Loathe - 1

Could I reach that green light? That soul who so cried at the sight of anything. I truly felt like I could. Despite the inherent nature of this realm.

That effect - whatever it was - had healed me of that pain and aching taint. Given me new life and mind. And for that I would be forever grateful to that green light.

And why, pray tell, did I not think it was that all powerful white light. It was for the simple reason that the light did not care. It was apathetic. Completely neutral. Judging based on merit and demerit.

I could not tell, even a soul, how I knew of such a thing. How I knew the mechanics of that daunting light. But I could say with certainty that it was true. I could feel it in the depths of my soul.

That if I turned to that light, however pure my intentions may be, the actions, the demerits would damn me.

And that was why… even if the other reasons were so much more important for me… it was why I chose that green light. Walking towards it. Wanting nothing more than to give the same salvation that it had given me.

So as I walk this valley of light. I think to myself not of personal gain. But of the salvation of another soul. Thinking only of that smile he had given me. So sad… so…

…

I turned, stretching my back, thoughts of that luminal space so far gone from my mind at the moment. For what it had been, even in that experience, it was merely a dream. A dream that drove me closer to the hand that pet me.

His strangely soothing presence finding purchase within my mind. That taint… so integral to my being. Gone. Banished.

I tried again and again to push my tail into his face. Laughing at the way he tried and run from it. A strangely civilized response to my own failings.

But it was like playing with a kitten of my own. Annoying them in ways only I could. It was so sweet and wholesome that I couldn't not continue.

I chased him down, following the flow of the river as he fetched clothes and other assortments. Cleaning and cooking substances for his fellow man.

Only they had not appreciated his efforts, treating him as some sort of servant. I wanted nothing more than to rip them apart. But I couldn't, the way that he pleaded with me.

It was like he had some sort of unique vision into my soul.

"I'll name you…" he spoke and for once I listened carefully. My ears perking up at the sound of his voice.

At that declaration of his.

I had never cared nor catered to names. It was enough to know someone by that smell and look of theirs. But for some reason this felt important. Like it was an integral and missing part of my soul.

So I listened, I listened so carefully. Trying… oh so trying to make sure that every word, every movement of his… No, of Gabriel was captured by those sanctified eyes of mine.

"Titania, the imperious queen." It was a declaration that echoed through my soul.

Titania…

I tasted the sound of the name between the jaw of my maw, letting it rest between there as I echoed it through my mind. Again and again.

Again and again.

Yet another moment passed.

I turned and purred against his knee, letting that name sink within my being. Yes, for I was not nameless anymore.

I was Titania, the imperious queen. A queen that would serve this healer of mine. Who had rid me so of the taint that wracked the minds of all the monsters out there.

He was a miracle. And I would protect that same miracle with all my being.

…

[Gabriel pov]

She had grown clingy. For all my efforts to heal that taint within her soul… for the time that I thought she would fade away as they all had. Those monsters who could not handle the weight of purity.

I had thought she the same. Yet as I reached my hand… petting that fur of hers. Watching that imperious look in her eyes as she gazed over the camp.

Of dozens of students, each in varying states of disarray. 

She watched each and every one of them. And as for her namesake. She held it proudly within her soul. 

I had only named her that out of instinct. It had come from some strange part of me. That name. It was almost mystical the way that it sunk within her being.

The way that she almost instantly transformed into the same being that I looked upon. A strange convenience that she was so close to me.

Clawing at those that thought to take advantage of me. Only to be cast off as soon as she tried. Giving me strange looks. As if the very thought of my kindness startled her.

But she held off, whether it be from my pleas or from my commands. I found that either way she listened. A loyal attendant that left my side only to hunt for her own food.

A rarity within the now. As with every meal I took more for myself, feeding her the same food that I created for those around.

She seemed almost grateful. But then would merely rest upon my shoulder. Cuddling up to me.

A strange change that happened almost randomly.

But I knew not if that was a side effect of my own abilities, healing her from that taint that would swallow her soul whole. Or if it was always a part of her. Either way I was in no condition to inspect her further.

My whole body ached with pain. Still from that brief healing that I had imposed on Titania, she had gone through so much. And subsequently I had felt every single scratch and tumble of hers.

Every maiming swipe that almost took her limbs. The mental load within her mind, fighting off that corruption of hers.

It was well and truly inspiring. The mental fortitude to endure through all of that. Through every single well placed drop of grief.

I pet the side of her head, her cheek, and drew a pur from her mouth. Lost in the rhythm of her chest against mine. Merely savoring the moment in this pitch black void.

Containing that soul of hers, so thoroughly stained with that ever growing green.