Midnight Shadow: Ferox

Sorien reaches for the spoon that REDACTED fetched, and gets a scoop of stew and offers it to Kaylah-The-Devourer.

Sparhawk meanders over and leans on a chair after dragging it over and upright. "Best not to bite me kid, not healthy for anyone within a hundred-meter radius!" The joke is less light-hearted than normal, though Spar keeps trying.

Sorien raises an eyebrow at that. "Is something bothering you other than our recent disaster? I can listen if you need to talk."

Sparhawk nods. "Someone was...trying to introduce the lil' yote to the local huskies. I can think of a few worse ideas, but not many."

Kaylah eats the stew without fuss, getting used to being fed. Thankfully she's been a faster learner than most and has barely ever spit up.

REDACTED frowns noticeably, "Because that's what we need, your kid to spread around and take more lives before it learns to control itself."

Sorien softly churrs, "... In what way... Introduce? (Her eyes narrow)"

Apostasy quirks an eyeridge at Spar's comment.

Sparhawk raises an eyebrow at REDACTED in turn. "You need to sleep more, because you are running at dangerously high levels of pessimism. It was, basically, one of the people who is very enthusiastic about the local street entertainments and is prone to bringing new Zephyr employees to experience them. Fortunately I can still feel her echoing in my head and was able to put a stop to things."

Sorien continues feeding Kaylah, but does comment. "I'd hug you if I could, sweetie. If you want her to hang around here, she and you would be quite welcome.

Apostasy seductively says, "I wonder how the little bouncer would get on with the little fuzzball."

REDACTED says, "I'm sorry, I suppose I'm just a bit hypersensitive to just how dangerous your child is. I know it's not your fault though."

Sparhawk sighs and rubs at hir forehead a little. "It is possible to know how sharp a knife is without fearing it. I say these words to you as a reminder: fear. Despair."

Sorien softly churrs, "I'm sure they'd be fine, as long as she's not cheese-flavoured. If that was the case, I think she might be in danger from the Muncher here."

Apostasy chuckles. "I daresay she's not cheese flavoured."

REDACTED cringes at Spar's words, her ears pressing flat, "You're right once again. I think I really do need more sleep. I haven't been able to since..." She leaves the statement at that.

Sorien leans and licks REDACTED' nose.

Sorien softly churrs, "Bring her over, Spar, please. I think it would be good for all of us."

Sparhawk nods sadly. "They used to sell sleeping pills, but those are not a long-term solution either. Anyway, I had to make sure my incipient dreamer wasn't having nightmares, which is where I've been since then. If I start offering to edit your dreams, make sure to punch me in the face before Coyote comes to do it for you."

Sorien softly churrs, "I'm saving my facepunches for Coyote."

Sorien softly churrs, "But I'll probably calm down before it comes to that."

Sparhawk snickers. "That would be wise. I can give advice on that, too, although it will be notably Sparhawk-flavoured advice."

Kaylah turns her head when the spoon comes up again, and starts to squirm- this time reaching for the oh-so-interesting Spar.

REDACTED says, "The nightmares are the most draining part of sleeping. However I worry about many things, and my mate's condition coming home, and my heat cycle have only made it worse. I think I slept 3 hours in the last three days."

REDACTED continues, "The last time I fell asleep was in here, and I woke up screaming. I gave poor Braendan quite the shock." Her face is drained.

Sorien nuzzles REDACTED again, leaning against her. To Spar she says, "I think you have an admirer, Spar." Kaylah keeps squirming, definitely interested in checking out the big thing she's looking at.

Sparhawk looks north momentarily, losing concentration. During that period hir mouth says, "Maybe someone could punch you in the temple for some blackout time?" Hir attention turns to Kaylah afterward and wiggles eyebrows and ears at her in a reasonably absurd manner.

Sorien softly churrs, "... Spar, who just spoke from your mouth?"

REDACTED looks shocked at Spar's words, as harsh as they were they definitely were not the Spar she knows. She stiffens, her posture suddenly protective of her mate and defensive.

Sparhawk feels around at hir beak and throat a little, making a few caw noises. "What, why?" Shi doesn't seem to have noticed the off-colour nature of the most recent joke.

Sorien softly churrs, "You said, and I quote, "Maybe someone could punch you in the temple for some blackout time?" Which is decidedly NOT something you'd say normally."

Sorien turns to REDACTED. "It’s okay, sweetie, you can relax. I think its badly-considered mischief, not a threat.

