#zephyr bolt

[serenanymph]

Happy STS new friend! Have you ever regretted creating a character? On the same topic, have you ever deleted someone because they did not turn out the way you thought they would?

Hello new mutual!! Thanks for the ask :D

Honestly I don't think I've ever deleted a character or regretted creating one, because I'm the type of person who hoards them and just keeps creating more and more. I will say I have a lot of OCs from abandoned/half-formed wips who I keep on moving around though!

As for character changes... I think the largest change was Icarus?? This may come as a surprise but in the planning stages I meant him to be a lot more smug and mischievous and also a bit of a flirt. Like legit I wrote in his notes "has an extremely punchable face, with increased points if he's smirking (he usually is)". Meanwhile he's just. The nicest most straightforward guy ever. Would help old ladies cross the street and carry their groceries. Very earnestly wants to be friends with everyone. Honestly I think even his enemies would feel bad for punching him in the face, so, yeah, you get the idea.

[rahuratna]

Synopsis: When a battle with some Gith hunters leaves your appearance in a deplorable state, it's up to your loyal companions to fix a bad hair day ...

Genres: Humour, fluff, crack.

Written as a gift for the wonderfully talented @radish-breath. Thank you for putting up with (and encouraging) my endless BG3 brain rot, lol.

Dividers by: @saradika-graphics

The chaos of the battle was beyond anything you'd known thus far. Vlaakith's hunters were both swift and dexterous, their bodies flickering out of your perception almost every time you tried to land an attack.

It was frustrating, and somewhat terrifying. You'd never encountered foes who had challenged you quite like this before.

Gaining the higher ground, on top of a stone bridge that formed an arch, you ducked down, another arrow nocked and ready. Fingers dancing along the fletching, you closed your eyes for a second, gathering your frazzled thoughts.

This had to be done. You could do it. You'd faced stronger foes, returning from the brink of annihilation with your cunning, strength and the ever-present support of your companions. You could -

"Watch out!"

Lae'zel's scream echoed across the courtyard, a note of rare panic in her voice. Your eyes snapped open, body reacting before the mind had time to process the visual signal, a primal, animal reflex.

It saved your life.

The leader of Vlaakith's team of bounty hunters swung a shining axe down toward your head, narrowly missing his intended target. The blade came down on your hair instead, lopping it off against the rough stone of the bridge balustrade.

Tearing yourself free, the muscles of your neck screaming in protest, you flung yourself away from him, loosing your arrow into the sinewy meat of his thigh. He grunted in pain, and advanced on you.

You had no choice but to stand and fight him directly, a tall order considering the arrows still zinging up like deadly zephyrs from his lieutenants below.

You had to think, you had to -

With a cry that rivaled a frenzied barbarian, Lae-zel vaulted the stone railing, her gith psionics propelling her forward with inhuman athleticism. Her blade came down against the Gith Leader's, striking up sparks with every fierce blow.

She was driving him back. He snarled at her, attempting to quail her in the face of seniority, but Lae'zel was well beyond the point of intended insurrection. She was fighting for her life, and yours.

A few devastating blows later, the Leader's arm was almost severed and, from somewhere in the shadows, Astarion's bolts struck true through his chest, bringing him to his knees.

With the tide of battle turned, your group managed to pick off the remaining members of the hunting party. You had all seen enough battle by now to never let your guards down for even a moment, and this rule bore hard-won fruit.

Afterwards, you all took the much needed respite at camp. Lying on your bedroll, you winced as you stretched over-taxed muscles and applied salve and bandages to your remaining wounds, the odd healing potion (and Gale's cooking) providing a coveted sustenance.

It was then that you noticed how everyone was looking at you. Some would meet your eyes and hurriedly glance away, while others were regarding you with open pity and gentle concern.

What on earth was this about?

You'd been injured quite severely in that unexpected skirmish, but it was nothing you hadn't been able to handle. Hells, each and every of your companions who'd been present had undergone similar harm. So why -

It was Karlach, in all her straightforward kindness, who approached you first, plopping herself cross-legged beside you on your bedroll.

"Hey, soldier. Hanging in there?"

You nodded, distracted by the glances you were still receiving, before edging closer to her, voice dropping to a conspiratorial hiss.

"Karlach ... why is everyone - "

"Ah, well, that's why I came over here."

She scratched at her cheek, uncomfortable.

"So ... it's your hair."

"My hair?"

"Have you taken a look in the mirror since you got back?"

"No, I've been a little busy surviving."

She raised both hands placatingly.

"Right. Well, when you get a chance, or you feel up to it, just know that we've had a little chat amongst ourselves and we'll help you fix it."

Curiosity was really eating at you now, and at the first opportunity, you hurried over to the mirror in the corner of the camp.

You stopped short.

Gods. It was small wonder that everyone had been looking at you with sympathy. You'd had no idea that the Gith Leader's axe had done quite so much damage.

Your hair had been chopped through lop-sidedly, uneven tufts sticking out like last season's bedraggled straw where you'd wrenched yourself free. The damaged ends swept over your shoulders like an old broom, and you'd never seen your hair look this dreadful. 

A hand came down on your shoulder, startling you out of your reverie.

It was Lae'zel.

"I don't set much store by appearance, but you look like you've been dragged backward through all the wards in a githyanki crèche."

Shadowheart's acidic rebuke came swiftly.

"Not that different from how you look everyday then, Lae'zel."

Karlach pushed them both apart, striding towards you.

"Come on, you two. We're here to stage an intervention, not tear each other's hair out."

Your glance flicked between them.

"An intervention?"

Shadowheart sniffed.

"Well of course. You didn't think we'd leave you wandering around Faerûn with your hair in that state."

You gulped heavily, extremely thankful that you'd landed yourself such reliable friends. Lae'zel clicked her tongue irritably.

"Let's get on with it then. Shadowheart, I presume you're the one who's going to do the damage control."

"And you would be wrong, my sweet Gith poppet. I'm the one with the necessary skills here."

Astarion sauntered forward, looking particularly smug. You noted that he was wearing a leather apron, similar to the ones barber's favoured, the numerous pockets filled with instruments: scissors of varying sizes and shapes, fine razors, combs and brushes of all kinds.

You raised an eyebrow.

"So you're the expert at this?"

He scoffed, one hand waving in airy indignance.

"Of course I am. Have you seen my hair? It's a thing of most ethereal beauty ... or so I've been told."

You nod slowly.

"I suppose you're right. What are you thinking?"

He approached you, those deft, long-fingered hands fluffing out the hair on either side of your head, eyes taking in the damage with nothing short of professionalism. Quite suddenly, you felt a sense of reassurance. You were now in the capable care of your resident vampire, and there was no way he would leave any stone unturned when it came to fixing your appearance.

"Hmm. Hmm. I see something here ... a vision, if you will."

Lae'zel looked surprised.

"A vision? I thought you were just going to shave her head and be done with."

Karlach giggled.

"Now that you mention it, that might be a smashing look. Get a tattoo on your scalp and everything."

"Are you both mad?" came the snippy rejoinder from Shadowheart. "A short princess cut would be better."

Astarion shot them a disapproving look.

"I'm certainly glad that I'm the one handling this. No need for drastic measures if you have the skill. There's a style popular amongst some scholars in Baldur's Gate, the young edgy ones who think learning from tomes is so last year."

Gale's outraged exclamation at this news from across the camp was roundly ignored.

"And what does this cut look like?"

"It's an angled trim, high above the nape and coming down here. Asymmetric, like this."

His hands traced the shape in the air above your shoulders and you raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Well, I trust you, Astarion. Have at it then. Quite frankly, anything's better than this."

"My darling, you really need to raise your standards."

In spite of his sharp reply, you could see from the very slight flush at the tips of his ears and his ultra-stoic expression that Astarion was pleased that you'd placed your faith in him so wholly.

"Let's get to work then."

He spun you around to face the mirror, and Karlach carried over a stool to make the process easier. Astarion fussed about, setting up a basin with warm water, producing various solutions and oils from those bottomless pockets and setting up a tray with the combs and trimming implements.

Even Shadowheart looked taken aback now.

"What are ... all of these?"

"Sweetheart, this is how it's done in most of the best salons in the city, don't you know?"

"All right, but what are those?"

Astarion paused, clearing his throat.

"I take it you've all wondered, at some point, how my hair could possibly look this perfect."

Lae'zel stared at him.

"You look like a runty sheep."

Karlach stuffed a fist into her mouth as Astarion's glare scorched over them.

"I wouldn't expect the likes of you to know much about proper hair care, but if you must know, I distil and mix these potions and oils myself. Plants are a wonderful source of healthy extracts."

"Hear, hear," came Halsin's call from beside the fire. "The Oak Father provides for beauty too."

Astarion, somehow, refrained from rolling his eyes.

"If we're to fix this damage, then a cut won't be enough. We have to treat the hair, soften it, bring out its natural curl, and then we'll cover the damage."

Shadowheart nodded critically.

"Sound advice, Astarion. You're quite the expert."

Readying yourself for a true 'Baldur's Gate Salon Experience', you followed Astarion's brisk instructions, allowing him to wrap a cloth around you to prevent your clothes from absorbing water, the tension leaving your shoulders as he had you lean backwards, neck braced on another heavily folded cloth over the rim of the basin.

A comfortable silence descended over this corner of the camp as Astarion soaked your hair, massaging some of the soapy extract into the individual stands with care. It felt surprisingly good, the trickle of warm water and the steady motion of his fingers dragging you into a pleasurable haze.

"Gods, that looks relaxing."

Halsin had wandered over at some point, looking with interest through Astarion's collection of hair potions.

"You came up with these mixtures all by yourself?"

"Oh believe me, I've had time."

Glancing to your left, you noted that Karlach, Shadowheart and even Lae'zel were lying on the grass nearby, chins propped on palms, watching with lazy interest. It reminded you, somewhat, of nights gathered together with friends when you were very young.

Before long, Astarion raised you gently, patting your hair with a cloth to remove the excess moisture. Now came the application of more oils and potions, each exceptionally fragrant. Reaching up curiously, you gasped as you felt the soft, glossy texture of your hair.

"Astarion, this is amazing!"

"Isn't it? It works wonders for curls, I've found."

Shadowheart edged forward.

"And what about straight hair? What works well for that?"

"Sweet almond and green nut oil is best as far as I know."

"Braids," grunted Lae'zel.

"If you mean what works best for braided hair, I would say that cedarwood oil and the essence of peonies, combined and applied to the scalp, would prevent drying and damage."

"What about horns?"

"Karlach, do I look as if I know the first thing about horns?"

She cursed under her breath.

"Damn. Nobody knows shit about horn care. Guess I'll just have to flake my damaged horn debris all over your clothes and stuff - "

"I can look into it for you," came Astarion's hurried reply. "I'm sure there's something for all scalp adornments."

Transitioning into the crucial phase, Astarion began to turn your head this way and that, his touch feather-light. Watching him cut your hair was a surreal experience indeed. His reflection wasn't visible, of course, so it seemed as if a number of instruments had taken it upon themselves to lift, trim and comb your hair.

He divided your hair into sections and delivered neat little angled snips to each, transforming the butchered ends and stray tufts into something far more aesthetically pleasing.

When he was done, he shook your hair out and called across to Gale.

"Oh mighty and handsome wizard, we require your assistance."

