Must I Say Sorry?

Natalya had tried being soft with her child. She had attempted to understand, to offer advice, to comfort. It was always her first reaction when it came to her own children. But when it didn't work, she was quick to give up the farce. Naturally, the matriarch was a stronger, colder woman. Her own mother had raised her to be just that in a somewhat harsher manner than she raised her own kids now. Perhaps she should change her methods? Be tougher on them as pups than she had been, show them the cruelties of the world before they could begin to understand them. It was something to consider if another litter came along. For now she had only Chione to worry about.

And she was done coddling her.

Natalya's posture straightened and her face stoic, lips forming into a hard line. She listened to her daughter's shouting, heard her as she flopped to the ground. She said nothing for a long time, simply directing her blind eyes to the distance. When her voice finally sounded, it was monotone. There was no longer and sympathy or encouragement to it. Clearly, that wasn't working in this daughter's case.

"If you continue choose to let a man make you so hateful and self-loathing, you will no longer be worthy of the name Olympus, Chione. You are weak now. You do not fight the darkness that threatens you. You do not speak with your family of your struggles, yet you despise us because we do not understand what you refuse to let us know. I love you, as I love all of my children, but no daughter of mine should behave as you do now."

Natalya stood and turned to leaving, pausing only briefly to speak one last line.

"Overcome it, or you will face hardships worse than you can imagine."

-exit Nat unless stopped-