Another chapter, fresh from my office.
Thank you for those lovely reviews. Now I can't respond to everyone, but here are the ones that I will:
Wrath of Vajra: Thanks! I greatly enjoyed your story as well, you should really update that my man.
Brightkoin: I love Klara and Teresa as well, they are sure to change the story. Not to worry, I plan to finish this version.
PorcelainPuppetLady: I apologize if that made you feel uncomfortable. But realistically, it wouldn't surprise me if the Marleyan soldiers did rape captive Eldian woman. We know from the manga that Marley could be very cruel to the Eldians, to the point of torturing them and forcing them to become Titans to harass those on Paradis. The majority of the outside world sees Eldians as demons, and thus they justify and misfortune and cruelty they suffer.
Also, I disagree about fixing the old version. It's far easier for me to rewrite it to address the problems, and include many of the other ideas I neglected to act upon. While the Attack on Titan world is cruel, there can still be happiness in it.
Crod42: All will be revealed in time. Patience, my trusted ally.
Thank you Crod42 and MM995 for your help. Now let's get things rolling.
XxXxXx
A massive Titan stood in a serene meadow near a forest, a far distance away from his home. At 17 meters tall, heavily covered in powerful muscle and segmented plates of bone-like armor, he was an imposing sight. Short, blond hair coated his scalp, along with a beard around his bone covered jaw. His name was Issac Meadows, the current vessel of the Armored Titan.
In his clawed hands, gentle and wary of their awesome strength, he held his daughter, a young Klara Meadows.
At 12 years old, Issac had decided Klara could be trusted with his greatest secret; a secret that could destroy their family if the wrong ears caught wind of it. But she needed to know the truth, and he'd decided now was the best time. Thus he brought her out here today, an isolated location where no one could find or spy on them.
Klara looked around in awe, watching the world from above in childish delight. "This is amazing." She giggled happily and bounced in his hand. "I'm so high up! I can see everything!"
"Be careful, Klara! I don't want you to fall," Issac voiced his concern. His glowing orange eyes watched her carefully, alert for any sign of danger towards her.
"It's okay, daddy! I know you'll catch me." She smiled innocently. The girl held onto one of his fingers to steady herself, looking at it in wonder. "Your hands are so big; how strong are you, daddy?"
"Very strong. Watch this." Issac knelt down and reached out with a ghoulish hand, pulling a large boulder free from the soil. Taking a brief moment to show it to his daughter, his thick fingers squeezed and crushed it into countless pieces. Like raindrops, jagged rock shards fell onto the grass below.
"Do you see, Klara? This is the power of the Titans. The power that almost destroyed this world, long ago," he rumbled. "This is why the other nations fear and hate Eldians, because we are cursed with this terrible power."
"But… I thought I was a Marleyan? That's what mom said." Her amber eyes showed confusion at who she was.
"You are, but only through your mother, Klara," he confirmed. "But through me, you're an Eldian. A Subject of Ymir, to be more precise. Thus you have Titan blood in your veins. We are connected to Ymir, the Titan Goddess."
"Ymir… the Goddess," Klara said in wonder. "She woke the monsters up, right daddy?"
"Sadly yes," he rumbled out a sigh. "Whatever her intentions were, her actions changed this world forever. The Titans of Eldia slaughtered an impossible number people and wiped out countless nations. So many people suffered and died to the Titans, all because of one foolish girl."
"That's so sad," Klara mournfully whispered. "Why couldn't the Titans die with Ymir, daddy?
"If only life was that easy," he huffed a bitter chuckle. He scratched his beard with one hand in thought for a moment. He then turned his fiery eyes back to Klara, the girl staring back into the ominous orbs of light. "That is why no one can know you are an Eldian, Klara. Do you understand why?"
"Because... the world hates Eldians," Klara hesitantly replied. She looked miserable at that harsh truth, realizing that it now included her.
