Lily

[crittersheep]

[You're in your barn! That doesn't seem so bad--oh, oh wait, you're in the air.

Your barn, and honestly some of your stuff, is just floating on clouds. You can walk on the clouds too if you want, no one's stopping you. You will not, however, be able to return to the ground, far, far below you, no matter what you do.

At least not til the Ritual is complete.

Floating among everything else is your priest, who seems to have fallen into a deep sleep, and the barn's crystal flower.

After a moment, you hear voices resonating from the crystal flower--the holy beasts, their voices and minds melded as one, call out to you.

It asks your Flock 3 simple questions.]

Comments

[Gen]

[crittersheep]

[Talk amongst yourselves here!!]

Re: [Gen]

[endsjustified]

[sighs and tugs the Lady over so one of them is holding her; he’s slightly discomfited at the thought of all them and their stuff just dropping back out of the air post-ritual]

Was that really smart of him to do…? Well, better that than continued passivity, I suppose…

Re: [Gen]

[mykidisthebest]

[peering....down]

We could have just fought them all. But he was probably looking to avoid that scenario. Maybe this will lead to a better outcome?

Re: [Gen]

[endsjustified]

Maybe. The questions are rather pointed, though.

Re: [Gen]

[mykidisthebest]

So I can see.

[not sure he likes what he sees]

...We can get everyone's opinion first. Thoughts on the first two questions?

Re: [Gen]

[endsjustified]

Having faced both sides of the first question, either as possibility or as fact, I’d rather the first one. That said, with all the forces of this world listening, I do wonder if it’s not worth presenting a third option again instead of assuming we must face the binary; we must shape our answers for the result we desire, after all.

For the second, I do regret the lives we’ve taken in the wolf city, even Bea; a death from conflict that could so easily have been avoided is a waste. And I will regret Stormy’s passing, if he passes as a result of this ritual. Our own killings within the flocks, though…certainly any by accident, but in truth I’m not sure I regret the few done by design.

Re: [Gen]

[mykidisthebest]

[listens with an attentive ear as he gets comfortable on a cloud]

Hmm...my situation is a little unique, so it's hard to have an unbiased opinion on the first question. Even if we wanted to pick the first option available I don't think it's one that's even possible. Unless you're a truly horrible person, it's impossible to go through life without touching people's hearts in some way. That doesn't mean carrying grief is an easier option, either.

As for the second, well. We've always done our best to avoid killing when we didn't need to, so even if I feel some regret, I don't know if it's as much as the question warrants.

Re: [Gen]

[endsjustified]

Mm. It is…complicated.

I suppose the real crux of both answers is, what do we wish to do here? Bind the demon; convince Blossom not to run to her death; convince Prince Stormia not to do the same? There are many truths we can apply, and all of them are truths.

[since presumably all their stuff is up here he’ll also pick the golden flower that grew as the Wolf King shrank out of the air as it floats by, spinning the stem between his fingers]

Re: [Gen]

[spinebuddyandme]

The first two are easy.

For the first one, I think the statement is totally wrong. Being loved doesn't ruin people. You don't become ruined when you lose someone—you just change. And you're changed by being loved too. If I actually chose to be unloved and to never know the pain of losing someone, I wouldn't be me. I'm the person I am because my family and friends love me. Scarab is able to be who he is because I've been loved. I don't know if I could've fought off his host subjugation junk in the beginning if I didn't have people who I wanted to stay myself for.

It's...hard to lose someone. And I know it can feel easy to wish that you never have to know pain, but that's not realistic. Part of living is learning how to deal with death, and learning how to hold onto the memories of your loved ones so you can share them with everyone else you love and will love.

And for the second one—it's a lot simpler. I regret every single life that's been taken. I'd take it all back if I could.

Re: [Gen]

[endsjustified]

You have a kinder heart than mine.

