureshifter to attack her brother had failed spectacularly. After that failed result she had walked the darkest pathways, searching for anyone who would grant her the power to destroy her family. It'd taken a while but eventually she'd been successful in her mission. Now she wore the mantle of the poor animal that had found itself on the wrong end of her temper after discovering the power that had been bound to the powder she'd ingested.

She was now a shifter herself, hellbent on the destruction of others happiness. Wasn't it only fitting that the first to see her new powers be the one that seemingly betrayed her in the first place?

Slinking forward, Midnight's form shifted to that of her full size before she crooned a sweetly sickened greeting to the mare that she used to call mother.A greeting but also a taunt.

"Hello Mother, what has you out here, all alone?"  

[tefla]

At first nothing seemed amiss in the words that came from the darkness. Echo's Song flicked her ears back to catch the saccharine tone in the greeting before sighing softly. It seemed as if her daughter had finally returned. The knowledge that Midnight was alright was a burden that seemed to lift off her shoulders. Although not entirely unusual Echo felt the tiniest of shivers pass over her back as she still stood gazing over the land that was considered home. Even without turning around did the older mare sigh once more before bombarding her errant daughter with inquiries.

"Midnight, where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick over your noticeable absence. You know it would have been easy to send your familiar to at least give us updates on what you've been doing. I know you have one. Surely giving your parents some peace of mind would be better than nothing. I've been hearing unsettling rumors about you and at least now maybe we can put them to rest," and here she softened her worried tone before she continued, "what do you think. Does that sound like a plan?"  

[tefla]

"Oh Mother, you need to really catch up more quickly than this. It was true that I had a familiar. Ah, yes, dear Nightsaber. But it turns out that he didn't care to stick around me after everything was said and done. He flew the coop as it was. Turns out that our dear little familiars are weak when it comes to needing to herald change in our lives. Wouldn't you agree?"

Midnight ignored the rest of her mother's words as she closed the distance to stand right behind the mare that used to have some importance in her life. Now she felt nothing but simmering rage underneath muscles that flexed and thoughts that cried out for her to spill the blood of her matriarch. But that would end the fun all too soon. For she could not torment her family if she killed them all in a towering rage. But perhaps a small, permanent scar inflicted on Echo would make it so that her mother would always be unsettled going forward from this impromptu meeting.

"I mean we need to accept that changes can occur, when one least expects it."

On the stressed word "changes" did Midnight do exactly that. She took on the form of the black-pelted fox and lunged at the one she had used to call Mother. Her teeth sank into the vulnerable flesh of Echo's right rear hock as she tried her best to bring about the gift of lameness to an individual that she only wished to now bring forth untold amounts of physical and emotional turmoil upon. Even as she did her best to make it so Echo would never be able to outrun the damage that would be in her future did Midnight's whole body light up in sudden pain. Of all the rookie mistakes that she could have made, being lambasted by a well placed kick from a free limb had not been in the cards.

Feeling her teeth lose purchase had Midnight retreat to circle her chosen prey before she gave a sharp bark of laughter. She could scent the fear rolling off of Echo's Song now and the smell of blood was almost causing her to lose focus. "Best get that seen to soon mother dearest ... wouldn't do well for you to be caught unawares once again."

Even as she gave the older mare a feral grin did Midnight slink back into the darkness that had masked her approach. The deed was done and the gig was up. But in giving up the ghost as it was, Midnight's Whisper had driven the first seed of fear deep into her familial line. The hope was that it would continue to grow and fester ... and eventually destroy her family from within.  

[tefla]

"Oh Mother, you need to really catch up more quickly than this. It was true that I had a familiar. Ah, yes, dear Nightsaber. But it turns out that he didn't care to stick around me after everything was said and done. He flew the coop as it was. Turns out that our dear little familiars are weak when it comes to needing to herald change in our lives. Wouldn't you agree?"

Well that made some sense if her daughter no longer enjoyed the company of a familiar. But what would have caused such a change in Midnight's life that would see her familiar abandoning her? Confusion was flitting across her expression as she thought about her own familiar Alpha before failing to imagine the little hummingbird ever leaving her side. Echo's Song caught the words from right behind her as Midnight spoke about accepting changes that occurred when ones least expected it and she had to mentally agree. Even before she could get the words out though did the sudden blow to her back leg cause Echo to stumble before she caught sight of something that would forever change her outlook on those rumors, those tales about needing to be warned.

Even as she cried out at the sudden surge of pain along her leg did the elder mare keep her wits about her. Panicking wouldn't do anyone any good and even as she tried to push down the agony that was surfacing did she feel her left leg connect with the creature's side. The lingering doubt that this was not Midnight but something else entirely ... maybe lasted two seconds after the creature had withdrawn from attacking once more. The cadence and tone of the words spoken had Echo's Song trembling. What had driven her daughter to become ... this?

"Oh ...Midnight ... not this...not you," was barely a whisper as the dark shape that had definitely been her daughter disappeared into the shadows. The pain from the sudden attack was nothing compared to the sharp dagger of grief that lanced her very soul when she realized that nothing would ever be the same again. The reveal here would shatter everyone's world. But the proof was plain as day. As plain as the fire of pain that licked up her leg causing her to stumble before righting herself. That her own child had attacked her was concrete evidence that things were going to have to change.

 

[tefla]

Even as her tongue rasped along the roof of her mouth, savouring the taste of the blood that had been spilled did Midnight's keen eyesight trace the labored motions of the mare long after it seemed like she had departed. There was a palpable sense of enjoyment in that long awaited reveal of her new status to the one that had brought her into this world.

Now the true games would begin.

The whole family would be on guard but with her cunning and the strength afforded to her with her status as a shifter ... well it would be interesting, so very interesting to see who came out on top.

"I'll be the dark secret that you don't wish to acknowledge. The one that will be the biggest threat. Time is ticking until you all will feel the sharpness of my fangs."  

[tefla]

(( fin ))