"Exactly. And if Marley finds out that I'm still alive, they will come for our family. They will take you away from us and torture you. They will hurt you in every way possible, no matter how much you plead," Issac said with utmost seriousness. "Do you understand, Klara? No one can know what I told you today. Don't write it down in your diary, and don't talk about it. Not even with your friends or siblings. Do you promise to keep this a secret?"
"Yes, daddy," Klara obediently replied. She looked scared about now knowing this, but she trusted her father. "But you'll protect me from Marley, won't you?"
"With my life," he assured her. He gently caressed her back with the side of a bone finger. "But I can't be everywhere at once. I know you have a good head on your shoulders, sweetheart, and you'll need to use it if you want to survive this cruel world. So keep quiet about this, okay? It's our little secret."
"Okay," Klara quietly agreed. She reached out and tenderly touched the Armored Titan's face. "I love you, daddy. I don't care if you're a monster." Issac's eyes softened at this, and he gave a rare smile.
"I love you too, sweetheart. Now, let's go home."
Titan Klara opened her eyes to the world, the massive amber orbs looking to the morning sky. The sunrise painted the clouds in a variety of breathtaking colors, giving her a small measure of comfort from her dreams. She began to sort through her fragmented memories, trying to make sense of the strange situation she currently lived in.
Her father was a Titan? Yes, that was it. Perhaps that explained why she and Teresa were like this now. Because his Titan blood was passed onto them. That was the best explanation Klara could think of anyways, at least until she remembered more information. She tried to recall what words he had spoken to her, but that dream had already faded into the dense fog that was her mind. No matter how far Klara mentally reached out, her past seemed to be locked away, painfully out of her grasp. It was frustrating beyond belief, but she had no choice but to be patient for now.
Even so, she could still recall that horrible day that lead them to this situation. About those cruel soldiers, who had brought them across the water to turn them into Titans. How they pushed them to the edge off a wall, injected something in their blood, forcing them to become monsters. It felt like an eternity ago, but Klara could still remember the hate she felt toward them, and how she acted upon it.
She killed them all… and she ate their bodies. She became a cannibal that day, who ate human flesh and bone. And worse, she'd loved it. She had delighted in devouring them for how they had hurt her and Teresa. And to her guilt, part of her Titan self still craved that same food again. The taste of human flesh...
Were they right? Am I monster? Is that what all of us Eldians are destined to be? Shame gripped Klara as she stared at her ghoulish and bony hands. That traumatic memory was burned in her mind, a constant reminder of her cursed blood. How could she forgive herself for such a gruesome act? Would Teresa still love her if she knew what her older sister did that day?
"Sis, are you okay? You look sad," Teresa asked. Green eyes shined with familial concern, which warmed Klara's heart.
But what could she say? Teresa couldn't know the truth about her, about the blood that covered her hands. The elder Meadows couldn't burden her with the truth of how awful she was, and destroy the innocence she still held. Teresa barely remembered anything about their past, which suited Klara just fine. She wanted her baby sister to remain that happy little ball of sunshine, to maintain the childish aspect that allowed her to laugh and smile even during these egregious circumstances.
So Klara gave Teresa a false smile to mask her tumultuous emotions and reached down to pat her golden head with affection.
"Don't worry about me, Teresa. I just had a bad dream, I'll be okay," Klara assured. She couldn't afford to look weak, not when her younger sister was depending on her. Luckily, Teresa didn't push the issue, though she suspected the younger girl didn't fully believe her either.
Even if she was a monster, there was one thing Klara was sure of: Teresa was innocent. Protecting her little sister was her sole purpose now, her sole reason for staying alive. No one was allowed to harm her. No one. And Titan Klara would rip apart anyone who dared to try. She would tear the whole world asunder if that was what it took.
Klara could faintly see a few Pure Titans in the distance, the monsters wandering around without purpose or thought. Thankfully, most of their fellow Titans ignored them, though Klara would kill the ones who came too close for comfort. It was surprisingly easy, as her Titan form had strength, speed, and maneuverability far superior to that of a regular one. Add that to the nigh-indestructible coat of armor and advanced regenerative powers, and she had a force of nature at her fingertips.
