#kalmar wingfeather

[isavitarts]

Spoiler warning!

“The Throne Warden protects more than the High King’s flesh. He protects his soul by reminding him at every turn what is good and noble and true in the world.” — North! Or Be Eaten

[toonydoodles]

back at it again with the greatest little dudes season 2 drops for guild members on april 5th! it'll be my first show credit and i'm so excited :D

[alfredfortnitejones]

"SOLDIER, POET, KING" BY THE OH HELLOS IS LITERALLY THE WINGFEATHER CHILDREN FROM THE WINGFEATHER SAGA BOOKS BY ANDREW PETERSON

[mayzi33]

******SPOILERS, SO MANY SPOILERS AHEAD.*********

I have so much to say I'm afraid my brain might explode. So I'll try to keep calm despite still being at the verge of tears.

When I first started this book series, I thought it would be the usual light, cutesy fantasy about friendship and family. And oh boy, OH BOY WAS I WRONG.

On a side note, something I'd like to point out I noticed, from the first book to the third, the lighting on the cover progressively gets darker. Of course, representing the story itself as the plot gets darker as well. On the last book, it's still dark, but there's a light coming from Janner, Kalmar and Leeli, like they finally reached sunrise after a long, ruthless night. Something i'm pretty sure was said at some point on the books themselves, about no matter how long the night is the day will always come.

Anyways. Back to the topic at hand. As the story progressed, I keep growing more and more connected to these characters, and each chapter I rooted more and more for the Jewels Of Anniera.

I'd like to add that I'm an only child, yet, somehow, I can tell Janner is one of the best eldest sibling characters ever written. My whole life I've only watched siblings around me and their relationship with eachother, especially on the eldest's side, and somehow, Janner reminded me of every friend, family member or random stranger I saw on the streets someday that have siblings.

Janner is such a complex character. He is by no means perfect, but he does have a golden heart. One of the things I was most impressed by was how the author described Janner's feelings, whatever it was the longing for his father, or just feeling burdened by his siblings. And yet, no matter what Janner is feeling, the narrator never invalidates his feelings or antagonize him. Janner is a child, a child who went through a lot. He is allowed to miss a father he never had just as he is allowed to sometimes be annoyed for always having to make sacrifices for his siblings. But one of the things I admired the most about Janner (along with everyone else I'm pretty sure) was his character development. At the first book, he'd roll his eyes at the mere thought of having to look after his siblings and saw them as a burden. At the second book, he learned the hard way how much Kalmar and Leeli matter to him, and how it hurts to be away from them. On the third book, he took pride on his title as Throne Warden and role as the eldest sibling, being devoted to protecting the High King and Song Maiden. And at last, on the last book, he leaves pride aside. He doesn't take care of Kalmar and Leeli because it's his duty, because it's honorable, neither because that's what he has always been told to do. He does it because he loves them above all else, because he finally sees how strong the bond the three of them share truly is, because he feels the blessing the Maker has gifted them, and how much stronger they are when they're together.

Janner is a kind, brave, clever, beautiful boy.

And I will forever believe that they managed to get him the water from the First Well to heal him. I will nor accept any other ending.

Kalmar. At first, the typical goofy, troublemaking sibling, more like a comic relief. But again, OHOHOHO BOY... DID THAT CHANGE.

I definetely did not expect for them to take the turn they did with Kalmar. I could tell that he would have some character arc mainly towards maturing and taking responsability, but I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO BE LIKE THAT. Seeing that bright, easy-going, smiley little boy loosing his usual joyful personality when he was fanged, slowly loosing his sanity and growing on his self loathing was really something painful yet beautiful to watch. Like Janner, he also had to learn his lesson on the hardest way possible. An extrovert kid like him, having everyone turning their backs on him and looking at him with hatred, and yet, he learned to keep his head high, like a High King. (the phrase "keep your head held high or else your crown will fall" is literally perfect for him.) And most of all, seeing him risk his life to aid a strange cloven, (that turned out to be his father) grant the Hollowsfolk his forgiveness despite everything they did to him, show mercy and compassion to the Fangs despite everything they did, all of these things make Kalmar an inspiring ruler, and leaves me assured that he will be a great king after all.

