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A little Fourth of July-inspired story that features @mcchipy and a mention of @maniachybrid.

It's that time of year again, the Lunar Festival in full swing. Lanterns are hung, food and game stalls are put up, and fireworks are in full bloom within the sky. Hundreds upon thousands of souls celebrating in their way, or were for some. 

Bards are normally more inclined to travel to densely populated areas in hopes of more coin. This bard was no different, but she wasn't here for coins. Short ruby red hair with emerald eyes, pale skin, and decked in clothes of an unknown origin, Chippy marches into an unsuspecting town with only her lute. Sampling some food on her way, Chippy makes her way to the center of town. Making herself comfortable for the time, she began strumming her lute, the haunting melody enrapturing towns folk's attention. Satisfied with the audience, Chippy sang, weaving tales with a beautiful melody.

Telling stories of bloodthirsty monsters, distant lands, and incredible hidden power. Onlookers making faces of excitement or trepidation, adventurers growing curious at the possibility of hidden treasure. Finishing her tale, Chippy glances at the crowd and decides that she's done enough for the day, making her way out of town.

For two days the town continues with the festivities, the strange bard's tales only causing some unease. The next day there were no fireworks from the town, no one wandered the street looking to play a game or purchase food, and no one left to fix the fallen decorations. The only ones to roam the blood-ridden streets are Chippy and four inhuman individuals, each wielding a different weapon. Basking in their success on another slaughter, they look in the distance at the booming of more fireworks, only just now noticing a missing sixth figure.

Chippy walks back to what is considered camp, leaving the other four to search for survivors. The camp consists of various-sized bones, chunks of meat, upturned sections of Earth, and a shivering mass hidden under a blanket of twigs and leaves.

"Claw?"

A lithe hand with sharpened talons peeks out from the leaves to give a tentative wave. Chippy crawls under the leaves and into the giant arms that form a barrier around her, the tremoring going through Claw becoming increasingly obvious. 

"Claaaw, what are you staying in here for? You missed out on all the food!"

"...The colors in the sky are loud."

"Colors in the sky? Oh, you mean the fireworks... Wait, why are you scared of the fireworks?"

"Sounds like a cave-in... I don't like cave-ins."

Chippy maneuvers herself to face the giant Darkin, the glow of Claw's eyes working as a guide to her face. Chippy reaches up to pet Claw, barely able to pat Claw's forehead. Fireworks continue to go off, louder variants causing Claw to growl and pull Chippy closer.

Cruel and cold like winds on the seas

Will you ever return to me

Hear my voice sing with the tide

My love will never die

Chippy leans her back up against the giant as Claw gently pets Chippy's hair.

Over waves and deep in the blue

I will give up my heart for you

Ten long years I'll wait to go by

My love will never die

Chippy smirks up at Claw who gives a soft glare in return.

Come my love be one with the sea

Rule with me for eternity

Drown all dreams so mercilessly

And leave their souls to me

Play the song you sang long ago

And wherever the storm may blow

You will find the key to my heart

We'll never be apart

Wild and strong you can't be contained

Never bound nor ever chained

Wounds you caused will never mend

And you will never end

Cruel and cold like winds on the seas

Will you ever return to me

Hear my voice sing with the tide

Our love will never die

Four figures walk into the makeshift camp, each one carrying a heaping of food (some of those are just bodies). The fireworks continue to shoot off, but the ground rumbles from the purring snores of a Darkin, pulling off the leaf pile to see her cuddling a sleeping bard.

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As a gift for @mcchipy, some Aatrox angst featuring two extra darkin ocs that are not mentioned by name.

The wind carried the stifling stench of corrupted magic, clouds of swirling pink and purple that filled that sky as far as the eye could see, the very ground having been cracked open to show the pulsing amethyst magic from beneath. From the beautiful geode pours forth monstrous amalgamations that only know hunger.

The Watchers have returned.

The squelching of body parts being severed and roars are all Chippy can hear. A large red and humanoid monstrosity named Aatrox fights one of the creatures that had poured forth from the Earth, the large sword that Aatrox wields swinging down onto the creature again, finally ending it as its body falls apart down the middle. Chippy was forced to cover her face as the impact of the body sent a cloud of dirt was sent flying in her direction, the major wounds on her leg and stomach collecting from the cloud. Aatrox remains on guard next to the much smaller Chippy, only measuring up to Aatrox’s shin at the moment, both forced to wait for the arrival of the four other darkin. Another horde of void born spawns from the cracks and moves toward the two darkin, Aatrox moving to intercept them.

Aatrox, having disposed of the smaller spawn, is now locked in combat with another humongous void born. Chippy looks to the horizon and sees the telltale stature of the second-largest darkin, knowing that the other three are not far behind. The distraction cost her, several smaller voidlings having come from elsewhere began rushing Chippy. The scream that tore from Chippy’s throat as she managed to dodge the stabbing legs pulled Aatrox from his fight, forced to shove the hulking mass away from himself, Aatrox rushes to Chippy’s side. The spawnlings don’t last long when faced with the greatsword that Aatrox wields, allowing for the large darkin’s attention to be turned to Chippy as she calls his name.

The others are almost here, we just need to hold out a little longer. He nods, turning his attention back to his previous enemy, a beam is fired from a small void spawn and causes Aatrox to go flying away from Chippy. With the combination of non-stop fighting, no blood to consume, and the corrupted magic wielded by the smaller void creature, Aatrox is forced to lay on the ground as both void spawns approach. No amount of noise, movement, or projectile rocks that were thrown at the spawn affected their attention, both being dead set on finishing the downed darkin. Aatrox manages to reach for his weapon but continues to struggle to stand, now being pinned down by the largest spawn.

It all happened in slow motion. Chippy was struggling to move closer to Aatrox, watching as the void magic-user charged up their magic, the way Aatrox turned to stare at Chippy with a hint of a smile on his face. Time sped up, Aatrox’s body was no longer there, his mind now returned to his sword prison. They weren’t done, the large void spawns claws slammed down onto the greatsword repeatedly. Chippy fights against her wounds as she crawls closer to the sword.

The greatsword shatters.

Both spawns now turn toward Chippy before they can approach an arrow that pierces the chest of the smaller spawn followed by the visceral noise of claws tearing of chunks from the body of the larger spawn. Chippy sees two figures wielding a scythe and sickle respectively rush past hurt and begin to tear through void born that haven’t been killed yet, arrows firing past the two figures to pierce enemies. Chippy didn’t care, she continued to crawl with tears blurring her vision and her wounds continuing to bleed as they are re-opened. As Chippy makes it to the remains of the greatsword she cups the broken pieces and holds them close to her, releasing a guttural cry. Claws gently wrap around Chippy’s body, allowing her to mourn as the battle against the void continues around them.