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duskowithapen · 10 months ago

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After Ifrit

January's Rambles Day 6

Word Count: 1067

After Ifrit

Ifrit was extinguished, but the flames around her weren’t. Zaya shuddered, skin crawling along the edges of new burns, and she breathed in

Ifrit was extinguished, but the flames around her weren’t.

Zaya flopped onto her back. She ignored the way her skin crawled along the edges of new burns, how warm her chainmail felt above the protective padding, the odd angle her tail was caught in beneath her. She just wanted to revel on the feeling of being alive. A victory song warbled out of cracked lips, and she licked them to sooth the sting.

A mistake.

Zaya coughed and gagged as ash and blood coated her tongue. She rolled onto her side, curling into a shaking, shuddering ball despite how much her body did not want her moving right now. Pressing her scarf to her nose, Zaya tried to focus on the faint scent of Tataru’s preferred soap rather than smoke. Her breathing slowly evened out, but it only made the ache in her throat – her hands – her chest – her aether – so much worse. Aether that flared in animal terror as the sound of footsteps reached her horns. Pain was pushed aside as Zaya rolled to find her katana.

The footsteps grew faster, closer.

No, no more – not again!

A whine escaped a tight throat. Her katana appeared under a scrabbling hand, still smouldering from Ifrit’s last strike, and Zaya forced herself to her feet. She darted towards the cavern entrance – towards those footsteps – and at this speed, it didn’t matter that her arms were shaking. Her sword still struck true.

Or at least, it would have. If her target was anyone but Thancred.

The pale-haired man yelped, eyes wide, and caught the blow with his own sword. “Zaya – Zaya, it’s me! It’s Thancred!”

Her mind knew this. It recognised the strange mask on his shoulder, the curling red markings on his neck, the steady sand-over-bedrock of his aetheric signature. But her body didn’t. Her body was still primed for battle. Like this, Thancred wasn’t a safe haven – he was another enemy to defend against, to defeat before he could tear and burn and hurt her. She delivered another crushing blow, sending the man sliding to the side.

“It’s me, Zaya, calm down!”

It’s Thancred, it’s Thancred, her mind hummed, safe-steady-warm.

It’s an enemy, it’s an enemy, her mind yelled, hurt-pain-no-more!

Zaya flipped backwards out of reach, scrabbling at the drained well of her aether reserves. If she could just conjure a shield – heal the wound dripping blood into her boot – catch him in Higanbana –

“Zaya!” Thancred seemed to appear out of nowhere. Air that was once empty was no longer so. Her katana was flicked from her hand. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her over a hip and slamming her to the ground. Zaya snarled, tail whipping out and around to slam against a restraining leg. Above her came a muffled curse, but she was too busy trying to fight against the forearm stretched across her collarbone, hands clawing at wrist and elbow. Another hand grasped her chin.

“Look at me, Zaya – look at me!”

It was the smell that cut through the panic. Fresh cut wood, Thanalan dust, perfume. “Th-thancred?” The fight went out of her. Limbs went limp. Eyelids began to flutter. Every injury seemed to catch up with her at once, pulsing through her body. A whimper rang through her teeth as her body tensed again. Thancred put more pressure on her chest, legs shifting to better pin hers, hand moving to restrain the end of her tail.

“I – I’m okay, daijoubu,” Zaya relaxed her grip on Thancred and tilted her head forward, breathing in the pine and sand and flower scent, only to flinch from the blood that smeared across her jaw – blood that wasn’t hers. “Daijoubu desu ka, ah, are you – are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

“It’s alright, just a scratch,” Thancred soothed, slowly releasing her from the pin to kneel at her side. “Are you back with me now?”

Zaya nodded, leaning back into his supporting hands as he pulled her upright. Head heavy, she couldn’t help but slump forward into Thancred, pressing her face into that space between his neck and shoulder. Mmmm, so warm… The thump-thump of his heartbeat was just wonderful against her horn, and she couldn’t help but tilt her head into it, rubbing scar and scale into the softness of his shirt. Her own racing heart began to slow.

“Whoa there!” Thancred seemed startled by her actions, but not annoyed, given the way he curled an arm around her back. “Don’t go passing out on me now,” he said, “We should get you back to Camp Drybone.”

A grumble vibrated in her chest. Don’t wanna move… Her hand left red and black streaks where she clutched his shirt, and she hummed an apology. Still didn’t want to get up though.

Thancred’s grip changed to resting against her back to being tucked under her arms, and Zaya growled as the man stood, dragging her along. She let her body go limp. Showing off a strength hidden by his loose clothes and charming smiles, Thancred held Zaya straight out from his body like a disgruntled cat. Her feet dangled a good foot from the ground, and she kicked them half-heartedly. Her tail drew little squiggles in the sand. Thancred had a look on his face like he was trying very, very hard not to smile.

“Are you going to keep being difficult?” He asked.

Zaya frowned. “Y’don’t have to help me,” she rumbled, “I can get back to camp.” In a little bit… after I’ve had a nap.

“Uh huh.” Thancred did not seem convinced. He sighed. “Alright, c’mon.”

Zaya didn’t protest as the man drew her in closer, gladly curling arms, legs and tail in against the warmth, but grumbled loudly when he tried to move her elsewhere.

“I’m trying to help you, you silly lizard,” Thancred said, pulling and pushing her limbs until she was curled up against his back, rather than his front. Blood spread across his white shirt, and Zaya pawed at it.

