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acotarxreader · 9 months ago

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Shadow and Flame pt 4

Azriel X Reader

Warnings: Angst, mentions but no description of torture, mentions of burns, punchable High Lords

A/N: Okay Part 4, added action and suspense with higher stakes hehe Please let me know what you think, your words are so encouraging. Also as an aside Lúdás is an Irish word for traitor, a little trivia in there for you, without the fadas for ease of your own pronunciation.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

*********

Drip, drip, drip.

You rolled the back of your head along the damp brick, trying to release tension from your shoulders, knees cuddled into your chest for some ounce of warmth. Your hollowed eyes resembled the deep chasms beneath the Autumn Court where your cell rotted and shuddered. The soaking air leeching any semblance of inferno from you.

Drip, drip, drip.

You groaned at the sounds of your Father's guards passing through the jail corridors, throwing a glance towards you as they marked your presence. Three months of the same routine. Three months since your father rebroke your bones and shattered your soul but Azriel was safe, Velaris was safe. A consolation prize. You had stopped crying soon after being locked down there, mourning a life for a moment you thought you could have.

Drip, drip, drip.

*********

“At what point do we just get a big net and steal him away in the night?”

“It's not funny Cass” Feyre reprimanded the Illyrian, the Inner Circle gathered for a family dinner in The House Of Wind, Azriel notably absent. Plates piled high with food went untouched as you were once again the topic of conversation.

“Well it's gone beyond sulking, he's locked up in his room, staring at a candle he won't let anyone blow out, he's frightening the staff'' Amren glanced towards the staircase leading in the direction of Azriels chambers.

Elain lurched forward suddenly, the table turning to her in confusion.

“Something is- something is wrong with Lucien” the table looked frantic between one another. No one had seen Lucien since Azriel had all but banished him from the circle. Cassian flew from the chair up the stairs, crashing into Azriels chambers to find it empty.

“Azriels gone!” Panic grew in all of them. Had he gone back for more? The table dispersed in chaos, darting in different directions to where they believed they'd find the two.

*****

“Azriel, this is becoming very much too Illyrian for me” Lucien stood suppressing his shaking legs, blood running from his face.

“No such thing” Azriels eyes were wild, scorch marks scratching his leathers. The two stood warrior stance ready, books, papers, and furniture askew across the scope of Lucien's office in Velaris. Azriel had had enough, enough waiting, enough wondering, enough hurting. He believed you ran from him that night three months ago and he had become determined to find you again, to beg for clarity. Lucien had the information he needed, he was able to get to you before and he would help Azriel get you now, even if Illyrian persuasion was needed.

“I will not tell you about YN, I do not know the answers to your questions” Not all untrue for the Prince of Foxes. He had begged his father for leniency towards you, offered himself for replacement but it was no good, he was iced out by his family's court once again. Lucien couldn't tell him any of that, he didn't want Azriel chasing Autumn's Daughter enraging their father further

“You lie!”

“I do not! And I do not understand this infatuation-”

“Infatuation! That's what YN said I had that day in the woods, that came from you! Now tell me your meeting place!” Azriel threw his shadows to slam into Lucien, knocking him for a moment off balance. That's all Azriel needed, he sprung for the Emissary, pinning him to the bookcase of his study, sending more books crashing. Truth Teller now in hand, Lucien allowed panic to show in his eyes as Azriels raged in storms and clouded pain.

“I-will-not-tell-you-where-my-sister-is” Lucien choked out, face rapidly losing colour. Sister. Sister. Sister. The word crashed over Azriel, he released the pressure stepping back. Lucien caught his throat and massaged his crushed windpipe. Shit he thought, blaming the temporary cut-off of oxygen on his admission.

“Azriel!” Rhysand winnowed into the chaotic scene with Cassian by his side. Azriel stood, pale face, processing.

“You lie again Emissary” he seethed

“I do not, she is the Autumn Court's daughter, my…our father's pride and joy. She is…she is his to use” he slumped slightly, the nature of the Court of Autumn's conduct always a source of disgrace for him. Azriel pushed his mind from having an existential crisis, his whole purpose for existing was to know everything about everyone and you had fully slipped through the cracks, what else had he missed in work?

“Oh my Gods, Az you fucked Lucien's sister” Cassian broke the silence in a very Cassian way, Rhysand hitting him in the chest.

“You. What?” Lucien bit out, flames came to his side once more, cocking his head in challenge.

“I-” Lucien leapt forward tackling the conflicted Shadowsinger, sending him sailing to the ground as they rolled in hand-to-hand combat. Cassian caught Rhysands arm, pulling him back from intervening with a “let them at it” facial expression.

“FIRST YOU COME FOR MY MATE! THEN YOU COME FOR MY SISTER! IS NOTHING SACRED TO YOU HEATHENS!” Lucien blared as Azriel rolled, using his wings for the upper hand, rolling until he was on top of Lucien.

“YOUR FUCKING SISTER IS MY MATE” Azriel had Lucien pinned by the arms to the floor as he roared, the air almost sucked from the room at the silence that followed. Azriel let Lucien's arms go with a thud before standing again, dusting the soot off his leathers. Lucien pushed up off the floor, wiping a forearm along his bloody lip.

“Az” Rhysand tried softly as Azriel strode over to look out the window of the study, down on the winding streets of his beloved city. He raised his hand without facing the three, needing a moment of reprieve.

Lucien looked at Azriels two lost Illyrian brothers before moving cautiously behind the Shadowsinger, laying the most gentle of hands on one of his shoulders, soft heat radiating through.

“Azri- Az we will get my sis- your Mate back” Azriels wings slumped slightly at his frenemy's words.

A maroon envelope burst into the room to land on Luciens desk, the four looking conflicted towards it.

***************

“Stand” the darkened figures' chilling voice carried through the dimly lit passageway and across the cell bars. You released a breath from your long broken soul before standing on weakened wobbly legs, the weighted shackles tethering your wrists grinding against your movement. Rings of water encased in the shackles for good measure.

“Arm” was grunted at you as the cell door unlocked itself allowing the males to step in.

“Ludas, we went to training camp together. Can you at least look at me when you order me around?” you raised your eyebrow to the tall male figure in front of you. The back of his hand sliced into your face with centuries of training and force, sending you crashing to the floor swearing as you slammed into it.

“Do not speak out of turn”

“Oh I am so telling your mother when I get out of here” you scoffed, spitting the blood in your mouth at his shoes and pushing back off the rocky wet ground, the male slightly tensing at your words.

“Get it over with, whatever lashings you have” you threw out your arm and closed your eyes waiting for the whip that didn't come. Only a weight release from your wrist. Your eyelids shot open to find your shackles smashing to the floor, metal bracelets filled with water replacing them. Before you could question, a hood was thrown over your head, and a weight shot into your stomach as you sailed over Ludas’ shoulder.

You landed with a thud on a cold solid floor, the sound of flame whispering sorrows for you. The hood was snatched, blinding sunlight sent your head screaming as you tried to adjust after three months below the Court.

Your focusing eyes landed on Eris' face, who looked as though he'd seen a ghost and in some way that's what you were. Your copper eyes greying, mud and moss coating your hair, shirt and trousers torn to shreds from the beatings and rats you fought off nightly. A long call from the copper princess he saw you as the last time he saw you. Another deserter you thought to yourself.

“Stand and smile Daughter-” your screaming eyes shot to the male sitting on the throne of your people.

“-it's the eve of your wedding day after all” vertigo. You felt vertigo. Your eyes spinning in your skull, unable to summon any ounce of strength until darkness met you once more.

******

Lucien walked slowly towards the envelope as if it could strike him at any moment. The three watched, Azriel’s stomach beginning to do turns on itself. The headed paper slipped from its casing, the Autumn Court emblem proudly on display. Lucien's sorrowful gaze read down the sheet as if it were his very own life sentence but it was yours. The paper fell from his shaking hands to the floor beneath him as he turned and vomited into the filing cabinet adjacent. A wedding invitation addressed to the Night Court members.

**********

You woke up to the warmth of fire, fire not belonging to you, unsettling you instantly. You sat up in the brick red sheets, ignoring the whirlpool headache growing in you. You felt different, you felt clean. You looked down to see deep forest green silk covering you, your hand shooting to your now soft and shiny hair. Your trembling legs brought you to the mirror in the room you didn't recognise. You had returned to your beauty as if the past few months never happened. But there in the mirror, you saw the staunch reminder that it very much did, the metal and water bracelets swirling around your wrist like the bonds they were, tethering you without chains. Your hand found a small scar along your lip where Ludas had marked you, it still trying to stitch together under your weakened powers.

Your eyes frantically searched the room for the door out, with none to be found, you had been winnowed into this new plush cell. You felt yourself roar. Roar and roar and roar.

“YN! You'll wake the hounds!�� You whipped around to your father's voice, how long had he been there? He looked so put together, so reserved, nowhere near the man who roasted your skin on flames of rage three months previous.

“Leave me go, I've done my time, I-”

“Now does that sound very like me?” Beron laughed sickly, sitting himself down on the sofa, arms spread along the back, the picture of ease, his wild flame daughter tamed. He looked at you like you were his pawn to play and you had never felt so much so.

“The Shadowsinger was an interesting side quest for you wasn't it?”

“Stop” he laughed at your attempt at defiance, you couldn't hear him speak of Azriel, he'd shatter you all over again.

“Tomorrow you will marry the General of the Vallahan Legion-”

“-I will do no such thing!” You snapped, your father standing back to his feet.

“This back-chatting is getting out of hand, where's my malleable piece of copper gone?”

“You killed her” you said so eerily calm, unwavering steeliness growing in you.

“Well I suggest she resurrects herself ahead of her nuptials” ice dripping from his voice as his searing touch caught your wrist pulling you in.

“Vallahan will be powerful allies and I have graves picked out for you and your brother's precious night court. You will behave. You will do as I say or you will join them in the dirt”

“I will go to my grave regardless if you make me marry him”

“That can be arranged once you've signed the dotted line for all I care” and you believed him. He didn't care once his pawn had moved into place who took her out. He stood again, easing over in your direction, his flames leaping to life, willing to ignite chaos at their master’s will.

“I hope you’ll cheer up dear, you’ll make your guests so very sad seeing a weeping bride, although not that they’ll be smiling for long” you went cold at his tone, what does that mean you screamed inside your head and he laughed as if he could hear you.

“Well now YN, you know very well that I enjoy killing two birds with one stone”

“What are you planning?”

“Oh please don’t say it with such hatred. I’m giving you a wedding present, one last look at your beloved Shadowsinger” your eyes went wild at his words, you moved to lunge for him in pure unadulterated anger but his flames wrapped around you pulling you to the ground without burning you.

“Sleep well my piece of copper, big day for you tomorrow, I'm so proud” he caught your chin so roughly, eyes piercing through you, releasing your face with a jolt and dissolving into flame.

******

Part 5

Tag list: @sunshineangel-reads @skylarkalchemist @tele86 @saltedcoffeescotch @impossibelle @quiettuba @thecraziestcrayon @fightmedraco @st4r-girl-official @mp-littlebit @naliyahmaria @judig92 @st4r-girl-official @circe143 @minnieoo @honk4emoboyz @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @hanatsuki-hime

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rainforestakiie · 4 months ago

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AdamsApple Month Harvest!

Full Moon~

i hope this counts? this is @inubaki's request! i hope you like it! it is also inspired by @things-arent-what-they-seem66's own version!

an omegaverse au where adam's mask conceals his scent. it cracks, and lucifer smells him! inubaki allowed me to put my own creative spin on it!

i hope you like it!

@adamsappleweek

The moon gleamed softly in the velvet sky, its silver light spilling over the garden, casting shadows that danced across the leaves of the Tree of Life. Lucifer sat beneath it, its ancient bark warm against his back, the soft rustle of the leaves above offering him a brief, but fragile, sense of comfort. The moon wasn't fully formed yet, not complete, much like himself. It still had time to grow, to take its final shape. But Lucifer? He wasn’t sure if time could change anything for him. The thought brought a bitter pang to his chest, a quiet ache he had become too familiar with.

His wings shimmered in the moonlight, catching the glow as they fanned out behind him, majestic and ethereal, yet still somehow... incomplete. Lucifer let out a long, weary sigh, tipping his head back to rest it against the bark of the tree. He watched the sky, but his mind was far away, lost in the complexity of his own existence.

He loved the humans—adored them, even. From the moment he first laid eyes on them, he had been captivated by their innocence, their capacity for love, and their potential to grow. Unlike his fellow angels, they felt real to him, tangible in ways his brothers and sisters never did. But the more time he spent among them, the more he realized the gaping chasm that lay between them. They didn’t know the burden of being classified, of being labeled by something they had no control over. They were just... human. Simple, free of the chains that bound him so tightly, so suffocatingly.

But Lucifer was no human. He could never be one, no matter how much he might long for that simplicity. He was something else—something set apart, always on the fringes, even here in this place he had thought he belonged. He was an omega, the only one of his kind in all of Heaven, in all of Creation. A rare, coveted thing in the eyes of the universe, yet it felt more like a curse than a blessing.

Among his siblings, the other angels, there was an unspoken rule: omegas were meant to be soft, sweet, and yielding, expected to submit to the will of the alphas. Alphas, like the rest of his kind, were aggressive, dominant, often naïve in their certainty of their own power. They commanded with force and arrogance, expecting everything to fall into place beneath their control. They were Heaven’s warriors, Heaven’s pride, and Lucifer—he was supposed to be Heaven’s beauty, its grace, a delicate thing meant only to follow, never to lead.

But Lucifer had never been delicate. He had never bowed to anyone’s will, never let them reduce him to just an "omega." His siblings had tried, over and over, to put him in his place, to make him submit as they believed he should. They flaunted their dominance, their superiority, but Lucifer never faltered. He refused. There was no one—no alpha, no brother or sister—who could make him bend. He wasn’t their "omega," not the way they wanted him to be.

And yet, that defiance made him an outsider. He wasn’t like them, not fully. But with the humans... oh, how they made him feel something different, something whole. They didn’t look at him and see an omega. They didn’t smell the faint hint of his pheromones and expect submission, obedience. To them, he wasn’t a title or a role. He was just Lucifer. He could be himself, unburdened by Heaven’s expectations, free of the weight that came with his nature. For the first time, he thought he had found his place.

But it wasn’t enough.

Lucifer’s heart clenched as he remembered the way the humans looked at each other—how they touched, how they loved without the constraints of secondary genders, without the invisible bonds that tied him down. They had no pheromones to tangle with, no alpha or omega to complicate their relationships. They were free to love as they chose, and it made him ache with a longing so deep, it was almost unbearable. He had accepted that they were different from him, and that was fine. He could live with that. But the more time he spent with them, the more he realized the bitter truth: he would always be different. No matter how close he got, no matter how much he loved them, he could never truly be one of them.

Heaven didn’t care about his feelings. Heaven wanted him to mate, to settle down, to fulfill the purpose of his kind. The pressure weighed on him every day, heavier than any sword or shield. Heaven wanted him to breed, to take an alpha and fall into the role they had always envisioned for him. But how could he? He couldn’t stomach the thought of it. The scent of alphas made his skin crawl, their presence suffocated him in ways that were becoming harder to ignore. The idea of submitting to one, of bonding, of giving himself over in that way—it made him feel sick, hollow.

Lucifer’s hands clenched in the soft earth beneath him, his eyes stinging as the cold reality set in deeper than before. He was alone. The humans, beautiful as they were, could never fill the void inside him. And the angels, his brothers and sisters—they would never see him as anything more than a pretty omega. He was trapped, lost between two worlds that neither truly understood nor accepted him.

Lucifer watched from a distance as Adam and Lilith sat together in the garden, their laughter carried on the soft breeze, mingling with the gentle rustle of the trees. His heart twisted in ways he didn’t fully understand yet, a slow-burning ache that seemed to hollow out his chest. He had adored Adam from the very moment the human had taken his first breath. Adam had been... perfect. The way his eyes, a deep, rich green, sparkled when he smiled—the softness in them when he spoke to Lucifer—was something that made the archangel’s heart flutter in a way that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

But now, those eyes were focused elsewhere. On her. Lilith. Adam’s wife, chosen by God, formed from the same earth that had given Adam life. Lucifer watched, feeling that all-too-familiar sense of longing stir in his chest as Adam laughed at something Lilith said, his face lighting up in a way that Lucifer wanted so desperately to be the cause of.

