Barrow Fields hide & seek

set directly after the sapphique raid

He'd chased after the runaway, to no avail. Watched him dive into the sea to his almost certain death. Turned back with disgust and nausea churning within his heart and gut, trodding heavily in reverse toward his new master.

By the time he reached the border, they were long gone—pirates with their booty, back to the bloody forest.

She was pregnant.

She's your mother.

Hex fell to his knees upon the melting snow, feeling the rough bristle of dead winter grass against his forelegs. He pressed his muzzle into the cold, hoping to numb himself against

the feeling of becoming

the very thing he hated—

A tormentor of women and children. Goddamn him.

Tell me what to do, he moaned, eyes rolled up toward the sky. The spirits were silent.

He couldn't get her face out of his mind. Her voice, fierce, stalwart. Sacrificing herself for the greater good. For her children.

why hadn't she done so for me?

He could not do this. He felt each of the cardinal directions tugging, ripping, snaring him every which way.

He shrieked and sobbed upon the frost.

He reluctantly picked himself up and walked toward "home". . .whatever the fuck that was supposed to mean.

He would spill blood soon, to find the spirit voices. They knew best.

They would show the way.