Name: Atlas
Name Meaning; Tiny Smooth-surfaced Moon of Saturn
Gender: Male
He never wanted this life for her. This life of fear and danger, never knowing what the future could be. He hated the viscet who dragged her into all of this and gave her this life of caution. Atlas sighed as he pulled his reading glasses from his face, sighing in frustration. In these days he often found his mind wandering and as he closed the book he had been reading, he felt that familiar sense of anger. Mindlessly glaring at the cover of the fantasy book, he stood and moved towards his bookshelves. He gently slipped the book into the empty space on the shelf, scowling at his name on the spine. He should have done more to help her, to keep her away from that wandering type. By gosh, he is her father for crying out loud! He should have protected her... and yet here he is filling his bookshelves with fantasy novels. He could feel the sun shining down on his back as it began to set. Moving back towards his desk, he slowly put away his pens and packed away his typewriter. As he moved cleared off his desk he heard a soft plop from beside his lamp. Looking around the bulky writer, he smiled softly at the fallen picture frame as he began to calm down. Lifting it gently, his eyes took in the happy faces of two, a father and daughter with eyes that shown with a joy long lost upon him. A quiet sniffle escaped as he shook his head and sat the picture back down ever so gently. Turning his back to the picture, he exited the room, turning the light off with a flick of his hand.
"Why don't you make your own adventure? A real one? Get your head out of those dusty old books and live for once. Here, I'll even come with you..."
He woke with a start, sitting up in bed. His heart was beating heavily as he tried to figure out what woke him. A strong knock on his door provided the answer. Frowning, he looked towards the clock in his room noting that the time was a little past 3 A.M. With the echo of his dream still in his mind, her voice which he clung to for as long as he could, he migrated through his living area and stood before his front door. He could hear the heavy and seemingly pained breathing of whoever stood on the other side. Narrowing his eyes with caution, he looked around for anything he could use to protect himself should his visitor be hostile and without much thought, he snatched a tall umbrella from the bucket beside the door. Holding it tightly in a slightly shaky grip, he eased the chain off the door and opened it slowly... only to close it with a huff once he saw who was on the other side. Anger filled him again as he tried to ignore the others calls from the other side. "Please! I need your help!" Grumbling softly, he returned the umbrella and began to walk back through the living room. "They have her! She's in danger!" He froze. Spine stiff, he could feel his feathers rise as he rushed back towards the door. Opening it with a slam, he got to see the other viscet fully. He took note of the hand held tightly to his side as he seemed to hold a wound and the beaten look of the young male. "Get in here." Atlas sniped, not-so-gently corralling Alakai into the room before hunting down the first aid kit. The younger male sat down gingerly, cautious of his wound as he watched Atlas move around his home. The lunar cet threw the kit in front of Alakai and took his own seat, glaring as the visitor began to bandage his wounds.
"What the heck happened to you?" Atlas listened intently as Alakai hissed in pain, making sure the bandage was tight before sealing it. Placing the kit to the side, he prepared for a long explanation.
Atlas couldn't believe what he was hearing. The tale told by Alakai was a horrifying one, filled with a sense of dread as he and his mate struggled to protect and ensure something would not fall into the enemies hands. Atlas knew the world was not in a good place, which is part of the reason why he isolated himself in his home for so long. After the fall of the guardians, his world fell into darkness and fear. Demons ran rampant and the heir of darkness ruled in Hell's Angel's shadow. Now his daughter was captured, by the Heir or Hell's Angel, he did not know. All he knew was that Alakai was supposed to protect his daughter and he was furious.
His body trembled in rage as he spits out his words. "Alakai, what the heck was so important that you had to sacrifice my daughter for it?" Alakai became stiff, nervous as he gently cradled the satchel strapped across his non-injured side. "She wanted to be the one to tell you." His voice became soft and shaky as he gently began to open the bag, revealing the bundles of soft and warm blankets inside. "We... we were actually on our way here to show you." Alakai seemed to be watching Atlas closely, judging his reaction. The elder cet felt cautious, nervous to see what his daughter seemed to hold so dear. He gasped and his eyes widened as Alakai pulled away from the blankets, revealing the large egg underneath. "Is it... is it yours?" Atlas asked as he gingerly lifted the egg from the bag. The younger cet seemed slightly offended by his question but was too proud of the egg to really say anything against it.
