The Vengeful One

"That's a great question, actually. Apparently, I've lost my memories of the past... five years? I think? To me, I'm 16. I ran away this morning. I have no fucking clue what's going on or where I am."

They follow their old friend without thought, just glad to finally have a face they recognize.

The women keeps going, and ‘hmms’.

“Sorry to say, there’s a lot that’s different. I can tell you if you want—but yknow. It’ll be a long story.”

She pauses in a clearing and sighs. “This looks like a good place as any. Quill, can you start the fire; Eren, start skinning those rabbits we got—“ and here Ophelia begins rattling off people and tasks which they go about with minimum complaining.

“When you left, your dad took the throne. Nobody was allowed to send messages in or out. We used to set them up in that secret spot, do you remember it? And then—like. Prime, I was stupid and I got caught with your letters.

I was punished. Almost lost my life, but I survived.” She smiles again, and it’s almost exactly as you remembered.

"The secret spot? God, I was going to send the best letters there. You-"

Ophelia takes a quick look around, and then leans down. “Something your dad did like really made Lady Luck mad. Like super super mad, she came down and razed the city to the Ground. Everyone who survived went to her new city and became her new followers. It’s lead by her High Priestess.”

Their brows furrow further at the mention of Ophelia destroying their city, a shock of fear traveling down their spine at the sheer mention of her.

Suddenly, she’s not looking at Cedar. She fiddles with something on her belt, and ‘hms’. “I don’t think you’ve got to worry about it,” she says, “considering that she never leaves her place of worship, you’re all good.”

The tension only makes them paranoid, and the paranoia makes them want to leave. So, they reluctantly stand up.

Darling mews and threads between Cedar’s legs, before laying over their feet, in an act of defiance.

"That's a great question, actually. Apparently, I've lost my memories of the past... five years? I think? To me, I'm 16. I ran away this morning. I have no fucking clue what's going on or where I am."

They follow their old friend without thought, just glad to finally have a face they recognize.

The women keeps going, and ‘hmms’.

“Sorry to say, there’s a lot that’s different. I can tell you if you want—but yknow. It’ll be a long story.”

She pauses in a clearing and sighs. “This looks like a good place as any. Quill, can you start the fire; Eren, start skinning those rabbits we got—“ and here Ophelia begins rattling off people and tasks which they go about with minimum complaining.

“When you left, your dad took the throne. Nobody was allowed to send messages in or out. We used to set them up in that secret spot, do you remember it? And then—like. Prime, I was stupid and I got caught with your letters.

I was punished. Almost lost my life, but I survived.” She smiles again, and it’s almost exactly as you remembered.

"The secret spot? God, I was going to send the best letters there. You-"

Ophelia takes a quick look around, and then leans down. “Something your dad did like really made Lady Luck mad. Like super super mad, she came down and razed the city to the Ground. Everyone who survived went to her new city and became her new followers. It’s lead by her High Priestess.”

Their brows furrow further at the mention of Ophelia destroying their city, a shock of fear traveling down their spine at the sheer mention of her.

Suddenly, she’s not looking at Cedar. She fiddles with something on her belt, and ‘hms’. “I don’t think you’ve got to worry about it,” she says, “considering that she never leaves her place of worship, you’re all good.”

"That's a great question, actually. Apparently, I've lost my memories of the past... five years? I think? To me, I'm 16. I ran away this morning. I have no fucking clue what's going on or where I am."

They follow their old friend without thought, just glad to finally have a face they recognize.

The women keeps going, and ‘hmms’.

“Sorry to say, there’s a lot that’s different. I can tell you if you want—but yknow. It’ll be a long story.”

She pauses in a clearing and sighs. “This looks like a good place as any. Quill, can you start the fire; Eren, start skinning those rabbits we got—“ and here Ophelia begins rattling off people and tasks which they go about with minimum complaining.

“When you left, your dad took the throne. Nobody was allowed to send messages in or out. We used to set them up in that secret spot, do you remember it? And then—like. Prime, I was stupid and I got caught with your letters.

I was punished. Almost lost my life, but I survived.” She smiles again, and it’s almost exactly as you remembered.

