[milo.]

week two of the event going under way this morning! i've loved seeing all the prompts from last week, and hopefully i have some time to work on some in the weeks to come!

if you haven't had the chance to check it out yet and this is your first week of participation, be certain to go over the rules and guidelines located HERE before jumping in! this event runs differently to the other ones in the past, so keep that in mind!



prize viscet (here) + prize viscet HERE




PROMPT 2;;

something important happened to your Viscets this summer-- whether it be good or bad, what happened and how did they handle it?

they say that your life can change in the blink of an eye, and what better time for that to happen but during the summer? we want to know what happened to your Viscets that may have changed their lives for better or for worse, and we'd like to see how they handled the situation




LIMITS;;
- you may use writing or art to fill the prompt
- if you choose to do writing, you have a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 3000 words
- if you choose to do art, you have a minimum of 2 art pieces and a maximum of 5 art pieces
- in order to qualify, you must reach minimum requirements



this prompt runs from June 11th to June 18th and will end 9pm CST

[Shadow Striker]

~Letters of the Grieving King~

Sunfair, Day 10, Year 647

Dearest Lilith,

It is too our displeasure that we have discovered your espionage for the Demon of Death, Brigor. It brings us great pain to know that you have chosen to betray your own parents in such a manner. Your mother and I are absolutely furious. We raised you better than this. We raised you to know right from wrong. So why is it you chose to endanger our entire kingdom?

You are a princess, Lilith. You should act like one. You have been raised to follow in mine and your mother’s footsteps. Since day one, we have taught you of the tyranny that Brigor brings. He has slaughtered our people, your people, Lilith. While the magic he offers has enormous power, it also comes at a great cost. Are you ready to sell your soul for the small taste of power he has to offer you?

If this is about power, I am not sure why promise of the throne in the future is not enough. Is knowing one day you are to lead the kingdom not enough to satiate you? Do you need control over such terrible things? Must you learn the powers of blood magic and necromancy? Perhaps you are seeking that further control, which is severely disappointing. It is not natural to control people to such extent. It is not natural to raise the dead. It is forbidden to enslave people using the writs of blood magic. Not to mention how immoral and unethical it is. We really thought we had raised our daughter to be better.

Or perhaps this isn’t about furthering your power or control at all. Perhaps you are doing this for knowledge. If it is knowledge you seek, you can tell us. We can allow you to study under our court-sanctioned necromancer, Elysium. She is one of the most powerful in the kingdom. Surely, she could teach you what you wish to know. We may also be able to convince Belladonna and Atropa to accept an apprentice, if blood magic is what you seek to study.

Maybe this isn’t about anything of those things. Have your mother and I done something to anger you? Make you feel the need to rebel and get back at us? We can’t possibly think of what we may have done to incite this. If we have angered you, come to us. Let us know.

Aonani and I may be the king and queen of Tylek, but we are still your parents and we love you very much. However, we cannot support you while you are actively condemning the kingdom by revealing our secrets to Brigor. This path you are heading down is very concerning, and we are pleading that you stop at once. We cannot halt the war, because our peoples’ lives are at stake, but we would be heart broken if you became a casualty of it. Come home, Lilith. Stop this foolishness. Your mother and I will be waiting with open arms.

With Love,
Your father, Mordecai

Sunfair, Day 31, Year 647

Lady Dahlia,

Enclosed with this letter are copies of that which we have sent to our daughter Lilith. It has been three weeks since Aonani and I have discovered our daughter’s treason. We have both sent letters to where she is staying. Well, where we have been informed she is staying, but surely seven viscets could not be wrong. She simply is ignoring us. It’s the only plausible answer.

We have tried hard to be reasonable, but we are at wit’s end right now. Our own daughter is serving the enemy and divulging top secret information with his inner circle. This is far beyond that which is taught when learning about leadership and how to run a kingdom. How are you supposed to handle your own family betraying you?

Aonani has been sick with grief. She has only slept a few hours each night, waking up from what I can only assume are night terrors based on the way she screams and panics. After suddenly losing our first child Cynthia, I’m not entirely sure she can handle losing Lilith. It still haunts us that we will never know what happened to Cynthia. I know you don’t have children yourself, so you couldn’t possibly know the terror of waking up to find that your little princess was not in her bed come morning. The guards saw nothing, and after all this time, we have yet to find a single lead to point us towards what may have happened.