It burned.

The jealousy was a sharp, cruel thing, gnawing at him from the inside, a bitterness that tasted of rejection. He tried to push it down, tried to convince himself it was nothing, just a passing feeling. After all, wasn’t Adam his closest friend? Didn’t they share something no one else could understand? It had always been the two of them, hadn’t it? Since the beginning, when Lucifer had taken Adam under his wing, guiding him, showing him the wonders of Heaven and Earth alike. Adam had looked at him like he was something more than just an omega, something more than the beautiful, delicate creature his brothers and sisters always wanted to mold him into. With Adam, he had been… seen.

But now Lilith was there, and Adam’s focus had shifted. She was his companion, his partner. She had taken the place that Lucifer had once held so dear. The realization hit Lucifer hard, like the crack of thunder in an empty sky. He wasn’t the one making Adam smile anymore. He wasn’t the one Adam turned to first, and that cut deeper than any wound ever could.

Lucifer leaned against the Tree of Life, his wings dimmed, his face shadowed in sorrow as he watched the two humans. Adam was supposed to be his. He had always been his. And yet, he felt Adam slipping away, the distance between them widening with each passing day. Lucifer told himself it was Lilith’s fault. She had stolen Adam’s attention, drawing him away from what truly mattered—from him. Lucifer was certain of it. Adam was destined for more than this; Adam was supposed to be with him, to see him, to cherish him. The bond between them had been so pure, so perfect, and now it was crumbling before Lucifer’s very eyes.

But the truth that Lucifer couldn’t admit—wouldn’t admit—was that it wasn’t Lilith herself. No, it was something far deeper. Adam had a purpose, a duty to fulfill, and that duty had nothing to do with Lucifer. Adam was the father of humanity, the one who would create life, who would populate the earth with beings made in his image. That was what mattered to Adam. His mission, his destiny given by God.

Lucifer was not part of that destiny. And that realization clawed at his soul with a fierceness he couldn’t ignore.

His brothers and sisters had seen it. They had noticed his growing obsession with Adam, the way his eyes followed the human wherever he went, the way his heart seemed to cling to every word Adam spoke. They warned him—warned him not to get too close. They told him it was foolish, that the humans were different, that they didn’t have the same bonds, the same needs as angels.

“You’re an omega, Lucifer,” they reminded him, over and over again. “Humans don’t have secondary genders. They don’t need you the way you want to be needed.”

But he hadn’t listened. He couldn’t. How could they understand the way his heart raced when Adam looked at him, the way his soul seemed to sing when Adam smiled at him? No one else made him feel that way. No one else ever could.

But now Lilith was there. She was Adam’s companion, fulfilling the role Lucifer had once imagined for himself. She was what Adam needed to fulfil his duty, to create the future of humanity. Lucifer’s hands clenched into fists, his wings trembling with suppressed emotion. He had never wanted to hurt anyone, but the sight of Adam with Lilith, the way Adam’s focus had shifted entirely to her... it tore him apart.

He couldn’t stand it.

Lucifer convinced himself it was only temporary. Adam would come back to him. He had to. Adam would realize, in time, that Lucifer was the one who truly understood him, who had always been there for him. He would see that Lilith was only a distraction, a fleeting thing compared to what they had.

And so, when the jealousy and pain became too much to bear, Lucifer made his decision. He would get rid of Lilith. He would remove the obstacle that stood between him and Adam. Adam would forgive him—how could he not? Lucifer was doing it for them, for the bond they shared, for the future they could still have together.

But things did not go as he had planned. When Lucifer approached Lilith, intending to persuade her to leave, to step aside and let him be the one in Adam’s life, it only made matters worse. Lilith, strong and defiant, refused to be subdued. She saw through Lucifer’s intentions, and their clash was inevitable. In the end, Lilith was cast out, but not in the way Lucifer had expected. She left, not because Lucifer had made her, but because she refused to submit to anyone.

And when Adam found out, when he learned what Lucifer had done—everything shattered.

Adam didn’t forgive him. He didn’t come back to Lucifer, didn’t smile at him the way he used to. Instead, there was only hurt in Adam’s eyes, a betrayal that cut deeper than anything Lucifer had ever imagined. The green eyes he loved so much no longer looked at him with warmth, but with cold distance, a silent condemnation that tore Lucifer apart from the inside.

It was then that the truth finally hit him.

Adam had never belonged to him. It was never about Lilith. It wasn’t about him being an omega, or even the nature of their bond. Adam’s heart, his mind, his very being—had always been devoted to something greater. To God. To the mission he was created for. He had a destiny that Lucifer could never be a part of. Adam was the father of humanity, destined to be the foundation of an entire race. And Lucifer…

Lucifer was meant to bring forth a new way of angels…

Lucifer was nothing but a dreamer, clinging to something that was never his.

The realization broke him. The ache in his heart turned to anger, to bitterness, to a rage that he couldn’t contain. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that Adam had been given a purpose, a mission, while he had been left with nothing but his hollow existence as an omega, something Heaven expected to be docile, sweet, and beautiful. But Lucifer was not those things. He was fierce. He was burning. He was more than what Heaven wanted him to be.

And if Adam couldn’t see that—if Adam would never love him the way Lucifer had so desperately wanted—then maybe he didn’t deserve him at all.

It was in that moment, as Lucifer’s denial crumbled and the truth of his rejection sank in, that the first seeds of corruption took root. A darkness, slow and insidious, began to creep into his heart. He had tried to love, had given everything to Adam, and yet, in the end, he was left with nothing.

Because Lucifer was just an omega without his lover.

The moon shone above him, casting its usual light over the desolation of Hell. In Eden, the moon had been a soft, ethereal blue and white—a gentle, nurturing presence. Lucifer had always felt at peace beneath its glow, as if the moon cradled him in its light, offering him a refuge from the harshness of the world. Omegas, like him, were said to belong to the moon. It was their protector, their guardian. Alphas were children of the sun, fierce and dominant, burning with a fire that Lucifer could never relate to. That was how it had always been in Heaven—how he had believed it would always be. The moon was his sanctuary.

But now, here in the land of the damned, that same moon was nothing but a tormentor. When he had been cast out of Eden—cast out of Heaven—everything he had once known, everything he had once believed, had been torn away from him. Lucifer had fallen so far. His once-bright wings, radiant and proud, were now dim and dull, weighed down by the shame and sin of his actions.

It had all started with Adam. Adam, with his green eyes and his quiet smile, who had captured Lucifer's heart in ways he never could have predicted. Lucifer had loved him—wanted him. But Adam had chosen another. Lilith, and then later, Eve. The humans had always belonged to each other, and Lucifer was left on the outside, his heart shattered by the truth he refused to see. Adam had never been his. And so, when Lucifer’s love turned to jealousy, when the ache of being unwanted became too much, he had made a decision.

If he couldn’t have Adam, he would ruin him.

That was the thought that had driven him, consumed him. When Adam and Eve bit into the forbidden fruit, when they were cast from Eden just as Lucifer had been, a twisted sense of satisfaction had filled him. He had gotten his revenge. He had taken something from Adam—just as Adam had taken something from him. But it wasn’t enough. It was never enough.

His Father, God, had seen through him. He had known what Lucifer had done, the spite that had driven him to lead humanity to its fall. And for that, Lucifer had been punished. Not with the cold distance he had once feared from Adam, but with something far worse. He was cast down, not just from Heaven, but from everything he had ever known.

Now, the moon that shone down upon Hell was not the comforting presence it had once been. It wasn’t blue and white like the one in Eden. It was red—deep, blood-red, and it burned him every time it rose. The light seared his skin, made his body tremble with a pain so unbearable it made him want to scream. It flared through him, making his heat worse, more excruciating than it had ever been in Heaven.

The nights when the red moon rose, once a month, were the worst. Lucifer’s body would burn with need, an uncontrollable ache that coursed through him, and all he could think about was Adam. Adam’s eyes, Adam’s voice, Adam’s warmth. He would sob, helpless and alone, crying out into the darkness for a man who would never forgive him. A man who would never come for him.

He was alone now, more alone than he had ever been in Heaven. And the moon—once his source of comfort—now only reminded him of what he had lost, of what he could never have. The red light made him feel like his very soul was being ripped apart, piece by piece, each time the moon’s light touched him.

Lucifer’s cries would echo through the caverns of Hell, a reminder of his fall, of his mistakes. He had loved too deeply, too selfishly. He had wanted Adam for himself, and now… he had nothing. The one being he had given everything for, the one he had ruined himself for, was lost to him forever.

The red moon hung heavy in the sky, casting its oppressive light over Lucifer as he lay curled on the cold floor of his castle, his wings limp and broken around him. He trembled, his breath coming in ragged sobs as the pain of his heat surged through him, relentless and unforgiving. And all he could do was whisper Adam’s name, over and over, as if somehow, by some miracle, Adam might hear him. Might come to him. Might save him.

Lucifer’s hand would be pushed between his thighs, his fingers bumping harshly inside him as the red glow of the moon forced his heat to rampage through his body.

He wanted Adam. He wanted Adam to come take care of him. To love him and be his mate.

But Adam never came.

Lucifer hated the red moon. It was a cruel, merciless thing, reminding him every month of his loneliness, his abandonment, and the unfulfilled need that gnawed at his very core. He hated it—but it only rose once a month. He could deal with that, he told himself. He could endure the pain, the longing. After all, he had survived this long, hadn’t he? Even if it tore him apart, even if it left him sobbing in the dark, he would survive. He had to. Because there was no one else who could save him now.

Only the moon, and the moon no longer cared.

A thousand years had passed since Lucifer’s fall, and Hell had become a place of eternal unrest. Flames burned high in the distance, the skies above Hell tainted with smoke and ash. Heaven's exterminations had become a constant, angels in their gleaming black and silver armor swarming through the kingdom that was once Lucifer’s domain. He typically paid no mind to the angels tearing through Hell’s landscape, their holy crusades on the damned. He had long ceased to care about the endless parade of sinners or their fates. They were beneath him—just like everything else in this forsaken realm.

But Charlie was different. His daughter, born of his magic, with her relentless optimism and foolish desire to save the unsalvageable. Charlie, his precious child, cared too much about the very souls he had discarded without thought. She had opened her hotel, a beacon of hope in the most hopeless place in existence, trying to offer redemption to the damned. It was her dream to change Hell, to make it a place where redemption was possible.

Lucifer knew better. He had seen the darkness that festered in the hearts of both angels and men. Redemption? It was a fairy tale—a lie. But Charlie believed in it, and in some part of him that still held onto the faintest echoes of love, Lucifer wanted her to succeed. He wanted to protect her, even if he couldn’t bring himself to share her hope.

He should have warned her. Opening that hotel was bound to ruffle Heaven’s feathers. Of course they would come for her. But Lucifer had been too ashamed, too broken to leave his castle on most days. The red moon, always watching, always burning him from the inside, had left him a shadow of the archangel he once was. He spent his nights whimpering in the darkness, his mind consumed by the memories of the one he had lost—the one who had never been his. The man he still loved.

Adam.

Lucifer had vowed never to let himself feel that way again. But as the angels descended on Charlie’s hotel, their righteous fury set to destroy everything she had built, something inside him stirred. Charlie could be killed. His daughter, his blood, his light—she was out there, defenseless against Heaven’s wrath. Lucifer’s shame, his endless grief, the weight of his failure… none of it mattered now. He couldn’t let her die. He wouldn’t.

He left his castle for the first time in centuries, his wings heavy and dragging behind him as he made his way to the hotel. As he approached, he could see the scene unfolding before him. Angels surrounded the building, their blades shimmering with holy fire, poised to tear apart anyone who dared oppose them. And there, in the center of it all, standing with an air of command and purpose, was him.

Adam.

Lucifer’s breath caught in his throat. His heart leapt inside his chest, pounding against his ribs like a caged bird. Adam’s presence was like a blade to his soul, sharp and unrelenting. After all these years, after everything that had happened, there he was, as glorious as ever, bathed in the divine light of Heaven. His armor gleamed under Hell’s burning sky, his posture strong, unyielding. But his face… his face was still the same. Still beautiful. Still Adam.

Lucifer’s body trembled, his wings twitching with the dark, undeniable urge to act. To take. Adam was in Hell—so close, close enough to touch. Lucifer could reach out, grab him, drag him away from Heaven, from everything. He could take Adam before anyone even realized he was there. No one would stop him. Lucifer had always been unnaturally powerful for an omega, a fact that had made his siblings uneasy, but he had never cared. That strength pulsed through him now, his hands trembling with the need to act. He could do it. He could have Adam again.

He should do it.

But as his gaze shifted to the scene unfolding before him, something stopped him cold. Adam wasn’t fighting. He wasn’t hurting Charlie. No, he was taunting her, his voice carrying an edge of cold authority, but his hands remained at his sides. He wasn’t striking her, wasn’t unleashing Heaven’s wrath upon her. He was just… scaring her. Toying with her, perhaps. Charlie’s wide eyes and frazzled expression showed that his words were working. She was frightened, unsure how to handle the situation, but Adam wasn’t causing her any real harm.

Lucifer’s mind raced, torn between the primal urge to seize Adam and the growing realization that something was wrong—terribly wrong. Adam, the man he had loved, the man he had once tried to ruin, was here, in Hell, and yet… he wasn’t acting like the Adam Lucifer remembered. The Adam who had been so focused on duty, so driven by the will of God. What was he doing here, taunting Lucifer’s daughter?

Something dark twisted inside Lucifer, something he had long buried beneath the weight of his grief and shame. He could feel it clawing at the edges of his mind, whispering in the back of his thoughts. He could take Adam now, drag him away before Heaven even noticed. He could have him, keep him close, keep him his. No one would ever know. No one would ever stop him.

His wings twitched again, trembling with the desire to act. The moon hung heavy in the sky, its blood-red glow intensifying the heat in Lucifer’s veins, urging him to move, to act on the twisted yearning that had plagued him for millennia.

But he hesitated.

Lucifer’s eyes locked onto Adam’s face, searching for something—anything—of the man he had once known. There was something different about him now. The gleam in his eyes was colder, more detached, as if Heaven had hardened him in ways Lucifer hadn’t anticipated. The warmth, the softness that Lucifer had loved so fiercely, seemed to be gone, replaced by a soldier’s discipline. And yet, deep down, Lucifer knew it was still Adam. The same Adam who had captivated his heart, the same Adam he had ruined everything for.

Lucifer’s body trembled, torn between the desire to take what he believed was his and the knowledge that no matter how powerful he was, no matter how close Adam stood, he would never truly have him. Not the way he wanted. Not the way he had once dreamed.

For now, all he could do was watch, ready to intervene if Adam’s taunts turned to violence. But the dark, twisted longing inside him refused to fade. He could take Adam. He should take Adam.

But the question that lingered, the one Lucifer couldn’t answer, was whether Adam would ever forgive him for it—whether Adam could ever be his again.

Lucifer’s breath hitched in his throat as he watched the scene unfold, his eyes locked on Adam’s masked figure. That monstrous face—twisted and grotesque—was the only thing separating him from the man he had loved so long ago. And yet, even behind the cruel armour, something inside Lucifer still stirred, that old, insidious desire pulling at him.

Adam was here. Close. Too close.

But then, something shifted. Adam’s commanding, cold voice cracked—breaking with sudden panic.

“Look out!” he yelled, his tone urgent, filled with something Lucifer had never expected to hear.

Fear. Desperation. For Charlie.

Charlie spun around at the sound of Adam’s warning, but it was too late. A gleaming angelic blade was already slicing through the air, aimed directly for her. The strike was lethal, poised to behead her in a single swift motion. Time seemed to slow as Lucifer’s heart slammed in his chest, the weight of helplessness crushing him.

But before Lucifer could even move, Adam did.

