#wildwood rising

[coccineum-vocatorem]

I wanted to see Rise's female lives side by side. Rise herself has her woodsy witchy AU, but it's not that different from her mainverse so I didn't include it (and I haven't modded it yet, so there's that too).

Minuinne – Risette – Latielle

[fr-familiar-bracket]

[frtools]

New Flash Sale: Wildwood Owl

A new flash sale has been discovered for Wildwood Owl

This owl's bite is worse than its bark.

Game database: click here Marketplace link: click here

Treasure: 17000 13600

[fordtato]

Headcanoning that Ford’s Big Three is Gemini Sun, Libra Moon, Virgo Rising, with Saturn in his first house. Same for Stanley honestly

Well actually, if we're going by my timeline's DOB of 6/15/1951, and we take the implication the website makes that GSB is based on Wildwood, NJ, this is what we get:

As a reminder - they DID only pick 6/15 as a DOB because it's when the first episode of the show was made.

BUT it is fun to check this stuff out. I don't personally believe in astrology, but I do believe it is fun!

[kimberly40]

Western North Carolina generally consists of 29 counties, that when combined form a total regional area of roughly 13,000 square miles and is roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts.

There are 82 mountain peaks between 5,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation in western North Carolina and 43 peaks rise to over 6,000 feet.

Among the subranges of the Appalachian Mountains located in western North Carolina are the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, South Mountains, Brushy Mountains, Great Balsam Mountains, Great Craggy Mountains, the Plott Balsams, and the Black Mountains.

Mount Mitchell, in the Black Mountains, is, at 6,684 feet, the highest point in eastern North America.

The major rivers in the region include the French Broad River, Nolichucky River, Watauga River, Little Tennessee River, and Hiwassee River flowing into the Tennessee River valley; the New River flowing into the Ohio River valley; and the headwaters and upper valleys of the Catawba River, Yadkin River, Broad River, and Saluda River flowing through the foothills towards the Atlantic.

The Eastern Continental Divide runs through the region, dividing Tennessee-bound streams from those flowing through the Carolinas.

The counties commonly included in the region are as follows:

Alleghany County

Ashe County

Avery County

Buncombe County

Burke County

Caldwell County

Cherokee County

Clay County

Graham County

Haywood County

Henderson County

Jackson County

Macon County

Madison County

McDowell County

Mitchell County

Polk County

Rutherford County

Swain County

Transylvania County

Watauga County

Wilkes County

Yancey County

-Other counties that fall under various definitions of Western North Carolina include: Alexander County, Catawba County, Cleveland County, Surry County and Yadkin County.

*Pictured is the Linville Gorge in Burke County, North Carolina by Wildwood Blessings Photography

[waltwhitmansbeard]

"I'm sorry... I didn't even realize" for the "why are you avoiding me" prompt list, anyone of your choice <3

"i'm sorry...i didn't even realize" tw: depression

Essek doesn't like to think he's particularly needy. For so long now, he's danced on this tightrope solo, entirely responsible for his own survival in these war games he started. It's instilled in him a comfort in being alone, something he's been more often than not as he's been forced to stay on the run from the various entities who'd like to bring him to his knees.

Which is why it's so very strange, this grumbling in his chest, when for the third day in a row, his sending has gone unanswered. He's been in this derelict cabin in the Copia Wildwood for two weeks now, languishing and bored, and all he wants to do is be somewhere else. He doesn't think it's asking too much to reach out to Caleb for distraction—Tell me what you're working on, Caleb Widogast. Surely it is more interesting than the crumbling walls of this shack.—and yet his entreaties are answered with silence, and it's driving Essek mad.

Maybe he's done something. It's true that it's been longer than usual since he's visited the little cottage in Rexxentrum that is the closest thing he knows to home—perhaps Caleb has taken offense to his prolonged absence. Or maybe it's the question itself; is Essek prying where he ought not be prying?

(There is, of course, the horrifying possibility that Caleb is unable to reply to Essek's sendings, that something has happened to him, that in his desperate instinct for his own survival, Essek has left the most important person in his world vulnerable and alone. No. Caleb is capable. This is a possibility Essek cannot entertain, even for a moment. Not if he is to stop himself from going mad in this Light-blasted cabin.)

Three more days of silence, and Essek is ready to pull his hair out. He doesn't care that it's risky, doesn't care that Beau warned him of increased interest in his whereabouts in the chatter overheard from the Cerberus Assembly. He throws his meager belongings into his pack and quickly erases all traces of himself from the cabin. He takes out the thick wool gloves that Caleb gave him for their many sojourns to Aeor and uses them to focus his teleport. The familiar push and pull is almost a comfort as he disappears and reappears in the foyer of Caleb's cottage.

The place is a mess. The cats have clearly taken over, meowing in chorus and digging through the already-ransacked pantry. The smell is atrocious, and the worry Essek's been holding at bay rises in him like a tidal wave.

He doesn't call out, in case there are others in the house. He glides silently toward the closed bedroom door, almost too afraid to know what's on the other side of it.

What he finds is Caleb's bedroom, much as he remembers it, but far less bright and airy. The curtains have all been drawn, and there is debris and detritus from half-eaten meals everywhere. There is a large lump beneath the duvet, which Essek approaches slowly. "Light, is that you?" The lump shifts, and Essek floats to sit on the edge of the mattress just beside it. He pulls the duvet back to reveal the most disheveled, unkempt Caleb Widogast he has ever seen in his life.

"Oh dear." There is a haunted look in Caleb's eyes, eyes which seem to stare straight through Essek as if he isn't even there. His beard, normally shiny and well-shaped, is scraggly and rough, and the hair Essek loves to card his fingers through is oily and matted.

"Essek?" Caleb croaks. Essek wonders how long it's been since he's spoken, since he's had water. "You...are here."

"I'm here, my Light. You had me very worried." When Caleb's brow furrows in confusion, he says, "You haven't been answering my messages."

The confusion doesn't go away. "Oh. I'm sorry...I didn't even realize...I don't remember hearing them."

Essek doesn't even know where to begin. "It's been nearly a week since we last spoke. What happened?"

The glassiness has returned to Caleb's eyes, and Essek wants to climb inside of him and claw him back from wherever he is retreating within himself. "A week. I did not notice that either."

"How about we forget the whys, yes? First, a bath, and I will clean the cottage." He quickly casts prestidigitation on the few plates and bowls piled up on Caleb's nightstand in demonstration. "And then some proper food, I think, for you and the cats, and when you're ready, you can tell me what has been keeping you from me this past week."

Caleb nods, and Essek leans down to kiss his sweaty forehead. As he gets up to go run the water for Caleb's bath, his mind is swirling and buzzing with the possibilities of what has so thoroughly reduced the strongest person he knows to shambles, but he knows that he would face down the Dwendalian and Xhorasian armies together if it meant being here to help him piece himself back together.

[avampyone]

Prompt #2: In his snare

Characters: Gabriel Devrau, Ange B'londe

Synopsis: Ange wishes to throw an important party, but a few obstacles are in the way.

Setting: In the depths of the Great Gubal Library.

Warning to suggestive themes.

-----------------------

“Rise and shine!”

There was something that pressed against the tip of his noise that made Gabriel twist in his sleep out of frustration in disturbance from his deep slumber, fingers digging into the thick blankets around him. If not for the flickering of the gaudy neon light of pink and purple that spelled out the line “Kiss Me” lined on one of the many shelves nearby, Gabriel may have never even seen him. He rapidly blinked his bleary pale eyes to see someone crouched down on the side table nearest to his bed. The blonde-haired Wildwood lay strewn out, short thick locks sticking out in many directions and his wrinkled shirt only partially unbuttoned. He still wore his tight leather pants and buckled boots. He had passed out some time before he’d managed to get fully undressed.

