i'm nobody who are you Calamity had waited patiently until the end of the meeting and then stalked off immediately afterwards. She hadn't felt anything in quite some time, so she was surprised that she felt a hot, seething rage. Venom had always been pompous and was chosen for the heir at a young age. It hurt Calamity that she forgot their lineage so soon. They were divine beings. But were they? The longer Calamity had labored alone, seeking any deeper connection with her father or godhood, the further she seemed from the truth. It burned her up. Their mother had proven herself weak after all - the way she had sat apart from the gathering, yet still present with quiet approval... It was confusing. It was disgusting? Calamity couldn't tell how she felt. As soon as she was alone, Calamity screamed out loud until her throat was hoarse and then threw herself on the ground. It was a full blown temper tantrum. Cala had always had difficulty controlling her emotions, preferring sooner to ram her horns into trees before confronting confusing feelings. This was no different. The (former?) princess scrambled to her paws and launched herself, head down, into the nearest tree trunk. Her antlers made contact and the sensation reverberated back through her skull and down her shoulders. It hurt in a good way. Maybe the pain would clarify things for her. "calamity ordains you unworthy"

Toxicity had spotted her other sister at the meeting. She didn't show her face at the raid, but now here she was. Toxicity hoped to bring her siblings into the inner loop, to have them all become a ruling force under Venom. She wanted to fill the ranks with Abraxas before any filthy Kleins had the chance to get their grubby paws all over the newly rekindled pack. She followed after Cala once the meeting concluded, casting a look at Venom that motioned her to follow when she had the chance. Toxicity had already disowned some family and she wasn't scared to disown more, but even she had to admit her own allies were growing thin.

When she approached the other priestess, she found her in a full tantrum. Toxicity waited for Cala's emotions to fade after slamming her head into a tree before Tox came into view.

"Now that isn't very becoming of a princess," she said a little flatly. "Do you feel better now?"

Venom followed after Calamity and Tox, her movements slow and precise as she let herself sink into deeper thought. Her sister had been so quiet recently, so much so that she had failed to appear when the pack needed her most. She heard her sister before she could see them, and she wouldn’t regret her slow pace. Toxicity expressed her own sentiments as Venom’s tall form emerged from the trees. Lilac rose eyes looked Calamity over, and wouldn’t hide her look of disappointment. Maybe the Klein gene was more prone to failure, it seemed that way with the irresponsibility her family seemed to repeat again and again.

Still, Cala had hope. More potential than Chimera, and far more sense. She could be conditioned to true form, Calamity just needed a little time and effort. Something their mother had lacked in, but Venom would not. The white gloved girl tilted her head slightly as her forked tongue flicked from her lips as she supported Toxicity’s confrontation silently.

i'm nobody who are you The dethroned princess turned and glared at Toxicity, opening her mouth for a biting retort. When Venom appeared at her sister's side, forked tongue flicking, she felt her resolve waver and then dissipate entirely as she spotted the look in her sister's eyes. Disappointment. Somehow, that stung more than hatred. Calamity's shoulders fell and she stood there quivering, rage and confusion still racing through her tissue just as the blood ran through her veins. They all followed the same circulatory system. After a moment she slowly, measuredly, lowered her haunches to the ground and returned her sisters' gaze. "No, I don't feel better. I feel... lost in a deep, dark forest," Calamity said hoarsely. Her teeth began to chatter, some mad cross between rage and sorrow compelling her jaws to move of their own accord. "I have spent all this time searching for a sign, an omen - some glimpse of our father or my own future - and I get..." She stared coolly at Tox, hurt lurking behind her eyes, "I get nothing. I feel nothing. I know nothing." Toxicity was the god-touched one, the favored Abraxas child. Calamity had been left behind long ago as her sisters forged on ahead while she spun aimlessly in circles, chasing shadows and searching for meaning in the natural rhythms around her. As much as she tried to sort the world into some grand symphony, it remained a cacophony of unrelated noises. She would not apologize. Her shame was too great to even admit failure, but as she looked at them with wide, empty eyes, it was easy to see a fathomless regret. "calamity ordains you unworthy"

The first look Calamity shot Toxicity was a potent one and Tox couldn't help but feel a small smirk tug at the corner of her lips. Anger was a good feeling. It was better than the absence Calamity had shown in the past while. Quickly, her tune changed when Venom appeared, slouching to a defeated look. Eventually she spoke, saying she felt lost in a deep dark place. Toxicity's features softened slightly and she took a step towards her horned sister. The girl went on to talk about how she had searched and found nothing. Toxicity thought for a moment before casting a glance at Venom before adressing Calamity once again.

