When you're good to Mama || P. Severa || Mama's good to you

I'm a nightmare, dressed like a daydream.

The soft sound of a purr reached Severa, her ears pricked and curved to the sound. This… Luna was different. She let the sensation wash over her like a stream of sunlight to warm her pelt. But then, the scent of death hit her nose and her pace slowed a heartbeat as the taste formed on her tongue and she swallowed. Luna did not slow or react at all to the new information hanging in the air, and Severa pushed after her instead.

Her ears thrummed with the hollow buzzing of flies, the stench of old meat mixed with new that filled her nostrils.

She came to a pause at the door beside Luna, cautious, curious.

“It’s… edible meat, right?” she asked slowly. “I’d rather not poison myself.” She flicked her tail and glanced at the door. What was even in that room? “All these warnings have got me curious.”

Cruelty is the gift we give ourselves.

I'm a nightmare, dressed like a daydream.

The molly did not reply, nor did she explain before she pushed open the door and vanished inside. The wafting scent of death and decay hit Severa full force, and hesitated before following Luna inside. What was the worst thing possible behind those doors? Could she envision it? And if it really was her worst possible scenario what would be her reaction? The thought of backing out now left a bitter taste on her tongue. And she wanted to be a predator didn’t she? She had nothing left to lose, her life had taken a dark turn and she was riding the current.

Severa took a deep breath, and strode inside.

“Huh,” she said, more of an involuntary release of air that passed through her lips as she took in the sight of carnage and bloody wreckage.

In terms of worst case scenario, this pretty much nailed it. She came to an abrupt standstill in the middle of the space, her breath shallow, as she comprehended the scene before her. She watched then, as Luna crossed to one of the fresh kills and tore into the chest, bloodying her maw and tearing from the cavity a chunk of meat. She turned and dropped it onto the ground, and Severa saw the heart spray flecks of blood across the ground and dust her paws. She stared down at it, suspended, and then looked up at Luna—at the purr still curling in her throat.

Ah, so that’s what she had meant. The predator who saw all as prey and would swallow them whole, to leave their carcasses to terrify all who wandered too close. And if she said no now—she would become prey. She saw it clear as day, saw the choice and the paths laid down before her, and Severa was not prey.

She lifted her head, forcing the soft tremor in her limbs to subside—calm the pounding in her heart. This was initiation. “You know what they say,” she began quietly. “Curiosity killed the cat.”

This was how you became a predator, how to acquired that smell of danger and she was not going to turn it down. She bent down and sank her teeth into the organ, the flush of warm blood coating her maw tasted as delicious as any prey—perhaps more so. This possessed an element of domination she found intoxicating.

Her father would be proud. Or at least, she liked to think so as she ripped a chunk of flesh and swallowed it. “And satisfaction brought it back.”

Cruelty is the gift we give ourselves.

I'm a nightmare, dressed like a daydream.

She could feel the smear of blood left about her maw, and took a moment to wipe the mess with her paw. Luna had begun to circle her, still purring, but something in her voice changed. Did she feel sorry? Those were all valid reasons to feel sorry. To bring them up now, after the fact seemed rather pointless though. Severa paused a moment, her burning gaze following the lithe movements of the molly.

This, well, this felt like a test. Even among predators there was a hierarchy.

“I could explain that since I didn’t kill her, I have no reason to feel sorry—but I want to be a predator. Which means, I assume, that eventually I will be the one stalking some poor soul who’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She paused, considering the mangled corpse that spread out across the floor in front of them.

“It’s just prey, isn’t it?”

Cruelty is the gift we give ourselves.

I'm a nightmare, dressed like a daydream.

Severa regarded the silver molly for a moment. At every opportunity, she had made it clear that Severa was free to go—no questions asked. It was oddly considerate? The word felt wrong and yet she couldn’t think of a better one that summed up the feeling churning in her gut. She could imagine herself, taking her leave from the space and forgetting she had ever seen this place.

And her mind recoiled.

What a boring life that would be, and you wanted to be a predator. No—Severa shrugged, and a deliberate look up at Luna, took another large bite of the heart lying on the floor before her. Her teeth sunk into the flesh the blood knock against her teeth. “I like it,” she confessed, soft—a hushed secret between the two of them.

Trophies? Well, she did like the idea of some kind of ornament. She would have to think on it. Perhaps a headdress of teeth, but she had no idea how she would string such a thing together. Or maybe she wanted to reinforce her claws—the options were endless. But she didn’t need to make a decision now.

Cruelty is the gift we give ourselves.

I'm a nightmare, dressed like a daydream.

She watched, a bubble of uncharacteristic anxiety rising in her throat. Maybe it was the prospect of having a family again—or maybe her subconscious trying to whisper caution but she threw it to the wind, and felt her chest beat as Luna purred and pressed her form against hers.

And Severa realized just how long it had been.

A purr rose in her own throat, the sound a thunderous vibration like rolling thunder. She didn’t know if she could call Luna mother—she still loved and missed Ravenna. But, who said she only had to have one in her life? She watched as Luna tore and swallowed the bloody pieces, a vicious glint in her eyes—and then it was gone. The purr and the sweetness returned, even as blood dripped from her jaws and on impulse, Severa licked a splash away.

“Thank you,” She paused to press her ear down against the silver molly’s chest, “Mama Luna.”

Cruelty is the gift we give ourselves.