BlackBerry

By Vihn

She slunked through the undergrowth. The muck clang to her scales but she didn't care. She could never care again. The grey curse lightly patterned her skin for now. But one day, it will consume her soul. The grey patched skin itched much like dried on ash. Her colors turning dull and faded.

A dark shadow fell on her. She raised her head and the smell of hatred blew hard into her face. The large guardian eyed her from up high. They were so full of disdain. She could only imagine her own were filling over the brim with defeat. He could eat her now and she wouldn't care. The curse would only infect him too. She was nothing anymore. Just a parasite waiting to enter the body of another.

Instead of killing her, he picked up her crumpled body. Her tiny form fit well in his claw. So well for crushing like the Blackberries she had hid underneath. His smile was the most sickly thing she had ever seen. Sweet to the point of retching. She was placed onto his back.

'Black Berry.'

Her name had been the first thing devoured by the curse. So, that might as well be what she was called.

'Red Velvet.'

His name was like a blood dyed cloth. Black Berry was like a rotted fruit.

To the present day, Black Berry feels the gaze of the clan's dreaded leader. Laying too weak some days on the ink smeared guardian's back. Her own gaze wavering and adverted. She cowers into the dark substance to hide from her knowing eyes. Black Berry never tells the guardian of the tundra. She would much rather not know what will come of it.