#warriors discord

[starsofdestinyrp]

Promo Art by Kirke

THE ROOTS OF RUSHCLAN

CW/TW: May Change Battles/Fighting, Injuries of varying levels, Manipulation and Coercion CONTENT RATING: May Change 🌕 🌕 🌕 🌑 🌑

A cat with a vision. A loner with warrior's blood. A cat with vengeance to wreak.

All her life, Ravenwing has felt lost, or perhaps a more accurate way of putting it is that she just hasn't found home yet. But all that is about to change once she sets her paws on the path to IvyClan and WildClan- and perhaps more importantly, towards the cats that lie outside of the clans. Meeting others who are just as lost in the world, she begins formulating the dream her father has called her to do: start RushClan anew.

However, sinister forces are at work and what lurks just beyond the clan borders not only will determine the fate of RushClan, but also the fate of those who call these lands their home.

Join us for this fun event on the Stars of Destiny Discord Server!

[hollyshine-atetheraven]

Ask me if you're interested or have other questions!

link: MoonCave Apprentices Discord Server

Join our Main Server under the first link!:

[ruddfur]

hello hello hello! it is i, koga, also known as ruddfur, come to you with a proposition of a small 18+ community discord server i'd like to make!

it's just a little place where i get to talk to y'all about cat fiction as a whole. the server is in the works and called feliformia. if anyone is interested, please do dm me! i'm looking for possible moderators as i'm not the best at handling running servers on my lonesome, if this ever expands beyond a couple of people it will get difficult for me. any help is appreciated!

it will have a focus on writing and art, to give each other the support and little push to keep creating.

if you'd like early access just dm me with this info: name: pronouns: age: why do you want to join: favorite cat coat color: tell me about yourself briefly:

[lucky-fydraws]

Gesture sketch as an excuse to try out my new alcohol pen

[tenderleavesbob]

Warriors was trapped. He twisted and wiggled to test the limits of his captivity. It became immediately clear that his captors had no plans on letting him move at all or consider escape. He was beginning to lose feeling to his legs. His back ached. He could move his hands but couldn’t reach out or grab anything. 

With a sigh, Warriors accepted defeat and rested his head back on the wall. “Who knew he was such a lightweight?” 

Twilight snickered and sat on the edge of the bed beside Warriors. A flush from Telma’s whiskey still lit his cheeks, and his eyes looked a tad too bright. “I think he forgot to eat dinner. Only a fool drinks Telma’s good stuff on an empty stomach.”

Forgot to eat…? Warriors scowled at the snoring man sprawled across his chest. Time’s head rested over his heart, rising in time with Warrior’s breaths. He stretched over Warriors like a large, too-warm blanket. He smelled like Telma’s bar, and it made Warriors want to sneeze.

He also had his arms wrapped around Warriors like he was a stuffed animal. Warriors wiggled a bit, testing again, but Time’s grip was unrelenting.

“The idiot,” Warriors grumbled. Ah, what the hell. He was trapped, anyway, and it wasn’t like Twilight hadn’t seen it before. He started stroking Time’s back like he was one of Twilight’s cats. Time sighed happily, the ass. “I told him to eat. What did he do with his plate?”

“I think some cuccos ate it,” Twilight admitted. “There was a bunch of them, and Sky wasn’t there to shoo them away.”

Warriors stared at Twilight. “Cuccos. I… Never mind. So he drank on an empty stomach?”

“Yep,” Twilight drawled. “I’ll get some water and a potion for him. He’s gonna feel awful in the morning.”

Warriors huffed. “He deserves it.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Twilight smiled at them like he was looking at a pile of puppies. If Time didn’t have Warriors so thoroughly trapped, he would hit his brother. “I’m not used to seein’ him like this, that’s all?”

Warriors scoffed. He continued petting Time, but it wasn’t like Time or Twilight was commenting. “What? Drunk and stupid?” In the morning, pre-potion, he and Time were going to have words about skipping dinner. It might even be included in his next letter to Malon.

“No. Cute.”

That caught Warriors off guard, but only for a moment. He rolled his eyes. Time mumbled something and nuzzled into Warriors’s chest. Warriors shook his head and rested his hand on the back of Time’s head, holding him close. “I told you so.”

“Yeah, but you also told me that he bites. I don’t believe that.”

Warriors raised an eyebrow at him. He had enough freedom in his right arm to hold it above Time’s body and show his wrist to Twilight. Twilight leaned forward and squinted. “Wait. Is that…?”

