#gaeia

Sisters, older and younger, light and dark, best friends forever and both irrevocably changed by their experiences.

To the left is Gaeia and to the right is Diana. Gaeia is the older sister and more attuned to the Darkness and Diana is the younger and more attuned to the light. Diana is in love with Vanitas, Gaeia only cares that Diana is safe and happy. Neither girl is fully clean of wrong doing but neither is evil either. They're just people who at the end of the day fight for what they feel is right and for who they love.

                                      “Hold still, your wounds must be tended to.”

Lines and flats of [ Finished Piece ]

Gaeia Palette Challenge - Cool Sunsets

This started off as a simple writing prompt about my oc Shade.She’s a Goddess of Death.Well...it very quickly became the origin story of the first crystal demons...Gaiea Mother of All and Shade Bringer of Death.This bad boy is 2k+ words.If you enjoy please leave a like or comment on it I love to hear from my readers~

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The young girl stumbled from her home, her salty tears still drying on her cheeks.Her eyes wandered the streets as she walked, numb to the bodies that rotted in the gutters and the sight of wild dogs feasting on her neighbors' decaying flesh.

"I've got to stop this...I've got to make her leave..." she muttered to herself. Her body was already weak, on the verge of succumbing to the disease that had ravaged her village. She began to cough, the effort of fighting off the fit causing her to stagger into the wall of one of the buildings lining the street. She wiped at her lips, ignoring the blood that streaked across her hand as she pushed away from the wall and continued her slow but purposeful walk.

She'd heard the adults whispering about the Death Goddess that'd take residence in the neighboring woods.Fearing her to be the cause of the illness that had taken hold in the village, a large group of hunters had gone into the forest with the intent of driving her off.But after three days without so much as a word from the men, it became apparent that they weren't returning.

The girl stopped at the beginning of the deer trail that served as the hunter's entrance to the forest.It also served as the last place she'd spoken to her father."Be strong little one." he'd said as he placed a hand atop her head."Your mother's weak right now.You must protect her until I return."t he girl sobbed at the memory of her father's last words.

He'd never returned.And when her mother died from the illness the girl knew she'd failed him.She stood tall as she wiped her tears away."No more...I must go on.I've...*cough cough*I've got to end this..."She staggard forward into the woods, following the mostly hidden trail until she finally reached her intended destination.

"The ancestor's resting place."She whispered in reverance as she stopped to lean against a tree to catch her breath.The building before her terrified her.Listing to the side, its facade crumbling in places and beginning to be reclaimed by the dense overgrowth of the woods in others.It wasn't the building itself that cused the girl to tremble in fear and doubt her own resolve.The tre terror for her was the clearing and surrounding forest. For 30 yards around the building,everything was completley dead.The undergrowth covering the building,the trees of the forest...there were even a few small animals lying dead that'd had the misfortune of wandering into the area.

She choked back a sob,the fear causing her to stumble back a step.But an image flashed through her mind just before she turned and ran away. That of her mother's smile,frail and brittle though her lips were covered in blood and cracked and dried because she couldn't keep fluids down.That frail smile had been filled with hope,the hope that her daughter would survive this cruel disease and go forth to live even though she couldn't.

The girl stepped forward into the clearing,wincing at the sound of the dried leaves being crushed beneath her feet.She slowly approached the temple,her eyes darting around as she became brutally aware of the soul crushing sound of silence surrounding her.

The entrance of the temple loomed above her,the sounds of her approaching footsteps echoing in the darkness that stretched before her.Inhaling a deep shuddering breath she stepped into the darkened hall,one hand trailing along the damp,slime covered wall to keep herself steady.

After what felt like an eternity the hall began to brighten and her steps quickened,bringing her to a cavernous room in the center of the temple. A portion of the roof had collapsed,scattering debris into the room and explaining the source of the sunlight.Large statues ringed the room,their faces and shapes weather beaten and rendered unidentifiable thanks to time and exposure to the wind and rain.The girl knew these were statues,Priests and Priestesses bound in marble that were supposed to give the worshippers of the ancient ancestors a sense of calm and peace.But they only inspired a deep sense of forebodnig in her as she took trembling steps over the broken chunks of stone,making her way carefully to the woman sleeping on the altar at the center of the room.

