Chapter Text
Ghosdeeri: Mother, I don’t want you to drop the eggs, you’re shaking-...
Blizzaria: [A soft, serene chuckle comes out of the older, taller kumara, whose good eye closes as she fastens her grasp on the fragile item.] Relax , my dear. I won’t drop it.
[Ghosdeeri simply sighs to herself, watching with concern as her mother expertly cracks the egg on the edge of the metal pan. It isn’t often that they get to cook together like this; leaving it to the holidays, and whenever Blizzaria isn’t under the weather.]
[Ghosdeeri’s skepticism is broken by the sound of her older sibling’s roaring laughter from down the hall, approaching.]
Dusekkar: Ghosdeeri~! সর্বনাশ has your stuff~!
Ghosdeeri: [She lets out a startled noise, a scoff.] DOOMSEKKAR!!! I’m cooking with mom, don’t be a bother!
Blizzaria: [She lets out a sigh, mist surrounding the ‘mouth’ of her mask as her tone goes sharper.] My darlings.
[The sound of their mother’s tone changing to a more stern one left all siblings still, a subtle apology coming out of each of them in harmony. She could only giggle in response, and shakes her head as she stirs at the cooking egg by the stove.]
Dark Seed: [A grunt comes out of the 4-armed, older kumara. He pulls in an armful or two of pumpkins gathered from the garden outside.] Ah… my dear storm… I apologize for the abrupt arrival, the harvest is going well so far.
Blizzaria: [Her neck cranes slightly out of the mounds of fluff around her collarbone, leaning to give her shorter husband a sweet kiss.] My moon - do not worry.. I am simply preparing the stuffing mixture- Ah- My owlettes?
[Ghosdeeri, Doomsekkar, and Dusekkar perk up, all of them looking up at Blizzaria with curiosity in their eyes. Ghosdeeri, in particular, is quite attentive.]
Blizzaria: [She leans down, scratching each of them beneath the base of their horns and eliciting a purr out of them.] Be a dear, each of you, and prepare the rice, potatoes, and vegetables? Don’t take a bite out of it yet, Dusekkar.
Dusekkar: [He stammers a little, before chiming.] I won’t, mum!
[ Dusekkar wanders over to Dark Seed who gives him berries and mushrooms, while Ghosdeeri and Doomsekkar handle the rice and potatoes. They start to have a conversation on the side while preparing. ]
Doomsekkar: It’s been a while since we were able to cook together like this, right sister?
Ghosdeeri: It has! [A soft giggle comes out of her, brushing her shoulder against Doomsekkar’s.] I missed this, really. Being with you, brother, mom and dad… It makes the burdens of reality less-so.
Doomsekkar: [Her smile brightens, giggling] I agree! You always have a way with words… did you learn that from Blizzaria?
Ghosdeeri: She is our mom, after all. We gain something from her.
[Ghosdeeri’s focus shifts after Doomsekkar lingers a little, going quiet. Her smile fades to a questioning, worried gaze.]
Ghosdeeri: S…Sister?
Doomsekkar: [Mumbling, under her breath.] Maybe your mom, maybe brother’s mom, but… [Doomsekkar averts her gaze from Ghosdeeri] n-not mine. I have my own mom, she’s out there somewhere still.
Ghosdeeri: [She lets out a gentle exhale, they both had this conversation multiple times before, it always led to arguments and… crying and heartbreak. This isn’t the best day for those squabbles.] …You’re apart of our family though, yes? You are someone we care about, mo-... Blizzaria included.
Doomsekkar: [A lack-luster, weak chuckle comes out of the older of the two young kumaras] Y-...Yeah… S-sorry for bringing it up, it.. it still bothers me… I-I’m not ready to call her mother yet, until I at least meet my mom one last time.
[Ghosdeeri rests a wet hand on Doomsekkar’s shoulder, giggling at the scowling eye-twitch she gets in response.]
Ghosdeeri: We’ll be with you every step of the way, sister. I promise. We’ll see your mother again, and we’ll make sure you get comfortable with our mom as soon as you feel ready!
[The two exchange a smile; Doomsekkar barely catches Ghosdeeri’s little wings fluttering behind her, tiny feathers falling to the floor.