“Yep.”

“Did Time?”

“Yep.”

“...those are such tiny teeth marks!”

“He was a small thing then,” Warriors agreed. He resumed stroking Time’s back. Time relaxed even more into him. It felt like he gained another twenty pounds doing so. Warriors bravely hid a wheeze. “If you don’t believe me, Wind had some pictures saved from the war.” There was no way Wind would have deleted them. Not when they were good for sentiment and blackmail.

Twilight’s mouth parted slightly. His eyes shone. “Pictures? Of a baby Time?”

“Yep.”

“Oh, by the Spirits…”

Time mumbled something again and tightened his grip on Warriors. Warriors squeaked. “Ack! Twilight. My brother. I need a favor of you.”

“Help getting free?”

“What? No. When you bring Time his potion…” Warriors wiggled again. Yep. He had definitely lost feeling in at least one foot. “Bring me one, too, okay? By morning, I’ll need it.”

Twilight cackled but didn’t leave. Not yet. Warriors couldn’t blame him. Time was adorable like this.Even drooling on Warriors’s chest like he was, the little brat!

[loudclan-clangen]

Cut for Time - Moon 31

Hey guys! New things! Sometimes when we have long moons, there are scenes that I want to show you guys but I just don't have room to do so. With the suggestion of @snailstep-and-her-clan and the help of the loudclan discord I was able to bring some of these scenes to life in written and illustrated form! Enjoy, and go follow the talented artists if you don't already!

art by @mammoth-clangen

“I’m sorry.” Peakpatch tries to look down at his paws shamefully, but Jaggedtail places a paw under his chin, gently urging Peakpatch to look him in the eye.

“Don’t be sorry.”

“But it’s stupid-” tears prick at Peakpatch’s eyes.

“It’s not stupid. Don’t be sorry.” Jaggedtail’s voice is solid and comforting, Peakpatch fights the urge to melt into it. It feels wrong to seek comfort in his friend after rejecting him. It feels selfish.

“It is stupid. I like you, you like me, we should be mates! I just… I'm not ready…” Peakpatch’s tears begin to drip, and he doesn't have the will to fight it when Jaggedtail pulls him into his chest. 

“I understand, Peakpatch. You don’t have to explain it. It’s okay. I’m here as your friend for as long as you need me to be. And when you’re ready to become mates- if you’re ever ready, I’ll be here then too. I’m not going anywhere. I already promised you that.” Peakpatch let out a shaky breath. He couldn't imagine a life without Jaggedtail. If keeping him at paw's length is what Peakpatch needed to do to keep him alive, then he would be happy to. He could find a way to be happy to.

art by @lurking-in-windclan-camp

Hushed voices echo out of the healer's den, but with the majority of the clan at a gathering there's no one to notice two mischievous apprentices hidden in the shadows of the cave.

“Ah! Shoot!” Dancepaw recoils from one of the piles of herbs, cradling an injured paw, “This one stings!”

Erminepaw peeks over at Dancepaw’s pile. “Hm, that must be nettle, then,” He pauses for a moment, before reaching over and gingerly sweeping it into another pile “Songpaw said that fireweed cures stings, so we’ll put those together. Oo, and the stinkweed too, since they’re both ‘weeds’!”

"What about the berries? They all look the same, so how are we supposed to tell the difference? Taste?" Dancepaw hooks a berry with his claw, raising it to his mouth before a sharp smack from Ermine sends it flying into the dark recesses of the cave.

"No! You never eat a berry that you don't know the name of! Don't you pay attention at all when Songpaw talks?" Ermine's scolding earns him an offended glare.

"Well if you know so much then you do it!" Dancepaw sulks around to the other side of the ledge, shouldering Erminepaw over to the berries.

Erminepaw bristles at the shove, but after a deep breath he begins to hesitantly sort berries, too proud to admit that the task is a bit above his level as well. Besides, Erminepaw assures himself, he's watched his mother do this a thousand times, how hard could it be?

“Songpaw better be grateful that we’re helping him out like this.” Dancepaw grumbles.

“I’m sure he will be when he finds out!” Erminepaw pointedly chirps back, trying to push the creeping feeling of unease back down his spine. If he makes a mistake the healers will fix it. What's the worst that could happen?

Art by @featherfrond

“Hey! Wait up!” Rosehiptree trots up to Kingfur as he slips past the jagged rocks that mark the camp entrance, their pelts brushing as she squeezes through the narrow gap alongside him.