Dark green hair the color of dried moss covered most of her face and body,hanging down to the floor and acting as a blanket of sorts for the woman. Massive leather wings sprouted from the center of her back,the top edges covered in crimson feathers and the leathery edges of the wings seemed as if they were covered in a lighter colored moss than her hair color. The woman's skin was deathly pale and if it wasn't for the gentle rise and fall of her chest the young girl would have thought her dead.An unearthly sound filled the room,almost sounding like a chorus of death rattles and the girl quickly realized it was the sound of the woman breathing.

She approached hesitantly,afraid to wake the woman but knowing she had no choice. She clutched her mother's precious opal neckace close,drawing a small measure of comfort from it.It'd been given to her upon her mother's death,a token of luck that'd been passed down through the women of her family for generations.

Her body grew still as she stood before the altar,her mind racing as she tried to figure out what shecould do or say towake the powerful woman.Hereyes darted around the room,scanning forsomething...anything to help or guide her.

"You're alone now aren't you?" a woman's voice,deep and almost raspy sounding echoed forth from the body lying at the altar.The girl squeaked in terror,stumbling backwards and making the sign of the cross over her chest as if she were trying to ward off some sort of evil.."Those words don't work on me , child."The woman said as she slowly began to rise into a sitting position.

She brushed her hair back over her shoulders,her wings stretching out to their full 12 foot wing span before folding neatly behind her.Her eyes slowly opened and her piercing blue gaze seemed to cut right through the young girl,rendering her incapable of doing more than falling to her knees and sobbing aloud at the mere folly of waking the Death Goddess.

"Why do you approach me so,only to tremble in fear and wish to escape?"The woman asked as she folded her hands regally in her lap. The girl shook,clutching her precious necklace as she swallowed roughly.

"G...great Goddess of Death..I...I"The girl choked on her words when the woman raised an eyebrow at her.But the woman didn't interrupt her,merely motioned for her to continue."M..my village was visited by a plague.Causing many to die and many others to flee.Hunter were...were sent to..."the girl couldn't continue,an image of her brave and strong father flashing before her eyes and causing her to break down into tears once again.

The woman sat still,slowly closing and opening her eyes before fixing the girl with her gaze once more."The hunters...foolish men who dared attack me in my sleep and paid the price with their lives."She waved a hand behind her,drawing the girl's attention to the bleached white skeletons that were scattered just behind the altar.

"B..but how can that be?They'd only just gone into the woods to find you 3 weeks ago..how is it they're alread in that state?"The girl seemed dumbfounded until she noticed the necklace she'd made for her father hung around the neck of one of the skeletons."F...father..."she whispered in fear and reverence.But before she could register any emotion other than shock the woman had begun to speak again.

"My powers are great and terrifying.Those who dare to oppose my will are struck down and rendered lifeless as soon as the thought enters my mind."She frowned slightly,the expression horrifying on her face considering her recently spoken words."I know of this illness you speak of child.Though it was not my doing.The rat sickness was in your human village long before I'd arrived.Your blame is misplaced."

The girl jolted at the revelation,looking down at her hands to the blood streaked across her wrist and thumb from where she'd wiped her mouth before."Rat sickness...it wasn't you...it was never you."She whispered before succumbing to a coughing fit that clutched at her chest and stole her breath. The woman watched this without emotion,still as a statue until the girl finally recovered her breath once again.

"My mother..my father...the whole village is gone."The girl whispered as she looked at the regal woman,a desperate look in her eyes."What do I do?I'm going to die soon too...the illness already has me!I...I'm going to die alone..."Her voice came out dejected,as though she'd already accepted her fate."But what's worse is...this illness..I know it's going to spread to other villages.Many fled when it began to take lives.Surely some of them were infected."

"And?"the woman asked,her voice came out quiet,almost reassuring though her face quickly flashed to anger."Why should I care if more humans die?You cast me out!Death is a natural force in life.A necessary end to all things.All I ever did was bring peace to those who suffered.And yet you humans began to fear me! Hated me!I was once revered,respect.Now all I see is hate when I come near!Look at them!"she waved her hand angrily at the skeletons behind her.

"They sought to end me!Thought they were better than death!But they learned.Oh they learned quickly didn't they!"she began to laugh.."You foolish little creatures all deserve to die!!"

