meh this one ain't as long sorry famine didn't speak at all but pestilence and war did so yea --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- trigger warnings: none --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIX STRIDING THE FIELDS Under the velvet dark sky, stars shimmering in the distance, six figures walked calmly through a deep blue field of rolling grass, trailing their fingers along the tips of it. Trees climbing the border of the field arched into the sky, petals drifting slowly to the ground in the midsummer wind. The Angel hummed, feet lightly skimming above the ground with one hand in the Demon’s. Just ahead of them was a diamond of figures, at the head a girl with curled black hair and unnaturally pale skin. She led the group barefoot, cutting a path through the grass. “Quiet night,” said the Angel softly as they rounded the hill, a great tree perched on top. Leaning back, they jabbed slyly, “Bring back any memories?” “It was a job,” the Demon said simply. “Her command.” “Hi up there, Mom,” whispered the Angel in response, waving lightly upwards. The Demon let slip a smile, then cut it off, returning to their usual placid expression. Rats of shadow and bone, all twisted in places they shouldn’t with spiraling black tails skittered below their feet. They ran among the long, silver locks of hair that the pale, dark-eyed figure just ahead of them had brushed over their shoulder, stark-white robes hung loosely about their frame. There was a sick air about them, hanging heavy in the night as they strolled. The girl at the head stopped, grass waving about her waist. Looking up at the canopy of stars above, the moon glittering just to the north of them, she stood still, the others coming to a stop behind her. Climbing upwards onto the short grass of the hill, they sat down, leaning ever so slightly forwards with anxiety that they tried not to show. The girl spoke first into the silence. “It’s going to happen soon.” Unwittingly, the Angel shuddered barely, clutching at their arms as they looked away from the girl evasively. The Demon stiffened, their hand on the Angel’s knee. “It has to be done,” she said coldly, regret tingeing her voice. “I know,” they whispered, still not looking at her directly. “How are you going to do it?” the lanky figure across from them asked, their voice bold as it could be, given the circumstances. “We have our ways,” said the girl briskly. “She knows what’s coming. Her orders, after all.” Looking softly now at the stony faces of her companions, she sighed. “I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault,” the Angel mumbled. “You’re right,” she said sharply. “It’s my duty, and I can’t help what needs to be done.” After this uncharacteristic show of emotion from the black-haired girl, they sat quietly in discomfort, the only sound coming from the wind rustling in the trees and the rats scampering about, nibbling the feet and toes of the sitting group. The lanky one broke the quiet first, smiling the sort of uncomfortable smile one only puts on to retain an appearance. “When?” The Angel didn’t even try to hide their shuddering this time, their blonde hair covering their eyes. A rat scurried to the lap of the tall long-haired figure, who sat cross legged and barefoot in the wavy grass. They patted it absentmindedly, shadowed eyes fixed on a point just above the girl’s head. There was a short silence, and the girl smiled faintly, but not a happy way. “Two days.” The Angel burst into tears. “That’s it, then?” the Demon asked sharply. “She’s just going to die? In two days, after all this time? Your mom? We aren’t siblings, but we do have the same mother, and as far as I’m concerned that’s reason enough for you to take our opinion into account and at least give us a little more time with Her!” Their voice broke, and they turned away, disgusted, as the Angel sobbed into their shoulder. “This doesn’t concern you!” The girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her hands shaking in her lap as she cleared her face. “You’ll never take Her place,” they spat, standing up and dragging the Angel with them. They turned on their heel and the two strode away, vanishing through the grass. With that, the meeting was over, leaving but a small, chittering rat behind. Death sighed as she looked out the glassy caramel window onto the rolling fields of sugar and sand. The young days were far gone, but there was still yet to come.