"Klara, I'm bored. What can we do today?" Teresa whined. She looked around in expectation, attempting to find something to sate her curiosity.
"Well, how about we go down to the beach?" Klara offered. "We can go swimming and make sand castles."
"Boring! We did that yesterday!" Teresa rolled her eyes.
"We can do each other's hair. How about that?" the 14-meter Titan suggested, hoping she'd accept.
"That's too much work. I wanna have fun!" she groaned, rolling around childishly.
"How about… we make flower crowns? There are plenty right here." Klara pointed toward the wildflower field they were in. Admittedly, she was already out of ideas. Her little sister hummed in thought before jumping up in excitement.
"I know! Let's go exploring! We can find something new!" Teresa cheered. She gave a wide smile at her decision, revealing her large and dagger-like teeth in her maw. Before Klara could reply, her baby sister had already taken off on all fours and sprinted toward the inland.
"Teresa! Get back here!" Klara shouted with worry. She couldn't let Teresa wander off on her own. The inland was where all the Titans moved towards, it was far too dangerous! What if something happened to her? What if the other Titans tried to eat her?
"You have to catch me first!" Teresa laughed. Ignoring her sister's concerned calls, Teresa continued running and disappeared beyond the trees.
"You little brat!" Klara growled in annoyance, giving chase without hesitation. She would never forgive herself if Teresa got hurt because she wasn't there. She had to protect her little sister, no matter what.
Her 14 meters of height gave her long strides, making it easy for Klara to travel through the forest. Yet Teresa could run on all fours with her body structure and could move at both frightening speeds and astounding agility around any obstacle. The forest was the perfect environment for her Titan form. With that thought in mind, the armored Titaness pushed herself to go faster, making the earth shake with her footsteps. She didn't bother to avoid the tree limbs in her path, preferring just to smash through them instead.
This went on for quite some time; hours in fact. Teresa would slow down at times so Klara could catch a glimpse of her, but then she would run off again, teasing her larger companion with her speed. They were able to move around the Titans without issue, although it was a guilty pleasure for Klara to kill the ones that crossed her path. She was tired of looking at their horrid and deformed faces. Though remembering how they were once humans like her, and not always these stuff of nightmares, she couldn't help but pity them. Better to give them a quick death to end their misery, she reasoned. It was far more cruel to let them live in this hellish existence forever.
Finally the time came when Teresa stopped running, a giant wall blocking the way. Perfect, now Klara would give her sibling a piece of her mind.
Wait, what?!
She slowed down as she closed the distance, looking up at the massive barrier in awe. When the hell did that thing get here?
"Klara! Look what I found! A big wall!" Teresa proudly said as she jumped in excitement.
"Have we seen this before? It seems familiar." Klara hummed. She scratched her claws against it, feeling just how hard the stone-like barrier was. She could break into it if she wanted, but decided there was no reason to.
"Yeah, I think so. Maybe we just don't remember," Teresa offered. "But look at how high it is! I bet I can climb it." She flexed her claws in anticipation.
"You probably can," Klara agreed with a smile before remembering to be stern. "But don't, okay? I don't want you to fall."
"Aw, you're no fun!" Teresa pouted. Her green eyes lit up as a sudden idea came to mind. "What if people live behind this wall? They must have built this to keep the Titans out, right?"
"A defensive measure? Now that you mention it… that does make sense," Klara commented with a hopeful smile. It seemed they weren't alone here after all.
"We should go in there and make new friends!" Teresa chirped happily.
"You're far too trusting, Teresa. They could be dangerous," Klara argued.
"Why not? Maybe they can help us," Teresa countered. "Aren't you tired of being alone? Wouldn't it be nice to talk with more people?"