Sparhawk shakes hir head. "I think I may be...distracted. It was intended to be some joke about Taggart, but sounds like it came out a lot more mean-spirited than I thought it would. Besides, I never did have time to ask him to teach me that trick."

Sorien softly churrs, "Sweetie, your sense of humour works better for you; don't try to be someone else."

REDACTED tries to relax under her mate's suggestion, she still seems hurt by Spar's comments, even if they weren't intended to be harmful. Her ears are low, her eyes sad.

Apostasy yawns. "Sorry to leave you all, but I'm exhausted. Going to appropriate that suite in the bath house again, if nobody minds."

Sorien softly churrs, "Rest well, Apo. We'll see you soon."

"Nobody minds at all." REDACTED says, "I enjoy your company, and take care of yourself."

Sparhawk waves a spare wing to Apo. "Meet you on the morrow!"

Apostasy waves as she heads up the stairs, yawning again.

Sparhawk has working mirror neurons, as evidenced by the yawn that follows Apo's departure. "No progress to report beyond that."

Sorien looks back and forth between REDACTED and Spar. "We need to talk, I think. We've all had a hard few days, and I can't stand the idea that we're having problems between us. REDACTED, I love you; keep that in heart and let it protect you; I'm here. And having you and Kaylah and our friends here has helped me. Let it help you too. Spar, I know you've a great deal going on with your child, but there's more to it I'm sure; let us help, please?"

Sorien still looks a touch haggard from the last few days, but does look better.

Sparhawk blinks sleepily. "I'm tellin' you about it now, aren't I? Not sure what you would propose to do about the most recent debacle or two now that it's mostly-over."

REDACTED relaxes, seeing Sorien back to her old self. "I don't need you to always protect me, I want us to work together. I just could not bear seeing you so disheartened my love. I'm already drained as it is mentally, physically and emotionally and the tax of seeing you so down was not something I could handle." She turns to Sparhawk, "I'm sorry that I've been tense and conflicted about your child, I know it's been difficult for you, and you love her... It's my fault that I am reminded of possession and the shadow when I think of her, and it's not fair to her at all. She's not done anything even remotely bad since she took her own body that would even suggest that she might have any ill will in her."

"I also need to say, I respect her, for taking a body that was given up freely, without taking anything from another. I'm still impressed by that judgement on her part." REDACTED continues.

Sorien softly churrs, "Better. Conversation and understanding. Sori like.” (she grins, bouncing Kaylah gently)

Sparhawk says with false modesty. "Well. I did help with that. Trying not to make every decision for her forever, which is part of one of this month's projects. I appreciate the power of bad memories... can't admit that they are more powerful than anything we can bring to bear, however!"

REDACTED says, "I know you've been a good parent Spar. I also know good memories, and love, both help to counteract the dark memories. I wouldn't still be alive if it wasn't for the love and support of my mate and friends. However, a chronic lack of sleep is taking its toll on me and that's not something fixed by good memories alone." She fidgets a bit, her tails shifting position and she brings one foot up to rest on her other knee. "I'm sure it's just the most recent trauma that's made it worse, but also my visions have been significantly darker lately. I fear it's growing in power, which means the longer we wait, the stronger Midnight Shadow will be."

Sorien softly churrs, "We need to find the throne; not that I have any idea what to do when we do."

Sparhawk makes a generalized hrm noise. "Please define 'visions'. Also, science says lack of sleep depletes the serotonin in your brain, otherwise known as the chemical responsible for making you happy. So there is that."

Sorien softly churrs, "Its own strength is its weakness. So... Considering that, perhaps the stronger it is, the weaker as well if we learn the right tricks."

"I... I... I suppose I should at least share some of what I've seen. I'm convinced now it's not fake. And before long I think all of you who've been touched will start to see the same." REDACTED' eyes are distant as she speaks. "I have been dreaming through Ferox' eyes ever since she went missing. The story it tells is full of pain, and I've purposefully avoided talking about it with Taggart around."

Sorien hands Kaylah to Spar, then goes to the bar. "Who would like tea?"

Sparhawk nods encouragingly, listening intently to the words. Piecing together the cultures of REDACTED' home, local natives and applied scientific reasoning! ...which lasts until shi gets an armful of toddler. "Ack! Warn me before you toss sharp things my way!" The chest adjacent to the child rumbles warmly.

Cilan suddenly snorts and looks up from the bar counter, her light snoring finally coming to a close as she looks around, her groggy eyes scanning the room, "Huh?.. oh.. uh.. hi, everyone.." is said as she notices the friendly faces.

Sorien grins, and pours cups for all four. She brings each back, passing the hot mugs around before sitting again.

