The Fallen One wrote:Username;;
The Fallen OneName;; Rándiân (Chinese for Ignite)
Gender;; male
Short story;;
The cold breeze sent a chill down his spine as Rándiân huddled beside the oak tree. Rándiân released a small puff of air and curled up tighter, trying to avoid the agitating cold. Near by, visclings played in the autumn air while adults chatted happily. He never knew why, but something about the cold always made him wish he was a bear and could just hibernate until the warm weather returns. Of course, hibernation is not an option. Instead, he laid there and watched the others in a silent manner, happy for them, but upset with the weather.
A small viscling whom he recognized as Adyx approached him with a curious grin on his adorable face, his short, fluffy tail waving from side to side. "Hello mister, what are you doing all alone?"
"Well Adyx, I'm trying to stay warm. I'm not too fond of the cold, you see."
"But the cold brings snow and that's fun!"
Rándiân chuckled lightly. "Yes, snow can be fun for some, but I'm not a big fan of that type of weather. You should go back to playing, though. Don't let me hold you back."
Adyx paused and watched Rándiân in silence as the adult Viscet yawned and rested his head on his tail, eyeing the viscling as he did so. "I think I'll stay here with you."
Rándiân raised an eyebrow. "What about your dad, Gallow? You could go hang out with him."
Adyx began climbing up the larger viscets back before curling up beside the vast amount of golden fluff on his back. "Nah. I'll stay with you."
Rándiân watched Adyx as he tucked his small head against his side and let out a content sigh. A warm feeling enveloped his heart as he saw the joy on the visclings face. A sense of protectiveness and peace flowed over him as he rested his head once more. Though this viscling wasn't his, though he had no visclings or mate of his own, Rándiân felt as though all around him were family, and that if something were to befall one of them, he could never forgive himself.
In time, the rhythmic breathing of sleep fell upon the two and they slumbered through the night beneath the oak tree, each keeping the other warm throughout the night.
In the morning, Rándiân was awoken by a tug on the ribbon that was tied around his neck. Slowly, he raised his head and yawned for several seconds before opening and closing his mouth a few times to remove the odd taste that sleep left in it. He gazed down at Adyx as the viscling pawed and gnawed at the green ribbon as though it were an enemy that must be defeated. He laughed lightly, catching the visclings attention, and stood up. "C'mon kiddo, let's find your pops." He walked foreword, taking small steps so the weaker viscling could keep up with ease.
"Where did you come from, Rándiân?"
Rándiân paused at the question and gazed at the small viscling in surprise. "Where did I?... Erm. I came from the western mountains. It was a long journey, but worth it in the end."
"Why did you leave your home?"
Rándiân froze, feeling his spine go cold and a sinking feeling echo in his gut. "I... I left because I didn't have anything there anymore..." Memories of wolves and guns, shrieking howls that flooded the night and the biting cold of the blizzard snow as the shadow of a small viscling fell to the ground, a helpless squeak echoing in his mind. Rándiân shook his head violently, trying to remove the dark memories from his mind before they carried on. "I left because I couldn't live there anymore."
"Why not?" Rándiân felt a bittersweet feeling as Gallow walked over and nudged his young son.
"There you are, Adyx. Are you bothering Rándiân again?"
"Not at all! He kept me company at night, and we had a nice conversation."
"Ah. I'm glad you watched over him for me, thank you. And sorry for any trouble he caused you. Let's go get you something to eat Adyx."
"Bye Rándiân!" Rándiân smiled as the pair went off toward a berry coated bush for their breakfast. After a few moments, he turned and began to walk back to the oak tree. His fore paw found the ribbon and pressed it against his chest as the heavy memories of his viscling carrying the small object to him, a proud look on her face as she helped him put it on. Her growing stronger each day until she was capable of taking three unstable steps on just her hindlegs. His heart ached for the warmth she had and her joyous, energetic spirit.
The day the wolves had come, his pack wasn't prepared. Most were gone, leaving him and an elderly Viscet to watch over the visclings. A massive pack showed up and attacked, most starved to desperation. Rándiân tried to fend them off, but soon found himself over powered. The last thing he remembered before his pack returned, was the helpless squeaking of his beautiful viscling as she tried to battle against three wolves to protect a newborn. After the wolves had gone and the losses were counted, his adorable baby among them, he could no longer look at any of them with dignity, nor could he stand how the snow mocked innocence. So he left and headed East, hoping to find a fresh start from the haunting memories and agonizing pain that followed him day by day. He found that in the small pack which he resided in now. Though there was snow, and the young Adyx reminded him of his lovely daughter, he grew to love this pack and accept everyone and everything as though they were his own. So a new healing had begun, not one that was quick and immediant, but a slow and gentle healing that seemed to fix everything all at once without fixing anything.
997 words for the story