With a speed and ferocity that left the angels around him stunned, Adam lunged forward, his body a blur of dark robes and raw determination. He threw himself between Charlie and the oncoming blade, the force of his movement jarring as the blade crashed into his mask with a sickening crack. The sound echoed through the air, sharp and final, as the angelic weapon collided with Adam’s face, creating a jagged fissure down the middle of the monstrous mask.

The world seemed to stop.

Charlie’s eyes went wide in shock and disbelief, her body frozen as she stared at the man who had just saved her life. Adam had protected her. From his own army. The soldiers of Heaven who had come to cleanse Hell, to purge the damned. He had intervened—not to frighten her, not to hurt her—but to save her.

Lucifer’s body trembled violently. His wings twitched, his breath ragged as the red moon loomed higher in the sky, its bloodthirsty glow intensifying the heat that surged through his veins. Sweat slicked his skin as the familiar ache began to pulse deep inside him, a primal need clawing its way to the surface. Adam had saved Charlie. Adam wasn’t trying to harm her—he was protecting her.

A sharp pang of yearning twisted in Lucifer’s chest. His eyes remained fixed on Adam’s shattered mask, the jagged crack running down its centre revealing only fragments of the face hidden beneath. But it was enough. That small glimpse of vulnerability—the raw, unfiltered instinct to protect, to save—only made Lucifer’s longing burn hotter.

He wanted to go to Adam, to tear off that mask and see his face. He wanted to pull him away from the chaos, to hold him close, to keep him, just as he had always dreamed of doing. Adam had been his once, or so he had convinced himself, and now he was here, within reach.

But Lucifer could only stand there, trembling, his wings trembling with the need to act. The red moon’s effects were already beginning to set in—his body overheating, his mind clouded with the urge to possess, to claim. He panted, trying to keep control, but Adam’s proximity, his unexpected act of defiance against Heaven’s soldiers, was too much. The sight of him risking his life for Charlie only heightened the hunger gnawing at Lucifer’s insides.

Adam had always been obsessed with his duty, with fulfilling God’s plan. That had been why Lucifer had lost him—why Adam had chosen to walk a path that led them to this moment. But now… now Adam wasn’t following orders. He wasn’t carrying out God’s will. He was protecting Lucifer’s daughter—the one person in Hell who still believed in redemption, who still believed in something good.

Lucifer’s heart pounded, his gaze locked on the fractured mask. His body screamed for action, for release from the unbearable tension that gripped him. He could feel his heat building, the red moon’s pull tightening around his soul. And Adam was there—so close, so vulnerable.

Lucifer’s wings twitched again, the dark temptation coiling tighter around him. He could take Adam. He could drag him away from Heaven, from its grip, from the duty that had always come before them. He could make Adam his. The red moon, heavy and burning above, whispered in his mind, urging him to act, to seize what had been denied to him for so long.

But as Lucifer’s trembling hand reached out, the sound of Adam’s labored breathing caught his attention. Beneath the mask, there was a rawness, a fragility that Lucifer hadn’t heard in centuries. Adam was hurt. He had thrown himself in front of an attack meant for Charlie, risking everything—not for Heaven, not for his mission, but for her.

A soft whine escaped Lucifer’s lips, his body shaking with the weight of his conflicting desires. He wanted to take Adam, to have him, but at the same time, he knew—he knew—that Adam’s heart had never belonged to him. It had always been devoted to something higher, something beyond them. And yet… here Adam was, bleeding and battered, having saved his daughter.

Lucifer’s breath came in short, desperate gasps as the red moon’s glow intensified, filling him with the unbearable need to act. He could feel the pull between them, the undeniable connection that had haunted him for a thousand years. But this time, it wasn’t just about him. It wasn’t just about his desire or his longing.

It was about Charlie. And the fact that Adam, for reasons Lucifer couldn’t fully understand, had chosen to protect her.

“Adam…” Lucifer whispered, his voice barely audible as he watched the mask crack further, revealing the faintest glimpse of Adam’s face beneath.

Would Adam forgive him if he acted on his darkest desires? Could Adam ever be his again?

The answer, Lucifer knew deep down, was no. But it didn’t stop him from wanting it. From wanting him.

The red moon burned, and Lucifer trembled, caught between his hunger and the truth that would forever haunt him.

Lucifer’s breath quickened as he stared at Adam, a desperate hunger rising within him, one he had buried for centuries. The crack in Adam’s mask, jagged and raw, revealed more than just the broken visage of the angel—it revealed the intoxicating scent that Lucifer had nearly forgotten. A scent that stirred something ancient, something primal within him. It was a sweet, almost dangerous scent, so powerful that Lucifer’s knees almost buckled under its weight.

The air grew thick with tension, so much that it seemed to press down on everyone present.

Charlie, ever the kind-hearted and tender soul, fell to her knees beside Adam, her large, doe-like eyes filled with worry.

She reached out, hesitant but determined, her voice soft and trembling as she asked, "Are you okay? You're not here to hurt me, are you? You're trying to protect me."

Adam stiffened at her words, his gloved hand reaching for the cracked mask with a frustrated groan. He didn’t answer Charlie’s question directly, his discomfort evident as he grumbled under his breath, "Who the fuck wasn’t watching where they were throwing their angelic weapons?!"

One of his subordinates, a sheepish angel in silver armor, nervously raised her hand. “Sorry, sir. I was aiming for the princess! I’m just... overwhelmed with the freaks we’re fighting!”

Charlie frowned deeply at the angel’s words, her warmth quickly giving way to indignation as she glared up at the soldier. But before any further words could be exchanged, Lucifer decided to make his presence known. His voice, dripping with mock confidence, cut through the air like a blade.

“I’m—I'm..." He faltered.

His usual bravado slipping for a moment as something strange and unfamiliar invaded his senses. His eyes darted around, confusion creasing his brow. The scent—it was so new, so rich, like nothing he had ever encountered before. It was intoxicating, pulling him in like a magnet. Lucifer gulped, the arrogance he wore like armour fading into something more vulnerable.

“I mean... I’m the only one that matters…” Lucifer’s voice trailed off again.

His thoughts scattering as the scent consumed him. He hadn’t been exposed to something like this for eons. And Adam’s scent—it was nearly enough to knock him right out of the sky. It wasn’t just an ordinary scent; it was communion, something only alphas, omegas, and the occasional beta could experience. That deep, instinctual bond, the unsaid communication between pheromones, had been absent in Hell for so long, leaving Lucifer isolated in ways he hadn't even realized. But now... now he was feeling it again, and it was Adam.

Lucifer closed his eyes, trying to focus, but the sensations overwhelmed him. His body began to sweat, the effects of the red moon intensifying as his heat simmered beneath the surface. His wings twitched, his instincts screaming at him to act, to take, to claim.

He opened his eyes, and they darkened with hunger. He gazed at Adam with a new intensity, a dangerous, unrelenting desire building within him.

“You messed with my daughter,” Lucifer purred, his voice dripping with a dark, sensual edge. "And now, I’m going to fuck you."

The words echoed in the air, sharp and deliberate. Charlie gasped audibly, her jaw dropping as she stared at her father in disbelief. Never had she seen him react this way—never had she seen such raw, visceral emotion from the usually distant, unapproachable Lucifer. He was a beautiful creature, her father, and she had always known others—angels, demons, even mortals—desired him. But Lucifer had always shut them down, coldly, sometimes cruelly. He had never allowed anyone close, never let anyone in.

Charlie blinked, trying to process what she had just heard.

“Dad… it’s ‘fuck you up,’” she corrected cautiously, unsure whether he had simply misspoken or if this was something deeper. She watched him carefully, seeing something entirely new in his eyes.

Adam’s hand moved slowly to the crack in his mask, his body stiffening further as he cursed under his breath.

"Shit," he murmured, realizing the gravity of the situation.

The mask—his shield, his protection—was breaking. His true pheromones, the scent of his identity, were starting to seep into the air. And with it, came everything he had tried to bury.

Adam hadn’t always had a secondary gender. Humans were born without them—genderless until death. Adam, like every other mortal, had died human. But when he was welcomed into Heaven by Sera, everything changed. He remembered the moment vividly, the celestial gates opening for him, Heaven’s beautiful moon shining down on him like a promise of peace. But that peace was short-lived. The second his wings had unfurled beneath that moon; a horrifying transformation had begun. His body burned, his wings ached as they grew, and he was forced to become something more—something other. An angel with a secondary gender, a shift he could never undo.

"Charlie…" Lucifer’s voice dropped an octave, growing dark and dangerous. He breathed in deeply, his lips curving into a sharp, predatory grin. “I know what I said. I mean it.”

His gaze turned to Adam, and his expression changed—intense, wild, desperate. His wings flared behind him, casting a shadow over the scene as the red moon’s light bathed him in a demonic glow.

“I was naïve before. Clueless. I didn’t know how to handle my emotions back then, and I made terrible decisions because of it.” His voice grew stronger, more certain with each word. “But not this time. This time, I won’t make the same mistake.”

Adam swallowed hard, his entire body trembling as Lucifer's words sunk in. His heart pounded as he stared at the fallen archangel, the weight of Lucifer’s love—his obsession—crashing over him like a tidal wave.

“What do you mean?” Adam asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucifer’s grin widened, his sharp teeth gleaming in the red moonlight. The tension between them crackled, thick and almost suffocating as Lucifer’s eyes blazed with a dangerous promise.

“I love you, Adam,” Lucifer said, his voice low and full of possession. “I always have. And I’m so in love with you, there’s no way I can let you go. Not again.”

Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth opening to speak, but no words came out. He was frozen, overwhelmed by the weight of Lucifer’s confession. The red moon gleamed brighter, its light piercing through the haze of battle, casting a hypnotic glow into Adam’s eyes.

And in that moment, everything else ceased to matter. Heaven, Hell, duty, morality—it all faded into the background as the primal force between them surged, undeniable and all-consuming. Lucifer wouldn’t let Adam go.

And for the first time in centuries, Adam wasn’t sure if he wanted him to.

Lucifer could sense it—Adam wouldn’t make this easy. He never did. But that was part of the charm, wasn’t it? Lucifer leaned back in his plush, sprawling nest, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he glanced at Adam. The angel sat on the far edge, arms crossed, a permanent scowl fixed on his face.

“Let me go, Lucifer,” Adam demanded, his voice sharp, his wings twitching with irritation.

Lucifer tilted his head innocently, blinking those large, bright eyes in mock confusion.

“Go? I haven’t locked you up, darling. That’s such an awful word—kidnapping—you make it sound like I’m some sort of villain.” His voice was laced with an almost pouting sweetness, as if he were genuinely hurt by the accusation.

Adam groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. “You have locked me up! I can’t leave! You threw away the key, Lucifer.”

Lucifer waved a hand dismissively, his wings fluttering gently behind him.

“I didn’t throw it away. I simply misplaced it. Honestly, you’re being dramatic.” He clasped his hands together, his tone lilting, almost playful. “Besides, I wouldn’t call this locking you up. I prefer to think of it as... inviting you to stay with me. Isn’t that much nicer?”

Adam’s glare could’ve burned through stone. “I can’t leave! You are keeping me locked up!”

Lucifer sighed, a little exaggerated and innocent. “Adam, sweetheart, I’m not keeping you locked up... I’m pampering you.”

His voice was dripping with honeyed indulgence, as if the situation was something to be celebrated.

Adam’s groan grew louder, his fingers pulling at his hair in frustration.

“Lucifer,” he growled, “You cannot keep me locked in here forever.”

Lucifer’s smile widened, leaning forward slightly with a teasing glint in his eyes.

“I’m not locking you up,” he insisted again, his voice soft and playful. “I’m just making sure you’re comfortable. Pampered. Isn’t this nice? Look at how cozy the nest is, all soft and warm—perfect for you!”

Adam’s eyes darted around the luxurious nest Lucifer had created. It was indulgent—soft pillows, plush blankets, and rich silks strewn about in a perfect cocoon of comfort. Too perfect. Too tempting. And yet, it made Adam feel like a prisoner wrapped in velvet.

He huffed and sulked, sinking into the nest with a begrudging scowl, glaring at Lucifer from beneath his furrowed brows. Lucifer, ever the one to lean into theatrics, cooed at him softly, inching closer.

“Oh, come now, you look so handsome when you sulk.” He chuckled, reaching out to lightly brush his fingers against Adam’s stiff wings, making him tense even more.

“Charlie wants to visit,” Lucifer said sweetly, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Adam frowned deeply. “Why would she want to see me?”

Lucifer beamed, delighted by the question. “Because she wants to thank you, of course.”

“Thank me?!” Adam barked, his tone incredulous. “For what? I tried to kill her, remember?”

Lucifer snorted in amusement, waving his hand as though the idea was ridiculous. “No, you didn’t. You were trying to protect her. I know it, she knows it.”

He leaned in, tapping a finger to Adam’s forehead playfully. “We’re not stupid, darling. We can see things for what they really are.”

Adam opened his mouth to argue, to deny it, but Lucifer’s grin only grew wider, mischievous and knowing.

“And what exactly do you see, Lucifer?” Adam asked, a faint growl in his voice, challenging.

Lucifer’s eyes gleamed with a devilish sparkle as he leaned closer, crawling toward Adam with a slow, predatory grace. His voice was a low, teasing hum.

“I see that you care about us~” he purred, his tone dripping with amusement. “That you love us~”

He emphasized the words with a singsong lilt, his fingers ghosting over Adam’s arm as he practically preened into his personal space.

Adam spluttered, leaning back slightly, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. His skin prickled under Lucifer’s touch, and his heart raced despite himself. “I don’t—” he began, but his voice faltered, especially as Lucifer inched closer, lips almost brushing against his ear.

Lucifer’s voice dropped to a whisper, low and teasing. “It’s perfect, isn’t it? Because Charlie needs a mama too~”

Adam’s face twisted in shock, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Lucifer.

“Charlie’s 200 years old,” he snapped, his voice gruff. “She doesn’t need a mother.”

Lucifer chuckled, the sound rich and warm, completely unbothered by Adam’s annoyance.

“She’s still our baby girl,” he said softly, his fingers brushing against Adam’s hand in a gentle, coaxing way.

Adam huffed again, crossing his arms in defiance. “She’s not my baby girl.”

Lucifer’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in, his voice a breathy whisper.

“She will be,” he murmured, his words sending a shiver down Adam’s spine.

Adam could feel the heat rising in his chest, his wings stiffening as he struggled to maintain composure under Lucifer’s teasing.

“Lucifer,” he growled, his voice low with warning.

Lucifer only grinned wider, completely at ease in his role as tempter. He leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against Adam’s, their faces inches apart as he whispered with a playful lilt, “You’re staying, darling. With us. Forever.”

Adam’s heart raced, his breath catching as Lucifer’s words wrapped around him like a velvet chain. He wanted to deny it, to fight back, but the look in Lucifer’s eyes—the dangerous mix of love, desire, and possessiveness—made it impossible to pull away.

Lucifer grinned, his wings fluttering softly as he pressed a soft kiss to Adam’s temple, sealing his words with an intoxicating finality. “You’re ours now. And you’re not going anywhere.”

Lucifer, ever the embodiment of temptation and indulgence, buried his face into the curve of Adam's neck, inhaling deeply as Adam's scent enveloped him. A purr rumbled in Lucifer's chest, vibrating through his entire body as he basked in the intoxicating pheromones radiating from Adam’s trembling form.

"Mmm, how did you become an omega, my sweet?" he murmured, his breath hot against Adam’s skin.

Adam shuddered, every nerve ending alight with sensation as Lucifer held him, tight yet impossibly tender. It was overwhelming—this closeness, this intimacy that felt more like an entrapment than affection.

"Humans aren’t supposed to have a secondary gender," Lucifer added with a soft chuckle, his lips brushing teasingly against the sensitive skin of Adam's throat.

"I don’t," Adam growled, his voice taut with frustration, though the tremble in his tone betrayed him. He gritted his teeth, trying to resist the warm, unfamiliar pull of Lucifer’s body against his own.

Lucifer tilted his head, his mischievous gaze flickering with something darker, more playful. Slowly, he trailed his tongue over Adam’s untouched mating glands, savouring the reaction as Adam gasped, his entire body trembling involuntarily at the sensation.