The eagerness with which Gale came hurrying over roused a grin on Karlach's face. He stopped beside the basin, rubbing his palms together.

"All right, I'm here. What do you need? Some advice on the best way to enchant an item? Perhaps one of my custom made cantrips for repelling dust and moisture from surfaces on a molecular - "

"Just blow some hot air out of your finger or something, there's a dear."

" ... oh. That's it?"

"I've got everything else covered. I'm just so bad with atmospheric spells, you know. Never got the hang of them."

"Well, in that case ... "

With a beleaguered sigh, Gale raised a hand. A controlled steam of beautifully warm air, just the perfect temperature, skimmed across your scalp. Astarion hovered at the corner of your vision like a fluffy hummingbird with an expert eye, adjusting a lock of hair here, snipping off a stray portion there.

Before long, the finished product was ready.

With a flourish, Astarion whipped the cloth bib away from you and spun you around to face the mirror once more.

"What do you think?"

It was testament to how well you'd come to know his little tells that you immediately recognized the nervous anticipation behind his confident demeanour. He'd certainly done a sterling job.

Gone were the rough edges and uneven planes. On the side that had been more heavily savaged by the axe, the hair was shorn fairly close to the scalp. The other side sported a soft, vibrant tangle of curls that flowed down to your shoulder, the transition between the two giving you a certain rakish elegance.

"I love it!"

You beamed at him, capturing his hand between your own.

"I never thought my hair would look ... well, like this after that kind of damage!"

The companions who had slowly gathered round during the execution of this project were now offering their own input.

"Nice going, Fangs!"

"I'll be sure to come to you when my hair needs a trim."

"Hmm. The swashbuckling academic. A unique look to be sure. Remind me to lend you a book about the value of asymmetry in the Weave. A most insightful - "

"At least you don't look like a sheep."

"A veritable dryad. Nature has blessed you with lovely hair and a most talented friend indeed."

Astarion waved off the compliments with a self-aggrandizing chuckle, but he stayed by your side, casually leaving his hand in your excited grasp.

Later, while you rested in your bedroll, muscles now relaxed and free of the tightness that came after a hard battle, you heard the shift of Shadowheart's body a few feet away. Turning your head to her, you saw her slightly sleep-hazed glance taking in your hair.

"Trouble sleeping?"

"Not really. I was just thinking. I've ... never had things like this before. You know. Being together. Laughing. Doing silly, mundane activities. It's rather ... nice."

You gave a small smile, choosing to stay silent.

Shadowheart yawned, stretching one arm over her head.

"We should do it again sometime."

"What? Get my hair chopped off by a murderous gith hunter?"

"You know what I mean."

She turned over, settling further into her blankets.

"And next time, we do Astarion's nails and give my fringe a trim. And maybe polish Karlach's horns. And maybe get Gale to make that sweet brown drink of his, the one with the cinnamon sticks."

[bird-in-the-space]

The Price Of Greed

You tell a story about a young sparkling and Leviathan, the great beast of the sea.

(Author's note: Kinda jumped around with this idea, but finally got it out. Inspired by the Epic song Ruthlesness. I decided that one of Limos's names will be Leviathan. Kinda made up a new origin story for the sparkeaters. )

Warnings: mentions of the cybertron's caste system, reader having empurata, poverty, falling, and nearly getting eaten, mentions of a massacre, reader being blinded and crippled, angst, floods, curses, and mentions of the war (this fic is pretty long, a novel worth).

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Dark clouds blanketed the sky. The crumbling echo of thunder sang in the air as furious bolts of lightning danced above the waves of Cybertron’s sea. The water flowed with the wind, crashing near the gray beaches and hills of your homely abode.

You stood near the entrance of your home, watching and listening to the thunder in the sky and the waves of the sea. It distracted you from the sight of the city that lay in ruins in the distance, flooded and ravaged by the fangs of war that crippled your homeworld. It was a sight you were used to, despite its contrast to your intact home, one of the last safe places on Cybertron.

You sometimes wondered how it had come to this, but deep down, you knew it was the arrogance of the Senate and its senators, who believed themselves above anything else and thought their actions would bear no consequences. 

That age was now long gone, replaced by a war fought by factions who had long forgotten their original causes. 

Listening to the thunder and watching the sea gave you a sense of comfort and nostalgia for the things of the past. You had no fear of the sea that could destroy anything in its path or drown anyone who would dare to venture into its depths. You never did. You also do not need to worry about it rising beyond its ordinary level and destroying your home, just as it had consumed the city. He had made sure of that, just like how your home was one of the last places that still had a flowing source of energon. 

“I don’t want to eat anymore of this!” a voice echoed from within your home. 

You glanced inside, where the light burned. It was time for supper, and it sounded like one of the sparklings had trouble having their fill for the night. 

Leaning on your cane, you walked inside your home, an old temple once built for one of the thirteen primes. Now, a home to you and those whom you have welcomed under its roof. 

Inside, in the middle of the room, sat a fire pit, which provided light and warmth to your home. Around it sat the residents, some your old friends and some refugees who had nowhere else to go to flee from the war that had waged on for several cycles now.

Locket, one of the refugees and a former caretaker of newborn sparklings, tried to feed one of the sparklings some energon. 

“Zephyr. You need to have your fill. Otherwise, you’ll be grumpy in the morning,” Locket tried to convince the sparkling, who was barely three cycles old. 

“I’m not hungry!” the young mechling looked away from the bowl offered to him, crossing his arms. 

“You say that, but then you are gonna complain in the morning due to an empty tank,” Locked sighed tiredly. 

“Can’t we have something else? We eat this every day,” Zephyr said. 

 “And you should be grateful for that. If we were anywhere else, we wound’t probably even have this to sustain ourselves,” Locket replied. 

“I got this Locket,” Hitch, one of the other residents, pitched in. 

“Listen up, kidos. If you don’t eat your energon, you become a nasty sparkeater,” Hitch started. 

“What?” Zephyr snapped his optics toward the bot.

“You can become a sparkeater if you don't eat your energon?” Starflare, a young femmeling, asked with a frightful tone. 

“Yeah. Don’t you know there’s a terrible curse?” Hitch asked, only intensifying the little sparkling’s fright.

“The legends say that if you refuse to take your energon, you begin starving, and when you become starved enough, you start craving not energon, but sparks. And then you become a hungry sparkeater, that hunts down other little disobedient sparklings like you,” Hitch exaggerated. 

The sparklings gasped and hid behind each other. 

“Hitch…Too much,” Locked shook her head. 

“What? You know, sparkeaters are real,” Hitch shrugged as he sat down. 

“I’m not scared of sparkeaters,” Zephyr said, crossing his arms. Despite the front, it was clear he was scared. 

You chuckled as you approached them. 

“Having fun scaring the little ones?” you asked as you sat down. 

“Apologies, (Name). It seems someone is just having trouble taking their energon for the night,” Locket glanced at Zephyr. 

“But it’s so bland!” Zephyr whined. “And we eat it every day,” 

Before Locket could scold him, you chuckled. “That is understandable. Consuming the same thing every day can be exhausting.”

“But it is important to take care of yourself, and if you don’t have anything else, you should take what is at hand,” you said. “Otherwise, you might have nothing to fill your hunger, and you would be sick all the time.” 

“Would you like to be sick constantly, Zephyr?” you asked. 

“No…” Zephyr muttered. 

“Then perhaps taking your dinner will prevent that from happening,” you said. “You know what, if you take your fill, once the storm passes, we could go to the fields and see if we can find any good harvest for the next supper. How does that sound?” you asked. 

“Can I get the best rust sticks?” he asked. 

“Hey, not fair! I want rust sticks!” another sparkling, Crackjaw, exclaimed. 

You chuckled. “Only if you take your energon for the night,” 

“Okay!” Zephyr took the bowl and began drinking the energon. 

“I want rust sticks, so I’m taking my energon too,” Crackjaw began drinking his bowl of energon. 

“Finally… they took their energon,” Locked exhaled, even if the two mechlings began competing with each other. 

“(Name). Can you really become a sparkeater if you don’t take your energon?” Starflare asked curiously. 

You looked at her softly. “You do not need to worry. To become a sparkeater, you must live a life of creed or bear the curse of Limos.” 

“The curse of Limos?” Starflare questioned, tilting her helm curiously. 

“Yes. You see, sparkeaters were born from the curse of Limos, one of Unicron’s four harbingers, “ you replied. 

“It is said that if you bear the curse of Limos, you will know never-ending hunger. You will try to quench your hunger with energon, but no amount will be enough to end your thirst. And then, when you became dry and hollow, you became hungry for sparks inside other living beings, losing all sense of self,” you explained. “Never to return to who you used to be,” 

“Why did Limos create such a curse?” Starflare asked. 

“Because he hated Cybertronians. All Harbingers of Unicron hated Primus’s creations. That’s what all the stories say,” Zephyr replied. 

“But that’s what the stories say. But the truth might be much more than that. You see, the Harbingers never hate without a reason,” you said. “A few things Limos hated most were injustice and unfairness,” 

“Then what was the reason he created sparkeaters?” Crackjaw asked.  

“The Senate that once ruled Cybertron did something really bad to him. “ Hitch said. “They hurt his child,” he added. 

“Limos had a child?” Starflare asked with a surprised tone. 

“Yes. Limos had a child, whom he greatly loved. You see, even the Harbingers were capable of love. And it was that love that brought the birth of sparkeaters and the Sea of the Damned,” you glanced toward the sea soutside. 

“Why is it called the Sea of the Damned?” Starflare asked. 

You hummed. “Perhaps I could interest you with a story. It might help us pass the time till the storm calms down,” you suggested. 

“Yes, please!” Starflare answered eagerly. 

Zephyr scoffed. “I don’t need bedtime stories,”

 “Ah, but I think you will be interested in this one, “ you said.

“Tell me, have you ever heard of the story of the Leviathan?” you asked. 

“The Leviathan?” Crackjaw questioned. 

“The mysterious beast of dweths, who devours anything in its path. And an old fairytale. Turns out Leviathan was Limos himself,” Hitch revealed.

“That is true, but I have a version, that might answer many of your questions and how sparkeaters and the Sea of the Damned came to be,” you said. 

"Tell us, please!" Starflare exclaimed.

It made you chuckle. “Alright, let me tell you a story about the Leviathan, and a sparkling he loved like his own…” You started. 

…

Long before the war, when Cybertron was still ruled by the Senate, you lived far out on the plains, where the farming communities resided. Despite their low status in the system, they cared for you as best they could, cultivating whatever they could to provide for you while paying taxes set by the system. You were a young, sparkling back then, and you apparently suffered from a condition known as Empurata.

Your community explained that it was a cruel procedure, typically inflicted on criminals, but someone had unlawfully done it to you.

It left you conflicted for a time, but you quickly overcame it. You had grown used to living with a single optic and clawed hands. Besides, you couldn’t remember anything when it happened, or anyone who could have done it to you.

All you knew was that you were a sparkling left on your own, and your community was kind enough to take you in.

Living on the plains was challenging. Due to the energon shortage, it was hard to farm anything, and the Senate didn’t exactly care for the people, especially those in the lower class.

You and others sometimes had to venture into the dangerous areas of Cybertron’s surface to find energon, which often did not lead to success. 

