Blackfeather Woods or half a page of scribbled lines

It was a story she would like to hear more of. Perhaps another day, when her brain wasn't so hazy. Maegi hung on every word, mismatched gaze boring into the woman's face. Hellish ways. Flicker's mother reminded her of her own, and she smiled, though something sad and--lonely?--hid within the expression.

My mother despised me, too, Maegi responded, her tone mild. She named me Peryite because I disgusted her; she didn't know how fond I would grow of the name, and the god, too. Here her smile grew wicked, and she nudged Flicker's shoulder in a show of devilish camaraderie. Wolves like you and I. . .we can't be discarded so easily. We come back, like weeds.

Her face became suddenly solemn, then, and she stared at the woman for a long moment before speaking. Will you become a member of the Dark Brotherhood? she asked. Worship our gods and take part in our rituals? Those 'hellish ways' would make you very useful here. She sat and waited for the answer, all the while mesmerized by the way the background behind her friend seemed to move, like it was breathing.