Lucifer giggled, a sound that was both innocent and wicked, as if he were a child delighting in a newfound toy.

“You definitely look like you have a secondary gender to me,” he teased, his voice light and lilting as he licked again, sending another shiver down Adam’s spine.

Adam’s face flushed deep red, heat rising to his cheeks as Lucifer continued to kiss and lick at his mating glands, the sensations making his body betray him. He pushed Lucifer away, his hands firm but shaky.

“Stop that, you weirdo,” he grumbled, trying to regain his composure. “You’re behaving like a dog.”

Lucifer’s grin only widened, eyes glittering with amusement as he batted his eyelashes in mock innocence. “A dog? Me?”

“Come on, Addie~ how did you become an omega?” His voice was sing-song, almost taunting, but dripping with sweetness.

Adam stared back at Lucifer’s eyes—those luminous, knowing eyes—and sighed deeply. His body, tense and resisting just moments ago, slowly relaxed, sinking back into the plush pillows and cushions surrounding him. It was impossible to stay on guard with Lucifer’s warmth pressing in on him from every side, his pheromones gently mingling with his own in a way that was both comforting and disorienting.

As soon as Adam flopped back, Lucifer followed, crawling toward him like a cat, graceful and lazy, curling up around him possessively. Lucifer’s body pressed against Adam's, his touch soft but unmistakably firm, a silent promise that he wouldn’t be leaving Adam’s side anytime soon.

“Addie~” Lucifer cooed, his voice honeyed and thick with affection as he nuzzled into Adam’s neck, brushing his lips against the heated skin.

Adam sighed again, a deeper, more resigned sound this time.

"I didn’t have a secondary gender when I was alive," he muttered, his voice quieter now, edged with something almost like regret. "I only... I only had one when I died."

Lucifer hummed curiously, his chest still vibrating with that ever-present purr. His face rubbed against Adam's as if he were trying to imprint his scent into every inch of him, their pheromones mingling in the air, creating a heady, intoxicating blend.

"Must’ve been hard~ presenting all by yourself like that," Lucifer purred, his voice soft and coaxing, his hand gently tracing the line of Adam’s jaw.

Adam frowned, his lips pressed into a thin line as memories flashed in his mind—memories of Heaven’s blindingly beautiful moon, of his body undergoing the most terrifying and inexplicable changes.

"I didn’t have a choice," Adam admitted, his voice low and tight. “I saw Heaven’s moon, and my body... it just changed—I didn’t know how to stop it.”

Lucifer's eyes softened slightly, his teasing demeanour shifting as he listened closely, understanding flickering behind his gaze.

"Heaven’s moon?" he repeated, a soft hum in his throat. "How cruel... forcing you into a change you never wanted."

Adam swallowed thickly, his jaw clenched as he remembered the way his wings had burned, how his body had felt like it was being torn apart and rebuilt all at once.

"I didn’t want it," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t ask for it. But it happened. And now—"

Lucifer pressed his lips against Adam’s cheek, soft and tender, as if to soothe the old wounds that resurfaced with each word.

"Now you're mine," he whispered, his voice filled with a dark, possessive affection.

Adam’s breath hitched, but he didn’t pull away this time. Instead, he let Lucifer’s warmth envelop him, let the soothing scent of the fallen angel’s pheromones lull his mind into a strange calm. He could feel Lucifer’s heart beating against his chest, steady and reassuring, as if the devil himself was trying to tell him that he was safe here—even if he was trapped.

Lucifer purred softly, brushing his nose against Adam’s neck once more.

"I’ll take care of you," he whispered, his voice gentle but firm. “You don’t have to go through this alone anymore.”

Adam closed his eyes, his body sinking deeper into the nest as he exhaled, the weight of everything pressing down on him.

“I don’t need to be taken care of,” he muttered half-heartedly, though he couldn’t deny the strange comfort Lucifer’s presence brought.

Lucifer chuckled softly, his fingers tracing gentle patterns across Adam’s chest.

"Of course you don’t," he said sweetly, his voice dripping with mischief. “But I’m going to do it anyway. Because you’re mine, Addie. And I take very good care of what's mine.”

A startled gasp escaped Adam; his eyes grow wide as Lucifer suddenly began to touch him between his legs. He arched his head, watching as Lucifer pushed his fingers up against his omega-gore, beginning to caress the sensitive flesh.

“Don’t worry Addie~ I’m going to make sure you feel really good for the rest of your life~”

#hazbin hotel #fanfic #adamsapple #lucifer x adam #guitarduck #au #fanficiton #a03 #adamsapple month #adamsapple harvest #adamsapple full moon

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0chemicalwaste0 · 7 months ago

Text

We Will Meet Again

(Haldir x reader)

-Part 1-

request thanks to the lovely @SierraSama from Wattpad. Anyway this is her request and enjoy. "Could you possibly do a Haldir imagine in which the reader is injured when she arrives in Lóthorien with the fellowship and he helps her back on her feet?"

Warnings: Angst, fluff

Word Count: 951

'So help me if we live to see another day I'm going to kill Mithrandir.' I thought to myself. Why? You may ask, well I, along with the Fellowship, were currently in Moria in a bit of a conundrum. You see my friends and I were having to run for our lives away from thousands upon thousands of goblins. Not to mention the fact we had to escape from a Balrog as well. Gimli had thought it would have been a wonderful idea to traverse through the abandoned mines. A few loud noises later; curtsy of Pippin, the group and I were dashing through the old halls to the nearest exit as quick as possible. And at the current moment, I was holding up the rear of the group to make sure none of the hobbits were left behind and to let some steam off while shooting goblins in the head with my arrows. And I'm not guilty to say I imagined their heads to be Gandalf's. Then running across a narrow bridge with Gandalf staying behind to make sure everyone makes it safely across, the Balrog made his appearance. For the first time in my immortal life I saw Mithrandir afraid for his life and ours. He started to make his way over to the center of the bridge. Raising his sword and staff saying " You shall not pass!" Then slamming the butt of his staff to the ground braking the bridge beneath the beast. We let out a sigh of relief too soon, because a fiery whip rapped itself around Gandalf's leg and pulled him until only his head and arms were visible over the edge of the broken bridge. Looking to us with sadness and slight fear, "Fly you fools," was his last words before releasing his grip and falling to the chasm below. I screamed in heartbreak along with Frodo, standing there in disbelief of losing a close friend and a father figure to Frodo. Boromir grabbed Frodo and slowly walked backwards with a sword in hand to protect him and himself. Looking in my direction Boromir yelled. " (Y/N)! We need to go!" I broke out of my stupor and made my way to the exit, but before I could make it fully through I felt a sharp pain in my right side from the back. I looked down to see a poorly made arrow stuck in my flesh. Standing behind the wall separating the orcs from their target to pull the arrow out. I looked at the tip of the arrowhead to see a dark substance. 'Poison.' I thought to myself then throwing the object to the side. I tore a piece of my tunic underneath my cloak and rapped it over my wound. Making sure that it was out of sight I ran out of the Mines to finally feel the sun on my (S/C) skin and feel a light breeze ruffle my (H/L), (H/C)hair. For a moment I felt better until reality set in. 'Mithrandir is gone.' I told myself. I look at the others and realized they knew this too. I felt a signal tear run down my face and drop to the ground below.

We had been traveling for about half a day and I could feel myself losing strength quickly. Everything was fuzzy around the edges of my vision, I could feel vertigo starting to set in. I could hear Gimli talking to the hobbits ahead of me but it was muffled by the sound of blood pumping in my sensitive ears. Suddenly the Fellowship had stopped. I looked up and tried to focus my sight. That's when I saw him. He looked like he was one of the Valar descending from the halls of Mandos. He was beautiful in my eyes. Perfect blonde hair in warrior braids running down to his shoulders. I thought I was dreaming, but to soon was I pulled from my revery. I felt a sharp pain over the flesh that was pierced by that foul arrow. Everyone looked to me in confusion and worry once I opened my cloak to look at my wound only to see that blood coated most of my right side. Dark spots started to set in when the blonde elf walked over to me with concern in his baby blue eyes. I realized he was speaking to me, but I could not hear him. Then I felt myself lose balance and start to fall, but before I could hit the hard ground beneath me the elf caught me and was yelling to his men and to the Fellowship asking what happened. They didn't know because I didn't tell them. I wouldn't want them to worry. Soon an elf brought a horse over to us, the beautiful blue eyed elf lifted me up bridal style, put me on the horse, and hopped on behind me. He pulled me in to his chest so I didn't put strain on my wound or fall. While one hand carefully slid around my waist and the other grabbed the rains of the horse. Then every thing fell into darkness with my head leaned into the chest of my savior. I hoped I would live long enough to know his name.

#lotr imagine #lotr x reader #lotr imagines #lotr elves #lotr #lotr elves x reader #lotr fandom #lotr fanfic #lotr fanfiction #lotr fic #lotr headcanons #lotr movies #h #haldir #haldir imagines #haldir x reader #fyp #x reader

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webmeup · 6 months ago

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jacaerys valeryon x male!reader

summery : jacaerys and reader were bestfriends when they were younger. until jacaerys duties & desire to become friends with the elite grew.

warnings : lots and lots of angst.

FRIENDS NO LONGER

The vastness of the Red Keep's throne room was both imposing and magnificent, its high vaulted ceilings and stone columns casting long shadows in the dim evening light. The sun filtered through the stained glass windows, painting the floor with vibrant hues that slowly faded as twilight crept in. The hustle and bustle of the day had quieted, leaving only the soft murmur of the castle settling into the night.

Seren stood alone in the keep's library, the scent of old parchment and ink filling the air. He meticulously copied a royal decree, his hand steady and practiced, the sound of the quill scratching against the parchment the only noise in the room. Once, the walls of this castle had been filled with dreams and laughter, shared with his closest friend, Jacaerys Velaryon. They had been inseparable as children, their days filled with adventures and mischief, exploring every nook and cranny of Dragonstone.

But those days were long past. Jacaerys had grown into his role as Crown Prince, surrounded by nobles and courtiers, warriors and strategists. Seren, on the other hand, had remained a mere servant within the castle, his aspirations of knighthood or a position of trust beside the prince unfulfilled. Their lives had diverged, the chasm between their stations growing wider with each passing year. Seren had tried to keep the bond alive, reaching out time and again, but Jacaerys had drifted further into the circles of the elite. Eventually, Seren had accepted the inevitable distance and stopped trying.

As the last of the light faded, leaving the room in shadow, the library door creaked open. Seren glanced up, surprised to see Jacaerys entering the room. The prince's presence was commanding, his dark hair and sharp features softened by the glow of the torches. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the weight of years and unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

"Seren?" Jacaerys's voice broke the silence, tinged with surprise and something else Seren couldn't quite place. "I haven't seen you in quite some time."

Seren inclined his head in a stiff, formal bow. "Your Grace," he greeted, his tone measured and polite, the title feeling strange on his tongue when addressing the boy who had once been his closest companion.

Jacaerys frowned at the formal address, confusion and a hint of hurt flickering across his face. "There's no need for such formalities between us, is there? We were friends once."

Seren's expression remained neutral, though his heart clenched at the reminder of what they had lost. "That was a long time ago, Your Grace," he replied, the words more distant than he intended. "Much has changed."

Jacaerys stepped closer, his brow furrowed in concern. "Why do you speak to me like a stranger? I... I never meant to distance myself. My duties—"

"Your duties," Seren interrupted, his voice tinged with a bitterness he had tried to suppress. "Your new friends, your new life." He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain composed. "I understand, Jacaerys. We all have our paths to walk. Yours is destined for greatness, and mine... mine is here."

The prince's gaze dropped, a shadow of regret passing over his face. "I never wanted to leave you behind, Seren. You were... you are important to me."

"Important enough to forget?" The question hung in the air, heavier than the stone walls around them. Seren shook his head, a sad, resigned smile playing on his lips. "It doesn't matter now. I've made my peace with it."

Jacaerys looked away, unable to meet Seren's eyes. The silence stretched between them, filled with the echoes of their lost friendship and the weight of unspoken apologies. When Jacaerys finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost pleading. "I miss those days, when things were simpler."

"So do I," Seren admitted, the truth of it a sharp pain in his chest. "But we can't go back. We can only move forward."

For a moment, it seemed as if Jacaerys would reach out, bridge the gap between them. But the moment passed, and he remained where he was, the distance between them as vast as ever. The light from the torches flickered, casting their shadows on the walls, larger than life yet strangely insubstantial.

"I wish things were different," Jacaerys said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"So do I, Jacaerys." Seren's use of the prince's name, unadorned by titles, was a final act of intimacy. "But some things can't be changed."

With a final, formal bow, Seren turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hall. Jacaerys watched him go, feeling the weight of his crown and the loneliness it brought. The door closed behind Seren, leaving Jacaerys alone with his thoughts and regrets.

As Seren made his way through the silent corridors of the Red Keep, a deep sense of melancholy settled over him. He had known this day would come, the day when he would have to let go of the past and accept the distance that had grown between them. He had imagined it would bring a sense of closure, but all he felt was an aching void where their friendship had once been.

Jacaerys remained in the library, staring at the closed door. The echoes of their conversation lingered in the room, mingling with the memories of a simpler time. He wished he could turn back time, change the choices that had led them here, but the weight of his responsibilities and the reality of his position were inescapable. He was the Crown Prince, destined for the throne, and Seren was a shadow of his past, a reminder of the boy he had once been.

In the end, they were both prisoners of their destinies, bound by the roles they were born into and the expectations placed upon them. The night deepened, and the castle seemed to hold its breath, as if mourning the loss of something precious and irreplaceable.

Two souls, once intertwined, now walked separate paths, the bond of their shared childhood fading into memory. The Red Keep stood silent and cold, a fortress of stone and steel, holding within its walls the stories of countless lives, both great and small. And among those stories was the tale of a friendship lost to the passage of time and the inexorable march of fate.

#jacaerys targaryen #prince jacaerys #house of the dragon #hotd season 2 #lucerys velaryon #aemond targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen #baela targaryen #vermax #jace velaryon #jacaerys x reader #gayboy #bxb #mxm

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cloudninetonine · 1 year ago

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Hey so as you guys know I've been playing Tears

So I finally decided to write something for it!

WARNING TO EVERYONE, MAJOR TEARS OF THE KINGDOMS SPOILERS DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!!!

“I need to reach my friend!”

The world that was once Wild’s Hyrule had changed- drastically. Not anymore did the guardians lay dormant, nor did the Sheikah towers stand tall- the Divine Beasts had been laid to rest and while the lands stayed the same, the skies seemed to become home to more than the native Islander hawk.

Changed for better or for worse, you didn’t quite know. The growling patches of gloom circling chasms to a world beneath the surface wasn’t really all that fun to you- nor were the claws of concentrated evil that crept up from nowhere to try and snatch you without a second thought. But to see how Hyrule seemed to prosper with more life. The settlement by the castle was bigger now, a fort that stood proud to the floating pinnacle that was Hyrule castle and with more warriors seasoned to fight for the place that was their home.

Purah was amazed to see you again and you didn’t know how to feel about being smaller than her now.

Felt wrong in the more comedic sense.

All across the land you had come to find new people, make new friends! Tulin had grown so much! As had Riju! Sidon’s finacée, Yona her name, was a beautiful and cute manta ray! (Never in your life had you been jealous about both partners of a relationship that badly) Paya was now chief! Yunobo had a beard! And you had met the most amazing Rito reporter named Penn! A man who had named your new best friend in these trying times.

And trying times they were- you had no idea how you were keeping up with Wild. A little older now, an inch or two taller with a stronger build and more of an mature edge to him- well, that’s what you thought when you first woke up here in Lookout Landing, a teary eyed Wild looking down at you before he near crushed you underneath his weight, Flora just as teared and happily embracing you once you were finally stood.

You had no idea what happened, not how you got here nor where the rest of the Chain were- but you were glad you at least had the Champion by your side.

Sometimes.

This time was one of those times you were ready to toss him.