Now our other daughter is gone, and although we know her whereabouts, it is quite as awful as when Cynthia vanished. Except now, we also must deal with the pain that our child is actively working against us and all we stand for. What could have possibly happened, Dahlia, that could make Lilith forget the morals and views we have taught to her since hatching? What did Aonani and I do wrong?

It feels now more than ever that we have failed as parents. We were so caught up in raising future rulers and leading our people, we must have missed the warning signs. If only we spent more time with our daughter, maybe none of this would be happening. What will happen if the people find out? When the people find out? Who in their right mind would support a ruler whose own family turned towards darkness?

Dahlia, we don’t know what to do. While I know your job is to advise us in matters pertaining to leading the land, you are mine and Aonani’s closest friend. We trust you and are confiding with you in this time of darkness. Please, Dahlia. Please help us figure out how to bring our daughter home.

Your Friend,
King Mordecai

Sunfair, Day 33, Year 647

My Majesty,

There is much sorrow in my heart for your family. I cannot even imagine the suffering you and your mate are feeling right now. Please express my condolences to my Queen.

It’s unsurprising she is unwell during this hardship. Sunfair’s heat certainly can’t be helping. The stress and grief alone are enough to drive even the gods to sickness. The pain of losing one child is enough to break the strongest of souls, let alone the loss of two. While Lilith is still known to live, I can only imagine it feels that she has walked with the protector of the unliving, Lady Laurel to our final resting grounds of Mau-Vah. However hard it may be, though, King Mordecai, you must remain strong not only for Queen Aonani, but for all your subjects. They look up to you in this time of darkness. Do not abandon them now when they need your guidance and gentle but firm leadership the most.

I know it can feel like you have failed your duty as a parent, however that is not the case. Children grow and develop into their own being, and the best we can do is hope to influence their development for the better. You have taught Princess Lilith the lessons needed to rule the kingdom fairly, and I know you did your best to impress the morals you hold which are valued so highly by the kingdom. It is now in her hands to act upon those lessons.

My Majesty, if I may be so bold, perhaps what she has done is not entirely her fault either. I have been reading on the ways of magic and how mages acquire their powers. While it is not well known or well-studied, I consulted with your Mages’ Circle to further understand my knowledge of this matter just for you. (And maybe for my own curiosity as well, if I am being honest.) It is my understanding that a mage’s magical abilities are gifts from the gods or demigods themselves, and the class of magic they excel in directly correlates with which deity gifted them their abilities. Marrock, your restoration mage, was gifted by the demigod of healing. Shay, your conjuration specialist, receives her power from the deity of Fire, Dea Ignis. I was also informed that you and your mate received your magical abilities directly from the god of creation and life, Apollo. In addition, because of your royal status, you have been gifted magical talent beyond that of the average being.

Obviously, you are aware of this fact, and that is why our kingdom serves for him and his cause. What puzzles me, is that you have not even considered the option that Lilith had been given gifts from Brigor. Perhaps she is unable to stay at the castle because he has chosen her, and she is helpless to fight the calling. We are aware that Elysium and Belladonna both receive their power from the Demon of Death; however, they may not have been granted as strong of abilities as she has. She has royal blood like you two. If you are bound to Apollo’s will in return for magical prowess, perhaps the same has happened to her.

I know you do not want to think about it, but as your advisor, I am forced to tell you the truth, no matter how difficult it may be to hear. I hope after this letter you still choose to have me be your advisor. I am honored that you have considered me your friend, and I hope this does not change that.

Yours truly,
Lady Dahlia

Sunfair, Day 55, Year 647

Our Dearest Lilith,

We would like to apologize for our previously aggressive letters. Your mother and I acted poorly and instinctively. We have taken some time to try to process the information that has been passed to us. During these past few weeks, we have realized we would much rather have you in our lives than not at all.

We have not been fair towards you. We do not know the full circumstances of your alliance with Brigor, nor could we hope to ever understand if we didn’t try to talk to you about it. It is understandable if you don’t want to talk to us about it at all. It is your life, and you should do as you see fit. We do wonder the possibilities of whether you are bound to his will or not due to gifts of power and magic.