“Everything alright?” Kingfur questions, on edge at the unusual attention. Rosehiptree was his sister Sockeyepelt's friend, it wasn't often that she paid him any mind. Perhaps his prank had inspired the pair of them, the thought sent a shiver down Kingfur's spine. His sister didn't exactly know where the line was when it came to practical jokes. He swore that he still had thorns lodged under his skin from the time she decided he needed to go swimming in a pit of devil's club. It was in his best interest to deflect for now. “Sockeyepelt is sunning back in the camp if you were looking for her.”

“I know that. I’m not looking for her.” Great, Kingfur thought to himself, watching Rosehiptree glance around at their surroundings. Had Sockeyepelt slipped out of camp ahead of them when he wasn't paying attention?

Satisfied with her sweep of the area, Rosehiptree turned her attention back to Kingfur, a wide grin slowly taking hold as ice blue eyes sparkled with delight, “I’m looking for the genius who got Juneaucliff to walk around camp puffed up like a ptarmagin with all that junk smeared on his stupid face!”

Kingfur felt pride well in his chest, but quelled it, not about to let himself fall for such blatant flattery. "You didn't seem to find it all that genius from where I was standing. I didn't think you even payed enough attention to notice."

Rosehiptree rolled her eyes, playfully bumping shoulders with the tom. "That's just cause that's what I wanted you to think. I'm not blind!" Their gazes lock for a moment, before Kingfur glances away, his will power crumbling by the second. Had her eyes alway been that blue? Was that some kind of trick to make him let down his guard? Is there some kind of herb that makes your eyes bluer?

Kingfur takes an instinctive step away from the she-cat, and she hesitates, her gaze dropping as she continues dejectedly, "Juneau's a good guy, don't get me wrong, I'm sure he'd make a great mate, but we're just not on the same page, you know? He deserves someone who's gonna make him happy, and that's not me. It's never gonna be me. But, when I say 'never' he just hears 'not now'." Her eyes flick nervously between her paws as her voice trails off.

This isn't a prank. The realisation washes over him all to late, as Kingfur searches for something to say to her, but caught off guard he comes up empty. Rosehiptree clears her throat and flicks her tail, raising her head once again, and summoning a polite smile. "Well I just wanted to uh, say thanks for getting him off my back for a while." She steps to the side, turning back to camp, and Kingfur's stomach twists.

"Hey, uh-" Having her attention turned back to him once again made some childish part of Kingfur wish he had just let her walk away. But he steeled himself, plastering a confident grin on his face to make up for the fact that his stomach seemed to be trying to climb up out of his throat. "I'm glad I could help, and..." Kingfur's brain was working overtime to find something witty. He wanted to make her laugh again. "I'm glad that you were entertained. That'll make it worth it when he slits my throat in my sleep later tonight."

Rosehiptree grinned again, circling back to his side. "Well at least you'll have died for a worthy cause." Kingfur was going to die right here if she kept smiling at him like that. Would that count as a worthy cause? The tip of his tail flicked rapidly as she approached.

Bolstered by his reciprocated playfulness, Rosehiptree stepped in front of him, brushing the length of her body across his chest, "Of course, if you needed some protection I could always sleep in your nest tonight." Her tail flicked under his chin as she started back to camp once again.

Every fur on Kingfur's pelt stood on end. If he had any brain function at this moment he might worry over his resemblance to a porcupine, but even if he had the mind to do something about it, he couldn't have, as despite feeling like his blood was being heated over a flame, his muscles suddenly seemed to be made of unmovable stone. Perhaps this was a prank, intending to leave him frozen in the middle of this trail for a returning patrol to discover.

"Catch me something while you're out. A puffed up ptarmagin prefferably!" Rosehiptree called to him over her shoulder.

“Y-yeah.” Kingfur stuttered, praying to starclan that his lungs would remember how to work before he passed out. Or at least that he wouldn't topple over before Rosehiptree was out of sight. Mediator heirs weren't supposed to do that, but Kingfur figured that starclan would understand the extenuating circumstances and take pity on him.

That's all for today folks! If you enjoy this I'll do it more! It's a great way for all you background character loving freaks (affectionate) to get some more time with your poor forgotten gays. And it also lets me expand on some ideas that are hard to fit into the comic, like Rosehiptree's complicated feelings about Juneau, which is really fun for me! She's just a heart throb idk what to say. Every man of appropriate age is falling for her. (Except Cave he's too busy being poisoned)

[ruthimages]

[rookclan]

sneak peek of a character for the next update..

