The gargoyle narrows her eyes, suspicious, and gently coaxes Ker away from her face and back onto her neck. It's just a monkey, calm your tits, she snaps at her companion, but the eagle remains agitated and clearly ill at ease.

Then, the creature talks. Oizys has never experienced the odd sensation of all her blood rushing down to the soles of her hooves before, but that's precisely what happens as the demon mentions her mother. That's what happens as she realises what this thing is, and it's accompanied by a frigid chill down her spine. "You!" she hisses, and the air next to her sizzles as her spark magic threatens to erupt out of her. This is the monster that killed her mother - it might be wearing a different face, but this is Kaos, she's never been more sure of anything in her life. Her eyes flash, blaze, and she contemplates the swift kill; will destroying this monkey help destroy the beast that she's vowed to end? Will her dead dam lend her strength from beyond the grave, guiding her daughter's sword hand into the heart of her killer?

But...it's apologising. That is what bids Oizys to stay her blade for now, although her face is still twisted in a snarl and her eagle stands proud and ready upon the harsh curve of her neck. But we were not the ones who killed her, even though it was our pet who took her life. We asked you all to stop. The sheer bullshit in this sentence makes the filly forgo all sense of self-preservation as she flashes a contemptuous glare at the creature. "You came into our land, tricked us into helping you erect some giant-ass altar of menacing evil, summoned an equally giant-ass bone monster of menacing evil...and you expected us to pull you up a chair and offer you a biscuit?" Her voice is incredulous. Does this monster really think he's in the right here? He killed her mother!

He - she doesn't know why she's decided he's a he, but he seems to be, so he is - continues with a tiger-keeper metaphor, and the gargoyle pauses for a moment whilst she tries to think up a suitable snarky retort. But then...then he offers her a bargain. To be rid of The Thing without having to do anything to earn it? She's wanted all her life to be free of this disease, and this omnipotent bone-monster has dangled that particular carrot right in front of her. She would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted...perhaps Kaos could offer her power that she'd only dreamed of, a clean bill of health, and a kingdom at her hooves...

But he killed her mother. He might seem apologetic, but is that all a ruse? He's proven pretty damn good at fooling the citizens of Helovia. It's such a choice, whether to grab the jewel that glints in front of her or to ignore it in favour of a much less certain alternative. Who's to say the Gods will listen to her now, or ever? This is more of a conversation than she's ever had with their patron deities, yet should she hold that against them? Can she turn down the allure of the easy ride, or does she wish to pursue the long, painful, possibly endless high road?

Does she do what is right?

Or does she do what is easy?

"What would Mother do?" questions Ker, a gentle voice in her mind to jerk her from her reverie. She'd tell him to stick his offer up his ass, and then ram her horn exactly there, replies the filly with a dawning sense of realisation. There's a healthy thrum of dread, too - she could well be about to turn down a creature who has proven his ability to kill. She could be about to go the same way as her mother. But at least if she does, she can go with her head held high. Oizys is a lot of things - a brat, a snarky bitch, a sadistic demoness - but there's no way in hell she's jumping into bed with her dam's killer. She owes Nyx her life, and she owes the mare her loyalty, too.

"I wish to be healed more than you can possibly imagine, but not at the cost of my morals. Believe me when I say I don't have many of those, but one I do have is that when somebody harms someone that I love, they're my enemy for life." Ker nestles closer to her neck, as though trying to savour these possibly last few moments of life. "So thanks, Kaos, but no thanks. I owe my mother's memory more than jumping right into bed with her killer. Our Gods aren't perfect, but they're our Gods and I'm sticking with them."

Although now would be a fantastic time for them to pop on down and back me up, she muses as she stares the creature in the eye and waits for death.