Perhaps it is time your mother and I told you more about our alliance in hopes you see where we are coming from. We have been gifted magical talent by the god of creation, Apollo. I've been told I was bestowed with the gifts of death and destruction immediately upon hatching to the previous queen and king, whereas your mother informed me Apollo chose her for powers of life and creation when she was three years of age. Because we both came from royal lineage, Apollo gifted each of us more powerful abilities to help rule the kingdom. In return, we were bound to his will.

We did not start this war against the dark magics. Apollo waged war against his counterpart, and we were helpless against the call to fight. The gods’ war turned into our own, causing the blood shed and tragedy across the land. It has divided our people into two, which we are regretful and sorrowful for, but we cannot help it. Mine and your mother’s opposite abilities make us a powerful pair for Apollo, however, and he has no wish to stop using us as his pawns.

Against Apollo’s word, we are halting the hunts for the time being. Your safety is of the most concern for us, and we would not want to see you fall into harm’s way. While I seem to be doing okay disobeying the god’s orders, your mother seems to be struggling more. We are not sure how much longer we will continue to be able defy Apollo’s will, but for your sake, we will continue to try.

I wish I could tell you everything was okay at home, but that would be lying. Your mother is severely ill with grief during your absence. She cannot sleep and refuses to eat. Speaking to her is like speaking to a wall, and I cannot even get her to leave her room. It breaks my heart to see her suffer like this, but she is severely distraught over your absence. I am unsure of how much is you missing and how much is fighting off Apollo’s will. On top of that, we are doing our best to answer a barrage of questions asked about your disappearance. We will continue to do our best to help keep your cover as long as we can.

Your mother and I have another confession to tell you. You are not an only child, Lilith. It is time you knew. You have a sister, Lilith. Her name is Cynthia, and she was absolutely wonderful. We haven’t told you before because we always thought maybe your sister would return to us, but after all these years, it no longer seems to be the case. One night, however, something happened after we tucked her into bed. When we went to check on her in the morning, she was no longer there. It has been years, and we have no leads. We feel the empty hole her absence has left us every day, and now with you gone, the pain has increased tenfold. It is like a piece of us has been wrenched from our souls. We miss you Lilith. To us, you will always be our little girl.

Please. Please just let us know you are okay.

Love,
Dad

Sunfair, Day 86, Year 647

Mother and Father,

I have written and rewritten this letter over a hundred times it feels. I just don’t know how to say what I need to. It is against Brigor’s judgement that I write to you, however I feel you have the right to know what is going on in my life.

As you have suspected, Brigor has granted me magical abilities beyond that of average in return for my loyalty. As you know, it was not really a choice, but something thrust upon me suddenly. I have been aware of my talents for a few years, but only in the last year has he called upon me to study as to further my magical power.

It is not completely as you think though. I have been granted the position of being Brigor’s right hand man per say, and he confides in me about almost everything. Yes, the war we are fighting is between the gods, however, were you aware it is Apollo leading the fights? Brigor never retaliates, but only fights to defend himself and his mages. Apollo fears Brigor’s power and wishes to eradicate him in hopes of becoming the most powerful deity. Currently, Brigor holds the most power and has control over more kinds of magic than Apollo, which is why Apollo is trying to recruit other gods, so he has their mages’ fealty as well.

I would like to be very clear that I never divulged our kingdom’s secrets, and Brigor would never ask it of me. The sneaking around and the secrecy has all been fear of your guys’ reactions. I never wanted to keep it a secret, I just wanted to be able to learn more of my power and to study directly under he who grants me my power.

That all being said, I have some interesting information regarding your magic, Father. It was one of the first things Brigor informed me of when I left the castle. It is Brigor, not Apollo, who gifts you your magic, and thinking about it, it only makes sense. You control death and destruction, like I. How would Apollo be the one to grant you that magic? It also explains why you have been able to fight off Apollo’s orders whereas Mother is struggling. He has not called upon you and your power because he does not desire that kind of control. He seeks to share his knowledge and power with the world, but because of current events, he is vastly misunderstood except by a select few. (Of course, there are those who abuse his power, but he cares for them all the same.)

