Chapter Text
His breath comes out sudden, ragged, pained.
His bodysuit, tight around his malnourished form, clings to him even moreso, dusted with silver shavings that doused his sweating body.
Shadow Milk Cookie’s ruffled collar brushes dust from his chest as he continues swinging his claws wildly at the inside of the silver tree. The sound is utterly horrific, yet it does nothing to wake his sleeping companions.
The soul jams feed off of their purpose. Due to the other beast cookies, the cookies of Crispia and Beast Yeast combined have fed into the selfish desires of sloth, allowed themselves the sweetness of apathy, the ruthlessness of destruction, and of course, the stillness of silence. They are well equipped, having drifted off with their hunger fulfilled enough for long rest.
He too, had once rested.
He wasn’t sure for how long.
He wasn’t sure why, suddenly, there wasn’t enough deceit in the world to sustain him.
Why.
Why did he corrupt.
He missed the comfort of his spire.
The Fount of Knowledge would happily light his candles, unscented, to read within his lavish bed. Curtains would drape against his windows, singing to him as they ruffled during light rainfall. Cookies sought him, cookies loved him, and he loved himself then, too.
The sole educator of the cosmos, such a daunting task but one he tried to meet with just as much excitement as his students. Oh, his students.
Shadow Milk Cookie is momentarily taken from his thoughts when he notices the grating sound of metal has disappeared, despite his clawing continuing on. His eyes slowly lower to his hands. A claw has broken, a small bead of purple jam forming.
If he weren’t so dehydrated his mouth would water at the sight, as he wastes no time surging the injury to his lips to lap at the jam.
It does nothing to quench his thirst.
It could never be enough.
His entire self is shaking at the sudden feeling of flavor and the soul crushing desire for more of it. He leans his concave side against the bed of metal shavings, licking the wound pitifully as though will alone would summon more jam for him to savor.
He missed his spire.
The more he taught, the more they understood. The more advanced he became. He found such joy in watching them grow closer to his level of knowledge, until it startled him.
The more was understood, the more daunting questions that could be asked.
It was so easy, a simple explanation.
A yes or a no.
Then he was spending nights awake searching for answers.
Conducting experiments and praying to the witches that they may assist him fulfill his purpose. They abandoned them, didn’t they? Shunned them all. Silent Salt spoke to them most commonly, and when they stopped appearing to even him..
He longed to curl in on himself, to spend the rest of what he assumed was the night in tears to try again tomorrow. He couldn’t manage tears.
With a sound resembling a strangled sigh, he finds himself sitting on his knees once again, his dull claws working to wear at the wall between him and everything he once knew.
If he could just find his way out, just explain that it was all a mistake.
He had to provide answers, not knowing wasn’t an option for Knowledge itself.
He tried, he really did.
If he could ask for forgiveness, perhaps..
—
The Faerie Kingdom is in a state of pandemonium, faeries rushing to and from to ready themselves for the impending doom that would surely fall upon them.
Quivers are being filled with newly fashioned arrows.
Swords are in the process of being sharped.
Medical supplies are being gathered and space is being cleared for makeshift medbays in assumption that the current available space will not be enough.
Pure Vanilla stands within sight of the Silver Tree, watching as thick, gnarled vines wrap around its truck to provide more time for preparations.
His knuckles are white as he grips his staff, the pupil watching the scene unfold before him.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie?” White Lily’s sweet voice graces his ears, his staff closing its large azure eye to allow him to open his own, meeting her gaze. He doesn’t speak.
“You must rest, you’ll be on the frontlines for damage control. Elder Faerie Cookie believes at the pace the beast is gnawing away the bark they’ll see their escape tomorrow, possibly in the afternoon.” She is not strangling her staff, speaking in a calm manner. He can tell her worry by the tension in her shoulders, the tightness of her jaw. He appreciates her ability to speak without such worry however, as he can feel his own tension ebbing away as he finally speaks.
“Do we know which beast has awoken, and how for that manner?” He removes a hand from his staff to gesture in the air, though the movements are frantic and convey little.
She shakes her head slowly, her long white braid swinging against her back. “It’s safe to assume that it’s not Eternal Sugar Cookie, she would likely resume sleep if she were to wake. Elder Faerie Cookie is also rather confident it couldn’t be Silent Salt Cookie. If Silent Salt assisted with the creation of the tree, it wouldn’t make sense for him to fight so hard to destroy it.”
“Hm. Mystic Flour Cookie may also be too apathetic to attempt escape. From what I know of her, she believes all will return to flour in due time. So it’s unlikely she would put in so much effort to ensure this happens faster.”
White Lily Cookie nods solemnly. The area in which they stand is lavishly addressed. Flora is in full bloom around them, casting shadows of large flowers and even larger butterflies as they flitter between the plants.
The next part of their conversation is left unsaid. There are five beast cookies, they have eliminated three. The only remaining options are the most destructive, and the most manipulative. If they are correct, and they deeply hope they are not, not much of the kingdom will remain after the carnage.
He steals a glance at the setting sun, and he hopes it won’t be his last time witnessing such a sight.
“More reason to rest.” She chides him softly, having broken from her silence before him. She places a hand on his shoulder, the scent of fresh lilies washing over him as she slowly guides him back to the guest room he’s taken.
“Alright, alright.” He can’t believe he’s finding himself laughing in such a dire time, but White Lily was always his best friend for a reason. “Though, have you heard word from the other ancients? We will need all of them.”
“Holly Berry Cookie arrived this morning, Dark Cacao will be arriving shortly, and Golden Cheese will be arriving tomorrow.” They cross the threshold of the building and begin their way to the stairs. “I assure you, we can manage for a few hours. I promise, I will wake you tomorrow before anything begins. Elder Farie has already informed us that the beast is taking a rest as well.”
“Resting seems unlike Burning Spice..” He brushes a strand of light hair from his face, startled to see White Lily has already brought him to his door. She gives him a tired smile.
“Rest, you will need it.”
“You as well?”
“Yes, I’ll be heading to bed shortly.”
“Hm.”