[molotov]

owner. Melonbread
name. Songqar

variation. boreas
beak. bone pick
base. untamed
ears. long point
tail. short tuft
wings. none
extra. saber teeth

merry christmas, happy holidays!

the winner of this anemoi will receive 2 anemoi, this one, alongside their companion that will be addressed in the prompt below. you can choose the outcome of the variant of their companion (boreas, notus, zephyrus, or eurus) alongside gently inspiring the general appearance of them depending on your description/depiction.

effort and creativity is greatly encouraged and will be rewarded. entries can be written, depicted through art, or a combination of both. runners up will receive rewards in the form of an anemoi influenced by the companion you have described within your entry, OR eggs, eggs will go towards the upcoming nursery which will provide you with the opportunity to request custom/semi-custom anemoi in the future.

to win, answer the following prompt;
this boreas has been unwillingly partnered with another anemoi who is polar opposites to them, together, they must set aside their differences and find their way through a perilous situation.

You can interpret this in whatever way you want, so long as you capture the relationship between these two anemoi.

Things to consider; What is their dynamic? What sets them apart? What got them in this situation? How might they overcome this feat together?

[strike]entries will be accepted until friday, january 3rd, 8pm, eastern standard time. time is subject to extension.


Code: Select all

[b]anemoi’s name[/b].
[b]prompt[/b].

[Shisou]

Merry Christmas/happy holidays!

anemoi’s name. Borealis and Cerulean
prompt. How in the world could Borealis get stuck with the flamboyant peacock eurus known as Cerulean. The two of them were complete opposites of one another, while Borealis was cold and stoic Cerulean was Flashy and loud which annoyed Borealis to no end, why the captain paired them together Borealis may never know.

The pair was tasked with finding a rare gemstone known as the moons eye, said gem was said to be able too guide those who had it though the darkest of night and the strongest of storms but also legend says that when used on a full moon the gem will open a portal to a list island of treasure. Now we fast forward to the pairs current predicament which Cerulean caused them to be in. The pair where trekking through a canyon of ice and snow searching for the cave that housed they're query all the while Cerulean was complaining nonstop. "I'm cold and my feathers are going to freeze off me!" Cerulean exclaimed loudly. Borealis's eye began to twitch in annoyance at the annoying eurus's constant complaining. As Borealis was about to snap at his annoying company he paused as he spotted an opening within the canyon wall. "That must be the cave we're looking for. " Borealis though. It was then that Cerulean ruined Borealis's train of though, "Borealis are you even listening to me!?" Wailed Cerulean. "Quiet!!" Borealis screamed at Cerulean. The eurus finally stopped talking as a loud rumbling began to echo off the canyon walls, as the rumbling grew louder the pair peer back the way them came as snow and ice began to rain down the sides of the canyon. "Avalanche!" Borealis cried as he began running towards the cave with Cerulean fast on his heels. The pair just barely make it inside of the cave as the Avalanche over comes the canyon.

The two lay panting inside of the cave desperately trying to catch they're breath. It's then that Borealis notices that the way they came into the cave is now blocked, this revelation causes Borealis to let out a growl. "You fool, look at what you caused!" Borealis hissed at Cerulean. "I did no such thing your the one who caused the Avalanche from yellingat me!" Cerulean hissed back as he butted heads with Borealis. "If you hadn't had been complaining the whole time I wouldn't have yelled!" Borealis growled. " whatever, surely there's another way out of here let's just find the moons eye and get out of here so we can go our separate ways." Cerulean huffs as he walks past Borealis. The pair begin searching the cave and soon come across a large clearing within the cave, in the center of the clearing floated a large circular gem that was as white as snow. "That must be the moons eye!" Cerulean exclames. "And there's our way out." Borealis says as he directs Cerulean's attention to the opening within the caves ceiling that moon light was now shining throw. "But how are we going to reach that opening the walls will be too slippery?" Cerulean questions. " I should be able to climb up there no problem, it will be faster if you climb on my back and let me do the climbing so do you trust me?" Borealis asks Cerulean. The peacock eurus stares at Borealis for a moment thinking about what Borealis just asked him. In all honesty yes Cerulean did in fact trust Borealis if he hadn't then he wouldn't have asked the captain to let him partner up with Borealis, so without any hesitation Cerulean said "yes I trust you!" With that the pair rush too the moons eye and grab it as the room begins to shake. Quickly Cerulean climbs on to Borealis's back as the large boreas jumps up onto the wall and begins climbing. The room shakes more as rocks begin to fall from the opening, Borealis continues to climb trying his best to climb faster but soon a rock begins to fall directly into Borealis and Cerulean's path but just as the rock is about to hit Borealis, Cerulean slashes the rock in two and gives Borealis a quick smile which Borealis returns as he continues to climb. While Borealis climbs Cerulean continues to slash any rocks that attempt to fall on top of them as they continue to climb, until finally they both reach the top. The two sit for a moment to catch they're breath as they take in they're surrounding. "That was amazing!" Cerulean exclaimed excitedly. "Yeah it was pretty amazing wasn't it?" Borealis says back as he looks at Cerulean. They stare at one another for a moment until finally Borealis speaks again. "You know your not so bad Cerulean. " Borealis says with a smile. "Your not so bad either Borealis." Cerulean says back with a smile.