One day, you and your friends ventured into the canyons in search of energon, drawn by the many caves scattered throughout the area.

While exploring one of the caves, the ground suddenly gave way beneath you. You plunged into what appeared to be a river of transparent liquid.

Helpless against the current, you were swept deeper and deeper into Cybertron’s underworld, until at last, you emerged into what seemed like an ocean—vast, alien, and eerily still.

You were terrified as you drifted through what could only be described as a vast, dark abyss. As you sank deeper, you found enormous mechanical creatures that glided effortlessly through the strange space around you.

One of them—a monstrous being with rows of sharp, gleaming teeth—noticed you and immediately surged forward, its jaws wide open.

As you were not built to move in an environment like this, there was no way for you to flee from the monster. With no way to escape, you shut your optic and braced yourself, certain you were about to become the creature’s meal.

But then, just before the beast could strike, another presence collided with it, knocking it away. The force of their struggle stirred powerful currents, tossing you helplessly through the strange, liquid void.

And when you finally regained control and steadied yourself, you saw the creature that had tried to devour you, bitten in half, its remains slowly sinking into the depths below.

Then you saw something that left you in awe.

It was another creature—far larger than the beast from before—yet it bore no terrifying features. With a sweeping tail and luminous fins that glowed a brilliant energon-blue, it moved through the water with breathtaking grace. From deep within its form came resonant, melodic tones, as if it were singing a song only the depths could understand.

You had never seen anything like it. And despite its immense size, you felt no fear.

It slowly turned its head until you were face to face with its optic. Compared to it, you were no more than a pebble. Yet there was no hostility in its gaze—only curiosity. It studied you with a calm, intelligent presence.

“What are you doing so far in these depths, little one?” you heard a voice in your mind. 

You were left stunned as you realized the creature was speaking to you, not with words, but directly into your mind. In that moment, only one name surfaced in your thoughts: Leviathan, the great, devouring beast of the depths. 

“We were looking for energon,” you said aloud, your voice trembling. “But the ground gave way, and I fell. The current brought me here.”

You hesitated, then dared to ask, “Please… do you know where we could find energon?”

Leviathan’s massive optic regarded you in silence. Within it, you saw what you could only describe as indifference and… sadness. 

“There is no energon here for you,” the voice echoed in your mind. “Return to the surface.”

“I… I don’t know how!” you said.

Without warning, Leviathan moved. The water around you surged as powerful currents swept you away. You tumbled through the depths, disoriented and weightless.

Before you could even comprehend what had happened, you broke through a surface. 

You found yourself inside a cave, floating in a still pool of water. Slowly, you climbed out, your limbs heavy and your mind dazed. As you stepped outside, blinking against the light, you realized—you were back at the canyon.

Your friends and community members were stunned to see you when you returned. Relief washed over their faces as they rushed to your side. When they couldn’t find you, they had nearly accepted that you’d perished in the fall.

They brought you to the local medic, and to everyone’s amazement, you had survived with only a few scratches and dents.

You tried to explain what you had seen—that you had met Leviathan. But they didn’t believe you. They said it was the aftershock, a hallucination brought on by trauma. What you needed, they insisted, was rest.

You were certain the creature you had encountered was Leviathan—the mythical being said to dwell in a hidden sea beneath Cybertron, a monster of endless hunger and ancient legend.

But the Leviathan you met had saved you. He had guided you back to the surface. He had acted nothing like the stories.

What lingered with you most wasn’t his size or power—it was the sorrow, the anger, and the profound loneliness in his gaze.

And it left you wondering… why?

…

After a few days of recovery, you returned to the cave where you had resurfaced from the strange sea. You knew trying to reach that place again would be far too dangerous—yet the desire to see Leviathan once more lingered in your spark.

You remembered his voice, how it had resonated like a song. And you wondered… could music carry your gratitude to him?

You had heard that some oceans could carry sound across great distances. So you brought with you an instrument—one that the others had taught you to play—and began to play.

The notes echoed softly through the cave, drifting into the stillness like a message carried on the current. You played a song. Then another.

And you hoped… that somewhere, in the depths below, he was listening.

Then, something mystical happened.

The world around you faded, and suddenly, you saw the strange sea once more—vast, dark, and shimmering with otherworldly light. And there, suspended in its depths, was Leviathan.

It was as if your mind had crossed into that hidden realm, allowing you to see and hear him without ever leaving the cave.

“Why have you come back here?” his voice echoed once more in your mind.

“I wanted to thank you for saving me,” you replied. “But I didn’t know how to reach you without putting myself in danger… so I thought maybe the echo of music could.”

You hesitated, then added softly, “I also thought it might cheer you up.”

“Cheer me… up?” he repeated, the words slow and unfamiliar, as if tasting them for the first time.

“When we met… when I looked into your optics,” you said gently, “I felt like you were sad. Angry. Maybe even a little lonely.”

You paused, then added, “And when I heard your song, I thought… maybe music could help. Maybe it could make you feel a little less alone.”

Leviathan was silent.

He stared at you, and for a moment, you feared you had said too much. The elders in your community always warned that assuming things about others was impolite—disrespectful, even.

You opened your mouth to apologize, but then…

“Thank you,” he said at last. “Your gesture… was thoughtful.”

His approving tone gave you the courage to offer more songs, and he accepted. You played for him, each melody a gift carried through the strange current between your minds.

You told him your name. And in return, he allowed you to call him Leviathan.

When you returned home, something unexpected awaited you. The members of your community greeted you with joy—they had discovered a fresh clutch of energon, enough to sustain everyone for a while.

It felt like more than a coincidence.

Somewhere deep inside, you couldn’t shake the feeling that your meeting with Leviathan had something to do with it. As if, in some quiet, unseen way… he had given something back.

… 

After that second encounter, you began visiting Leviathan more often, always when he welcomed it. He wasn’t the most talkative, but he listened. Sometimes, when you played, he would even harmonize with you, his deep, resonant tones blending with your melodies in haunting, beautiful ways.

He even offered quiet guidance, helping you refine your musical skills with surprising insight. And after each visit, your community seemed to grow luckier in finding energon. 

Despite the old stories and fearsome rumours about him, Leviathan never appeared cruel or terrifying to you. He actually seemed like he was someone who just struggled socially.

After many visits, Leviathan confided in you.

He admitted he was not fond of Cybertronians. Long ago, some had wronged him deeply—so deeply that the pain still echoed in his voice. They had taken his siblings from him, and he had never been able to find them. That loss had left him angry… and unbearably lonely.

In your sweet, sparkling innocence, you offered an idea that he could come live with you, so he wouldn't be lonely anymore. Despite having a place to call home in your community, you were technically a sparkling with no close family. 

Your words seemed to genuinely surprise him. 

Leviathan then asked if you would like him to come visit you. 

You said yes, without hesitation. The only worry that crossed your mind was him being a colossal being dwelling in a hidden sea beneath Cybertron.

You didn't know how your friends and community would react to him. But you had no doubts that they would be startled seeing a creature like him suddenly come out of the earth, and perhaps assume the worst. 

Leviathan assured you there was no need to worry. “I will see you on your next visit,” he said.

His words left you both curious and eager. What did he mean?

When you returned to the cave, you were met with a sight that stopped you in your tracks.

Standing there was a tall mech, his frame sleek and powerful, adorned in vibrant shades of blue that shimmered like energon under starlight. But what truly caught your attention were his optics—unlike any you had ever seen.

His left optic glowed a brilliant blue, clear and bright. But his right optic was dark, with a pale white iris at its center—like a lone star shining in the night sky.

It took you a moment to realize that the mech standing before you was Leviathan, now in his robot mode.

How he had managed to shrink from his massive alt form, or how he had emerged from the depths to walk the surface, didn’t linger long in your mind. Those questions were swept away by your excitement and eagerness to introduce him to your friends and community.

Leviathan followed you to your home, where he met your friends and the rest of your community. At first, they were wary; he was unlike any Cybertronian they had ever seen. To them, he looked like someone from the upper caste, perhaps even royalty. But when he showed nothing but politeness and humility, they allowed him to be, even though they were perplexed by him sharing the same name as the mythical beast. 

As you showed him around your home, his attention was quickly drawn to its poor condition. He asked questions, quietly observing the worn structures and the modest lives of those around him.

It was during one of the conversations with one of your community members that he began to learn more about your struggles and about you.

In one of those conversations, he would learn that your appearance was the result of a practice called Empurata. His expression would darken when he learned what kind of practice it was and that someone had been cruel enough to do it on a sparkling like you, then leaving you on the streets to fend for yourself. 

It was perhaps a blessing that you were taken in by the farmers—otherwise, you might not have survived for long.

At the end of the visit, Leviathan pulled you to the side and asked if you would like him to stay with you and become your official parental figure. 

He explained that he had spoken with members of your community about restoring the nearby abandoned temple, once built in honor of one of the Thirteen Primes. Since no one truly cared for it anymore, they had agreed to let him repair and repurpose it. He wanted to make it into a home for both of you.

The idea that he wanted to adopt you nearly brought you to tears.

You asked if he was sure.

He nodded. He told you he had grown fond of you, and that the thought of leaving you, still so young and full of wonder, felt wrong to him.

You accepted, throwing your arms around him. He embraced you in return, lifting you gently into his arms and carrying you to the old temple.

There, you watched in awe as he used his mystical powers to restore the crumbling structure. Stone and metal shifted, light filled the halls, and warmth returned to a place long forgotten.

Before long, the temple was no longer a ruin—it was a home.

And for the first time in your life… You had someone to call family.

… 

Under Leviathan’s care, you grew and learned many things from him. He taught you how to read and write, and introduced you to musical arts you hadn’t even known existed. He even shared the secrets of his powers, and in time, you learned to control water.

But most importantly, he taught you what it felt like to have a family.

He wasn’t ashamed to admit that he was inexperienced when it came to raising someone, so he often asked for help from your community. Because of this humility, your community gradually warmed to him.

With his presence, your fortunes improved—energon became easier to find, and the harvests grew more abundant.

It was a time of great change.

You grew into a gifted young bot, quickly becoming one of your community’s most talented musicians. You once dreamed of performing in the city, but as someone from a poor farming district, such opportunities were out of reach.

Your community often spoke cautiously about the cities. They were said to be dangerous, unwelcoming places, and few ever dared to venture there. So, you found contentment in playing for your own people and neighboring farming communities, where your music brought joy and unity.

However, as time passed, the energon shortage became concernly worse. Even the energon found by your improved luck was not nearly enough to stabilize things. 

You spoke about it with Leviathan, who then pulled you to the side and told you how he was responsible for the energon shortage. 

He explained that he possessed the power to manipulate energon and control the flow of its natural sources. Long ago, when he and his siblings were taken from their home and imprisoned, something inside him broke. After escaping and failing to find them, he made the choice to deny the Cybertronians their energon. 

He dried up the energon rivers, fountains, and everything that once flowed freely, cutting off the planet's lifeblood. It was also because of him that crystallized energon became difficult to find, forcing many to seek it off-world. All of this was due to a great wrong done to him and his siblings.

You were surprised, while you were aware that he had siblings and that the ancient Cybertronians had wronged him. However, you had no idea that Leviathan himself was the cause of the energon shortage.

Yet, you understood why he acted as he did and the reasons behind his sadness and anger.

