Let the past die

Emerald always adored being in the forest. This was her home - always had been and always would be, even if she could never go back to the forest she originally grew up in. As of now, she found herself strolling down a new path in order to discover where it would take her. A bird sat perched on her finger, and she chirped away at it, always finding ample company in the animals around her.

"I know! Isn't it lovely out here? I sometimes can't stand being back at the school - but that's just between you and me, okay?"

However, all of a sudden Emerald slowed to a stop, as she saw something she hadn't expected - a figure, someone else in the forest, someone who appeared to be tending very carefully to a small patch of violets. Interested by this and naturally drawn to anyone caring for nature, she stood at a respectful distance and watched, before curiosity overwhelmed her and she stepped forward to say something.

"Excuse me - are... are those your violets?" She took note of the fact that the person had pulled away some branches, and took a moment to listen carefully for their little voices. "You've given them lots of sun! They seem to appreciate it."

It didn't occur to Emerald until long after she spoke that perhaps she had been a little rude in speaking up - so she was relieved when the person didn't seem to be phased at all by her happening to be there. She nodded when he mentioned that the violets weren't his, which made sense - she had just been curious if perhaps he had planted them there.

"Well that makes it all the nicer that you were caring for them. It - it sounds weird, but I appreciate it too!" This was true; Emerald deeply appreciated anybody who took the time to care for the nature around them in some way. It made her feel that perhaps this person had a good heart, even though she knew nothing about them.

Perking up when he seemed to assume that she could communicate with plants, she clasped her hands and nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes! Yes I am! I hear the plants, I speak with them, and they speak back. I do the same with animals, as well." The rose above her head spun slightly in its floating as she spoke. "I just love both, too. Nature is a very special thing to me."

Emerald tilted her head to the side in innocent curiosity. She wanted to inquire more about this "friend," as the subject made her wonder - but she decided eventually to go with what this person desired and think nothing of it, as hard as that would be for her.

"Well... okay!" Her tail swished back and forth as she dwelt on this to herself.

She smiled a little when asked about the rose, though. "Oh! This old thing?" She pointed at the rose herself, then laughed a little before continuing. "Ah, it's a long story." Then, she froze. Survival instincts of trauma kicking in, she really wasn't sure if she should be explaining the rose to a total stranger, and the realization made her feel panicky. However, remembering the things she'd learned in therapy, she took a few deep breaths and did some mental exercises, calming herself down.

Eventually she decided to take a chance - take it for someone else who seemed to care for nature - and then spoke. "Well... I was created 13 years ago by a god, as a guardian of the forest and personification of nature, you know? When he created me, he gave me this rose to represent who I am." She paused a moment, knelt down and picked up a pile of dirt before rising and continuing. "The rose represents many things, he once told me. It represents love - so that I would always be loving and kind. Secrecy - so that I would know my existence was to be a sworn secret. And also purity - so that I woklf remain pure, never committing any crimes." As she spoke each word, a little rose of a corresponding color sprouted up from the dirt cupped in her palms.

For a rather long moment Emerald merely stood and stared, feeling in absolute shock. In her heart, she knew that everything he had just said was true, yet... nobody had ever said it to her so bluntly before. She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again, then took a deep breath before finally saying something. Yet as she spoke, she was audibly choked up, as a million thoughts about the past ran through her head.

"You're... I... No, it's okay. I think... I think you're right." Her hands fell to her sides, causing roses and dirt to fall to the ground. "The god who created me... me and my brother... they were extremely controlling. It took my brother and I so long to see that. We were... punished severely for breaking their rules. Severely..." A long moment of silence followed, in which she rubbed her eyes, overwhelmed by her thoughts and trying not to cry. However, eventually she laughed a little, a genuine laugh.

"Look at me, sitting here thinking about the past." She sniffed slightly, then reached up and delicately touched the rose. "Maybe then the rose is no longer their symbol of who I am... it's more a representation of what we've overcome, my brother and I." After another pause, her eyes widened and she smiled lightly. "Ah, what am I thinking, I never introduced myself back! I am Emerald, Emerald Liala. It's nice to meet you as well, Selkiris."

Emerald nodded quietly, knowing through therapy that it was true that her past no longer defined her. However, it was extremely hard to accept that she was no longer a captive, no longer a god's ward, and no longer unsafe or bound by rules. As such, she muttered more to herself than anyone else - "I'll get there someday... someday."

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, a light blush and a smile covered her face at the compliment. She was often praised for aspects of beauty such as her eyes, but it didn't mean she didn't like to hear such things. Said eyes lit up at the excuse to talk about her brother, and she clasped her hands in joy.

"Yes, we're very close! His name is Sunshine, and he's so important to me. We're twins, almost - created at the same time, even though he's two years younger than me." Her smile turned a little sad for a moment. "We were separated for six years when we were younger. So... I'm so happy that now we're together on this island again. I just adore being with him."