“Sorry ‘bout y’shirt,” she slurred into his collar, “Clean it f’you later, p’omise.”

“Just don’t go falling asleep back there,” Thancred said, deliberately shuffling the grip he hand on her thighs, “And try not to let your tail trip me up, will you?”

To be continued... when I don't have to go to work

#january's rambles #ffxiv #fanfiction #ffxiv thancred #au ra wol #zaya qalli #this is after the Ifrit fight #samuari wol #yes zaya is an eepy baby #and weighs as much as a bunch of grapes #my warrior of light #is a child

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aetaeswolf · 3 years ago

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Since I’ve been mentioning my FFXIV story, I thought I might introduce the characters that I’ll be putting in it!

In order of appearance in the story, we have:

Name: Arlieth Oronir (Arlieth de Fortemp from Heavensward onward) Race: Au Ra (Xaela) Age: 26 Family: None (gets adopted into the Fortemp family in Heavensward) Role: Warrior of Light Main Class/Job: Astrologian Alt Classes/Jobs: Ninja, Black Mage, Dark Knight Class/Job Quests: Conjurer, Dark Knight (both seen in the story) Introduction: Start of the story -On rocky terms with her tribe -Often acts before she thinks -Part Qalli

Name: U'rhoe Mewrilah Race: Miqo'te halfbreed (Keeper/Seeker) Age: 33 Family: Okhi Mewrilah and Zaya Mewrilah (adopted younger sisters) Role: Azure Dragoon of Ishgard Main Class/Job: Dragoon Alt Classes/Jobs: Samurai Class/Job Quests: Dragoon, Samurai Introduction: Start of A Realm Reborn -Blind in one eye -Fiercely protective over the ones she cares about -Covered in scars

Name: Okhi Mewrilah Race: Miqo'te (Keeper) Age: 30 Family: U'rhoe Mewrilah and Zaya Mewrilah (adopted sisters) Role: Scion of the Seventh Dawn Main Class/Job: Lancer (later turns into Dragoon) Alt Classes/Jobs: Dancer Class/Job Quests: Lancer, Dancer Introduction: Start of A Realm Reborn -Hostile toward elezen (with a couple of exceptions) -Protective over Arlieth -Scars along her back and on her wrists and ankles

Name: Shiro Yaketsuku Race: Miqo'te? (Keeper?) Age: 34? Family: Kheni Lanbatal (wife) Role: Patriarch/Protector of clan Foxclaw (co-leads with his wife) Main Class/Job: Black Mage Alt Classes/Jobs: Gunbreaker, Sage Class/Job Quests: Thaumaturge, Black Mage, Gunbreaker, Sage Introduction: Near the end of A Realm Reborn -Very strange aether -Mischievous -Protective over what he perceives to be his

Name: Syrreth Kahkol Race: Au Ra (Xaela) Age: 25 Family: Shessae Kahkol (younger sister) Role: Assassin Main Class/Job: Ninja Alt Classes/Jobs: Red Mage Class/Job Quests: Rogue, Ninja, Red Mage Introduction: Near the end of A Realm Reborn -Mute -Gentle nature -Tries to keep the others safe

Name: Shessae Kahkol Race: Au Ra (Xaela) Age: 23 Family: Syrreth Kahkol (older brother) Role: Assassin Main Class/Job: Ninja Alt Classes/Jobs: Summoner Class/Job Quests: Rogue, Ninja, Arcanist, Summoner Introduction: Near the end of A Realm Reborn -Will bite if a stranger gets too close -Climbs up taller races to sit on their shoulders (once comfortable with them) -Known to cause chaos

Name: Koharu Orl Race: Au Ra (Xaela) Age: 31 Family: None Role: Foxclaw Warrior Main Class/Job: Dark Knight Alt Classes/Jobs: White Mage Class/Job Quests: White Mage Introduction: Heavensward -Hates Ishgard and Ishgardians -Sometimes gets taken over by Esteem -Makes candy

Name: Elja Djt-dvre Race: Viera (Rava) Age: 102 Family: None Role: Ala Mhigan Resistance Fighter Main Class/Job: Reaper Alt Classes/Jobs: Lancer Class/Job Quests: Reaper Introduction: End of Dragonsong -Selective mute -Unusual bond with the void -Hard to anger, but those who manage to do so will wish for death

Temporary Party Members

Name: Kheni Lanbatal Race: Miqo'te (Keeper) Age: 32 Family: Shiro Yaketsuku (husband) Role: Matriarch of Foxclaw Main Class/Job: Scholar Alt Classes/Jobs: Summoner, Archer Class/Job Quests: Archer, Acranist, Scholar Introduction: End of A Realm Reborn -Powerful arcanist -Traces of another’s aether that’s bonded to her -One of the few who can keep Shiro calm when he’s angered

Name: Zaya Mewrilah Race: Miqo'te (Seeker) Age: 24 Family: U’rhoe Mewrilah and Okhi Mewrilah (adopted older sisters) Role: Ala Mhigan Resistance Fighter Main Class/Job: Monk Alt Classes/Jobs: Conjurer Class/Job Quests: Pugilist, Monk Introduction: Stormblood -Positive outlook -Keeps her sisters grounded -Gods help the people who harm her family

Now, this story is still in its very early stages (Arlieth’s barely gotten into her starting city) But if you would like to follow and keep up with the story, you can find it on my Quotev. It’s called Light and Shadow, and while very early ARR can be a bit of a slog for anyone, I do hope you enjoy what I have written!

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