Dahldra

Songs:
Love Runs Out by OneRepublic
There's a maniac out in front of me
Got an angel on my shoulder, and Mestopheles
But mama raised me good, mama raised me right
Mama said, "Do what you want, say prayers at night"
And I'm saying them 'cause I'm so devout
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out, yeah


Kaleidoscope by A Great Big World
You're like the thing that makes the universe explode
Into the colors of a world I've never known
You keep turning, keep turning my life around


Lineage:
Curse Upon Your Bloodline, G1
Curse > Drald

Redemption Lineage, G4
Adriel + Alps > Bonefury > Cavador > Drald

Notes:
-shade is definitely active
-her family curse from her mother causes the shade to actually reject her, meaning that it can't establish a lasting control over her
-she treats this like her superpower
-absolutely delights in shoveling trash into the shade void to annoy it
-very close with her brother MeditateCurse
-overall, very determined, and vibrant
-uses her headstrong nature to overpower the shade when it does try to creep in, with pure willpower
-can teleport with shade power?

---

"DRALD." The whisper teased itself through her brain. She scratched her ear like a bug was crawling behind it.

The call came again, more insistent this time. She sat silent, stoicly focusing on the textbook in front of her. She had studies to practice. Couldn't her guest be more considerate?

When the voice wound through her brain once more, she slammed the book shut in frustration. "Drald!" She spat the name out like something foul had entered her mouth. "I can't stand that I have a name that was chosen by someone who actually tolerates you, much less likes you. You are such a nuisance!"

The voice called again, this time slightly fainter. "CONSUME."

"You know what? Fine! Consume this!!". In an instant, the spiral's eyes faded from their normally vibrant green to a deep, inky, iridescent one. Tendrils of dark shadows wound about her wrists and smoked out from the corners of her mouth, which was opened in a toothy grin.

She dove off her seat and snaked her way through the house, searching around. She could almost feel the shade purring inside her with pleasure from the thrill of the hunt. She quickly spied her target, and pounced! The emotions inside her became a cacophonous mess as discord formed between them. Excitement. Disgust. Pride. Shock. Smugness. Horror.

She spat again, this time clearing an actual foul taste off her tongue as the whisps evaporated off of her. Her eyes were brightening once more. "There, happy now?"

No words came from inside her, just a resounding feeling that vaguely would translate to discontent. "Well, good. Because that is all you are getting today. But don't worry, there will always be more!"

She felt the underlying river of emotion turn to pure annoyance, before disappearing. "Yeah, that is what I thought! Not so fun when you're not the one at the helm, now is it?".

"Drald, what are you doing in here?"

She instantly turned around to face her older brother, MeditateCurse. Her face lit up with a genuine smile. "Oh, just grabbing a snack. I promise I am getting back to my studies next.". He glanced at the empty trash can next to her, but didn't say anything.

"How would you like me to come help? We could read the book together, if you would like."

"That would be great!". She whizzed around him, snuggling into his fur, grabbing his horns like reins. "Forward! My noble steed! To learning!"

MeditateCurse just laughed, gently bucking and dancing around all the way back to her room. She lightly jumped off when they reached her doorframe, and dove for the book. The pair snuggled up together on the floor, and she looked up at him, considering something.

"Hey, so, I am thinking that I want to go by a new name now. Drald was the name chosen by my dad, but it is a shade-touched word. I don't want it to define my life. I want to define my life. My way."

MeditateCurse paused for a moment, his gentle smile so reminiscent of his own father, the one she would never meet, and unlike hers, whom she wished she could forget. "I think that is a good sentiment. What are you thinking?"

"Dahldra."

True to his name, her brother mulled it over some more as she waited with baited breath to see his opinion. "Interesting choice. You rearranged your past name, and added a few letters. If I may ask, are you sure you don't want something further from your old name? You know, new beginning and all that?"

"No, I think it fits. My old name is still part of me. It always will be, just like my past and my... guest.". She frowned a tad at this. "But when it comes down to it, I am making my own way, using the tools I was given for my own goals, not others. So,". Here she paused for dramatic effect. "I say 'Ha, Drald!', and mess it all up until it is my own!"

MeditateCurse let out a hearty laugh at her anagram. "You clever little punk. Well, if you like it, then I do too.". He rubbed her head affectionately, and then opened the book again. "Alright, now let's get back to geography..."