Now, Leeli, sweet, pure-hearted Leeli. I will be honest, at first I was afraid that they would make her the typical "overly nice and overly fragile female character", but again, BOY WAS I WRONG. (I don't know how many times I will repeat that, I apologize.) At some points in the books, she didn't have as much spotlight as her brother and I felt like she was kind of being thrown aside. But there's always a turn the books take that make her lack of spotlight at first worth it. So young, the youngest of the Jewels Of Anniera, yet she has seen and done so much. Has a bad leg, needed to use a crutch since she was little, yet that literally never stopped her. She strives to keep up with her brothers, and despite his kind personality she shows she can be festy and even scary when she wants to. (I will never forget that moment in the second book where she was yelling at the trolls and fangs and they were actually eager to obey her lol). She hates it when people assume she's weak and often refuses help, proving she's perfectly capable. But at times, she does need help, which shows us all it's okay to have someone to rely on. She was the link between Janner and Kalmar, no matter how much they argued nor how mad they were at eachother, she was always there for both of them and connecting them back together. She may not be able to fight like her brothers, but she found her own strenght. Her music, something that has always brought joy and hope to others turns out to be an ACTUAL weapon. She kicked a Green Fang to defend her puppy, she was the first one to see the pain and kindess through Peet, Nugget sacrificed himself for her showing how her strong her love for others really is, she stopped A FREAKING DRAGON from killing her grandpa, she led an army of dogs, she defeated countless fangs with nothing but her song. One of the best child female chracters I've seen in a while. She is feminine, has her weak points, but she finds her strenght, not in swords, punches or bows but on a whistleharp. I love her so much I can't describe it.

I love all of these kids so much. I am *proud* of them. I know it's a weird thing to say about fictional characters, but these books just make me feel this way. I can't name a single character I didn't connect or feel empathy with.

Nia, such a strong, independent woman, raising her children having lost her husband and kingdom, yet keep her head held high like the queen she is.

Podo, a man who has sinned, takes shame on them, yet shows that sinners can still be good people. Loves his family above all else, protected and took care of them until his last breath, might have been a little rough around the edges, but always showed a soft spot for his daughter and grandkids.

Artham, a broken man, haunted by the shame of loosing his brother, slowly, but surely, healing. Learning to move on by protecting his nephews and niece, making what was once a weakness a strenght.

Oskar, an old man that was always sitting on the library, letting go of his peaceful life and risking his life to accompany the Wingfeathers through thick and thin.

Sara, who was taken from her family, abused and had all her hope crushed, finding her courage back after meeting Janner and taking after him, being a sisterly figure, leader and queen ti billions of orphan children, and helping them find their strenght and fight for their freedom.

Maraly, a rude strander girl who was raised horribly her whole life by her abusive father, finally finding true love and a true father figure.

Everything about this story has touched me. A broken world taken by an evil monarch who turned to be just another broken soul, filled with hopeless people, people who had surrended to the darkness... Saved by three children, who brought light everywhere they went. A boy with scars, a boy inside a wolf, and a girl with a crutch. Kids who one day were mere peasants, the other were the Jewels Of Anniera, and a year later, heroes of Aerwiar.

I've smiled, I've laughed, I've been shocked, I've been scared, I've been mad, I've cried. I have red lots, and I mean LOTS of books. Different stories, different worlds, different characters. Yet none of them has touched me half as much as The Wingfeather Saga.

It has war, tears, bloodshed, betrayals, sacrifices and sorrow. But it also has love, joy, hope, laughter, wonder and light.

This story definetely deserves way more fans and recognition. I hope that with the new animated series (which I'll definetely watch later) it begins to gain more love.

Anyways. I really love this in case y'all couldn't tell already. Have a good day/afternoon/evening.

[cupcakegalaxia]

I am so excited for season 3

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

girl i feel like Artham and the wingfeather kids would absolutely love boops

okay this conjured a series of hilarious images in my mind, but by far the best was Maraly throwing boops like knives. She expected hers to be black but nah they're white ghosty ones because of how she flits in and out of the night like a ghost when she's on Shadowblade shenanigans with Gammon. xD

Kal has black paws for obvious reasons. Leeli's are white. Janner and Sara's are both orange and they match <3

Kal and Janner finally have a worthy use for their Durgan training oh boy

Artham won't stop appearing randomly, booping one of them 153 times and then vanishing. His are probably also white for that reason xD

and then Arundelle gets involved and it just becomes her and Artham chasing each other around the castle and popping out of increasingly unlikely places to smack each other with giant cat paws

No one thinks Nia is playing until she darts out of a shadow, smacks someone in the face with a black cat paw and disappears again (never forget she married Esben, prankster of Anniera)

[viathatoneartist]

So like excuse me but when was someone gonna tell me about WingFeather Saga? Like sure it starts out a little slow but boy the soup got THICK in book 2 HeLLO?

