Qiturah was shocked - apparently everything that she had just said in exasperation and frustration was lost on this tiny vipera. Qi had called her naïve, and it was not far from her mark, for apparently this little one knew nothing, but not by her own fault. Apparently, she been abandoned, had been left to fend for herself as no pup should have to, and so she had adapted to her way of life the best she could and in the only manner she could. It explained everything - her odd idiosyncrasies, her innocence, her way of speaking… But I also told Qi a great deal about her. If she was truly this naïve and innocent, she must have not yet seen most of the world. Had not seen the terrors, the horror, the cruelty. And it was then that the Oferweder made a decision, one that would shape her life - she had been born to protect the Arcus Irae, to find a soulmate and procreate to create a new generation of Tempests who were, yet again, meant to protect the rainbows. But given her skill, her abilities, why could she not be meant for more than that? Why did she have to limit herself, or rather why had she been limited to protecting the few she had bonded with? Furthermore why did that bond have to be a magical bond? Why could it not be something like this - natural… Yet unnatural at the same time?

“I am… Sorry if everything I said was overwhelming. I… The magic that passes through my veins causes a condition in those of my lineage. We are called Tempests as a whole, because we are meant to be a force not to be reckoned with. But my particular lineage - there are five in total or so we are told - we have a certain trait that defines us… Rage. It makes us stronger, gives us more endurance, keeps us going when others would fall. But it… As you saw, it also makes us quick to temper, I so I have a very very short fuse. Any little thing can set me off. My father says I will learn to control it better as I get older and use my powers more… But I don’t know. I don’t know that I want to use my powers more... ” Qiturah paused, and thought about the fact that it was quite ironic that this was the first time she had actually talked about her feelings surrounding her state of being a Tempest… And that it was to someone who knew absolutely nothing about Tempests in general. A half smile softened her face and she lowered her rump and then her forelimbs until she was simply laying on the earth.

“We… We are born and bred with a single purpose according to what we have always been told. Our goal is to protect the Arcus Irae. Now apparently that means nothing to you, but they are a species, a new species… Well not new, they are only new to Blossom Forest, they are actually quite old where they come from. But their presence certainly can calm anyone, and can bring them joy simply by being there. Each of them are very beautiful… Delicate. They cannot protect themselves from the dangers of the world, and thus are vulnerable to those very dangers of the world, especially the Dreor Stragga or bloodsuckers - also known as vampires. But… You do not know what a vampire is do you. OK… They are… They’re similar to my kind - the Tempests - in that they are drawn to the rainbow hued wolves. But vampires ingest blood as their sole means of sustenance. And only the blood of carnivores, specifically other wolves. And the rainbows are like a drug to them, once a vampire tastes them, they cannot get enough. It’s all very complicated really… It’s a long story. I’m sure you don’t want to hear it. But the point of the matter is that my job in life is to find the rainbows I am magically bound to and protect them at all costs, even my own life. And if there is a secondary job it is to meet as many males as possible until I find the one I am bound to as my soulmate, and then make more Tempest babies to protect the rainbows. So I feel… I feel… bound. You know? I just… It’s stupid! Why should I not be given a choice in what I do with my life or who I am allowed to love and who am I allowed to procreate with them if I even want to procreate? It just seems everything my life is decided for me and it’s stupid and annoying and I hate it! But my entire family is also made up of Tempests and none of them seem to be bothered by it at all and I don’t understand ... I don’t understand why they don’t care why they don’t want their own path why they… Why they are okay with this? I’m sorry… I’m… As I said I anger quickly and…”

Throughout her elaborate monologue, her vocals had continued to rise in both tone and magnitude until she was nearly yelling at the end, and without realizing it she had stood back up to all fours, her tail curled tightly over her spine, which in and of itself was erected in a sharp dorsal fin. She took a few deep breaths in order to calm herself and gather control of the nearly incontrollable rage once again, before laying back down on the earth, resting her chin and her paws. “I just want to be able to decide for myself what my purpose is.” Qiturah looked at the little wolf and smiled at her. “And although it won’t change much… Hell, it might not change anything. But I think, if you are okay with it… I’m going to deviate my path a little bit so that it includes you.” Remaining on her belly, Qi crawled a little closer to the Vipera and put out a paw that reached just short of her, but then she remembered that this was not an Arcus Irae. She was not forbidden from touching this one, not like the majority of the wolves that she was surrounded by. And so, hesitantly, she made contact if the little femme would let her, drawing her paw up and down the girl’s leg, feeling the smooth armor that plated her limbs.

“I’m sorry you don’t have family. For as frustrated as I am with mine, I would not give them up for anything. And it is terrible that the universe has robbed you of that. I could teach you things… You know. If you wanted. You don’t have to say yes, I know I’m not the easiest person to be around.” All of this time, Qiturah’s electric pools shifted to land anywhere except for the little wolf. Her nares shifted from side to side as she nibbled at first one corner of her lip and then the other. “Maybe you can… I don’t know…” She snorted and then smiled briefly. “Teach me to be more… Quiet I guess? And I’ll teach you everything else… You are normal. But neither am I. And I think I need help coming to terms with that…”

WC: 1236