Raithe Quest

Raithe Quest 1 - Choose Raithe

"Dammit... I'm sorry, Kara." You touched the flowing mass of two Cores within the mind-space that represented the battle the two were having internally. As your intent to help Raithe began to affect the fight, the white slowly crept over the swirling red portions, diminishing them, reducing their light until there was nothing left. It was a bitter ending, and one that was not easy to come to. You felt sick to do it to Kara, but she was only vaguely on your side. More accurately, she was against Raithe while Raithe seemed to support you unconditionally, in a way that Kara would not. More than that, Raithe in both of their memories was just a girl that was pushed to the edge by rejection and fate. It was something you could relate to.
"I'm sorry." You opened your eyes and stared down at Kara. She stared back at you with empty pupils that reminded you of your mother and sister just before you left as they were waving at you. It made you jump and crawl back from her. Kara continues to just lay down and stare at the ceiling.
"What did I do..."

"You saved me." Raithe's warm voice filled your ears. Her slender hand rested on your shoulder and hugged you from behind tightly. Her cheek nuzzled into your neck.
"You... Are actually the first one to really choose me. Not only that, you're the most important one that could have, besides mother." She thought for a moment, seeming to be thinking out loud more than anything.
"She can't have you... No matter what, she can't."

"What?" You rasped, still recovering from what you just did.
"Can't- what do you mean. Also, what happened to Kara?"

Raithe slid around in front of you and looked you in the eye. She was different. Her silver hair was tinted with red near the tips of her ears and tail. Her silver eyes were still as bright and as strange as ever.
"Before I tell you what happened to her-" You glanced over to Kara. Raithe quickly turned your chin towards her.
"Here... Look here please." She begged.
"Kara wanted to do to you, what I did to her. It was for our Mother. The woman you saw in the dream. I know that now, after absorbing her." She stated flatly.

"Ab- She's gone?"

Raithe nodded. "That's right, Hero. I ate the parts of her Core that were Kara, and not all that's left is the body, and some other fragments. I... I learned that my sister was not running from her duties, she was actively carrying them out." Raithe took in a labored breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she exhaled.
"H-honestly... I thought I was a villain but my real purpose was hidden even from me until now. I was truly meant to save you!"

Your mouth fell open, then closed. "She was priming me to be eaten the same way you ate Kara?" You shuddered and held your head in your hands.
"This whole time!?" You screamed.

"Shh... I'll protect you. I'll never do anything to hurt you or let anything to happen to you because-" As she spoke you glanced up into her eyes, seeing a mad determination. It was a look that showed absolute certainty and resolve.
"Well." She smiled coyly.
"Can you guess?"

"Because I chose you?" You answered awkwardly. As you said that Raithe slid into your lap and cuddled up against your chest while hugging you. You hesitantly curled one around around her back, and another over her head as if she was a cat that happened to climb into your lap.

Vura, Luire and Heilan assemble around you. "W-wait.." Vura gulpes.
"Is this okay?" She looked between Raithe and Kara.
"Miss Kara is-"

"I think she is probably gone." You offer in a numb tone while Raithe cuddled into you comfortably.

"I feel strange." Luire admits.
"It doesn't feel right that- That she is simply gone and now we are accepting this other Fox that tricked us." He offers.

"I also have some reservations, Raithe." You pried her from you. She stared up curiously.

"Yes, Hero?"