[raywhite28]

hey!!! so i've been at theater arts camp so i havn't drawn much digital stuff but heres the Wingfeather saga in an over the garden wall AU

obviously Janner is Wirt and Tink is Greg, I think Leeli is the frog? Because Artham is both the woodsman and Beatrice (becus Adelaide is the stone keeper and the beast is Gnag) he's trying to both; keep Esbin's soul alive with the lantern, and get the scissors to turn himself back into a human. Both at the expense of Janner, Tink and Leeli whom he learns to love and protect (cause he aint related to them in this au)

[pospoets]

Headcanon !!

So basically I think it makes sense that Kalmar would be feared and hated by the people of hollows now that he's a fang, BUT what the people of hollows SHOULD be worried is Janner Wingfeather, he's a Throne Warden and it gives him more power (physically, not politically) than Kalmar could have, also instinctively he would scare more people than Kalmar ever could too even as a Fang. I also think Artham proved it by how impatient he is when Kalmar didn't know who he was in the end of book 2, he almost implanted fear into the king.

Idk i really like making main characters feral

[aceofstars16]

Enjoy! And yes, I came up with that title when I was still salty but...it fits so....xD

In case you can't read it on AO3, here it is below as well:

The REAL Epilogue

Burning. That was the first thing he felt. But as soon as he was aware of it, the pain dissolved into a pleasant warmth, radiating throughout his entire body.

Then he heard music. Sweet, beautiful music. A melody that increased the warmth in his body. For a moment, he couldn’t place why it sounded so familiar. Then it hit him. It was a whistleharp. Leeli’s whistle harp.

Everything that happened over the last few days - no, the last few months- came surging back. Every memory, both good and bad, hitting him like a sledgehammer.

Jolting upright, he gasped - a deep breath that he didn’t know his lungs needed until they had it. He looked around frantically. Had the stone worked? Was everyone okay? Where was he? It looked vaguely familiar but…

“Janner!”

A voice that Janner hadn’t heard in months filled his ears, but before he could fully grasp who he was looking at, arms flung around him, squeezing him tighter than they ever had before.

“Kal.” The name left Janner’s mouth before he even thought to say it as he found himself returning the hug. His brother was okay. He was human. Janner had protected him. But then…

“What-?”

His words were cut off as another pair of arms wrapped around him. Leeli had stopped playing and Janner moved one arm so he could hug her back. Both of his siblings were here. They were okay. But…where was here?

As he turned his attention to the forest around him, Janner caught sight of Nia looking at him, almost in disbelief. And next to her…

“Uncle Artham!”

Janner hadn’t seen his uncle in months, and just the sight of him brought a joy to his heart that he hadn’t been expecting. That joy grew when he saw Oskar and…

For a moment, Janner just stared at the girl standing there, her hand over her mouth. Could it really be? Then their eyes met and Janner knew. Only one girl had that light in her eyes, light that had carried him through some of the darkest moments of his life.

Sara Cobbler.

A moment after their eyes met, she let out a sob – but not one full of sorrow. It was a cry of joy. Which seemed to break a silent spell that had been holding the others back.

In a moment, Janner was surrounded by all those he loved. Being hugged – and kissed by Nia. A happy laughter filled the clearing, even as questions filled his head.

After everyone had sufficiently hugged him, Janner was finally able to ask the question that had entered his mind as soon as he woke.

“What happened? Where are we? How am I…?” His voiced trailed off. Had he just been asleep, or…had he died?

For a moment, the joy in the clearing faded as everyone traded looks.

Artham was the first to break the silence.

“The First Well.”

“What?” Janner looked around again and noticed for the first time, the sound of water.

“I remembered where it was.” Kalmar said, then laughed a little. “Though, it was a little harder to find as a human.”

“How…how long was I…?” Once again, Janner couldn’t make himself say the word.

“Three days.” Nia said softly, a shadow passing over her face, only to lift when Leeli spoke.

“But you’re okay now!”

“Right…” Janner nodded. “But what happened…I mean, is Anniera…is everyone…?”

“They’re all human again.” Kalmar said.

Relief washed over Janner. Then he caught Sara’s eye again.

“How did you…when did you-?”

Sara laughed. “It’s a long story.”