One last thing, Mom and Dad. You have a grandchild now. Her name is Kali, and she is amazing. You see, during my studies, Brigor and I grew close. He is the father, but it is no reason to be upset. Kali is an incredible viscling, and she will be an incredible demigod if she is anything like her father. Keeping the pregnancy and an egg a secret was excruciating, especially when I wanted to share the excitement so badly with you two. I wish more than anything you could meet her. However, at this time it is unsafe to bring Brigor’s child into the castle grounds. I do not foresee that going over well.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything I have put you two through. I am glad you have come around somewhat, and I hope eventually we will be able to put an end to this foolish war. Keeping Kali away from her grandparents is painful, and I hope only short term.. One day soon, I hope you will be able to meet her. Until the kingdom is a safer place for us, we must stay away though. I am sure you understand. This will be my last time writing until that time comes, for the safety of my family.

Your daughter,
Lilith

Sunfair, Day 88, Year 647

Our most precious Lilith,

Thank you for responding to us Lilith and for showing us the truth. We will see what we can do about stopping this foolish war. We love you, so very much.

Love,
Mom and Dad

[3000/3000]
Mordecai, Lilith, Aonani, Dahlia, Laurel, and Kali belong to me
Cynthia belongs to Humerussin and is used with permission

[fromage]

Elowen rested on the handmade pillow on the wooden porch, watching the farmer tend to his crops as she sipped on her lemonade. It was a wonderful day, they managed to trade so much more crop, two of the sheeps gave birth safely, and the bird she had been nursing back to health flew away without any issues. She watched as Artemus stow the tools in shed before settling down next to her. The two sat in silence as the sun begun to set, the glass of lemonade sat beside forgotten in the moment. Eventually the pair gathered their stuff to head back inside their cozy cottage for good nights sleep.

Strangely enough, normally roosters acted as waking alarm; they had sheep. After fifty years of taking care of generations of sheep; they grew accustomed to when they usually woke up and would bleat for their food right on time. The antlered viscet rolled out of the bed, jostling Artemus awake in process. She pulled a wool shawl around herself and headed downstairs to make breakfast for the two and for their herd of sheep.

"I'm going to visit my cottage after I feed the sheep." Elowen announced, looking at her partner affectionately as she received a good morning kiss from him. The man nodded to acknowledge what she said before leaving the cottage first to tend to his crops and do other farm work. She followed after with a bucket of sheep feed, carrying it with straining effort towards the barn. The bleats got louder the closer she got; she poured the feed into through until she emptied the bucket. She carried the bucket with her as she approached the barn doors, she pulled the latch up; using it as knob to open for the sheep to hurriedly leave.

"They're always so excited for their food." Artemus called out in middle of cornfield, the woman responded with a fond laugh. "See you later, honey." He added as she left the fenced area, hanging the bucket on one of fence posts near the gate. She pulled the shawl around herself snugly as she headed into the woods. The vegetation became thicker the more she traversed. The walk was really far; but she always appreciated the nature of her former home. Tall, thick trees with large canopy where you couldn't see much of the sky, plants growing so high and bustling that it blocked your vision for path ahead, and everything made her feel at peace.

Finally coming into the area where there was less vegetation, a small fenced off plot with smaller than farm cottage nestled almost in middle. She lived here almost all of her life, but eventually she had to leave because it reminded her so much of her late baby sister. Their parents had died when Erin was only five, the older woman decided to raise her sister by herself without hesitation. It felt like she wasted a lot of her life on that sometimes when the kid went missing, possibly deceased now alongside their parents. Elowen stayed positive, although, that she might come back someday.

Upon opening the door, she was hit with mildew smell, she faced it with bitter smile. She wished she didn't abandon it like this for the nature to overtake, but there was no point in obsessively cleaning it every week. The woman entered the kitchen where she spent most of her time, cooking, looking out of the window, even reading. She almost became lost in the memories when the fainest of noise had her snapping her head towards the door.

"Wow, Elowen, you got old." A cloaked viscet jabbed at her with horribly familiar voice that had her blood turning to ice. The antlered viscet watched in increased shock as other begun taking her sheep-like cloak off. Under the thing revealed to be none other than..

"Erin. You.. you came back home? Why do you feel different? You never used to call me old." Elowen anxiously asked, gripping onto her shawl. All this time waiting for her baby sister to come back, fifty years is too long for her to causally come back home. Something isn't right, she knows it.

"Uhm, excuse me." Another familiar voice had her walking backwards into a kitchen counter, no, not just Erin, but also.. her best friend? "Sorry about Erin, it's, uh, nice seeing you again, ma'am." Oh, how she always loved Peregrine's presence; shy but polite, but the tone didn't sound alike. She watched as her baby sister walk off into the cottage with terribly less regard of her older sister.

