Growing Strong

[Briar Rose]

An Obrimos had made her aware of how complacent she's been. It was unexpectable. Inexcusable. She needs to be better. She can't not be better.

left behind, an abandoned, to weak to hold tight to who she loves and force them to stay

"Jaku niku kyō shoku!"she screams into the air. Startling the stillness around her into motion. Birds flee and rodents run.

She breathes, harsh and excessive, sucking in air like through clenched teeth, she forces a calm. But not really. She doesn't change her body chemistry, she doesn't slow the rhythm of her heart or force herself to sleep. That isn't her purpose.

Kaze wont eat her
Aurora wont eat her
....she isn't going to give them the chance

Learning and knowing and understanding. Reciting Routes, and knowing your Mudras, that has never been her. She isn't an Obrimos, or an Acanthus, or a fucking Mastigos. thinking and thought and mind over matter isn't going to work.

There is motion without thought, instinct born of a Soul Awakened screaming within the Abode of Beasts, she screams again, now. Raw and formless. Tasting the blood at the back of her throat, fists pounding into the earth below, her nails raking into the dirt, until they too are raw and bloodied, she stays.

In the woods, hands in the dirt, nails shredded, and bloodied, Briar Rose, screams and scream and screams. Tearing at her understanding of the world, and grows strong.