Dreams, Memories, or Reality? [??? POVs]

The cold wind blows across the icy expanse.

A small child shivers, even with the warm pelts wrapped around her body.

“Do you see it?”

The bundled up child feels warm and safe as she hears that reassuringly firm voice. Her little green eyes look out across the snowy wasteland, squinting against the glare of the midnight sun.

Black flakes billow and blow around in the distance. A small patch of darkness in the endless stretch of pure white. Her hand, wrapped in a thick furred mitten, lifts up and points towards the lightless snow.

“Yes, good.” The voice is somber and serious despite its praise.

A hand larger than the girl’s head clasps onto her small shoulder, gripping too tight to be comfortable.

“Remember this sight. Remember the black snow.” The firm voice wavers slightly but noticeably. The child shivers again, stronger this time. “No matter what you do, never go near it. Never touch it. Never consume it. Avoid the black snow and all that it clings to by whatever means necessary. Do you understand?”

“Y-yes Papa!” The little girl squeaks out, quivering in fear.

“What will you do if you see black snow while out on a hunt?” The voice is insistent, the grip almost painful.

“T-t-turn and r-run back home!”

“And?”

“T-tell everyone else ab-about it!”

“Good.” The strong hand crushing her small shoulder loosens its grip. “The Blessed Ones will handle the black snow. Their flames, the flames of the One Who Rests Beneath the Ice, will burn the darkness away. Remember. The black snow is our greatest enemy. There is nothing to be gained from it, but every to be lost.”

The little girl trembles as she clings onto her fathers thick tail, forcing her eyes shut. She knows better than to cry out here in the cold.

“Now, child, what will you do if you see someone engulfed in the black snow?”

“I-I...” More and more the small girl trembles. She doesn’t want to open her eyes. She doesn’t want to see that patch of darkness in the distance. “Avoid them. Cover my... my tracks. D-don’t lead them home.”

“What if they call out to you?”

“Ig-ignore them! Don’t listen!” She gasps, struggling to breathe in the cold air.

“What if you... recognize the voice?” The once strong hand weakly slips off her shoulder. “Wh...at if it... is... me...?”

The girl’s emerald eyes shoot open. Darkness swirls around her, void of all light. Black vapour rises from the snow around her. She lets go of her fathers tail and falls back in shock.

He... he is ragged. Gaunt. The strength that she remembers him by is... gone. An oily black liquid oozes from the wounds covering her fathers emaciated body. Old scars reopened, new ones made. He stumbles forwards.

“H-hel...lp... me...”

The child screams as a trembling hand devoid of colour and lacking in life reaches out to her.

“LeLe...?” A weak, whispered voice echoes throughout the dark room.

A small child shivers, cowering beneath her bed.

“It... it’s alright. They’re... gone now.”

Her sister, not that much older than she is, kneels down beside the bed. The girls’ trembling hands meet, and the smaller one is gently pulled out into the room.

Tears run down the young girl’s cheeks as she weakly hugs her sister, careful to not press down on any new bruises.

“It’s okay, LeLe... We’re... safe now...”

But for how long? Neither girl voices that question, knowing that the answer is far shorter than they wish.

The sisters cry together in the dark room, one trying her best to stay strong for the other. Their lives may be terrible, but at least they have each –

...

The preteen girl stares blankly at the cold metal jar resting in front of her. Her frail body aches. The fresh bruises make even sitting still hurt.

How long has it been?

A couple years now?

Tears roll down the girl’s pallid cheeks, but she doesn’t feel sad. She doesn’t feel anything. She is just... empty.

Why...?

SLAM!

The girl’s heart freezes, grasped by panic. The door...! But the time...!

She hastily grabs the jar and shoves it beneath her bed, struggling to breath as she hears the painfully familiar footsteps approaching.

No... Please...

The doornob turns. A sliver of cold light spills into the dark room.

The clouds are thick and dark, hiding the countless stars and even the closed eyes of the Sister Moons.

It would be a good night to fly, if not for the reason she was let out from her cage.

Her wings, scarred slightly but thankfully spared of any real harm, beat through the summer air. Her thin body, covered in rags and bandages, is near effortlessly carried through the dark sky.

Not even the weighty weapon clutched in her claws and chained to her ankle can hamper her flight.

But sorrow clings to her heart all the same.

She doesn’t want to fly tonight... She doesn’t want to do what is expected of her... She doesn’t –

The heavy collar resting around her neck gives her a shock, reminding her of the task at hand.

Grief and despair soar through the starless sky. Not aimlessly, but with purpose. Her big ears twitch, hearing the sounds of the city below.

The enchanted goggles strapped onto her head lead her to the target.

If she had any more tears to shed, then her gloomy and gaunt cheeks would be stained already. How long has it been since she had the will to cry...?

She glides through the air, passing beneath a gap in the clouds.

Her heart is heavy as she hefts up a weapon worth far more than she. Her claws hold it firmly and tightly, as steady as possible. She does the one thing she is good at, and pulls the trigger.

The bolt launches away almost faster than she can see. She drops the weapon, letting it dangle from its chain. This job is do–

1,143.01 Damage Dealt to [???]

Her heart soars as the bolt tastes flesh. That... wasn’t her target. She... she missed...! When was the last time she missed!? Her target gets to live!

-14.63 Health
-12.42 Health

Jolts of pain arc through her body, dancing between the heavy collar around her neck and the cuffs on her limbs. She plummets from the sky, catching herself while still far above the rooftops.

Her blood runs cold.

That wasn’t her target.

Damage notifications pass through her vision. Blood loss and the Black Kiss.

No... no... no, no, no no no...!

She didn’t want to take a life tonight! She never wants to! But this...! That wasn’t her target...!

Her wings are heavy, struggling to carry her back to... to the roost.

The notifications continue to stream on by. The magic woven in that ****-bringing bolt ensures as much.

She trembles and shakes. Her frail and traitorous body craves the reward that she will not get.

Her narrow chest feels tight. It is difficult for her to breath.

-24.37 Health

Her landing is rough and painful. She doesn’t care. Her wings splay out as she crumples to the ground.

She... she’ll be punished for her failure. Like she deserves... That is all she deserves... Pain... Misery... Isolation...

The notifications suddenly stop.

Her head jerks up.

The damage isn’t being dealt any more. There is no mention of... of the one she struck by accident having died. No experience has been gained.

A feeling long thought to be foreign fills her heart. Warmth. Joy...?

Who did her bolt strike? Who resisted the Black Kiss? Who survived the assassin’s attack? Who is the first person to make her miss a target? Who is the first person she failed to kill?

Who? Who? Who?

She needs to know.

She needs to find them. She needs them. If they could survive tonight... They can kill her. They can save her.

Who was it? WHO!?

Her shaky and unstable mind races.

Her target was a noblewoman. Black dress. The one she hit was... was the bodyguard. Tall. Strong. Armoured. With a tail. Not human. Easy to spot. Easy to recognize.

She can find that survivor again. She has to. She –

-8.53 Health
-7.91 Health

-14.73 Health

Agony rocks through her body. She convulses on the floor. The collar and the cuffs burn as lightning arcs across her wings, over her feeble torso, and down her long legs.

A maniacal grin fills her face despite that.

A grin that quickly fades away as she realizes what is to come.

No...!

She won’t be let out of her cage until she is next needed to take a life.

She has no way to search for that survivor.

She...

Her flicker of hope, the first one she ever felt in her miserable life, crumbles and dies.