“If you connect that fucking rocket to that baby’s backpack I will shove a bomb flower down your throat.” Rauru’s hand was glowing with power, frozen along with the Zonai rocket it was lifting as you stood just a few paces away. “I mean it, Link, if you send them flying we’re duking it out.”

You looked so intimidating with the Glide suit, you just knew it. (Oh internal dialogue, how sarcastic you could be)

The korok shook, little sniffles catching your ears as they gazed at the device just inches away from being glued to the material of their rucksack before sighing in relief as the rocket was dropped with a heavy thud just beside them, Wild turning with an ‘oh-so-innocent’ smile.

“They need to reach their friend-” He pointed a thumb behind him, “A few hills over- I was just helping.”

You frowned “I don’t know what happened while you were away but you’ve become more sadistic.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You never do.” Both sharing a look, you shook your head. “Hand them over to me, I’ll get them to their buddy.”

Wild’s hand fell to his hip, watching you waddle over excitedly as he side stepped, your hands out in a grabby motion as the small forest child threw their little stubby hands up with an excited “Guide!” that made your heart soar as you hauled them into the air with a similar excited “Forest baby!”

“You know we still need to get to Rito village- it’ll get dark by the time we arrive if we do this.”

“Don’t care, forest babies come first.”

He smirked, “Koroks are older than you.”

“Your mum.”

“Very mature.”

“Who are you, Twilight?” A pang went through your heart. “Ah, no, sorry that was rude-”

Wild’s face had curled in a more comedic way when you turned to look at him, sour and betrayed in the way the skin folded. “Am I really turning into him?”

Pausing, you looked him up and down- “I mean…you kinda do remind me of him right now.”

Wild raised a brow; you grinned. “You remember when Wolfie fell into that bush?”

When you burst into laughter he rolled his eyes, letting out a “hardy-har” while the korok still wiggled happily in the confines of your arms, it’s bag now over your shoulder to relieve some of the weight. (You focused on the spirit and missed the way the Champion desperately pawed at the sticks in his flowing hair)

“I’m not going with you this time- we’ve already lost a lot of hours.” Crossing his arms, the blonde continued. “If you go I’ll head towards the village.”

You shurgged. “Alright, I’ll see you there.”

The Champion narrowed his eyes. “I’m serious, (Name).”

“I’m sure you are.”

“...I don’t like your tone.”

Clearing your throat, you raised it an octave. “I’m sure you are!”

Wild did not laugh when you did.

If there was one thing you knew about the Champion it was that he was attached to your side. Stuck stronger than the fuse of the Zonai magic, the blonde followed you around like a Hylian retriever followed those that held food towards them. If you strayed too far, he would get you, if you paused mid journey, he paused, there was so many occasion that something had caught your eye mid ride on one of the many vehicles he had created and the man would slow down to let you go study it- lest you hop off, something you had almost done once when he refused to stop.

You really did appreciate all he did, you knew he had a lot on his mind, but with all that was happening didn’t you both deserve to have some moments not caught up the drama of the end of the fucking world???

“I’ll see you in a little bit!” Daylight was falling and it would be harder to find the campfire smoke in the night. “Keep the bed in the inn warm for me, pretty boy!”

And thus began your hike. Your little companion happily chattering your ear off as you walked away from the hero, hearing his heavy sigh and impatient foot tapping loose volume the further and further you got.

You had made it past the first hill, Wild’s form out of your sight as you glanced back when the sound out wheels caught your attention. The korok let out a noise of confusion at the strange noise but you merely spared a giggle, standing aside as the beam cycle (minus the beam) slowed to a stop beside you- your hero refusing to look your way as he waited.

“Get on.”

“Aren’t you gonna ask me on a date first?”

He grunted and you gave him the grace to leave him be, being careful balancing the korok in your grasp as you hopped onto the odd bike and wrapped an arm around the man’s waist, another still holding the forest spirit tight.

“You ready?”

“Aye, aye, captain.”

You missed the small smile that grew on his face, the Zonai devices lighting up with its phantom green glow as the hero started the machine back up and headed towards the direction of the smoke. Without a second thought, you gently kissed his nape, unable to reach his cheek and nuzzled into his back with a relaxed hum.

Wild straightened proudly.

“You still have sticks in your hair.”

“Don’t ruin this for me.”

#linked universe #lu #linked universe x reader #linked universe imagine #player au #a player's aid #lu wild #lu wild x reader #totk spoilers #tears of the kingdom spoilers

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queenofmoons67 · 11 days ago

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stitching up the loose threads of his soul: 6/15

Master Post / Beginning / Previous

Warning: Some cursing

Legend has been wandering the castle, running fingers over stone detailings, trying to figure out where in the timeline the Captain fits and hoping with every unguarded priceless art piece someone has a good eye on their pirate, when the Captain himself strides past along an upcoming intersection.

Well. More like walks as fast as a person can without breaking into outright running.

For a second, Legend considers continuing his self-guided tour. His newest brother might be fine. He might be the kind of person who wants to be out of sight while having a good cry. Hylia knows Legend can understand that, even if she knows fuck all about the rest of him.

But if this goddess-damned quest has taught him anything, it’s that he has at least a few brothers who want shoulders to cry on.

Sighing, Legend moves down the hall and follows in the Captain’s footsteps. As fast as Link is moving, he’s still just walking, and it doesn’t take long for Legend to catch up and fall into step beside him.

The Captain should have heard him coming, but he starts when Legend enters his eyesight, which means he either has terrible awareness of his surroundings or he was lost in his thoughts. Either way, Legend shoves down relief that he followed.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hi.”

The Captain’s eyes cut across Legend, staying for moments on different rings and bracelets, before focusing on his face.

They only met briefly before, in the late hours when Time’s blood still coated the doctor’s apron, so Legend offers a crooked smile and his hand.

“Legend,” he reminds his newest brother.

The Captain shakes his hand, and Legend mentally catalogues its characteristics: Soft, unusually so, like the Captain moisturizes, but with firm calluses along his fingers where a fighter might hold his sword or a doctor his scalpel. The Captain has a loose grip, too, the kind of which Legend anticipates from nobles in his sister’s court or people on the run, and the kind that allows the Captain to slip his hand from Legend’s with ease.

“Warriors,” he says. “Or so the Master Sword tells me.”

Legend snorts. “And I thought I had the worst name in the group.”

Warriors grins—just for a split second, probably startled out of him, but Legend will take the win. Then Warriors looks away.

“I need to pack. No idea when a portal might appear, right?”

“Right,” Legend agrees. He continues walking down the hall, and Warriors jogs to catch up.

“You’re coming with me?”

“‘No idea when a portal might appear,’” Legend parrots. “Better to pack fast than slow.”

He doesn’t say that he wants a first-hand look at what Warriors considers essential for an adventure, that this is a golden opportunity to judge his newest brother’s readiness, that he doesn’t trust the doctor to be able to take care of himself—he doesn’t say any of it.

They walk down the hall together, but there’s a stormy chasm between them and Legend has never been good with storms.

Master Post / Next

#lu legend #lu warriors #linked universe #linked universe fanfic #legend of zelda #fanfic #stitching up the loose threads

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cutthroatcarnival · 1 year ago

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Revered Deity, Unknown Hero (1/10)

This is a special one! Thank you @bokettochild for allowing me to write a fic using your God of War!Warriors idea! It was super fun to write. :)

Read chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Find it on AO3 here!

Divine and Draconic Differences

The skies were clear and the weather was pleasant as the heroes congregated outside of Wild and Flora’s Hateno home. It was peaceful, a nice and welcomed reprieve from the era before.

Wind, a still growing teenager, was overflowing with energy, tugging around an equally as eager Hyrule, to explore everything possible. He had his spyglass out, sweeping across the vast land of the Wild Era. Every so often, he’d hand his spyglass over to the traveler to allow him a go.

His telescope was focused on a chasm far out, watching the remaining wisps of gloom fade into the air. Mesmerized by the red-purple, he didn’t fully register the white-blue on the edge until it had blocked his view.

“Wild! What the fuck is that?!” Keeping his focus on the serpentine creature in the sky, he heard Wild approach his side with the familiar sound of him activating his slate’s scope mode.

“That’s Naydra, one of the dragons.”

That… didn’t look like a dragon. Dropping his spyglass from his eye, Wind fixed Wild with a stare. The scarred hero stared back.

“Don’t look at me like that. There’s three dragons, they’re all servants of the springs. Naydra happens to be the servant of the Spring of Wisdom, which is,” he grabbed Wind’s shoulder and spun him around, pointing to a mountain peak covered in snow, “right on that peak over there.” Wind moved his gaze to the mountain peak, following Wild’s finger. He could see the vague shape of pillars.

“Huh… so you have dragons too? They look different from mine.” Wind began walking back to the rest of the group, who had been listening in on the conversation, no matter how hard they tried hiding it. Wild took a few seconds to decipher the information, and ran to catch up with the sailor.

“What do you mean “you too”? I didn’t know anyone else had dragons!” Wind shrugged.

“Like I said, mine are different, like Valoo. He was a sky spirit I met during my first adventure. And the only one that didn’t try to kill me.” He plopped down next to Warriors, who offered the young hero one of the apples he had.

“Still! Does anyone else have dragons?” All hands went up except for the smithy, who looked utterly confused as he mouthed dragons over and over, eyes swirling different colors.

“In my defense, all of my dragons wanted to kill me.” Hyrule exclaimed, being seconded by Time, Twilight, Warriors, and Legend.

The five heroes delved into further conversation about their draconic enemies. Wind wiggled into the group, chattering about the gleeoks he fought. Wild chimed in about having to fight gleeoks as well, explaining about the King Gleeoks residing in hard-to-reach locations.

“The dragons I know serve Hylia.” A few grimaced at the mention of the goddess, but the dislike was outweighed by the curiosity of Sky’s dragons.

“The three of them were assigned to watch over different provinces of the Surface. They also protected the sacred flames, and held parts of the Song of the Hero.”

Wild was immediately upon Sky, spitting out questions with very little breaths between, all centered on what they looked like, if they had any powers, and anything of the sort.

“Of course they have powers, they guard and protect the Triforce. Even the gods wouldn’t be able to reach it with them guarding the key to it.

Gods and Goddesses were a touchy subject. Some were openly hostile towards them, others in the middle, and some revered them. Yet, the topic always raised an interesting thought; just how many are there?

“Do you think there’s more than just Hylia?” Came Four’s voice, eyes shining a curious violet.

“There’s the light spirits in my era,” Twilight rested his chin in his palm, “Ordona, Lanayru, Eldin, and Faron. They protect the regions they share names with.”

“Oh, and the Golden Goddesses! They’re the ones that submerged Hyrule!” Wind piped up, leaning against Warriors, who grimaced as the sailor’s sharp elbow dug into his thigh.

A soft hum emitted from Time, who had been running his fingers along his markings, a pensive look across his face. Wild bounded off of Sky, and settled next to Twilight.

“I know of one! Legends talk about a Fierce Deity… they say that if one dons his armor and mask they gain godlike power.”

Time gave a sharp inhale, and his fingers dropped from his face.

Others shook their heads, either not having any other gods, goddesses, or deities in their time, or having the same ones as someone else.

“Not anymore.”

Eight heads turned towards Sky, who had found a stick and was whittling absentmindedly, a stormy look across his face. They all shared a few glances- curiosity, and a little bit of fear.

‘Not anymore’?

“Oh! There is another- the Deity of War.” Hyrule broke the silence, fingers tying blades of grass into circles while his gaze rested on the other heroes.

“Isn’t that the same as the Fierce Deity?” Twilight cocked his head.

Legend scoffed.

“Many think that, but”, he stood up and turned so he was facing all eight heroes, “they are different. He’s the Deity of War, exactly as his name implies; a powerhouse on the battlefield, calculated and quick. The Fierce Deity doesn’t focus on war, he focuses on ferocity, on power, on courage. It’s in their names, it really is that simple.”

The veteran launched further into an explanation about the two, pointing out the similarities and differences, both surface level and deeper. Pointed ears all upright, revealing without words how invested they were in this newly learned-about deity.

Wild shot up out of his seat and ran to the house, slamming the door open, sounds of rustling and clanging could be heard, and the heroes remaining shared concerned glances. The current era’s hero came racing back out- not bothering to shut the door- with a book in his grasp.

“Legends Throughout the Ages” read the title of the book in intricate gold. The book itself seemed to be in good condition, missing the normal wear and tear they had seen on other things in the champion’s era.

“I know about him! Flora was talking about some books she had found in the castle,” he thumbed through the pages, “and she thought I would like this one… Aha!” Wild smoothed the book to lay flat on pages marked with blue fabric scraps.

On the pages were long paragraphs of stories and legends of the deity, exploring where he originated from and what eras his legends came from. Taking up a sizable portion of the right page was an image.

“Hey, he kind of looks like Warriors!”

Wind grabbed the book from Wild and pranced back over to the captain, who only raised an eyebrow at him, his now finished apple set off to the side. The sailor raised the book next to Warriors and basked in the ‘oohs’ when they realized that their youngest was right.

The picture and the captain looked nearly identical; only differentiated by the gold and blue markings on the deity’s face, blank eyes, and the color of the armor- a vibrant gold- and the tunic- a pale cream.

Snatching the book, Warriors scanned over the page, lingering on the photo a little longer.

“I don’t see it.”

That caused an uproar, as Wind and Wild both pounced on the captain, claiming that he was wrong and everyone could very well see it, while Hyrule just looked at the captain like he had grown a second head. The others groaned quietly.

There goes the relaxing day they were hoping for.

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th3p0rtalmaker · 4 months ago

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Incarnate Deleted Scenes - Everyone Into the Chamber of Destiny!

So in chapter 1 of Incarnate, the final version, Rapunzel snuck past Edmund and into the Moonstone chamber all on her own, relying on her friends to hold him off so she could fulfill her destiny. Only for Hector to breeze past everyone with his unnatural gift of speed and challenge her one-on-one. But originally, Raps wasn't alone in the Moonstone chamber when Hector came after her...not that it made a difference. Another deleted scene from the year or two of work I did before posting Incarnate's first chapter on Ao3!

Rapunzel reached for the floating opal. It was so beautiful - shining and calm as it emanated a cold sense of power. For months she'd been working towards this moment; she'd left her parents and kingdom behind so soon after finding them, but in the company of her friends she'd discovered a world bigger than she could have imagined back in the tower.

What if Adira was right - what if only the Sundrop could neutralize the Moonstone, balancing their respective powers and ending the Moonstone's reign of terror and destruction?

And what if their union ended Rapunzel’s life?

A loud 'BOOM!' brought the moment to an end, quickly followed by the barely audible pattering of angry boots racing across the rock bridge.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!"

Rapunzel whirled around to see Hector of all people, barreling towards her as he tossed Eugene over his shoulder like a rag doll. "EUGENE!" she cried, taking a step away from the stone and reaching a hand out for her boyfriend.

"RAPUNZEL!" Adira shouted, appearing in the now open doorway with her sword in both hands. "GRAB THE OPAL!"

"I said HANDS OFF!" Hector bellowed, throwing his left arm out to the side and summoning his sword from its hiding place.

"Same to you, Crazy Rhino Guy!" Cassandra spat, drawing her sword with her non-burnt, weaker hand. She attempted to lock blades with the older warrior, but Hector's first swing knocked Cassandra's weapon from her grasp and sent it hurdling into the chasm below. Hector gave a low growl and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her so that they were eye level. "Looks like your beginner's luck just ran out," he sneered.

"CASS!" Rapunzel wailed, grabbing her hair with both hands and attempting to whip it at the feral knight. But the Sundrop's reaction to the Moonstone was too strong, and alas her hair refused to cooperate.

Cass scrabbled at Hector's grip with her good hand, only to be flung back towards the chamber’s entrance. She slammed into Adira, who deftly caught the younger woman, grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt, and then set her gently on the ground. Eugene, who had recovered from the first throw, was up and running at Hector again. The older knight waited for him to get close, then ducked and slammed his shoulder into Eugene's diaphragm, instantly winding him.

"Stop attacking my friends!" Rapunzel snapped, hoping an authoritative tone would catch Hector off guard. The man grabbed Eugene by the collar of his shirt and the waistband of his pants, then chucked him easily back the way he'd come, once again into Adira's waiting arms.