As the two get to they're feet and begin heading back to the shore Borealis chimes in once more "let's head back and report to the captain and then let's head off to next adventure." Borealis says as he looks back at Cerulean. Cerulean gives a smile and nods his head. "I would love that!" He cheers. And with that the two set off into the sunset looking for they're next adventure.

[ylesia]

anemoi’s name. Atticus & Joy
prompt.

Atticus was lost. Pines, pines, pines on all sides. They were all the same...
“Damn it,” he shouted. His scream echoed through the forest muffled by the snow that covered everything like a soft blanket. A moment later a great thud resounded behind him. Another boreas, male but younger and smaller than him, was sprawled on the ground in the snow. He was moaning in pain. Atticus approached circumspectly.
“Hey, what were you doing in that tree and how on earth did you fall?” asked Atticus.
“Yeah, hello to you too,” said the other male.
He was almost completely black, with a few bits of golden and white fur.
“I'm Joy, what's your name, mate?” he asked.
“I'm not your mate and you didn't answer me,” said Atticus aggressively, showing his fangs.
Joy stood up, smiling.
“How obnoxious we are -- well, whatever, take it easy, big guy. I had climbed that tree to try to get my bearings in this forest, I think I got lost. Then I fell asleep, I think. Your scream woke me up and I fell down. The end. What is your name, enemy?”
Atticus grunted. He hadn't thought of climbing--in fact, he didn't even know if he could, he was too heavy and those branches looked so...crumbly.
“Well, did you figure out which way to go?” asked Atticus.
Joy, who had never stopped smiling, began to laugh so hard that he fell to the ground again.
“hahahahaha don't tell me that hahahahahah you got lost too hahahahahah"
Atticus pounced on him, growling. “Atticus is not lost, Atticus is never lost, understand? NEVER!”
"Ok, ok, big boy, keep calm" Joy said, with a slightly frightened voice. "If you go that way you will find yourself on the shore of the ocean. I'm assuming that 'big boy' Atticus is going to the ocean fair, right?"
Atticus let him go and headed that direction. He stopped almost immediately when he realised that Joy was bouncing next to him.
"What are you doing?" Atticus said, cold as ice.
"Oh, me? Nothing nothing, I'm going to the ocean fair as well so I thought we could be travel buddies! Cool, right!"
"No" Atticus said.
"Why... why everyone hates me?" cried Joy. He was not smiling anymore, actually he was... sobbing?
Atticus turned back to him. That guy was so annoying, but... he couldn't let him alone in the forest. It was dangerous and it was almost dark... "Ok, come with me but..." he said.
Joy jumped up and tried to hug Atticus. He snarled and Joy stopped.
"... BUT" Atticus said "No sounds, no bouncing or whatever that thing was, no physical touch, understood?"
Joy was smiling with all his body and nodded his head.

Peace didn't last long but somehow they managed to reach the ocean together without Atticus killing Joy killing each other. What happened at the fair... well that's another story.

[Aundonia]

anemoi’s name. Glacier & Snow
prompt.