"Peregrine.. honey," she attempted if not, for some reason, afraid of her life, "it's so nice seeing you two again. A-after fifty years. I heard nothing about you two, I thought for sure you died."

Peregrine shuffled awkwardly, lowering his head to hide his eyes. The woman could hear some noises coming from Erin's old bedroom, the two stood in uncomfortable silence for a while until the viscet started approaching her. The gesture had Elowen backing up further until she hit a wall, the male kept going until he was closely standing in front of her.

"Don't, um, tell about this to anyone, not even Artemus," soon as her partner name is uttered; her blood and soul completely froze, "Me and Erin.. you need to forget about us. We aren't the same anymore. Years ago I went out in search of Sigmund. I lost my heart in the process."

"Erin although.." Peregrine looked at the closed bedroom sorrowfully, reaching up to grip onto his pedant. "She doesn't have her empathy anymore. A perfect, emotionless substitute leader for Silvmor. She grew accustomed to her changes pretty quickly, I'm still struggling with it. I still don't understand why I'm a substitute leader for Aeoria."

Elowen stared at the male in front of her, remembering when he was around seven, just bouncing off the walls and daring to paint them, and would even make jokes at all times. Tears began to well up, she had raised the kid as if she was her own, like second mother, Erin as well. Together.. they were inseparable, it was soothing to see that it haven't changed. It was only one thing Elowen felt relieved for.

"What about Artemus, though? You took him from my country, for what? Reform program?" Erin asked as she emerged from her old bedroom with pair of pearl earrings adorning her ears. It used to be their mother's, but Elowen decided to give them to her sister deeming it to suit her more.

"I.. I was lonely. I wanted company. The reform program was a good start." The antlered viscet hesitantly answered, putting her paw out fearfully. "Erin, listen, I-" She was cut short from seeing the said viscet's expression. Cold, uncaring, ignoring the offered paw. The pearl earrings glinted in the sunlight as she turned her head to look at Peregrine.

"Enough. I am bored now, this old cottage is making me even more bored." Erin muttered, staring at the cobweb covered ceiling with distaste. She moved to put the sheep cloak back on, adjusting it to fit her comfortably. She pulled out little box of something from her satchel, ignoring the concern in raven viscet's face. "I wonder how much this place can burn."

It hit Elowen like a treacherous hurricane, this was home, and her sister wanted to burn it down?

"Erin! Y-you can't! This was- is home!" Elowen attempted pitifully, tears split down her face as she tore holes into her wool shawl out of sheer fear. "Why do you want to burn it down!? What did Sigmund do to you?! Peregrine! Do something!" She snapped her gaze at the timid viscet, who moved to leave the cottage.

"Home?" Erin repeated with a giggle that dripped with venom. "Silvmor is my home. Do not think so foolishly, sister, you are not my home, nor is Peregrine. This cottage is not my home neither. If you wish, you could stay here and attempt to put out the fire. It might amuse me, but it'd be a tragedy if you died in it, wouldn't it? Aww poor heartbroken Artemus. Whoop, there it goes."

Elowen looked down at the wool shawl, it was the very first gift Artemus had made her but.. she glanced up in time to see a lit match float down from her sister's paw. She thought fast; she launched towards the match to put it out with the shawl before it spread. The cottage was old, filled with flora and fauna, it'd sure turn into a huge forest fire. She felt a gob of something wet hit her muzzle, looking up; the older viscet saw pure apathy with mild hatred on Erin's face.

"What a joke. You live to crush my dreams, don't you? Always keeping tabs on my life, always wanting to know what I'm thinking, always scaring my friends off." Erin sneered, all but untruth to the older sister. It was never like that at all; Sigmund had truly corrupted her baby sister. Elowen watched from her position on the wooden floor sorrowfully as the younger viscet left the cottage. The door slammed on her way out; causing the frame to crack due to age.

Elowen curled up, bringing the dirtied shawl to her eyes as she sobbed into it. All those fifty years of wishing her sister to come back safe and sound felt like absolutely stupid, pointless wish she made. That was not her sister at all; just a corrupted being taking residence in Erin's body. Peregrine.. the kid was definitely himself; but just as corrupted. She had truly came across an awful fact she would never want to find out at all, she should have wished for that instead. She calmed down quickly when she felt a familiar touch on her back, comforting her through her distress.

