» the calm before the storm

KIADA troy falls a thousand times in every dream i dream Kiada barely noticed Valkyrie’s approach from the roar of anger in her ears. How could it have gotten like this? What part of the world hated her so much to continually destroy every part of the Rift that she had loved before being forced here? The Blood Falls had once been beautiful. Ominous, but beautiful, with the way the ruby hued waters flowed peacefully through the riverbends. It was because of this place that Kiada wondered if that darkened part of her, the part she locked away as she grew in adulthood, thrived. Perhaps why she was such a bloodthirsty, conquering youth. She remembered the times where she wanted the world to grovel at her feet – to be the conqueror that ruled with an iron fist. (The darkness inside her writhed with happiness at the memory.) And she remembered the conversation between Erebos and her when they first met, when they were young and reckless and both heirs with no crowns to inherit. When she had that everlong flame on her spine that cascaded her moods for the world to see, where she couldn’t control the shift and change. “”When you are Queen, what sort of flame will you show your subjects?” It was an honest question coming from Erebos’ lips, of an older prince who had longed to become what his father was, something Kiada didn’t understand at the time. “I don’t know.” The child had admitted, uncertain what kind of flame would pour from her back as she ruled. But the darkness inside her knew, that she’d allow the wolves of her anger and frustrations to prowl upon her spine, to dare those that wronged her. And then, the ebony prince had asked her another honest question. “Will your followers fear or cherish you?” And it was a question that tore at Kiada for months after. Initially the girl had said both, but again that darkness roiled within her, screaming in its many toned voice, “fear, fear, fear.” And it relished in that dark part of her that wanted to watch the world burn for everything it had done, for the child born to a woman of the north, sired by a King to the East that didn’t even know of her birth, of her and her brother’s existence. And it wanted to burn that copper hued mare that had stolen her sibling from her side, her other half, the brutality to Kiada’s precision. But there were no do-overs, and she was forced to remain her clutching to those things she cared for most, lost like a leaf in the wind. She pushed that rolling darkness further as she wielded her flames toward the rushing river, blind to the waves that avoided her fire and drenched Valkyrie. She’d speak to the mare later, when she could see clearly. And as she began to calm down as Vourib’s voice cascaded over him, as his breath filled her with a tingling sensation down to her bones that screamed strength. As she began to see clearer, she caught Seiji’s eye, seeing what he wanted to do about the dam and nodded quietly, moving to grab a few large rocks to begin placing within the river. She rolled them with her strong forelegs, pushing them forward toward the ledge before gathering more to make a small pile, and then she looked around to see if anyone would help her get into the river and begin to place them. "Talk." like ashes, like ashes, like a star burning out —

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