"Atlas," the starry cet spoke softly towards the other male. "I actually... came to ask a favor of you." The elder looked up from the egg cradled close to his chest, one eyebrow raised in curiosity yet a strong scowl still on his face. Alakai seemed nervous as he continued. "I need to go after Aurora. I can't leave her with them but I can't take the egg with me. I was wondering if you would be willing to take care of it." Atlas went stiff. He hasn't cared for an egg since Aurora came around, oh so many years ago. Even then, he had his mate with him at the time. Now not only has his mate passed on but Atlas feared he is no longer able to provide the protection and compassion needed to care for an egg. "What about your family? Surely your parents would be willing to care for the egg?" Alakai tried to hide the hurt on his face, as he said "They... they're indisposed at the time. And I wouldn't trust my brother with a goldfish, much less an egg." Atlas could tell the other cet was not telling him the whole truth but seeing the burden in the younger cets eyes, he huffed and chose to ignore it.
"Alakai, I am Aurora's father. I am going after her one way or another." Atlas' voice left no room for argument. He closed his eyes, standing tall before his son-in-law. "You are the father, you should stay here. Take care of the egg and nurse your wounds. I will retrieve my daughter." Alakai frowned, watching as Atlas once again put up all his walls, shutting out the emotion and returning to his internal isolation in determination to save Aurora. He knew there was no way he was going to be able to stop Atlas from going... but that didn't mean he couldn't come with him. "I am coming too." "But the egg...!" "Will be coming with us." Alakai snarled. "It's been traveling with us for a while. Caring for it on the road is no problem." Atlas began to protest but Alakai ignored him.
And maybe... he thought as he began to wrap the egg back in the warm blankets,
maybe we can find some help along the way.He still wasn't quite sure how he got into this situation, traveling with one of his least favorite viscets to rescue his beloved daughter. He walked several paces ahead of the young father, flicking his ear in irritation as the other cooed softly to the egg, checking on it. They'd been traveling for several days already, following the trail left by Alakai as he stumbled to Atlas' home. The elder kept his eyes open as they walked, looking out for either possible assailants or signs of a struggle that could show them the path to his daughter. He felt adrenaline rushing through his veins despite the sound of birds in the air and despite the soft, calming breeze rushing over his pelt. He took another glance back towards Alakai with a scowl, this time meeting his eyes. Alakai frowned, adjusting the bag as he moved to catch up to the other. He chose not to say anything, knowing how much his mate's father despised him.
The two walked through the forest even as it began to get dark. As more time passed, Atlas found himself becoming tenser and tenser, feathers slowly rising with paranoia. Alakai was not sure what to make of it. He knew the pair still had another day at least to walk before they found the spot where Aurora was taken and he knew that he wasn't followed after his escape but every time he tried to explain this to Atlas, the older male would snap back. For Alakai, it was incredibly frustrating. Atlas was treating him like a child, scolding him for talking too much and dismissing his ideas. He knew this trip wasn't going to be easy and that it was near impossible for them to travel without getting into an argument. He simply hoped that having a common cause would allow them to find and rescue Aurora with little to no problems. Of course, Atlas himself had similar thoughts racing through his mind. Frustration at the youngers ignorance of the world around him, his seemingly lax attitude towards finding Aurora, and simply the fact that Alakai came on this journey set his mind into a fury. He didn't want to admit it but, watching Alakai gently caring for the egg and such determination to rescue his wife left Atlas feeling a tad bit jealous. Alakai lived a life of danger and adventure, one that endangered everyone around him. It's for this reason that Atlas finds he envy's Alakai's courage. With so much to risk, he's still willing to put it all on the table to achieve a goal. Yet, here it feels as if Alakai has everything, a happy life, a loving family, everything that Atlas ever desired when he was younger. One that was destroyed on that day so very long ago.
