**TRIGGER WARNING**
Mention of Suicidal Thoughts.

There was no denying that getting around was a struggle for her, though it wasn’ necessarily the physical ramifications of her condition, rather than the weakness that came along with it. Some days, she was content to stay within the confines of the den she shared with her brother and parents. Others she would make her way to the medicinal den- the communal place where the majority of their supplies were stored. Then there were days like today, where she would struggle to simply get away. Mariah had spent the better part of her morning working her way near the back of Alias Island- where she often went when she was young.

The yew tree was one easily noticed against the other evergreens and hardwoods. It’s canopy of needles remained at the height of the tree- out of touch from where she stood at its base. Its paper-thin bark and asymmetrical growth in its trunk made it that much easier to identify. Not that she could have forgotten it. Having come here when she was younger, she’d discovered a victim of toxic flora. In order to observe its capabilities, she harvested one of the fallen limbs, and used it as bait for another unsuspecting creature, all in the nature of witnessing death firsthand. All in all, it hadn’t taken long from ingestion to fatality. The rabbit had suffered, but not for long. And perhaps if she had the opportunity to choose, she didn’t think it would be a bad way to go. A few moments of excruciating pain to prevent a lifetime of agony. Looking up into the canopy from beneath its cover, she eyed the clusters of small red berries scattered throughout. It would be so much easier, and who would have the right to judge her for it?

Code By Whiskey. Art By Cull

Scylla clicked her tongue a few times, her dainty skull shaking in accompaniment. "Such a pensive expression for one so young. What could possibly be going on between those ears, hmm?" From her place up within the branches of the yew tree, grey and blue eyes watched the Mendacium child curiously. She had climbed the tree to collect the poisonous berries for her own little experiments. Each of Scylla's nimble digits was coated in wax to avoid the poisonous sap from sinking into her pads. Clever girl.

Sliding down out of the tree, the blue and cream fae seated herself, her long tail braided and stretched out behind her. "I'm afraid I don't know which one you are, but I'm Scylla." Outside of her family, she knew very few members of Elysium. It was just in her nature.

Mismatched eyes fixed on the girl and Scylla noted her diminutive frame. She was very thin, almost emaciated. The girl looked tired, which was something that shouldn't be in one so young. Usually the younger wolves were full of energy. Scylla was terribly curious and suspected some underlying cause.

"Scylla Klein"

What she hadn’t anticipated, was the presence of another. As a vaguely familiar feminine voice resonated in the space around the tree, Mariah quickly looked over her shoulder- first one way, then the other in search of the source. When she didn’t immediately identify the other woman, the young Mendacium girl whipped around, getting more annoyed by each second she felt she was being outsmarted. It wasn’t until she heard a shift in the canopy overhead, did she consider looking up. And just as she did so, she witnessed the small monochromatic, striped frame of one of the Klein siblings as she ascended from her vantage point where she had seemingly been harvesting the deadly berries. That was a curious thought.

Before she could ask how that was possible, or even answer what she interpreted as a judging sneer … she was offered an introduction. Mariah couldn’t help but snort in response, considering how to describe exactly which one she was. Though, in the end, she became disinterested and simply offered her name. “Mariah.” She answered lightly before circling back to rebut Scylla’s first inquiry. “And if you must know, I was weighing options.” Her tone a little pointed as she intentionally left things vague. Though, with a slightly narrowed gaze, she proceeded to press for the information that she wanted to know. “How are you able to touch those? Aren’t you afraid of poisoning yourself through contact?” She pressed a little more insistently, wanting to know how she did something so dangerous … so confidently.

"Mariah Mendacium"