So it ever was. So will it always be. Such is the nature of evil.
Woke up on the wrong side of reality
And there's a madness that's just coursing right through me
And as far as the time, far as the time
Not sure I'm there yet but I'm certain I've arrived, yeah
- Fall Out Boy “Young and Menace”
The Shade burns within him. It coils and rattles and hisses. The world has changed so much and the god had returned ever vengeful and incredibly hungry. There was no sating him with the blood of hares, voles, and squirrels. The weakness in Molodian had grown and the Soul Eater was back with a gaping maw ready to consume. It writhes within the confines of Underidge, his carriage a mere vessel that had been abused by negligence over the last several seasons. After Paravana he had begun to slip evermore into a state of twisted reality. He had come out of it for a brief moment with Kamala but he had backed away and ignored her at the behest of Eden, those gently vicious warnings, and then the Shade had abandoned him for a time.
He had almost forgotten how painful it was to house the Shade. He had fretted for many moons about the loss and now that the Shade returned, he was frothing at the mouth, snapping at Matianak, furious that she would speak to him in such a manner. Yet Underidge had not realized, not really, that Matianak was not a pup anymore. That she was grown. It is as if he see’s her anew now as she backpedals before shoving right back into his space, no longer overcome with his foul breath.
She is nimble. Spry with youth, though not so young as she once was, and her voice seems to scream into his ear as close as it is. And yet, you didn’t, she taunts, and he bellows, thrusting his body sideways and hopefully into her, using his shoulder to push her if she is not quick. She lashes out at him and he feels her teeth scrape along the bridge of his snout, down until the skin splits into a gash and bone can be seen. The pain is sharp and oh-so-revitalizing. It seems to burn life into him.
Yet it is her next taunt, calm, cool, detached, that makes him see red. The Shade is screaming for you.
”You dare,” he hisses, accusing, his sibilant voice oddly echoing. Fear strikes him deep within because he sense a truth in her words. The Shade did not settle easily within him at the violence. It only screamed louder.
In a quick rush he lashes out, seeking to place his teeth around her ear, to rip and tear at any piece he can get. Her eye out be best, to blind her from what she thinks she sees. Just as quick he steps away, tail stiff behind him, blood and saliva dripping from his maw as his eerie silver eyes stare at her in hatred.
”It will be you who screams soon, brat,” he says, his voice low, filled with venom, but Matianak is not dumb. She will see the fear there that limns his entire body. Because while Matianak was cunning, she didn’t lie.
UNDERIDGE
THIRTEEN - MALE - NO HEART – KAMALA’S SOUL
OF GLORALL - ENDERLY X BANSHEE - KILL COUNT (IIII)