[ P ] A Series of Unfortunate Events

Datura

The sun would scarcely shine as the daytime crawled by quickly. Clouds had claimed the skies for the entirety of day, with new snow decorating the landscape. Soon, the blackness of night would again control the land of the living, bleak and bitter cold. A lone youth sat beneath an enormous pine tree. Her pale coat nearly blended in with the freshly fallen snow, save for the hints of her markings that seemed to grow more visible with time. Her eyes were half-lidded, her expression unreadable as she was accepting of the night – it was mercilessly cold, but inevitable. It was what it was.

Life was as it had always been – Mother Rhianon and Nimue, Nightshade and Henbane, Lark and her brothers. Datura could recollect no other existence but this, and could see no other way. But the seasons had changed, and winter came charging in with a vengeance. The girl, not yet a yearling, had no previous winters to compare it with, but the days were miserable and the nights were nearly torturous. Still, she avoided her coven when she could, fearful of… well, just about everything. Shameful.

The girl’s quiet expression melted into concern when a startling scent caught her senses – blood. Instantly, her heart began to race with anxiety, and a frown tugged at the dark corners of her lips. Topaz sights scanned the area cautiously. The metallic smell of fresh injuries was close by, and for a second, Datura considered sprinting away to safety, eyeing her small box of herbs both healing and toxic within — more because she didn’t want to leave it behind, and less because she intended to use them. Her gaze was restless, but her paws did not move.


@Sumac

template by bean

He’d only managed to snatch an hour or twos sleep after his mornings ordeal. His aches and pains were too annoying to get anything more than that. The moment he started moving, the cuts on his left flank and across his shoulders had started weeping once more, adding more red stains to his already marked coat. The one across his nose was nothing in comparison, though it stung as he searched beneath the snow for the hare he had been able to hold onto despite the attack. The male who had took it upon himself to rob the youth would remain hungry and that’s what mattered to him most. Yet he longed to be larger, stronger, so he could have given back as good as he had gotten, he was growing tired with what was quickly becoming a habit.

As it was, what he’d been able to rely on had been a well placed bite to the bastards eye and the swiftness of his paws, coupled with the fact that he had grown to know this land well, in spite of the changes the weather had made to it. Though it posed various challenges and was particularly cold, Sumac found it tolerable. The quiet, the hush that would fall on the world as the snow had thickened, was surprising and he found a peace in it. Hunting was certainly harder though, hence why he had held onto his hare so.

Hindered by his wounds, Sumacs return to the coven had been a slow one and by the time he caught the scent of anyone familiar, the sun was on its decent. Carrying the hare by one hind leg, having already eaten the other, the boy entered a small clearing where the scent was strongest. The first thing his eyes landed on was a strange smelling wooden box and after a moment of casting around, he found the owner, Datura. The tiny girl looked positively riddled with anxiety at his presence but he gave it no mind. With a grunt, he stepped closer and dropped his load. ”Ya hungry? Have some if you want”, he muttered, stepping away from the hare to give her room before turning his head to lick at what was dripping from his shoulder.

Being that she was a female, and therefore above him, it was only right that she got to fill her belly before he continued filling his own.

@Datura

Panic was beginning to set in. The ominous smell of blood seemed to drift closer. To her surprise, a figure appeared with a hare (or, at least, most of a hare) hanging from his maw. It was someone she knew, which brought some relief to her anxious mind, and the metallic scent of blood was explained by his apparent hunt – though Datura was not exactly happy to see him, and a frown tugged at the corners of dark lips as Sumac approached.

The hare fell to the ground, lifeless, and the boy asked, ”Ya hungry? Have some if you want.” His voice was low, and she wondered if his tones were the product of disuse. Did any of the others interact with him? Speak to him? Look at him…? Her expression was that of someone who had been caught in the act, having done something wrong, with wide orange orbs and a visible cringe set on her facade. ”Oh – n-no, I shouldn’t take –”

But the words were stolen from her mouth as she caught sight of the terrible injury the youth sported, and the blood that spilled from it, leaving gruesome trails of crimson streaking down his auburn-hinted pelt. ”Sumac.” She spoke his moniker without the usual careful consideration first, instinctive as she took a step closer. She was uncertain she had ever said his name before outloud. ”You okay?” Datura took a few careful steps nearer to him on tiny paws to look more closely at the wound. And it was a bad one.