As your community continued to struggle, you pleaded with Leviathan.

You asked him to give Cybertronians a chance—to believe that change was possible. You wanted to prove that your kind could rise above their flaws, unite, and care for Cybertron as it deserved.

Leviathan was hesitant. The wounds of the past ran deep. But after a long silence, he agreed.

He would give you a challenge—a test to see if unity and purpose could still be found among your people. To start small, he tasked you with restoring one of the old energon wells, long dry and forgotten. If you succeeded, he would allow it to flow once more.

You accepted without hesitation.

… 

The task Leviathan had given you was far from easy. 

At first, you turned to your community for help, but many were reluctant. They didn’t believe the well would ever flow again, even if it were cleaned. Convincing them proved difficult. So, with Leviathan’s quiet approval, you bent the truth just a little. You told them you had dreamed of the well flowing once more.

That small spark of hope was enough to sway a few of your friends. After all, your luck had been unusually good lately, despite the hardships.

Together, you began the work. Cleaning the well was grueling—mud-caked, rusted, and long forgotten. Still, you pressed on. Slowly, others came to curiously watch. Even Leviathan appeared, observing from a distance with quiet, focused attention.

And then the work was done. 

The well was clean, and its structure was restored. 

You and your friends waited, searching for any sign, any shimmer or pulse of energon. But nothing happened. 

Your friends, tired and disheartened, started to question whether it had all been for nothing. And you worried if this wasn’t enough to please Leviathan.

“Dig below your feet,” Leviathan whispered into your mind.

You looked down, sensing a strange pressure beneath the ground. Trusting your instincts, you took a daring step forward and drove your shovel into the earth.

To your delight, a glimmer of energon began to seep through the soil.

Cheers erupted around you as your friends watched the well come to life.

Then, with a sudden burst, energon sprayed upward, flooding the well in a brilliant surge. The force lifted you and a few others off your feet, and you floated briefly before splashing back down, laughing with pure joy.

The sound of the eruption drew others from nearby communities. They arrived in awe, eyes wide at the sight of the once-dry well now overflowing with energon.

You looked around and saw your people gathering with buckets, their faces lit with hope and excitement.

And in the distance, standing tall and silent, was Leviathan.

He met your gaze and gave you a slow, approving nod.

… 

After witnessing the well fill with energon once more, hope began to bloom among your community and those from neighboring settlements. Inspired by your success, Leviathan gave you a new challenge: to clean one of the lakes long choked with waste.

You shared the task with your community, presenting it as another dream, just like before. This time, they didn’t hesitate. The miracle of the well had stirred hope within them. 

Together, you began clearing the lake, removing layers of waste left behind by those from the cities. Bots from other communities joined in, drawn by the promise of more energon and the growing sense of purpose.

Perhaps hope was what you all needed most.. 

Leviathan watched from the side, silent as always—but this time, he seemed genuinely impressed by the number of bots who had come together to help. You hoped this would soften his view of Cybertronians… and perhaps convince him to restore the natural flow of energon for good.

With united effort—and a subtle clue from Leviathan—you uncovered a pressure point beneath the lakebed. Moments later, the lake erupted with a surge of energon, nearly sending you flying back to the shore.

Cheers rang around the lake. 

For the first time in eons, Cybertron flowed with fresh energon. Bots drank from it, filled their containers, and celebrated the return of something they had nearly forgotten.

You hoped this would be the change your world needed. That the Senate would finally see reason and rethink its ways.

But oh… how wrong you were.

…

When they came, you should have known it was the omen of your incoming misfortune. 

The news of the lake filling itself with energon again spread fast, and someone from the Senate had come to see the lake for themselves. 

As you and your neighboring communities did not hold the Senate or the city-dwelling bots in high regard, you were skeptical of the senator’s presence and that of his guard. Still, you made an effort to be polite and hospitable.

You told the senator about the cleaning of the well and the lake, and how they were once again filled with energon. Together, you decided to take only amounts that was necessary. You wanted to avoid drying them up again, and even began planning whether other places could be cleaned as well.

You tried to convince him that, since Cybertron itself was a living being, caring for it and taking only what was needed might allow many of the energon rivers and sources to flow once more.

The senator promised to look into it and perhaps share the ideas with others in the Senate before departing back to the city.

It left you hopeful, but it was only the beginning of what would later bring great suffering and grief.

…

Before you even knew it, armed forces had been sent from the city. They surrounded the lake and even the well, cutting off access for you and the neighboring communities. They claimed it was to protect the sources from those with less noble intentions. However, that claim quickly lost its meaning when they began preventing you from drawing energon—and started draining the sources themselves.

You tried to reason with the senator who had been placed in charge of the operation. You warned that if the lake and well were completely drained, it could take years for them to refill. There was even a chance they might never recover. While Leviathan could control energon and its flow, he could not create it, so he would not be able to replenish what was lost.

But the senator only explained that, although the consequences had been considered, he and the Senate had agreed to extract the energon for long-term storage. These were difficult times, he said, and it was best to secure the energon for the future.

He assured you that, since your united communities had helped the sources refill once before, the Senate would ensure you received your fair share in time.

Neither you nor the other communities believed him.

You knew the Senate would not honor its word. They would keep the energon for themselves and the higher class. Your communities belonged to the lower class, so they would happily leave you to perish in starvation, even if you contributed to the society’s sustenance. 

Anger spread quickly among the bots. It was justified. All your efforts to clean the well and the lake were being erased by the Senate’s decision. You had agreed to share the lake and protect its well-being together, and now someone else is intentionally draining it dry without caring about the consequences. 

The armed forces, bearing the badge of the Autobots, tried to intimidate you. But their presence only fueled the growing fury among your people.

And then, the shots were fired.

It happened in the blink of an optic. One moment, bots were yelling and cussing out the senator, and then one of the guards shot someone down, killing the poor bot. 

And then they began shooting down everyone. 

As you were impoverished farmers, there was nothing you could do. Those who tried to fight back were killed in an instant. Even those who ran away were gunned down. 

It was a massacre. 

You helplessly watched as many of your friends and bots you knew were killed. You tried to help them and take cover, but then one of the guards threw a grenade, causing an explosion near you. One of its shrapnel pieces struck you in your optic, blinding you and inflicting incredible pain. Then a bullet hit you in the spine, causing you to fall and black out. 

You later regained consciousness. Unable to see and feeling excruciating pain in your spine, you could barely move. All you could hear was silence. There was a terrible smell of burned metal, and you could feel your hands covered in energon. 

It left you in shock to realise there was no one alive. They had killed everyone. 

You heard the senator and his guards come when they noticed you were still online. You feared for your life, but then the senator decided to leave you unharmed as you were no threat to them. 

You asked them why they massacred your people. You pleaded with them to reconcile before Leviathan could learn what they had done. Leviathan was no evil by spark, but he was easily angered when it came to injustice. He would undoubtedly be enraged and do something terrible. 

The senator only laughed when you mentioned Leviathan’s name, mocking you for believing in a myth. You tried to convince him that Leviathan was real—that he was your adoptive sire—but your words only earned more taunts from the one who had ordered the massacre.

He told you to go home to your sire, sneering that no one would lift a finger for a bot with an empurata. You were to remember your place in the system.

Mockingly, he gestured toward the path that led back to where you lived. And so, under the watchful eyes of the senator and his guards, you limped away in pain, leaning heavily on a stick you picked from the ground to support you.

…

The walk back to your home was excruciating. With your blindness, you couldn’t tell how far you still had to go, and the pain in your spine brought forth countless tears. You eventually found your way back when you heard the sounds of wind chimes from one of your community members’ houses. It brought both relief and sorrow—relief because you had made it, and sorrow because the owner of that house would never return.

All you could hear was silence. Everyone had been slaughtered in the massacre.

Unable to go any further, you called out to Leviathan. 

“Sire! Sire! Please, I need you!” you exclaimed, energon falling from your damaged optic. 

Leviathan appeared to you in an instant. 

His voice was filled with shock when he spoke, clearly horrified by your state. The moment you felt his arms around you, you shook with grief and anguished relief. 

He picked you up and took you back to your shared home. 

Inside your home, he manipulated the energon in your veins to stop the bleeding and pull the bullet embedded in your spine out. He then gave you fresh energon to replace the energon you had lost. 

Although he was able to stop the bleeding by manipulating the energon, he did not possess the power to heal. So, he attempted to leave in search of your local medic.

But you stopped him before he could go. You told him what had happened—that there had been a massacre, and no one had survived. There was no one left who could fix you.

You told him about the Senate’s decision and how it had led to the slaughter. 

After you were finished, Leviathan was quiet. Dreadful silence filled your home. Even if you could not see him, you could tell he was boiling with rage. It only left you more fearful of what he might do. 

It was like the saying – calm before the storm. 

You pleaded with him not to do anything terrible or cause harm to those who were innocent of the Senate’s actions. 

He let out a sigh before promising you that he would not punish those who had no part in the massacre. However, since a great wrong had been committed, a harsh punishment must be inflicted.

You pleaded with him not to do it. Even if he did something to punish the guilty, innocents could be caught in the crossfire. 

He apologized to you, admitting it was a promise he could not keep.

If he remained, nothing would change, and he would be ignoring his very existence… as a Harbinger of Unicron.

The revelation left you in shock. You didn’t try to stop him as he left the home he had built for you.

You had only known him as the Leviathan from the stories, a monster that dwelled in the depths, with a hunger like that of a black hole. But the stories never spoke of Leviathan as one of Unicron’s children, one of the four Harbingers.

And yet, it all made sense now.

Leviathan, your adoptive sire, was Limos, the Devourer.

… 

Alone in your home, you could only understand what happened next by listening to the world around you. After Leviathan’s departure, there was an earthquake—and then a great flood. The sea, once hidden beneath Cybertron’s crust, rose to the surface, unleashing massive waves. You heard the distant screams of bots as they were swept away, and from the sounds of explosions and collapsing structures, you could only guess that the city had been consumed by the sea.

You could only imagine how many were injured—or perished—in the flood.

Then came the storm. Thunder unlike any you had ever heard shook the skies. In the air, you heard tones that sounded almost like music, leaving you to wonder if it was Leviathan conducting his punishment upon the guilty.

When the storm finally passed, silence followed. The only thing different being the sea that had taken its place near your home; it did not retreat back beneath Cybertron's crust, and most likely allowed the city to stay flooded. 

You learned what happened next from a friend who found you in your home. 

Apparently, your sire—Limos—had appeared in the city before those who ordered the draining of the lake and the massacre of your people. There, he had cast a curse.

Everyone responsible for the massacre, and all who had consumed the energon blessed by him, would know endless hunger. They would be driven mad by greed, until they desired nothing but the sparks of living beings.

At first, you didn’t understand what the curse would become—until, two weeks later, when you heard news of the survivors' changing. They had turned into vicious creatures that hunted and devoured sparks of other Cybertronians, spreading terror across Cybertron.

They came to be known as sparkeaters.

The drowned city was abandoned, and news of a Harbinger of Unicron appearing spread like wildfire. The Senate tried to mask the truth, claiming it had all been a terrible natural disaster. But the emergence of the sparkeaters made their lies impossible to believe.