The two walked until the moon was high into the sky. Exhaustion began to slow their progress as Alakai began to consider the best place to set up camp. Atlas, however, had his attention on something else. Reaching a hand, he grasped Alakai's arm and held him still, listening to the rustling of the wind. The scent of smoke was carried by the breeze and Atlas quickly motioned to Alakai to stay before following the trail. He walked for a few moments until he found several tents and a softly smoking campfire. The site seemed abandoned but Atlas knew better. Most likely the residents were asleep, resting until the morning rose. In this assumption, he moved to return to Alakai and tell the younger one what he found... at least he was planning to until he felt the edge of a sword pointed in his back. Cursing his own ignorance, he raised his hands to show he was unarmed. He was slightly surprised to hear a female voice call out, "Who are you? Why have you come here?" The voice was nervous yet confident, one Atlas recognized as the voice of a warrior. Though hesitant to battle, he knew this viscet would not falter if a fight did come. He knew they weren't far from where Aurora was captured and though it was a long shot, he knew she could be captured somewhere in this camp. Swiftly he jumped forward, leaping into the edge of camp as he turned to face his attacker. He noted the worn cloak that covered her and identified the sword as a broadsword, one which seemed to have seen it's fair share of battles. He only prayed it would not have to face another tonight.
He would not deny, the female viscet moved quickly, swiftly striking at him with his blade and he dodged to the side, using to momentum from his dodge to roll beside her and launch a kick into her side. She let out a grunt of surprise and in her shock, Atlas swept her legs out from under her. She fell to the ground with a huff and her sword fell from her grasp, sliding several feet away. Atlas waited for her to stand, preparing for close quarters combat but she simply laid there on her back. The cloak fell back to reveal bandages and scars, showing the eye patch that covered the viscets left eye. He felt a wave of guilt overcome him, one that came even stronger when a young cry called out, "Momma!" Atlas watched with shock as a little gray colored viscling rushed from a tent and leap towards the viscet now identified as its mother. He noted her single eyed gaze became filled with horror, seeing her son rushing towards the battle. As the viscling reached them, Atlas took a step away watching with a sense of pity as the female moved to protect her child. Atlas again raised his hands in surrender, the movement eliciting a growl from the injured mother as tears of fear fell from her single eye. Another voice caused her to freeze however and Atlas' body to tense again. "Enough Vixen." Another cloaked viscet stepped out, a blue colored hand reaching to help the mother stand. Once she was stable, the blue hand reached to pull back it's hood, revealing the blue colored feathers and star patterns that seemed very familiar to Atlas. "Welcome, my friend. We apologize for the aggression but surely you must understand that these are not good times for travelers, especially of our kind."
He couldn't quite place his finger on what was so familiar about this Altaira character. He felt like he had it right on the tip of his toungue and he kept glancing towards her as she, the one they called Vixen, and himself traveled back to get Alakai. He quickly found his awnser however as they entered a clearing and there was a sharp gasp from above. Eyes following the branches, he found the younger cet sitting near the middle with his eyes wide in surprise. He noted the surprise from his companions and watched as Altaira's face broke out into the widest grin it felt like he's ever seen. Sliding gracefully down the branches, Atlas' son-in-law quickly embraced the blue colored cet with a sob. It was then that he could see the resemblance. the starry patterns, the calm aura they both shared, all of it led to one conclusion as the newly reunited mother and son gave each other a tight hug. He noted the differences too, how Alakai stood a good deal taller than his mother, how his coat was much thicker, but still he found himself shocked.
"Mom, I've been so worried," Alakai said as he hugged his mother. She patted her son on the cheek, a large smile on her face. "It's going to take more than a resurrected demon lord to knock me down. You have no need to worry." She spoke with a laugh, as she and Alakai separated and he turned his face to the other viscet in the clearing. A gasp of shock escaped as he took in her condition. "A-Aunty Vixen?! Are you alright?" Vixen gave him a tired smile, one that didn't quite seem to reach her eyes. "I'm as alright as could be, given the circumstances." She turned to the whole group as she spoke again. "I'd love to stay and chat, but Randy is still back at camp and I don't dare leave my son with those misfits for too long."