Several seconds would pass before she became self-aware, and nervous amber sights turned away to peer about their surroundings. It was not predators she feared, but Mother Rhiannon, who would surely disapprove if she saw Datura acknowledging the boy’s presence at all, much less showing concern for his well-being. But the she-wolf was nowhere to be seen. Satisfied, Datura looked back to Sumac again, eyebrows knit with concern for him. "I can help you."



@Sumac

coding: gutz

It came as no surprise to him when she immediately started to decline his offer, causing him to roll his eyes as he continued to lick his wound. His assessment was cut short however as he registered that his name had been spoken. Now that did surprise him. Expression guarded, brows low over his mis matched eyes, Sumac turned his head slightly to catch her moving closer to him as she asked him if he was okay. He gave a grunt and a shrug, which only served to make him wince, as he straightened up and prepared to move away if she got any closer. It would not do to have her near, if they were caught…

Seeming to have the same thing on her mind, Datura checked about them, and he did likewise. Satisfied that they were truly alone, she gave him a look that he could not recognise as she declared that she could help him. Confused, he frowned and looked suspiciously between her and the box she guarded, taking a moment to realise that she meant to do something about his injuries. That had never happened before. His ears glanced back and he resisted the urge to pace, chewing the inside of his cheek as he debated what to do. What if she meant to trick him?

”I ah… it don’t hurt so bad”, he hedged. She’d never seemed to be mean before, not like his sister at any rate. Blood continued to drip down his shoulder, staining the snow red and finally making his mind up. He couldn’t hunt or travel like this, he’d have to risk it, ”Go on then”. Barely able to look her in the eye for longer than a second, he gave a grumble before lying down so she could get a better look. She was only little after all. The thought that she would probably touch him almost had him getting back up and leaving, but he forced himself to stay as he was, tension making him go rigid as he forced his head to the ground so he wouldn’t snap at her.

The last thing he needed was to get into trouble for hurting a female, though her helping him was trouble enough.

@Datura

”I ah… it don’t hurt so bad.” A frown crossed her shadowed muzzle; she didn’t believe him, but understood why he felt obligated to say so. He seemed so resigned to his lot in life. And Datura could relate. She knew her place: unquestioning follower. Believer in that which she was told to be true. Boys are less than girls — everyone knew that. Boy or not, though, Sumac didn’t deserve to be in pain. And he had never done anything against her. He wasn’t Larkspur. Her focus was on the wound, with an occasional stolen glance to see his bizarre, mismatched eyes. ”Go on then.” The male was considerably larger than the small femme, a fact made more obvious when he had to lower himself just for Datura to look at his injury.

”Have to stop the bleeding,” she said carefully. The girl wasn’t squeamish at the sight of the blood, but she cringed at the sight of it. Her empathy could not distinguish between female and male, what was deemed worthy or unworthy. A soft smile, one of comfort and grace, graced her muzzle as she began her work, pressing an enormous leaf against the gaping wound. ”This won’t feel good,” she warned, sitting back on her haunches in order to raise her front paws to apply pressure to his wound.

Her beloved box of herbs was close by; for a second or two, she was unsure if she should access the treasures within in front of Sumac. It was difficult to trust someone who she had been so trained to be wary of. But perhaps he was like Anwyn, who had surprised Datura in his interest to become something akin to friends. She continued to press dainty, pale paws against the leaf that covered his injury. ”What happened?” She dared to voice the curiosity that burned in her thoughts. ”I won’t tell.” A quiet promise, and reassurance - he was not her enemy, and she was not his.



@Sumac

coding: gutz

”Have to stop the bleeding”, she declared. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she gave him a smile and pressed a huge leaf against his wound, warning him that it would not feel good. Just having her touch him didn’t feel good, never mind when she pressed down. The air whistled out of his nose but he allowed no whine to escape. It actually helped that it hurt, he couldn’t remember the last contact he’d had with another wolf that hadn’t resulted in pain. He supposed that his mother must of touched him with care at some point but she had been gone for a while now. Since then, no one had had reason to touch him, save for those who intended to do some damage.

So focused on trying to tolerate the contact, it was a moment before Sumac registered that she had asked him what had happened. ”I won’t tell”, she promised. He doubted it would matter even if she did tell Mother Rhiannon but he appreciated the sentiment. He never could figure their self appointed Guardian out. Whilst she seemed to take care with the others, Anwyn and himself were merely tolerated. In fact, he didn’t think she would mind if he was found dead in the dirt, save for what she would be losing in muscle. But it was his place in life and for the moment he had accepted that with as much grace he could muster.

