#delyra

[kyuusei-shadowleaf]

A Dream Of You

[ Photo by Jacob Rank on Unsplash ]

"Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me Remember when I broke you down to tears I know I took the path that you would never want for me I gave you hell through all the years"

– I Bet My Life, Imagine Dragons

Four Years Ago, Ardenweald

The Veil that stood between Life and Death was still tenuous, then. No longer torn asunder but gossamer-thin in its renewal. Growing stronger. Healing. Soon enough, they said, few would be able to travel between the mortal realms and the Shadowlands.

Kyuusei didn’t care much about what they had to say.

The Dream remained as close to Ardenweald as a lover. And if she went to the cool depths of Tel’andu and slumbered, Kyuusei could walk those forests again in her waking dreams. See the twilight sky littered with stars strange to her, stretching above the canopy. Feel cool grasses beneath her feet.

Could walk with her again. With Delyra.

Sometimes, her love was a fox, lambent and shimmering in her soul’s shape. But on rare occasions, she walked in the form that Kyuu remembered. Slender like the willow, hair laden with midnight. Secrets in her smile. A form outlined in stars.

They talked of nothing most times. After the tears, and the confessions, and the forgiveness. The mending of what had been broken by fire, all those years ago.

But in this dream, Delyra was quiet. She walked silently on two legs next to Kyuusei, their hands entwined, Delyra’s feet leaving no trace in the soft grasses.

“We can’t do this much longer,” she finally said.

Kyuusei looked across. “I know what they said, but we’ll find a way. I’ll go deeper into the Dream. I can make it w-”

Delyra put a finger against Kyuu’s lips, the touch a spark against her skin.

“Shhh. Listen to me, Sei-sei. The Winter Queen’s preparing a gift for Tyrande, for all the kaldorei. A seed made from Elune’s tear. And she’s made an offer to all the souls that suffered. To be part of it, part of something that’ll grow and bring hope to the places it was lost.”

“But… that’s not where you died,” the one still living protested. “I - you died before all that, in the Firelands.”

“You think I didn’t suffer?” Delyra suppressed a quiet laugh. “Sei-sei, I was so angry. Angry at the Horde’s incursions, angry that Tyrande and Malfurion didn’t seem to be doing anything, angry at all of it, so much that I let myself fall under Fandral’s spell. Under his madness. But even in that madness, you were the one I sought out when they came to the Firelands. Beneath all of it, I knew what the Flame had made me. In the end, I realized how wrong I was.”

She looked upwards, midnight hair falling back as Delyra regarded the lights beyond Ardenweald’s canopy.

“When I woke up here, I suffered. Not just because of what I did but because I knew how much you’d suffer. How much you’d blame yourself, hate yourself.” Delyra's soul looked down again, her eyes finding Kyuusei. “And you, you silly thing, you wallowed in it for the longest time.”

Abashed, Kyuusei looked to the grasses at her feet. “I suppose I did.”

“You suppose? If you didn’t have a little bit of Ashamane watching over you, if you hadn’t had me watching over you, you probably would’ve ended up here yourself. And it’s Not. Your. Time.” Del smirked, drawing a finger beneath Kyuu’s chin. “Not yet. I have it on excellent authority.”

Kyuu grasped her lover's star-limned hand, a lopsided grin stealing across her face. “Are you keeping secrets from me, Del?””

“Spoilers, sweetie,” she drawled. “Let the dead keep their secrets. But listen to me. I want, I need you to promise me something.

“Dora dor. Just tell me what.”

“Always leaping in before you know where you’re landing." A soft smile eased Delyra's words. "I’m going to be part of this gift, this hope. And when the time comes, I want to know you’ll be there to guard and protect it. That you’ll watch over it, watch over me, like I’ve been watching you.” She drew in Kyuu’s hand, brushed her lips across sharp-tipped fingers. “Will you promise me that?”

“Of course I will, Del. After everything? Of course. But how will I know? It’s not like I’m someone Tyrande Whisperwind speaks to. I doubt she even knows who I am.”

“You’ll know. Ardenweald’s so close to the Dream they almost touch; they’re part of the same cycle. You know this. Trust me.” She held Kyuu’s hand between both of her own, encasing it in faded stars. “You’ll know. Now promise me, promise you'll watch.”

Kyuusei brought up her other hand, clasping Delyra’s fervently. “I promise to you. Whatever it is, I’ll watch it. I’ll protect it. I’ll protect you.”

“Thank you.”