A Typical day it was for Glacier, however for anyone else that wasn't a Boreas like him, it be disorienting. This of course was his home, what he had lifted up on, so that harsh pelting on the snow was nothing to him, but of course it was also a fact that he was built for this with such a thick double coat that seemed uncaring to a brush. On his usual truck of walking his borders and bounties of his home, a small meek voice would seemingly call out. Shaking his head, his ears perked in an attempt to listen, but all he could hear was the hollow whistling of the wind after, thinking it was a figment of his imagination. With a soft low grunt, he'd shake his head again, his head lowering into his shoulder in a bored display. Day in day out he kept his home safe but was it really what he strived to do? How bleak of a life to have to be on his lonesome he thought to himself, but he quickly shook it off with a growl, soft wisps of self steam escaping his mouth.
"I deserve this fate, my destiny..." He spoke to himself, a self destroying statement that was quickly cut with another voice, a bit louder this time but ever still so meek that it seemed like a mocking echo in his ears. His lips curled at the mocking whistles of the wind whipping around him, secretly cursing it for such a cruel joke.
"What do you WANT from ME?!" He yelled out, expecting no answer from the heartless wind and snow but to his surprise that very same voice said back "Help..."
He shook his head, snapping out of the trance that it was yet another cruel day to be in the snow, realizing that someone was in his lands, ears perked up in excitement but quickly pulled back, looking around. It felt like the careless wind and snow didn't want him to find the person in need of his help, as if it was a physical representation of his inabilities and inadequacies. He cursed it even further as he trudged forth in the direction of the voice, ignoring that inner voice in him saying he'd not find them and it just be like them all over again. Gritting his teeth, he ignored it, knowing it only desired to speak his insecurities, the only issue was that the snow seemed to have picked up his pace the more he tried to look and listen. His eyes wide, he felt like he was going insane, a wild goose chase, he'd never find the he thought, shaking it off after and kept going, kept looking until he was the one that was found instead, a tap on his shoulder.
He almost flew out of his skin at it, looking around to see Eurus that looked akin to an Leucistic Pileated Woodpecker, right down to the sparing speckles of black. Their red eyes eyed Glacier, an eyebrow cocking at seeing the terror on his face for a moment and snorted softly
"Who is getting saved here? You or me, seems you were more lost then I." She remarked softly, her voice sweet but her tone mocking. He sneered back in response, which only made her snicker more. As much as he hated the snarky responses, it was a reprieve from his own degrading thoughts. Her soft voice would cut the silence, piping up since Glacier was clearly the quiet type
"Sooo... Know the way out of this pesky storm... I'm getting quiet cold unlike you... Guess I should give my name sir hero... Ehhh..." She said, Glacier looking over as seeing her fishing for his name...
"Glacier." He remarked back, giving a soft nod as he looked around, though the snow seemed to cover his sight in a thick white haze
"Names Snow, pleasure to meet you Glacier." She said, giving a courtesy of sorts with a bow of her head. He tried to smile back at such elegance and kindness but he realized quickly that he forgot how to smile and quickly set his face back his his usual frown like display. To Glacier's surprise, this didn't offend her, making her laugh softly at the awkwardness of the smile.
"You haven't had much socal interaction have you?" She asked boldly, his brows furrowing as he kept trying to find his footing of where the heck they were, her pointing up at the sky which directed his head to look up. He'd see the North star, realizing that was all he needed and gave a nod, wondering how he forgot such a thing... He'd lead her out, using his body to take that brunt of the wind coming at them to cover her all the while. When they finally came close to his den after what felt like hours of inching, he'd let her go in first before he did. He'd cover the entrance soon after with a heavy sigh and looked back, already seeing her touching things. His eyes grew wide at the audacity and quickly ran over to stop a vace from falling, softly scolding her which she took no offense by strangely, only smiling softly in entertainment... He knew then that he made a mistake and that she be the bane of his existence until the snow storm calmed...
He'd let out a sigh, sucking on his inner cheek while she sat down patiently, looking at him with that same smile on her face that was starting to make him annoyed, but then she opened her mouth
"Do you desire tea? It's only right given I saved you- correction, saved me" She said, a playful tease, making him roll his eyes and groan softly. That only gave her more entertainment.
"I'll take that as a yes, got a kettle?" She asked further, already coming off like she owned the place.
"Yes, let me get it, touch Nothing." He said back with a grumble, her giving a nodin tern but her lip curled with a smug smile. He let out a soft "guh", rolling his eyes and went out of view. She in turn would turn would slide off her saddle like bag and started to rummage around in it, pulling out a container of tea leaves and strainer, waiting after for Glacier's return.
"Hope you touched nothing like I ordered" He came back, that being his entrance statement before she could see him. That made her properly laugh as she could feel his sneer before he even spoke, having a entertaining aura about him.
"Not a finger but my own things, what are you feeling, chamomile? Chai? Earl Gray? Green? I'm in love with tea so I have a great stock of it!" She said with a chirp, him pausing in turn. She was serious, she wanted to treat him to tea as thank you even if her snarky sarcasm made him whinge.
"I haven't had chai... I'll try that" He said, her eyes practically sparkling as she started to pull out honey and sugar
"If you have milk, you have a heavenly time!" She said, Glacier placing down the kettle and went back out of sight. He'd come back with a bottle, seeming it came from his cold storage as it the bottle seemed to gently weep with condensation in the warmer environment. Placing it down, she give a nod and pull out a waterskin, pouring some water into the kettle and start to place it on some warming rocks. It takes a hot bit but it would start to whistle, in that time they'd find cups, getting a pot and put the tea leaves in, on that front, Glacier would choose sugar and Snow honey. With that, Glacier would pour the hot water in a pot and let the team leaves seep. While waiting, they looked outside and wanted the storm rage on, Glacier finally pumping up after the silence between them felt too awkward.
"I think this storm is going to rage for a few days..." He spoke with a sigh.
"I don't quite mind, you are quite entertaining... So I think the stay will be fun, and maybe even welcomed~" She chirped back, Glacier letting it a scoff which only made her giggle in response.
The tea throughout all the talking would be done, putting the strainer on top of the cup Snow would pour into, catching the leaves to leave tea in the cup. This started with Glaciers cup, then her own, adding that milk after to cool it down and add a unique taste, stirring it so that the sweetness added would blend in evenly. With that, they quietly sipped, Glacier letting out a soft "Mmm!" at it. Snow smiled softly this time around.
"See, I told you it be heavenly! And see, I think my company is very welcomed too~" She chirped, Glacier a little softened up by the tea smiled softly even if he wanted to be stoic.
"Yea yea..." He said softly, looking at his cup.
"Been thinking, think you want to ever make a crew sone day so you aren't so cooped up on land? Maybe gain your wings?" Snow asked, not much later.
"Sometimes." He remarked back simply.
"Think you want to make one with me when all this is over? Got a feeling we are going to get real chummy being all stuck together if this storm rages of days like you said." She asked, tilting her head before taking another sip. There was silence between them again as he thought, looking around his makeshift home and back outside, staring at the snow blowing past.
"Yea, that be nice." He said back quietly, Snow giving a quiet nod.
"A deals a deal, partner." She sang, looking out at the snow with him
"...Deals a deal."