One would think they had this routine planned out ahead of time.

Hector finally turned to look at Rapunzel, standing tall and marching toward her menacingly. "Stop forcing me to do my job," he sneered, baring his teeth at her. Rapunzel froze in pure terror, looking up at the much taller man with wide, terrified green eyes, hands clenched in her suspended hair. His acidic yellow orbs glimmered menacingly as he loomed over her. For the first time, Rapunzel noticed that Hector's canines were extremely sharp, although whether it was done purposefully or as a cruel joke of nature the princess honestly couldn't tell. She was trapped with the opal at her back and Hector in front of her, and both were capable of destroying her without warning. Before she could process the motion of his arm, Hector grabbed hold of Rapunzel’s suspended hair, clenching it in his fist and tugging painfully on her scalp. Rapunzel yelped and rose onto her tiptoes to relieve the pressure, before registering the fact that her hair had suddenly ceased floating of its own accord. As her golden locks dimmed and began to fall, Hector swung his sword at the section between his fist and Rapunzel’s skull with a roar. Rapunzel flinched and squeezed her eyes shut as his segmented blade met her unbreakable hair, generating an uncomfortable grating sound. After a moment she opened her eyes to find Hector gawking at her in utter discombobulation. He turned his decidedly non-aggressive gaze between the sheared piece of metal left on his gauntlet and her terrified face several times.

"Hector," Adira's voice called sharply across the cavern. "Spare the princess," she demanded slowly.

Hector’s face instantly contorted into an enraged sneer, and then a sharp-toothed grin, and Rapunzel felt her heartbeat accelerate. Even without his sword involved, this was not going to end well.

To her surprise, Hector released her hair and wrapped both of his large hands securely around her midsection. As she was lifted into the air, Rapunzel heard several cries of alarm from her friends, and found herself squirming for freedom. "Let me go!" she demanded, realizing too late that it would take no effort for Hector to drop her over the side of the black rock bridge.

"You want your ‘precious Sundrop’?" Hector called over his shoulder tauntingly, bouncing Rapunzel playfully as he displayed her for all to see. She had the presence of mind to feel indignant, but decided not to continue struggling against his painfully tight grip.

"Hector-" Adira's voice was much more exasperated now, still holding an edge of warning.

"Then catch her!" Hector shouted. Rapunzel let out a shriek as she found herself sailing through the air, propelled by a level of force she hadn't been expecting. Then she was slamming into Cassandra, and the two of them tumbled into the entrance wall, hitting it hard after tangling in her loose hair. "Sunshine! Cass!” Eugene exclaimed as he appeared beside them, falling to his knees. Rapunzel and Cassandra groaned as they were gently untangled by the prince consort.

"That was your last warning, princess!" Hector called from the other end of the bridge. "If you come after this opal again, I'll be dumping you with the rest of the bodies!" he threatened darkly. Rapunzel panted as she sat up, staring at him from across the Moonstone chamber.

"I don't get it," Cass panted gruffly. "He could've killed all three of us just now - why didn't he?"

"Hector’s motivation isn’t to kill; it’s to guard the Moonstone. Killing is an unfortunate side-effect of his mission at times," Adira explained, peering over her shoulder as she stood at a distance from the trio. "The oath taken by the Brotherhood is aimed at preserving as much life as possible, not destroying it wantonly."

"Really?" Cass deadpanned, looking unconvinced. "You called him the most sadistic member of the Brotherhood," she reminded the older warrior. Adira rolled her eyes as she turned to face them.

"Hector has a reputation for making grisly statements out of his opponents, if he kills them,” she admitted. "But he still holds the responsibility of preserving life with utmost importance. If he wanted you dead, he would have made sure to push you off that mountainside himself instead of playfully butting the caravan with Kifaru.” After a moment’s pause, she continued, “Normally, getting into the Great Tree would make you enough of a threat for Hector to kill. This is the first time in twenty-five years that anyone has made it past the Dark Kingdom’s defenses.” Adira looked straight at Rapunzel as she added, “Even when the Moonstone was within your reach, fear stopped you from taking it. Because of that, Hector didn’t see you as a threat, just an obstacle.” The warrior woman turned back to look across the cavern at her brother. "Unfortunately he has just stated that you are, in fact, a threat," she finished matter-of-factly.

"So what do we do?" Eugene asked, rising to his feet with an air of determination. "Didn't Edmund try to stop him?"

"'Tried' is the keyword," Edmund's voice responded. The foursome turned to see the king standing in the doorway with a grave expression. He leaned against Lance tiredly, looking winded. "Hector believes he is now the only person fulfilling the Brotherhood's duty to the Moonstone. He's not going to listen to anyone willing to unite it with the Sundrop."

"Well, he can't take all of us at once, right?" Eugene said hopefully. "There’s six of us, and he only has one sword-"

"There is no need for all of us to attack Hector," Adira said sagely, clasping her hands behind her back. "He and I have some…‘unfinished business.’ Now that Princess Rapunzel has been returned to us, I can handle him myself."

"Didn't he kick your butt the last time you two fought one-on-one?" Cass pointed out, standing and crossing her arms. Adira gave the younger woman an annoyed look.

"I got distracted," she excused irritatedly. Rapunzel stood and approached the knight, her expression both concerned and hopeful. "Adira, wait; what if there's something I can do? I think Hector's proved he's not going to listen to you-"

"He also just saw your hair react to the Moonstone and destroy his most prized creation, yet he still threw you away from it," Adira replied, rolling her shoulders and cracking her neck in preparation. "He can't deny what you are any longer, but he's too tightly bound in his oath. He doesn't see the world as...fluidly as other people. Everything is black and white in Hector's mind, and if he assigns an ill-suited interpretation to something, it takes a lot of work for him to change his perception."

"This may not be the time or place to do that kind of work," Edmund suggested. Rapunzel saw both of Adira's hands clench into fists at her sides, and the larger woman squared her shoulders with an aura of determination.

"This is the only time and place," she declared firmly.

"Adira," Edmund warned. "Don't be foolish enough to think that your words still hold sway over him. You're not his sister anymore; you haven't been for a long time." Adira visibly bristled, and Rapunzel flinched upon sensing a wave of broiling anger radiating from the warrior woman for the very first time. "It doesn't matter. Hector's never going to leave the Moonstone unguarded. He'll die before letting us get to it, even if that means wasting away from thirst and hunger while we sit on our butts thinking about how to convince him to stand down." Rapunzel took note of the icy tone Adira’s words acquired, taking a half step back from the taller woman. She turned to look back at Cassandra, Eugene, Lance, and Edmund. None of them looked pleased with the idea of Adira facing Hector alone.

"There are only three people in this world that can reason with Hector,” Adira said, gaining Rapunzel’s attention as she began cracking her knuckles. “I am the only one of them who’s capable of stopping him from killing himself, and I seem to be the only one both willing and able to take action when he’s obviously in danger," Adira added, her voice uncharacteristically menacing.

Rapunzel nervously withdrew to Eugene's side, taking his hand in hers. “If something goes wrong, we've got your back, Adira," she said. Adira nodded, then turned her back to them. "Thank you, Princess Rapunzel," she replied in a much softer voice, and made her way towards the bridge that led to both Hector and the Moonstone.

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writingpencil · 11 months ago

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The Rift

From the forming rips in the earth’s beautiful skin glowed purple; brilliant rays of lavender and magenta combined, with beams of light matching the stars, created wounds that expanded across all of the horizons. Buildings were cracked in half, shattered like feeble glass, and others disappeared entirely, neverminding who or what was inside. Villagers and animals ran from the purple, many unable to escape, crying out for the guardians of the continent.

The Hermit of the mines, TFC, had felt the earthquakes long before they arrived. He noticed the way the monsters began to cower, even ran past him, and how the bats flocked to him for protection. The older man was the first to encounter a rip in the underneath. It had nearly swallowed him whole if not for his quick thinking. TFC gathered up everything he could as the earth rumbled - including the bats - and scrambled out of his mines. Thankfully, the miner sustained few injuries. It was TFC, accompanied by a bird, who reported the strange phenomenon that allowed the other Hermits - the supposed guardians - to act.

Several Hermits had spread out, saving who and what they could. False had led the recovery charge, commanding her fellow Hermits with the grace of a true warrior. However, even with her leadership on the surface, many were unable to be helped. For every shulker of valuables Etho gathered, Beef lost several cattle. For every villager Stress saved, Tango wasn’t able to save entire farms - losing pounds upon pounds of redstone. It was a game of balance, an ability to win but with cost, and no Hermit knew how long they had.

In the meanwhile, the Admin had the rest of the Hermits at the source - as close as they could be, housed in the Entity that seemed unaffected. The Rift had grown significantly bigger, swallowing Grian’s base whole without thought, creating a massive crater. As if it couldn’t get any worse; Xisuma had started looking through code hours ago, but what was dubbed the Rift left no error in the code. There was nothing he could trace, nothing he could find, and nothing he could do. Xisuma looked at the Hermits who were’t on recovery. Iskall and Mumbo were some of the best redstoners, Doc was immaculate at breaking the established universe, Grian caused the entire mess, and Scar was leaning out of the Entity, trying to touch the Rift.

“Scar, no!” Grian grabbed Scar and pulled him back.

“Get a hold of yourself, Scar!” Doc yelled, pausing his pacing to do so.

Scar blinked. “But it reacts!-”

Xisuma shushed them. “We can’t lose a Hermit. Scar, stay away from any exits.”

“Why am I here then?!” Scar asked, confusion painted in his face.

“You’re-...” Xisuma stuttered. “You’re a terraformer! The Rift is terraforming the earth! We might- we might need you…”

“It reacts…?” Iskall mumbled, grabbing a piece of wood from a chest. The redstoner knelt by the entrance and threw the wood toward the edge of a deep chasm. He jumped back in surprise when a wave of purple snatched the piece of wood, pulling it into purple. “You guys saw that, right?”

Mumbo nodded, kneeling beside Iskall while Doc stood over them. “Why isn’t it doing that to the Entity?”

“It’s the Entity.” Grian answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“It could… be a safe space.” Doc said, moving the two redstoners aside to stick his hand out, only to pull it back when part of the Rift extended toward him. “It’s a safe space, oh dear malarky- Grian, how did you do this?!”

Grian scrambled. “I-I built it! It’s just colored glass and ender rods!”

“Ender rods…” Iskall tapped the side of his index to his lips. “Ender rods don’t have a history of teleporting items or people… but maybe there’s something in the glass its reacting to?”

“Glass is just sand-” Mumbo pointed out.

Doc let out a frustrated hiss .”Sand heated at one thousand degrees celsius - four thousand at fahrenheit… All of that done in furnace without us interfering. Nothing should’ve gotten into the glass-”

“Well, something did.” Mumbo said.

Xisuma checked the coding once more. “I still can’t find anything wrong with the code. We’re gonna have to go with the natural world explanation - as much as we hate it.”

“Or the unnatural.”

The Admit and Hermits looked at Grian, who approached the entrance with hesitation. His eyes of lack coal stared at his creation, his wings and body tense.

“Grian…?” It was Scar who called out his name.

With a sigh, Grian rapped his knuckles against the stony walls of the Entity.

“Get us down there.” Grian commanded, a faint purple glow appearing on his forehead, under his mess of curled bangs.

The Entity slowly began to move, its heartbeat becoming more alive, surprising the Admin and other Hermits. While the others grabbed on for dear life, Grian stayed standing at the entrance. Once the Entity stretched its legs, it began to crawl toward the crater, walking on the Rift as if it was another floor. Several chests slide around, but never went far, unlike the panicked screaming of the others.

Finally, the Entity stood at the bottom of the rift crater, where the living galaxy’s stars were most intense and clear.

Grian patted the Entity with a smile. “Good interdimensional being, good Entity.”

There was rumbling in the walls of the Entity, mimicking that of a purr.

“G-Grian… what the heck?!” Xisuma was panicking, more than he should. He witness the entire moon crashing onto a continent, yet a moving rock with legs is what scared him most.

“One problem at a time?” Grian looked down at the portal-esque galaxy. “This is as close to the source as we can get without getting absorbed.”

“As close, he says.” Iskall rubbed the stress away from his eyes.

“Yeah,” Mumbo followed. “As if we aren’t standing on it!”

Doc went by Grian’s side. “Wow… it’s kinda pretty…”

“Don’t get pulled in.” Grian warned, sending a glare Scar’s way. “This should help, right?”

“Grian…” Xisuma said, slowly, as if a warning. “Come here.”

Confused, the avian approached. “What is iiiiiiit- oh my Void-”

On the screen of code, the code had switched from the common tongue the hermits agreed on using, to one of ancient history. Grian’s eyes grew wide seeing it.

“Why would it…”

“And,” Xisuma added. “Yours and the Rift’s coding is the exact same.”

There was a moment of silence.

“What?” Mumbo was the first one to speak.

Xisuma nodded. “Furthermore… only a section of the Rift is present. The rest of the Rift - all the chasms and holes - are not showing up. Does this symbol look familiar?”

Grian tared at the screen, slowly nodding. “That was the original Rift…”

“As much I don’t want to say it… G, the Rift is connected to you-”

“I know.” Grian cut Xisuma off. “I know what I have to do.”

“What do you have to do?” Iskall asked.

Grian went back to the entrance then tapped on the Entity’s walls. “Let me leave. Get them home.”

“G?” Scar took a hold of Grian’s arm, pulling him back. “What are you doing?”

Grian paused, avoiding looking Scar in the eyes. “S-... say hi to Jellie for me, okay?”

“Wh- Grian, what are you talking about? What are you planning?” Scar cupped both of Grian’s cheek, forcing the avian to look at him. “What are you doing…?”

“I-...” Grian closed his eyes, sighing out a deep breath. He took Scar’s hands and set a small, rectangle shaped device in them, not allowing Scar to see. “You and Mumbo take care of him, hear me?”

“Grian?-” Before Scar could utter another word, Grian jumped out of the Entity. “Grian!”

A chorus of Grian’s name could be heard following Scar, all in vain. At once, the Entity scrambled out of the crater. Xisuma and Doc held back Scar, not allowing the terraformer to join Grian. The sudden sound of infinite glass shattering echoed in the Admin and Hermits’ ears, mixing with the quickening thump thump thump of the Entity’s heart.

The entire world shook at its core, sending waves of pulsing energy, rattling the ground and knocking down all, even the birds and Hermits who were using elytras. Even the Entity lost its footing, causing the few inside to spiral. It seemed to last hours until, finally, everything stopped. The earthquakes ceased, the wounds had healed themselves, leaving no trace of the Rift.

“Ow…” Scar shoved a dazzed Mumbo off of him. He attempted to stand, but a rush of nausea hit him like a bullet train. His head spun in the worst of ways, so Scar remained lying on the floor of the Entity.

“Is… everyone okay…?” Xisuma sat up, shutting his eyes tightly.

“I’m alive, if that counts…” Mumbo groaned. “I might need to go on another vacation…”

Iskall held up a thumb and Doc hissed lowly.

“Grian…” Scar tried once more to get up. “Where’s Grian…?”

“I don’t know-” Xisuma was the first to stand, stumbling toward the entrance. “... everything looks normal. I think we’re at Mumbo’s vault?”

“Impossible…” Mumbo was second to stand, peaking his head out of the entrance. “I don’t see Grian’s base.”

Doc pulled up Iskall, allowing the shorter man to lean on him. “Wasn’t it swallowed up?”

“I-... excuse me, Mx. Entity?” Mumbo wasn’t entirely sure who - or what - he was speaking to. Or if it would listen. “Can you move? We want to see the bridge.”

Slowly, the Entity hopped down from Mumbo’s vault and turned toward the bridge. The Admin and Hermits felt collective sorrow. Grian’s base wasn’t there, nor was the bridge. Any trace of it was left in the moon shaped portal, more damaged than it was previously.

Xisuma hopped out of the Entity, making sure it was safe before helping the others out. He pulled up the code, finding nothing. “No sign of Grian…”

“Nether?” Iskall asked.

“Where’s the nearest portal?” Xisuma glanced at the moon portal.