But… humans can be cruel, too, Klara thought sadly, knowing that harsh truth all too well. Her broken mind showed a brief memory, of when she was bound naked to a chair in a darkened room. Men in uniforms interrogated her with great cruelty, taking pleasure in her pain and distress. If she couldn't answer one of their countless questions, they took a knife to her skin and began to slice it open.
No… I don't want to remember that. Please no, Klara inwardly begged, resisting the urge to fall to her knees and clutch her head in anguish. She hated that moment in her life, the crippling feelings of despair and helplessness she experienced then. She couldn't recall more of it, and she was thankful for that small mercy. Who knew what else they'd done to her.
Either way, it was over now, she reassured herself, and the ones who did it had been punished. She had killed them herself, ironically enough. The same ones who had tortured and turned her into a Titan had been killed by the same person only moments after her forced transformation.
Perhaps that was why she didn't want to meet any more humans. She was afraid of being hurt again, of experiencing the cruelty of mankind. And what about Teresa? She couldn't bear the thought of her baby sister experiencing that pain as well. Not again.
"They might hurt us, we should turn back," Klara broke the silence. She turned around to walk away, only to be stopped by Teresa.
"I don't understand. Why are you so scared of them?" the younger Meadows asked, confused by her sibling's excessive wariness.
Klara was about to justify her fears to Teresa, but then, a sudden scent invaded her nose. The wind carried the rotten scent of death from far away, which both horrified and made her sick with revulsion.
She knew that smell, it came from human corpses.
"What's wrong, Klara?" Teresa asked, having noticed her distress.
"I smell corpses over there," Klara pointed far into the distance along the wall.
"I can smell it too..." Teresa frowned with worry. "We should go find out what happened." Without waiting for Klara to respond, she crawled alongside the wall to find the source of carnage.
Please don't go there, Teresa, Klara silently begged. Seeing human bodies would remind her of the monster within. Her Titan still hungered for human flesh, and the brunette didn't know if she was strong enough to resist that sick desire. But with Teresa moving ahead, Klara had no choice but to reluctantly trail after her. She could only pray that her human will would hold out, and not be lost to her Titan instincts.
After trailing the wall for a while, they soon discovered a large outcrop on its surface, forming a massive semicircle on said barrier. It looked like a gate had once been at the front, but it had been smashed into oblivion. Now there was a gaping hole in the wall, easily allowing the Titans before them to walk right through. This explained why all the Titans were wandering toward this direction; to feast upon the humans within this safe haven.
"Oh no," Teresa gasped with wide eyes. She quickly crawled across the field, intent on discovering what had happened to this place. Klara thundered behind her, attentive eyes watching for any threat as they closed the distance.
It was very easy for the 5-meter Titan to crawl through the gaping tunnel that existed where the gate had once been. Klara swiftly followed her, the dark tunnel blocking out the sun for a brief moment. Arriving on the other side of the massive structure, her amber eyes widened at the devastation within.
It was a massacre, the entire town within void of any humans who had once lived there. Shattered bones and long rotted corpses laid upon the dirt streets, a testament to the horrors of the past. Buildings had been smashed beyond any hope of repair, with countless rock shards from the gate covering the area. A few other Titans wandered around the interior, the monsters then vanishing through an inner gate, which too had been smashed apart.
"We're too late," Teresa whispered with broken hope. She rapidly looked around the wide district, perhaps hoping to see if someone had survived this tragedy. "I don't understand, why did this have to happen?"
"The Titans killed them all," Klara whispered in sorrow. She gave a sigh at the tragic scene, suddenly feeling very tired. She didn't know how long ago this had happened, but it was clear that the people here had stood no chance against their giant predators. Once the Titans had broken through the wall, they were free to slaughter the humans within. No one deserved such an awful fate, one she wouldn't wish upon anyone.
"Wait… some of them must have survived," Teresa broke the dreadful silence. She looked up at Klara, a glimmer of optimism returning to her eyes. "The Titans are still coming here, right? So there must be people further in!"
"That makes sense," the 14-meter Titan admitted after some thought. Inwardly, she was impressed by Teresa's sharp intellect and reasoning.