REDACTED speaks softly, with a sombre tone in her voice and her hands clenched, her claws barely not breaking skin. "The initial dreams were benevolent. I saw a confused Ferox running, she left with mixed feelings. The coin I gave her still in her hand. Her purpose at the time wasn't clear, but I now know it was her trying to find those missing memories she had sacrificed as part of her deal with the shadow. She spent time in the wilderness, a lot of it. I dreamed of her having to kill by hand to feed herself, she appeared lost, and I think it's because she was trying to search out where she lived, but she couldn't -remember-." REDACTED pauses, "But then she did find it, shortly before our first time with Coyote, she found her home."

Sparhawk comments, "That is an ominous breakpoint." Kaylah gets shifted around a bit so Spar can keep the hot teacup out of reach.

Sorien shifts so that she can rub REDACTED' back.

"Then things got dark. She frantically searched, for something, I'm not even sure what she was trying to find. She entered an abandoned highschool. She found what she was looking for before long, an old locker with the name Lyria Masters, her old name, one of the things she hadn't forgotten. She pulled out photos, memories, trinkets, all left there from when P-day struck. The faces, the names, none of them she remembered. It was overwhelming for her, and I woke up with her sadness in my throat." REDACTED eyes are teary in remembrance. "She searched high and low piecing memories from her old life together, tracking down names she had forgotten, faces. Her rage was growing at what had been taken from her. Her realization that her parents names and faces had been taken from her, caused her to go into a fit of rage. She smashed possessions, memories, and eventually she broke the coin I had given her."

Noticing the hot cup of tea being offered, Cilan reaches out, and takes it, "Uh.. thanks, I guess.." is said as she pulls it closer to herself, looking next to REDACTED and staring in silence, listening with obvious interest.

Sparhawk interjects, "These dreams happened linearly, not repeated over a course of nights?"

REDACTED nods, "Small pieces, with gaps between. It's part of what convinced me from the start they were real."

Sorien nods to Cil, paying attention to REDACTED' story.

REDACTED' irises shrink as she speaks, "The most terrifying thing was I could -feel- him taking her. I dreamed the process that he used to break her down, her will, her sanity, herself. Piece by piece he challenged her, caused her to give into her anger a little more. In the way he used my faith against me, he channelled her anger and rage and gorged himself on her soul."

Sorien kisses REDACTED' neck, still rubbing her back.

Sparhawk engages in shuttingup at the end of that last paragraph, hiding inappropriate laughter in the complex task of lapping hot tea with a beak.

"The emotional feedback was tough to bear. I felt how she felt when I woke from the visions. It stole my sleep each time, in both the restless vision, and the emotional aftermath. The visions then had the tinge of shadow on them that make bile rise to my mouth, the same feelings that I have when my own memories of things like Daly come to the forefront. And, having had to live through that was bad enough, but I've sense had to suffer through Ferox reproducing her own version. You see, the town was empty, but the people had not died. Those memories are what the shadow stole from her, and used them to take her." REDACTED shifts, putting her foot back down and her hands on her knees, "She found what she was looking for, her memories, piecing them together. School mid-day being interrupted by strange creatures breaking into the school, the rush to leave and being attacked by strange boar-like animals. Her being protected by her first boyfriend who threw himself as a target at the beasts and let her get to a teacher's car. The teacher who drove straight away, before getting into a car accident that left him dead, and her injured. Her being found by a Zephyr employee and being dragged back here. You see, she never knew what happened to her family, the hope that they were still alive had kept her going, and it being taken from her was what changed her so much during the time after Shadow took her memories. Her trust in the altruism of others from her boyfriend's sacrifice drove a wedge between her and Tag. She would never have left otherwise."

Kaylah explores Sparkawk, whatever limb (or beak) gets close to her hands, gets grabbed and pulled upon.

Cilan brings the cup to her lips only now, and takes a large sip from its contents, her eyes open in almost awe, and shock as she listens, to the fate of Ferox.

Sorien pauses in her back-rubbing to lap some of her own tea.

REDACTED pauses after telling that bit for a moment, and then says, "The problem is, the Shadow now had control of her. The knowledge of her family still being alive would normally have made her ecstatic, but under his influence it channelled her anger at being abandoned, and pushed her to find what happened to them."

Sparhawk has no meaningful comment at this break in the narrative, just trying to sort out chronology. And finally remembering to fold hir scythes away behind hir back, pulling one knuckle out of Kaylah's grip and leaving a more-normal hand in its place.

Kaylah immediately tries to get that more-normal hand into her mouth.