I do agree with the point about ruination, though, and both you and Lethe make a point that it is impossible to truly go through life in a vacuum, for most of us.

It is an interesting point that though there are four Holy Beasts involved, and the demon’s origin, none of them govern love.

Re: [Gen]

[spinebuddyandme]

If one of them did govern it, do you think it'd have helped? I kinda think Blossom or The Lady would've just tried to solve things with a love potion and create even more drama if they had access to someone with love powers.

Re: [Gen]

[mykidisthebest]

[listens with a small but undeniably fond smile on his face]

Well said. Though we might disagree a little on the second one.

Re: [Gen]

[spinebuddyandme]

I'm definitely at an extreme end of opinions on the second one. I have to be to balance out Scarab.

[ a bit of a joking tone ]

[QUESTION ONE]

[crittersheep]

[You instinctively know you should give one collective answer after discussing this]

To be loved is to be ruined--would you rather die unloved but never have known the pain of being ripped away from your lover, friends, and family, or have a love one die, and carry the burden of grief?

Re: [QUESTION ONE]

[spinebuddyandme]

You're asking this question like you've already decided on the answer, but you aren't even right about what love does to people. Being loved and returning that love changes you, but you aren't ruined because someone loved you. And it's not like we don't know grief's unavoidable. Life and death are inseparable, and we're all going to lose someone one day, but you can't go through life thinking that it might come at any minute. Tragedy might come sometimes, but it might not! You might get to live all the way into old age with them! And you aren't even going to be loved by only one person in your life. Is it really reasonable to give up on everyone who could ever love you because you're afraid of being cut short with any of them?

None of us would give up being loved just to avoid grief either. We can't lie and pretend that it isn't a burden, but it's one that's worth bearing. We wouldn't be the same people we are today if no one had ever loved us. It's because we've been loved and want to deserve that love that we've worked so hard to try to help our people. It's because we've been loved that we're able to believe in ourselves.

If you give up being loved just because grief is painful or because death is scary, you have to understand that you're giving up so much more than just love and memories. You're giving up everything that they ever did for you because they loved you. Every time they encouraged you, or taught you something, or helped open a door to opportunities. The thousand little things they do to help build you up and make your path less rocky, and what'll you really have when all that's gone? Loneliness? That's just a different kind of pain.

You need love, even if it can lead to pain.

[QUESTION TWO]

[crittersheep]

[You instinctively know you should give one collective answer after discussing this]

Lily has the blessing to take life and give life. . .and have used this power freely. Is there any life you regret taking in this realm?

Re: [QUESTION TWO]

[mykidisthebest]

We regret all the lives we've had to take or been unable to spare. None of the wolves we met understood what was actually going on. They thought we were responsible for everything that's happened to this world, or at least that we were on the side of the people who were. The only reason they fought us at all was because of flawed information. Of course we wish we could've told them the truth and been believed instead, or come up with anything else that would've convinced them to trust us. They were struggling to survive in this crazy situation just as much as us. They didn't deserve to die over it. So even if it was in self defense, there's still some regret there.

Of course, those haven't been the only deaths that happened here. Even if it wasn't permanent, there were deaths that we caused other flocks in rituals too. None of us came to a complete consensus on whether or not we regret them, but we're all aware that if things were normal we wouldn't have needed to make such choices at the whims of demons. What we regret the most is how the whole system worked! There should be other things that the demons want more than blood and souls, and they can't have it if their Mother keeps being an awful mess. And if they're all behind what she's trying to do then they should all really just find a different hobby, I swear, there are better things to do out in the wide world!

We regret that we couldn't change it, that we had to go along with it, even more than killing.

[QUESTION THREE]

[crittersheep]

[You know instinctively only the Shepherd is meant to answer this]

If you were given the chance to solve all the problems, all the suffering, in this realm and your own, at the mere cost of sacrificing one of your Flock. . .would you, and who?