Delyra’s soul stood still for a moment, then tugged at Kyuu’s hand as she began to walk again beneath the forest’s canopy.

“Now… tell me more about this other druid. What’s her name, Alania? And a druid of the branch, too.” Delyra suppressed a grin, her eyes dancing. “Isn’t she a little young for you?

“She’s a hundred and twelve!” It wasn’t clear if Kyuu’s outrage was genuine or feigned.

“Robbing the creche!” Del’s laughter echoed among the trees, sending shimmermoths fluttering from their perches. “You’ll be a millennia before she’s two hundred. Really, Sei-sei, you and some fresh-faced fledgling who doesn’t even have her tattoos…”

“Hey! You know she does! Lani earned them at…”

A squeeze of Delyra’s hand silenced Kyuu’s protests. “So long as she makes you happy, Sei-sei.” Her tone was softer, reassuring. “That’s all I want, is for you to be happy.””

“I will be,” Kyuu murmured, though doubt belied her words.

“I promise.”

[Reference: Influences - Delyra]

[sphinxdrawsstuff]

D&D Somniatores + Elisthad - Stickers

Wanted to gift our group(s) something for the holidays, so drew up and printed both party characters for each person + 2 of the DM's fav NPCs, as stickers.

Small exception for one of the players, who is part of just one group, so Rasthun gets a double-feature, as the regular outfit and "party mode" bard-barian. And because another's a player in one and a DM in another did both of their Somniatores guys (cause one died, so he had 2).

Kerren and Dara didn't get printed, since they didn't fit the original sheet, but I finished them up anyway as lil keepsakes~

[mikeedits]

Chapter 9: Galax Family Events (Sneak Peek)

“Friday Night in the Galax Kingdom, the Galax Family threw a New Yeara Eve party at the castle. Inside the castle were decorated with Red and baby blue streamers and purple vines hanging on the wall, levitated Crystal chandeliers floating above, an iron proof metal sculpture saying “2038”, and a few guests. King Mars Galax and Jupiter the Lion then walks into the scene as he was looking around seeing the guests including his family, having a good time. Mars was wearing an all burgundy red royal outfit, hair in a ponytail. The back of his Royal coat, it has the fire symbol representing him as a Fire King.“

Mars: Aah, what a perfect time to throw a party and not doing missions *looks at his Lion* don’t you think Jupi?

Jupiter: *Growls in Response* Right!

????: Mars Galax!

“Mars then turned his head to Hellboy, a half-demon, who hunts other demons down, he also has a stoned hand, his wife; Liz Sherman, his daughters; Carrie and Cassie Sherman-Broom, and Carrie’s boyfriend; Eli came along as well.”

Mars: HB! *shakes his hand*

Hellboy: Nice party you have here.

Mars: Thanks mate, i really appreciate you and your family, even Sir Eli for coming.

Hellboy: Ah, No sweat Fire man, i never miss parties and by the way? Do you got any booze??

Carrie: *facepalms* Dad, don’t you think you had enough drinking? And we’ve literally been here for 20 minutes now.

Cassie: Right?

Mars: It’s okay ms Carrie, please, enjoy yourselves.. *looks at hellboy* and the booze is over at the bar.

Hellboy: nice! *runs off*

Liz: Cassie.... make sure your father doesn’t go overboard.

Cassie: on it mom! *runs to her dad*

Mars: *laughs* the family matters!

Carrie: Mr Galax? I’ve meant to ask, is Luna around?

Mars: well yes ms Carrie, Luna is out in the gardens with the others, and she was expecting you to show. *looks up* Oh there she is now!

“Princess Luna Galax had entered the ball room. Luna is wearing an black and yellow long sleeve dress, she also had her blonde curly hair in a bun, and was wearing a black lipstick. Behind her was her other Best Friends; Amanda Starshine, Cindy DeLyra, Her Dimensional Best friends Nova Butterfly and Lix Le Shade (And Honestly, these girls are very good Besties to each other ever since they’ve met at a young age).”

Luna: Heeyyy Girls!

The Girls: Heeeyyy!!!

Luna: You’ve made it just in time!

Lix: ah come on! Why would we miss out? Anyways is Jupiter around? I feel hungry already.

Luna: Lix…. We’ve talked about this a thousand times.

Lix: I know but still…

Luna: *gives her the look* well there is food on the table and….

-Lix disappeared to the food-

Luna: she’s gone…. I hope she doesn’t cause nothing.