Doomsekkar: [A little hum comes out of her as she looks as the small, underdeveloped wings.] Shouldn’t your wings be much bigger at this age for you, ‘Deeri? They’re… small.
Ghosdeeri: I-I… ah… [Her voice turns uncertain.] I-I’m not sure… I haven’t brought it up with mother yet but- a-ah?!
[A cold, slender hand gently lines the bone of her small wings. Digits shivering as they caress each feather with curious dexterity. The cold air of Blizzaria’s chilling aura surrounds the two sisters.]
Blizzaria: [Focused and quiet.] You inherit my wings, but… your growth for them are slow, delayed… [Her voice grows concerned.] Have they ever started hurting, my owlette?
Ghosdeeri: [The kumara’s eyes darted around nervously, between the rice tangled in her hands, her mother, and Doomsekkar.] S-Sometimes… not all the time… but it would usually hurt when I’m sleeping… is something the matter?
[Blizzaria reels her head up slowly, eye half-lidded as she maintains her longing gaze over Ghosdeeri’s fledgling-like wings, weak and shaking — but feathered thoroughly.]
Blizzaria: Something that only time will have to tell… [She sighs, before letting her shaking, cold claws drift to gently caress Ghosdeeri’s cheek. Her eyes curving in a smile-like gesture as her daughter purrs into her hand. She giggles in reaction.] Do not dwell on it for now, allow me. Would you like to go check on your father and brother for me?
Ghosdeeri: [She nods eagerly.] I will!
[Not leaving with giving both her sister and her mother a tight hug; Ghosdeeri wanders away from the group to her brother and father, who were busy preparing the mushrooms and berries near the dining table. For some reason, it seems almost as if the world doesn’t exist beyond wherever she moves. But she pays it no mind. The mind can play such silly tricks sometimes. ]
Ghosdeeri: Dusekkar, Papa!
Dusekkar: [His eyes glisten joyously at the sight of his dear little sister, before a mischievous glow spreads in the grin of his eyes.] Has mother gotten tired of you scrubbing the flavor out of the rice, sister?
Ghosdeeri: Why you-?!
Dark Seed: [Sternly.] Dusekkar.
Dusekkar: Sorry, pa’..
Dark Seed: [His tone shifts to one of fondness as he turns to speak to Ghosdeeri, putting down the knife he was using to slice up the mushrooms from their stems.] My owlette! How are you, my dear? What brings you over, I thought Blizzaria had you washing the vegetables?
Ghosdeeri: [A joyous, happy giggle comes out of her as she is picked up by Dark Seed, spun around in given a loving nuzzle against her cheek. It feels hollow, like the world outside, but once again — she doesn’t pay it too much mind.] Mother was concerned about my wing growth… and… [she trails off, her voice growing unsteady before she recomposes herself.] …a-and then she sent me here…?
[Dark Seed places Ghosdeeri down carefully, a hand going up to caress his chin as he observes her wings. They were significantly smaller than any other bird kumara’s would be at this age.]
Dark Seed: Are you… upset by it, my dear?
Ghosdeeri: [She lets out a questioning noise, tilting her head, before nervously fidgeting with her fingers. Small… she felt so small —] N-No…? A-Are.. are you?
Dark Seed: [He blinks at her, silently for a moment. Silent for long enough to where Dusekkar became curious and looked between them, stopping his chore — until Dark Seed let out a laugh.] I would only be concerned about things you were worried about, my owlette. Now, would you like to help me and your brother stuff the pumpkin?
[Ghosdeeri lights up, her wings fluttering behind her— the burning pain of over-usage stings across her my spine, spreading through the nerves of my shoulder blades and leaving an ache in the back of my head that… didn’t affect her… this… this “variant” of myself… it seems…]
Ghosdeeri: I’d love to! Can I cut it this time, father?
Dusekkar: Aw! I wanted to! Can we do it together?
