Hii here's my entry for TAROT!! Im going to do an animation I think... maybe a part 2? (Click to see art work and hold to magnify it!! ^^) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Serein (suh-rayn) Gender: non-binary, They/Them Species: Cat?? RelationShips: Best Friends with a current oc I'm designing !! (Her name is Molly) Molly is a more bubbly and energetic person (She is also a cat but more like a fox sorta?) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LORE\STORY!!! (its kinda long sorry...) (Could be a little dark\disturbing or scary so don't read if your sensitive to those subjects ^^) Serein and Molly had started a business called tarot readings Cafe. Molly worked the cafe, serving guests, while Serein worked the tarot section. Serein had always believed in the supernatural, yet Molly had always appeared skeptical of it. Molly flipped the shop sign over, revealing the CLOSED side to the road. Serein trotted out from the back of the cafe. "We're closing already? We haven't even reached four-" Serein's eyes narrowed. They studied Molly. Her posture was hunched, her eyes tired, and her ears drooped. "Molly? What's wrong?" They took a step forward, preparing to comfort her. “I need you to do tarot reading…” Molly paused, looking up to face Serein. She knew what she was asking. To do a tarot reading for a normal guest was nothing unusual to Serein, but Molly never believed in it. She only loved it because it made Serein happy. So why was she asking for one now? “Molly something is wrong…I know it. You never ask for something like this unless something is wrong-” “No questions. Just please-” Her voice cracked with an unsettling pain. Serein nodded. Despite their own judgement, they led Molly to the tarot-reading spot in the cafe. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Serein held the cards in their paws. They weren’t dangerous, yet the things they could reveal were. Molly nodded. Serein began their practiced routine, they normally added a hint of enthusiasm. But they believed this wasn’t a matter for one. “These cards are said to see the past, present, and future. I can not change these things…I can only show them to you. First I will present you with the past.” Serein shuffled the deck in their paw before spreading it out for Molly to choose one. “Pick whichever one calls you most.” Molly hovered over the cards for a moment before grabbing one and placing it in front of herself. The Fool. It was upright. “The Fool…” Serein studied the card. “Because it is upright, it can represent innocence, enthusiasm, spontaneity, and a new beginning. In your past, it seems you were stepping into something new.” Molly said nothing. Now on to the present.” Serein performed the same practice, shuffling then spreading out the cards for Molly to select one. She pulled The Tower. Reversed. “This card can represent upheaval, but it is reversed, it may mean you’re resisting change, avoiding a collapse, or hurting internally. Something may already be falling apart, but you’re trying to keep it standing.” Molly’s ears lowered. Serein paused a bit before allowing her to select the next card. They had a bad feeling that they couldn’t explain. The cards felt wrong in their paws , almost as if they were shifting. Yet they didn’t want to disappoint Molly, so they continued. “This card will show you your future.” (continues to notes and credits!!)
Serein watched closely as Molly drew this final card. She flipped the card over. Death. Reversed. Serein froze. This can’t be right. The Death card didn't usually mean literal death. It represented endings, transformation, and letting go. But reversed, it could represent resisting change, clinging to the past, or refusing to accept an ending. Serein stared at the card. “Draw again.” “What does it mean-?” “Draw again.” Serein repeated firmly. This had to be a mistake. Molly hesitated before drawing another card. She flipped it over. Death. Reversed. Again. “That's impossible…” Serein flipped over the cards in their paws. Every card had the same fate. Every. Single. Card. Two weeks later, Serein sat at the grave of their best friend. “Why must this happen…” They looked up to face the grave. “To you ? Did you know? Before I read the tarot cards, or …” They trailed off. She did know. That's why she asked. Then an idea dawned on Serein. They could communicate with Molly through the cards, or maybe a ritual, or something. Serein rushed out of the graveyard, heading for the now-only tarot-reading shop, no longer a cafe. Serein pulled a book off of their shelf. The title read. Communication rituals. They opened it. Heavy dust polluted the air as they turned page by page. “I can do this…” They reissued themself although they did not believe it. Serein gathered the supplies, candles, herbs, and the book with the enchantment. They chanted the words written down, although they seemed like complete gibberish. Then stated the reason for the ritual. “I would like to speak to a person I know who recently passed away. Her name is Molly.” A shadowed figure rose from the book. It was shaped like a cat, yet the legs were faded and its ears were gone. This was not Molly. Serein stepped back leaving a large gap between them and the shadow. “You have summoned us, ” The shadow figure said “We will give you what you desire at a cost.” “Us?” Serein looked around, puzzled, yet didn’t see any other figures. “I am only the messenger, there are many of us and we are hungry.” Serein froze. They were hungry, were they going to eat me? “What do you want…?” “We want food, we thrive on parts of the soul. They keep us alive. Things like memories, dreams, names, voices, souls… “ Serein nodded as they listed things off. They wanted my soul? The shadow spirit seemed to be closer to them now. It appeared to be made of pitch black fog. “What we want from you is to feed us…And in return we will help you communicate with Molly.” Serein paused for a minute, actually considering the deal. “But how would I get those things?” The shadow spirit shook its head, as if disappointed that Serein didn’t know. “You can take those things as payments for a tarot reading. You gain these things, you feed us, we will help you communicate with Molly.” The spirit seemed to be growing impatient now. Its voice slowly grew more hostile with each word. “Do. We. Have. A. Deal?” Serein was desperate. They needed to speak to Molly, they had so many questions for her. Yet was this really worth such a price? Yes, it was. “Deal.” Serein continued to do tarot readings but now at a cost. A simple dream, memory, thought, name, anything connected to the soul was a payment. Those who came every so often hardly lost anything, yet the anxious who came seemingly every week lost it all. Eventually leaving nothing but their soul to give. Serein spoke to Molly every day, yet she was slowly starting to become different than before. The spirits were getting hungrier and demanding more and more. Serein sometimes doesn’t gain enough to feed them, and they had to give up parts of their own soul. Serein tells themself that they're done working for these things, but then they think of Molly. And convince themself to continue for one more chat. Then another. And another. Art work and Story telling by @raven_warrior12 !!
