So Sayeth the Blood Tidings || Scarecrow

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    Severa

    Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.



    That explained everything.


    She knew the tuxedo tom had seemed familiar. And she had been right. Haskill had dropped the bombshell as he departed, and her heart ached at the sight of the tom striding away into the city. Every part of her had wanted to run after him but she wasn't ready to go. Not yet. She entertained the hope of traveling with him one day, maybe after everything went to hell in a hand-basket and she had nothing left to lose.


    Still, the revelation spurred her forward, looking for the tom dubbed The Scarecrow. The dilute torbie had only really met him the one time, and it was somewhat on impulse and the memory of his scent that kept her searching. She tracked the smell to a spot outside the Blood House, in the alley corner of the next house. But though she peered inside, her eyes burning in the gloom like smoldering coals, she didn't see him there.


    "Scarecrow!" she said, lifting her head. "I got a message from your brother for yah."


    Sheogorath  

    The ghastly creature lingered in the cold shadow, his features masked in darkness, his eyes like glowing embers. That was when he heard the press of paws against the frigid grit, and his blazing optics shifted toward Severa. A message from his brother? The Scarecrow had heard of Haskill's visit through the rumor mill, but he felt little emotion toward the fact that he had missed the other's presence. In truth, he had little interest in family bonds.


    "Speak your message." The Scarecrow uttered darkly, revealing his presence as he strode from the shadows of the alley.


    Severa

    Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.



    Not so friendly, was he? She watched the tom materialize from the shadows, no greeting on his lips or even in his eyes. She considered a quip or two—no hello, Uncle Scarecrow? But she didn’t think he would find it funny in the slightest. She had yet to endear herself to him, and she wasn’t certain that would ever happen. Blood wasn’t the end all be all, considering she had chosen clan over blood.


    “I’m your niece,” she said, bluntly. He struck her as the type who didn’t like to beat around the bush. “Haskill is my father.” She smiled. “I knew you two looked alike.”





    His cold eyes lingered upon Severa as he awaited the message. It came as a bit of a shock, at first. He hadn't been aware that Haskill had ever created a family, but the other tom had never been particularly open about his experiences. The Scarecrow's gaze grew intent, blistering and scorching. He had family in BloodClan. Did that bother him? No, not particularly. As long as Severa didn't expect warmth in return for their family blood bond.


    "Do you expect something from me?" The Scarecrow questioned flatly. Perhaps, in time, his hostility would drip away, but in that moment, he could only wonder what the purpose of the newfound discovery was. Why should he care that he was an uncle? Did Severa expect something to come with the reveal?


    Severa

    Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.



    Did

    she want something?


    She hadn't expected him to turn warm and fuzzy on a dime. She maybe hoped he would be more friendly to her, but she had to acknowledge the expectation was selfish. He didn't owe her anything. And yet, there was a sense of disappointment at his reaction so she had been wanting something. She mulled that over in her mind for a moment, staring at him. His burning eyes were a lot like her father's, a lot like hers. She narrowed her gaze, well she didn't need him to be family.


    Maybe she just felt guilty for letting Haskill walk away without her, and was looking for something or someone to let her know it was okay.


    But that someone wasn't going to be Scarecrow. "Expect?" she said, and she sighed. "No, I'm a realist and I hardly know who you are." She paused. "But I wouldn't mind getting to know my Uncle."


    Maybe that was asking too much. Maybe she was just trying to find a replacement to fill the whole that Sheogorath had vacated. Maybe all of this had been a mistake, but at least she'd tried to extend a branch to what family she had. "But if the feeling isn't mutual, I won't waste my time."