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In truth, she hadn't expected it be so difficult to care for a basket. The stallion had gone, taking with him one of the two as apparent 'payment' for his services, while she'd been left the one stained almost as badly as she was. Left alone, she'd found herself able to do little more than stand nearby and keep guard, occasionally ducking her head down to nose warily at the wicker to make sure there was still a living creature inside. Yes, it needed to stay alive for her sake, for the sake of her ideals and for the fate of this world. That was the only reason she'd even decided to have children for.

This basket was producing more trouble than she had originally imagined, unfortunately. She was unable to move it easily, and had thus found herself stranded in the woods where she could keep a close eye on it--and defend it from anything hungry enough to come looking. Her mixed blood had enabled her to feed on the nearby grasses for a while, but she'd felt herself yearning for something hotter--sweeter. The urge to hunt was too strong, though she'd given the basket an uneasy glance even as she'd began to prowl off into the nearby trees. She'd stay nearby. Nothing at all would happen... right?

It was only when she returned, the rabbit carcass hanging limp and bloody in her jaws, that Sacrifice felt the first flickers of worry. The basket was shredded. A quick search told her that the contents were missing, and the mother lifted her head with a calm that was eerily out of place. Still, she was beginning to circle, rustling stained wings and stepping towards the somewhat rusted blade that had set gently near the basket as a warning to any who dare approached. But... Had it not worked? Had something come and stolen it away? She didn't know.

But if they had, there would be revenge to pay.

Remarkably clean ears pricked as the soft sounds of distress reached her, her unrestrained movements suddenly melting into something fluid and deadly. Like a lioness, the bloodstained mare stalked through the shadows and towering trees towards the source of the upset, murder a constant companion that flirted with her thoughts. Her blade and meal were both abandoned in the sudden intensity of her actions, and she had no time to drag its cumbersome weight along in her pursuit. And suddenly, there it was; a pitiful mess of black and bloody red, beating sets of wings that made her pause with something that might have been surprise. Not one pair, but three...?

She was bewildered, unsure of what to think of this remarkable inheritance. A set of wings from both herself and the son of the fallen one? Muzzle wrinkled suspiciously to unknowingly bare her fangs, a few sniffs were enough to tell her this was her flesh and blood. "Hush." She spoke quietly to the squirming creature, hesitating for a moment. Was she supposed to speak to it like that? She hadn't been unkind, but... Lowering her head a little, Sacrifice gently nosed the tiny, almost clumsy appendages jutting from the foal's back.

"They are not strong enough yet." She said a little sternly, gently easing her muzzle under the filly's body to gently, slowly lift her again to her feet. "You must keep them safe, your wings... They've marked you as our savior." The last was more murmured to herself, and that flicker of uneasy threatened to rear its head again. For a moment, she found herself longing for her father, the demon, knowing he would be able to handle this situation much better than she could. But this was her duty now, and she would perform to the best of her abilities.

She could almost feel the effort gripping the filly's body as she struggled to stay standing, wondering if things had been so difficult when she had been small. Those memories were fleeting and scarce, however, and the mare had difficulty remembering. No, instead there was only those accusing, sanguine eyes that pinned her, and had she been able to feel threatened, Sacrifice might have been inclined to snap and scare the little beast away.

...This was supposed to be what raising children was like?

Instead, she only stared back out of one eye, considering. Feeling the filly was able to stand on her own, she drew back, stepping past her slowly and deliberately before stopping to peer over one shoulder. "Come." A name--it needed a name, didn't it? Sacrifice only had to ponder for a moment. "...Ritual." And it seemed, though the basket had finally revealed its precious contents, this was only the beginning to the process. Nevertheless, the half-Kalona began to move slowly, intent on picking her way back to the clearing she had abandoned in her haste.