"Oh Artemus.. what am I going to do?" She whispered, tears ceasing into light sobs. "Will Erin come back and terrorize me again? What do I do to deserve the treatment? I.. I tried to be a good mother for her, did she want a sister instead?" She rambled, knowing full well her loving partner knew nothing about what recently happened, but the goat listened anyway.

"Don't fret, I'm sure you were a wonderful motherly figure, and you still are. Without you, our herd of sheep would not survive. Erin is.. just corrupted; I hope she will never return for your safety." Artemus pulled his partner into his comforting hold; soothing her through her inner turmoil.

After a while of silence in the dusty cottage, Elowen rose with Artemus following suit. "I think.. if I get rid of the cottage, she might won't return. If she wanted to terrify me, she would come to the farm and set fire to our crops. Instead she came here at the same time as I did coincidentally. I.. I raised her for ten years, I know her if not corrupted."

"If you think it's a best decision to make, I think so too." The goat agreed, pulling his partner with him to return to their farm to gather supplies, the trek back Elowen filled in what had happened in a whisper; afraid that the corrupted duo were nearby to eavesdrop.

The pair spent rest of their week carefully taking the cottage down to ground, taking the debris away to marketplace for those who need them for little coin. Elowen was tempted to keep some items that held some nostalgic memories with Erin; but she opted to destroy them in end. There was no point in clinging to old memories any longer, Erin had proved that. Instead of a cozy cottage, a circular dirt is left behind. The antlered viscet decided to plant an acorn in the middle, wanting a better life to overtake the plot instead of a cottage that formerly held close-knit pair of sisters.

. . .

"I'm sorry. I know that doesn't mean anything. I know I was more meaner than I should be centuries ago. For some reason, I can't feel sorrow for what I did, but I know I terrified you." Erin sighed, dropping a rose on the tree roots. Time passed so quickly, before she realized it, it had been three hundred years already since the last time she saw Elowen. Over the years she had lost massive amount of control on her emotions, she noticed she couldn't feel anger, bitterness, hatred, anymore. She just.. can't bother to feel anything anymore, it was unnecessary to feel emotions.

Of course her sister replaced the cottage with a massive tree; then get buried underneath the roots with Artemus. Erin liked the man, really, he provided Elowen with good life despite being ex-criminal. Her sister really deserve happiness, not sorrow. The sheep cloaked viscet watched as Peregrine carefully place a rose beside the one that was dropped.

"I miss you." was all he said, the viscet had lost a lot of words over the years. He used to trip over his words, make long sentences that Erin couldn't bother to listen, going on about anything that came to his mind. Now.. more than a sentence were rare, and she frankly missed the time when her friend would talk nonstop. Being nearly immortal; life became even more boring with nothing left to do but to look at criminals tear others apart in Silvmor. She would have loved to hear him making up stories right now, replace the static in her head.

"Let's go." Peregrine nodded in agreement, pulling his wing cloak closed around himself as he followed Erin and Sigmund back to where they lived to just.. sit around and do nothing, like they always do these days. Erin sometimes wish she didn't terrify her sister, otherwise they'd spend their time trying to reconnect, it would become something to do for Elowen's last twenty years. Alas.. corrupted as she is; she couldn't bother to come back sooner to apologize, or even shed a tear over her last relative's death.

All Erin could do now is to welcome perpetual boredom until she manages to find a way to perish; which is a very low chance considering Sigmund would never let her or Peregrine go even if his life was in danger. Lame is what it is. Even if she started a war against Aeoria, against Peregrine, she'd still live, maybe even more corrupted. It's just better to stew in boredom than to try anything.

[2,427/3000]

Viscets Mentioned:
Elowen Mayfie
Artemus Greene
Erin Mayfie
Peregrine Edvin
Sigmund Aldernure

[Vixen Luo]

mmMMMMMARK

[Parasitic Rat]

Mark
Bleu, Exo, and L'hiver take Tsuru, the busy soldier, out on a vacation. The vacation goes south quickly when the group ran into a monstrous enemy that can shift forms into anything. The group has to find a way to kill it to get out alive.
Tsuru enjoys the vacation anyway.