[yourdarlingwarrior]

I thought it'd be good as any for my first post to be this edit I made! I love them, if you couldn't tell

[nanistar]

SERPENTINE PROMISE | Hidden in Plain Sight.

Serpentine Promise is a 16+ literate Horror / Slasher Warriors RP set on the coast of Belize in the heart of a meteor crater called the Cardinal. This RP takes heavy inspiration from the beautiful indigenous Mayan cultures of Belize for its worldbuilding.

You are part of three groups known as Arrows. You live in relative peace, guided by your Celestial Leaders in the skies above - the Jade Tiger, the Red Tiger, and the Gold Tiger. Centuries prior, these three leaders created the Arrows, but in doing so created something worse. The North Serpent wanted the crater for itself, and would only be satisfied when it ate the sun. The three tigers fought together against the serpent to the death.

In modern times, these Celestial Leaders are growing increasingly distraught, until they disappear one night and leave you with nothing but an omen … Cats around you begin to drop dead soon after. Your objective? Survive. Keep one eye open. Figure out which one of you is slaughtering cats by the dozen, or die trying.

𓆙 ━─┈

🌊THE EAST WAVES Living on the sandy coasts of the Cardinal, the cats of the East Waves are weathered, brave, regal, and know their way around the barrier reef, and the raging seas. 🌴THE SOUTH RAINS Nestled in the dense, lush rainforest of the crater, the cats of the South Rains are intelligent, agile, gifted and flighty. They know how to traverse the land without ever placing a paw on the dangerous jungle floor.

⛰️THE WEST PEAKS Settled in the mountains along the edge of the crater, living within caverns and along cliff faces, cats in the West Peaks are hardy, strong, tough and independent, battling the biggest threats of all — Harpy eagles, amongst other dangerous raptors. 𓆙 ━─┈ WHAT WE OFFER🐍

A safe, secure environment for all with safety nets in place for any incident that would otherwise occur in a large space.

A server open to writers of any experience.

An extremely large expanse of lore and world-building including a glossary of brand new terms, in-depth lore and history inspired by Mayan cultures, unique ranks and roles to each Arrow, and an entirely new herb and medicine system created entirely for the RP, amongst a dozen other additions!

A server run by BIPOC and LGBT+ moderators, including a Belizean admin and consultant.

High Ranks and Roles open for application for writers of any experience and skill level!

RP affiliation / partnership — advertise your RP server in ours!

EXPLORE THE WORLD & APPLY NOW! >> https://serpentinepromise.carrd.co/ << =

(please note that i, nanistar, am NOT the host of this RP. i am merely a moderator and the tumblr liaison. i can answer some basic questions, but for anything more in-depth else please contact BADMIRACLE on tumblr. he is an amazing rp host and has spent months bringing this together and developing this rp.)

[frayedblorbos]

[starsofdestinyrp]

Promo Art by Soob

A HARVEST TO REMEMBER

CW/TW: None! Content Rating: 🌕 🌑 🌑 🌑 🌑

Just as humans have their little celebrations for the fall equinox, it's fair for cats to celebrate leaf fall as well. While it may mean there's winter ahead, why not bask in the cool weather and set aside their differences for the chance for some fun? Especially with the discovering of an abandoned nearby twoleg park.

Climb to the top the skeleton of a spider that's bigger then any you've seen before! Grab a few clanmates and see how long it takes to get through the corn maze! Crafty cats have the perfect chance to sell the fruits of their labor, especially with some new tools to work with! Maybe even go chat with the medium and see what the ghosts of your past may have to say to you or get some advice about what the future has in store.

Join us for this fun event on the Stars of Destiny Discord Server!

[wayfayrr]

I'm posting this on behalf of @peepthatbish (please don't go and bother them about this btw) It's a downright adorable little drabble with wars and reader, something they wrote late at night and I simply can't get enough of it

You and Link were sitting by the fire, he had woken up because of a nightmare, and being the person you are, you volunteered the seat next to you so he could talk if he felt up to it. Understandably, he didn’t take you up on the talking offer immediately so you decided to fill the air with activities and such that you enjoyed back home.

Midway through you going into extensive detail about your current fixation, you notice he’s been quieter than before. You spare a glance to find his elbow pressed against his leg, his head (or rather, chin) resting on his hand with an easy expression.

Your eyes widen at the realization that he probably wants to go back to bed and call his name, apologizing for rambling and taking away from his sleep.

