Luke 8:39

Toxicity took in the words of her daughter. Chimera was leading the pack. Toxicity mused over the information for a moment. Venom was out of the picture then, as far as she was concerned. Her function had been to lead the pack to godliness and she had failed, now the pack had fallen to inbred paws in her place. A fitting end for such sinners. With a click of her tongue, Toxicity cleared her mind of the smugness that built. Such an emotion wasn't becoming of her status. "Then those who banished us have fallen. A mortal pack led by an inbred. May they die painfully and never know peace." Tox's tongue flicked over her lips briefly. "Being kind is something anyone can do. It is not a hard virtue to achieve. Still, perhaps your blessing will spare him some suffering from his... condition." She didn't particularly care which mortal her daughter decided to live under or with, as long as she didn't follow their whims. they were beneath her.

Her son stiffened under her questioning and Toxicity feared the worst. They were both older now, and yet they travelled alone, separated as a family. Alas, she did too, so she withheld judgement on her son's behalf. As Pontifex relayed what information he had, Toxicity's eyes drifted to the glowing pool. "Hm," was her only response. Cool as it may seem, she churned on the news. Two of her initial five remained. Their numbers dwindled. It was a failure on her part as God's Chosen and as a mother. She pushed it away for now, as she was so good at doing. She had to press forward.

She pulled Pontifex towards her as he finally closed the gap between them. She pressed into his side, a low voice, only for him in her chest, "I am so blessed that the two of you are alive." She held him close for as long as he would allow. Feeling that she was not alone, that the lineage lived on, that there was, against the odds, hope.