Sorien softly churrs, "Is she still in that town? And how far from here is it? We could check it out, see what we can learn."

"It tracked down her old home, found the direction her parents and many of the others had fled, toward Sacramento. She set fire to her parents home, and then headed in that direction." REDACTED says, clearly chronologically starting to catch up to her current visions. She presses her eyes closed and brings her head up to her face knowing she's getting to the bad part, and not particularly thrilled to relive it.

REDACTED shakes her head at Sorien. "I know where she went love, that's the worst part."

Sparhawk wiggles fingers to distract Kaylah while shi wraps blue silk around them. "Plans wait until stories are over, Sorien. Gotta look before leaping, you know?" Shi grins, and it is a more normal grin.

Sorien nods.

Kaylah giggles and sort-of slap-grabs at the wiggling fingers, enjoying the game.

Sparhawk is caught! The fingers wiggle less while grabbed, especially with a web mitten thing. Which is a little bit sticky, like clingy cobwebs.

REDACTED continues, "When she reached there, she found a largely mixed community. Humans, and changed both squatting in an overpopulated area, protected by police and a militia that had formed to keep the city safe. Not perturbed she lied, and manipulated with ease getting herself inside. It didn't take her long to find her family either. Her father had been infected in the change, so both her parents had taken on a bit of the porcine features of those that attacked, but had resisted further changes."

Kaylah makes a cooing sound, and plucks at webbing.

Sorien softly churrs, "Gods, I hope... Its going where I don't want it to, isn't it? "

REDACTED frowns, "Yes, yes it is love. I don't need to tell the details if you'd prefer not to know."

Sparhawk says distractedly, "Seems likely. Caveats to follow." Shi offers the wrapped knuckles to Kaylah and turns the hand over to let her inspect the entire web set.

Sorien softly churrs, "I don't think... Did any survive?"

Kaylah giggles, patty-caking with the sticky, webby hand, making happy sounds as the webbing sticks and snaps loose of her own.

REDACTED shakes her head, "No, the entire city is dead, a graveyard of decapitated heads."

Sorien just closes her eyes. "We can't leave that thing intact. It has to be destroyed, not just... Bottled up.

"It wasn't her work alone. The initial killings gave enough strength to feed Shadow enough to swallow the rest on his own." REDACTED says, "But she did kill quite a few."

Cilan nearly chokes on the most recent sip from her tea, coughing heavily as she hears that last part, "Holy fuck.. then.. then does that mean it’s too late for Ferox?.. and even then, if we ever go up against her.. is there even any way for us to beat something so.. so powerful?"

Sorien softly churrs, "It likely is keeping her as a favoured tool. Like REDACTED was."

Sparhawk squawks, "That is...remarkably thorough." Then REDACTED finishes, and shi says, "Ah, that makes more sense. Mob action." Cilan gets favoured with a beatific beaked smile, "Of course there is. We know what it is, and we know its weakness. The task is difficult, but totally worth it.""

Kaylah is oblivious, simply cooing and laughing as she plays.

Cilan lustily hisses, "Yeah.. well, when the time comes, just give me the order, and you can be assured that I’ll be on the battlefield to destroy that shadow thing.."

Sorien softly churrs, "It won't be that kind of fight, I'm afraid. We have to out-manoeuvre it, out-think it. Destroying it will be a metaphysical thing, not physical violence."

Sparhawk reaches hir hand down to poke a sticky knuckle at Kaylah's nose! Then hir ears prick up to Cilan's answer. "Now. I order you right now to be as happy and loving as humanly possible. Fill yourself with hope that tomorrow will be better, and the day after better than that. This is the weapon I wield against fear and death. Is this a thing you can do?" Hir voice is hard, sounding like an officer, of either police or military.

Cilan looks to Sparhawk and nods, "Sir, yes, sir!" finishing, she gives hir a rigid salute and leaves it at that.

Kaylah starts to gnaw on the proffered fingerjoint!

Sparhawk murmurs, "The world is a battlefield. We fight it right here, doing this thing that amuses children as much or more than facing it directly." The silk tastes kinda bitter and sticks to the teeth like half-evaporated soda, protecting the important meat inside.

Kaylah blinks a bit, then clings against Spar as she falls asleep at a speed only a baby can manage.

Sparhawk supports Kaylah against the armoured vest covering a purring chest. "And the most recent vision is that field of the enemy's success?

REDACTED nods, "The last time I let myself sleep was the end of that mess. I've not been able to sleep since."

Sparhawk ponders a while, quietly. Halfway through shi asks, "And that was how long ago? Just for reference."