Chaos spread. The Senate’s rule began to crumble. People no longer showed support—or obedience—to their laws. The disaster had been their undoing, and while it was said that only a Prime chosen by the Matrix could defeat a Harbinger, no such Prime had been chosen for eons. So, there was no one who could have stopped Limos.

And then, a few cycles later, a war broke out.

The truth of the disaster was buried, forgotten with the ruins of the city. There was nothing left there—only the sea that had taken permanent residence.

It came to be known as the Sea of the Damned.

Your sire returned to you once.

You did not approve of what he had done, but you understood him. He told you he had reunited with his siblings and was leaving Cybertron. Before departing, he left you the abode, a source of energon, and a guardian to ensure no harm would come to you again. He also gave you a blessing—one that granted you full dominion over the Sea of the Damned.

And then, he left.

That was the last time you ever heard from him.

After the war broke out, you welcomed many refugees into your home, so long as they respected the rules and did not provoke the wrath of your protector. To help provide necessary sustenance, you taught them farming as it was one of the last things you had from your perished community. 

One of them, a weary medic, managed to repair your optic, allowing you to see once more. Unfortunately, he lacked the resources and tools to fix your spine, but you didn’t mind. You had grown used to your walking stick and managed well enough.

The world had changed. But by the sea, you found a somber kind of comfort. Many terrible things had happened; you lost many friends and one of your only family members, but for the sake of your new friends and family, you pushed forward as their protector. 

… 

"That's so sad. If the Senate hadn’t done what they did, maybe there wouldn’t be any sparkeaters," Starflare said.

"Maybe… maybe not," you replied. "But because of their flawed ways, their downfall was inevitable."

"They hurt so many bots. That’s why there’s a war," you added quietly.

"I heard Limos had a child," Hitch said. "But I’ve never heard that version before. It sounded like… you were there."

"Maybe… I was…" you murmured.

"What happened to Limos’s child was terrible," Crackjaw said. "No wonder he was upset."

"I had no idea the Senate was that evil," Zephyr whispered.

"Wait! What happened to Limos’s child then?" Starflare asked eagerly.

"Let’s just say… Limos’s child stayed in the home they once shared. And when others needed a place to feel safe, they welcomed them. They found a new family."

"How could Limos’s child still be kind after everything they went through?" Zephyr asked.

"Because they believed that showing kindness and compassion was the greatest strength of all," you said gently.

"The Senate was full of selfish and greedy bots, and they paid a heavy price for their actions. Arrogance brings downfall, but understanding and kindness will lead you to a brighter future."

"Uh, I never want to upset someone like Limos. I will be kind through and through," Starflare decided.

"Me too. I will also appreciate what I have," Crackjaw said. "I would rather drink this than have nothing," he motioned with his bowl of energon.

"That is a good mindset," you said with a proud tone.

"What about you, Zephyr?" you asked.

"I think I want to be kind like Limos's child, but I also want to be someone who doesn't tolerate injustice... like Limos," he replied.

"He might have been wrong flooding an entire city and creating the sparkeaters, but it doesn't mean it wasn't entirely justified," he added.

"I want to be able to stand on my feet and do what is must to protect my friends," he looked at you.

You looked at him softly. "I believe you will be able to do so as long as you do not let anger control your actions."

Outside, the storm began to calm.

“(Name), could you... Maybe play a song?” Zephyr asked softly.

"Of course, if that’s what you wish, little ones," you said and glanced at the others.

"Yes, please!" Starflare smiled.

"I want to hear a song!" Crackjaw added.

You giggled. "Very well then," you said, lifting your instrument. You began to play a melody—one you had once played for your sire—as the storm slowly faded, giving way to your song.

[imsofinnacrashout]

The Gilded Cage and the Serpent’s Kiss

Ellie Williams x Fem reader

Summary: Ellie and reader go into the games with the fault that who will win, who will live, who dies and who will tell the story.

Part I: Seeds of Rebellion

Chapter 1: The Offering

The treaty rolled back to when my great-great-great-grandparents were alive, a pretty long time, huh? Not long enough, I was turning eighteen today. When I was born, when every baby was born, the parents had to sign a treaty to accept their kids into the games. Dad won the games when he was eighteen, he was now forty-one. He told me it was for Tommy since Tommy got picked to enter, so he volunteered to do it for him, but since I was the only child, I had to go even if I didn't want to. Tommy was my uncle, the best, to say the least.

“Y/n, get up, the reaping is today!” Dad called out for me to get up, and I got up and grabbed the dress Ellie's mom had made for me. Ellie and I were inseparable ever since mom died she was there and ever since her dad abandoned her and her mom for ellie being a ‘dyke’ as he would say i was there for her. We were the best of friends, but I thought of her more than that, hoping she felt the same. I slipped the pretty floral Miami-bound blue sundress as I slipped my ballerina flats on. Walking outside of my room as I entered the bathroom to fix my hair, clipping it into a French barrette that was my mom’s. Dad came up to me.

“You look just like your mother, munch,” Dad says with a warm smile, as I return the smile as he puts on a mockingbird necklace on me. My parents gave me that nickname because, according to my whole family, I knew how to eat and I wasnt a picky eater, that I’d eat anything, which was still true.

“Dad, whose necklace is this?” I asked, looking up at him, waiting for his response.

“Your mom’s,” he said he got ready as we went to the reaping with Ellie and her mom.

“You look beautiful, angel,” Ellie compliments me as I blush, thanking her. I took in her appearance, she had on dress pants and her black converse with a shirt her mom tailored for her.

“Wow, I can't believe you finally wore something other than your jeans and hoodies,” I teased as I hugged her before we went inside the reaping, praying I didn't get in, neither did she.

“Welcome to the 25th Hunger Games!” the escort said with a smile. How could she be smiling?

“We will be changing this up this year! There will be 2 girls and 2 boys from each district!” the escort says. My heart dropped to the ground, my eyes wide, I glanced at Ellie, who was standing next to me.

“And each district will have a mentor from the capitol,” she announces. Great this shit show will be beneficial for them.

“From district 1, Dina Baker, Desarose Emille for the girls, now for the gentlemen, it will be Harvey Green and Damon Bennett. For district 2, it will be Sienna Rogers and Abby Anderson, for the boys, Midas Thompson and Odysseus Fisher. For the district 3 Circuit Bellweather and Tesla Gear, and the boys, Volt Tinker and Binary Bolt, for District 4, the girls, Coral Reef and Marina Tide, and the boys, Finn Mariner and Caspian Wave, for District 5, Ember Spark and Radiant Volt and the boys Ignis Flare and Zephyr Current. For District 6, Velocity Swift and Jetta Rail, and the boys Axel Gearshift and Pilot Ryder, for District 7, Willow Bark and Hazel Wood, and the boys Silas Branch and Forrest Timber, for District 8, Indigo Weave and Scarlett Thread, and the boys Loomis Spool and Tanner Hide.For District 9, Harvest Rye and Avena Field, and the boys Barley Seed and Flint Wills. For District 10, Daisy Meadow and Liv Stockman, and the boys Angus Herd and Clay Hoof. For District 11, Clementine Grove and Briar Thorn, and for the boys, Rowan Seedling and Cyrus Bloom, for District 12, Y/n Miller and Ellie Williams, and the boys, Jesse McMillan and Ash Driller.” as she finishes announcing the names my heart drops not only am I in the games so is Ellie. We walk up to the stand as I look at my dad in fear.

The soldiers took us to a room that Ellie and I shared, so we could say goodbye to family members. As I see my dad come in, I hug him tightly.

“Dad, I'm scared, I don't want to do this, I can't-” I said, panicked tears falling down my face

“Baby girl, you have to, im sorry, I love you with all of my heart, don't ever take this off, okay, I love you so so much,” he said as he wipes my tears, hugging me tighter. They dragged my dad out as I cried.

They took us to the train so we could drive to the arena. We were going to be human entertainment that sick asshole. Ellie and I saw Jesse and Ash talking to our mentor. I walked up to them, Ellie following soon after. “Im Silas, your mentor,” he said as I spoke

“Where are you from? The capitol?” he shook his head

“District 12,” he spoke as I scoffed

“You're a liar,” I said as he shook his head again

“Im not. I won the 2nd game when I was sixteen. And was your father’s mentor when he was a tribute,” he stated

“What?” I uttered as he nodded

“How many people can win?” Ash asked with urgency as Silas just shrugged. The escort named Aurelia showed all four of us our stylists

“This is your stylist, Lumiere, Jesse,” she tells Jesse with her strong British accent, as she reaches to ash

“Ash, this is your stylist, Rhapsody,” she said, reaching out to me and Ellie

“Ellie, this is your stylist, Silhouette,” she told her, finally reaching towards me

“Y/n, this is your stylist, Glimmer,” she told me as I glanced at my stylist, she was beautiful to say the least.

“Why do we need a stylist?” I asked as Aurelia turned to face me

“Well, for the events, of course,” she answered

“What events?” Jesse asked

“Go off shoo to bed. You kids have a long day tomorrow,” she said, cutting the conversation. We went off to bed, but as I went inside my room, Ellie slipped inside as well

“Ellie, you have your room. Is everything ok?” I asked as she grabbed my face, kissing me, I grabbed her face, kissing her deeper before pulling back.

“Wait, why did you just kiss me?” I asked

“Because I love you, Y/n, from the moment I saw you, I’ve loved you,” Ellie confessed as my face heated up

“You mean it?” I asked

“Of course I do,” she said as we kissed again, moving to my bed, making out as she moved lower to my neck as i pulled back

“Ellie, we shouldn't not here” I vocalized

“Why not?” she asked

“When we’re alone, I promise you, but not now, not here” i told her as she nodded

“Be my girlfriend,” she asked as I nodded in joy as she went back to her room. I changed into a nightgown left for me on a mirror as I got into bed to sleep.

[loveybloom]

︵︵ cheetah npts / id pack. 🐾

⠀ ི names —

cheetah ; swift ; blaze ; dash ; ember ; flash ; stripes ; spot ; sable ; streak pounce ; scar ; zephyr ; feline ; fleet ; amber ; echo ; thunder ; whisker ; racer jet ; mirage ; rush ; veloce ; stealth ; sienna ; hunter ; claw ; drift ; ripley ; chase ; tumble ; bolt ; mirage ; zulu ; sonic ; prowler ; soot ; nightfall ; viper ; hunter ; flicker ; rove ; mistral ; pounce ; stryker ; skye ; saffron ; smudge ; drift ; breeze ; onyx ; comet ; flash ; tigris ; dune ; vex flicker ; blaze ; jinx ; ravine ; seeker ; strider ; zira ; xander ; strider ; fang.

⠀ ི pronouns —

speed/speeds ; sprint/sprints ; agile/agiles ; stealth/stealths ; predator/predators ; savanna/savannas ; streak/streaks ; claw/claws ; whisker/whiskers ; pounce/pounces ; chase/chases ; hunter/hunters ; swift/swifts ; blaze/blazes ; dash/dashes ; amber/ambers ; shadow/shadows ; stealthy/stealthies ; prowl/prowls ; grace/graces ; fleet/fleets ; cunning/cunnings ; racer/racers ; feline/felines ; lithe/lithes ; camo/camos ; sienna/siennas ; echo/echos fast/fasts ; spot/spots ; leap/leaps ; sprinting/sprintings ; soot/soots ; drift/drifts ; zephyr/zephyrs ; fang/fangs ; racer/racers ; tumble/tumbles ; veloce/veloces ; zulu/zulus ; comet/comets ; dune/dunes ; breeze/breezes ; onyx/onyxes ; streaker/streakers ; mirage/mirages ; ember/embers ; fury/furies 🐆/🐆s ; ⚡/⚡s ; 🐾/🐾s ; 🌅/🌅s.