Dark Seed: [He scratches the back of his head.] Ah, well…
Ghosdeeri: [Her hands slam on the table as she barks at Dusekkar.] HEY! The last time you cut any large fruit at the feasts, you—
Ghosdeeri, Presently: [Her tone grows increasingly panicked and hasty.] He’d always wave that blade around, careless and playful. Only then until it falls out of his foolish hands and splits Sister’s right eye in half, leaving the flames of her head gushing out in a spur of —
Dusekkar: Alright, alright- You can cut it this time.
[Flipping the blade in his hand, he hands it by the handle to his younger sister, who curtly takes it within her claws. Taking the berries, she slices them in quarters and hands them to her father, who performs a few theatrics of magic tricks to smash them into a mush, letting them fall into the hollow pumpkin.]
Ghosdeeri: [She sighs] I don’t have the expertise you have with blades, brother.
Dusekkar: [He lets out a laugh] You should come with me, Doomsekkar, and dad to the cemetery. We practice sword fighting there alongside spooky dark magic. [He sighs as well, but it’s more of a theatrical than a serious sigh.] But I forget that you’re not fond of such.
Dark Seed: Blizzaria isn’t fond of my magic either…
[Dusekkar and Ghosdeeri turn to glance over at their father, question marks in their eyes.]
Dusekkar: [He cocks his knife to the side, adding emphasis to this question] Isn’t her magic similar? Under the same umbrella or something?
Dark Seed: [He turns his gaze to Ghosdeeri, letting his gaze linger before letting dark sparks dance around his claws… around the claw with his bestowed marriage ring - a sign of devotion to Blizzaria, his wife.] …Her magic is unlike anything I’ve ever seen from a kumara… we are considers creatures of darkness, Dusekkar. But she is light, her magic is chilled with stasis, but it isn’t dark in the nature ours are. [He glances back at Ghosdeeri] Which means, your magic is one of a kind, Ghosdeeri. A concoction of dark and light magic. Aren’t you a special little owl?
Ghosdeeri: [She startles, perking up] R-Really? I-.. I still struggle to harness it, though. Sometimes I can get it to do what I want but it almost has a mind of their own…
Dusekkar: [Dusekkar sniffs at a blueberry he was given to crush, slipping it underneath his pumpkin] D’you think it’s due to your emotions causing it to flare up? I know whenever you get mad, your magic becomes much more potent than mine or Doom’s.
Ghosdeeri: Doesn’t Doomsekkar not like her name being shortened like that? Also y-yeah it.. it does.. whenever that happens, it’s like it comes out on it’s own? W-Wait- what did you just slip underneath your mask??
[The two squabble against each other, Ghosdeeri dropping the blade to dig her claw beneath Dusekkar’s mask- who fights back.]
Dusekkar: W-What are you talking about?! There’s nothing underneath my mask! Get your dirty claws outta there!
Ghosdeeri: My claws are NOT dirty! We washed the fruits before cutting them, my claws are perfectly clean. You’re eating our perfectly good fruits!!! I can smell it off of you!
[Almost instinctively, Dusekkar tosses the blade into his dominant hand, and holds it against Ghosdeeri’s chest - forcing a yelp out of her and gaining Dark Seed’s attention.]
Dark Seed: DUSEKKAR! Do not flourish a blade near your sister. Do you know where you’re holding that damned thing?!
[The two cease their fighting, Dusekkar eyes where he let the blade press again his sister; her heart. Thankfully, with the flat part of the blade against it, it didn’t pierce. But the rapid beating of the organ proved to struck delayed fear into the younger kumara.]
Ghosdeeri: U-Um…err…
Dark Seed: [He snatches the blade away from Dusekkar.] Deeri, give me a moment with your brother? Someone needs a lesson.
Dusekkar: A-Agh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.
Dark Seed: I am not who you should apologize to. [He places the blade on the table, and gestures to Ghosdeeri - who fidgets with her claws nervously.]
Dusekkar: S-Sorry, Ghosdeeri. It won’t happen again.
Ghosdeeri, Presently: [Bitterly] Not to me, maybe. But to another, it will. Don’t lie to yourself, brother.
Ghosdeeri; I-It’s fine, It’s okay. I’m not hurt.
[Being there awkwardly while Dusekkar gets scolded by their father was embarrassing, she almost felt sympathy for her brother if she wasn’t the victim of the situation. Once things settled, she found herself wandering back to her mother, Blizzaria, who was preparing the table and cleaning up a few things.]