Nova: ah no worries Lun, she’ll be juusst fine

-Lix goes bizarre-

Luna: yeeaah… anyways, you all enjoy yourself, i gotta go meet my boyfriend by the portal

Amanda: Not a problem Bestie

Cindy: yeah we’re here to have fun!

-Luna smiled and walks off-

-Meanwhile with Mercury-

“Mercury walks around the ballroom, as everybody including visitors from different Universes having a great time. Now he came up to Mars.”

Mercury: I must say son *looks at him* you really put your thoughts and ideas to make the castle Splendidly amazing.

Mars: *sips his drink* Not just me father, it was all Juliet’s idea as well..

Juliet: *blue blush* Maaars, stop it.

CHAPTER 9 COMING SOON

(Character Honorable Mentions)

Nova ( @mrevaunit42 @marionette-j2x )

Lix ( @ladyxgilex @lix-family @cartooniste2z )

Eli ( @sauceboyz713 )

[jamesgraybooksellerworld]

Manuscript Postilla of Nicholas deLyra

Manuscript Postilla of Nicholas deLyra

635G de Lyra, Nicolas. 1270-1340

Postilla super Actus Apostolorum, Epistolas Canonicales et Apocalypism.

The codex begins

Incipit praefatio sancti Hieronymi pr-bti De corpore epist bean Pauli apopot..

Folio, 11 3/4 X 7 3/4. Manuscript on Paper 386 leaves, ca 1460 in several hands (see below),      This copy is bound in later full vellum.          $65,000

The Postillae constitute the first…

[ao3feed-tsukkiyama]

by delyra

“Look, Tsukki,” says Tadashi, giggling, and extends his hand in front of his face, “you’re taller than me, but I think our hands are about the same size. Isn’t that weird?”

Tsukishima looks up from the magazine he’s reading, and sees Tadashi looking at him with a sleepy smirk. Ah, right, he often forgot that Yamaguchi gets sleepy with the heat.

Words: 435, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Haikyuu!!

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Tsukishima Kei, Yamaguchi Tadashi

Relationships: Tsukishima Kei/Yamaguchi Tadashi

Additional Tags: Fluff, Summer, Pre-Relationship, hand holding

[ao3feed-haikyuu]

sweat and conversations

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2ZNBNEg

by delyra

“Look, Tsukki,” says Tadashi, giggling, and extends his hand in front of his face, “you’re taller than me, but I think our hands are about the same size. Isn’t that weird?”

Tsukishima looks up from the magazine he’s reading, and sees Tadashi looking at him with a sleepy smirk. Ah, right, he often forgot that Yamaguchi gets sleepy with the heat.

Words: 435, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Haikyuu!!

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Tsukishima Kei, Yamaguchi Tadashi

Relationships: Tsukishima Kei/Yamaguchi Tadashi

Additional Tags: Fluff, Summer, Pre-Relationship, hand holding

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2ZNBNEg

[aronsonfilm]

Pete Can't Play Basketball from Nick Borenstein on Vimeo.

In a world where all that matters is basketball, Pete can't play basketball.

Written & Directed by Nick Borenstein

instagram.com/nborenstein/

Produced by: Jennifer Simpson

PETE: Nick Borenstein MARY: Tonye Patano CARL: Dru Johnston LIZA: Elizabeth Zephyrine McDonough TODD: Nicholas Delany DEBBIE: Katina Corrao BRENT: Jon Braylock BECCA: Ellen Haun DONALD: Donald Chang BRANDON: Josiah Schneider YOUNG PETE: Nico Petrosino JANITOR: Mimi Fischer

Cinematography by: Cory Fraiman-Lott Assistant Director: Jaclyn Gramigna Production Design Kyra Boselli Editor: Jennifer Filippazzo Assistant Editor: Cecilia Delgado 1st Assistant Camera: Davide Sorasio 2nd Assistant Camera & DIT: Jeremy Harris Gaffer: Andrew Naugle Grip: Sawyer Purman Production Sound: Lucas Kadar & Tom Beddoe Post Sound: Phil Castellano Music Supervisor: Rachel Etheredge Casting: Lisa Kleinman & Karlee Fomalont Colorist: Matthew Greenberg Post-Production Supervisor: Samuel Gursky Hair Designer & Barber: January Fonseca-Sabune Production Assistant: Walker Hare Art Production Assistant: Jacky Lalo

Special Thanks: Kathryn Markey, Jack deLyra, Alli Brown, SAG-AFTRA, Luminou Studios, Jim Cummings, Emily Bon, Ryann Weir, Claire Rothrock, Jeannie Kedas, Lisa Kleinman, Vincent Arizzo, Kerry Mack, Leah Prinzivalli, Alexandria Pang

[ao3feed-skk]

by delyra

Despierta en el suelo, en la tierra, la boca le sabe a sangre y nota su abrigo y su sombrero bien acomodados al lado suyo. Escupe la sangre que se le acumula en la garganta y suelta una risa seca, pero llama a alguien para que lo recoja y se pregunta qué será de él.