[a ritual in a ritual]

[endsjustified]

[he's quiet, just thinking awhile. then he nods to himself and turns to the others. he does need to draw blood to use this skill, but he just transforms a little bit, to drag a razor claw along the lifeline of his palm and open it one more time.

the blood wells. Lethe and Ananke can see and sense part of his soul coming loose, the pale wisps of it coalescing slowly into something like a blade.]

Though you are more or less agreed, I must ask. Will you trust me enough to do something utterly mad with me, one last time?

Re: [a ritual in a ritual]

[mykidisthebest]

[holds out his arm, sleeve already rolled up, with no hesitation]

It's all of us or none of us, remember? We can't have you doing something utterly mad alone.

Re: [a ritual in a ritual]

[spinebuddyandme]

[ steps forward, Scarab's armor extending down one arm and partially gloving Ananke's hand, leaving half his palm exposed and the protective shell thin ]

Me 'n Scarab have both got your back.

Re: [a ritual in a ritual]

[endsjustified]

Thank you, all three of you. I am glad we have all stayed together, to the end.

[he picks up the knife and begins to cut.

it passes through their flesh and armor without doing any harm; that's simply not what it's for. if he wanted that he'd pull out an ordinary knife; but what tool is better for dividing souls with, after all, than another soul?

they can feel -- the knife's still connected to him, drawing more from his substance as he pushes power into the skill to make it keep working. they can feel it removing something from them, hopefully temporarily, the nagging cold void of having their souls partially and cleanly fragmented, a significant piece pulled from each of them. they can feel Charon's apprehension that this will backfire, set against the hope that their strength and intent will tip the scales.

they can feel that he loves them, and wants them to be safe and happy. that warms the strange internal wounds that he's leaving, a little.]

Re: [a ritual in a ritual]

[mykidisthebest]

[I Can't Believe Our Shepherd Is This Cute

Lethe just feels like huge amount of love, sorry to be embarrassing. he's embarrassing. congratulations on your soul piece that is full of love.]

It'll all work out. Haven't we been helping our little wayward sheep since the beginning? We'll see it through.

Re: [a ritual in a ritual]

[spinebuddyandme]

[ Has always believed in Charon's charm points

Ananke feels charmed, like the brightness of his smile when someone surprises him with a hug, and like radiant and steady affection. In contrast Scarab feels cool and calculating, but there's trust and certainty in it. This is the correct choice; this will keep its people safe. ]

We will, with each other. We're glad we've got both of you too.

[their final answer]

[endsjustified]

[he bows his head to them both, a little, as the impromptu operation finishes. takes a deep breath, and then finally speaks to the empty air, the listening Beasts.]

At the start of my stay here, I can say in full honesty that I would have answered 'yes,' and that given the option to kill only one, I would sacrifice myself. I would have been prepared to sacrifice more than that. It would not have been a hard question to answer, or act to perform.

But we are at the end, not the beginning, and the journey's left its mark. Love has left its mark, and Lily has left its mark. And the answer to this question begs more nuance, now.

[he'll press the knife between his palms, reducing it back to just a piece of soul. he'll tear it loose, and add it to Ananke's, Scarab's, and Lethe's.]

Instead of one great final sacrifice, a smaller meaningful one from each of us: still enough to tally the cost and close the books, but not so much that any of us find ourselves taxed beyond bearing by the giving. That way we can recover, and heal, and continue. If that should mean not every problem is solved, and not all of the suffering is alleviated...that's fine. There is so much more all of Lily can do alive, together, you see, including seeking other ways to ease them as we find them.

And the same is true for you.

[and even though only he can answer the question...that doesn't stop him laying down the golden flower upon the ethereal pile, so they can all place their hands upon it. four quarter-souls, to match Stormy's singular one. a substitute offering for it, that won't kill any of them. the truest embodiment of their beings, of their wills, given freely.]

Are you listening, Prince Stormia? Are you listening, Marigold?

Both of you, come home.