[Tugging on her makeshift wing-cloak, Ghosdeeri grabs her attention.]
Ghosdeeri: M-Mom..
Blizzaria: A-Ah, my owlette… [She rests a gentle claw against her cheek, feeling her lean into the cold palm] are you feeling okay? You look exhausted…
Ghosdeeri: Dusekkar got y-yelled at by dad for…s-stuff that happened while we were stuffing the pumpkin… and I-I had a bit of a… a sentimental talk with Doomsekkar… C-Can I rest, until the food is done? I-I’m sorry there just… so much going on…-
Blizzaria: [She leans closer to place a chaste kiss against Ghosdeeri’s forehead, a soothing purr coming out of her that let Ghosdeeri relax further into her hand.] Of course, my dear. Please, take as much time as you need to recompose yourself. If you’d like, I can bring you some of your favorite snacks and some tea to your room if you’re too tired to get something in your system?
Ghosdeeri: [She nods absently, a yawn coming out of her] T-That… that would be nice, mom. Thank you- I love you.
Blizzaria: I love you too, my heart.
[Ghosdeeri sneaks a tight hug at Blizzaria’s waist, not like she could reach any higher for a few more years anyhow. The comfort of her feather reminding her when she was a little birdling. At the time, she wasn’t allowed to leave the confines of her mother’s feathers, so she was forced to watch her older siblings learn to walk and explore the world around them until she was old enough to leave too.]
[ She almost misses it. It was always warm, always comfortable, always a perfect time to sleep. But perhaps she learns new priorities as she gets older. As a littler one, all she wanted was to be where her older siblings were.]
[Next thing you know, she was being hailed from her dreamless slumber down to the dining room.]
[Time became a blur, as if it didn’t exist at all. They were all seated around the table — Ghosdeeri next to Blizzaria, her next to Dark seed, then Dusekkar, than Doomsekkar, completing the circle. Her vision swam in her peripherals, leaving the image of a full table of ripe, steaming food in front of her - overwhelming her senses.]
Blizzaria: -Hosdeeri?
Ghosdeeri: H-Huh? Mother?
Blizzaria: Deeri, is everything alright?
Ghosdeeri: [It’s like she woke up again, and kept waking up over and over and over.] I-I… I’m sorry I-.. t-they-... [Her voice grows shaky] They-..!
[Abruptly, she stands. Ghosdeeri wastes no time escaping the confines of the dinner table, escaping the arms of her mother who tried to comfort her — to understand what was happening. Escaping the dream closing in on her.]
[In her room, the door closing behind her and locking it. A fearful whimper escapes her throat as she kneels to the ground, claws digging into the twitching, quivering feathers of her wings. She can’t help but pull and pull and pull. ]
Ghosdeeri: [Her breathing becomes rapid, unsteady. Eyes darting around the room with paranoia as the dream closes in on her.] I-It hurts—... I-It hurts it hurts it HURTS —!!!
[She gains her voice again. She kicks up into a sit as she breaths heavily in her room… in the real world again. She lets out a growl as she throws the blankets aside and moves for the bathroom, keeping the clacking of her hooves quiet in the wake of midnight.]
Ghosdeeri: [She turns on the light with a slap for the switch, angrily mumbling under her breath as she lets her coat hang off her shoulders, revealing her small and weak, battered wings.] To hells with these wings, this… this curse — [She tears at the feathers, bloodied and messy] Only a curse, it is… only a false blessing that grows on me like a parasitic leech. [She can’t help but hiss as the sting of feathers ripping from their roots forces pain through her veins.]
Traffic: [He knocks on the door, mumbling against it with a gentle voice.] ‘Deeri… is everything alright?
[Ghosdeeri lets the door open as she avoids Traffic’s gaze, letting her blood feathers hit the floor, and her wings twitch in the new wind.]
Traffic: [His mouth was left hanging open, astonished.] D-Deeri….
Ghosdeeri:
[Her voice is low, almost into a growl as she scowls at the thought of the upcoming conversation… and uncomfortable one, no less.] …I expect a confrontation from you about this… and I cannot stop you.