Sorien softly churrs, "You need to, sweetie. Maybe we can close you off to her somehow, and thus the shadow; you're free of his influence, supposedly."

REDACTED says, "I think about 36 hours ago."

Sorien softly churrs, "You need to sleep. Any ideas, Spar, to keep her relatively dreamless?"

Sparhawk squawks, "I mentioned the sleeping pills thing. I immediately jump to the lessons of Coyote, but I haven't thought of any way to do that without either being passably dangerous or breaking the promise I made. Still working on that."

Sorien nods. "I'm sure we can get sleeping pills. Worst case I think I've got some nyquil softgels- those'll knock you flat with no dreams, or with really weird ones that our opponent may not be able to connect through."

REDACTED shakes her head, "I know eventually I will pass out, out of my own control, but I've just not been able to face that again. I don't want to see more of that."

Sparhawk thinks a while more. "Two things: you know you share a bed with someone and have a plethora of babysitters, yes? I find that can be rather distracting from...basically anything." The clinical nature of that suggestion incompletely masks the awkwardness.

Sorien softly churrs, "Have you ever heard of 'Russian Sleep', Spar?"

Sparhawk blinks. "Uh, no actually. That wasn't the second thing, but go on."

Sorien softly churrs, "Its a technique that uses a low electric current to place a person in a deep sleep and keep them out. I've heard of it, and I was thinking something like that might be helpful here if we could rig it up."

"I've slept better in Sorien's arms than anytime on my own. My mates presence helps my mind calm."

Sparhawk squawks, "Ah. A thing to try if nyquil doesn't stick and you are unable to love her to sleep."

Sorien earheats and can't help but grin at that.

Sparhawk squawks, "So. I am reasonably convinced to bring my child of mind to visit here, though if you start dreamin' I may have to evac in a hurry. My enthusiasm to fix things is untempered by caution in her!" Hir voice gets especially squawky for a moment. "No patience, she has!""

Sorien softly churrs, "I understand."

REDACTED nods, "I'm out of it, but not tired or relaxed enough to sleep, and I want to tell your child what I told you about her. She needs to know I've accepted her."

Sparhawk says carefully, "I think you should sleep successfully first. Your decisionmaking will be impaired until then, and I don't want you getting confused halfway through the conversation. I promise to let you do that as soon as you are ready, however."

Sorien softly churrs, "On that I agree. Having experience with sleep-deprivation effects, that's a good idea to rest before she comes out."

REDACTED sighs, "It will be a while yet before I can get my body to sleep. Reliving those visions again was not wise."

Sparhawk starts to reach out to nudge Sorien, but reconsiders based on an armful of bitey adorable sleeping critter. "I think that is your cue, madam."

Sorien grins, then kisses REDACTED.

REDACTED returns the kiss, "Please don't make me retell those again, but someone will need to tell Tag what happened, if he ever comes back to us. He should know what happened to his mate."

Sorien softly churrs, "It'll get passed on. WHEN he comes back, after he's had time to recover."

Cilan lustily hisses, "I say we leave that until his own curse has been dealt with.. who knows what the guy would do when he hears some of those details.."

Sorien rests her forehead against REDACTED' own. "Love you. We'll get through this, and we'll survive. Through love and family."

"I have no doubt in you my love. I know with you we can do anything." REDACTED nuzzles into her mate, and then says to Cilan, "We'll see how he is afterward. I think we'll need to speak with Coyote another time to understand why he did this to Tag. I just hope Tag will be up to returning."

Sparhawk nods quietly, not saying anything else on the subject.

Sorien softly churrs, "Tag will be back. Despite this, he'd not leave family. I'm sure of that."

Sorien softly churrs, "Spar? Love you too, sweetie. You're family. You too, Cil."

Cilan looks to Sorien, and a half smile pulls at one side of her lips the lizardess nodding soon afterwards, "Heh.. thanks, Sorien.. I think of all three of you as the same too.." finished she notices her cup is empty and sets it aside, moving next to her flask soon after.

REDACTED says, "I'm not one to usually speak like this either, but I love you all too. I don't know who I'd be without you... actually I do know who I'd be and I don't like her at all."

Sparhawk nods again. "Tired of talking for now. I do rather miss having someone to share my interior monologue with, even if it put a bit of constraint on it."

REDACTED gets up and moves over to hug Sparhawk suddenly. "No words are neccessary." she says.

Sorien leans over and kisses Spar, then frees hir from the grip of the dreaded Kaylah-beast. The child stirs, but doesn't wake in the least.