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faelyn ✦ archive ✦ last post )
Perhaps angels manifested in this world.
Angels that dwelt among them, disguised as the wonders of nature. Hidden from plain view, but an arcane treasure to those who dared to sought it. Who dared to chase it, seek it and savor it. And perhaps, the swans were one of them.
Delicate creatures wrapped in ivory and silver, spun from the finest of soft, silky feathers arrayed with intricate care. Swans… they were angels gifted with the choir of paradise and blessed to dance to its enchanted melody, weaving those unheard notes into an eternal dance. A
beautiful dance.
And she had an angel of her own as well. A guardian angel.
Her best friend, her stars, her moon and her light. Her love.
“Hey, look. The swans are coming close.” His breath warmed her cheek. “Maybe they’re bringing us gifts.”
She rested her head against his. “Are you hoping for another stick?”
His playful groan ushered the swans close. The pair of winged birds meandered, gliding through the cerulean waters adrift with rose petals, towards the banks. Their necks arched, long and graceful, in a deep bow.
“Oh! Essie, I think they’re looking for some applause━”
White wings flared up, unfurling in a flash. Water sloshed, splashing in a dozen different directions, sending droplets and rose petals over the banks in a wave.
Her angel was drenched.
She chuckled, swatting a sodden leaf off his nose. “Looks like the swans did bring us a gift. A useful one.”
(+1 dried oak leaves, +1 elder leaves)“Cheeky birds, aren’t they? Perhaps I should… thank them for their undying kindness.”
A light laugh. “Perhaps
after you dry off and gather these h━ wait. Do you see that?”
Her brows furrowed. Amidst the reeds, something bobbed in the waters, entangled by the swinging cattails and swaying grasses. Something
dark. Reaching down, she pulled it up.
A loon. Or at least… what used to be one.
Now, it was nothing more than an empty shell. A body.
(+4FP loon) And the waters where it once lay swirled a faint rosy pink, fading with the rushing ripples of the current.
The bird… it hadn’t died too long ago. What if…
“Essie!” His voice caught, strung an octave too high. “Behind y━”
And hell erupted. A a fearsome force slammed into her, oozing strength and power. Her breath hitched as a beast spiralled into view, rearing its bulbous head with a piercing
screech. The pits had summoned a demon.
And one of ire and flame.
A wolverine.
Training flooded in. All those moons spent training through blood, sweat and tears, to make the elite guardship. It never mattered more now. Her claws raked the creature’s underbelly, deft and precise. But it didn’t
release.
Those long, silver claws held her captive, a pinned bird in a cage.
The beast screeched once more, razor canines flashing, as the stench of rotten filth assaulted her senses. Choking. Another strike at its side. Her jaw clenched as the beast resisted, claws burrowing deeper.
(-25% health for essie!) “Hey, you!” A stick bounced off the beast’s head, enough to make it
turn. Quinn.
“Yes, you! C’mere!” His paws thundered across the dirt, snagging the loon discarded at the side. “Get away from her! Look!” Gold eyes glinted, a thousand emotions swirling within those depths. He waved the dead bird. “You want it? Come get it!”
And... there was
release.
The weight lifted from her chest, leaving her gasping for breath. The beast had left.
But the battle was so far from over. Not when hell had unleashed upon this imperfect paradise.
Another screech splintered the silence.
Quinn.
Her head lifted from the dirt… just in-time to see him
fall. Her best friend, her light, her angel.
✦✦✦
She was running.
But time crawled. The harsh glint of the sun, the breeze skimming her cheek, the billowing clouds gathering above her head. Everything else didn’t matter. Stripped of sound and devoid of color, a soundless blurr fading into a void.
Until she
saw him.
Her guardian angel… head cradled in a bed of scarlet roses and crimson rubies.
Except that was fantasy. Reality was so
so much worse. Unbearable.
No, no, no.
“Quinn?” She collapsed beside him, nose drifting to the soft spot between his ears. "Quinn, can you hear me?”
A long beat, then two.
Three. Starry eyes fluttered open, a light cough racking his chest. “Essie. You━”
“Shhhh, love.” Her head rested against his chest. “Save your strength. I’m going to get help, okay? Quinn?”
He was fading. Those soft, gold eyes dimmed as if a thief had snatched the glow of the stars from them.
His touch kissed her cheek, gentle and sweet.
“Quinn, no.” Her voice cracked. “Hold on, don’t do this.
Please.”
His head leaned against hers. Within those starry eyes, there was the sun and the moon, the morning stars and the constellations, the galaxies, the universe and beyond. And…
her, enraptured within the soft twinkle of those gold eyes.
The light within faded, dwindling, slipping away like the dawn.
With it, her best friend, her stars, her moon and her light. Her love.
Her angel.
He was gone.
(+1 star’s greetings) ✦ quinn has died! all explore restrictions regarding death now apply to this kitty,
unless a revive item is used (remember that you do have one for opting-in)! </3
essie was also injured by that nasty wolverine! she'll need two herbs (any!)
to prevent further health loss and one post of rest! ✦
xx
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