Even in the Nether there was no trace of Grian or his influence on the continent. Everything he has built, apart from the Entity, were erased, while every other building was repaired with subtle cracks - like scars. However, all the villagers and animals lost did not return. No amount of searching gave results.

“The only thing left to do is… rebuild.” Xisuma said, once every Hermit was in attendance for the gathering.

They were not about to abandon this continent. Not like the last one.

This time they all could do something.

“Hey, Scar?” Bdubs approached the unusually quiet terraformer. “Guess who I found!”

Scar looked at Bdubs, expecting nothing, but being filled with painful joy. “Jellie!”

“Yeah!” Bdubs handed the beautiful cat over, holding back giggles as Scar held her close. “I found her on a tiny island surrounded by the purple stuff before it poofed! She was totally unbothered! She has the luckiest nine lives ever!”

“Thanks, Bdubs…” Scar felt a lump swell in his throat. Cool tears rained down his heated cheeks, falling onto Jellie’s fur. “You… you didn’t see Grian anywhere, did you?”

Bdubs pouted his lips. “No… I didn’t… I’m sorry, Scar.”

“It’s fine.” With a small sniffle, a wipe of his eyes, Scar forced a smile. “He’ll show up, I’m sure of it. Hey, I’ll catch up with you later to help with rebuilding. I gotta do something.”

Bdubs didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyways. “Okay, dude…”

Scar carried Jellie away, chewing on his lip and peeling the skin off. Jellie mewled in protest, shoving herself against Scar’s mouth to get him to stop. It worked, mostly. At least his hand her occupied. He never opened his other hand, where Grian’s strange rectangle was still waiting to be revealed. Scar wasn’t sure if he should look at it.

It was Grian’s. He said to take care of it- him. Take care of him.

Slowly, hesitantly, Scar unraveled his fist.

“A… tomogatchi?” Scar furrowed his brows in confusion, turning on the rectangular tomogatchi to see if there was anything else. The screen flickered blue, then three lighter blue dots appeared, doing the wave for a few seconds. “What in the Vex- OHMYELVENKISSES-”

Square eyes opened on the device, blinking at Scar as its mustache appeared. Scar nearly dropped the poor thing as text appeared.

Hello!

“Oh my Vex, it talks-”

My name is Grumbot! Of course I talk! He/They please!

“Grumbot…?” Scar could physically feel the buffering circle in his brain. “Oh, from the mayoral campaign! That was a long time ago, oh my Vex-”

Hello, Mr. Scar! Hello, jelly kitty!

“Hi, Grumbot, how- why- I thought you were left in your box?”

No, sir! Not for long! Fathers brought me with them!

“Fathers- right, Mumbo and Gr…Grian…” Scar couldn’t help but frown.

Yes! Where are my fathers, sir? I want to see them!

Scar looked around at the remaining Hermits, seeing if Mumbo was around. It wasn’t hard finding the tall, lanky man of black and red, and Scar nearly sprinted over. “Mumbo! Mumbo, hi!”

“Hi, Scar, I was looking for you-”

“What a coincidence! I was looking for you!” Scar held up Grumbot. “I think- I think Grian meant to give him to you.”

Mumbo took Grumbot-gatchi and gave the little device a gentle kiss. “Hi, buddy…”

Scar watched Mumbo talk to Grumbot, unable to see the text.

“I’m, uh, I’m alive, Grumbot… Yes, I’ve been eating- no, no projects have been keeping me up. Grumbot-...” Mumbo was silent for a long time. “Grian is gone, Grumbot… we don’t know where he is. And… Grumbot, don’t overheat, we are still looking… Of course I’m not going to abandon you- Scar is gonna help me take care of you, okay?”

“I am-?”

Mumbo looked at Scar with an unreadable look - a mix of glaring and desperation. “Yes. You are. Grian asked you to.”

#hermitcraft #hermitcraft fanfic #fanfic #grian #mumbo jumbo #goodtimeswithscar #xisuma #xisumavoid #docm77 #TFC #hermitcraft tfc #writing #on writing #creative writing #writers #writeblr #writers on tumblr

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arbuthnotblob · 10 months ago

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Two proud, fierce, spiky-haired warriors face each other across a rocky chasm… but why do they both feel so strangely familiar to the other?! A battle for honour is surely about to begin!

Through Dragonball, Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest, Akira Toriyama had a massive influence on my childhood. I think it’s also pretty fair to say that Pokemon, and especially Lance, would not be the same without his stylistic influence on Ken Sugimori’s early work. So, for all the thrills and inspiration, both to myself and many others, thank you so much Toriyama-san, and rest in peace.

I had so much fun designing a Toriyama-style DBZ design for Lance, putting in a bit of flavour from both his Gen 1 red biker and Gen 2 pointed armour looks. The dramatic cape flourish also pulls a bit from his HGSS art pose, just for fun (and flair)

I learnt a lot picking apart and studying different Dragonball panels and colour spreads to make this crossover tribute, but perhaps the most striking thing was re-reading chunks of DBZ and realising just how good at weekly pulp adventure story pacing Toriyama was.

I already knew he had perhaps the best grasp of dynamic, crystal clear action panelling in the business, but his ability to pace out a weekly story and always have some new twist or wrinkle while maintaining a solid, driving central narrative really stood out to me this time. And that’s not even mentioning all the ad-libbing!

One of the greatest to ever do it in so very many different ways - I am sure his work will continue to inspire not just artists in our current generation, but many young artists in the future as well.

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calcahro · 9 months ago

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[WUTHERING WAVES LORE GUIDE]

Explaining Tacet Discords

Short thread I did for Twitter

---

Tacet Discords are sentient beings formed by the residual chaotic frequency energy. They have yellow Tacet Cores on their bodies, and amorphous, ever-changing shape. They instinctly feed on other frequencies to maintain stability and evolve.

These creatures mimic the abilities, shapes, and behaviors of others and are influenced by the types of frequencies they consume. There are 5 known Tacet Discord mimicry types listed on an in-game document: Whisperin, Howler, Tranquilite, Clamorling, and Staticoid. SOUNDS!

To learn these, you can do the following:

Read Tacet Core Drop descriptions, observe the shape of Tacet Core, observe TD behavior/shape (do they mimic a human trait/role, do they behave like an animal, do they have mechanical parts, do they resemble other things on the planet).

For clarity, when I use the term Tacet Core from now on, I am referring to the distinct ones you can see on their bodies. When I say Tacet Core Drop, I am referring to the items in your inventory. No drops in-game for the other 3 mimicry types that aren't Whisperin and Howler.

1) Whisperin: Humanoid mimicry.

These Tacet Discords stand on two feet, can mimic warriors, use instruments, etc. Human traits!

Example: You have Crownless, who mimics a Knight but can never grasp the concept of chivalry and Knighthood, rendering it a ghost of endless warfare.

Whisperin Tacet Discords have a Tacet Core that resemble a star.

Here are the descriptions of the low frequency, middle frequency, and high frequency Whisperin Tacet Core Drops. "Broken star", "Frequency Energy aligns with the hearing range of normal people".

In the Act about Qichi Village, you will come across this Tick Tack Whisperin Tacet Discord, who repeats the words of a young child from village because it absorbed their frequencies. And sorry for the ugly picture my xbox gamebar wasn't cooperating and I was impatient...

2) Howler: Animal mimicry. or just Organic? (I'll come back to this later)

Example: The apes and dreadmane hounds.

To me, Howler Tacet Discord have a Tacet Core that resemble a rose. They are rounder compared to other Tacet Cores.

3) Tranquilites: Earth? Inorganic?

Example: The prisms that are immune when you attack them with similar frequencies. Any Tacet Discord whose appearance resembles rocks or other earth material.

Tranquilite Tacet Cores appear rigid and layered on their bodies.

Fission Junrock. Description: "A Common Class Tranquilite TD inhabiting mountaineous areas. Often overlooked due to its lava-like shape."

Vanguard Junrock. Description: The same except "lava-like shape" -> replaced with "rock-like appearance".

I did say you can identify Whisperins if they walk on two feet, but that's not the ONLY factor. Stonewall Bracer is not considered Whisperin despite walking on two feet. Description: "An Elite Tranquilite TD found in mountainous areas. They bear huge sizes and inhabit rocks."

What about ROCKsteady Guardian? Looks like its composed of rocks, but the highlight for it is the role it assumes: a Guardian. It attacks and protects like one. (Same with the Chasm Guardian TD). It has the humanoid description, Whisperin Tacet Core, and behaves like a warrior.

Roseshroom has Tranquilite description, yet visible Howler Tacet Core on body. This is why I wrote Earth? or Inorganic? For most Tranquilite they are inorganic, but not if the plant TD are involved. Howlers could also be the organic umbrella and then it would make sense too.

Here are the descriptions of the middle frequency, and high frequency Howler Tacet Core Drops. "Natural cycle of life".

4) Staticoids: TD attached to man-made objects... or (Act 5 with Court of Savantae).

Examples: Mech abomination, Autopuppet scout which is in a discarded vehicle, Traffic Illuminator, Chaserazor/Carapace (the car TD).

The visible Tacet Core on Autopuppet is square-ish like Tranquilites, but not exactly the same. The similar shape can be because man-made objects are also inorganic (DUH). But to me, the Tranquilite Tacet Cores have more stacked layers.

Last time I checked, Mech abomination had a Clamorling drop but a Staticoid description. So keep that in mind... another inconsistent element, I know. The Tacet Core for Staticoid TD looks rigid and square-ish, but not stacked layers like Tranquilite.

5) STUPID Clamorlings. I have yet to find a TD with this classification besides Mech Abomination, but again, Mech Abomination had a Clamorling drop but Staticoid description. You will learn a bit about this TD in Act 5, at the laboratory where it is located.

Anyways that's all I have to say about Tacet Discords for now. I'll come back to this if anything changes down the line and if we get more Tacet Core Drops for the other 3 mimicry types in the future. Whisperin is honestly the most solid out of the rest, bye bye

#wuthering waves #wuthering waves lore #wutheringwaves #wutheringwaveslore #wuwa #wuwa lore #wuwalore #鳴潮

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otakween · 10 months ago

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Digimon Frontier - Episode 6

This episode was actually great! Plenty of plot development, lore, and a creative setting. I was thoroughly entertained. Also, the ShellNumemon were kinda cute. They reminded me of Gary from Spongebob haha.

Notes:

Between this episode and the episode where Tomoki tries to escape across the chasm, this season has a lot of "fear of heights" moments. This one genuinely made me feel tense with all the scary shots of big drops. Also, the fact that they had to go on an intense, looped roller coaster with literally nothing holding them down is pretty wild.

I know this is a different continuity from Tamers, but they just confirmed that digimon have genders in this universe. The ShellNumemon say "they took all of our women hostage!" So much for nonbinary mons! Oh well.

They've mostly been showing single species villages but in the opening scene they were in a multi-species area. Wonder how that works. Maybe it's like the city vs. the suburbs? lol

They never revealed what DigiWorld money looks like...I wanna know now

The scenes with the upside down/sideways architecture were so fun. It was especially funny when they couldn't use the guest beds prepared for them because they were on the wall

I feel like Koji just digivolved separately from everyone else because they didn't want to do a 5 character split screen lol

Having a flying spirit digivolution form suddenly became OP in this episode (due to the setting). I'd like to see other creative uses of the setting in future episodes.

Izumi calling Koji's "macho act" out was satisfying

So...the other warriors are not only not human (are they digimon then?) but they're antagonists too!? I didn't see that one coming. Grottomon kinda looked like a gnome or something. I guess the new arc will just be a new warrior every episode? Let's find out...

Cherubimon got brought up again. The evil warriors are working for him. So I guess it will be 5 vs. 5 warriors?

They introduced "slide evolution" in this episode...I have no idea what that means, but okay. (The only hint of what it was is that Grottomon was able to slip in and out of it really quickly)

#digimon #digimon frontier

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kiskivmiske · 1 month ago

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Spec-evo-esque warriors AU, far into the future. Humans have apparently driven themselves to extinction, and cats, landlocked on Bri'ish islands, eventually took over the ecosystem as cats are an invasive species. After taking warm spots of native species, they evolved and adapted to different environment, replacing:

ThunderClan: bobcats, foxes, badgers.

RiverClan: beavers, otters, seals

WindClan: deer, pigs, foxes

SkyClan: owls, hawks

ShadowClan: mustelids

Tribe of Rushing Water: whereabouts unknown (yet)

The Sisters: whereabouts unknown (yet)

Contains mentions of nuclear war.

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Prologue

The morning was chill and misty. White plumes stretched across the meadow, from the Ruins all the way to Highstones. A couple of hawkfinches, quarreling over a piece of prey filled the air with constant clicking.

Reedpaw shifted in her nest made of rye stalks and stretched her front paws forward, flexing her long sickle claws. A rush of cold wind flew over her head, blowing away a clump of gray storm clouds. She noted to herself, that the past few moons rains have poured more and more often. On one paw, it promised a rich harvest of catapples and barley, on the other paw, wet soil made it harder to hunt. Not without her hooves sinking in it. RiverClan were probably thrilled, though. Their main waterway flooded and more fish went inland from the Sun-Drown-Place.

But WindClan wasn't all that happy, being forced to build temporary shelters. Unlike RiverClan, who naturally possessed broad webbed paws to traverse mud and sludge, WindClan had thin slender legs and narrow paws with three hooves and a big hooked claw on each one. They were born to run on a solid surface. At one point, their leader suggested they stop being nomadic and build a camp on the outskirts of the Ruins, on the elevation, but the elders were concerned about food running out. Traveling all the way around Highstones in leafbare weather was proven to be difficult. Although hooves allowed to climb steep slopes of Highstones, slippery snow threatened to throw anyone down the chasm at any given moment.

Reedpaw stood up, looking around. She noticed her sisters, Goldenfrost and Appleleaf sharing a moleworm at the edge of the apple forest. A strange structure made of rocks towered above them providing shelter from the wind.

"Hey!" Goldenfrost waved her short white tail. "We have some freshkill reserved for you!"

Reedpaw found moleworms disgusting, with their long hairless bodies and large yellow teeth on eyeless faces. She was more of a mushroom type. A catapple would be rather nice, too. Or a hare. But they haven't seen a hare herd in a long time, so they had to resort to whatever the soil gives them: bugs, moleworms, groundsparrows, wheat, barley, nuts, and, of course, catapples, their favorite treat that is always abundant.

Reedpaw wrinkled her nose, thinking of the way to reject the hairless treat politely.

"No, thanks, I'm not hungry yet," Reedpaw shook her head, nodding at the woods. "I was just about to take a walk through the forest."

"Make sure not to run into one of those creatures who build those nests!" Appleleaf whispered. "Shrikebeak said they are still out there!"

"Shrikebeak is a compulsive liar, and we all know that. Warbringers had destroyed themselves moons and moons ago."

"Warwho?" a small gray kit rolled out of the nursery tent. While apprentices and hunters did sleep under the sky, kits had to be contained in tents, in case a murder of crows decides to pay a visit.

"Warbringers, Daffodilkit, " Appleleaf repeated patiently. "They are creatures from ancient times. With no fur, walking on two legs and paws with opposing thumbs much like SkyClan's. They tamed creatures made of metal and built nests so high they reached the sky. Long ago, more moons than we can count, they dominated the world. They brought our ancestors here with them. But their reign didn't last long. Way too ambitious for their own good, they tried to get more and more land for themselves. But there's only so much land in this world you can have. They started to fight each other. Using their technology, they crafted a weapon that sowed mushroom clouds all over the world. For years this land was shroud in darkness. And when the clouds dissipated, warbringers were no more. Our ancestors survived. Five clans: Thunder, Sky, Wind, Shadow and River. Before the Lasting Snowfall they fought each other for every piece of prey. But after it, they decided to make peace, unless they wanted to go extinct, too."

"Why are we called that, then?" Daffodilkit tilted his head to the side.

"We are called WindClan, because we are light and swift like wind. ThunderClan are huge, with strong paws that make the ground shake as they walk. SkyClan live in treetops and soar from one tree to another like birds. ShadowClan are accustomed to the darkness of a long cave system they live in. And RiverClan is pretty self explanatory. They hunt in rivers and lakes."

