Cloudy skies.
Smokey trees.
Every corner that the two took, it felt like misery creeped across the fields with no sign of stopping. Two kids tried desperately to survive off of such a wasteland, with one having to make shelters, and the other to hunt for what was left. Try as they might, however, they weren't able to truly live as much as they could. Starvation settled in half the time whenever food wasn't available, forced to take in the trees and fashion it with some magic to make proper sustenance. A benefit, of course, but also a detriment. No nutrients or vitamins were ever made on the newly crafted food, just that it was able to fill the stomach and quell its noise. "How long are we going to be here...?" One of the kids asked, a girl in white with a flower sun hat covering her face.
"Until we see someone. We'll survive this... I know it." The other child replied, adorning a massive cape to act as his cover for the chill of the night, allowing the first to enter if she cannot stand such cold.
"But how LONG though...?"
"I..." The boy sighed as he'd look out to the empty land. "I... Don't know. We're not going to be here forever, though." Such encouragement was enough to, at the very least, pass through the night.
A land only left behind during the remnants of the Seven Demons' wrath, the planet nearly annihilated by their influence. Wastelands such as this were commonplace during such recovery time, camps made in order to act as temporary homes whilst the people began back from scratch in their farming. For a fortnight, the two tried to get by as much as possible, while navigating the wastelands and hoping for some form of reprieve. That solution was granted to them on the fifteenth day, when their bodies were properly worn down and ready to give. A silhouette was amidst the distance, but what else would it matter? They were expected to die by malnutrition. They closed their eyes and hold each other's hands, letting them hope that death comes as nicely and as quietly as they were told when growing up. After what felt like hours, the two would open one of their eyes, assuming this was how they'd arrive in the afterlife. What they were met with, instead, was actual food: Chicken, rice, beans, and all sorts of vegetables. They hogged as much as possible and scarfed it down, with only a chuckle from a girl being heard. "Damn, you guys are STARVED! Glad we were able to see you here!" She'd tease, before grabbing ahold of a chicken leg and ripping such tender flesh apart with her teeth, almost like she was a rabid animal. "Whuh rre yuh Guysh anyway?" Uncouth, for sure, but nevertheless thankful.
"Arthur Felks... This is my sister, Faya. We've..." A pause in the boy's voice. A fist made as he'd recall such events. His own hometown, his neighbors and friends in his kingdom, swallowed away by a mass of insects, mosquitoes that sapped them down to their bitter bones and dried skin, before converging to the Sin of Gluttony of itself and ate away what was left.
Beelzebub.
"Suffered?" The girl swallowed the meat before wiping off any saliva from her mouth. "Yeah I can plainly see that, but now you got some food to eat! Have it! My treat!" Upon such a declaration, the two gorged as much as they can, finally relieving their hunger and relax themselves on the ground. "Tastes good, huh?" She'd ask, chuckling a bit as she saw such happy faces.
"Heavenly..." Faya whispered.
"Bliss..." Arthur would finish, a thumbs up given for such a worthwhile meal.
"Perfect! I believe my time here should be-" Her words were cut off as the two siblings gripped her by the ankles.
"WAIT! WAIT! LET US REPAY YOU! YOU SAVED OUR LIVES!"
"WE'RE FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT. WE WOULD'VE DIED HAD YOU NOT STEPPED IN!"
"NAME YOUR PRICE, AND WE'LL PAY IT! WE DON'T CARE IF IT TAKES 10 OR 100 YEARS, WE'LL PAY EVERY PIECE OF GOLD WORTH IT!"
The girl can't help but blink at the two's desperation. "Are you two usually-"
"YES!!!"
Amused, the girl would allow them to follow, leading them towards a small group, one that was currently traveling to one of the few kingdoms fully rebuilt. "Help me out then over there! In Oaking! We're gonna be planting lots of trees and hunt down some monsters!" She'd demand, and by the heavens, they would do it effortlessly. As they planted such trees, the girl was quick on poking a small bit of fun, tapping and running around, letting her and the two siblings give chase in such a game of tag. When the trees were fully made, it would extend into more games like Hide and Seek and Statues. When small threats came and the adults made sure to investigate, the Siblings and Girls would take turns in either showing their magic or reading books and papers that survived the apocalypse. When it was time to gather supplies, the three sang as much as they could whilst they walked through, being rewarded with a feast, being bigger if they gathered more than the needed amount. Slowly, but surely, they were able to create a proper forest, letting fauna come back and regain their natural habitat.
Over the years in bringing such greenery back, the three would act as their own group, with Arthur turning towards the girl. "Say, after all this time, We never actually got your name. Care to share it with us, my friend?" He'd ask, trying to take a formal tone, but the girl merely thrusted forward and laughed loudly, showing her crudeness on full display.
"Limosa! Limosa Helsing! The girl that's going to take this world by whatever means necessary!" A proud laughter left her voice as she walked with her legs wide open, prompting the two siblings to follow along, confused but not concerned with her behavior. Their promise still held true, after all, even after all those years went by as they reached adulthood. Even when the forest was full, all three stomped across kingdom to kingdom, healing and gathering what they needed to survive, while also showing their dominance to any enemies that tries to take advantage. Not out of generosity, but pride. Not out of Kindness, but power. Arthur developed his cape across such kingdoms, finding the finest fabric to fold and sew around, whilst trying to find a fitting style to his arsenal. Faya, meanwhile, would take interest in cooking and baking, accidentally possessing some sugar and pouring what she believes to be her 'love', as her brother calls it, to ensure it tastes good. What she ended up doing, however, was granting such treats life, inevitably used to act as her personal spies and hobgoblins, assisting those in the dead of night, never to be spotted under any circumstances.
Limosa acted as their leader of the three, a bright smile and a stomp in each step with her wide-open legs, hands in her pockets, as she'd demand direction from each person she met. To some, she was obnoxious. To others, she was guidance. One thing however, was made clear...
She, Arthur, and Faya, acted as the Triad of Oaking. The Human Branches.
One day, however, the trio were busy dining and wasting themselves with as much wine as possible, singing a drunkard's song and dancing around the fire they made. During this, a sound was heard nearby. A creature that lurked within the lands they dwelled. A creature creaking out from the tree's trunk, its hands reaching out in order to try and grip Limosa by her hair. The siblings were distraught and tried to intervene, only to end up stumbling over and falling on the ground, helpless. They were too intoxicated with their alcohol, and all they could do was scream for Limosa, in fear of losing their friend. What they didn't expect, however, was for the Helsing to grip it by its cold arm and rip it clean off, before grabbing and pulling the beast forward, throwing it straight into the bonfire, watching it scream in peril. It tried to attack the siblings, but Limosa was quick to stomp on that monster's head.
Again and again. Fluids began to spill out, and while the Woman's legs were burned, she still went at it. It painted a vivid picture for the two, in seeing what it meant to be alive within this psychotic world: To not care about one's life. To throw away any inhibitions or preservation for oneself. To try and find any chance to keep going, until your body cannot take it anymore. To this day, they celebrated Limosa's victory with another round of wine, as well as choosing to keep such a violent image in their heads, reminded that one shouldn't hold back to those that try to push them to such desperation again. Never again would they try to dine on scorched bark anymore.