[HoneyLavender࿐]

Username: AngelDoll
Name: Ananya
Gender: Heifer
Collar: Artists choice <3
Competition:

I heard something.

That was strange in itself considering I had not spoken for nearly seven years now - and for good reason too. I was deaf.

But how the voice sounded, now that was very strange. It was in the old language, which I was surprised I understood since I couldn't remember what my own voice sounded like, but the words they spoke - or screamed rather - did not sound like words that haven't been spoken in years, but instead ones that had been spoken regularly.

The voice didn't seem strained or rough. It sounded strong and full of life. But still, at the sound, I looked up in shock. Eyes wide with surprise. But slowly, I turned my eyes back down to The Book Of Truth. I wasn't reading, I knew every word by now considering one hour a day was dedicated to my reading it. Instead, I strained my ears to listen for the voice. I counted in my head and after a while I found myself staring at the door that led outside with wide eyes. The voice was closer.

Once I realized my eyes had strayed from the Holy Book however, I immediately snapped them back down, hoping my mother wouldn't notice my lapse in concentration. The war had lasted for so long I forgot others existed - others who weren't kept as captives and made the build the fortress.

The voice yelled again, joined this time by other but shockingly not in defeat. In victory. My breathing picked up. What was going on out there? hope threatened to rear its head but I quickly shoved it aside.

I heard fighting sounds. Images flashed before my eyes. I saw victory. Had the war really gotten that bad? We knew nothing of the outside world, but I assumed we were still fighting with armies.

My mother stood up and I quickly turned my gaze back to The Book Of Truth. A tear slid down my cheek, dropping onto page 623 of the Holy Book and I knew my mother saw it, but she couldn't say anything.

None of us could.

[bluex]

𝔟𝔩𝔲𝔢𝔵
𝕹𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖌𝖎𝖈 𝕾𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 || 𝕱𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖊
𝔥𝔢𝔦𝔣𝔢𝔯
𝔠𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔞𝔯: 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔭𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔶 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔱
𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔢𝔱𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫:


Fearne flinched as teeth gently pulled on the locks of hair sat on the top of her head, and her mother let out a small chuckle,
“Sorry, my dear, but these burrs won’t make for a comfortable rest tonight.” Humming her understanding, Fearne complacently sighed. She closed her eyes and absorbed the last few lengths of sunlight, letting the warmth spread across her skin. She heard the familiar snap of stems and turned her head to see her mother assembling a pile of forget-me-nots next to her on the ground, slightly concealed by the overgrown grass. Fearne cleared her throat and grabbed at the golden chain framing her neck, clutching the key dangling from the necklace. With a knowing smile gracing her aging face, Fearne’s mother pulled out a small ornate box and passed it to her young daughter. The calf eagerly pushed the key into the hole on the bottom of the charming little box, turned it clockwise, quickly undid the latch and opened up the lid.

The cold, quiet evening was interrupted by the chimes springing from the music box, the young girl’s gaze fixed on the spinning cylinder and it’s dozens of metal pins as they hit the metal comb. The air was still, turning cold as the rays stopped shining through it, a silver mist rising with the moon. As Fearne’s mother began to thread the forget-me-nots into the young girl’s hair, her voice wrapped around her daughter like an embrace, warm and full of love as she started to sing along with the tune. As she listened, Fearne’s eyes closed and her worries melted away.

“Loo, loo, loo, I’ll take you dreaming,
Through the rainy night
To a place behind the raindrops,
Where the stars are bright…”

As if it were all a dream, her eyes snapped open and the warmth of her mother’s closeness vanished. Her eyes welled with tears as she clutched the box, rewound it and sat it next to her on the cliffside. It had been so long since she had passed, but the song made her feel like it was only yesterday that they had been together, lying in the field. The forget-me-nots lying in front of her shuddered as the wind battered them, carrying with it the gentle voice of Fearne’s mother, singing along again.

“You may not find gold or silver,
But a richer prize
Waits for you behind the raindrops
If you close your eyes…”

-- snipping this art --

^ since i don't want this art used, cacto you're more than welcome to dm me on discord and i'll make you a free hs <33 ily

[acadicus]

Closed for judging! Please do not enter or edit after this point! <3

[acadicus]

Sorry for the wait! I had taken a few days to look over each entry until I finally came to a decision - Congrats Cactologist! I know Gwyneth will be going to a good home with you. ♥
I thoroughly enjoyed every paragraph and art piece! It was a really close competition, and each of you won in your own special way. Thank you all for entering!

[Cactologist]

Khdkhdiyuof I'm actually speechless thank you so much!! 😭

[acadicus]

Gwyneth's collar has been updated!! I'm sorry for the wait - this totally slipped my mind for a second there :') Let me know if you'd like a different design <3

[Cactologist]

Gwyneth's collar has been updated!! I'm sorry for the wait - this totally slipped my mind for a second there :') Let me know if you'd like a different design <3

Aaaa I was flipping through old cows when I noticed this, thank you so much!!! It's so perfect and so fitting, I love it!! <33