this party's just another haunted house And just like that, it had all collapsed like a house of cards. Calamity had watched from the temple these past few months as tensions had grown so taut that there was nothing left to do but release it all in one great blowout. The aftermath had left Toxicity stripped of their family name. Abraxas tasted like ash in her mouth now. What did it stand for? They had all lost their way. She could imagine their father watching them from above, disappointment tainting his expression. It had been long enough now that she was beginning to forget what he looked like. Was she a fool for hanging on to the past? Perhaps. But she couldn't stay if her sister was treated so poorly. If their faith was tread upon like it meant nothing. She had to go searching and rooting for any last vestige of faith here; sin seemed to lie around every corner. Whispers of incest had her struggling to keep her food down at mealtimes. The shrine that their father had fought so hard for, had died for, was steeped in muck and mire. Calamity's heart broken into pieces as she slunk around the exterior of the shrine, checking over one last time to ensure that Toxicity had cleared out her belongings. She was set to meet them in the swamp if she was released from Ashen without argument. Steeling herself, she called out for Hattori or Venom. There was a right way and a wrong way to do this. She had spent so much time hiding, especially since the Witch's Hut... just the memory was enough to make the hairs on her spine raise in alarm. Calamity would not sneak away, even if her paws were quaking and she found herself unable to speak as she awaited an answer to her call. "calamity ordains you unworthy"

Hattori was not at all surprised to hear Calamity's call, Ashen had changed drastically during his time as Shogun and that ruffled some feathers, gotten people thinking. He supposed change wasn't a good thing coming from wolves who clung onto old ways, refusing to do little else but hold onto the value of their name. As if that was enough to coast them through life. The Kleins did it, the Abraxas did it, it was inevitable like the winding path of a river, that Calamity would follow in the steps of those before her. The same may not be said for Venom, as Hattori knew she was sentimental, but this was no great loss to Ashen. What had she done to serve the Empire? Pray to a god which may or may not exist? He hoped the Abraxas kin would not be too disappointed if they were met with nothing but darkness upon their passing.

There was much to be done with Ashen, still plenty of room for growth and improvement. Namely, to reset a precedent, to use every mistake and misstep as a chance to try again and learn. Something Toxicity and her kin seemed to refuse to do.

He slowed as Calamity's form came into view, standing between the pale trees with clear intentions on leaving soon after. Hattori would not make her wait for long.

"I understand." He told her in lieu of greeting, voice monotone but not unkind. This was not something to get angry about."Go with your sister."

this party's just another haunted house Breathlessly, she watched her sister's husband appear in her stead. Calamity crushed down the dark feeling of disappointment that threatened to rise up and drown her. Despite Tox and Venom's violent dissolution, she had hoped to share some final words with her sister. Some kind of explanation. Hattori's arrival was the final stone in the wall built between them. Toxicity and Calamity would forever stand on the other side. She dipped her head an iota, her jaw clenched so tight it was almost painful. "Thank you. Tell her..." Calamity closed her eyes, surprised to find that tears bit on the other side of her lids. It felt like her very body was betraying her. Did it have to happen like this? Yes. Yes. It must. "Tell her I'm keeping my name. Goodbye, Hattori." Without another word, Calamity turned in one fluid movement and headed off to meet with her only remaining sister. "calamity ordains you unworthy"

Hattori said nothing and simply let the woman say her piece. No doubt this was difficult for her, even if he didn't understand the emotional weight behind it he made no move to cut her off or degrade her feelings. If she wished to leave then she was welcome to, it was as simple as that. For a moment she struggled to find words and those which followed rang empty, like she'd backed out at the last moment.

Though his word had little, if any, sway when it came to Abraxas things she seemed intent on keeping her name. He would tell Venom this, if she wished to hear it. The Shogun watched her go and only turned to leave when her dark form was out of side and mind. Yet another wolf to soon be forgotten from the annals of Ashen's history, it seemed.