Darkness. Endless, suffocating darkness. It clung to her like a second skin, a void so deep that time and space felt meaningless. Setsuka—a name she did not yet know—floated in this nothingness, her mind fragmented, her essence formless. The pain was unbearable. It wasn’t just physical; it was spiritual, existential. Her very being felt torn apart and stitched back together in an endless cycle. The void wasn’t trying to destroy her—it was shaping her, creating something entirely new.
Time passed without meaning in this place. There was no before, no after, only the unrelenting now. Fragments of something stirred in her mind—images of light, warmth, a voice that whispered comfort. She couldn’t grasp them fully, couldn’t piece them together. They drifted just out of reach, leaving her alone in the silence.
Then, the warmth came—a gentle, all-encompassing glow that wrapped around her tiny form. Setsuka stirred, her small body trembling as she took her first breaths. The air was thick with divine energy, soothing and pulling her from the void into a world of light. Her fur, damp and glistening, clung to her as she lay nestled in the soft moss beneath her.
Her eyes remained closed. The world beyond her senses was a blur, but she felt the presence of someone near, a force both powerful and comforting. A soft tongue brushed against her fur, cleaning away the dampness, and waves of reassurance coursed through her fragile form. Setsuka whimpered softly, instinctively seeking the warmth and safety of that presence.
A voice—low, soothing, and filled with tenderness—cut through the haze. “Setsuka,” it said, caressing her fragile consciousness. “Welcome to the world, my little one.”
Though she did not understand the words, the voice stirred something within her. It brought a sense of peace that dulled the fear clinging to her after the darkness. The speaker—her mother, though she didn’t yet realize it—radiated a love so profound it felt like a tangible force wrapping her in protection. Kuzunoha’s form surrounded her, and though Setsuka couldn’t see, she felt the gentle nudge that pulled her closer to the warmth.
The trembling of her small limbs subsided as she nestled into her mother’s embrace. The rhythmic beat of Kuzunoha’s heart echoed softly in her ears, a grounding melody in the strangeness of this new world. Setsuka’s breathing steadied, her tiny form curling against the comforting warmth of Kuzunoha’s chest.
Voices joined the first, softer and varied, carrying tones of reverence, curiosity, and joy. Setsuka’s ears twitched faintly, catching snippets of sound but not their meaning. The voices encircled her like the tides of a gentle sea, bringing with them a sense of belonging.
“She’s beautiful,” one voice said, filled with awe. “Mother, she’s perfect.”
Another chimed in, more excited, “She’s so small! And so perfect!”
“Small, yes,” added a measured voice. “But her presence is undeniable. She will grow strong.”
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Kuzunoha’s voice returned, calm and steady, her words filled with unshakable pride. “She is everything I dreamed of,” she said, her tone like the embrace of sunlight. “And more.”
The days following her birth passed in quiet joy. Setsuka remained close to Kuzunoha, her tiny body rarely venturing far from her mother’s protective circle of tails. The sanctuary, once silent and subdued, now thrummed with life. The divine energy in the air seemed brighter, the stream’s gentle babble more melodic. Flowers began to bloom along its banks, their colors vibrant and radiant wherever Setsuka’s small paws touched the earth.
Her sisters visited often, their affection for their newest sibling evident in every gentle nuzzle and playful gesture. The eldest approached first, her silver fur shimmering as she lowered her head gracefully to brush against Setsuka’s soft coat. “She feels like she’s always been here,” Yuki murmured. “Like she was meant to complete us.”
Another stepped forward, her fiery red fur glowing faintly as she snorted playfully. “Don’t hog her, Yuki,” she said, stepping closer with a swish of her tail. “She’s our sister, too.”
Setsuka’s small ears twitched at the sound of their voices, her body shifting as she became aware of the different energies around her. Though she couldn’t understand their words, their tones carried affection and welcome. One of them, softer and gentler than the rest, spoke in a calm tone. "The Cradle has woven her essence perfectly. She carries a part of all of us within her."
Time passed in a blur of warmth and safety. Setsuka’s vision began to clear, and she caught glimpses of the sanctuary. The stream sparkled with an ethereal light, its surface reflecting the vibrant greenery that surrounded it. Above, the sky—or what she perceived as the sky—glowed softly, casting a perpetual golden hue over the sacred space.
Her bond with Kuzunoha deepened with every moment. Setsuka often nestled against her mother’s chest, her small form enveloped by the protective cocoon of nine flowing tails. Kuzunoha’s presence was a constant source of comfort, her voice a melody that soothed even the faintest stirrings of unease.
One evening, as the sanctuary bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun, Setsuka ventured a few tentative steps away from Kuzunoha. Her legs, though unsteady, carried her short distances. She paused by the stream, her small reflection rippling in the water as she tilted her head curiously.
Kuzunoha watched her from nearby, her gaze soft and filled with pride. “Setsuka,” she said, her voice carrying across the sanctuary like a gentle breeze. “Do you know how special you are?”
Setsuka turned, her luminous blue eyes meeting her mother’s. She let out a soft whine, her tail wagging faintly. The words were beyond her understanding, but the love and admiration in Kuzunoha’s tone were unmistakable.
Kuzunoha chuckled, her tails curling around her daughter as she leaned closer. “You are my tenth star, my brightest light,” she said. “One day, you will shine so brightly that the entire world will see your brilliance. But for now, stay here with me. Let me hold you a little longer.”
A soft bark escaped Setsuka, her tail wagging more enthusiastically. Kuzunoha smiled, her heart swelling with a love so profound it seemed to encompass the sanctuary itself. In that moment, the centuries of sorrow and the weight of Mythos’s end faded into insignificance. All that mattered was the tiny, radiant being beside her—a miracle born of divine light and love.
Though she couldn’t yet grasp the full extent of her existence, Setsuka felt at peace. She was home. She was loved. And for now, that was enough.