Atlas noted that there didn't seem to be a viscet in the camp that Alakai didn't know. It was as if he was watching a family reunion, he thought as he placed some more firewood in the newly stoked fire. The sun had just begun peeking over the horizon and the family was still catching up. He didn't want to admit it, but here he felt his envy stronger than ever. He felt like an outcast here, and as he sat alone while his son-in-law laughed with his mother and companions, he felt a great sense of anger come over him. He poked at the fire with an added furiosity. "It's not safe to play with fire," a scolding yet playful voice was heard, one he identified as the blue colored cet walked towards him. "Mind if I take a seat?" She asked and with a stiff shrug from him, she found herself sitting on a log across from him. A wave of awkwardness replaced his previous anger and he began to fidget. To try and save face, he turned his gaze back towards the rest of the group where Vixen sat beside Alakai, a gentle look on her face as she held his egg. Randy had a paw on it, face scrunched as if he was trying to feel a growing life inside and a hardy laugh escaped Alakai as he tickled the young boy, breaking his concentration and causing a bright smile to grow on his face. Altaira followed his gaze and smiled at the scene, turning back to Atlas' dull eyes. "You know..." She started out slowly, watching as he shifted his attention to the mother cet. "Alakai really appreciates you coming with him." Atlas raised his eyebrows in disbelief and was about to argue but she cut him off. "He may be too prideful to admit it, but he didn't really know who to go to after we had to flee. He was always rather independent but he liked the comfort of knowing he had someone to back him up." She spoke softly, her eyes showing the worry and fear for her son that the small smile tried to hide.
Atlas didn't know what to say, so he simply didn't speak. Rather, he turned his face back to the fire and they fell into silence, though this time it was much more comfortable than before. Atlas found he didn't mind Altaira's company, not nearly as badly as her sons at least. She seemed wiser and he could tell that she, like him, had seen the horrors of the world first hand. As the two sat together, Atlas found himself listening to the conversation of Alakai and his companions. It seemed the group had finished their reunion and it seemed the young father was asking about the current situation. Atlas narrowed his eyes in suspicion as several of the cets glanced towards each other before giving Alakai a tense smile. The one named Vixen was the one to speak, "H-how about we worry about that tomorrow. It's been a long trip, for both of us I'm sure." She stood, still a bit shaky on her legs. Her eye met with Atlas as she continued. "If you'd like, I can show you somewhere to settle for the night." Before he could even stand, Altaira stepped in with a smile. "That's alright, dear. I'll take care of Atlas. Why don't you show Alakai to his tent? And find someplace comfy for my grandchild to stay the night in." Vixen nodded stiffly, turning to Alakai and Atlas raised his eyebrow at Altaira. She simply snorted and took her seat again.
"You hold a weight in your eyes," her voice was certain though with her words his heart was not. He felt those invisible barriers within his mind begin to rise again but with a single look at the other cet, he knew he would have no choice but to speak. She smirked at his defeat, knowing she had won and waited patiently. When he still didn't, attempting to prolong the inevitable, she chose to fill the silence. "He was young when it happened." A sad face had overtaken her features. Atlas looked to her with confusion in his eyes. She simply smiled softly. "He was a brave viscet, their father. Gave me two precious boys of my own. He was a guardian like me as well." She moved to lean back, her face softening with memories. "Those days, everything seemed so simple. We would alternate taking missions and caring for the kids, always spending at least one day with each other in between. Alakai looks so much like him." Atlas felt awkward but he showed no pity, only understanding. "How... How did he go?" He asked, his voice harsh with emotion as memories he tried to hide pushed their way into his mind. Altaira's eyes darkened. "A guardian's life was never made for peace. The task given to us is an important one, one that each guardian vows they will carry out even at the cost of their life. My husband was no exception. Morpheus had barely just hatched when it happened. I still remember it like yesterday, Alakai clinging to my leg and Morpheus in my arms when Kamali himself came to tell me what happened, tears streaking down the big goofs face. My husband wasn't strong enough." She shook her head, trying to pull herself out of the memories. "After that, Alakai had to take charge in the household. I was still required to go on missions, though the other guardians tried to keep me out of service as much as possible. My eldest boy had to grow up far too quickly."
Atlas didn't quite know what to say, yet he knew what he needed to say. She had shared her story, it was only fair he share his. "I..." Altaira turned to face him, eyes watching him with empathy. Atlas found himself lost in his memories as he spoke.