The girl cowered in fear,knowing she'd lost the chance to seek aid from the fearsome woman. Suddenly the opal around her neck began to glow,the light from the gem outshining the light that poured in from the hole in the ceiling.

"Sister..."a voice sounded from the glow,calm,soothing in it's tone and full of love.A woman stepped forth as the glow began to fade,clothed in a sky blue dress with a sheer skirt.The dress was belted at the waist with a simple leather belt and her hair flowed down past her waist,the green shade that of new grown spring leaves.Her four large wings spread out regally behind her,the feathers being the source of the glow.Her honey brown skin seemed to glow as well and her honey colored eyes,so filled with love and sadness looked on kindly at the Death Goddess.

"Gaeia."The pale woman said,her voice filled with pain and anger."What do you want here?This is no place for life and the living.Leave me to my misery."

The one called Gaeia smiled sadly and shook her head."No Shade.I can't leave you like this any longer.I've come to end your pain.You've held this grudge for far too long."

Shade seemed to recoil at the thought and laughed,her voice the sound of acid as she spoke."End my pain?The only thing that can end my pain is the death of those that rejected my kindness and shunned me.Can you give me that oh Bringer of Life?Can you end my pain by giving me the vengeance I deserve???"

Gaeia shook her head slowly,before turning to look at the girl that trembled on the ground behind her."No,I can't do that.But...I can give you a fresh start.A chance to heal,to experience what the humans feel and see in life.And hopefully come to terms with the judgement they so wrongfully passed upon you."She turned to look once more at her sister who only glared at her in disbelief.

"A chance to heal?How do you propose that?When all I do is bring death to everything that I touch?"Shade gestured around the empty room."Everywhere I go Gaeia....this happens.Buildings crumble,plants and animals die.Even the strong willed humans die when in my presence for too long or if I were to touch them.How can I learn anything from them if all I can bring them is death?"

Gaeia smiled kindly before crouching in the dust at Shade's feet."Look sister."she said quietly before standing once again with a small seed in her hand.Shade watched septically before recoiling with a gasp.The seed had begun to sprout,a small white flower quickly growing in the palm of Gaeia's hand."You know it takes all my focus to bring something back to life."Gaeia whispered as she watched the small innocent flower dance in the breeze.

"But...how?How did you do that?Anything that's in my presence for too long..."

"Dies?"Gaeia smiled brighter before holding the flower up."And yet with limited effort on my part this beautiful flower grew.If it were true that everything in your presence died,then the entire planet would have been left a barren wasteland long ago.And yet,you are able to visit places you've not been to for years and each time the plants have grown once more,the world continues on.Even though..."

"Even though I brought death...."Shade stared down at the flower before glancing over at the poor young girl who'd collapsed to the ground in another coughing fit."But...I still don't understand what you're proposing sister.How is it I'm to learn why the humans fear me?"

"Listen closely sister."Gaeia said as she walked over to the girl and placed a gentle hand on her back.The coughing fit halted immediatly and a glow of health returned to the girl's cheek as Gaeia slowly rubbed her back."What I'm going to prupose will include this child who's come to you seeking your help.In return for my gift of life she is going to help us as well.We will join as one.My powers will hold yours in check so that you do not destroy her body or anyone who she may happen to come in contact with.You will experince human life through her eyes.Feel what she feels,see what she sees.And as she grows old and bears children we will pass into the body of her children.And her children's children and so on until you have learned what it is that you need to learn."

The young girl looked up at Gaeia,hearing her words and nodding her permission.Gaeia looked up to Shade who watched the young girl skeptically."Human..you are willing to do this for us?"

The girl looked to Shade,a shimmer of tears in her eyes."Yes ma'am.You've given me a second chance at life.A chance to live like my mother and father wanted me to.Of course I'll help you.You deserve a chance too."

Tears shimmered in Shade's eyes as she nodded to Gaeia."Alright...I'll do it..."Gaeia smiled proudly at her sister before helping the girl to her feet.

"We will reside in the stone of you ancestors.The stone will become a part of your body.You'll have no memory of us and experience no pain from the process.One day,one of your descendants will become aware of us,aware of the power within her that we provide.At that time we will begin the process of emerging from the stone.By that time Shade will have truly begun to learn what it is that she needs to learn."