“Yes, and one better told around a fire, if I do say so myself.” Oskar piped in.

“Sounds good to me!” Kalmar said, which set everyone off laughing.

So, a fire was built, and Sara told Janner all about Dugtown. How she had rallied the orphans and escaped the Fork Factory – right at the same time Artham and Gammon had arrived to free them. And about the Fang’s attack and sudden disappearance from Skree. A shadow passed her face when she talked about her parents, how they hadn’t survived. But it lifted when she told him how her and the other orphans had decided that, if they were going to start a new life, they’d love for it to be in a place like Anniera.

Then Kalmar and the others filled him in on what happened after he had taken the stone, at least, for the most part. Janner had the feeling they were dancing around the word he himself had a hard time saying. But Kalmar told him all about giving everyone new names – which he admitted was kind of strange, as the names seemed to just come to him.

After that, came the story of how they found The First Well again. The sea dragons had taken them as far as the Blackwood, but they had to travel into the forest on foot. Kalmar told him how he retraced their steps from Clovenfast, and eventually found the water that he had given Oood only a week ago.

By the time the stories had been told, it was dark out. Nia insisted everyone get some sleep, which Janner was happy to do. Until he couldn’t fall asleep. He didn’t know why. He was tired. But something kept him up.

Eventually, he sat up, sighing as he quietly stood and walked a little closer to look at the water. The First Well water. It didn’t look different than any other water. But he knew better. Besides, the clearing itself had a calming presence, as if everything around it knew the water was special.

“I’m glad I found it again.”

Janner quickly looked over to see Kalmar, sitting against a rock, looking straight ahead. He didn’t look up, even as Janner sat down next to him.

“Me too.” Janner said quietly.

For a moment, they just sat in silence. Then Janner found that he couldn’t keep wondering any more. “Kal? Did…did I die?”

Kalmar stiffened, but didn’t answer right away.

“Kal?”

“Yes.”

It was a whisper, barely audible. But it sent a shiver down Janner’s spine.

“You took the stone from me.” Kalmar added, a heaviness in his voice.

“I know.”

“It was supposed to be me! Not you!” The force of the words broke through the silence of the clearing. Through the light of the moon, Janner could see tears in Kalmar’s eyes. And it was then that Janner realized there were already tear streaks on his brother’s face. As if he had already been crying.

“No, Kal. It wasn’t.”  Janner placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder, willing him to look at him. But he didn’t. “It’s my job to protect you. Anniera needs its king.”

“And I need you!” Kalmar shot back, looking at Janner for the first time. Then he seemed to realize what he said and shrunk back. If he was still fanged, his ears would’ve flattened on his head.

“Kal…” Janner didn’t know what to say. It was his job to keep Kalmar safe. And he didn’t regret what he’d done. But he couldn’t imagine what he would feel like if Kalmar had died protecting him.

Silence grew between them once again, only the sound of the water running filled the air.

“I don’t want to be king if it means you’ll die protecting me.” Kalmar said quietly. “I knew what I was doing…what…what I was supposed to do. I was ready.”

Even as he said it, Janner couldn’t believe it. He remembered the sadness in Kalmar’s eyes that morning on Anniera. Could anyone really be ready for their own death? Especially a kid?

“But I wasn’t ready to see you-” Kalmar’s voice cracked and he hugged his legs, shutting his eyes tight.

If anyone else had been around, Janner might’ve hesitated to hug his brother, but not tonight. He wrapped his arms around Kalmar and hugged him tight, wishing he could say something to help him. But what could be said?

Minutes passed before Janner spoke again. It might not make anything easier for Kalmar, but he had to try.

“I’m sorry, Kal. I…when I saw you with the stone, and realized what you were going to do, I knew I couldn’t let you. It needed to be me. And I don’t regret it.”

The only response was a shaky breath.

“But…Kal, I didn’t do it to hurt you, and I’m sorry it did.”

There was a quiet sniffle. “I can’t just tell you not to do anything like that again, can I?”

Janner swallowed. Because he knew that answer, and Kalmar did too. “I’ll always do whatever I can to protect you, Kal. And maybe one day it will happen again. But…I’m here now, okay?”

Kalmar opened his eyes and looked at Janner, really looked at him. The conflicting emotions swirling in the blue matched Janner’s own. For a moment, they just looked at each other, then Kal nodded. “Okay.”

His voice was still quiet, but it was stronger than it had been. The voice of a king accepting the responsibility of his life.

