Chapter 7: Anger
Everyone looks at Howlite. It has been hours since the Slinker and she is avoiding them emotionally. They try to talk to her, but she would ignore them. Which asks them the question of what is going through her head right now.
The truth is that a lot of things are going on. While Howlite should be happy that she was able to control her shadow army for the first time, she isn't. She feels empty. Even her anger isn't coming through.
She feels this way because she knows why they came to her aid for the first time. She felt "needy" and she doesn't like it. She hates feeling like that more than anything. Because the last time she felt that way was when… that time.
Her thoughts are interrupted when Amethyst's gem glows and rises from Steven's hands.
" She's coming back! Everyone be supportive!" Steven tells everyone.
Howlite sighs as she sees the purple gem come back and with a new form that reverses the colors of her clothes.
" It's perfect." Garnet says.
" Just what feels right." Amethyst shrugs.
" That's why it's perfect." Garnet says.
" It really is a mark improvement. You finally fixed that shoulder strap that's bugged me." Pearl says.
" True." Raina reluctantly admits.
The group then gets into a group hug that makes Howlite cringe. It's not she hates the compassion and love the group has for each other. It's that she doesn't belong in this picture and shouldn't even be here
" Come on. Howlite." Steven says smiling. " That means you too."
She turns away from the group. She feels uncomfortable about the offer and actual undeserving of this.
" I don't like to be touched." She mumbles her defense. Thus ruining the family's moment.
" What's your problem?" She hears a angry voice. She never expected it to come from Steven.
" My problem?" Howlite says defensively. " I'm just not comfortable. Ok?"
" No. This is more than just that. You keep pushing us away! We want to help you!"
That sets off Howlite, " Help me!? I never asked for any of your help! I don't need anything from you!"
" Then why are you so angry all the time!?" Steven demands.
Howlite scoffs. She doesn't want to hear anymore of this.
" Tell me now!" Steven screams.
" Steven…." Pearl says but Howlite cuts her off.
" You want to know why I'm angry?" She says in dangerous low voice.
" Yes." Steven nods. " I want to know."
" I have spent thousands of years being trained for my purpose as a Howlite. Then one day ruins it all. In the midst of destroying and taking over a base, I was mistaken for a crystal gem on the battlefield by a Citrine. She used her weapon and my gem got permanently damaged. Leaving me with this!" She screams
She brushes her hair away to show a severely caved in half of her face. Her yellow eye on that side is lop sided. It was like half her face had melted off like a candle. Which scary to say the least. It shocks everyone into silence. All except Steven.
" I get that you were attack…." He starts but she cuts him off, " That's not even close to the whole story!" She snarls. " When I came back to my unit, I was deemed defective due to failure to perform my duties and was sentenced to death immediately without a chance to explain what had happen. Then a gem infiltrated the unit. She saw my predicament and told me to come with her. Having no other option, I seized that chance. Her name was Rose Quartz."
" My mom." Steven says. " She saved you then."
Howlite scoffs, " Yeah. She did. Until she turned on me and tried to destroy my form not long after."
" No." Steven shakes his head in denial. " That's not true! She would never have done that!"
" She did. She even told me one day that " I needed to bubbled." I knew she bubbled her enemies. I knew from that she really meant. She just wanted me gone." Howlite snarls.
" Stop it!" Steven screams.
" Too bad. This is the story you get. You want to know why I am angry all the time? Well here it is! Rose Quartz is no better than Homeworld and has never been! If anything, she's worse than them for starting this war in the first place!"
She breathes heavily and looks up to see Steven with tears in his eyes. Clearly upset over what he just hear. Which forces her to see where her actions have gotten her.
Even though Howlite doesn't show it, she feels nothing but guilt consume her. Steven was only trying to help yet all Howlite did was hit a nerve and hurt him. She inflicted pain on the gem who deserved it the least.
She looks around and sees nothing but shock from the other gems. Anger particularly from Pearl and Amethyst.
" I've had it. This is exactly why I don't handle well with others." Howlite mutters before heading out the door of the temple and into the night. Intending on drowning her sorrows so she doesn't have to feel anything anymore.
It wasn't long before she found a bar in town. Luckily it was night time and she can hide in the crowded area.
" Scotch on the rocks." She orders her drink as she shows the bartender her convincing fake ID. The bartender nods and fills her drink order.
She's about to down it when suddenly a hand goes on top of the glass and forces it back onto the table.
She angrily turns to the person. More like Gem.
" What do you want with me now?" She asks Garnet in frustration.
" For you to not to get yourself drunk again." She says sitting next to her.
" Why does it matter? The only person that is affected by this is me. If anything I'm the poisonous one around others." Howlite says.
" I know you didn't mean to hurt Steven." Garnet says.
" Yeah. Well where's your proof? I mean. You were there." She mutters.
" I'm looking at it. Your face says it all."
" Yeah. Well maybe you should try looking at other faces and just leave me alone." Howlite demands with an unusual tone. Like her voice is cracking.
" Look. Your behavior is getting out of hand. At first, it's mean spirited. Now I see what's really going on. So I'm going to ask you one question. Do you even care about anything other than getting everyone to hate you?" Garnet asks.
" Why should I? There's nothing for me. My purpose was thrown out the window the moment Homeworld decided I wasn't useful. Then Rose turned on the years follow after the war. I had to learn to accept the facts. There's nothing for me. Never has. Never will." Howlite says. " Now can you please let me have the one thing that lets ignore this forsaken reality."
" No." Garnet says before yanking the glass out of Howlite's hand and crushes it. " For once, you are not going to find a way to ignore this.
" Fine. Then I can just ignore you." Howlite says before getting up to leave. She then feels Garnet grab her arm.
" Let me go." Howlite demands in a dangerous quiet voice. Her nonexistent blood boiling.
" No." Garnet says.
Howlite then makes an impulsive decision. She swings an arm and punches the fusion in the face as hard she could. Knocking off her visors and make her release her arm as she is thrown into the wall. Shocking many of the bar patrons into silence.
Howlite, without hesitation, makes a run for it out of the bar.
She has no idea where to run, but it's not like it's the first time that she has done something like this. She ran from that Kansas bar without knowing where to go, she can run from this one.
She transforms into a shadow and dives into the ocean. Swimming as fast and far away as possible.
Deep stuff went down. Especially with what has happened to Howlite that has led to be who she is. To be honest, I haven't figured this arguments out until a few days ago. I knew she was going to have a reason for her anger and I felt that it needed to be Rose.
I'm still figuring out next Chapter. If you guys have any ideas. Come on down and message or review me. I can use some imput.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone.