[the folly of man]

ooooh this prompt works a lot better for my new AU

mark!

[magpiemochi.]

mark so i can keep track of the prompts! c:

[Yugi]

Paz gets a chance to visit back home for a temporary summer leave from the Wings of Peace. She hadn't visited home for a long while now. She had made a silent vow to never return after strife destroyed her home. Believing that she was now prepared to finally deal with her past, she takes up the rare opportunity. Unfortunately, time hasn't fully healed her wounds.

After leaving Amourn and rejoining with his love, Florence gets the chance to propose to Zinnia in the summer of the following year. Despite not being able to afford the nicest of proposals, Florence does what he can to make do. After all of the tragedies that had occurred, the summer air for once tasted so sweet as he took in the special moment with his loved one.

Despite the many years the two had been together, Keaton finally finds the courage and time to ask Fleur out on a romantic summer night date that he set up himself. While Keaton was embarrassed, being one to never express himself romantically like that, the two had a pleasant time together. Fleur finds herself falling in love with Keaton all over again; she's quickly reassured that their love was not one sided.

Valenza is taken by Scylla to see the ocean; they never had much time to bond, but the long, hot summer days demanded that they take time to relax by the ocean. Valenza had never seen the ocean, at least not in the way she saw it on this day trip, and is soon engulfed by the amazing wonders of the world. Valenza had never seen the ocean, at least not in the way she saw it on this day trip, and is soon engulfed by the amazing wonders of the world.

(298 words total)

[Lioashu]

Hanzo teaches Jesse how to use a bow and arrow. After a long morning of struggling, Hanzo eventually gives up and accepts where Jesse ended up. "Jesse, you're supposed to aim for the center..." He sighed.
"Ain't as easy as it looks!"
For the first summer they were together, they ended up with quite a lot of free time. Though it brought up some issues as Hanzo found he and his mate were very different from each other, he learned to overcome them and accept Jesse nonetheless.



Truffula was slowly healing the trees until he came across one particularly charred and broken. Angrily, he gestured to it, although no one was around to see. He's dealt with the aftermath of forest fires before, but something tells him this didn't naturally occur. Perhaps he will find the culprit... (Inspiration photo)



Sanke and Cole lay in their den for the long-awaited hatching of their first child, Cinder. It was incredibly exciting for them to finally have their own child, and neither parent was nervous about what they'd be like.



[ 175 w ]

Hanzo, Truffula, Sanke, and Cinder all belong to me.
Jesse and Cole belong to sschw and are being used with permission.

[Mint Chip]

In the high mountains, it's hard to tell when summer comes but for someone who lives there, it's such a vast difference. The bitter cold ebbs away just enough causing the blanket of snow to melt away. The ground thaws enough to see the grass beneath and the temperature is comfortably above freezing. It's a beautiful, almost magical time, especially for Alima, a lonely viscet who calls it home. Alima always loved watching her world thaw with excitement, but this time it was different.

Early spring a stranger to the mountains stayed at the temple. It's not uncommon that travelers seek this temple shrine all throughout the year. Most are knowledgeable scholars or those seeking knowledge that only Alima's goddess could grant. This stranger, like many before him, came alone with the intent to seek knowledge for the magical arts. Over time she grew comfortable with the stranger's presence. In truth, she had grown more than comfortable with him, and the two shared mutual feelings for a brief few months before his departure. He had somewhere to return to and Alima couldn't leave her shrine, it was her duty to upkeep and protect her goddess' shrine. The two said goodbye, possibly forever as summer was approaching, neither aware of the change it would bring for her. Just a short few weeks after his departure, Alima had a strange dream. She dreamed of her goddess, which wasn't abnormal, sometimes her goddess would use this method to speak to her more easily. But this time was different than other times, this time her goddess came to talk with her, bearing some exciting but terrifying news about Alima herself. Her goddess told her that she was carrying* and that in just a short amount of time that she'd be a mother. When she awoke she doubted her dream but in the weeks that followed she knew it to be true. She felt ill-prepared for all of this, she barely knew anything about child rearing and to make matters worse there was no one for miles to ask for help from.