Link’s features drop slightly and he sits up, quick to deny your worries and turn a blind eye to your apologies. He takes one of your hands and squeeze it lightly, reiterating that you’re alright, and that he doesn’t mind the rambles.

“You’re too tense when everyone’s awake, it’s nice to see you relaxed”

You’re quick to stand, ignoring his chuckles and declaring that you’re going to bed. The flutters in your stomach refusing to settle when he stood in front of you and trapped you in his arms.

He kisses the top of your head and sways the two of you gently. He whispers affirmations and inside jokes before pulling away slightly, asking if late night cuddles would be on the table.

You shake your head at his actions but nod, letting him guide you back to his bedroll and laying beside of him. He brings you close and wraps his arm around you, making sure you’re cozy before closing his eyes.

You watch as his features soften and smile, using a hand to brush away stray hairs.

[riseoftheclansrpg]

STARCLAN HAS A MESSAGE FOR YOU

Rise of the Clans RP is open for new members! <3

[sunfloweraro]

Revenge is sweet

Sky isn’t as forgiving as Wild and Hyrule had hoped. Warriors is done with all of them (or is he?)

Follow up to this

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 .

“Whatcha up to?”

Sky paused in the middle of his task, standing up and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “Revenge.”

Warriors hummed, taking a sip of his tea. “Dare I ask how you got their bedrolls to float?”

Sky’s grin told him all he needed to know. “You’re not going to call Time?”

Warriors turned tired eyes out to the lake, where Wild’s bedroll was somehow floating, Wild still dead-asleep atop it. He lowered his gaze to Hyrule, whose bedroll was now resting in the sand alongside the water, with Sky standing over it. “No,” he said, in the same way Sky had heard shop attendants say ‘I don’t get paid enough for this.’

“Good,” Sky said, turning back to his task. Warriors watched impassively, sipping at his tea while Hyrule’s fate was sealed, his bedroll secured with some sort of floating device before Sky sent it out onto the lake, unable to stop his lips from curling into a smirk. “Captain, my dear friend?”

Warriors hummed into his tea.

“How familiar are you with bombs?”

Wordlessly, Warriors pulled out a super bomb from his bag, passing it over to Sky. “Don’t kill them. It’s much too early to deal with that.”

“I’ll do my best,” Sky said, testing the weight of the bomb. “Have you still got that fire rod?”

Warriors went to retrieve it without a word. When he returned, he held the fire rod in one hand, his tea in the other, freshly filled. With the fire rod, he nudged forward a sleepy Wind. “I owe him,” Warriors said in way of an explanation. “Let him watch.”

Sky allowed it, so long as the bomb was lit. As the fuse sparked and hissed, Sky aimed for the space between the two scoundrels in the lake. A breath in, and he threw the bomb. It hit the water with a splash that spilled over the two miscreants, tearing them from their sleep.

“What—Sky!”

“How did you even get us out here without waking—”

The bomb went off. Water exploded every which-way, sending the two atop it flying. Sky watched, satisfied, as Wild and Hyrule were sent crashing into the shore, the water dragging mud and filth all over them. He smirked even as water rained down all around him. Their bedrolls were nowhere to be seen.

Wordlessly, Warriors pulled an umbrella out, covering the three of them as Wind cheered and jumped. Warriors tried to hide it behind his tea, but Sky still saw the upturn of his lips and knew he was enjoying this as much as the rest of them.

[tenderleavesbob]

General Impa and Queen Zelda were going to kill him.

Link looked at the familiar ring of light in front of him and groaned. A portal. He hadn’t seen one of these in years. Weren’t they done with these? Wasn’t the timeline fixed?

A message had come from one of the forts regarding strange monsters. Zelda had been nervous about Link traveling alone, but he had assured her that there had been no reports of anything in Hyrule Field. From the sound of it, the monsters had been sighted at the far side of the field. It would be quickest for Link to just go alone and send back word of what he found. If he discovered that reinforcements were needed, he would send word immediately.

He wasn’t even halfway to the fort when the portal appeared. Link sighed and swung his leg off Epona. His loyal mare snorted and danced restlessly. Even she didn’t like a random portal appearing out of nowhere. 

Lana had vanished at the end of the war, too, but Link thought she would at least send a message if something was happening with time again. He sighed and walked a little closer to the portal. It looked similar enough to the ones from the war. 

An awful thought occurred to Link, and he grimaced. He hoped this wasn’t a sign that something had happened to Lana. Anything from an attack on her to Ganondorf’s corruption staining her, too, could have dramatic effects on Hyrule and the timeline.