⠀ ི titles —

the cheetah ; the swift one ; prn who is spotted ; the prowler ; prn who sprints through the savanna ; the streak of speed ; prn who is faster than the wind ; the graceful predator ; prn who moves in a blur ; prn who is the fleet-footed the shadow in the grass ; the hunter of the plains ; prn who pounces with precision ; the silent stalker ; prn who blends into the wild ; the amber-eyed chaser ; the swift streak ; prn who is the master of stealth ; prn who leaps without fear ; the racer among predators the swift-furred ; prn who rules the savanna ; the spotted king ; prn who moves with the breeze ; the streak of dusk ; prn who sprints through the shadows ; the echo of speed ; prn who prowls under the stars ; the dune racer ; prn who dances with the zephyr the clawed prowler ; prn who is the mirage in the heat ; the fang of the plains ; prn who streaks across the horizon ; the stealthy shadow ; prn who moves like thunder ; the swift feline ; prn who runs faster than sight ; the graceful predator ; prn who commands the wild the blaze in the savanna ; prn who is the spirit of speed ; the tumble of motion ; prn who sprints to freedom ; the comet in the grasslands ; prn who is the breeze of dusk ; the ember of the wild ; prn who strides like a whisper ; the racer of the winds ; prn who owns the plains

[sanctuary-sonic-au]

So uh, hope you don’t mind me dropping this but, I really like your au a lot and thought I’d draw my ocs as apart of it or something along those lines. Hope you don’t mind (also had fun trying to imitate the style. I adore it!))

Here are my little guys! And some info for the au (I hope you like them! :3))

Plasma

Very anxious and distant, this little guy was discovered in an abandoned G.U.N research lab, distraught and confused. It had seemed to have gone through some unspeakable horrors no one could imagine but, he’s on a road to recovery with the help of Shadow and team Dark.

Please, make sure he is kept in a seperate pen with Shadow if he goes through an episode. He tends to lash out at anyone else but, Shadow.

Artemis;

No one really knew where he came from, one of the scientists discovered him within a crater on earth and brought him onboard the ARK for research and study. (Born from stardust).

He’s rather cowardly and uneasy yet stubborn around others but, generally gets along well with most of the other sanctuary animals!

The adults can’t see his horn but the kids definitely do. He and Silver seemed to be the best of friends!

Bolt

The cheetah was discovered injured and lost in a place they aren’t usually found roaming so, he was taken in by the ARK crew to heal up. During that time, it had seemed he, Sonic and Tails had grown inseparable!

He’s usually very outgoing, bold, and very down to earth.

Zephyr

No one really knows where he came from. He just appeared one day and never left, he has a strange mix resemblance of both already existing hedgehog’s within the sanctuary, Sonic and Silver.

All they know is that he leaves a trail of goop in every step he takes. But it disappears before they could receive a sample from it. Usually quite mischievous and overall a sweet little thing but this doesn’t stop the resident psychic from feeling….unnerved.

AAKSHDEASUYGK I LOVE THESE!!! (also thank you!)

[littlebigplanet-2]

Zephyr was running today for the first time in forever 💕 went out to sit with him for a bit, and he gave me another bolt cap as a thank you sooo now I have three

[moonstruckdraws]

Meet the Birb: Zephyr!

first drafts

and sketchbook sketches (I did these while in the car so ignore my shittier than usual handwriting)

@hellishgayliath back when you sent that ask of the lil sparrow, I honestly wanted to just make her a mutant, nothing serious. But then, after hearing her passing, I felt like I HAD to

Sparrows aren't usually this red, but I liked the picture of her in your hand and how red she looked, so I went based off that. She's a little bolt of energy that zips around like the most hyper child you've ever met.

I think she’d just show up at Todd’s place and become Clem’s friend immediately

I don't have much in mind for her, and I consider her to be your child than mine, Helli

[monosanimegenericzone]

Hunter x Hunter: pain packer pt 5 pt 2

pt 5.5 if you will

i didnt intend to make this immediately but the demons demanded it.

i also give you the thought of feitan studying fashion design for a time to figure out how to conjure his various suits for each form before i completely lose my mind.

Fire: levels 1-5 (correlates to the number of bones broken, scales exponentially)

Wildfire: hot enough to burn skin but relatively low heat

Rising Sun: its a miniature sun! you're cooked

Meteor Shower (specifically multiple ribs shattered): tracking bolts of pure fire, everyone within range gets one to play with

Supernova: starts as a sun, you have about 5 seconds to run away before that thing fucking explodes into a supernova.

Neutron Star: a much smaller star that burns so much hotter and even drags its victims in with an incredibly powerful gravitational pull. if you aren't braced on something that can withstand that gravity then you will be sucked straight into that point of insane heat and immediately incinirated

Water: levels 1-5 (correlates to rate of blood lost volume/time)

Tidal Wave: Creates a tidal wave that hits with enough force to immobilize even the strongest opponent. Not a guaranteed kill

The Great Wave: based on the historic painting and basically tidal wave but with so much extra power behind that force and is capable of breaking bone on impact. Also not a guaranteed kill.

Typhoon: spins the water around in a typhoon centered around himself with winds fast enough to move water fast enough to where it cuts through anything it touches.

Sheer Cold: same as tidal wave but the water is now frigid and the shock alone could kill on the spot regardless of defense. the water is just that cold.

i dont have a good fifth one, suggestions are appreciated, can go in any of the levels

Electricity: levels 1-5 (correlates to what degree the burn is and then how many burns he has) (all attacks hit automatically unless opponent can exceed the speed of light)

Nervous Overload: basically forces a heart attack but the slow kind. snaps the vagus nerve in half and stops the automatic pulse of the heart. Technically not a guaranteed kill but the opponent has to be expecting it

Lightning: Single bolt of lightning, enough to paralyze and maybe kill depending on who it's used on.

Twin Spears: Two bolts of lightning. wow shocking. (please laugh)

Spear of Zeus: super charged bolt of lightning that remains on the target for the duration of the attack.

Solar Storm: believe it or not this is still electricity. instant kill. it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. you cannot stop this unless you have an incredibly powerful magnetic field.

Air: levels 1-3 (correlates to personal assessment and degree of threat to his life)

Ruthless Zephyr: winds that reach speeds up to 200 mph (321km/h)

Empty Space: seals the area of effect and then instantly vacuum seals it, causing the opponent to either suffocate or explode from the lungs. slow death (max 2 minutes)

Venus Sky: dumps the atmospheric pressure of venus onto his opponent. which is about 50-100x(?) the pressure on earth so it would crush the human flat immediately.

honestly i dont think air needs more than this. but if anyone has more suggestions im down to listen. i am just a nerd :D

this is a certified nen nerd post. kinda. more like am overall nerd.

[violet-moonstone]

The Wings of War Chapter 18: New Plan

Summary: Nuffink devises the perfect way to help his friends sneak out. All he has to do is work up the courage to act…and not mess up.

Word Count: ~3k

Preview:

Nuffink sat curled up on his bed, strumming his lyre aimlessly and occasionally lapsing back into his unfinished song. He had no fear of making mistakes now that everyone was gone: the grown-ups off having important conversations at tonight’s meeting and Zephyr being punished for trying to sneak away. His voice carried loud and clear through the empty house 

“Let yourself go-o-o-o.”

The fragmented song usually inspired a sense of hope within him, but now he only felt emptiness and the sting of being unwanted. The other kids may have had their plans foiled in the end, but it still hurt that Zephyr and Ingrid didn’t want him to join them. 

And why should they? He thought. I’m not even brave enough to sing a stupid song with people watching. How could I go on a mission and ride on a dragon? And yet—he wanted to be needed, to be included as a part of the team.

 The next line was drawn out of him almost without thought.

“Stay close to me…da-da-da-da-da…” He went on humming and vocalizing, not quite sure where he wanted the song to go next. He liked the line, but didn’t know how he felt about his voice as he sang it. It sounded too meek, too defeated. He didn’t want it to be a desperate wish, but a triumphant declaration: Stay close to me; I’m brave, and I’ll show you how to be brave too. 

He sighed. That sounded more like Zephyr than him. Maybe I’ll get there one day. He continued playing that little part over and over, then improvising the rest, trying to find the right words to fit the melody. He couldn’t seem to find the exact right way to end the chorus, but he found comfort in playing around with the song. It was nice to try something new with no risk of his mistakes having real consequences. 

Beside him, Sunset chirped and squeaked softly, her blinking growing lazier as the music continued. She began to doze off with a happy smile on her face.   

Nuffink sighed. At his most confident, it seemed all his music was good for was causing sleepiness. The last time he played for Gobber in the forge, it made him fall asleep too. Apparently the songs Nuffink found exciting caused others to get drowsy.

He shook his head and played on for a while.

Until the realization hit him. 

He jerked up and pulled one of the strings harshly, creating a discordant sound in the melody. Sunset fluttered awake and shuffled away, startled.

“That’s it!” Nuffink exclaimed, jumping out of bed and hopping about in a little dance. “That’s it, I know what to do!” He stuffed his lyre, a fistful of clothes and some other belongings into his leather satchel—the one his father made for him with Berk’s emblem burned into it. As he packed, Sunset pranced around excitedly, not entirely sure what the excitement was about, but happy to take part in it all the same. 

“Let's go!” Nuffink cried, clutching his bag, bolting out the door and down the stairs with Sunset trailing behind.

Read the rest on AO3

[died-of-feels]

My Httyd Next Gens Pt. 1

Name: Oswald

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Eruptodon (doesn't ride)

Age: 23

Parents: Dagur and Mala

Weapon of Choice: Sword

Relationship status: Just married to Solvig

Occupation: Eruptodon protector

Personality: Quiet and tends to keep to himself and stay out of people's way and problems. Likes to tease his younger siblings especially Baldur about Zephyr.

Misc: He made a vow to never ride a dragon again after he gave up his position as first in line for the throne to devote all his time to the eruptodon effectively passing the throne to his younger sister Eula.

Name: Solvig

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Eruptodon (doesn't ride)

Age: 22

Parents: Throk and Atali

Weapon of Choice: Katana

Relationship status: Just married to Oswald

Occupation: Eruptodon protector

Personality: She is very friendly and always willing to help those around her. She is just as courageous as both her parents and is quick on her feet.

Misc: She just like her father has always had a strong connection with the eruptodon and vowed to always protect it. Also made a vow to never ride a dragon once she became the protector.

Name: Eula

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Baby Razorwhips

Age: 20

Parents: Dagur and Mala

Weapon of Choice: Wingmaiden spear

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Wingmaiden

Personality: She is very well spoken and a great debater. She prefers to be off of the island she grew up on but makes sure to visit her family as often as possible.

Misc: She was always so fascinated and amazed by Atali’s story of being a Wingmaiden that when she was old enough she decided to pass her claim to the throne of Defenders of the wing to her younger brother Baldur and become a Wingmaiden herself.