Lifting his head up a little, he replied, ”Just some basta…. I mean, a guy, who thought he could steal my hare. Should’a seen the way he looked when I told him where to stick it”. He gave a small smirk remembering how bulgy the ugly brutes eyes go, right before the tramp picked him up by the scruff and threw him against a tree. Being pinned there was more than just an ego bruise. ”He ah, got me good for it but I bit him in the eye and ran off. Idjet ain’t got my hare though”, he couldn’t help say the last part without a hint of pride. The first time he’d been attacked, Sumac had been helpless and he had a claw missing to remind him every day of it. He never wanted to feel like that again. ”Aint the first time it’s happened, won’t be the last”.

@Datura

Datura worked silently as Sumac described his violent encounter, her expression registering emotion as he spoke. There was some semblance of pride laced in his words that caused the pale girls’ heart to flutter with anxiety. But he seemed so… harmless. His final comment would cause the girl’s brows to knit together with concern, not for herself, but for Sumac: ”Aint the first time it’s happened, won’t be the last.” She frowned, shaking her head just slightly. ”That’s so sad.” The words slipped out before she could censor the thought. "Apologies," she whispered.

What a lonely life he must lead, not unlike his brother, Anwyn. Their mother was already gone by the time Datura had arrived to the coven. And while Larkspur was highly favored by Mother Rhiannon, obviously, the boys were not – though Datura was not certain she grasped why – they were considered lesser beings, and not blessed by the Goddess, but what had they done wrong to deserve the fate of an outcast?

In some strange way, Datura felt she could understand. She was used to being on the bottom, overlooked and not preferred. An afterthought. Tolerated. Her attention returned to the wound, which had stopped bleeding profusely beneath the leaf. She didn’t have many opportunities to practice her work. She thought with a secret laugh how Mother Rhiannon would feel — she was doing her work, putting skills to use… only it was with him.

Removing her paws, now tinted in crimson, Datura turned to her box, which she had crafted herself, with the greatest of care. Within it contained her collection, which had taken her months to find. She had to be careful when she was in her treasure box, because some of the plants were toxic just by touching them. But tonight, she was looking for something that would help to ease his pain. She found delicate white petals, and removed them carefully to set before Sumac.

”Take this, Sumac.” A gentle smile graced her muzzle as she placed the pale petals before him to consume. ”Chew on these petals. They should help if you have pain.” Even if he wasn’t likely to admit he was in pain, Datura knew better. Even if Mother Rhiannon and the rest were mean to Sumac, well, that didn’t mean that Datura had to be too… at least in secret. She watched Sumac with a gentle smile, unaware of the grave error she had just made.



@Sumac

coding: gutz

That’s so sad… apologies”

What could she mean by that? His mother had told him that his only use was as a protector of the coven, if one overlooked his current use as a servant. Violence was an obvious part of that and the world had already said that cruelty and pain was his by rights, that harsh treatment was his inheritance. At least, that’s what he’d have said if he had anything to compare it with, if he knew that there was another way to be had. People hurt people and yeah it wasn’t good, but it was the way of things. He’d been small and weak so others had took advantage. And it had scared him for sure but had also galvanised him to become stronger, smarter, more capable of defending himself. At the end of the day, no one else was going to do it for him. He was his own keeper and he didn’t see that changing anytime soon, if ever.

As she moved away from him and to her box, he sighed a breath of relief at the removal of her contact with him. Sumac lifted his head with curiosity, perusing the various dried herbs contained within and wondered at all their uses. Did Datura know? Surely she must since she had gone through such effort to collect them. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her and sate that urge to learn, as much as it wasn’t his place to ask, when she offered him some white petals. According to her, they were for his pain and whilst he didn’t want to admit to such and give away his weakness, surprisingly he also didn’t want to refuse her help. She was taking a risk after all in helping him and her gentle smile did seem genuine.

”If ya say so”, he said, giving her a rare smirk as he dipped his head and took her offering. Sitting up whilst he chewed, he wondered if that was all that was needed, or was there more. Perhaps she would put some of that dry stuff on his wound to make it heal or something… ”Ya must be clever an all that to have learned this healing stuff”, he muttered, giving himself a scratch behind the ear. As it left his mouth, he realised it was the first compliment he’d ever uttered. Probably the first time an opportunity had appeared to give him the opportunity. It made him suddenly shy, eyes turning to the ground as he made a muddy swirl out the snow with his forepaw.