Not that he wasn’t worried about her being hurt. Just…

Link didn’t like thinking about Lana.

There were no other clues. No other signs. Just a portal in the middle of Hyrule Field. Link sighed and rested his hand on his hip. It seemed like he would be sending word back to Zelda sooner than he thought. Was this how Tune and Mask felt when another adventure popped up in front of them? Thinking they were done and then something appeared without warning? No wonder Mask was so cranky.

Yet a small part of him looked at the portal and hoped. When Mask and Tune left, he had never admitted it to anyone, but it had broken Link’s heart. Plagues took his family before the war started, and between the war itself and his new title of hero, Link found himself with few friends. Those two boys had been his little brothers. It was a popular joke among the camps that they were his kids. Link had been surprised by how much he had liked that. When they left, they took chunks of his heart with him.

He lost them through a portal just like this one. Link cocked his head and studied it, fingers tapping his hip. He couldn’t just go through it. He couldn’t just vanish. He had to report to Zelda what he found. 

But what if the portal vanished? What if this was his only chance to see his boys again?

Link closed his eyes and shook his head. He had to do his duty. He had to report to his queen. If this was like the portals of before, it wouldn’t just --

He opened his eyes again. He looked up. He blanched.

No.

The portal was gone.

No. No. Link looked around frantically, but the field remained empty besides himself and Epona. She was still shifting and dancing, but Link couldn’t bring himself to focus on her.

The portal was gone. His chance to see Tune and Mask again was gone. He should have just gone through it. He should have been more decisive. He was supposed to be the hero. He shouldn’t have --

The portal appeared again. Under Link’s feet. Link screamed and fell.

Startled and frightened, Epona turned and ran back to the castle. Link wouldn’t discover the truth for several months, but his initial guess was correct: General Impa and Queen Zelda were not happy.

Link’s screaming did not last long. He slammed into the dirt and his breath exploded from his bruised lungs. He wheezed and choked on flying dirt and his own spit. He rolled onto his side, arms wrapped protectively around him, hacking and coughing and trying to catch his breath.

“Easy, easy!” a man said above him. Unfamiliar hands grabbed him and pulled him into a sitting position, making it easier for Link to breathe. Normally, Link hated it when strangers grabbed him, but something about this man felt so soothing that Link didn’t question it. He leaned into the man and coughed weakly. His back was going to hurt for a week.

I’m too young to feel this old, Link thought miserably.

“Are you all --”

The man cut off. His grip tightened on Link. Link startled and looked up.

His vision was a little blurry from his hard landing. He blinked and it took several moments for the face in front of him to come into focus.

The face was older. Different. Scarred. It didn’t matter. 

Link would always know his boy’s face.

“Mask?” he whispered. He reached up and cupped the man’s scarred, painted face. 

Mask choked on a sob and placed his hand over Link’s. “Yes. Yes, it’s… I can’t believe it’s really you!”

Bruises be damned. Link threw himself forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Mask. He couldn’t quite hug Mask like he used to, but that was fine. He was happy to practice as much as it took to get it right. 

Mask laughed and cried and hugged him back. Yes, Link decided, clinging to his boy. This was worth every bruise he received in the fall and every shout he was going to hear when he returned to his time.

“I think you’re taller than me, you brat,” Link managed, hugging Mask so tightly his hands began to cramp.

Mask laughed and held Link back just as tightly. “Bigger, too.”

“Still a little shit.” He pressed a hard kiss against Mask’s temple.

It took a long time before Link managed to make himself let Mask go. It was fine. It seemed like Mask was just as reluctant to release his grip. Mask straightened Link’s scarf, and Link almost started crying all over again when he realized that Mask was definitely taller than him and no longer needed to stand on a chair or stand on his tiptoes.

Link couldn’t resist reaching up again and cupping the scarred side of Mask’s face. He rubbed his thumb under Mask’s closed eye but didn’t ask. If Mask wanted to tell him, he would. Link pulled away and asked a more immediate question instead. “Where are we?”

Mask shrugged, grinning. He was certainly bigger and taller. He even looked older than Link. It didn’t matter. That mischief on his face remained the same. “Don’t know. Welcome to your first adventure, Captain.”

Link snickered. At least this meant Zelda and Impa would need to find him first to yell at him. “You’re the expert here, Mask. Lead the way.”

Mask could lead him anywhere right then, and Link wouldn’t care.

He had one of his boys back.