"Klara, we need to go find them. Even if only a few humans are left here, we can save them from the Titans." Hope and passion had returned to Teresa's voice. Klara was about to shoot down her suggestion, but then a realization came to her mind.
As tragic as this was, it provided an opportunity for them both. There was sure to be supplies left over in the abandoned buildings. They could finally get some clothes to cover their nudity, maybe even find some leftover foodstuffs to consume. Even if no humans had survived, they could finally meet their own human bodies' physical needs. Yes, there was nothing but benefits.
"That's a good idea. Let's do it," she declared. Teresa was surprised at her unexpected lack of stubbornness but smiled in gratitude. The two sisters walked through the abandoned district, shortly reaching the inner gate and the world beyond it.
XxXxXx
Hours had passed, and the sun was slowly setting over the land. Titan Klara thundered across the fields, her long strides covering an impressive distance quickly. Currently, Teresa was in her human form and was being carried in her sister's ghoulish hand. The blond girl now had a sundress to cover herself with, along with a simple pair of sandals and underwear.
Other clothing and supplies were scattered around Teresa as well, the result of them looting several abandoned houses. She would enter them to see what she could find, while Klara protected them both from the Titans lurking about. All of this was possible due to those people dying or fleeing from the Titans, a sobering thought to say the least. But, Klara wasn't going to complain about their own luck turning around. After everything that happened, they'd earned a break.
"Sis, where are we going now?" Teresa called up to her.
"The people that once lived here must've needed a steady supply of food from somewhere, which means farms," Klara answered. "I bet some of 'em probably still have food stored away that hasn't rotted yet. We can use that for ourselves."
"Isn't this stealing, Klara?" Teresa frowned as the realization of what they were doing came to mind. A good girl like Teresa didn't like the idea of being a thief.
"No. The farms have either been abandoned due to the Titans' advance, or the owners have long since died at their hands. If they're not gonna use it, then we are," Klara bluntly replied. "I'll find us a good place to rest for tonight; it's getting dark." Thankfully, her own Titan form had very good eyesight, allowing her to easily see into the sunset distance.
They soon came across a large farmland area, with several intact buildings. The land held long overgrown crop fields and abandoned animal pastures. Perfect, there was sure to be something they could use here. Klara slowed her movement and walked up toward the farmhouse, the building mercifully still in good condition, and with a basement below the ground. It was an ideal place to rest as any, considering where they were; Klara hadn't spotted a single Titan for a while now.
"There are apple trees here! I love those!" Teresa squealed happily at the sight. Indeed there were several trees near the house, having been cultivated for food. "It's been so long since I had those," she moaned in delight, looking longingly at the red fruit hanging from the branches.
"Well then, how about we change that?" Klara suggested. She carried Teresa over fruit-bearing bearing trees, holding her up so she could easily reach the branches.
"Yay! Thank you, Klara." Teresa cheered happily. She reached up and greedily began to pull off ripe apples, swiftly devouring one with vicious chomps that the girl would normally have found unladylike.
"Pick some for me, okay? I've gotta eat too, ya know." Klara laughed as Teresa stuffed her face. She reminded Klara of a squirrel cheek-full of nuts.
"They're good!" Teresa mumbled with a mouth full of sweet mush. She flung countless apple cores aside, striping the branches dry as she filled several satchels with the edible plants. In the end, they ended up with quite a lot of them, along with a very full Teresa.
"My tummy hurts..." Teresa moaned in discomfort. She laid down in Klara's ghoulish hand, countless apples scattered around as she rubbed her swollen stomach.
'You were too greedy with those apples, silly." Titan Klara smiled at her childish antics. Despite all the pain they had gone through, Teresa was still very much a child at heart, which she was grateful for.
"I couldn't help it, they were tasty," she justified with a pout.
"Oh, I'm sure they were. Regardless, we still have work to do," Klara gently reminded her.