“Besides,” Janner lightly hit Kalmar’s arm. “You need someone to keep an eye on you for a while. You’re only eleven.”

The smallest smile grew on Kal’s face. “And you need someone to beat you in zibzy and keep your from sitting around reading all day.”

At that, Janner couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Maybe I’ll stand a chance now that you aren’t a wolf.”

“In your dreams.” Kalmar said, joining in the laughter.

The rest of the night was filled with reminiscing and dreaming of possibilities, until both of them fell asleep, imagining a future without the threat of Gnag or Fangs.

And a future they had. The Jewels of Anniera grew, married, and had children of their own. Thorn of course, married Leeli, and Janner’s heart only ever belonged to Sara. And Kalmar found a queen that rivaled even Nia in strength and courage. The stories of their childhood were told near and far, becoming legends that children from all corners of the world listened to with rapt attention. And under King Kalmar’s rule, all of Aerwiar prospered, and Aneira once again became the place of beauty and love that it had once been.

[undercoverossifrage]

The Sea Turned Red

The sea turned red is one of my favorite chapters in the whole series. Everything about it is just phenomenal! Janner finally accepts his role, takes joy in protecting his brother and finds his courage. The act truly fulfills so much of what the story was building to in the first and second books, and really it's the end of Janner's first character arc. His acceptance of the call if you will. Its his actions here that kind of inform how he tries to act and who he eventually becomes in the third and fourth books. I love trying to draw this scene and have attempted to do so once a year for five years. I'm finally happy with how I captured it this time!

[isavitarts]

The King of Anniera

[waiting-makes-me-antsy]

okay um is there a wing feather saga community here (may contain spoilers?- it's fanart)

I read the books when I was around kalmar's age uhhhhhh I recently reread them and forgot how good they were

Just remember SOBBING my eyes out at midnight when I read the ending

[ghostlingpupversailles]

UM attention WINGFEATHER SAGA FANDOM

We have a COMMUNITY NOW

I’m not sure why it’s not SHOWING UP???

I’ll be back with updates

[mayzi33]

****THE WARDEN AND THE WOLF KING SPOILERS****

Do you ever stop to think about how *guilty* Janner, Kal and Leeli must have felt after the war?

We all know Janner's whole journey has him feeling Older Sibling Guilt™, Tink experienced unspeakable self-hatred at the age of 11 for allowing himself to be turned to a fang, and Leeli, bless her heart, as if loosing Nugget wasn't enough, she also lost every. Single. One. Of her hound dogs during the war, having no choice but to send them out in the battle field.

Just- they're 12-13. 11. And 9. They're babies. They grew up longing for a father, and overnight they found out their father was a king, that they're the so called Jewels Of Anniera Gnag is after, and now they have to live on the run after watching their cottage burn down in flames. Just-

These kids have been chased, kidnapped, tortured, enslaved, bullied and neglected all through the series. Had to grow up faster by force. All of Green Hollows was constantly at their necks for something they had no control over. And when one of the fangs invades Green Hollows in the fourth book to warn them to either hand over the kids or a war is coming, said fang tries to turn the hollowsfolk agaisnt them AGAIN by putting the blame on those innocent kids.

They didn't ask to be Jewels Of Anniera. They didn't ask to have that power. They didn't ask Gnag to be obsessed with them.

Yet they've experienced a war. A war that even though it was entity Gnag's and Bonifer's fault, the **jewels of Anniera** were the cause. Because they didn't surrender.

These kids lived on the run, were contantly on the edge and unsafe for over a year. And when they finally thought they found a home, safety in Green Hollows, they were forced to see people they knew, people who had learned to accept them, their friends, die. Die defending them. Die protecting them.

Their father died protecting them. Their grandmother died protecting them. Nugget died protecting them. Rudric died protecting them. Podo died protecting them.

They're the ones who defeated Gnag. They're the ones who led the war. Janner is the one who saved all the clovens and fangs. Kalmar acted like a king and took responsability. The Hollowsfolk wouldn't have lasted a day without Leeli.

They're the heroes. Yet at what cost?

Just imagine how traumatized these kids are. Imagine how many nights they'll go without sleep. Imagine how much these children blame and hate themselves for something that I was out of their control and nowhere their fault. Imagine how tired they are.

Just- imagine.

[cupcakegalaxia]

It's GreyFang!Kalmar. I did a little light experiment with him hence the coloring, lol.