That wasn’t what bothered him. There was a tall figure that sat proudly on the corner of his coffee table, grinning wildly like some gargoyle keeping watch. He didn’t even think twice whenever he grabbed a small vase nearest to him containing the remains of a withered daisy before chucking this at the ‘creature.’ In one smooth motion, there was no one there and the vase crashing into the wall to crack into a million tiny little pieces with a growing mixture of water and left-over dried bits of the poor flower.

“What the hell?! Do you have any decency-at all-? I could have been naked, you know…Besides, I was having a nice dream about two blondes and a redhead. Seeing you was an instant turn-off; I’ll have you know.” He growled, pale eyes not hesitating to glare upon the well-dressed figure. Slowly, he pulled himself from the tangle of blankets to shift himself up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. Metal hands, one of which glowed with a distinctly purple pulse of light emitting all throughout it, lifted to rub the corners of his eyes in such a life-like way that one might question if they were metal at all.

“Anyone with decency would never make a deal with a man like me. You should know this very well, darling~” The voice was maddeningly cheerful in such a manner that always grated on his nerves. With long straight pale hair framing his pale features, Ange stood there looking as immaculate as ever in his black suit and shining black shoes to match, making Gabriel question if it had been him on his coffee table or not.

As usual, his eyes lay hidden behind the thick frames of the glasses he wore with one leather clad gloved had coming to delicately grab ahold of the other betwixt his fingers to give a light tug, “Oh, who cares about the details anyway?! What’s most important for you is to know that tonight is a very special night. All my friends will be in attendance for an underground black-tie soiree. The sort of event where we drink fine wines, dance, and laugh together and make dreadful small talk well into the evening hours. There will be theater! And- “

“Get to the point, will you?! What do I care about this party of yours? Sounds boring as hell...” Gabriel openly insulted in his tiredness with arms crossing over one another petulantly, uncaring if his open shirt laid his broad chest bared with no care if Ange looked. Not that he thought he would – With the glasses, who knew?

Ange had turned to stare upon the shelf that contained the many guns he possessed, humming playfully to himself when it looked like he had lost his train of thought, “Right, about that. You do enjoy your toys, don’t you…How useful they will be in this task. All you must do is lure out the feral into the horizon and leave them there to let the rising sun do the rest when the morning comes. Unfortunately, a few have crawled out into the basement of my chateau. It will not do to have them chewing on my guests~” Striding up in a few quick movements, Ange’s gloved hand had ruffled back through his hair before suddenly clenching in a tight unmovable hold that Gabriel tried to pull away from – He couldn’t when Ange inched closer.

A chilly coldness emanated from him that the blonde found himself pushing back away from the best he could, yet still he glared at him dangerously, “Before the morning sun rises, Gabriel - I should not have to remind you what could happen if you do not play your part in our little game...” Ange let him go, dusting his hands off like to be rid of him for now and strolled on right out of the room in a merry little gait.

“Fine. Fine! Damn it all...” Gabriel didn’t even bother to change at this point. Why bother when dealing with the ferals? His clothing would become torn and blood splattered mess before the morning came. He reached for the half-filled bottle of vodka nearby, putting it to his lips to take a generous drink from before placing back onto the coffee table for later.

With a heavy breath leaving him, he stood to peruse the selection before him. Picking up one magitek gun from the top shelf with a long barrel that lit up with a panel of lights to his touch, Gabriel slung the leather strap over his shoulder. He reached for a large black casing from his desk, opening the flat end of the gun to replace the batteries that lie within, “Let’s get this over with…”

[burningexeter]

Let's give this show more attention, shall we?

Here's a damn solid amount of all the different kinds of media that I like to think both can definitely fit well in and could legitimately share the same universe as what is in my opinion the best children's horror anthology series of all time and one of the best horror anthologies ever made in general, R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series, which you can both read and see below for yourself right about here:

First off, here's what I mean by including the show, in my mind every episode of the entire series (at least most of them which we'll immediately get to) are all set in the same universe as each other since none of them over-step each other. However, not all of them will be for the fact that they don't fit and they suck hard in terms of quality and I've narrowed it down to five exceptions with the following reasons.....

- Red Eye, because it never lives up to its potential and has a cartoonishly written bad mother who never gets her comeuppance.

- The fucking cheese puff one, because the episode is all around trash and everyone hates this one even the creators/showrunners themselves.

- The G rated Critters rip-off, because like I said it's a shitty Critters rip-off and also has an abusive asshole father who never gets his comeuppance at all somehow.

- Mrs. Worthington, because even though it has a great performance from Margot Kidder, it never lives up to its great premise and again has an asshole mother who never gets her comeuppance.

- The leprechaun one, because it's just plain ass and AGAIN has an asshole adult (in this case, grandfather) that never gets his comeuppance.

Other than those shitty five, every. single. episode. are all set in the same universe. All of them are in the same twisted world — the Lilly D. trilogy, Scary Mary, Flight, Dreamcatcher, Creature Feature, Swarmin' Norman, the Pumpkinhead duology, Long Live Rock and Roll (AKA Doom Metal) and so on, so forth.

Also, I'm making a big deal out of the adult assholes that never get what's coming to them in a HORROR ANTHOLOGY SHOW is because in this universe we're talking about, everything is fair. Doesn't matter how old you are, your gender, your race, if you're a bad person than you end up getting what you deserve.

Second, now for the actual shared universe —

• Michael Dougherty's Trick r Treat & Krampus

• Mark Waters' The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

• Stephen Sommers' The Mummy (1999) & The Mummy Returns (2001)

• Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones Series (1 - 4)

• Jeff Kline's Transformers Prime & Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising

• Troy Wagner & Joseph DeLage's Marble Hornets

• Warner Bros.' Wizarding World Series (Harry Potter 1 - 8 & Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them)

• Julius Avery's Overlord (2018)

• Matt Reeves' Let Me In (2010)

• Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man (2020)

• M.J. Bassett's Solomon Kane (2009)

• Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend

• Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake & Control

• Andrew Stanton's John Carter (2012)

• Andrew Davis' Holes (2003)

• Gore Verbinski's Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy & Rango (2011)

• Jon Turteltaub's National Treasure Duology

• Joe Johnston's The Rocketeer

• John Carpenter's Big Trouble In Little China

• Brad Bird's The Incredibles

• Adam Andrewson's The Chronicles Of Narnia Duology

• David Lowery's Pete's Dragon (2016)

• Zack Snyder's Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'Hoole (2010)

• Travis Knight's Wildwood (2025)

&

• Jordan Peele's Get Out & Nope

[sayurifellfrost]

Prompt #18: Hackneyed

Character: Saranzaya Himaa

Age: 22

Flicking through the loose pages before her, Saranzaya’s focus was locked upon the text. She had made it a point to try to get through the list of recently deceased completely, having left the pile half-read as duties kept tearing her away before she could finish them. With her brows sunken in concentration, a slow exhale passed her lips.

Parvan. Jixa. Dologadai. Keely. Chiaki. Ariq.

Her gaze fell almost irritably to Ariq’s page, biting back a sigh as she slowly shook her head, flicking to another page.

Esunaux.

She lofted her brow at the Wildwood’s page, head slightly tilting to the side.