"Fine," Teresa sighed. With a wince, the blond girl lifted her self upright, a bit dizzy from her overeating. Klara gently placed Teresa down in front of the farmhouse door, patiently waiting as she climbed off.
"See what you can find, Teresa. I'll stand guard," the brunette instructed. "And get me some more clothes if you can, would you?"
"Don't worry, sis! I'll get you a bra for your big boobies." Her baby sister grinned with mischief. She darted into the abandoned house before Klara could reply.
"Spoiled brat," Klara muttered fondly, but still cast a quick glance down her front. Shaking her head at the notion of being self-conscious about her... assets in Titan form, she turned her attention to their current loot in her hands. Aware of her strength, she carefully set them on the ground and started sorting them into piles. It was a painfully delicate process, as she did not want to crush them with her clawed fingers.
Teresa was quick to return from searching the house, proudly showing off all the valuables she had found within. It looked like the former tenants had been forced to leave in a hurry, as most of their possessions had been left behind. The Meadow sisters wouldn't have to worry about supplies anytime soon.
"...and I also found this for you, so you can cover up the goods." Teresa held up a piece of delicate clothing. It was a large and soft woman's nightgown, probably from the previous matriarch of this household.
"It will do," Klara approved. It was a very fine cotton gown, though she felt a stab of pity towards whoever once wore it. She squashed the brief spike of unease that cropped up, knowing that their new fortune came from the Titans slaughtering the people in this wall. Luckily, none of those monsters were nearby to attack them.
"It's getting late." The blond girl looked up toward the darkening sky, the first stars appearing in the void. "We're going to stay here tonight, right?"
"Yeah. Not like there's anything better out here, really," Klara confirmed.
"Oh, good! I was tired of sleeping as a Titan. Are you coming out now, sis?" Teresa hopefully asked.
"Of course, one moment." The 14-meter Titan backed away from the farmhouse and laid flat on her front side. Bone claws reached up to her armored nape, digging into the flesh and ripping it open. With the plates torn away, Klara was free to disconnect herself from the mass of flesh. She used the hair from her Titan to climb down to the ground, steam hissing as the massive body slowly disintegrated.
Looking down at her hands, Klara was thankful her fingers were whole again, thanks to the incredible regenerative abilities all Titans held. As much as their blood was a curse, it had saved her as well. She was still stark naked in all of her beauty, but that would soon change with the clothes Teresa had found. Looking down at said sibling, she was surprised to see the girl wearing a frown as she stared at her sister's chest.
"What is it?" Klara asked in confusion.
"Why are they so big, anyway? It's not fair." Teresa pouted.
Ah. She's just envious, Klara realized. She reached down and gave a playful pinch to Teresa's cheek.
"You'll get there someday, sweetheart. You look to be about, what, 12? Just give it a few years," Klara grinned. "Besides, I don't think growing up is all it's cracked up to be. Right now, just be my adorable and flat chested baby sister." Teresa swatted her hand away in annoyance.
"Big boobed bitch," Teresa muttered with a scowl.
The elder sister's jovial expression was promptly replaced by a mildly stern look. Putting her head on Teresa's scalp, she gave it a rough but harmless rub. "Don't call your older sister a bitch. In fact, don't swear at all!"
"Ow! Stop messing up my hair! You know I hate that!" Teresa shouted as her tiny fist struck Klara's arm. Her green eyes simmered in displeasure as they glared at her chuckling older sister.
"Just teasing, silly," Klara said lightly. The smile she wore took away any sincerity from that statement. She felt so much better after bantering with Teresa and riling her up a bit. Not to mention that being out of her Titan form was a great relief, her mind could think so much more clearly now. "I'm serious about the swearing, though."
"Whatever. I'll get you back for this, Klara. Just you wait!" the blond growled. "When you least expect it, I'll get you."