[Dewleaf]

anemoi name : Gravis ("Serious" in Latin) and Felix ("Happy" in Latin)
prompt :
WIP!

[redtruck]

anemoi’s name. tomentosum
prompt.

Tosum grumbles as he trudges through three feet of snow, periodically shaking to throw flurries of sharp snowflakes off of his ears and beak. The blizzard wasn't supposed to grow this bad, not in the meager hours after sundown at least. There was time, there was supposed to be time for him to make his way back into town after his unsuccessful hunt for rare winter flowers. Now though, that option is gone, and he bites his tongue as he shoulders his way through a wall of watery, fresh snow into a cavern he's familiarized himself with over the years. This isn't the first time Tosum's been stuck out in a flash freeze, and it won't be the last.

From within the cave, a growl rings out, certainly a bear. It rolls lowly off the sloping stone walls and marbling floor, and his ears twitch, slowly turning to find the source. His eyesight is sharp, hard to deceive, but he lets his eyes bounce off the source if only to make them feel better. Hiding in a gouge high on one of the cavern's walls is a Notus. They're shaking like a leaf but it only serves to make the growl sound raspy. In what faint light reaches them now—two delicate rays from the crescent moon needling through the wall of snow covering the entrance, and a clustering of glimmering indigo crystals poking from the ceiling—he can make out some details. Dull, unreflective plumage, likely black or dark brown, narrowed eyes rich like amber, old claw-mark gouges in a stout, sharp beak.

Tosum glances back once at the snowdrift barrier, and snorts, mist filling the air before him. Of course his only help is some damn lost tourist. "Cold up there, mimic?"

The noise stops abruptly.

"Movin' around makes for better blood flow. Lazing about works well in the jungle, not out here." Tosum looks again at the closed off entry, then steps further into the cave, shaking loose snowflakes and pine needles from his feathers. "Wouldn't you rather find some kind of out?"

A huffing little laugh sounds out, bitter as Tosum's ever heard. "An- an out?"

"Caves around here tend to look smaller on the outside," Tosum drops his snout to the ground and sniffs, scratching periodically with his talons. "Springs are common lower down."

"Wh-what's it matter to me? If you find it I can- I can just follow a big oaf like you d-down," they hiss, beak chattering.

Tosum bites his tongue to hold back a snarky remark. "Notuses are nimble. Dexterous," his claws scrape inelegantly along the rock. "Maybe you can't see as well as me in the dark, but you could find an odd spot quicker than me, then we'd both be warm. How's that sound, mimic?"

They scoff, and Tosum refrains from grinning as he hears the soft patter of their blunt talons across stone.

And sure enough, it only takes another minute for the Notus to pipe up and say, "h-here. It feels weaker here."

Tosum grumbles contentedly and drops his head under the Notus, making them squeak in surprise when he scoops them up and tosses them onto his back. Without another word he rears up on his back legs, and slams down on the spot, crushing the thick layer of sediment and frost into debris, and falling a few feet down into the jagged, warm tunnel below.

"See? Not too hard now, was it, mimic?"

"Senecio," they mutter. "It's Senecio."

Tosum smirks over his shoulder as they descend deeper toward the spring. "Tomentosum."

redtruck 701230

[Dark Mill South]

