Life practically flung herself at Malin, trembling, covered in gashes, and squeezing her eyes shut as more squirrels sunk their teeth and claws into her flesh. While it was true she'd suffered much worse throughout the several human bodies she'd been stuck in after years and years of roaming the dying Earth, this was far from pleasant, and apparently, this tiny body did not have a great tolerance for pain.
Ludovica gritted her teeth, fury flickering in her eyes. "I'm the one who doesn't get it? I'm the one in the wrong? Honey, Malin, please. If you'd just listen to what I had to say for a moment, my words could clear your mind and you'd finally get it. Life--life--is nothing worth saving. It's all...disgusting. Disgusting, rotten, poisonous, useless, and pointless trash, and she's no better. In fact, she's worse for even letting it all exist. This is the last time I'm going to warn you--"
"Will you shut up?!" Life suddenly gasped, something in her suddenly snapping. "Why? Why?! Why do you hate me so much?! Why does everyone hate me so much?! 'Existing'? That's--that's my crime?!"
"Perhaps if you had any use at all, then things would be different," Ludovica said, smiling a serene but deep down dark smile, "but you don't. All you do is ruin everything you touch, so clearly you must die. That's the way the world spins. ...Our world. Death's world."
Death's world?
No.
Life twitched.
No. I did too much. I did too much for this world. I put in too much thought, too much care, too much detail, precision and love...this isn't Death's world. I won't let it be. She clenched her fists, frustration, fear, determination and the emotions she'd buried over years and years building and bubbling up. "Don't you dare act like Death did anything for this world! All she did was--was watch as I built up everything and smirk as she got to destroy it all! I'm the reason why you have souls to steal! I'm the reason we're standing on grass, that we have these trees, that you have these squirrels to--t-to attack me with and other animals to maul humans with, I'm sure! You owe me everything!"
She tore a squirrel from her shoulder, shaking now from both pain and rage. Blood dripped down her face and she wiped it off with her scarf, sniffing. A strangely empowering feeling overcame her--against all common sense, she suddenly broke away from Malin, getting to her feet. The squirrels clung to her skin and continued to sink in, but she ignored them, numb to the pain for the few seconds she felt strong.
"You know what? If anything, this world is mine. I raised it, I cared for it, and without me, it's rotting. All because of Death and the people like you that follow her. So don't you f*cking tell me that I shouldn't exist! D-don't you tell me that I'm worthless! You're the one who should be praising me for what I've given you!"
She'd resorted to screaming without realizing it--her shrill and frustrated voice carried through the woods, and with the cluster of emotion building up in her small body, the ground around her reacted. Rumbling slightly, the ground shifted. Trees and their branches shookk, vines and plants shuddered, flowers and greenery everywhere bloomed as a wave of power awakened from where Life stood. She screamed in frustration, pulling at her hair--the squirrels quickly retreated, and both Ludovica and Shoe were suddenly ensnared by vines and tree roots, putting all movement on their part to a halt.
The strength that had formed within Life for but a few seconds faded. She collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath and suddenly in tears.
...Everyone...e-everyone just thinks I'm worthless...
What's the point of trying anything anymore?!
"If you loved me, you'd get my name right," Kayin muttered miserably. Disappointed. Again. Did I really believe for a second that she'd get anything right?
He sighed, starting to wonder if she enjoyed his misery. "I just told you--if you don't love me, say so. Say so and tell me what to do to fix myself. Then at least I'll be able to figure out what to do to make you really love me. If...if that's even possible at this point. ...What does 'complicated' even mean?"
As much as he wanted to hope his father could be better, his expectations weren't very high. How many years had it been since he'd bothered to give him even a 'hello'? Granted, he had been sealed away in humans for centuries and that could've been considered a minor setback, but Kayin chose to believe that if Life loved him enough, he would've found him already. And he didn't. Instead, Kayin was the one looking for her, just as he was often doing with his own mother.
What even is my life? Just as he started to contemplate his meaningless existence, the ground suddenly began to shake. He blinked. It was hard to tell if it'd just been his imagination or not--the shaking had only lasted for a few seconds--but what came next was most definitely unmistakable. Trees straightening their posture, flowers blooming, plants springing from near dead to what looked like the primes of their lives.
"Dad? Is this--?" Kayin wilted, realizing what this had to have meant. "Oh no. This was a sign. As soon as I thought in my head that Dad didn't love me, the forest grumbled in agreement..."