Rather than an outright cause of death, he had initially been written down as ‘missing’, only to have it crossed over and replaced with ‘presumed dead’, that was later corrected to simply ‘dead’ - yet his body had not been recovered.

How.. odd.

A cough behind her saw the Xaela flinch, head snapping around and golden gaze locking atop of the Viera who had placed himself behind her, lidded, purple eyes meeting her own.

“.. Were you never taught not to sneak up on a person, Ersias?” She questioned.

He met her question with a small smirk, whether or not he was simply smug that he managed to startle her, or it was some mute glee that she remembered his name, was not known.

“Actually, I was encouraged to sneak up on people in Golmore.”

Ersias gave his retort as he stepped up to the desk Saranzaya had been sitting hunched over, leaning against it while keeping his gaze upon the Xaela, who raised a brow.

“Last I checked, we were not in Golmore.”

“True. Thanalan is.. significantly more barren than my homeland.”

“Mmhm.”

Saranzaya’s gaze briefly shifted over to the Viera’s body, scanning it for any possible wound that may have been the reason for his visit to the infirmary, yet the lack of one made her eyes trail back to his, head tilting with a mute question. Ersias gave no answer, however - simply meeting the Xaela with a cocky smile.

“.. So. Is there a reason you’re here?” She opted to voice her question, brow rising once more. “You don’t look particularly injured.”

“Oh, I’m fine. Aside from a struggle to breathe, so I figured I’d see a healer.. And when I saw you, it got worse.”

Saranzaya kept a steady stare upon Ersias, brows furrowed in some concern as his initial words, only for a look of confusion to fall over her features as he continued.

“.. Seeing me made it worse?” She asked, clearly perplexed by the statement.

“Mmhm..” Ersias hummed in confirmation, before continuing with a smirk.“You take my breath away.”

An obvious blankness falls over her at the rest of his sentence, eyes fluttering twice before her features draw into a grimace.

“.. I’d like for you to know that.. That was an awful flirt.” She muttered. “.. And not particularly original.”

A soft laugh left the Viera, his lips curling into a wide grin.

“Do you want me to try again?” He asked cheerily.

“.. Not really–..”

“Your lips look lonely. Would they like to meet mine?”

His interrupt made Saranzaya draw her lips into a thin line, eyes briefly shutting as a noise of disapproval escaped her, yet despite the sound, Ersias kept his wide grin - clearly amused by her reaction.

“.. If I wanted to be tortured, I’d ask one of our torturers to do so. Please stop.” She grimaced.

“Aww, don’t be like that..”

“.. I’m really not interested, Ersias.”

“.. Because of Vairg?”

The question notably threw Saranzaya off, a brief silence lingering as she simply stared at him for a moment, not quite seeming sure how to respond. Ersias pulled his shoulders into a shrug, head canting to the side.

“I honestly don’t know what you see in him, Saran.” He hummed, tapping his fingers against the desk. “He doesn’t seem to care much for you.”

A slow exhale left the Xaela, who proceeded to slowly shake her head.

“Don’t talk about matters that you don’t know anything about.” She muttered.

“But I do know.” Ersias spoke, reaching a hand forwards to settle a finger underneath Saranzaya’s jaw, tilting her head back a touch as he continued, in a slightly lowered voice. “And I know I’d treat you better than he does.”

She had begun leaning backwards as he reached for her, having only been reached as she was about to slip off her chair if she leaned aside any further. Her brows furrowed, a small frown settling on her features as she reached up to grasp onto his wrist, pushing his hand away from her.

“.. Leave.” She demanded, tone quiet.

“Saran..”

“I said leave.”

Ersias let his hand fall to his side, a neutral look now overtaking his features as he pushed himself away from the desk.

“.. I’ll let you think about it.” He simply said, before setting his feet in motion to depart.

Saranzaya lift a hand to bury her face into her own palm, muffling a sound of disgust she was unable to hold back.

What a damned idiot he was.

[the-catalyst-wildwood]

A new prophecy has surfaced in the cosmos, warning of disaster reaching for both realms. and all of it seems to spiral out from the Wildwood. Or, more specifically, the Wildwood Champion themself. The reformed deity has no wish to bring ruin, but perhaps their sins are too great to outrun?

The cats of the Wildwood Colony, the Forest Guardian, and unlikely allies in both realms are all dedicated to stopping the prophecy from coming to pass. But time is running out, and rising tensions may bring the two realms to clash in a way no being could have imagined.

———

Welcome to the Catalyst! This is a post-spare fanfiction of Cattails: Wildwood Story, where I intend to deeply explore the cosmic realm and the characters of the two spirit-folk brought together by fate’s incredible design.

The link to the story can be found here: (not available yet; come back later!)

Tags:

#Updates: Whenever a new chapter is posted.

#Sneak peak: Progress updates, as well as extra lore.

#Official art: art that can be considered canonical to the series. Will generally have a serious or polished tone.

#Fun art: art made for fun featuring any of the characters. Will generally have a more lighthearted tone.

#Catalyst art: Both of the above, as well as any potential fanart.

[coccineum-vocatorem]

Damonient

After Minuinne's untimely death, the life Rise's soul moved onto have was that of a Gridanian, Wildwood leatherworker. However, the transition for her soul was anything but smooth, because the Angoul of Minuinne's time took her death so well that he spent the next several years practicing necromancy in an effort to bring her back to life. Though his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, he did trap Minuinne's soul in a limbo for the duration, instead of it being allowed to simply move on and be reborn.

The unfortunate side-effect of that was that the poor soul was very, very tired by the time Angoul of the time gave up and made its rebirth possible. For Damonient, that has meant what has essentially materialized as lifelong depression, except soul-level. There has been no fixing how empty, hollow and pointless life has always felt for him, despite his life always having been good. He is and always has been a passionless husk of a person, trudging from one day to the next not out of will, but simple force of habit.

Of course, then he meets a certain Duskwight who resonates with him on such a level that from the first word they exchanged... Something, a spark of something is finally lit up in him.

[musicandotherdelights]

Daily Listening, Day #138 - May 17th, 2020

Album: Joan Baez (Vanguard, 1960)

Artist: Joan Baez

Genre: Contemporary Folk

Track Listing: 

"Silver Dagger"

"East Virginia"

"Fare Thee Well"

"House Of The Rising Sun"

"All My Trials"

"Wildwood Flower"

"Donna Donna"

"John Riley"

"Rake And Rambling Boy"

"Little Moses"

"Mary Hamilton"

"Henry Martin"

"El Preso Numero Nueve"

Favorite Song: "Silver Dagger"

[umbralsound-xiv]

Spare.

Eyja -ran-, as fast as her legs could carry her. Her sprint was far from quiet, nearly thundering down the pathway while the Midlander threw an anxious glance over her shoulder on the occasion - clearly running from something, or someone. A Highlander and a Wildwood seems to be hot on her trail, lingering not all too far behind her despite the distance she tries to put in between them.

The first of the two women, a Highlander, began to close in on the woman, only a little more than a few steps behind as she sprinted after her quarry. "Y'can't run forever, Eyja! Give it up!"

The second, a Duskwight woman. Knife in hand, she kept her quiet, only a pace behind the Highlander woman, though her gaze was trained on the fleeing Midlander.

Bexy's gaze narrows on the scene. The shouting that had prevailed moments earlier had caught her attention; it was easy to see the red marks that curled up each of the women's cheeks. From her perch up high, Bexy slinks, swift as a shadow, across the ridge of the cliff, never quite letting them out of sight for long.

