Echo City Confessions Chapter 2 (Includes Images)
The furry and non-furry residents of Echo City confess their frustrations, desires, identity and hearts with one another through intimate conversations. Includes both human and furry nudity with images. A Drama and Slice of Life novel exploring themes of Enjoyment, Family, Relationships, Identity etc
Family huh...
Chriss swirled the broth in the stove as she increased the intensity of the heat. At the kitchen benchtop behind her sat her younger sister Anya watching. Like any ordinary family who hadn't seen each other for a while, they had entertained some small talk but Chriss knew at some point the mood was going to change. It always did when it came to her.
Nothing beats those connected by blood? No regrets in your first attachments? Chriss would probably disagree with that sentiment but perhaps her family would too?
Family huh...
“Mum's worried about you.”
There it was.
Chris paused stirring, sighed and then continued "And?".
“I think she's a bit more open now. She just wants to talk again.”
Another *Sigh* in the span of 10 seconds. When Chriss was 12, her mother adopted a female fox into the family. That same fox was now waiting to be served some meat, and more importantly, asking irritating questions. But you may be noticing something, that despite being the one adopted, she's the one with the more positive view of "Mother". The mother they both now share.
“No she isn’t, it’s just a pretense.”
“…”
“Seriously what happened between you two. If I could see my mother again, you have no idea how much I would-“
SLAM
Chriss couldn’t contain her fury from slipping out. She took her THIRD sigh and recomposed herself.
“Look, just because you get along with her, doesn’t mean I will.”
“Okay… but I guess... I just feel like I’m in the dark with you. You won't talk to me and what if it's my fault-.”
Chriss turned around confused, “Your fault?”
“Yeah, I came into the family, and um…”
Her sisters ears had drooped low and she was avoiding eye contact. “It's not like that, don't worry. I'm glad you joined. After all, you actually get along with her unlike me."
“…” Anya didn't know what to say. But the silence revealed the truth of her location.
Chriss decreased the flame for the broth and turned back around. “Look, you’re not responsible for any of it. Mum and I just disagree on things. "
“Okay... I'm sorry, I was just nervous I may have done something and you were angry with me.”
“No, you're fine.”
While Chriss didn’t feel anger towards her. It would be a lie to say that she wasn’t baffled by the way things panned out. Despite not being born from her, Anya was more connected to her mother than she ever would be. And it happened fast too. Was she jealous of this? Perhaps at a time, but jealousy is often a surface emotion for something else and her mother was not privy to any of this.
Their mother always spoke positively for the most part. Her tone always upbeat to everyone she met. But behind those delightful words, Chriss could feel the expectations she had for her. Back in the woods and sometimes even in Echo City, it was a spectre that hung over her at any given moment. She could never appease the unspoken expectations and the unspoken (but sometimes spoken) disappointment from her mother.
“Mum thinks my future should be to get married and have children. That’s what she’s always wanted for me but I can’t do that.”
“Yeah I know. I wish she just understood that you're a bit more independent.”
Chriss appreciated this about her younger sister. She never thought Chriss’ decisions were wrong or selfish. If she did, their relationship would be very different, most likely, she wouldn’t be making a meal for her at all. It would sting too much to hear those words not just from her mother, but from the daughter her mother was satisfied with.
“Is this what the fight you’re both having about? Nothing else?”
“It is a big deal to me.”
It wasn’t just that. Chriss was adept at speaking half truths in front of her family. She was always an introverted child. Back in the woods, whenever new folks arrived, she would often hide or remove herself and hide in a hut. Their village had many hiding places for her. Anya was different, a social butterfly just like her mother. But Chriss was the eldest child, she was expected to greet and make friends and ultimately represent the family. But her nervous system often failed her. It was just too exhausting. She would rather go collect rocks by herself or with just one close friend. Her mother, never inquired into her interiority. She wasn't particularly curious about what Chriss cared about or what she thought about. What her experience of life was. Simulatneously, Chriss never felt the need to reach out and talk with her. their dynamic had a mutally agreed separation that was unspoken. Hence it was a shock for her when Chriss eventually decided to go to Echo City. But her mother was always nice and using that loving tone, tried to nudge her in what she deemed to be the right direction. And Chriss would often fall short, time and time again unlike Anya.
When her younger sister arrived, she would greet every new person. Help out with the other siblings. Give speeches to relatives. All things her mother wished Chriss could do. She could never forget, how much happier her mother became once her little sister joined the family. The smile, she had.
When she first saw it, it cut so hard she couldn’t help but cry. But Chriss liked her little sister, in fact she was glad she was there for her mother and for her, for she was given permission to be herself, since Anya took care of the burdens she couldn’t. What hurt Chriss was something else.
“We’re just very different people Anya. Sometimes, that’s all there is to it.”
A certain existential understanding about the chaotic nature of independent creatures. Sometimes, despite what should happen, a parent and a child getting along is very much rolling the dice. There is no guarentee, even if the parent isn't horrible, even if the child isn't horrible, even if the step child isn't horrible. Every relationship is a roll of that dice.
It wasn't about marriage or kids. It wasn't about anything at all really. It just took Chriss a while to accept, that fate never wanted for her mother and her to get along. And so despite everything, she really did appreciate her sister.
“Meals done.”
“Oh goodie.”
Anya demolished the meal very quickly.
Chriss was surprised by how hungry she was.
“I really ran through that haha”
“Yea you did.”
“It’s different from before, have you been using spices?”
“Yeah, I decided to change my method. I was getting bored of what I had been doing.”
“It’s different from Mums now.”
“Yeah… Yeah it is.”