Name: Baldur

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Skrill named Bolt

Age: 18

Parents: Dagur and Mala

Weapon of Choice: Long sword

Relationship status: Dating Zephyr

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: He tends to get very fixated on certain things and start to disregard the things happening around him. He is also very stubborn and will treat people the very same way that they treat him

Misc: He is currently first in line for the throne of the Defenders of the Wing and has no plans to give it up. He has every intention of marrying Zephyr and making her Queen of the Defenders of the Wing.

Name: Ericka

Eye color: Blue

Dragon: Changewing named Novax

Age:18

Parents: Eret and OC named Greta

Weapon of Choice: Spear

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: She inherited her father’s fierce loyalty but is very naturally aggressive like her mother. She is a very skilled warrior and plans to one day join the Berkian Guard

Misc: She loves to cook and make her friends treats to cheer them up when they are sad so now she knows what all the riders favorite sweets are and can bribe them into doing patrol or other chores. Her best friend is Zephyr.

Name: Zephyr

Eye color: Blue

Dragon: Nightlight named Dart

Age: 18

Parents: Hiccup and Astrid

Weapon of Choice: Sword and Battle axe

Relationship status: Dating Baldur

Occupation: Dragon rider leader

Personality: She has a very similar personality as in Homecoming just more mature and willing to listen to what the older vikings are trying to tell her before jumping to conclusions. She is also the most knowledgeable about dragons out of all the children and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect them to the point of often having to be dragged away by her friends for her own safety or even Dart refusing to cooperate with her anymore

Misc: She enjoys reading the book of dragons and training with her mother. She also got her father's ability to create useful inventions. Her best friend is Ericka

Name: Nuffink

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Nightlight named Pouncer

Age: 15

Parents: Hiccup and Astrid

Weapon of Choice: Battle axe

Relationship status: Dating Thyra

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: Very similar to his personality in Homecoming but more mature. He is still very rambunctious and likes to try all of his father’s aerial tricks that he was told about as a young kid. His favorite pastimes are flying with Pouncer and annoying Zephyr.

Misc: With the very real possibility of his sister marrying Baldur he is most likely to become the next chief of Berk.

Name: Thyra

Eye color: Purplish Blue

Dragon: Monstrous Nightmare named Ember

Age: 15

Parents: Snotlout and Ruffnut

Weapon of Choice: War hammer

Relationship status: Dating Nuffink

Occupation:Dragon rider

Personality: Thyra is very confident in her abilities and is willing to spar with anyone who offers. Unlike her dad she isn't afraid to not take first (breaking generational trauma from snotlout). She tends to spoil her dragon and treat her as the most important living thing in the world.

Misc: She is the most competitive of all the children and likes to follow Hiccup around and annoy him until he is quite literally just chasing her away.

Name: Tove

Eye color: Purplish Blue

Dragon: Deadly Nadder named Attor

Age: 15

Parents: Snotlout and Ruffnut

Weapon of Choice: Spear

Relationship status: Flirty with Skjor

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: She is extremely girly and likes to focus on how she looks over fighting the other kids. She wants to be a healer like her mother (yes I headcanon Ruff as the healer after Gothi)

Misc: She and Attor like to look in the reflection of shields to preen. She tends to get distracted while fixing her hair or grooming her dragon and will miss important details in a conversation. She is still very useful in a battle and will take down enemies in style. She and Astrid have bonded over having Nadders and she has learned a few tricks from her.

Name: Skjor

Eye color: Blue

Dragon: Razorwhip named Wingnut

Age: 15

Parents: Fishlegs and Heather

Weapon of Choice: Double ended axe

Relationship status: Likes Tove

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: Skjor is the perfect mix of both his parents with his father’s love of learning and dragons and his mother's survival instincts. He loves adventure and journaling.

Misc: He met Wingnut when he got stuck on a random island and used the survival skills his mother taught him. First in line to be chief of Berserker Island.

Name: Vivika

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Triple Stryke named Suvi

Age: 14

Parents: Dagur and Mala

Weapon of Choice: Sword and Blow darts

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: Vivika is the most patient out of all the children and always willing to hear a multitude of answers to one problem. She is the peacekeeper between her siblings and on the island.

Misc: She enjoys sitting under the shade of the trees with Suvi to read and be away from her responsibilities for awhile. She really looks up to her aunt Heather.

Name: Lagertha

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Gronckle named Lapis

Age: 14

Parents: Dagur and Mala

Weapon of Choice: Battle axe

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Dragon rider

Personality: Lagertha is a born warrior that is always ready to take on anyone and anything that will try to pick a fight with her. She likes to boss people around and get the island people to do tasks for her.

Misc: She likes to get up with the sunrise and fly around the island with her dad. Her favorite pastime is whittling long sticks into spears.

Name: Noma

Eye color: Blue

Dragon: Hideous Zippleback (Gas) named Calothosk

Age: 10

Parents: Tuffnut and OC named Friva

Weapon of Choice: Mace

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Jr. Dragon rider

Personality: Noma is a free spirit who usually does whatever sounds fun. She is curious of the world around her and can often be found taking a walk around the island. She and her cousin Leahlout are attached at the hip and if they aren't doing their own thing they are always together.

Misc: She likes to help her father in the forge (I headcanon that Tuff begins to help Gobber in the forge now that Hiccup is to busy as chief) or helping her mother cook and bake in the great hall.

Name: Leahlout

Eye color: Blue

Dragon: Hideous Zippleback (Spark) named Thevren

Age: 10

Parents: Snotlout and Ruffnut

Weapon of Choice: Daggers

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Jr. Dragon rider

Personality: She is the most calm out of all her siblings but still enjoys causing a ruckus on the island especially for Gobber and Spitelout. 

Misc: She likes to follow her dad around while he is training the Berkian guard (I headcanon that Snotlout is the captain of the Berkian guard) and likes to train with them herself.

Name: Bjorn

Eye color: Green

Dragon: Gronkle named Fishmeat

Age: 9

Parents: Fishlegs and Heather

Weapon of Choice: Bow and Arrow

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Jr. Dragon rider

Personality: He is sweet and gentle much like his father but tends to make up his mind and become fixated on his decision and refuses to listen when people try to tell him the opposite.

Misc: Bjorn is a pacifist so he prefers to find nonviolent solutions to problems and stay out of fights for as long as possible until a dragon or someone else is in serious danger of being badly hurt.

Name: Ingrid

Eye color: Green

Dragon: None yet

Age: 5

Parents: Fishlegs and Heather

Weapon of Choice: Teeth

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Baby

Personality: Ingrid likes to act sweet and innocent especially around her parents (they know she’s not) but she is a feral child and will bite when she feels like it.

Misc: The first person she bit was Dagur. Her other targets include Hiccup, Snotlout, Skjor, and strangely Astrid

[hildegardavon]

Louis-Simon Boizot, 1743-1809

The Elements paying tribute to friendship (Les Élements rendant homage a l'Amitié), ca.1783, marble, 43×53.2×6.5 cm

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles Inv. 2003.1

The identities of the allegorical figures in this marble relief are suggested by the worlds they inhabit--a swirling mix of clouds, flames, waves, and earth. Together they represent the four elements paying tribute to Friendship. To the left, Friendship, who wears a wreath of myrtle, stands on a pedestal with her arm wrapped around an elm tree stump. Cybele, who personifies Earth, leans over two kneeling lions. Triton and Nereid emerge from the sea, representing Water. Zephyr, the Wind, reaches toward Jupiter--who, in the form of an eagle, holds a bolt of lighting that symbolizes Fire. (Getty)

[redeemers-and-dragons]

Redeemers: Greenest in Flames Part 2

Jaune: … I think we should make a distraction. While the raiders are busy, we take the citizens the next street over and make a run for the keep. Anything that comes at us, we deal with.

Neon: Well that would be a great plan if we had a distraction. Any plan for that?

Reese: Don’t you dare think about using me as bait!

Jaune: No is going to be bait. We just need… *Starts thinking hard while looking around. Eventually his eyes come upon Neo.*

Neo: *Currently counting gold from her large sack of loot she had been collecting off raiders and unattended local businesses.*

Jaune: *Grabs Neo into a bear hug* Adam! Grab that sack and try to toss it over the raiders! May, when the sack is right above them, shoot the sack.

Neo: *Starts silently panicking and thrashing as the minotaur grabs her loot. She casts Minor Illusions to send a flurry of insults and curses straight into Jaune’s ears.*

Jaune: I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I promise to make it up!

Adam: *Starts spinning the large bag around several times before throwing it with all his might.*

Jaune: *Turns to the civilians.* Everyone get ready to run on my mark!

May: *Kneeling down and is following the bag with her crossbow’s crosshairs.* “Zephyr Strike.” *Her crossbow bolt is encased in green whirlwind energy and then pulls the trigger.*

The Raiders: The raiders in the distance were taken off guard by the sound of a small explosion overhead and looked up just in time to see the sky start raining money, jewelry, and expensive heirlooms. The kobolds were the first to dive for the treasure, scooping them up by the handfuls and biting hands that went near theirs. The humans soon joined along and both groups dove for the scattered loot, some scuffling over the larger valuables and getting in fist fights to possess them. It was only the more veteran looking mercenaries and the people in the strange masks that were barking orders at their men to stop acting like fools and kicking the kobolds for them to knock it off.

Jaune: Now! Go!

Narration: The Party along with the civilians rush forward towards the fortress, the guards at the front gate spotting them and waving them in desperately. The children and wounded were carried, those that were having trouble keeping up were practically dragged, and Jaune had to keep a tight grip on Neo as she tried to go back for the gold. They had made it about half way across the field before they heard the-

Blue Dragon: ROAAAAAAAAAR! *The blue dragon flies low overhead, swooping over the field below and causing a powerful burst of wind with its wings that causes the group to stumble and fall. The civilians around the party start shrieking with fear, several children starting to cry. Even the kobolds on the field below stare up in awe and fear, forgetting the fight for the loot.

Masked Man: *See’s the fleeing refugees, he takes the stunned awe of his soldiers to kick a kobold forward and push a mercenary into action.* After them!! *The kobolds, mercenaries, and other masked figures quickly start after the fleeing citizens, some of them trying to use their bows and crossbows to shoot them before they reach the safety of the fortress walls.*

Jaune: *Stops to watch for a moment before yelling* Get up! Run for the keep! *Puts down Neo and helps a man and child back up.* Get everyone up! We can still make it!

Narration: The civilians stagger to their feet, the men trying their best to help those who can't do so themselves. As they ran, half the party was split between quickly ushering the refugees up the hill or firing off cantrips and ranged weapons at the ensuing enemies. The kobolds and mercenaries have closed in further now, firing their bows, crossbows, and throwing spears at them.

Jaune: *Intercepts a javelin going for Cinder with his shield.*

Cinder: *Flings a fire bolt* They’re catching up. We need to hit them with something big.

Jaune: I think I got something. *Touches his holy symbol, a fireplace with a warm flame, and speaks a quick prayer.* SLEEP!

Narration: *The quicker kobolds were running on all fours ahead of the raiders, making them the sole targets of Jaune’s spell. Their chase was suddenly halted by a unexpected coma that tumbled them into heaps on the grass, causing the other kobolds and mercenaries to trip over their sleeping bodies into a bigger pile.*

May: *Looks on with a smirk as she loads another bolt.* Impressive.

