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The children ran, terrified. Only by running far enough away would they escape the wrath of the former Nightsister. However fast they ran, Grania would always catch them. It was a fact of life... even so, the two didn't have to accept it.
Tanneth pulled at her younger twin's arm. "Hurry up! We just might make it safe this time!"
Nom pushed her spectacles further up on the bridge of her nose. They were very thick and heavy, serving to magnify the deep black eyes. "I do not believe that is possible. However, Rukka says that hope is always there." She pulled closer to her sister.
With the harsh cold wind cutting through their lizard hide armour, the painfully thin children were shivering, although the temperature was only fifteen degrees below freezing. Such temperatures were considered the norm on Dathomir, at least during the winter season.
As Tanneth looked back beyond her sister's raven head, she noted a painfully familiar silhouette emerging from over the horizon. Tall, with long black hair that escaped its confinements.
Grania, daughter of Allya. Their mother.
Tanneth whispered what she had seen in Nom's slightly pointed ears and was surprised to discover the sharp wind had not cut down all her energies. The two pushed on, Nom taking the lead.
Nom didn't like when Grania got mad.
Grania hurt.
The tall, pale woman's anger was powerful. Such power, however, had to be hidden from the Clanmother, for only a true Nightsister would allow such power to rise. The Clansisters were fools for not allowing their emotions to provide such Power.
Power was what counted.
Children could provide that Power.
Therefore, she must punish those who attempted to take that Power. Even if it meant they were her own offspring.
Grania's mind turned down the dark path of the mind, thinking, as one part of her realized that Rukka must have turned Nom and Tanneth against her.
"Damn that mate. I will have his entrails as dinner..." Grania's breath came out in a white puff as she spat out the curse. Grania's gift was the Death Wish. Only the Nightsister who had raised her knew of it, and now she was dead. Grania had seen to it. Personally...
Spotting the two ahead, the dark witch spat out the words of a spell, using it to bind the power to her offspring, pulling them back towards her.
Very soon... the Power would be hers...
"Tanneth... she is here... I can feel her..." Nom whispered, knowing her sister's rounded ears would be able to hear it.
Nom and Tanneth were twins, yet as different as the Mother Sun and Daughter Moons. Nom was a pale dark and resembled her mother, just as Tanneth was golden and resembled Rukka, her father. Both had traits of the other parent as well. Nom's ears were Rukka's, just as Tanneth's golden green eyes were Grania's. Every witch and slave in the village mourned the fact that the Clanmother was too blind to notice Grania's atrocities towards her children.
Tanneth cocked her head in the direction Nom had indicated. "She is powerful, and angry."
The two children had no idea how correct Tanneth was.
With a swooping hand, Grania was able to snatch Nom's hair, pulling her back. A powerful slap rocked the six-year-old child, leaving bright red marks that would blossom into gruesome blue and black flowers. Only Nom's rolling into the slap had prevented more damage.
"You worthless piece of filth! I cannot believe you are the children I gave birth to!"
Throwing Nom against the granite wall of the mountain, Grania ignored the sharp crack that indicated that the skull was fractured as she lifted her other daughter by a grip on the throat.
She pulled back her fist as Tanneth closed her eyes.
The only sounds were the slight wheezes of Tanneth, the shallow breathing of Nom, and the laughter of Grania.
Rukka frowned at Grania. "What did you do to them! How can you live with yourself, knowing you are destroying your own children!" The Firrerreo advanced on the woman who kept him captive, ignoring the danger to himself as his anger over his children blossomed into a cold power.
A single dead white hand rose lazily and flung him across the room, a sharp crack the only sound.
The woman dropped the spell holding the two limp bundles in the air as she walked out.
Rukka began to gently unwrap the two bodies of his children. If it wasn't for the fact that he was recognized as Grania's property to do with as she pleased, he would have left as soon as Nom and Tanneth were born. Only then would the three of them have been free.
Rukka sighed. I should have listened to Captain. Then I wouldn't be here, forced to sire children on that... that... His thought went uncomplete as Nom groaned.
The former trader picked up his six-year-old daughter. One day, Nom. I know one day, you will leave.
A slight glow permeated the room as Rukka vocalized his thought. Looking up, he noticed the Maw Goddess, protector of all traders and smugglers standing in the doorway. She had always been described as a burning torrent of green flame, but Rukka only heard the voice.
"One day, Sirius, Child of Ridian, your daughter will do as you say. One day..."
An image came into the Firrerreo's mind, one of the future. A dark-haired warrior, with unthought-of power in her hands.
"You must keep that power pure, Sirius... only then will you be safe..."
The green glow disappeared.
Sirius... I haven't gone by that name... since well before I left Firrerre... I will keep her safe... but which?
Rukka kept watch through the years... even after he died. He remembered his promise to the Maw Goddess. Even when dead... the True name calls.