...It had been a quieter sun. It figures that most of them are being more cautious, these suns... As am i. I am being hunted, as much as i am the hunter. This situation, however... Something was decidedly different. All three women were marked, but one decidedly was trying to flee the others. Another one of those there by force? I would find out.

Figures passing along the road weren't anything new, not from the position Mahi'a had settled themselves down in just out of the way. Most were worth a moment of observation, though none were quite as curious as the sprinting Hyur that came into view, desperation warily noted while they rise to get a better view.

Eyja held no intentions to waste precious energy on shouting a response to the Highlander, and instead continued her hurried dash - features drawn into a distressed, perpetual frown. Her focus locked dead ahead as she ran, hoping that she’d be able to get away if she didn’t use up time to turn her head over her shoulder.

The Highlander keeps pace, but there's something lacking in her urgency. Close enough to see the woman but not enough that there seemed to be any real worry she'd get away. Allowing Eyja to pull ahead, she curls a smirk to the Duskwight. "Radim is ahead. She won't get away." Her words were quieter, unheard by the midlander several paces in front.

Nodding, the Duskwight seems to break her pace to hold much the same position as the Highlander… As though she were slowing in order to save her energy for some upcoming scuffle. Her hands don't leave her knives for a moment.

Bexy slips away through the trees. Ice at her heels sees her skid down the edge of the overlook, quickly putting her level with the fleeing group. A small flicker of ice, a glimmer of cold; Bexy keeps herself concealed and content to watch and follow… For now.

Mahi'a's staff is taken in hand as soon as they get a better look at the pursuers, scrambling across the rocky terrain to get an overview of the road. They make a quick decision while they can, aether gathered and released as a bolt of lightning - aimed for the space between the duo and Hyur ahead to try and disrupt their chase.

The crackle of lightning behind her makes Eyja flinch, head briefly turning before snapping back in front, as if keeping herself from fully looking back to see what just happened. Her steps continue to rush down the road.

"---The fuck was that?" The Highlander flinches at the sound and sight. "Jehianne, scout the area, i'll keep her on track!" She runs into the brush a little ways, in order to put distance around the impact site, and herself.

The Duskwight, Jehianne, complies; seemingly following some kind of order. Turning on her heel, she barks out, hands on blades. "Alright, show yourself! You're meddling in the wrong business!" Immediately, her gaze trains on Mahi'a…

Bexy immediately raises her bow at the sign of lightning, and then lowers it in some quiet confusion. Ears high, gaze snapping back and forth, she opts to follow the two rather than linger with the other that fell back, moving swiftly into the next patch of brush far enough to keep close. A cast glance turns her head over her shoulder, where her eyes slowly widen as they settle on Mahi'a. Bexy's grasp of her bow tightens, slowly raising it to aim as her heart raced…

...Lightning? But none of them looked the part of a mage... It dawned on me only then that i might not have been alone, and a cursory glance confirmed it... Mahi'a. My heart sang and sunk both. For their familiarity, yes... But i didn't want them to get hurt. Or prevent what must be done.

Mahi'a grips their staff tightly, attention flickering between the Highlander continuing to run and the Duskwight before them. "That tends to be the case!" they agree immediately, split second decision made to turn from her and bolt further up the side of the road after the others.

Eyja skids to a sudden halt as her gaze lands upon a Helion not too far away from her - in her way. "-- Shit.." Her gaze scans the area quickly, before she darts off the road to her right. "Shit- shit- shit- shit-"

"I told you, Eyja! Didn't fucking listen!" The Highlander continues to run, corralling Eyja further away from the road.

Jehianne looks about ready to fight, so much so to the point they are outright -insulted- when Mahi'a opts to run instead. "HEY!" She yells, daring to launch a knife towards them as they ran. "Geirhildr! We have company!"

The aforementioned Radim waits on the path; a Hrothgar of a towering stature, rapier and focus at his hip. "Don't make this difficult, Eyja…" His tone is a gravelly sound, full of irritation. "You didn't think we suspected this?"

No, no, absolutely not -- You don't hurt the people i love! An arrow. Two. I'd kill her. Marked, and ready to hurt and kill in kind. It wouldn't matter. There were others i could learn from.

As the knife left the Duskwight's hand, Bexy's arrow is drawn tightly, and loosed towards Jehianne as a retaliation for the offense!

Mahi'a dares not focus on the yell from behind them, determined to evade any kind of fight even if it did appear to be inevitable the longer they stuck around. They keep the Highlander in sight as much as possible, gathering aether in their weapon as they ran, interrupted momentarily by the impact of the dagger against the road and their own alarm. Not entirely certain of -what- they were going to do, they release another burst of lightning out towards the Highlander in front of them, praying it could serve as a distraction if not hit them.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" Eyja returned a yell to Radim. "I am NOT going back - I won't!" She's forced into a halt as she's met with the cliffside, shifting repeatedly on her feet as she turns and scans for a possible exit. "-- So fuck you!"

Geirhildr is narrowly missed by the lightning; had she continued running straight, it would have surely connected, but a sharp turn saw her follow Eyja into the brush. "RADIM, SOMEONE IS HERE!" She barks, backing into the clearing, fists up. "See what you've done, Eyja? You want to get yourself fucking killed out here?!"

Jehianne reels her hand back to throw another knife… Which drops to the ground, as an arrow plummets into her shoulder. The shock and cold of it is enough to stagger, turning her head over her shoulder to fix her gaze on the woman who peered above the brush, weapon in hand, a scream leaving her lips as realisation dawned.

Radim huffs, slowly drawing his weapon. "And now you've caused more bother for us! You -are- going back, whether i drag you there myself, or you return of your own accord! Pick wisely!" Geirhildr's call and the crack of lightning is enough to steal his attention. "Last and only warning! Back off or we bury you!" He calls out, towards Mahi'a!

Bexy moves quickly after her downed prey. There's little remorse in her action, and another arrow is already halfway formed before it's drawn; and would be loosed momentarily, as Bexy made way towards the trees ahead.

Mahi'a comes to a stop at the sound of the scream, spinning on the spot to stare back at the downed Duskwight in panic. They immediately recognise the situation yet hesitate all the same, having to tear their attention away towards the situation ahead of themselves. Slightly scattered they intend to press on regardless, taking a deep breath before releasing some aether as a fiery wave ahead of themselves - aimed to scorch the grass and earth at the Highlanders feet.

"Dying is better than the bloody alternative!" Eyja yelled to Geirhildr, before her attention snapped back to Radim and her fists raised. "-FUCK- you! And fuck Grym! Fuck every single one of you assholes!"

Geirhildr draws a sharp gasp as flames billow over the grass towards her, catching on her boots and setting them aflame. "A MAGE!" She snaps out, but seeks to resolve the problem herself. Leaping over what remained of the wave of fire, she leads with an outstretched kick, aimed cleanly for Mahi'a!

The shrill scream that Jehianne had managed cuts off abruptly, as an icy arrow immediately finds the side of her head. Slumped sideways into the dirt, staring blankly ahead, she remains unmoving.

Radim inclines his head, clicking his teeth in annoyance. "Such is your choice. Bringing you back alive was the first option. But not the only one." A rush of sharp wind is launched from the outstretched focus towards Eyja!

"Three hundred and twenty… Four." Bexy whispers beneath her breath. She tenses as the Highlander barrels towards Mahi'a, another arrow drawn and yet to fly. Unsure if they had yet to note her presence, Bexy opts to slip from the trees, in full view. "You're outnumbered." - A simple statement, spoken clearly as a threat.