Atlas' ears pricked as he heard the sound of quiet laughter. A warm smile grew on his face as he recognized the sound of small paw steps across the wooden planks that made up his and his mates home. Closing the book and setting it to the side of his desk, Atlas found himself pushing back in his chair, scratching underneath his chin with an exaggerated look of confusion. "Hmm... I wonder what my daughter is up to right now." The giggling intensified and he smirked as he sees the little pink tail tuft sticking out from behind one of his bookshelves. He slowly and silently stood, speaking to draw his kins attention away from the sound of the chair rolling back. "Oh well, I guess I'll just have to get a new book, now that I've finished this one." The giggling froze as he stepped closer to the shelf, careful to make sure he made no sounds. Suddenly, as he was about to jump to the side of the shelf, a small pink blur leaps out of the gap with a scream. In his surprise, Atlas loses his balance, falling back onto his rump with a grunt. "I gotchu!" A young Aurora giggled as she clung to his arm, her other hand grasping some papers loosely. He grinned down at his daughter, lifting her up into his arms with a hearty laugh. His attention was pulled to the papers as she waved her arms with glee. "Oh? What's this?" Aurora looked to her hand, acting as if she just now realized she was holding something. "Oh! Yeah! Mommy said ta bwing these ta you." Seeing the postage labeling on the front, he gently took the days mail from the visclings arm. "Well, let's see what we've got, eh firecracker?" Aurora watched on eagerly as he opened the first letter, slightly confused by the expensive wax seal stamped on the flap. He began to read over the letter. His eyes widened and suddenly the letter fluttered to the ground, falling from trembling hands.
He stood in the doorway, a duffel bag was thrown over his uniform as he pulled his military cap down, hiding the tears building up in his eyes. His mate stood beside him, tears rushing down her face but she held her head high for his sake. In his hand was the letter, the words permanently ingrained in his mind as he looked towards his family for what would be the last time before his world would completely change. His heart broke at the sobs escaping the viscling. Falling to one knee, he opened his arms wide to give his little girl one last hug before he had to leave. She rushed into his arms. "Da-Dadd-e... Wh-why you g-g-gott-ta gooo?" She sobbed into his uniform jacket. "I'm sorry baby," the tears ran freely down his face now, listening to his daughter's cries. "Daddy has to go help some people. They sent me a letter saying they needed my help." He tried to brush the tears from her eyes but more would quickly fill it. His mate practically snarled at his wording. "More like forced," She muttered angrily. "You didn't even get a choice." He pulled Aurora up into his arms, wrapping the free hand around his mate as they all clung to each other. "I'm sorry." She pulled him tighter, reassuring him with the strength in her arms. "I know. You never chose to be drafted. You'd never leave us on purpose."
Months later found Atlas on the battlefield, an army of shadowbeasts striking he and his companions with the ferocity of a thousand nations. They barely managed to land a win, striking down the last of the beasts and returning to the trenches to prepare for the trip leading towards the next battlefield. Atlas felt as if he could fall apart on his feet, swaying slightly with exhaustion as he moved towards the benches to take a seat. Mud caked his feet and was splattered across his feathers as rain droplets fell softly against the world. He heard the tired mutters of his fellow soldiers as many followed suit, some taking apart their weapons in an effort to clean the pieces. He heard the usual complaints asking why they had to be here. For some, he agreed with. Why sacrifice their lives when there was a guild of immortal guardians willing to fight in their place? Quick footsteps and a shout pulled Atlas' head up, his stomach filling with a sense of dread as he took in the letter in the messenger's hand. "Private Atlas, a letter from the General." Gingerly, he took the paper and pulled open the seal. The eyes of most nearby soldiers burned into his back as he read over the sheet, his face becoming more anguished as he continued. Once he reached the end, he met the sympathetic eyes of the messenger. "Private, the General has arranged for you an honorable discharge. Report to his office with your belongings so you may be relieved from duty." A sharp salute was given and returned. Some soldiers would describe the event to others with intense emotion, stating that was the day the rain fell the heaviest.
It was odd to be home again. He hadn't even spent a year on the battlefield yet he felt like he had forgotten what it even felt like to be in a city, to be safe. He made his way towards the towering building ahead, doing his best to hide his trembling hands in his old trench coat as he stepped into the structure. A single sign could be read, "Department of viscling services."
