The Scars We Bare [Odina x Rose]

Shaking the remnants of her conquest from the black and white tangle that was her mane, Rose snorted in defiance as she braced herself for the scolding of the century. Shards of glass and deformed metal lie strewn across the icy ground, littered with what was once the clan's winter food stores. They would pay, she had convinced herself, I want to be a Raider. I will be a Raider.

Alva stepped towards her, head low as she avoided the gazes of onlookers. It was best that Rose be dealt with before Gidal had to get involved; they'd allowed her free-reign long enough, and now she needed to learn her place. 

"Rose," the mare began, "how could you do this to us?"

Standing above the filly, her gaze was cold as the ground beneath their hooves.

"Do you understand how many horses could go hungry because of what you've done?", she said, the disappointment in her voice evident.

A call from the crowd demanded that Rose be brought before the Elders' Circle. Alva paused, turning her head to face the horse who'd spoken. Though she was usually quite docile, one would do well not to forget that she too was a child of Thigain. 

"I will deal with her myself.", she snapped, "She will face the consequences of her actions."

Shifting to address those who'd gathered, Alva stamped her hoof, ears pinned back.

"Leave, all of you.", the mare commanded, though she had no true power to do so. The horses dispersed to the tune of grumbling complaints and she returned to her daughter, who stood in the center of her mess, shaking like a leaf.

"I'm disappointed, you know.", she sighed, touching her nose to Rose's horn. "Just because you didn't get your way, doesn't mean you get to lash out like this, Rose. You know better."

The filly glared at her, unwilling to speak. Frustration ate away at her resolve because she knew that Alva was right; angry tears formed at the edges of her eyes, though she attempted to hide them by rubbing at her face.

"Are you sorry?", the mare asked softly.

Rose remained silent, but nodded slightly. Her initial rage had long subsided, and all that remained was a shivering little girl. The pangs of regret welled up in her chest like the beats of a drum, drowning out everything but her mother's calm voice.

"Then, I'll let Uncle Gidal know. But you have to promise me you'll make up for this somehow.", Alva said, holding her daughter's head against her chest.

Her mother's closeness and the comfort it brought soothed the filly; when she was calm, Rose pulled away.

"I promise.", she responded, nudging Alva's nose with her horn. The mare smiled, her eyes lit with their familiar warmth.

"Good, girl.", Alva cooed, "Now, I have to go explain things to your Uncle. Get yourself cleaned up and wait for me at home, alright?"

"Okay.", the filly muttered, stepping away from her. With a reassuring nod, Rose was sent on her way. Once her mother was out of view however, her walk slowed to a crawl. Uncle Gidal's never gonna let me be a Raider now, she lamented silently, tears threatening to surface once again. Odin was right. It's impossible.

    The high-pitched approach of Rose's younger cousin was met with ears pinned back and flared nostrils. Odina, she snorted to herself, turning away in annoyance at the filly's very existence. Little Miss Perfect, always trying to live up to her big brother's legacy; that was Odina, and Rose despised her. She could never replace Odin, so why did she even try? It was a fool's errand, and a cruel reminder that he was never coming back.

    "And what in Kaia's name do you want?", she shouted, perhaps a little too sharply. 

    Looking over her shoulder, the filly sighed and moved to face Odina; her eyes remained low as she pawed at the dirt beneath them.

    "Sorry..." Rose responded, her regret apparent in the uncharacteristic mutter of her voice. "I'll be okay, 'long as Uncle doesn't flay me alive for what I did."

    Hesitating to look up, she instead directed her gaze off into the distance, just close enough that she might catch a glimpse of Odina's face. It was embarrassing, that of all the horses, she was the one to see what'd happened. All she wanted was to bury her head in the snow and pretend she didn't exist, that nothing existed. Her chest burned with the weight of her actions, threatening to rob her of what little strength she still had.