Perhaps she would not target them if she knew i was here. That was the split second gamble i took into account; and perhaps divert her attention to me. Leave them alone. Look at me. I am the one who is hunting your people!

Mahi'a tries to get a look beyond the fire and trees to the figures in the distance, managing only the barest glimpse before they notice the Highlander's rapid approach. No attempt to shield themselves is fast enough and they are quickly knocked down painfully by the kick, glancing to Bexy while they scramble to recover.

Eyja’s arms raise to shield her face as the wind forces her back several paces, teeth gritting in the process. “Then -kill- me and be done with it!” Her arms swat downwards and Eyja darts for Radim, fist immediately swinging towards the underside of the Hrothgar’s jaw the moment she gets close enough. Despite her words, it seems like she’s not planning on going down without a fight.

Geirhildr barks a wicked laugh as her boot connects with Mahi'a, raising it again as though she were going to bury a foot anew into their ribs. Bexy's announcement steals her attention, and the colour drains from her face. "RADIM! IT'S -HER-!"

Radim feels the raw thud of a fist against his jaw, baring his teeth. The rapier he held is thrust towards the woman's shoulder, with an intent to pierce it. "You're less useful as a dead body, but you'd be quieter as one!" He'd noted the skirmish behind him, wagering all was in hand until Geirhildr called out. "Then kill her! The mage too!"

Bexy lunges forwards, snapping the bow in half to make two crude daggers. "Leave them alone!" She hisses, teeth bared in an uncharacteristic snarl. A clear distraction, with a hope to divert the Highlander's attention from Mahi'a!

Yes! Look this way! Drop her, Mahi'a, and i'll finish the rest!

Mahi'a pulls themselves back away from the Highlander in her distraction, trying to catch their breath despite their flare of panic. Before picking themselves up fully they release what aether remained in their staff up towards their attacker in another bright crackle of lightning.

The rapier's blade pierces through Eyja's shoulder, prying a cry of pain from her. Her free hand darts out towards his focus, aiming to ram her fist into it to knock it out of Radim's hands

The bright crackle is quick and unexpected enough to rip Geirhildr from her feet with an alarmed yelp, launching her backwards into the dirt, hard. There's no groan of protest, and no sound from her lips immediately; half covered by brush, it's impossible to tell if she lives, or not.

...Did... Did they kill her? It dawns in my thoughts that i don't think i've ever seen Mahi'a kill anyone, save for perhaps once. I know they aren't fond of it in any regard.

Radim snarls as the focus is dropped, and now divested of it, it lunges for her throat. "It would be so easy, -so easy- to break your neck and send you off with your father!" He squeezes, aiming to strangle the consciousness from her. "When you wake up, you will be back where you belong!"

As the Highlander is launched, and no immediate movement is taken, Bexy darts over to her, daggers raised. The slow rise and fall and racing of the now-unconscious Highlander's pulse is enough for Bexy to determine her fate. "Unconscious." She states, and without no more of a warning, plunges each of her daggers into the woman's hands, effectively pinning her there. "---The girl. She was running." Bexy speaks, level and collected, ready for the next altercation, looking over Mahi'a with a knit brow, her otherwise steely expression softening as it searched them, ready to move on but not to abandon them.

...I'll deal with the Highlander later. Pin her by her hands; she can't touch her linkpearls then. It's not fatal, and she's out cold. Hopefully, she stays that way. The situation is still at hand. ...Where i won't learn from prying information from people, maybe i'll learn from someone who will give it willingly. We save the girl, or try our best to, and go from there.

Mahi'a stares, grateful for the foliage that mostly obscures the Highlander's body from them, though Bexy's gesture gives them some indication that she may yet live. For now, anyway. They quickly divert their gaze away, first to Bexy herself then to the clearing ahead of them both. "She - yes. There's another they were yelling to," they say once somewhat composed. With that said, and staff in hand once again, they dash forward in the direction of the other voice.

With Radim's hand latching around her throat, her own hands lift to grip at his little finger and index finger, beginning to pull them in the opposite directions while her feet dangle in the air, legs pinning together before she sends her feet forwards - attempting to slam them both into Radim's chest in unison while her consciousness remains.

"Another step and i'll break her neck. Don't think i won't." The knit of irritation is visible on the Hrothgar's features, a breath he'd intended to take stolen at the impact, stomping over to a nearby tree and slamming Eyja back first into the bark, still firmly keeping his grasp.

Bexy moves immediately after Mahi'a when she was confident they were not too wounded and could move of their own accord, another bow forming in her hands. The arrow is drawn… But remains exactly where it is upon the Hrothgar's words, breath caught in her throat.

...Bastard. He has her already, and he knows we're here. I wager he won't talk if he's the last one left, and i'd much rather for Mahi'a's sake that he didn't kill her.

Mahi'a moves no further at the threat, faintly relieved to see that the Midlander is still alive despite everything. A small look is cast aside to Bexy before they fixate on the Hrothgar fully. "…If you leave her, you can run," they propose after a pause.

...Did... Did Mahi'a just use me as a threat? I... Am not upset for it, but surprised. I am more used to Mist or Adelle wielding me as a weapon, but not Mahi'a. But they are right. They can run if they leave her. I can shoot him at a distance.

Eyja squirmed on the spot, kicking out at the Hrothgar repeatedly while her fingers dug in between his hand and her throat, to make her able to breathe better. Her gaze darts over to Mahi'a and Bexy, then back to Radim - shifting between them repeatedly.

Radim only squeezes tighter at Eyja's struggle, casting his glance to the two Miqo'te, then. "And if i don't? You'll kill me?" He looks to Mahi'a, and then Bexy, eyes narrowed. "You've killed a good many. But i'm not like them. All with their woeful lack of experience… Or ability." He seems to drive Eyja further into the tree as his words descended into a growl. "Go ahead. Shoot me. See if i can't move the girl to block whatever you throw at me in time."

Bexy draws a long breath through her nose. "You are just like them. Blood and bone. I trust all of your organs are in the same place? Arteries?" Her tail flicks, but there's some hesitation in the way she twitches her fingers through her gloves. Her lips pull into a line, knowing time was growing short…

Organs, blood, and bone. Nothing more. I've never fought a Hrothgar before, but i can't imagine they're terribly different from any other spoken race. I could kill him. I'm confident enough of that. But i'm not sure i could do it before he kills her. I see her writhe, the fight will leave her soon. I don't have much time, and to shoot would be to risk her. ...Unless Mahi'a thinks of something in the next few moments, it's a risk i'll have to take.

Mahi'a stands tense, doing their best not to let their body language betray their ever growing uncertainty. It works to some degree, though their ears threaten to flatten down into their hair as Bexy speaks. For a moment their fingers tap against their staff, then it's raised to release a bright arc of electricity towards the Hrothgar, as little aether put into the spellwork as possible despite its flashiness.

Eyja's squirming becomes more and more frantic as Radim squeezes her throat shut, her lips part in a desperate attempt to draw breath while she sends a sharper kick for his side.

The flash is so fast that Radim doesn't have any time to react; lightning, being fast as it is, seizes his body as more a discomfort, but even the way it makes his muscles spasm and jerk isn't something he can ignore. Eyja is dropped against his own will, though she likely caught some of the surge herself.

I couldn't have thought of such a brilliant idea so quickly, and it served the purpose well. All i could do was bellow to the woman to run, and pray that she didn't run all that far and leave us without our source of information. But we had an immediate threat, and there was no negotiation, now; the time had long since passed for it. He was going to die. Not me. And certainly not them.

