feral | sting eucliffe

XLVI | TPF

Episode 46: The Purple Flower!

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Y/N LANDED ON HER TORSO, a yelp leaving her lips as she landed on her stomach on the stony ground. The guards behind her cackled at her pitiful state before closing the cage's door. As usual, she was sent immediately back to her cell after studying and being taught magic. However, this one was different. This one had little windows.

It was made out of bars, but the pretty moonlight still shone in and mesmerized the little six-year-old. As she shuffled to her knees, the stone scraping her legs as she did so, she soon realized that other kids were staring at her with wide eyes. They were obviously very skeptical about her, but were too scared to say anything. 

A voice piped up, a smaller girl speaking up. She had short black hair and magenta-colored eyes, "Y-You're not like that boy in cell A132, are you?" She questioned quietly. The girl twiddled with her fingers and it was obvious that she was a year or two younger than the little Y/n. Y/n grew confused. Of course, she'd heard of the cell number and it was used as a 'scaring tool'.

She attempted to stand up, but was only able to get on her knees. "Cell A132? N-No, but I was in cell B126." A hiss from the corner of the room scared her, a boy with spiky black hair and blood-red eyes watching her from a distance. His knees were pulled up to his chest and he had a ripped white tank top that was heavily dirty, green shorts covering his bottom.

"Leave her alone, Obice. She's just like the others." He warned, looking towards the girl. Akane swiveled her head towards him before looking back at Y/n. "She's not. She's scared and here just like the rest of us, Anguis⁠—" She started, but was cut off by his own angry growl. Two snakes came out from his sides, hissing angrily. ⁠"⁠—I told you to stop calling me that!"

His shout must've caused quite the noise, guards heading to the cell almost instantly. They scowled, "What's with the ruckus, you whores? It's because of that little bitch, isn't it? We just added her, but apparently, she can't even—" The guards started, picking up Y/n by the hair as a pained cry left her lips.

The boy quickly spoke up, "—no! It was my fault. I just find her presence. . . disturbing."

The guard smiled cockily, "Why? Because she's the reason you're—" He was cut off when one of the boy's snakes latched onto the guard's armored arm. He let out a whine anyway, feeling the fangs sink venom into his veins. A feeling of lethargy filled the guard, but he didn't fail to get his own revenge. He picked up the male easily before smashing his face into the ground.

The girl from earlier, Obice, let out a cry of protest but stopped as soon as Y/n gave her a look. One that read 'if you keep going, you'll be next'. Instantly, the little girl shut up and they were forced to watch the boy get his face repeatedly slammed into the ground. Just as quick as it started, it stopped. He was tossed back into the cell and he shrunk back to his corner.

He turned to Y/n, "What's your name?" She blinked at him, startled. At first, he was absolutely hostile, but something must've switched in him. He stared at her, growing agitated when she didn't answer back. Y/n quickly stumbled over an answer, "Bestia," The little girl answered, the boy furrowing his brows in anger as he growled. "Stay away from me, you mongrel."

He turned away, refusing to look at her as her heart fell. The little girl from earlier mumbled something. "His name isn't Anguis. According to him, they gave us all names, but he's the only one that remembers besides the other kid he used to be within cell A132. I don't remember mine, but I hope that when I leave, I can make my own. Anguis is actually Nicholas, but he doesn't like that name either."

Y/n gave her an odd look, blinking at her skeptically. A small pout shaped Obice's lips as she looked down at the ground, hurt. "His parents weren't very good, so he prefers to be called 'Nikos'. It's a bit weird, but cute. Do you remember your name?" Y/n thought back to her days with her happy mother and father, the days of living in a small cottage surrounded by flora and fauna.

She smiled fondly with a small nod, "Y-Yes. My original name is Y/n." Obice perked up, a big grin on her lips. She looked towards Y/n with a bright smile, "Since Nikos doesn't like talking about his past, can you tell me about yours? I've never really grown up in the outside world!" Her heart dropped at that, Y/n muttering. "How old are you, Obice?"

The girl held up one hand, pointing out her fingers as she smiled widely. "Four!" Y/n felt even worse, a pit deepening in her stomach. They were taking kids at such an early age? Y/n quickly diverted the topic, knowing that she would question why she asked about her age. "Wow, you're very smart for a four year old, Obice." The little girl beamed more as Y/n started.

"I grew up in a small cottage in the forest. It was covered by lush green forests and there were plenty of animals. They were all so sweet and would visit us everyday; my mother loved to pet the deer and feed them food. There were also really pretty flowers that came in different colors; pinks, purples, whites! I loved it all very much." A fond smile shaped her lips.

Obice giggled, clapping her hands at the visualization of it all. Her fingertips glowed a light purple, shaping an odd dome thing into a little flower. Well, more like an attempt of one. She handed it to Y/n, but the girl knew that once she touched it, the flower would disperse; there was no way this girl was advanced enough to materialize it.

Y/n took it anyways, surprised when the flower kept its substance. "There, a purple flower." Obice clapped her hands again, a bright look on her face as Y/n smiled at her, nodding. "And I love this very much as well, Obice."