Like actors on a stage, Wroth faithfully awaited Sage's role. Yet his eyes still remain close, this time, with reinvigorated tears washing over his face and his body still remaining shaky. The only thing he could think of when it came to Sage was her stance. How defensive and scared she looked. Like he was some monster chasing after her in a horror movie. As he heard some shifting about, he could feel his breath seemingly getting more and more caught in his throat. This was it. This was when Sage would say her lines.
On-One, two, th-three, four…
Confusion flooded his mind. Counting wasn’t exactly on script, but based on how it sounded, she seemed like she needed to adjust herself. If anything, her perceptive anxiety was making him feel worse. He could just imagine that this reveal was not only hard for her to progress, but she must have felt an overwhelming nausea that this wasn’t her brother anymore. Her little purple brother that she used to beg to dye and fashion his white mane with.
Your horns are just like father's. Your wings beautiful like mother's.
Time seemed to slow as Wroth took heed to those words. His eyes stirred to life as he blinked slowly a few times. His horns like dad…his wings beautiful like mom’s? He wanted to say something, but his mouth was simply agape as he looked over her face. His eyes kept searching for signs of how she truly felt. But all he could see was how her eyes continued to well up and how there seemed to be so much happiness and relief at seeing him. She wasn’t even defensive of him anymore and appeared a bit more…shocked, but not like how he felt she should have acted. Deep down, despite how much time had separated him and Sage, he couldn’t really recall his sister being a liar or someone who often walked around lace with sarcasm. It was genuine.
As he continued to progress these words, it seemed like whatever trance he was in broke with those words. He had dreamed about this for so long, but he was haunted over his appearance. Haunted that the one that connected him to his family was gone despite recognizing traits of both his mother and father. Parts of him had lingering pride, but other parts ashamed. So to hear that from Sage…
Before he knew it, his legs started to glide towards her. At first, he wasn’t running towards her. Each movement felt like his legs were molasses, almost like he was still progressing what his eyes were seeing, but soon, he broke out into a mix of a brisk walk and sprint before attempting to tightly embrace Sage. And the moment he did, what he feared so much could have been a trick or an illusion melted away. This Sage. This version of Sage accepted him. She still loved him. She saw something beautiful that he failed to see for so long. Parts of him wanted to bring back a younger version of her sobbing and in dismay attempting to understand why he would do this, but she didn’t have nearly as much of a hold over him. He could take in her scent, which was real. Her plush fur, softer than he could remember, made him feel like he was home once more. All of the memories, all of the pain, all of the loneliness. None of that mattered anymore. He wasn’t alone anymore. Sage was here.
"Sage...it's you. You're real. It's really, really you!"
His words were fumbling over his chokes and sobs. As he attempted to keep his own self steady, he nearly missed her question and he shook his head.
"Honestly...I am not even sure myself. All I remember was darkness and stillness. But no pain. Yet, it felt like I was still present but in some sort of limbo. Like I was there but wasn't there. And it almost felt like the stone was...alive, shifting and moving, but I am not even sure how or why. And then one day, there was a light and the next thing I knew, crystal pieces were shattered around me. And I came out like this. I am not really sure how or why it transformed me. At least, I believe it did. But the way it changed me...it was almost like it knew my innermost thoughts and desires as crazy as that sounds. I wanted to be just like mom and dad. Yet, it also left a parting gift."
With an awkward smile and laugh, he allowed one of his paws to touch the crystalline blue scales and continued."Well um I guess I am not exactly a normal wolf per say either. These things here. Those are crystals. The same color as the crystal I was trapped in. At least, the blue ones are. And same goes for my third eye, back spines, and horns and spikes. I guess I am part rock or something now too." He paused before half joking. "More to add to your collection! You still like gemstones, right?"
With hopeful eyes, he continued
"I never thought I would see you again. I searched for so long and I well I…how long have you been here? How have things been? Is the rest of our family here?"
On-One, two, th-three, four…
Confusion flooded his mind. Counting wasn’t exactly on script, but based on how it sounded, she seemed like she needed to adjust herself. If anything, her perceptive anxiety was making him feel worse. He could just imagine that this reveal was not only hard for her to progress, but she must have felt an overwhelming nausea that this wasn’t her brother anymore. Her little purple brother that she used to beg to dye and fashion his white mane with.
Your horns are just like father's. Your wings beautiful like mother's.
Time seemed to slow as Wroth took heed to those words. His eyes stirred to life as he blinked slowly a few times. His horns like dad…his wings beautiful like mom’s? He wanted to say something, but his mouth was simply agape as he looked over her face. His eyes kept searching for signs of how she truly felt. But all he could see was how her eyes continued to well up and how there seemed to be so much happiness and relief at seeing him. She wasn’t even defensive of him anymore and appeared a bit more…shocked, but not like how he felt she should have acted. Deep down, despite how much time had separated him and Sage, he couldn’t really recall his sister being a liar or someone who often walked around lace with sarcasm. It was genuine.
As he continued to progress these words, it seemed like whatever trance he was in broke with those words. He had dreamed about this for so long, but he was haunted over his appearance. Haunted that the one that connected him to his family was gone despite recognizing traits of both his mother and father. Parts of him had lingering pride, but other parts ashamed. So to hear that from Sage…
Before he knew it, his legs started to glide towards her. At first, he wasn’t running towards her. Each movement felt like his legs were molasses, almost like he was still progressing what his eyes were seeing, but soon, he broke out into a mix of a brisk walk and sprint before attempting to tightly embrace Sage. And the moment he did, what he feared so much could have been a trick or an illusion melted away. This Sage. This version of Sage accepted him. She still loved him. She saw something beautiful that he failed to see for so long. Parts of him wanted to bring back a younger version of her sobbing and in dismay attempting to understand why he would do this, but she didn’t have nearly as much of a hold over him. He could take in her scent, which was real. Her plush fur, softer than he could remember, made him feel like he was home once more. All of the memories, all of the pain, all of the loneliness. None of that mattered anymore. He wasn’t alone anymore. Sage was here.
"Sage...it's you. You're real. It's really, really you!"
His words were fumbling over his chokes and sobs. As he attempted to keep his own self steady, he nearly missed her question and he shook his head.
"Honestly...I am not even sure myself. All I remember was darkness and stillness. But no pain. Yet, it felt like I was still present but in some sort of limbo. Like I was there but wasn't there. And it almost felt like the stone was...alive, shifting and moving, but I am not even sure how or why. And then one day, there was a light and the next thing I knew, crystal pieces were shattered around me. And I came out like this. I am not really sure how or why it transformed me. At least, I believe it did. But the way it changed me...it was almost like it knew my innermost thoughts and desires as crazy as that sounds. I wanted to be just like mom and dad. Yet, it also left a parting gift."
With an awkward smile and laugh, he allowed one of his paws to touch the crystalline blue scales and continued."Well um I guess I am not exactly a normal wolf per say either. These things here. Those are crystals. The same color as the crystal I was trapped in. At least, the blue ones are. And same goes for my third eye, back spines, and horns and spikes. I guess I am part rock or something now too." He paused before half joking. "More to add to your collection! You still like gemstones, right?"
With hopeful eyes, he continued
"I never thought I would see you again. I searched for so long and I well I…how long have you been here? How have things been? Is the rest of our family here?"