521. Observing life, 2

(Rose)

I saw her hunt. It’s as you’d expect from an inborn demon like her.

She actually doesn’t cheat that much with her humanity.

But she’s merciless and not sparing any effort. I saw her corner a young deer in run, and jump on it. It went in a blitz moment.

A few seconds later, she was still holding the animal down withal her might, while its life came to an end. A single wound to the head.

I was working the carried leather into clothes at our camp when I saw that happen a few steps away.

Night finally stood up, a little wobbly on her legs for a second. At the rate she’s going with her efforts, she’ll build an athlete’s body for herself.

I compliment her catch and we share a few words for this prey.

Not exactly a prayer, neither of us being a devout, but an acknowledgement to that life we will consume.

A conscious word of thanks and apology to it.

Then the true face of Night appears, as she bleeds it. The blood flows outside and floats around her. She collects all the blood in a floating and invisible orb she holds there.

All her experiments with the ox blood she collected had failed somehow.

She won’t miss her new chance.

I bring a rope and help her pull up the body into the air. The orb of blood goes tidily sit in a corner while we work on skinning the animal and preparing the venison.

~

We eat fresh venison. It tastes so much better, even raw. I only eat bits raw. Night eats most of her share uncooked.

N - More nutrients.

R - I fancy a little, but it quickly tastes off and is harder to digest if I eat too much raw.

Our metabolisms differ. I’m sure she knows how to adapt hers on the fly also.

I give her sturdier trousers and jacket, with thick collar pieces.

She nibbles on a piece of dry fruit paste we had found earlier in town while I help her dress.

N - Thanks.

I smile a little as night falls.

~

Night made a disgusting paste out of the leftovers and entrails we didn’t keep.

That other uneven orb includes all the digestive system ripped apart, so it really smells foul.

R - What do you want to do with that?

N - Just an experiment. Blume, could you help me?

B - Alright.

I feel a twitch in my arms and legs. It’s Blume requesting to temporarily take over our body. I accept.

It feels as if I took a step back in the shades and within myself. My body then moves on Blume’s own and ideas, whilst I’m the voice inside her head. We swapped.

Vines sprout of our back like tentacles. These brambles she uses freely.

The orb of nasty waste is buried in the ground where they quickly scooped a large bowl of earth.

They burry the rubbish like a seed in the ground, the size of a watermelon.

Night then crafts something out of the collected blood kept behind. Blume does something else I don’t understand out of her flowers on our chest.

It takes a while and they communicate thoughts in silence, so I’m out of their game.

I just sit back in myself and watch with curiosity.

What happens when two beings-like-her try something new together?

~

I wake up, but I’m still standing. I’m still a passenger in my body, though night has passed and Blume is still awake. She speaks aloud, with my mouth and voice so.

B - Rise and shine Rose. Have you slept well?

R - Surprisingly well. How are you two doing?

B - I think it worked.

N - It was an interesting experiment.

The ground is pulsating.

Nothing should surprise me anymore, but this still does.

The skin of earth ruptures. I see a liquid oozing out.

Nightmare kneels there and plunges her arms in that stench and thing they created in the ground.

And Nightmare pulls out a baby fawn from the earth.

It’s probably too small, but it seems alive.

While I’m under shock, I see them both helping it to stand on its thin legs and open its eyes. It yells.

Blume feeds it. Nightmare skilfully tweaks some last mistakes in its flesh and metabolic processes.

After a while, though shrieking its fear and loneliness, it’s alive and good to go.

And it goes away from us. I’m stumped. I feel dizzy and my stomach constricting nervously.

Blume tugs at my sleeves, figuratively, and returns me the control of our body. Nightmare is washing her hands.

R - Did you resurrect it?

N - No, it’s a new one. I didn’t save the brain. But that is now something we can consider doing for the next hunt.

Eating what we need, and giving a new-born or juvenile body back. Is that moral? Probably more than clear murder, but still...

N - This opens up new options.

R - I bet you’re thrilled.

N - I am.

Just a little cringe though.

There’s now a chance to either replace or even resurrect our game onward.

That’s not an option I would have expected or even thought of still yesterday.

N - What do you think?

R - I’m feeling confused honestly. But I can still see there are good thoughts and feelings in there. Very good ones...

I still feel nauseous more than anything else right now. The smell of guts is maybe only in my head now. I can’t deny however the light they created.

I suddenly vomit everything I had in my stomach. I realise why just after.

Seeing all this, I was reminded of my own child.

My skin feels icy as I see their dead flesh again in my mind.

Night and Blume take hold of my hands, and pull me out of the murk.

They help me out of that awfully sickening reminiscence.

The day I lost wife, child, and all of myself... Their cold flesh under my fingers...

I vomit again, but they’re holding me and reassuring me.

B - It’s alright Rose. You’re alright.

Nightmare holds me outside, Blume inside. I can shed all shame and sorrow, they’re holding me together.

After a good cry, I feel good enough to go. Though I must have aged again by a few years in a minute or so.

~

We packed up. We’re on our way. I feel tired, but able to go.

N - You still miss her I guess?

R - Sometimes... Just at times...

I have a flash of memory of Bleue, looking so proud, with her dark wings stretched out like a wide cape behind, her belly oddly protruding. I felt warm back then.

Now....

I see Nightmare holding my hand as we walk. My best friend... Turned sister by a twist of fate. Or chaos should I say.

I’m feeling gradually warmer. Blume is humming something inside of me.

It feels good not to be alone, and alive.

R - I love you two.

B - I love you too Rose.

R - Night... Are you feeling too shy to say it?

B - I think she does.

Night flinches to the tease. I’m rejoiced enough by the look on her sour face, as she struggles with the thoughts and words.

~