"RUN!" Bexy bellows, an order clearly intended for the woman. Bexy aims high, an arrow sailing through the air towards the Hrothgar's torso as he scrambled in the dirt for his focus.

While surprised that their impulsive action had worked at all, Mahi'a is quick to jump further into the opportunity. They step forward to launch more lightning towards the Hrothgar with more recklessness, watching out for any more moves from him towards the Midlander.

Eyja only briefly registers the pain of the lightning arc of lightning before she's dropped down and manages to gasp for air. Bexy's order makes her swiftly scramble across the ground and towards Bexy and Mahi'a, albeit still keeping her distance and remaining on the ground.

Radim yells as the lightning sears through his fur, leaving a smoking welt along his side as Bexy's arrow lodged firmly in his shoulder. "I'LL KILL THE LOT OF YOU!" He snarls, searching for his focus in the dirt.

…Which Bexy had noticed. When he had not immediately cast a spell back, she puts herself between the group, surging her ice into the floor beneath Radim. While he could likely pull his feet from the sheet of ice beneath him with some effort, his focus remains sealed against the dirt, unable to be grasped. "Guard her!" Bexy calls out to Mahi'a, desperately!

---No focus! You can't cast spells efficiently without one, or most can't, in any case. I'm different. Like Sayuri. We don't need such things, but i don't forget the basics. Stripped of his magic, he'll turn to close quarters. I have mere moments to riddle him with arrows before he closes the gap, but i'm sure i can do it!

Mahi'a releases a breath they'd been holding as the distance between the Midlander and Hrothgar grows. They still refuse to move their focus away from him, grateful enough that Bexy appears to have a handle on the situation but remaining ready nonetheless. The aether they weave is this time formed into a translucent shield, placed in front of themselves as they move to cover the Midlander.

Eyja quietly watches, most of the noise heard from her being her attempting to catch her breath, and a small shuffle as she shifts how she's sat. She raises a hand to cover her still bleeding shoulder, gripping it tightly.

Radim snarls as his focus remains out of grasp, and predictibly, opts to pull his feet out of the ice to charge at Bexy, being the closest. "I WILL HAVE YOUR DAMNED HEAD!"

His threats, however, don't seem to faze her an ilm. An arrow is formed, and loosed. And another. And another. It continues, but he doesn't stop moving, and Bexy doesn't give any ground either, eventually breaking her bow in half once again and expecting close quarters.

...Bastard, why won't you drop!? He's practically a pincushion and all i see is teeth and eyes closing in on me like a wild animal! That's all he is. He's an animal. It's all we all are. Blood and bone. Nothing more. Go on then, close the gap, come for me, not them! You're wounded, and i've not a scratch on me! I don't expect to get out unscathed, but it's a fight i'll win, and it's not one i can back down from now!

Mahi'a tenses up in panic at the charge, using all of their willpower to remain in place and maintain the shield between themselves and the charging Hrothgar. While their eye is fixed on him their ears flick back, trying to keep track of where the Midlander is behind them and if she moves further.

Eyja seems to have no intention to move out of place for the time being, gaze cautiously shifting between Radim and Bexy.

Radim seems to neither know nor care about the daggers, and barrels into the frosty Seeker. What sounds is a shriek from Bexy's part, and a sudden and violent crunching of ice. The two exchange blows and all but attempt to tear eachother to pieces in some writhing mass of blood and ice, which persists for all too long until Radim is the one that stops moving first. His hulking form is slumped atop Bexy, as she struggles to remove him. "Three hundred and... Twenty... Five..."

...He's dead. He got my face, everything is warm and stings and smells thick and metallic and unpleasant. My ribs... I felt something sharp. It hurts to breathe. Fuck.

"Bexy?" Mahi'a hesitates, even when it appears the struggle is over, a couple of seconds passing as they stare at the Hrothgar's body for any sign of movement. They're not entirely convinced after doing so, yet their rising concern for Bexy wins out, concentration on the shield dropped along with their staff to the ground as they move to help her.

Eyja finally scrambles up on her feet, exhaling sharply. She follows suit and moves over to Bexy and Radim, seeking to grasp at the Hrothgar and -pull- in an attempt to aid in getting him off.

Bexy's first drawn breath is a wheeze, and as Radim is removed from her, the damage is apparent. His rapier slides a few ilms out from between her ribs, and despite the damage done Bexy immediately drags herself to her feet. "I'm fine, i'm fine…" She repeats like a mantra, wide eyed and disoriented for a moment. Her gloved hand moves to the spill of blood that poured down her side, painting the usual cloth a crimson red, before she slakes the wound in ice to stem the bleeding. "I… I need a healer…" She manages, swallowing as she comes to her senses. Her face seethed with pain; a deep set of claw-marks marring her cheek, seemingly ignored as she gathers her bearings. "…But not yet. You…" She traces her gaze to the woman, half slumped against Mahi'a. "…You're running away from them." She gasps, but it's just as much of a statement. "Explain."

...I'm bleeding. Bleeding badly. But i can't squander this chance. I won't kill her, no. I have no reason to kill her. She's running away, she's running away and she won't tell, because why would she? We saved her, i'm sure. I need a healer. I need a healer, but i need information more.

Mahi'a quickly reaches to help support Bexy as she stands, worriedly examining just how much blood is covering her already. "You do," they agree initially as she brings up a healer, frowning at the follow up. Any argument is forced down for now, biting their tongue to let her talk to the stranger.

Eyja raises a hand to her neck, rubbing it idly as she eyed Bexy. ".. I don't need to explain what they are, I.. am sure -you- are well aware.." She spoke quietly, lips tugging into a thin line. "..I aint like them, I swear. I'm trying to -leave- them, they don't take kindly to it.."

"I… Figured as much. They were sent to bring you back, yes? Like Sayuri. They hate it when people run away." Bexy speaks through gritted teeth that now stained with crimson. "I heard all you said, and that's enough convincing. I have questions. I want answers." Her arm almost swings around Mahi'a's shoulders, in some attempt to not lurch and drop to the floor again. That same arm gives a small squeeze of gratitude.

"Can we ask questions after we get a hold of a healer?" Mahi'a asks, glancing between them and tightening their hold on Bexy to keep her upright. "You're both bleeding. We can go - if we get a hold of Neoma, she can meet us somewhere?"

"Well, shit.. I owe you that much..." Eyja rocked on her heels, gaze shifting upwards and towards the path before settling atop of Bexy and Mahi'a again. "...Any answer I can give, I will.. I'd like to get outta this bloody desert as fast as possible, too.."

"I will… Be fast." Bexy promises, head nudging against their shoulder. "Sayuri, Eir. They're both in that compound, yes? Are they alive? Both of them? What state are they in? Where exactly are they being kept, if you know? Can you tell me anything important i might need to know about getting in there? Anything you think i should know?" Bexy takes a breath. "The woman back there." Bexy indicates with a single raise of her index, which pointed sidelong but intended behind her. "Should i kill her?"

I asked all i could think to ask, as my head threatened to drop me through the lack of blood. Suppose i haven't fully recovered from my last wounds yet... But i wasn't expecting anything this severe. Mahi'a is still standing. That's a comfort. I needed to learn everything i could, and then i needed to go home, and pray that Neoma was there waiting. Mhira wouldn't be too far if not, and if not another pair of healing hands of the Karahli. As though i don't owe them enough.

Mahi'a releases their breath in a quiet sigh and falls silent again. Instead they cast a look of their own back in the direction of the downed Highlander, grimacing at the thought.