"I haven't seen any of them, really."

"That's because our island is way too big. We are divided by a larger distance than before. You know what? Legends say, long ago this place was the home of our ancestors. Where we live now was the cradle of all WindClan. The Ruins belonged to ThunderClan and ShadowClan. And the Stone Forest," Appleleaf gestured at tall structures resembling trees without bark or branches, "was RiverClan's land. But as Warbringers went extinct, we took their territories, adapting to them in our own ways. The only reminder of those twoleg creatures are statues of them."

"That's so cool!" Daffodilkit shouted in awe. "I would like to see the Ruins myself! I want to see the statues, too!"

"I can show you," Reedpaw nodded. "But not right now. You're way too small! We don't want you to be snatched by a dog, do we?"

"What's that?!"

"Large vicious beasts. Long ago, they were loyal servants to Warbringers. Now, they survive on the remains of their masters' civilization."

"Awh," Daffodilkit dipped his head in disappointment. "But if I become an apprentice?"

"Then, I guess, you can come with us," Reedpaw smiled, nudging the kit with her nose. "Don't be that sad about it. Ruins are pretty boring, actually."

Reedpaw froze, her large years perked up. Something was moving behind them in the underbrush. Something big and heavy, at least twice an average WindClan hunter. Ferns rustled and a massive creature with broad frame and massive paws went into the sunlight.

"A dog!" Daffodilkit shrieked. "Everyone run!”

Chapter 1 "Expedition"

"Spongepaw!"

Anemonepaw jolted upwards, hearing the commotion outside. She stepped out of her den on the side of a tall cliff. Majority of RiverClan hunters and crafters were just stirring awake, gathering their spears and tying off floating platforms from posts. Warbringers left a lot of trash behind, which barely decomposed. But it was surprisingly useful for making flotation devices for prolonged hunting campaigns. Crafters tied those weirdly shaped bubbles together with ropes. These platforms were also used as a base for nests, in case the sea level rises. Anemonepaw and her mentor, Waverun, also had one in their herb storage.

Young apprentice carefully made her way down the granite cliff and onto the beach. Her brother, Spongepaw, was arguing with two hunters: his mentor Sharkbite and his friend Squidspots.

"What was your assignment, Spongepaw?" Squidspots hissed, lashing his spotted tail resembling a gray octopus tentacle.

"Catching fish," sandy yellow apprentice with faint brown spots responded.

"And what did you bring here?" Pale gray Sharkbite continued, his blue eyes now two narrow slits.

"I brought fish!"

Squidspots pulled out a transparent clump of jelatinous substance out of freshkill pile.

"Jellyfish. Is. Not. A. Fish, " he said slowly, accentuating every word.

"But it has "fish" in it!" Spongepaw objected.

"But it's not a fish."

"Is starfish a fish?"

"No!" Sharkbite shouted.

"Stop yelling at him, he's trying his best!" Anemonepaw's older brother, Kelpfur stood between Squidspots, Sharkbite and Spongepaw, putting his big paw on Squidspots' head, pushing him away. "Sharkbite, you're his mentor. How is he supposed to learn if all you do is yelling at him?!"

"Fine!" Sharkbite scoffed. "Look, Spongepaw. Take everything that ends with "fish", but doesn't have fins out of the pile and toss it back into water."

Apprentice nodded and started picking small orange starfish out of his basket. Then, he threw out something big and brown.

"What did you do?! You foambrain!" Squidspots yowled.

"You said throw out everything that ends with fish. So I threw out crayfish."

"You can keep crayfish! Now go get it back!"

"I'll help him," Anemonepaw meowed shortly, walking past two hunters.

She jumped off a sandy shallow into the darker crevice, using an empty shell to push crayfish away from its burrow, while Spongepaw crawled from behind, trapping it into a basket.

"Good job," Kelpfur put his tail on Spongepaw's shoulder as he climbed back on a shallow.

"I wish I could train with Anemonepaw," the apprentice complained. "She knows how to stand up for herself."

"Squidspots and Sharkbite are just being obnoxious because they finished their apprenticeship earlier. I'll talk to Eelnose and hopefully she'll remind them who our leader is," Kelpfur finished his sentence by sitting down to lick his webs. It usually meant that he's done talking.

Two siblings continued on their way along the shoreline, looking for any crabs to catch. Sun was already high enough, and Anemonepaw's white pelt was glowing, probably bright enough to see from the camp. The only dark spot on her body was her red nose and slightly brighter golden area around it. It was unusual for RiverClan, where the majority had dull brown, gray or dusty colors. Apart from that, she was absolutely normal, with typical sturdy paws, long body, big head with arched nose and a powerful square jaw with protruding fangs.

"So, what's the plan for today?"

"Waverun told me to wait for her to finish sorting herbs. When Pipersong comes back, she's going to take me inland, to a neighbouring RiverClan colony," Anemonepaw stopped for a second to press her tail against left side, away from the sun. Her thick strong tail was almost furless, just like anyone else's, but her lighter color meant a bigger risk of sunburn.

Spongepaw froze, wrinkling his nose. With a loud caw, a big black bird landed on the beach. It held a rather large crab, breaking its shell with a thick hooked beak.

"Do you think it's edible?" he whispered.

"Maybe, but I'm not sure if we can take it down. Perhaps, we should stay hidden," Anemonepaw responded, pushing her brother into the reeds.

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

Everyone in RiverClan was big and sturdy, but had second shortest legs of all five Clans. They could leap from platform to platform, even if they were far apart, but ultimately lacked agility for vertical jumps. If attacked from air, they would have a very hard time defending themselves.

The bird hopped along the water, looking around for prey. Then, suddenly, Spongepaw felt wind on his pelt and a massive black shadow swooped over him. He shrieked, covering his head, but the shadow ran over him, colliding with an enormous bird of prey, sinking teeth deep into its throat. It was a big feline, much larger than any RiverClan, with long but sturdy legs, big round head and long fluffy tail. Fur was dark brown with thick black stripes.

"Ah, it was yours?" the stranger dropped her prey, meowing apologetically.

"No, we were just hiding from it. You aren't going to hurt us?" Spongepaw blurted out.

"Of course not. If I wanted to, I'd aim for two tasty apprentices rather than this old corvid. I'm Dillpaw, ThunderClan's herbalist's apprentice."

Anemonepaw had never seen a ThunderClan, but assumed they aren't much bigger than the others. Looks like she was wrong. Dillpaw, being an apprentice, was gigantic even compared to their leader, Eelnose. She had thick fur, in some places as hard as pine needles. Whoever tried to bite them, probably had to suffer from sores all over their snout and palate.

"I'm also a herbalist's apprentice! I'm Anemonepaw, and this is my brother, Spongepaw."

"What's that?" Dillpaw tilted her head to the side.

"What exactly?"

"Things you were named after."

"They are..." Anemonepaw paused for a moment.

"They are sea creatures, " Spongepaw continued for her. "Anemone looks like a plant, and sponge is like a... a morel mushroom or a squishy rock with holes, but Kelpfur said they're actually animals, like worms. And dill is that fluffy plant, right? By the way, are you looking for plants?"

"Not really, just wanted to collect some spiderwebs."

"You aren't from far away, are you?"

"No, ThunderClan lands start after that column," Dillpaw nodded at a piece of ruins on the edge of the cliff. "This is the only piece of land where we have an opening to the sea, because it floods the swamp. And you, RiverClan, as far as I know, hate swamps."

"True!" Spongepaw nodded. "We hate stagnant water."

"And we like mushrooms that grow in this humid environment."

Anemonepaw wrinkled her nose. How could anyone eat mushrooms? They're slimy, stain paws and have a disgusting smell! But, as she knew, ThunderClan weren't fans of a meat only diet. Their thick fur and skin even protected them during raids on wild bee hives. Honey would make any other Clan violently nauseous, but for them, it seems, it was a nice treat.

"You need spiderwebs, huh?" Spongepaw shifted his attention for a second to reach out and grab a big crab. "Waverun usually travels across the Highstones to fill her storage."

He put his prey between his powerful jaws and cracked the shell. Then pushed it towards his sister.

"Here, have something to eat. I don't remember you taking anything out of the pile. Regarding the spiders, I think she mentioned the underground ruins."

"I think I remember that place. You mean the old Warbringer hideout? With a broken door?"

"She said something about a cracked rock at the entrance, I assume that's it."

Anemonepaw nodded at her left side. Waverun was approaching the three with four empty baskets dangling at her side.

"Here, you'll carry these," she took off two baskets and pushed them towards Spongepaw. "Sharkbite told me to take you with us. I'll teach you how to fish in rivers."

Waverun used to be a hunter before. After partially losing her sight, she decided to join old herbalist Pipersong in his den. Their colony was rather large, and one healer wasn't enough for them. Waverun considered taking another apprentice from Finsplash's litter when they are old enough, just so she could make even bigger expeditions without the fear of a sudden epidemic.

"Are you going with us?" Anemonepaw asked, noticing that Dillpaw got up.

"Yes, I really need as much webs as possible. Don't worry, I've got," she pointed at a dry purple plant in her fur, "enough thyme on me. Hillsnow has three assistants in his den.”

"Before we go into the woods, remember: always look down. Snakes blend well with fallen leaves. And do not attempt to eat berries without my approval," silver tabby waved her white tipped black tail, leading the group. "There are two kinds of yew bushes. One is called deathberries. Only one of them can kill an adult hunter. Only the red part is relatively safe to consume. The other kind is called flameberries. They were cultivated by ThunderClan healers and have smaller, wrinkled seeds. They must be consumed whole in order to kill off parasites in your guts, if any other herb is ineffective. It's also poisonous, but only if you eat a dozen at the time."

"Why are they called flameberries?"

"Because, when you use a dirtplace after them, your lower intestines feel like they're burning," Waverun pointed at a small bush, growing in a long shady hollow, stretching along their path. "Look at these berries," she said.

"These would be flameberries? Right?" Spongepaw moved closer to look at wrinkled seeds.

"No, there are dry berries from last year. Flameberry bushes usually don't have leftover seeds, because snowtreaders peck them out. Birds are immune to their burning component. To distinguish them, you'll have to break one of their berries between two rocks. If its smell makes you cry, that's flameberries. If not, deathberries."

"The more you know," Spongepaw pushed the branch away from his face, as if the bush could attempt to forcefully part his jaws and feed him poisonous seeds.

The forest changed to two steep gray cliffs with a waving path between them. The healer put one paw on a boulder and looked up.

"Thank you for letting us through your land. May your spirits find peace," she whispered, before turning towards three apprentices. "A great tragedy took hold over this place before the Lasting Snowfall. Warbringers launched a weapon, targeting their colony on the other side. But, due to some mistake, it struck Highstones. There were not only our Clans, but also the Tribe. And this is the place where they used to live."

"You mean- they exploded?" Spongepaw whispered.

"Exactly. Either that or they went deep into the cave system and were buried alive."

Spongepaw shivered, wrapping his tail around legs.

"Each time we pass through Highstones, we must pay respect to the deceased," Waverun continued.

"May your spirits find peace," Dillpaw, Anemonepaw and Spongepaw said in unison.

"Watch your step and don't try to look down the path," the healer instructed. "You will feel dizzy and fall."

Jagged peaks of Highstones towered above a narrow dusty path. Very few grasses and bushes chose cracked gray cliffs as their home. Several yellow spots of rockfoils dotted the mountain on the other side of a gorge. As the group went around a cliff, Anemonepaw saw a massive pit in the ground. Highstones were levelled in an almost perfect round shape. The hollow, surrounded by mountains, was covered in lush vegetation, with one blue dot of a lake in the center of it.

"Long ago you could get sick by being there," Waverun said. "But now it's harmless. This lake produces mud that can ease joint pain. And its water can kill some skin infections. But you can't drink it."

"Is it still poisonous?"

"No, but it's very salty. All five clans visit this place in the newleaf to rest and chat."

"Can we go there now?" Spongepaw asked.

"It is forbidden, unless you're a healer. You see, this hollow is swarming with small animals. Mice, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards, hares..."

Anemonepaw narrowed her eyes. In the golden light of the setting sun she could see dark splotches moving around the lake. Hare herds! So dense they covered the landscape.

"We let all the animals live here in peace, so we don't overhunt them," Dillpaw finished. "Especially hares and bushgoats."

Anemonepaw could feel her mouth watering at the mention of small ungulates inhabiting mountains. But she brushed it off, intently looking at the path beneath her paws. Three gray birds with leftover white fuzz on their chest ran on a slope above them, but she didn't want to risk falling down for a couple of snowtreaders.

"Look, you guys! A turtle!" Spongepaw lifted his claw, pointing at a rock-like creature grazing on a patch of foliage. Spongepaw dropped in a hunting crouch and slowly moved towards prey.

"That's a tortoise, not a turtle," Waverun shouted. "And you're not supposed to hunt it!"

"Why?" Spongepaw turned around to look at their healer before he heard an angry hiss. Tortoise straightened its wrinkled neck and clicked big pointy beak. The next moment, it charged at Spongepaw. Apprentice rolled back just in time. Tortoise snapped the air in the exact same spot were Spongepaw's throat was a moment ago.

"Because they're omnivorous!" Waverun replied.

Spongepaw rolled away and jumped up, breathing heavily. Anemonepaw circled around the distracted reptile, grabbed its exposed neck and broke it using her strong jaw. The animal went limp, its legs sliding in the dust from underneath its body into a laying position.

"Prey's on!" she huffed, breaking the carapace.

"I think it's enough adventuring for one day," Waverun breathed out in relief. "Eat up and let's find a place to rest."

The group got away from the path just in time. With a loud clap a flashes of white light up the mountain. Rain, a slight drizzle at first, soon turned into a strong torrent, capable of washing anyone off the cliff, coupled with a freezing wind.

As soon as Dillpaw finished her share of prey, she dropped on her belly at the entrance. Spongepaw was spinning in circles, shaping a pile of dry plants into a more comfortable nest, while Anemonepaw and Waverun examined plants lining up the wall.

"I've never seen this vine," Waverun admitted. "Remind me to get some on our way back."

Anemonepaw reached out to touch the plant, but hesitated, looking at it with distrust. A new flash of lightning made it easier to see thick vines which resembled dried goat veins. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she backed away, sitting on the nest next to her brother. Tired, both of them quickly drifted to sleep.

Spongepaw shivered, waking up. It was still dark, but Anemonepaw and the others were nowhere to be seen. The air felt cold, and the smell reminded him of damp earth. The rain was still falling. There was no way anyone could go out in this weather! Spongepaw's gaze stopped on a tree growing just outside the cave entrance, which was particularly odd. He didn't remember seeing any trees since they left the shore. Spongepaw got up and slowly, carefully, approached the tree. How is it growing on a hard rock?! Where do its roots go? Then he realized: the tree had to roots at all. Just a cut log with branches, standing upwards on the edge. Before Spongepaw tried to touch it, another boom of thunder shook the air, knocking him off balance. The tree shook, too. Spongepaw froze, expecting it to fall on him, but the trunk rocked away from him, plummeting into the void below. He could hear a faint splash below as it fell.

He woke up, feeling Anemonepaw's tail poking his side.

"The rain's over. We need to move, carefully," she whispered.

"Isn't the path too slippery?"

"That's why we must be careful," Anemonepaw nudged her brother. "C'mon, Waverun said we must move!"

Spongepaw slipped out of the cave, following slowly walking Waverun and Dillpaw. He sunk his claws deeper, trying to get a better grip. Thankfully, because of strong wind, this side of the path was protected from rain, going around an overhanging cliff. Waverun looked tense, as if something scared her enough to make her leave the safety of their cave in the middle of the night. Her head was hanging low, back arched, tail tucked between her legs.

"Can you at least tell us what's happening?" Anemonepaw pleaded.

Waverun stopped to point at the overgrown crater. In the middle of it, just by the lake, there was a small flickering orange light.

"Fire. I know only one creature who can wield fire," the healer said, her face as dark as the stormcloud above them. "Warbringers

#random stuff #warrior cats #warriors #warriors au

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