Feeling like he should offer her something in return, he said, ”I could teach ya to hunt… if ya want to that is. It ain’t that hard, once ya know what you’re doing”. She probably wouldn’t but it was all he had to give. He gave himself a shake and noticed that his shoulder and ribs still hurt, which had him wondering how long it would take for the petals to kick in. Sumac lifted his head with the intention of asking but was instantly distracted by something else. For some reason, Datura just wouldn’t come into focus, becoming nothing but a vaguely cream blur. ”Um Datura?, he asked, carefully getting to his feet and shaking his head a little, ”I think dem petals have done something to my eyes. Was that supposed to happen?”

@Datura

She was as unaccustomed to receiving compliments
as he was providing them, and her head ducked shyly. ”Oh, thank you.” A hint of a smile as he offered to teach her to hunt. She had subsided off of rodents and hares. Perhaps she would have grown larger had she eaten more during her first year. ”That’s thoughtful of–”

But there was a sudden change in Sumac’s expression, and the faint smile vanished as he spoke: ”I think dem petals have done something to my eyes. Was that supposed to happen?” Uh oh. ”What do you mean…?” Amber sights turned downward to traces of the petals that remained - ivory with hints of indigo. Had she looked closer, the girl would have realized it was not the innocuous bloom she’s had intended to get, but rather, the very same flower she had been named after… the girl felt to her stomach. Datura had only heard tale off what her namesake plant was capable of. The raw power of nature at its most severe, unforgiving.

Chin trembling, her facade was one of utter devastation. How could she be so careless and so stupid? She had taught Anwyn to be so cautious when handling plants, especially her namesake. Her warning to him filtered through her frantic thoughts: ”It leads to madness... Give enough, and they will be gone, could be days, could be always.” Her mouth went dry, opening as if to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. ”S-Sumac.” Her own words resurfaced… ”And if they come back? They’ll be changed. Can’t be the same once you’ve seen all that, you know?”

Horrified, the girl’s voice and her pale form shook. ”Sumac, I — I made a mistake.” Her body froze, uncertain of what to do. Should she get Mother Rhiannon? No, that would never do, it would only get both of them into trouble. The elder witch could refuse to help, anyway, as punishment for their clandestine encounter. There was no anecdote, Datura knew that much was true.

”You won’t die… I think.“ She muttered the final two words under her breath, which came labored from her lungs as panic spread throughout her small frame. Her vision began to blur, the forest around them quivering as if it were breathing, as well. ”You’ll be okay, Sumac. You'll be fine...” A lie — she had no idea if she had accidentally doomed her new almost-friend.


@Sumac

coding: gutz

Sumac could barely make out the face before him, save for the wide, fearful eyes. What he couldn’t make out of her features, he could guess at by the tone of her voice as she said his name. This was wrong… ”-I made a mistake”[i]. Whatever she had done, it was bad, he could tell, especially as she assured him that he wouldn’t die. The very fact that she felt it needed stating had him wondering just what it was she had fed him. And if the effects would be as dire as that. Her attempt to placate him made him sure it was as bad as [i]that, or close at the very least. She was lying, he was sure of it, not that he could prove it. Just a feeling, like when you miss your footing and start to fall. A sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

All at once he felt his heart begin to pound wildly in his chest as he tried to pull in air that was suddenly too thick in his throat. He grabbed a few lungfuls, panic making the gasps become quite audible. ”What have you done to me? he whispered as he staggered back a step, ”Datura? What’s gonna happen to me?”. The second part was louder, his anxiety making it short of a shout as thoughts flashed through his mind. She’d poisoned him. Had she meant too? Surely not, she seemed… upset… it was a mistake. She’d said it was a mistake. But what if that was a lie too. Could she fix it?

His brow furrowed and the panic edged off into a place of actual fear. Am I gonna die? No, she said I’m gonna be fine. It’s all gonna be fine. He gave her an attempt at a smile as he shook his head, trying to see better. Things came into focus for a few seconds but it really didn’t help matters. He could see Datura, see the fear that he had guessed would be in her face, when behind her a shape loomed. It was dark and huge, blocking out the bare trees behind her. A strange ticking sound filled the air as he tried to make out any details, like a load of crickets had appeared, surrounding them. It was on the tip of his tongue to warn her but then it was gone. The shape. The sound. They were alone. In the silence was a threat, the promise of bad things.

His legs were moving again and Sumac stumbled as his head whipped from side to side, trying to find the shadow creature. If the girl had spoken during this time, none of it had reached his ears, distracted as he was. ”We have to go. We have to go, we have to…”, he muttered the words over and over before focusing back on his would-be saviour. Did she feel it? The crawling, aching fear? Did she know?

@Datura