anemoi’s name. Baltoro, after a famous glacier
prompt. Baltoro was a lone explorer, a lone wolf, if you will. He was one of the only Anemoi willing to go so far north that their beloved seas turned into nearly pure ice, making his abode part of a glacial cave and sleeping on ice and snow. The cold had never bothered him, and he alone was tasked with mapping and exploring the area to report back to a larger group of Anemoi, for safety reasons. Many of them were curious as to what lay so far in the north that magic itself seemed to dance and wave in the skies. He was alone in this, so he was told, so he was quite taken off guard when another Anemoi, this one of swirling flame colors and patterns with an attitude to match suddenly appeared on his 'doorstep' and said he was here to help, beaming at Baltoro while Baltoro looked back at him with an expression of surprise, and not in a good way. Baltoro became immediately annoyed and spoke without thinking, "I don't need your help. You better go home quickly, this is no place for you. You'll only slow me down." His voice came across more harsh and cutting than he intended and he winced slightly after the last syllable left his mouth.
Ignis frowned at Baltoro, shaking his head slightly but unoffended by his demand. Ignis had heard from others that Baltoro was like this and he wasn't going to let it bother him too much, some people are just more icy than others, and he was used to being by himself. "It's dangerous out here, as you know, and the others have sent me to make sure nothing bad happens to you. Even though you live out here you're mapping unexplored territory, who knows what's even out there?" Ignis insisted, as slight and gentle as he possibly could. "It's always good to have a buddy with you when you're in places like this." Ignis finished his plea, turning his head and eyes around to broadly gesture at the ice world around both of them.
Baltoro's stormy expression deepened as Ignis insisted, though he had to admit Ignis had a great point. Baltoro had been out here long enough to know that Mother Nature was queen and fury incarnate here, he himself had several accidents as a result of the treacherous territory, but he kept that much to himself. He didn't need anyone else, he'd pulled himself out of dangerous situations time and time again. He definitely didn't need to have a 'buddy' either, Ignis' choice of words grating on his nerves even more. This was completely unnecessary and annoying to his plans. He tried a few more times to get Ignis off his doorstep but the Anemoi refused to move, even stubbornly sitting down in the snow and tapping his foot with his arms crossed, waiting for Baltoro to be ready to go. Baltoro let out a heavy groan and finally relented, ducking back into his cave and grabbing a pack of supplies and equipment, stepping over Ignis on the way out with his eyes rolling. Ignis quickly darted to his feet and sprinted after Baltoro, chuckling because his stubbornness had finally worked. They moved further north together slowly, the work of mapping was a long and painstaking process which involved Baltoro stopping every few feet and using his compass and tools to draw out the shape of the world in front of them and mark important landmarks.
Ignis was bored and impatient, ending up wandering around the areas that Baltoro stopped in just to have something to do, occasionally playing with and digging in the snow, trying to find anything at all that was interesting to look at or do. Out here everything seemed the same, it was all just cold, and white. Baltoro was no conversationalist either. Unless it was important to their task, Baltoro often straight up ignored Ignis' chatter, depriving the energetic Anemoi of conversation and interest. Ignis noticed that he wasn't as cold and shivering as he thought it would be, the temperatures seemed to be climbing as the hours crept past. He observed that some icicles were melting and pointed out the dip in temperature to Baltoro, who didn't seem all that concerned, once again just ignoring Ignis' speech. But when a loud sound sort of like the rumble of thunder suddenly rang out on this clear and sunny day, Baltoro stopped in his tracks and turned his gaze towards the sound while Ignis startled and also whipped around, both pairs of eyes fixated at the mountain before them as a large part of snow broke off and began tumbling down the slope at alarming speeds, picking up more snow and even more speed as it cascaded down the mountainside.
"Avalanche! What do we do?" Ignis cried out, looking towards the snowy Anemoi for advice.
Baltoro, a creature of glacial ice, his movements as deliberate and slow as a glacier's creep, surveyed the treacherous slope. His normally impassive face, carved from the very ice he embodied, was etched with a grim determination. He adjusted the heavy pack on his back, a pack filled with vital supplies and a rope thick as a man's arm. "We can't outrun this." Baltoro said steadily. His partner, Ignis, a whirlwind of fiery fur and unpredictable energy, bounced on the balls of his feet, humming a jaunty tune completely at odds with the looming danger. Ignis, a creature of pure flame, was a study in contrasts to Baltoro. His laughter, a crackling symphony of sparks, occasionally punctuated the tense silence. The avalanche, a monstrous, churning cloud of snow and ice, was a tangible threat, a hungry beast poised to devour them both.
The ground began to shake, a warning rumble that sent a shiver down even Baltoro’s icy spine. Ignis, surprisingly, remained unfazed, his fiery fur shimmering with excitement. "Looks like our snow-slide express is about to depart!" he chirped, his voice oddly cheerful. Baltoro, without a word, secured the rope around Ignis's waist, his movements precise and efficient. The avalanche roared, a deafening cacophony that swallowed the world in white. They were tossed and tumbled, the ice and snow a relentless, suffocating force. Baltoro, his strength surprisingly immense for his icy form, fought to maintain control, anchoring himself to the mountainside whenever possible, pulling Ignis along with him. Ignis, though initially giddy with the chaos, found his playful attitude replaced by a grim determination mirroring Baltoro's as the weight of the situation sunk in.
They emerged battered but alive, spitting snow and gasping for air. The avalanche had deposited them near the base of the mountain, far from their intended path, but safe. Baltoro, his face still stoic, nodded once in acknowledgment of their survival. Ignis, surprisingly subdued, offered a rare, heartfelt smile, his usual exuberance tempered by the near-death experience. "Think we can still make it to the summit we were mapping?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual. Baltoro, for the first time, offered a slight, almost imperceptible, smile. "We will," he stated, his voice low but firm. Despite their contrasting personalities, the icy stoic and the fiery fool had forged a bond forged in the heart of a perilous avalanche. Their unlikely partnership, tested and proven, stood ready to face whatever lay ahead.

[Melonbread]

anemoi’s name. Songqar & Yu
prompt. (this turned out a bit long ._. I hope it's not too much...)


previous day.


Winter came early and sharp in the North. Even here, comparatively south as it was, it pierced through the waters, rendering the narrow passage strait into a field of fractured ice, glistening under the afternoon sun like so much crushed glass. For the rest of the crew, this was an inconvenience bordering on nightmare—an icebound passage was untraversable by ship. For Songqar, standing tall on the deck, neck outstretched to taste the clear, cold wind, it was home.

“Songqar!”

Songqar turned her head slightly, glancing over her shoulder. “Captain.”

“You look pleased.”