"The secret spot? God, I was going to send the best letters there. You-"

Ophelia takes a quick look around, and then leans down. “Something your dad did like really made Lady Luck mad. Like super super mad, she came down and razed the city to the Ground. Everyone who survived went to her new city and became her new followers. It’s lead by her High Priestess.”

"That's a great question, actually. Apparently, I've lost my memories of the past... five years? I think? To me, I'm 16. I ran away this morning. I have no fucking clue what's going on or where I am."

They follow their old friend without thought, just glad to finally have a face they recognize.

The women keeps going, and ‘hmms’.

“Sorry to say, there’s a lot that’s different. I can tell you if you want—but yknow. It’ll be a long story.”

She pauses in a clearing and sighs. “This looks like a good place as any. Quill, can you start the fire; Eren, start skinning those rabbits we got—“ and here Ophelia begins rattling off people and tasks which they go about with minimum complaining.

“When you left, your dad took the throne. Nobody was allowed to send messages in or out. We used to set them up in that secret spot, do you remember it? And then—like. Prime, I was stupid and I got caught with your letters.

I was punished. Almost lost my life, but I survived.” She smiles again, and it’s almost exactly as you remembered.

You see a brief flash of green, and hear multiple twangs as bows are drawn back and arrows are released, and the Hunters begin to fight back.

Darling sits on her haunches, and flicks her tail. She is calm, despite the chaos surrounding her.

Her Lady is here, after all.

To Cedar, chaos reigns yet again. In their already terrified state, this is not a good sign. They call out to Darling- hoping for her calm in any way of comfort they can, hand reaching out to try and clutch onto Cap. If anything, they just want Cap to live through this. They don't care about themselves.

The hunters scatter into disarray, clearly not prepared for the two hybrids to get any form of aid. Whatever attempts at fighting back they make are sloppy and panicked, and with the edge of arrows, the other side is already beginning to win.

Sounds and sights have all been muffled making the entire scene a smear of bright colours and loud noises, that try as they might, they couldn't make out. Although there was one thing they could make out very clearly; the smell of blood.

Squinting, they realized they could see a strange shape in the distance. They tilted their head in confusion trying very hard to discern what it was. After a few more seconds of staring they realized it was a cat.

“Hey, honey,” the women says and leans down to scratch at the cat’s head. “Where’s your owner huh?”

Darling purrs and then turns and walks back to Cedar and the women puts her arrow into her quiver and slides her bow over her shoulder and follows.

“Hey, Cedar,” she says, smiling lopsidedly. “Didn’t you tell me something about how I couldn’t make an entrance?”

"I take that back. I could literally kiss you right now, please get us out of this." Their dog ears flatten as the noise level of the chaos around them hits, hands still reaching out for Cap's... well, anything. "I'll eat my words, I swear to Prime-"

They bare their teeth, attempting to scare off the stranger or try and swear at them but the only thing that comes out is a series of slurred unrecognizable sounds and whines.

The women unplugs the collar from Cedar’s throat, and then puts her hands on her hips for Cap.

“I don’t know who you are, but stay still.” She says before, quicker than Cap can react, the collar is falling to the forest’s floor.

“Now that that’s taken care of,” the women glances back at Cedar and takes a clumsy bow.

“Your Highness,” she says, and then rises. “Ew. Hate that. C’mon we’re gonna find a place to set camp up.”

The other people start disposing of the bodies on the floor, hiding them in the woods for the wolves later—or whatever else wanted to get them.

"This is Cap- they're... they're more hurt than me. Got a rock thrown at their head." Their words are suddenly quiet, tense as they resist the pain in their shoulders again.

"I, uh. I really appreciate the help, but... I can't stay here. I was gonna leave with Cap- somewhere. I dunno."

Although it's evident they put a lot of effort into speaking their next words they're still almost incomprehensible but very clearly defensive and angry.

"D'nttouch 'm.. assh'le"

“You should be able to carry them without them like hissing or clawing or biting.” She nods to another person who slips in to support Cap’s other side, and she starts walking toward where the city ruins would be.

“What’s going on anyway, Cedar? What’re you doing out here?”

You see a brief flash of green, and hear multiple twangs as bows are drawn back and arrows are released, and the Hunters begin to fight back.

Darling sits on her haunches, and flicks her tail. She is calm, despite the chaos surrounding her.