Still, it was a good time for news of this sort, as they were blessed with a particularly warm summer for the mountains. When the time came for Alima to lay her egg, she did it alone. The thought of it had been scarier than the ordeal thankfully, though it did leave her a bit exhausted. She rested with her body curled around her precious egg. The worry wasn't over just yet though, even with the warmer weather, she still had to keep her egg warm. It was challenging trying to figure all this out on her own. Her goddess gave her extra guidance along the way when Alima was at a loss but even with that, it was difficult. She was new to all of this and had no other experienced viscets nor a mate to rely on. During the incubation process, Alima tried wrapping her egg carefully to her body beneath her poncho. This proved to be a much better solution to carrying her egg around the shrine with her and provided it with plenty of warmth as well. Some nights she would sit under the stars and sing softly her unborn child. She spoke softly and sweetly, not knowing whether her child could even hear it from inside the egg's shell but sometimes it felt like it did.

The sun was just beginning to rise when Alima awoke to the sound of cracking. She jolted upright in a moment of panic, fearing she may have accidentally cracked it herself. She breathed out a momentary sigh before her breath hitched again, she could see the egg moving as the crack along the side lengthened. She didn't know what she should do to help but she cautiously moved around her egg, watching closely as another crack was made. She could see the cracks stretching towards each other, her heart skipped a beat as they met and a portion of the shell flaked off. Out pushed a paw, small little toes wiggling as the viscling struggled against the shell. Alima lowered her head to the egg, lightly placing a paw atop it to keep it from tumbling sideways. She nudged against the opening with her nose, helping push and break the shell away. The viscling pushed against her muzzle, wanting to push past it and out of the egg. Alima smiled as she moved back, letting the viscling tumble out after a moment or two. She chuckled at the sight as the viscling laid on the ground, huffing a little in exhaustion.

Alima pushed the shell aside as she lowered herself down with her paws on each side of her child. She had to get the viscling cleaned up and dried off. The viscling protested vocally, struggling as much as it's small frail paws could manage but it was a fruitless effort.

"A son, well, now I'll have to think of a befitting name for you." Alima had considered a few names before the egg had hatched though most of them had been for a little girl. She hadn't known what to expect but subconsciously she had expected a girl.

She wrapped him gently in her poncho. The viscling struggled, making little cries of resistance before calming down from the warmth and scent of the clothing wrapped around him.

"You're so beautiful." She said softly as she lowered her head to rest next to him.

She watched after him as he slept softly. He was comfortable and peaceful in his sleep, made content by her closeness and scent that seemed to permeate the area. When he awoke it was a little past noon and he made his discontent vocal. Alima had dozed off for a short time but awoke immediately to the sound. It took her moment to realize what he needed and only a little longer to figure out how to sate it. Hunting for a young viscling was difficult, he didn't have any solid teeth yet so his food had to be softer, thankfully though Alima had plenty of knowledge on how to create softer foods both out of meat and plants. Within just a few short days, she was falling into a rhythm and understanding of how to meet the needs of her son.

After a week of parenting, Alima knew the in and outs of everything she had to do. But she still hadn't decided on a name for her little man. One night as she was trying to smooth her son into slumber, she was standing out in front of the shrine. It was cold out but with her poncho wrapped around the viscling, he wasn't cold and Alima was too used to the cold that this summer weather felt plenty comfortable even without the extra coverage. She was humming and singing softly to her son as she gazed up at the stars.

"What do you think his name should be?" Alima had her eyes to the stars but her question was for her goddess. "Something strong, but something that defines his beauty."

Her eyes never left the sky as her question went out into the void. She admired the beauty of the peaceful night sky as she awaited an answer. It's not that she was expecting an answer so much as she was hoping the perfect name would just dawn on her. She exhaled softly as she lowered her gaze to her now sleeping child, the perfect name... what name would that be? She thought. Her ears twitched for just a moment as a gust of wind whipped around her. She lifted her gaze just in time to see the spectacle of a star shooting across the sky. Her breath hitched, it was a sign.

"A shooting star." Alima breathed, she recalled a few names that had a similar meaning.

"Tarek," That sound of it just felt right. She looked down as she felt her son shift some in her arms, she smiled as he settled back into his slumber. "Tarek, yes, I believe there is no name more befitting."

The rest of Alima's summer was spent adjusting to her life as a new mother. There was so much she had to learn and to do but all of it carried the reward of watching her happy and healthy son grow. She couldn't wait to see what growth autumn would bring for them both.

(1407 words)

Characters: Alima & Tarek (both owned by Me)