“Aye, it’s good to see ice again.” She hesitated. “Er… but I’m sure the larger passages are still clear.”

The captain nodded gloomily. “And we’ll lose a week circling around.” They shook their head. “Make your rounds and head below deck. Wind’s picking up; we’re battening down for the night.

“But sir,” Songqar said, turning, “what about the scouting parties?”

“They should all be back by nightfall. If not… we’ll send someone out to search for them in the morning.”

morning.


“It’s too dangerous to head out alone,” the captain had said. “And you’ll need a doctor if they’re injured.”

That was true enough but…Songqar peeked over her shoulder for a moment at the eurus trailing in her steps, and let out a quiet sigh. She’d known that she’d be working with someone else when she volunteered for the search, but she hadn’t expected this…. They’d hardly said a word to each other since they’d departed the ship.

“We should hurry,” she said out loud, more to break the silence than anything. “The fresh ice won’t hold out for long.”

When her words were met only with silence, Songqar stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder again. Her temporary partner, too, stopped, and met her gaze.

Dr. Yu was the ship’s surgeon, which is where most of Songqar’s knowledge of her began and ended. Where the rest of the crew was friendly and boisterous as sailors ought to be, talking to Yu was like talking to a stone, or perhaps an anemoi-shaped patch of fog. Most attempts to initiate conversation were met with silence and an even, grey-green stare.

After what felt like an excruciatingly long silence, Yu finally spoke. “As you say.” And then continued on her way through the fresh snow. Much like her gaze, her voice was mild, even, and bland.

Songqar sighed again, and began trudging after her.

afternoon.


“Nice weather.” Songqar paused. “The visibility is good, I mean. Not the blizzard.”

Yu said nothing.

“In for some decent fishing once we get clear of this place.”

Yu said nothing.

“Do you know the two we’re looking for?”

Yu said nothing.

“Little guys; both zephyrus. They’d have an easier time finding some place to hole up at least.” The silence was getting excruciating. Songqar attempted to change the subject. “Do you uh, play any games? Dice? Cards?” Another wordless pause. “Any hobbies at all?”

Yu, as ever, said nothing.

Songqar flicked an ear, annoyance creeping into her voice. "I'm trying to talk to be friendly. I'd prefer if you'd say something."

"So you are."

Songqar turned to glare at her rescue partner. "Do you know what we call people like you in the North?" She flattened her ears. "Tepid."

The surgeon seemed to think about that for a moment, but as ever, she said nothing in reply. Merely looked at Songqar.

Songqar turned. "And the lukewarm are the first to freeze."

night.


It was dark when they came across the derelict. An old ship, shattered against the banks of the straight, now embedded in the ice, sails tattered and crusted with frost, bow angled up toward the sky. There was a ragged hole in its hull. Songqar stomped up and poked her head inside, pricking her ears. "Hello? Anyone there?"

No response. A common theme for the day, apparently.

Songqar had lowered her head, making to duck out of the opening, when a feeble voice reached her ears. "H-hello... someone please..."

She had barely had time to react when she was suddenly jostled from behind, her shoulder shoved aside as Dr. Yu wordlessly pushed past her and dove into the bowels of the ship in one flowing movement. As the tip of her tail disappeared, Songqar, standing in the opening, froze.

It was dark in the derelict, pitch dark. Where the outside was cast in silvery moonlight, the gaping opening in the hull before her gave way only to a thick darkness that made her feathers prickle and paralyzed her legs. And yet... and yet that eurus doctor, who seemed to care for nothing, had not hesitated. Shame coiled at the back of her throat. She steeled herself, and pushed her way in.

She found them near the middle of the ship, in a small pocket of space between the ice and the deck, shielded from the worst of the wind by the twists and turns it took to get there. The tiny space was lit by a singular lamp that was on the verge of burning out, judging by the small, meager flame. It did very little to dispell the darkness; only faintly outlined the shape of Dr. Yu crouching over a small form curled on the ground. She looked up as Songqar approached.

Songqar's eyes went from her, to the shape on the ground. "One of our missing scouts. Where's the other one?"

"I don't know." Yu had already turned her attention back to the small zephyrus. Songwar could vaguely make out her tipping a small vial of something into the scout's beak. "We need to go."

Songqar frowned. "Now? It's too dangerous to cross back when it's this dark out."

Yu stood up, and walked toward Songqar, who was forced to take several steps back as she advanced. Yu stopped when they had been backed out into the "corridor" formed by slats of collapsed walls, and stretched her neck up to stare her in the eye—the faintest glint of the lamplight from around the corner was the only thing Songqar could see her by.

"Ser deckhand—"

Songqar scowled. "I'm not a deckhand."

"Very well. Ser sailor. Evidently you are dismayed to be stuck with one so taciturn. I, for my part, am dismayed to have been assigned such a talkative partner. We are not friends."

"I..." Songqar was speechless. It was the first time she'd heard Yu express much of an opinion at all.

"But the rest of the crew, our current charge included, seem to like you very much, so it would damage their morale to argue within earshot. Nevertheless, I must be very clear: if we do not return to the ship soon, the scout will never wake up again. We do not have time to wait for morning. We are leaving, whether or not you come with us."