Sigue confiándole su vida entera a Dazai, sin atisbo de duda, y quizá, sólo quizá, los cuatro años no se sienten.

Words: 3910, Chapters: 1/1, Language: Español

Fandoms: 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: Gen

Characters: Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Mori Ougai (Bungou Stray Dogs), Ozaki Kouyou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Ryuunosuke (Bungou Stray Dogs)

Relationships: Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Dazai Osamu & Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs)

Additional Tags: Angst, Angst with no happy ending, Hurt No Comfort

[sphinxdrawsstuff]

D&D SOMNIS - Halloween 'Fit Swap

A quick lil holiday doodle of the Somniatores group doing some outfit exchanges (and getting creative with Wild Shape in the process).

Oh, and we finally hatched the egg, so feat. our newest member: Dream~ (Who is in fact a Time dragon, not a Black dragon).

[sphinxdrawsstuff]

D&D SOMNIS - Delyra Illustraverat

One of the people in our group asked if I could draw her character, to help hash out some design elements, so was all too happy to oblige~

Feat. Delyra, our resident Knowledge Cleric, who is basically a perpetually pissed off librarian with holy fire on stand-by.

(Was also a fun way to try out tinted lineart + some blending methods).

[sphinxdrawsstuff]

D&D SOMNIS - The Heist Crew

You don’t often get a DM who will go FULL Ocean’s 11/12/13/8 on you - soundtrack, and scene cuts, and everything (<3) - but when you do, by gods do you need to immortalize this with a spoof poster.

Mainly influenced by the Ocean’s 8 one, but with some mixing here and there~

(feat. humanish!Dara, via some Disguise Self facepaint shenanigans. Also we’ve adopted an unhatched black dragon egg, and its irresponsible to leave a kid alone at that age, so obviously it had to come along).

[sphinxdrawsstuff]

D&D SOMNIS - A Particular Set of Skills

As the party’s getting to know one another more we’re discovering a whole slew of fun new tid-bits about each character, including our librarian having a worryingly good talent at skinning freshly-killed bears, apparently x3

[kyuusei-shadowleaf]

No Agreements With Fire

[ Photo by raquel raclette on Unsplash ]

“There, that should do it.”

Deep within Sor'theril Barrow Den, Ymalius stepped back, kicking aside discarded bandages stained with blood and ashes to examine his handiwork. In front of him, a kaldorei sat on a low stool, stripped to the waist with her back turned to the healer's work. Burns and cuts littered her shoulders, back, and arms, each wound carefully cleaned and even now fading as the green dragon’s potent magic sped the healing process.

“You ought to rest, you know.” He stepped close again to trace a burn along her left arm where the flesh had once been seared to black. It was almost recovered, well ahead of her other wounds, the swirled markings on her skin clearly visible once more. “This healing’s going to take a lot out of you.” He snorted, visage turning to a wry smile. “But you should know that by now”

“What am I supposed to do, hrm?” Kyuusei half-turned, silvered gaze looking sidelong at the dragon. “Rest in the Dream?” Her laugh was humorless. “We’re already here. They’re already here. And I told her I’d protect it. You knew what you were doing when you dragged me out of Val’sharah and asked me to come to the Isles. Don't tell me to rest now.” She leaned forward again to rest her elbows on her knees, long, unruly hair obscuring her face.

“I suppose,” Ymalius mused, “I did.” Of all the healing wounds on Kyuu’s back, one old scar had resisted all attempts at mending. Between her shoulder blades, the skin was warped in a palm-sized circle, twisted like clay beneath the hand of some cruel potter. “What about this?” he asked, lightly touching the disfigurement.

Kyuusei jerked forward as if shocked. She glared over her shoulder, lips pulled back in a fanged snarl, and Ymalius quickly stepped away to raise his hands in placation. The druid reached for her tunic with an abrupt motion and stood to pull it over her head, back still turned as she became engrossed in the act of lacing the leather garment. “There’s nothing about it,” she snapped back. “I don’t have time for this, Ymalius. I need to get back out there.”

