our hometown's in the dark; erinys

[M + S + S + W]

Perhaps the only one of them to feel the ache of aloneness is Malfunction. While their mother is fine at bringing up children (not in the parenting, religious sense; but she at least keeps them alive), she isn’t particularly adoring of them. They are all intense echoes of herself, of her own messed-up body, and of their grandfather with his messed-up body. Malfunction’s childhood was spent in the indifferent care of Defect and learning more about his epilepsy and colorblindness.

When Skid came along, things got easier. Skid did not feel the bite of loneliness, for Malfunction was ever-present to give the love their mother did not. And Smear appeared one spring day as well, also showered in the adornment by both of his brothers. Wound has received perhaps the most amount of love – all three of her brothers shower her with daily affections and remind her of the beauty she is despite their unforgiving and ugly circumstances.

The only degree of love all four of them know is from each other. It is pitiful, but it has knit them together closer than any sewing tool ever could. They are bound to one another in love, in encouragement, in protection. Where one falls down, the other three rally to pick them up. Where one rises up, the other three rally to raise them higher. It is unique, beautiful, and intense. But it is the only way they know how to live.

They have never seen someone else like them (someone who seemed to have been cursed by Aphrodite, someone entirely out of place it almost hurt, someone who wandered because no one would take them in) and it surprises all four of them when she approaches. Three heads turn to watch her (Wound’s remains snuggled against her brother’s, too distracted by the chilly air) but their expressions are open and curious. They have never been a bundle to turn someone else away – hell, they would be the last to do such a thing. Although the mindset could very well be to push those who push you, they are rather the opposite.

She introduces herself as Erinys. They stare for another moment (wide-eyed, confused, and severely unsure of what to do) before Smear nudges Malfunction. The eldest has always been the best talker of the group. “Hello, Erinys.” The silver bay clears his throat, nodding in her direction. “I’m Malfunction. This is Skid” – he nods toward his brother beside him, the one with his hind legs fused together and saliva dripping from his mouth like a miniature waterfall – “and Smear” – his nose points toward the smaller stallion near the back, with uneven tumors and a leg turned unnaturally – “and Wound.” The petite filly huddled next to Smear raises her head upon hearing her voice, doe-eyes opening and a childish smile brimming her face. She looks normal, aside from her undergrown foreleg. But there is a host of other deformities hiding under her skin just waiting to be discovered.

Malfunction turns his eyes toward the black mare (and the three other pairs of eyes do the same) before he offers her a hesitant smile. “We’ve never seen anyone…” he pauses to find the right words “… like us.”

MALFUNCTION, SKID, SMEAR, & WOUND
hover over names