"But..." Songqar trailed off. But you're not strong enough to carry someone all that way. But you don't know what it sounds like when the ice is about to crack.

Yu was already gone, back to the scout's side, attempting to gingerly lift them onto her shoulders.

Songqar stood, for a moment, in that darkness. And then she moved forward, to their side, and, wordlessly, effortlessly, picked the scout up.

midnight.


Songqar was eating her words about visibility now. A thick layer of clouds had descended over the moon, plunging the world into nearly perfect darkness. She turned her head a little, just enough to murmur to the unconscious scout on her back. "We'll be back to the ship soon, yeah? It'll be nice and warm in the cabins. We can have soup and sing shanties over a game of dice." She cast a glance into the darkness somewhere to her right, where Dr. Yu presumably stood. "S' long as we're not bothering the doctor." She turned to look back ahead, peering fruitlessly into the gloom, and took a step forward.

Something brushed up against her side. Yu. "Stay close," Songqar muttered. As expected, she didn't reply, but for once Songqar was grateful for it.

They walked slowly, one tentative step at a time, Songqar straining her ears to listen to the ice below their feet. There was a slightly hollow quality to their footsteps. The sound of walking over frozen sea, instead of snow-capped land. Follow the strait south, and they would find the ship. That's all they had to do. One step, then another.

One step and another, until a warbling, almost otherworldly sound rippled through the air. At Songwar's side, Yu stopped. "Back," Songqar said. "Get back!" she raised her voice, suddenly alarmed—she knew that sound, it was the sound of warping ice, the sound of a frozen surface about to give. She turned, foreleg swiping blindly out to shove Yu back as a new sound reverberated through the air. A sharp, piercing crack.

Songqar lunged, and her foot splashed into freezing water. She jumped back, claws digging in, feathers bristling, and twisted her head around to keep the still-unconscious scout from sliding off her back. She stood rigidly still, ears pushed forward, listening. There was no longer a sleek-feathered presence at her side. "Yu?"

No reply. All she could hear was the new sound of water lapping at the ice. Songqar crept forward slowly, feeling for the edge of the ice. "Doctor!" she tried again. If she'd fallen—eurus feathers may be waterproof, but surely even they would freeze in seconds in these waters.

Finally, somewhere in the near-distance, ahead and to her right, a reply. Even in a situation like this, Yu's voice sounded unfazed. "Keep talking, ser sailor."

"I have a name." Songqar's voice shook from relief.

A scrape of claws on ice. "Are you at the edge of the ice?"

"Yes."

"Do me a favor then, ser sailor. Back up and speak again."

Songqar took several steps back. "My name is Songqar."

"But you are a sailor."

"And I'm... I'm sorry for being rude to you."

There was another short silence, and then a rustle of feathers. Songqar felt a breeze beyond the end of her beak, and then a dull thump—and suddenly Yu's voice was much closer. She'd jumped blindly over the break. "Thank you."

"A-aye," Songqar stammered.

Yu did not reply, and so they continued once more in silence, back, by Songqar's ear along the ice field.

It must have been near daybreak by the time the ship's anchor light came into view, that singular pinprick in the distance guiding them home. Songqar exhaled slowly the moment she set her eyes on it, allowing some of the tension to ease from her shoulders. Almost there.

"You have been limping."

Songqar nearly stumbled. "You're talking to me?" And then, "How do you know?"

"Your footsteps."

"I accidentally got a foot in the water."

"Hm."

"Suppose I'll need treatment." Songqar had long learned not to expect a reply by now, so it wasn't much of a surprise when none was forthcoming. She supposed she didn't need one; Yu did not need to speak for her to understand how dedicated she was to her job—

"Thank you..." The voice was very soft. "...Songqar."

[SilkenDragon]

anemoi’s name. Gentian + Carefree
prompt.
An icy marsh lies still in the morning light, the only sound from crunching snow as Gentian leads a group of anemoi up to its edge. They pause there to study the marsh before turning to give orders to the anemoi behind them in a flat tone. "Pair up and spread out. Reconvene here in an hour. You have emergency flares if anything that you can’t handle shows up."

While the group of anemoi chatter among themselves to organize pairs, the boreas, done speaking and satisfied the group would be able to sort themselves, vanishes into the marsh first. Despite the group having come to investigate an increase in monster activity, Gentian sees few signs of life, monster or otherwise, as they trudge through the snow. It’s only near the half-hour mark when they’re considering turning back that they encounter something odd.

A fox-like monster bursts through a snow drift behind them, and though Gentian braces for combat, it charges past the surprised boreas instead of attacking. It doesn’t seem to even notice them, intensely focused on something in the distance. Unwilling to let a possible lead slip, Gentian gives chase. It would be easy to catch given how distracted it was, but Gentian was more concerned about the cause of it’s strange behavior than the danger of one singular monster.