“You forget what I am, Kyuu.” Still circumspect, he moved to the opposite side of the small barrow, leaning against the wall with affected nonchalance. “I’m a dreamwarden, and I slumbered in that meadow outside your cottage for years. Long before you arrived there. I knew your dreams while I slept.” Ymalius sighed ruefully. “And I know your nightmares as well. I know how you came by that scar. Are you going to tell anyone before it comes back to burn you?”

With a last tug at the laces of her tunic, Kyuu turned to face him. Her eyes were still set in a glare, but with a slow exhale of breath, her gaze softened and her shoulders drooped. “Tell them what? The Circle already knows about Delyra, knows she went to the Flame, knows I was the one that killed her at Hyjal. I loved her since we were children, Ymalius. What am I supposed to tell the Circle now, that I was so heartbroken when she left that I tried to follow her, and the Druids of the Flame wouldn’t even have me? That they just... marked me and cast me back out? That I slunk back to the Circle to join the assault on the Firelands instead?”

She took a deep breath before squaring her shoulders. “No. That’s the past. I’ve been lost and burned and found myself again since then. This is what matters now. “ Kyuusei gestured to the passage that led out of the barrow and back to the Emerald Dream. “Amirdrassil. That tree, that – hope.”

“You’re not afraid someone will come forward?” The dragon pushed off the wall and gathered the discarded bandages for a waste bin. “That some disciple of Flame will speak up under interrogation? Her!” Yamalius abruptly took on a self-righteous cast as he leveled a taloned finger at Kyuu in mock accusation. “She came to us in the past! You can’t trust her!” He lifted a brow in question.

Kyuusei’s response was flat and sure. “No. The ones who cast me out? They’re dead. I remember that clearly enough. And these... zealots? Cultists? They’re something different. I thought I was the only one left to remember until you opened your mouth. Besides,” a lopsided grin, the expression familiar and comforting, crept across her features, “I was recruited to defend the Dream by a member of the Green Dragonflight. You. That has to be worth something, dora dor.”

Ymalius gave a low chortle. “It might be, a little bit. I’m sorry, Kyuu. I just don’t think there’s room for doubts out there anymore.” He canted his head. “I had to be sure.”

“You say you’ve seen my dreams,” Kyuu snorted, “but you still needed to be sure. So much for the storied wisdom of Dragonkind. Come on, we need to get back out there.”

A few-score paces took them out of the barrow den, followed by the thunder of broad wings striking the air as Ymalius bore them north to the Wellspring of Life, where the fight against Primalists, Djaradin, and Druids of the Flame was fiercest.

And if the torches that lit the barrow den were dimmer, their flame guttering lower with Kyuusei’s departure, there were no eyes remaining in the barrow to notice...

References

Influences – Delyra

A Repressed Memory – The Firelands

A Dream of You

[kyuusei-shadowleaf]

✍ - a memory of their mother

[ Photo by Joshua Rondeau on Unsplash ]

Ameth'aran

“What are you doing up there?!?”

Tucked away in the high branches, the two young kaldorei’s giggling conversation fell to silence at the strident voice from the ground below. Delyra covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide in mirthful mock-alarm, while Kyuusei’s expression immediately fell. Her mother’s tone was unmistakable.

“Kyuusei! Come down here at once!”

“Min’daaaa, we’re fine up here.”

“You are perched in the branches of an Ancient!”

“He doesn’t mind,” Kyuu protested, patting a branch, “do you?” The Ancient of Lore’s boughs shifted gently, a low, creaking rumble the only response.

“It is disrespectful, child. Come down here immediately.”

The edge in her mother’s tone had grown sharp; Kyuusei was fully aware that either lengthy prayers to Elune’s grace or exhausting training under a watchful, unforgiving eye were to follow. Likely both. Her grimace at her fate, fortunately, was hidden from below by the Ancient’s branches. Hidden to her mother, but not to the other girl sharing their perch.

Delyra leaned forward, her eyes dancing as she placed a quick kiss on Kyuusei’s cheek. “It’s okay Sei-sei, I’ll see you in Nighthaven. You better go.”

A blush gave way to a smile. “Ah... okay.”

“KYUUSEI!”

“Coming!”

Reference: Influences - Delyra

{ Thank you for the ask, @nzoth-the-corruptor ! }

[kyuusei-shadowleaf]

Bells

Your character has just been reminded of a past experience by the sound of a bell. Describe the experience. Was it traumatic? Happy? Surprising? What does the person do now in response to the memory?