Her Lady is here, after all.

To Cedar, chaos reigns yet again. In their already terrified state, this is not a good sign. They call out to Darling- hoping for her calm in any way of comfort they can, hand reaching out to try and clutch onto Cap. If anything, they just want Cap to live through this. They don't care about themselves.

The hunters scatter into disarray, clearly not prepared for the two hybrids to get any form of aid. Whatever attempts at fighting back they make are sloppy and panicked, and with the edge of arrows, the other side is already beginning to win.

Sounds and sights have all been muffled making the entire scene a smear of bright colours and loud noises, that try as they might, they couldn't make out. Although there was one thing they could make out very clearly; the smell of blood.

Squinting, they realized they could see a strange shape in the distance. They tilted their head in confusion trying very hard to discern what it was. After a few more seconds of staring they realized it was a cat.

“Hey, honey,” the women says and leans down to scratch at the cat’s head. “Where’s your owner huh?”

Darling purrs and then turns and walks back to Cedar and the women puts her arrow into her quiver and slides her bow over her shoulder and follows.

“Hey, Cedar,” she says, smiling lopsidedly. “Didn’t you tell me something about how I couldn’t make an entrance?”

"I take that back. I could literally kiss you right now, please get us out of this." Their dog ears flatten as the noise level of the chaos around them hits, hands still reaching out for Cap's... well, anything. "I'll eat my words, I swear to Prime-"

They bare their teeth, attempting to scare off the stranger or try and swear at them but the only thing that comes out is a series of slurred unrecognizable sounds and whines.

The women unplugs the collar from Cedar’s throat, and then puts her hands on her hips for Cap.

“I don’t know who you are, but stay still.” She says before, quicker than Cap can react, the collar is falling to the forest’s floor.

“Now that that’s taken care of,” the women glances back at Cedar and takes a clumsy bow.

“Your Highness,” she says, and then rises. “Ew. Hate that. C’mon we’re gonna find a place to set camp up.”

The other people start disposing of the bodies on the floor, hiding them in the woods for the wolves later—or whatever else wanted to get them.

You see a brief flash of green, and hear multiple twangs as bows are drawn back and arrows are released, and the Hunters begin to fight back.

Darling sits on her haunches, and flicks her tail. She is calm, despite the chaos surrounding her.

Her Lady is here, after all.

To Cedar, chaos reigns yet again. In their already terrified state, this is not a good sign. They call out to Darling- hoping for her calm in any way of comfort they can, hand reaching out to try and clutch onto Cap. If anything, they just want Cap to live through this. They don't care about themselves.

The hunters scatter into disarray, clearly not prepared for the two hybrids to get any form of aid. Whatever attempts at fighting back they make are sloppy and panicked, and with the edge of arrows, the other side is already beginning to win.

Sounds and sights have all been muffled making the entire scene a smear of bright colours and loud noises, that try as they might, they couldn't make out. Although there was one thing they could make out very clearly; the smell of blood.

Squinting, they realized they could see a strange shape in the distance. They tilted their head in confusion trying very hard to discern what it was. After a few more seconds of staring they realized it was a cat.

“Hey, honey,” the women says and leans down to scratch at the cat’s head. “Where’s your owner huh?”

Darling purrs and then turns and walks back to Cedar and the women puts her arrow into her quiver and slides her bow over her shoulder and follows.

“Hey, Cedar,” she says, smiling lopsidedly. “Didn’t you tell me something about how I couldn’t make an entrance?”

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

But they do want to come home to you. They want things to go back to normal too, but the difference is that they understand that in order to find peace you need to take the steps.

Its like if I sent you back in time—would you do everything differently? Would you train yourself, train Cedar? Torture them so they won’t break under the pain?

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.

Ophelia shrugs. “Potions don’t fix everything. And if you’re not aware of what triggers you you can never actually heal.

I think you just wanted your best friend back, and that’s it. That’s okay, but maybe you two needed to stay apart for a little while, did you think of that Captain?”

"No- you don't get it do you? I have nothing. Cedar's GONE. This is the closest thing I can get since the illusion- I have nothing else. I just want a fucking break- I want something nice- someone to hang around a campfire with- someone I can trust.