The fox monster finally slows when it reaches an unfrozen pond. Gentian stays out of sight, watching it pace and scratch at the water, its instincts fighting against the thing underwater that has its focus. Just as Gentian decides nothing else will happen and starts moving to dispose of it, a black eurus with red markings and frozen feathers bursts from the pond surface, snapping their jaws down on the monster and dragging it under like an alligator.

Gentian freezes in place, staring at the pond cautiously. The eurus doesn’t take long to resurface, tossing the monster’s remains to the side and shaking their feathers as they step up onto shore. Some white speckling stays on their head and back - markings, rather than ice or snow, it seemed. They look up and startle backwards on spotting Gentian. “Whoa! I wasn’t expecting to see another anemoi this far in! You here for the monsters too, boreas?”

“It’s Gentian.” Gentian glances at the monster’s remains. “What was that?”

The eurus follows Gentian’s gaze to the remains. “Right, Gentian. I’m Carefree. Err, some kind of fox monster, I’d guess? Didn’t get a very good look, and I’m not too familiar with all the names.”

“I’m asking what made it come to this pond specifically.” Gentian says flatly.

Carefree brightens considerably. “Oh, that! It’s a magic lure I made.” Carefree taps on a patch of red striping on their chest - on closer inspection, it seemed painted on and was more detailed compared to the striping on the rest of their body. “I’m guessing you followed the fox monster here? How did it react?”

“It ignored me and made a beeline for here,” Gentian reports, then side eyes Carefree. “What do you mean, magic lure?”

“Right,” Carefree starts chattering away, “I made this thing you can paint on using this ink you can make from monsters- whole other thing I’m working on- and it basically passively uses your own magic to make you super interesting to monsters, though I guess the water kind of messed it up so only that fox monster showed up… knowledge for next time, I suppose. Oh, and as a bonus, you can use-”

“You made a lure specifically to attract monsters?” Gentian interrupts, voice chilly. “You’re the one bringing them here?”

“Why go to them when they can come to us?” Carefree asks cheerfully, but their expression falls at Gentian’s severe expression. “Oh, please don’t mistake me as the cause of the recent monster activity. You’ve seen the state of my lure. I'm only grabbing what's already here. I swear, if anything, I’ve been catching more than my share.”

“You should come back with me.” Gentian’s voice is stony. “ We can discuss this with my group.”

“Come on!” Carefree cries, “I seriousl-” the eurus suddenly goes silent, looking towards the monster remains again and looking thoughtful. “Actually, nevermind, sure, I’ll come with you.”

The change in attitude has Gentian on guard, but Carefree does quietly follow along for the majority of the journey. Gentian’s guard had relaxed by the time the pair reached the location where Gentian encountered the fox monster, but Gentian doesn’t realize it until Carefree perks up and stops in place. This immediately puts Gentian on alert again, but it’s too late. As Gentian spins to restrain Carefree, the eurus darts away and into a cave that had been concealed by the snow drift before. Gentian snarls and chases after them.

The eurus is much quicker than Gentian and quickly disappears from sight, but the cave only has one path forward. Gentian charges around a bend where the cave opens up, but comes to an abrupt stop when a wave of sickly energy hits them. Carefree stands nearby, tail whipping excitedly as they stare ahead.

“Check it out, Gentian!” Carefree crows, grabbing and shaking the boreas by the shoulder, seeming to forget the chase just before. “I present to you, the true source of the recent monster activity! That fox monster was just what I needed to track it!”

It’s a vibrant, glowing green, a pulsing core hanging from the cave ceiling. Gentian watches as drips of magic fall off it, forming into monsters when they hit the ground. Or rather, when they hit the rapidly growing pile of monsters below. Carefree’s excitement wears off quickly. “Oh boy, that’s… a lot. We’d better hurry back for reinforcements.”

“No,” Gentian blocks Carefree from moving, finally recovering from the initial wave of energy.

“Hmm?” Carefree cocks their head at Gentian, jokingly suspicious, “Don’t tell me that you were projecting when you accused me earlier?”

“It can’t have been producing this many monsters the entire time,” Gentian says grimly. “It’s sped up somehow. If we don’t stop it now, it might not be possible later.”

“Could it have been the two of us coming in here…?” Carefree grimaces. “Right. You’re right. We can’t waste any time. I’m…” Carefree lets out a breath. “If I distract the monsters and give you a path, can you disperse the core?”

“Yes, but… distracting that many monsters? How do you plan to-”

Carefree taps their chest with a determined smile. “Let's have a second go with my lure.”

[molotov]

Results Announcement!

I apologize for the long delay, but at last I have the results! I want to preface by saying how incredible everyone’s story has been, impressively so, they exude creativity and I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every one of them.

it was a difficult decision, but the winner of this competition is… Melonbread!! Congratulations, your story was captivating, and Songqar and Yu had a really interesting dynamic. I will get started on your anemoi’s partner asap!

Additionally, I would like to reward an anemoi based off your stories to Redtruck and Harm&Ease .

Finally, I will be rewarding an egg to Aundonia, SilkenDragon, Shisou and Ylesia.

if you are unfamiliar with eggs, they are essentially tickets, these can go towards the upcoming nursery I have in the works to be turned into for custom/semi-custom anemoi.

Thank you all for your entries!