"When did you ever look towards us? When did you look with us? Calamity, we are in this together- we're all each other have since our father ascended and our mother fell from grace." Toxicity tried to offer up a light and genuine smile. "When I feel lost, I revisit the scripture our father spoke to us. Surely you remember it all- and if not, I can aid you in that direction."

The Empress narrowed her gaze as Calamity reacted to her presence, her shoulders slumped as she imploded with her rage and guilt. She couldn’t keep their gaze and Calamity’s eyes fell in shame before she spoke. Venom remained a calm listening presence, silent as the apprentice confessed her sins. She shifted her weight softly as Calamity spoke, despite her failures she was speaking now. For so long she had secluded herself, if only she had sought outside help..

As the thought crossed her mind Toxicity spoke, calling out the self isolating actions of their sister. Venom took a moment to collect her own thoughts as she watched Calamity intently. ”You are not one that knows nothing.” She offered up in her hushed but hard tones. ”You've spent too much time looking for the future and not enough time creating it.” Venom criticized her harshly.

i'm nobody who are you "I... remember the scripture," she murmured, somewhat begrudgingly. Calamity had spent so much time longing for more than that, but what if the scripture was all they had? For now. Archon had left them only this, and Deathbelle had become... something else. Their siblings rankled her and the unholiness of their mother's union with their uncle haunted her. For so long she had tried to make sense of the senseless. Calamity sighed. Maybe this was finally a way out, a way forward. They were offering her clemency - and, perhaps, love. She missed them. Searching for answers where there were none had isolated her and now her sisters returned to lift her up. "I want to change the future. I'd like to take it into my own paws, but I'm not sure where to start." Calamity was raw and honest. The former princess sat down slowly, meeting her sisters' gaze with a renewed purpose. Her voice was still hesitant, but she was more determined than she had been in seasons. "Where do I start?" "calamity ordains you unworthy"

Venom's words were harsh, but fair. One couldn't look for a future, they would have to build it with their own four paws. The shrine would still be a lonesome plot of land if it hadn't been for the efforts of they had made to turn it into something respectable. Calamity responded that she remembered the scripture, that she wanted to make a change, but that she wasn't sure where to start. Toxicity cast a look towards Venom, then to Calamity. She had an idea: she had been planning a little voyage to the volcano for some time now. It was the place their father rested and Toxicity hoped to gain clarity and blessing towards the future by going there.

"Empress, I've wanted to go pray at the volcano for some time. Perhaps going back to where it all started and offering up a round- or several- of prayers while scaling its heights would help Calamity to focus her mind before returning to our fold?"

Calamity was lost but she could be found. Venom didn’t say much as she observed her near twin as she spoke. Cala was able to see and acknowledge the folly in her ways but she didn’t know where to begin in finding the right path once more. Venom watched Calamity, but as Tox requested her attention the young empress turned to face their priestly sister.

Going to the volcano. The thought had crossed her own mind, and she’d trekked there on the anniversary of Archon’s death. She hadn’t been there when he perished but she could feel him as clearly as she could in the shrine. Surely a holy trip like this would help to guide their sibling home.

”Yes,” her gaze returned to Calamity. ”I feel the distance between ourselves and father keenly. Let us close the distance and bring our dear sister back to him.”

i'm nobody who are you She closed her eyes slowly and lowered her head almost below her knees. Yes. This felt right. A moment of piercing clarity consumed her like a bright, hot flame. It cut through the shadows she'd been lost between and illuminated a path out of the darkness and beyond. "Yes. I would like that," Calamity conceded. Perhaps she was no longer a princess, but the role had never suited her anyway. The prestige had gone to her head and poisoned her, made her brittle and breakable. She had not only lost touch with her family but also herself. When had everything gone wrong? Cala was no longer sure. There was no definite time that she could pinpoint, just a long and slow decline. But she was ready to begin the difficult ascent. There was a way through and out. "You lead. I will follow." "calamity ordains you unworthy"