".. Sayuri is.. X'llaya, aye? White-haired Seeker with.. ice." Eyja grimaced slightly, head turning slightly. ".. She's alive. He.. isn't, to my knowledge.." A sharp exhale left her. ".. She got impaled through the shoulder and an arm broken not that long ago, probably broken ribs too. Concussion was the last to join the list. Kept below ground, the compound has a basement that's being used as a prison in two sections, she'd be in the solitary one." A pause. ".. Getting -in-? Other than being taken prisoner or inducted? Which.. I don't think will happen in your case, considering.. they know of you." Another pause lingers, as Eyja considers her next words. ".. She's killed some folks on the inside while you've been doing it on the outside, folks have.. tried to take her ice away from her." Her gaze shifts towards Geirhildr, frowning. ".. I.. honestly don't care if you do, or don't. She'd deserve it, if anything."

"She's alive. She's hurt but…" Bexy trails, lips parting as she slowly realises, a little vacantly. "He… Isn't?" Her voice breaks a little, but it's quickly stitched back together in favor of continuing the conversation. "Right… R-right. Okay. But… She's still fighting. She's still fighting." Bexy's words became half a muddle, nodding. "Best… Best we do. Make it… Quick. They're hunting me already, yes?" A gaze a step away from teary settles on Mahi'a. "I… I don't want them to hunt you too. Not you too…"

...Eir is dead. I... I don't... I've been telling myself this entire time that he probably won't make it, but hearing the reality of it all is somehow so much worse. He's dead. He's not going to come home with Sayuri. She's there alone. He's gone, and they took him from her. Why else would she have killed so many people? I... I can't imagine how she feels, what goes through her head these suns? Sayuri... Keep fighting. Please keep fighting. I... I'm supposed to keep you safe, but i...? ...I was supposed to keep you all safe!

Mahi'a catches barely any of the words passing between them both, lost somewhere around the news of Eir's death. They're quickly busy holding back tears, trying their best not to show their reaction in their expression - which only makes it all the more obvious. Bexy's gaze is noticed at least, some focus returning. "Can you… walk? At least stand? I need to get my staff."

"...Vairg cleaved him like.." Eyja moves a hand from the middle of her stomach and out to her side, gesturing the wound which Eir had received. "..Clean through, according to a friend of mine who saw." Her head dipped into a nod. "Aye, putting up one hell of a fight.. Killed at least four of them, and bit fingers off of Vairg after Grym put them in the bloody arena together." She nods once more. ".. Yeah, they are."

Even Bexy's gaze tears at that, swallowing the lump that swelled in her throat. "I can walk." She chokes, and she can walk, but it's more of a stagger. "Go." Bexy says to the woman. "Go before they come. You deserve freedom, and i can't fight them if they want to take it from you if they come again." She tears her gaze away from the two, and stumbles towards the brush where the Highlander had fallen earlier.

Why? Why does this hurt so much more than i thought it was going to? I... He was part of the company too. He was, and... Somehow, it isn't that. Something about it all feels so helpless, and perhaps because he wasn't even supposed to be on the field or in any situation like this, much less deserved it! When... -When- i get Sayuri back... How much is going to be left of her back in the compound? Where Eir died? Where she will have to live knowing that, for however many cycles we both have left? She was supposed to be happy, Gods damn it!

Mahi'a, thankfully, is beyond paying full attention, the worst of the grisly recount evading their ears. While Bexy answers one way, they still reach out cautiously as she moves away, watching her stagger for a few seconds to ensure she isn't likely to fall just yet. The staff is picked up from the ground once they recall their intention, hesitating there afterwards. "Will you be okay?"

".. I will. I'll get as bloody far away as I can, hide with some mercs I know.." Eyja exhaled a sharp breath. ".. Thank you, for helping me."

Bexy stares at the unconscious body, wide and teary eyed. Slumping to her knees as her own consciousness flickered, a bloody hand is set over the woman's face, a small surge of ice freezing her head solid. "Three hundred and twenty six." Bexy whispered, simply.

I killed her to keep us safe. I can't have them hunting Mahi'a too. I'm enough. Let them come for me. I'll put them all in the ground. No amount of bodies will bring him back for you, Sayuri, but i'll at least give them the same fate.

"Good… good. I'm glad," Mahi'a says with a few small nods to accompany their words. "You're welcome, it's… good that we were able to help one person, at least."

".. We're not all like them. Some of us.. had no choice." Eyja spoke quietly, lowering her head.

Bexy makes some attempt to stand, but finding herself unable to drag herself to her feet without the threat of unconsciousness, she opts to drag herself to the nearest rock, slumping against it.

It wasn't supposed to end like this, Gods damn it! It wasn't supposed to end like this! She loved him... And it's now, only far away from them and much too late that i realise how much he loved her too. He made her happy, and that was enough for me. Gods damn it!

"…I know, I've met Vex." They try to give her a small smile before looking back towards Bexy, startled by her slumped appearance. "I need to go - good luck," they say quickly, turning and rushing over to Bexy's side to crouch beside her.

"Mahi'a…?" Bexy calls, and her face is the picture of misery. Blood streams down her cheek, mingled with tears she refuses to acknowledge. "Please… Please take me home…?" She asks, reaching for a hand which she holds as tightly as they'll let her.

Eyja raised her brows, but exhaled almost in relief - until Bexy falls over. She watches quietly, before glancing towards the path to the Shroud. ".. Thank you!" She calls out to Mahi'a and Bexy a final time, before she begins to run anew.

Another small, forced smile appears for all of a second, Bexy's hand squeezed in theirs. "We're going now," Mahi'a assures her, taking as much care as possible as they help her up from the ground to return to the Shroud.

Bexy doesn't protest. Not for a second. As soon as she's helped up, she drapes herself around Mahi'a, holding them perhaps tighter than she'd needed to, for stability and comfort, both.

...They were supposed to get married. They were supposed to be happy, together! I... I'm sorry, Sayuri. I'm so sorry... I wasn't fast enough. But i... I have to keep going. I have to. I have to.

[moondust-bard]

Songs for Writing playlists: Warriors, Rebellions, War, Military, Revolutions

• Taking a Hold - Wildwood Kin

• Warfare - Katie Garfield

• The Seed - AURORA

• Rise and Fall - The Rigs

• Salute - Little Mix

• Young Fighter - Nate Fenwick

• I’m Not Afraid - Tommee Profitt

• Revolution - The Score

• Gods of War - Celeste Buckingham

• Battle Cry - Imagine Dragons

• Turning Tides - Wildwood Kin

• White Flag - Bishop Briggs

• Ready Set Let’s Go - Sam Tinnesz

• Walk through the Fire - Zayde Wolf

• Keep Your Eyes Open - Taylor Swift

• White Flag - JOSEPH

• Ready for War - Tommee Profitt

• I See Fire - Ed Sheeran

• Light That Match - Down Like Silver

• War Paint - Fletcher

• Forest Fire - Brighton

• The Great War - Taylor Swift

• Between The Wars - Allman Brown

• Battlefield - SVRCINA

• Everybody Wants To Rule the World - Lorde

• Soldier -Fleurie

• Start a War - Klergy

• The War - SYML

• Battle for Your Life - The Rigs

• Here Come The Warriors - UNSECRET

• Left Right Left - Track Team Droppouts

• Time to Go to War - King Dude

Find the full spotify playlist here

[oraclekleo]

🌻Hihiiiii soooo I’m HS! I am a scorpio sun, libra moon and a gemini rising!!! IF it’s still open, I’d like to joon the kleo kompatibility game 💟 if its okay with you, for the Kompability Kompetition I’d like to request Mark lee frok NCT 😁😁😁🩷

actually my first impression of your blog is that “omgomg i can’t waitt till Cleo finally opens request again” bc your reading is just SO much fun!! Yk when I first saw the package(?) you had like the path of the dragon, sweet romance, the power of the dragon I genuinely was like 🫨🤯🤯🤯 bc it’s just SOOO creative and funnnnnn??????? Honestly if at tht moment I had money, and your reading were open I’d 100000% buy all of that reading🥲🥲

Hello, dear!

