Written for the Flash Bingo challenge on the Basket of Books forum.
Katsa was not afraid of the deafening silence. She found it as a respite from all of the tense noise back at the place (the same place she refused to call home) in which there were expectations placed upon her voice and her stance and her very existence as a woman living in the royal court. Resentment bubbled up within at the oppressive silencing of her words. It took all of her energy to keep her mouth shut. She was a tool to old men who saw her humanity as a burden, a nuisance to be squelched and her monstrosity as nothing more than a pawn to manipulate for exploitative gain. She would face severe punishment in a way she knew would be painful if she were to question authority. Fear kept her in line, and she hated every second of it with the burning intensity of the sun.
Katsa would never be a pawn again. She learned that her duty was to herself, and her own survival. It was a painful lesson fraught with difficulties but no one else's demands sat upon her shoulders anymore. The liberation was frightening and awe inspiring. Katsa had enough restraint to keep herself under wraps. She may have been free from the clutches of her uncle and his oppression, but society's expectations still weighed upon her. Katsa hated needing to heed to societal regulations, but she grudgingly admitted that rules had use that would ultimately benefit her in some way, even if it wasn't tangible or immediate.
Survival was second nature to Katsa. Caring for Bitterblue's survival felt natural, almost easy. The poor child was fearful and timid and alone, her entire world turned upside down by the evils of a greedy manipulative man. Katsa understood.
She felt most at home surrounded by nature, and she was grateful. Katsa knew that monstrosity ran in her veins, never to disappear unless she emptied every artery living within her, but even the monster was sensible about nature. The scenery, untouched by man, reminded Katsa that not everything that could be touched would be destroyed. Nature thrived despite being a tool for humanity to benefit.
Katsa was a part of nature, and it was her duty to understand. Bitterblue was jittery, and knowledge would empower her here. Katsa knew that coaxing her to learn on Katsa's terms and not Bitterblue's wouldn't be logical. Katsa set up camp on the edges of the forest, close enough to nature to coexist in harmony but far enough from the city
"Am I going to die out here?" Bitterblue asked, her small voice full of confusion. These were one of the first words she uttered. Even the monster Katsa battled with (who was one and the same of Katsa as a person) relented when around Bitterblue. She was a child. She never asked for this life. Katsa's heart hurted
"I'll make sure you won't," Katsa said, her voice assured and calm.
"How do you know?" Bitterblue demanded.
"I don't. But your survival is as important as my own. We will get through this together, Bitterblue."
"How can I trust you, Katsa?"
"That's a good question," Katsa avoided mindless platitudes in fear she would place too high expectations upon Bitterblue. The young girl seemed like she wanted answers, more concrete than what Katsa offered.
"I don't know how to answer you, Bitterblue. You deserve better than mindless platitudes. But you'll have to trust me. Hope and faith are all I can ask of you." Bitterblue visibly relaxed.
There was a future for both of them yet.