The rain was heavy as he stood before the house. Unlocking the door, he was careful not to jostle the little body held tightly in his arms. He pushed into his home, coughing slightly as he stirred up layers of dust. The home felt abandoned, empty. It felt as if all life had been drained from this place, a place that he had built with his mate tainted by the losses it has seen. He walked past the living area and kitchen, towards the old wooden stairs and began to make his way up, his mind racing with thoughts. No one really knew what happened to his mate, one day she was here and the next day the neighbors reported the crying of an upset child. Police would storm the home, finding the place had been ransacked and Aurora hiding in the old coat closet underneath the stairs. Every time they tried to pry some semblance of an explanation from the girl she would either break into sobs or completely shut down. With him being the only known living relative of her, he was pulled from active duty in order to fulfill his role as a single dad. The title still sounded sour in his ears. Walking down the familiar hall, he pushed open the door into the soft white room. Pink drapes hung from the windows, leaving the room basked in soft light. Gently he pulled the sleeping viscling from his shoulder, pulling down the blankets and brushing them off before setting his daughter down on her bed. Pulling the blankets back up to her chin, tucking her in and placing a small kiss on her forehead. He stood and stretched, dragging his hand down his face before he began to make his way towards the door. A small whimper stopped him. "Please... Please don't leave me." The soft mumble from his daughter's lips was filled with such hurt and desperation that Atlas felt his heart fall apart. Looking around the room, he found a wooden chair sitting in the corner of the room. Moving the various stuffed animals from their place, he pulled the chair over to the bed, gently taking Aurora's hand as she slept. "Don't worry, Baby." His voice was thick with emotion as he settled himself into the chair. "Daddy won't ever leave again."
He talked to Altaira into early morning before she showed him to his tent. He slipped through the entrance, walking past the gentle snores of Alakai to a cot sitting on the opposite side of the room. Settling in for the night, he tried his best to sleep but ultimately failed. Old memories brought back his sense of unease, leaving him unable to rest. The colors of dawn were beginning to peek into the tent when he finally just gave up. Though his body was exhausted, his mind would not sleep so instead of wasting his time attempting to do so, he would make himself useful. Pushing himself up, he walked out of the tent. The scent of cooking food snagged his attention and he made his way towards the middle of camp where he could see a large fire already burning.
He felt somewhat surprised that he was not the first one awake. The female viscet from the night before roasted several fish over the fire, seemingly unaware of Atlas' presence as he stood on her blind side. He tried to speak but found he had nothing to say so he closed his mouth with a snap. The sound seemed to startle Vixen and she jumped with surprise, turning swiftly to face the intruder. Atlas put his hands up in surrender and she felt her body relax at his now familiar presence. "You certainly love to sneak up on people, don't you," she spoke, light mirth on her voice as she stoked the fire with a thick stick. "The same could be said for you." He spoke in return, and without speaking he took a fish from her basket to begin preparing it to be cooked. She smiled in appreciation. They worked in silence for a bit, before Atlas cleared his throat. Feeling bolder than yesterday, he asked, "What... What happened to you?" Her soft smile turned into a frown, then a sigh. "It's a long story." He looked at the basket of fish, still nearly full and said, "Looks like we've got plenty of time." She snorted in amusement. "Well... where to start then." She scratched her head as she turned to meet him in the eye. "You know of Hell's Angel, correct?" At his nod, she continued. "She was summoned by a viscet known as Asher. Asher was one of my mentor's old apprentices, at least until she became corrupted by one of his magic crystals. After that, she began collecting magic gems in an effort to gain enough power to bring her army to life. Obviously, she succeeded, but apparently, the army wasn't enough. She wanted revenge for what my mentor did to her, and when she realized that she wasn't strong enough to do it on her own, she decided to recruit some help from the demon plane."
He knows how this story goes. The great demoness devastates the land, destroying armies, villages, and whole civilizations for the satisfaction of watching mortals squirm. "My mentor did his best to return the demoness to her seal but ultimately he was the one banished along with Asher. In her victory and newfound freedom, Hell's Angel attacked us. My mate, Lupine, tried to help us escape but one of her demons found us. The one known as The Raven. Lupine told me to flee, to protect our son. We made it out but I had received grave injuries. Altaira patched me up the best she could and now we, along with the rest of the refugees are trying to find the rest of the guardians and help as many people as we can along the way." Atlas was shocked. He hadn't realized that there were still people fighting. He felt a feeling he hadn't felt in such a long time. Hope.