"My, someone's on fire tonight," she drily commented. Teresa turned her head and ignored her, arms crossed tightly as she muttered unladylike things under her breath. Klara took the nightgown Teresa had found and slipped it on, feeling less self-conscious with her nudity now covered. She was able to locate a few oil lanterns among their newfound possessions, which she lit to deter the surrounding darkness. The sun was leaving the world, and they were on their own in the night.
Klara took a moment to help herself to an apple that Teresa had picked. The sweet juice and fibers soothed her body, making her sigh in content. She sure had missed eating real food and could understand why her sister had devoured so many of them. Tossing the apple core into the tall grass, she bent over and began to gather up their possessions.
"Help me carry these inside. Okay?" Klara requested. Teresa huffed in annoyance but did as her sister asked. The brunette filled her arms up to the brim and turned around to go inside. However, to her confusion, Teresa blocked her path for a moment. Moving aside, gave a bow to her, small due to the items in her arms, but the sense of exaggeration as palpable as the bright blue sky.
"Stupid older sisters go first," Teresa gestured toward the door.
"Thanks!" Klara brightly said, ignoring the insult as she passed through. Inside the farmhouse, she could see a thick layer of dust with countless objects in disarray. "Were you able to find a working water pump in here? I'm thirsty."
"Yeah, there is one in the basement," Teresa pointed out the door leading downstairs. "There's also a bathtub with a drain."
"Good. How about we take a bath together? We both need one," Klara suggested. "I'll clean your hair and style it for you." She offered, knowing this would help calm any lingering anger Teresa felt.
"Yeah, that sounds nice," Teresa agreed after a few short moments of contemplation. And so, after gathering what they needed, they went downstairs to do just that. With the oil lantern's light, they were able to make it down into the dusty darkness safely. The basement was long since abandoned, dust and cobwebs everywhere, but they would make good use of it. After many uses of the water pump, they were able to fill the bathtub with that life-nourishing liquid. They both stripped down and spent the next hour in there, scrubbing the filth from their bodies. After being trapped in the suffocating darkness that was their Titan's napes, being clean and human again was a heavenly experience.
Afterwards, they hauled all their possessions into the basement, agreeing that sleeping underground would be safer than on the surface. Numerous blankets formed a makeshift bed, a soft cushion from the stone foundation. Though it was dark and cold down here, they felt a sense of security in having a barrier between them and the cruel world.
"It's nice being clean, and having clothes again." Teresa sighed blissfully as she spread out on the blankets. Klara was too busy eating to reply, tearing apart food like a ravenous wolf would a rabbit. Thank God for all the food they had found in the abandoned houses; she had missed eating so very much.
"Hey, Klara? If there are still people here, we should go find them. I'm tired of it just being us." Those words caught Klara off guard, the older sister stopping her meal for a moment of thought. If she was being honest, she'd expected Teresa to bring this up again. She understood how Teresa felt; humans were social creatures after all and desired to be with a group they could belong to.
But at the same time, she was afraid of what might happen. Of being rejected and hurt again. Humans were capable of great kindness, but also great cruelty. Her memories of being tortured gave her plenty of justification for how she felt. But at seeing the longing in Teresa's eyes, Klara couldn't find it in herself to refuse.
One last chance, just for Teresa's sake. But should they prove themselves hostile, woe to them.
"We'll go look for them tomorrow," Klara reluctantly agreed. She placed her half-finished meal aside, no longer feeling hungry. She brushed the leftover crumbs off her nightgown and closed the distance between the one she loved. "Let's get some sleep now, okay?"
"Okay, sis," Teresa happily replied. She scooted over for her older sister, who soon joined her on the bed. They snuggled in the covers together, the shared warmth putting them both at ease. With a puff of breath, Klara blew out the oil lantern, casting the room into darkness once more. The elder Meadows waited patiently, listening to her sister's breathing grow gradually softer as she fell asleep. Her presence alone gave Klara great comfort, allowing her to retain her sanity after the hell she could still remember.
Perhaps there was still hope for a monster like her. With that relatively comforting thought, Klara closed her eyes and let sleep claim her soul.