I’m glad you find my tarot ideas funny and desirable. I always try to come up with something new and I believe life should be fun in as many aspects as possible for it to be. I’m happy people like it. I can already tell you that requests will be open in January, don’t know the date yet. And I have listened to my followers’ suggestions and there will be major price cuts. So! Hopefully you will be able to have the reading you desire.

Now lets see your compatibility reading with Mark!

@haechan99 + Mark (NCT / SuperM) Compatibility Reading

Cards: 41. Risk (Urban Crow Oracle), 4. The Challenger - Scotch Rose (Oracle of the Roses), Knight of Pentacles, XI Justice, Page of Swords (Crow Tarot), 9 of Arrows, IV The Green Man, Queen of Stones (The Wildwood Tarot)

Nearly all of your cards speak of a challenge worth the risk. While others might feel intimidated by Mark’s fame or any other aspect of his personality, you see the opportunity to stand out. While others will buck, you can shine and courageously pursue your goals regarding Mark. You two together are likely to create a powerful and daring duo, paving the path as pioneers in a project. There are not many romance suggesting cards in your reading, it gives more of a friendship vibe to me but one that’s watertight and inseparable. You and Mark are likely to form a very close union, you support each other through good times but even more through difficulties.

There’s an aspect of both speed and meticulous approach. Probably it means that while one of us is slow in action, focused on details, the other is more of a charger. You balance each other and make sure none of you gets stuck nor make mistakes in haste.

If there is romance blooming, it’s likely to be a slow burning one, growing out of a solid friendship base and becoming a strong bond. You are always brutally honest with each other and maintain your autonomy even in a relationship as you don’t think that you need to become addicted to someone for it to be a true love. For you, true love means being loyal and caring towards each other. Maybe your love story isn’t all drama and outbursts of emotions but it’s warm and long-lasting in its genuine and cozy way.

As for your favourite thing in a relationship, I see hugging. Bear hugs come to my mind instantly. Those are likely to be a part of your relationship with Mark, be it in a platonic or romantic way.

Thank you so much for requesting the reading!

I'm always grateful for any feedback.

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[sezja]

Febuwhump Day 19: "You Deserve This" Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV Characters/Ship: Nourval, Sanson Smyth/Guydelot Thildonnet Triggers/Content warnings: n/a

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six

Nourval waits, his heart pounding.

In less than a bell, he'll be a free man - albeit only for a while. Only long enough to do what must be done. Then it's back to this cell, with the world none the wiser... if he does as Sanson asks, and returns to his prison as he's bid.

He stares at his hands in the dying light spilling in through his window. Sunset. Nearly time. They'll want the cover of darkness - much relies on no one looking too closely. Secrets, more secrets. Nourval chuckles humorlessly to himself, thinking on it. The many secrets he'd learned, growing up at his uncle's knee, both strict and passionate in turn; the man truly believed all he spoke of, and hearing him, Nourval had taken it all deeply to heart. Vainchelon's murder at the hands of Ala Mhigans. Gridania, driven to seek aid from "lesser" nations as a result.

The righteous fury he'd felt; the anger, the hatred!

In its place now sits confusion, and a sense of loss - the loss of an identity he'd carried his entire life. What, then, is his future? He'd been prepared all his life to lead Gridania into a war a century in the making; a war to avenge his ancestor, slain by treachery and cowardice. What becomes of him, in the absence of that war?

And what becomes of him if he becomes a kinslayer, cutting down the very man who taught him all he knows?

He could turn on Sanson, he supposes.

It might very well get him back in his family's good graces, if he kills off two of the men responsible for finding and concealing the truth of Vainchelon's murder. If he can aid his uncle in making it look as though the Ala Mhigans slew them - for that must be Astarnaix's plan - then surely, he'll be welcomed back with open arms and accolades: his family's golden boy once more. Vainchelon reborn, here to once more lead Gridania into a golden age, independent of its ties to the Alliance, and... and...

I can't do it. I cannot do it.

It's a question of honor - Vainchelon's, Landrenel's. His own. Aye, and his family's, too, though they won't thank him for it. They weren't there that day, when that damnable bard sang the song writ in stone upon Vainchelon's grave; when the old man stepped forward to tell him of Landrenel's latter days. They weren't there when, suddenly, a great deal of Nourval's life began to make a horrible kind of sense, pieces sliding into place.

If he has a chance to... to do what Vainchelon himself might have done, to stand up against a great injustice... and perhaps reclaim some of his own lost honor in the bargain-

"Nourval!" Sanson.

It's time.

He lifts his head, rising from his seat on the bed. Sanson, yes - and another Wildwood man, in a Serpent Commander's uniform. "You convinced him, I see."

Vorsaile Heuloix gives him a nod of acknowledgment. "He was quite persuasive... and is quite convinced of your merit, might I add."

"We haven't much time." Sanson kneels before the lock, fiddling with a ring of keys. "The guard will grow suspicious if we take long."

Vorsaile, ludicrous though it seems, begins to strip off his uniform. "I fear you may find my clothes a poor fit," he says, by way of apology. "You've a few ilms on me, unless I miss my guess."

"I expect I'll do well enough." He begins undressing - far less work than getting in and out of one of those overcoats, but then, the bulky nature of the overcoat is much to their benefit tonight.

Sanson gets the door open at last, and the two elezen exchange clothes, dressing hastily in the unfamiliar garments. Sanson keeps his gaze fixed in the direction of the guardroom, though whether it's to grant them some semblance of privacy or simply out of practicality (someone must keep watch), Nourval doesn't know. The tension in Sanson's every movement speaks to his anxiety; and how not? Even now, as they carry out this desperate plan, it may all be too late.

"The guard thinks we need to search your cell for hidden evidence," Sanson explains, while they dress. "It took a good deal of convincing for him to agree to let us do so unaccompanied."

"I'll owe the fellow a bribe somewhere down the road, like as not," Vorsaile says cheerfully, now fully garbed in prisoner's drab garments - he turns his attention to helpfully assisting Nourval with the many buckles and clasps on his coat. "There you are, keep your hat on and your head down, and no one's the wiser."

People see what they want to see, he thinks, doing as instructed. He affixes the Serpent Commander's lance securely to the harness at his back, wishing he had more time to familiarize himself with the new weapon; he can only pray his skills haven't gone to rust.

"We must be going," Sanson says, closing the heavy cell door... but leaving it unlocked, the better to allow Nourval to return to his cell at the end of the night's doings.

Nourval takes a deep breath. "Thank you for-"

"Don't," Sanson says, shaking his head. "Prove to me... prove to me you deserve this chance, and that will be thanks enough. Provided I don't lose my rank after all is said and done, anything that lies within my power to grant is yours. Only..." He blinks quickly, swallows hard, turns away. Begins walking. "Only help me save him. That is the only thing that matters."

Commander Heuloix pats Nourval's shoulder through the bars. "He means it, you know."

"I know." He shrugs the man's hand away, and hurries after Sanson, keeping his head down, hiding his face as best he can in the heavy overcoat.