It was about noon that things changed again. Everyone had enjoyed their morning fish, taking and chattering with hopeful and gleeful voices. For once, Atlas didn't feel upset by it rather he felt refreshed. He ignored the curious glances given to him by his son-in-law and chose to, for once, enjoy the moment. Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the camp as a tree was seen falling down near the edge of the tents. Afraid of what seemed to be approaching, Altaira, Vixen, Atlas, and Alakai rushed towards the forest edge. They reached it in record time, scanning the undergrowth for any disturbances. Suddenly, Atlas felt something drip onto his muzzle and tried to shake it off. Blinking down at the liquidy gold substance, he stuck his tongue out to tase what had seemingly fallen from the sky. He easily recognized the flavor. "Honey?" Alakai looked at him like he was mad while the two females reflected gazes of joy. A familiar voice echoed through the clearing, "Was that really necessary?" Alakai gasped as two viscets stepped out of the clearing. Rushing towards one of them, the other gasped when it noticed him. "Alakai!" Aurora cried as she ran into the arms of her mate. He ignored the cold metal of the cuffs around her wrists in favor of embracing his mate, "Oh Aurora, we were so worried about you!" The two practically shook with relief. Fauna watched them with a wide smile as several other viscets seemed to catch up.
"So what happens now?" Alakai and Aurora looked at each other, then back down to the egg in her arms. The couple seemed conflicted. Alakai knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to go after this mysterious undertaker that kidnapped his mate and show him just what happens when you mess with family. But he knew he had a responsibility to his mate and his family, one that meant he could no longer rush recklessly into battle as he used to. He refused to allow his child to grow up without a father as he had to. Aurora felt much the same. She refused to simply abandon her egg, as her own mother seemingly abandoned her. In a split second, the two came to a decision. "We are going to be parents," they said in unison. Though their phrase was a bit nondescript, everyone knew the pair's intentions. "Well," Atlas' voice spoke through the satisfied silence. "If you two are going to raise a viscling, you're going to need a proper home. Luckily I have one to spare." He passed Alakai the keys to their old family home, the one where this whole adventure started. The young couple couldn't believe it. "But," Aurora asked, her voice soft with awe, "What... what about you?" She turned to her father. "What are you going to do?" He simply smiled at her. "I've decided that my service isn't over." He looked around at the faces that surrounded him, ones full of hope for a better future. "This world still has people looking for a better ending. I think it's about time I give them one."
And so, the ending of one adventure finds the beginning of another. Alakai and Aurora move into the old family home to prepare for their child. Atlas joins forces with the refugee's of the Order of the Guardian's, joining their newest members, Azrael, Obsidian, Tundra, and Pele to work towards making a difference against the harsh tyrany of Hell's Angel and her demons. Things don't look well for the guardians, but he knows that as long as they have hope, they have a chance. A chance he's willing to fight for.
As he closes the book, fresh ink dripping from his pen, Atlas takes a deep breath. The journal in his hands is thick, filled with his past journeys. He looks forward to the day this war ends and the day he can sit down at his desk, typewriter before him, and share his story. After all, his story is one of hope and adventure... and everyone could use a bit of hope in their life.
You pressed rewind
For the thousandth time
When the tapes wore through.
So you memorized
Those unscripted lines,
Desperate for some kind of clue:
When the scale tipped,
When you inherited
A fight that you were born to lose.
It’s not your fault,
No, it’s not your fault,
I put this heavy heart in you.
I put this heavy heart in you.
You remind me of who I could have been,
Had I been stronger and braver way back then.
A million choices, though little on their own,
Became the heirloom of the heaviness we’ve known.
You try your hardest to leave the past alone.
This crooked posture is all you’ve ever known.
It is the consequence of living in between
The weight of family and the pull of gravity.
You are so much more than your father’s son.
You are so much more than what I’ve become.
Long before you were born there was light
Hidden deep in these young, unfamiliar eyes.
A million choices, though little on their own,
Become the heirloom of the heaviness you’ve known.
You are so much more than your father’s son.
You are so much more than what I’ve become,
What I’ve become,
What I’ve become.
You are so much more than your father’s son.
You are so much more than the wars you’ve won.
You are so much more than your father’s son.
You are so much more than what I’ve become.
All Viscets used in this story are owned by me and can be found here.
Thank you so much for reading bless your soul and I hope you enjoyed!