The faint sound of a ringing bell, the chime muted by leaves and branches.

Kyuusei knelt in the small clearing surrounded by trees and towering stalks of bamboo. The call of cranes echoed in the distance. A few moss-covered paving stones set in the grass led to a larger stone engraved with several characters in Pandaren, spent incense in a tarnished brass bowl nearby. A few paces to the left, a sapling was freshly-planted in the earth and moss. Small and lopsided, its branches decorated with pale green leaves and tiny blooms. A silken cord was draped loosely around the little tree’s narrow trunk, hung with woven charms and a single, small bell.

Kyuu reached forward to adjust the moss and ivy about the little teldorei’s base, a bittersweet smile on her face as the bell chimed again with the motion. A soft bemusing voice made some remark behind her, graceful steps rustling in the grass just out of sight.

* * Kyuu, don’t be silly. Come home. * *

“Sei-sei! Come on, why are you waiting?”

“We’re gonna get in trouble, Del!”

Kyuusei looked up, the other night elf already well into the lower branches and ascending rapidly. The Ancient, massive and treelike, stood patient guard in the Grove south of Ameth’aran, seemingly unperturbed by the youthful kaldorei in its branches. It shifted only slightly, setting the bells hung throughout its branches to chiming.

“Del...” Kyuu’s voice took on an almost wheedling tone, worry pulling at eyes that were not yet decorated with the Rites of Passage. A bundle of mageroyal in her hand filled the Grove with a green, floral scent.

Delyra paused in her climbing to look where Kyuusei stood on the forest floor. “He’s fine,” she declared, patting the Ancient’s trunk and earning a low rumble for her attentions. “And your Min’da’s not going to find out, the old stick-in-the-mud. Come up here and sit with me, Sei-sei.”

“You know I hate it when you call me that.” Despite her protest, Kyuu’s tone lost its edge. She took a step closer to the Ancient - silvered eyes glancing at a branch within easy reach.

The laughter from the branches above echoed the bells still gently ringing among the Ancient’s branches. “Then come up here,” Del retorted gently, “and see if you can find a way to make me quiet...”

Kyuu dropped the bundle of mageroyal to the grass, a lopsided grin on her face as she pulled herself into the Ancient’s branches to the sound of bells and Delyra’s light laughter. A few moments later, only the sound of bells remained...

* * Kyuu, come home. * *

The faint sound of bells roused Kyuusei, the druidess stirring from garden-side nap. At the doorway of the little house in Val’sharah, a wind chime spun lazily in the late afternoon breeze. She gave a long, feline stretch before rising, padding on bare feet to gently flick at the chimes - her lips pulling to the side in a wistful smile as the sound echoed through the garden...

{ Thank you, @selisekinsolving​, for the prompt! }

References: Tending & Influences: Delyra

[kyuusei-shadowleaf]

Keepsake: Charms

[ Photo by Almos Bechtold on Unsplash ]

(A revised vignette from Nov 2018, originally written for a prompt about Keepsakes. “prompt 1313″ posted by  @selisekinsolving​ made me decide to go back and edit it.)

Setting: Fireside Anchors, Boralus

* * *

“This?”

Kyuusei leaned back in the loose assemblage of pillows at Fireside Anchors, light from the nearby firepit flickering over her features in the twilight, and lifted her right hand. Carefully twined strands of silver were looped several times around her wrist, bearing four silver charms. Each one was engraved with the same rune, the silver tarnished, with black soot worked deeply into the engraving.

“There was a gnome.” The night elf frowned sharply for a moment, then smiled without humor. “I paid him to make these for me. He was an expert at crafting wards, among other things, and these were supposed to protect me from the fires of Teldrassil.”

She shook her head before the obvious question could be asked. “No, this was after. But the flames still smoldered - Teldrassil was a World Tree, after all. And there was something I had to retrieve...”

The druid ran a hand along her left arm, over flesh that was covered not in burn scars, but in discolorations that twisted and swirled across her skin. She briefly lifted her tunic to expose similar markings, running down her left side and vanishing into her leather breeches.

“Things didn’t go as planned,” Kyuu snorted as she reached for her glass of pale green liquor, taking a lingering sip.

“Three times I’ve been afflicted by fire. Those I once loved embraced it and were lost to it. For all that it brings light and warmth, fire has consumed hearth and heart and home.”

“This,” Kyuu flicked at one of the charms with a sharp fingernail, the sliver clattering dully, “is a reminder.”

“There are no agreements with fire.”

She turned to the firepit and reached over to toss on another log.