Jaune: Thank you, but we need to go! Hurry!

Narration: *The party and the refugees manage to make it to the gate, the defenders quickly leading them all inside and closing the heavy wooden doors and barring them. The Party barely had a second to catch their breaths before some of the guards approached them.*

Guard: Are you Adventurers?

Jaune: *Gasping for breath.* Uh, kinda-?

Guard: Then you need to see the governor right away. Come with us.

Neon: Huh. Guards usually aren’t that happy when they tell me to follow them.

Reese: This feels like a trap.

May: *Looks flatly at them* It’s called being “Needed for help.” Come on.

The Party: *Follow the guards up to the keep’s parapet.*

Nighthill: *Tarbaw Nighthill is a human man of sixty years. The right side of his tanned face and head are bandaged, his right arm hangs in a sling. His noble blue tunic is stained in blood, his or another’s, the party can’t tell. He paces the parapet that gives him a great view of the town of Greenest, and it is not a pretty sight. He turns to the Party.* Just when I thought the gods were forsaking me, they drop the lot of you at my doorstep. I saw what you did out there and I thank you wholeheartedly. What is your party’s name?

The Party: *Suddenly it gets really awkward.*

Cinder: It’s a… work in progress.

May: *Steps forward.* What’s the tactical situation?

Nighthill: Fucked. But it could be worse. The invading force outnumbers the garrison at least 5 to 1. We’re not exactly sure who they are, but it seems the people in the dragon masks and purple clothes are the ones leading this. They don’t seem keen on attacking the keep, but rather keeping us locked in here as they loot the town. That damned dragon has been a big problem for any sizable counter offensive, but luckily just seems more interested in scaring the daylights out of us and any reinforcements that may come to aid us. As long as we’re with in these walls, we should be able to weather this out until they leave, but it’s the citizens outside that I’m worried about.

Jaune: Is there any other way they can get in?

Nighthill: That’s where you all come in. There’s an old tunnel in the keep’s cellar that leads to a secret entrance by the river that runs through town. It was originally built to secret water from the river or be a sallyport for a siege…

Neo: *Already feeling it coming, summons the illusion of the word “But?” above her head.*

Nighthill: *Starting to feel a little embarrassed to say this.* …but the tunnel has developed a bit of a rat problem since it hasn’t been used or needed until now. I need you to go secure the tunnel and the secret entrance so we can have a way to sneak in townspeople still trapped outside.

Reese: Great. Just when I thought we were done with the hardest part of the day.

Adam: This battle is far from over. If anything, it’s probably going to be a very long night until the enemy leaves.

Neon: Guess that means we’re all going down to the tunnel for pest control?

Jaune: *Thinks tactically.* …No. Adam is right, this is going to be a very long night for all of us and clearing this tunnel isn’t going to be the end of it. I think it’s best we split tasks so that we have some party  members resting and guarding the keep while the other half goes to handle any problems that come about.

May: *Nods* Then who is going down to clear the tunnel then?

[demon-kumo]

𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬.

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚? 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨 - 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚'𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭?

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐒𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭

𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 Land of Eternity was commonly seen as the closed-off land, far from others and secluded, with the bolts of lightning striking down. Rain pattering against the roofs of the houses was a common sound amongst the folk.

Even in the comfort of the sacred thunder sakura did the dark clouds of the Shogun not rest. Yet, on one rare morning, the rain stopped yet it left behind something else.

Curious maple red eyes gleamed as they stared out into the stone garden that was behind their family estate. Having already changed after his sword practice - he was now bored out of his mind.

Sitting flat on his butt on the wooden flooring he watched the mist, he wished he could have hung out with Tomo but turned out he had plans with the Kamisatos.

Staring at the mist, he couldn't help but be entranced slightly. The foggy evening covered the sun that dipped below the horizon. The ethereal mist that hung thick in the air, cast an otherworldly glow over everything it touched. It almost made him sleepy in a way.

That was if the sound of a flute wasn't heard within the foggy scape.

The little samurai in training had snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the mystical notes of a flute enter the air. Looking at the garden, which was adorned with a small pond and trees of cherry blossom, now was transformed into a world of enigma and wonder.

Standing up and brushed the non-existent dust of his dark hakama pants as he pranced his way into the mist-covered garden. As he ventured further into the garden, his senses were heightened by the eerie beauty of the vog.

The sounds of the flute grew larger and louder as he walked, his feet making gravelly sounds from the stone. Amidst the swirling mist, Kazuha's scarlet eyes caught a glimpse of something.

A shadowy figure within the mist who looked smaller - if not the same height - as him. Quickly running through the mist and towards the figure, he wanted this tiny rush of excitement to stay with him as he approached.

He skidded to a halt when he came face to face with what he was looking at. His red eyes seemed to hold a glimmer as he stared at the scene in front of him.

A tiny female was sitting on the large rock beside the pond within the garden - looking like a mystical spirit with the way she held the leaf to her lips and played. Her (H/C) hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing her delicate face as her lips were covered with the leaf.

Her attire was something that looked a little bit like a shrine maiden but something in the back of Kazuha's mind told him she wasn’t as he saw the blade at her hip.

Kazuha jumped a little when the playing of the melodic notes stopped and the girl opened her eyes. Her facial expression in a way was a perfect match for the mist - her eyes reflecting the beautiful haze as her facial features were gentle and sweet.

Her voice, like the softest zephyr, carried across the misty air. "Kazuha," she whispered as if the very word held the secrets of the universe - holding out a hand to him, "I've been waiting for you."

Kazuha couldn't even hear the words he spoke as he stared at the mist-shrouded female who managed to make his heart thump in excitement as he took her hand. As they spoke, the mist around them seemed to swirl and dance in response. At that moment, the misty garden held more magic and wonder than Kazuha had ever known as he smiled along with the girl.

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞 red eyes snapped open as the wandering samurai found himself on the bird's nest of the Crux Fleet. He groaned softly under his breath as he placed a hand on his forehead.

That's right, he was no longer in Inazuma - fleeting due to the Vision Hunt Decree. He sighed as he recalled all the events leading up to this point in his life. The falling of the Kaedehara Clan, the death of his best friend, joining the resistance, boarding the Crux, and now the mission to reignite his friend's vision.

All these times in this life were key moments that would forever be unchanging. Many traumatizing experiences and yet something bothered him even to this day.

The same dream again...

The recurring dream about the mystical female whom he played with as a child was a fabrication that replayed in his sleep many times over the years. Holding the leaf - he thought about how she would teach him songs to play, how both of them would chat as they threw rocks in the pond, or how they would feed the fish and birds.

Despite never learning her name he grew extremely fond of her. Her presence made things fun as she only appeared in the mist. Due to not knowing her name he ended up referring to her as Kasumi.

Kasumi - meaning mist or light fog

Yet one day, the mysterious child who had been visiting him for years one day suddenly disappeared without a trace during the years of his late teens. It was as if she never existed at all, especially since he never said anything about her to anyone other than Tomo.

Softly breathing in and out - he looked up at the bright moon that was the only witness to his slumber and maybe even peered into his dream without knowing.

His heart thumped at the thought of her, it was always like this even as a child, and after she disappeared. His face tinted pale pink at the thought of seeing her again but he brushed it off and left in the corners of his heart. Closing his eyes once more he let out a soft breath that would travel all the way back to his homeland.

Kasumi... I wonder how you are doing now. Though I know we will meet again one day.

Their mysterious meeting in the mist had not been a chance encounter but a fateful connection between two warriors, bound by the threads of destiny. And as the mist continued to weave its secrets and allow their paths to cross again.

࿐.ੈ‧ ➸ 𝐀 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 (H/C) haired beauty whipped her head in the direction of the moon as she sheathed her sword. Her flowing short black kimono swayed as the blue glow of her vision illuminated - the same blue hue as the mist surrounding her.

Kazuha...

The shining silver-blue mist around her dissipated into the ground, slowly turning into air rather than looking like thick blue fog. Her arms fell to her side as she walked around the bodies of the enemies and spies.

"(Y/N)!"

The cry of her name made her turn her head as her signature hazy yet kind twinkle formed in her eyes. She watched as the canine general made his way into the area - being careful not to step on the bodies of the spies.

"Her Excellency is calling for you, she wants to speak to you and me about the next course of action."

The energy of the aqua-eyed male never failed to make her smile as she nodded her head softly with a smile. "Of course, let us make hast then General Gorou."

Gorou couldn't help but pout slightly at the title and huffed, "You know you don't have to call me General Gorou - we both share the same status and you are my friend."

"Oh, but you have more seniority than me and have more experience I would say the title is deserved, General Gorou."

"(Y/N)!"

The playful whines of her friend made her giggle but that didn't stop the thought knauwing in the back of her head. Perhaps it was just her gut feeling but she felt like a bittersweet event would happen in the near future.

Kazuha... I have a feeling we will be meeting very soon.

[fireboltsystem]

☄️ Firebolt System! ☄️

Pro-endo traumaendo system. Collective terms/IDs: Bolts/Firebolts, They/them. Bodily 24. Aroace and genderfluid.

We use "[headmate name].txt" tags and associated emoji to communicate who's fronting/speaking! If it isn't present it isn't that important lol

If someone reposts our stuff onto syscringe to make fun of us just don't tell us, we don't want to know.

Main/Art/Sonic blog: @sonicaspeed123

Stim blog: @fireboltstims

Non-comprehensive member list below! (Updated 5/2/25)

Solar Subsystem:

Amy/Briar 〔🌹〕 》》 He/she ♡ Caretaker ♡ Amy Rose Introject ♡ 21yrs ♡ Genderfluid Bisexual ♡ @amy-briar-rose

HELIOS 〔✨️〕 》》 Xe/Xem/Xer (Please capitalize!) ☆ Solar Subsystem Gatekeeper ☆ Super Sonic Introject ☆ Ageless ☆ Nonbinary, Aroace

Knuckles 〔💎〕 》》 He/him • Knuckles Introject • 23yrs • Cis Man, Bi and Greyace

Merlot 〔🍒〕 》》 They/he ▪︎ Shadow's dual headmate ▪︎ Adult ▪︎ Nonbinary

Mia 〔🌱〕 》》 She/her ○ Satellite Subsystem Soother ○ Maria Robotnik Faitive ○ 17yrs ○ Cis Lesbian

Nvidia 〔⌨️〕 》》 She/her ▪︎ Tails Introject ▪︎ 21yrs ▪︎ Transfem Objectum Polysexual ▪︎ @nvidia-windrose (18+ Only)

Shadow 〔🌘〕 》》 He/they ▪︎ Satellite Subsystem Host ▪︎ Shadow the Hedgehog Introject ▪︎ Adult ▪︎ Nonbinary, Aroace and Aplatonic ▪︎ @ark-angel

Zenith 〔🧭〕 》》 Sol/sun/suns, They/them ☆ Ex-Host of Solar Subsystem ☆ Sonic the Hedgehog Introject ☆ 18yrs ☆ "Gender? I hardly know'er" Bisexual ☆ @sonic-06

Zephyr 〔🌪〕 》》 He/she/they ▪︎ Host & Solar Subsystem Host ▪︎ Sonic the Hedgehog Introject ▪︎ 24yrs ▪︎ Bigender, Bisexual ▪︎ @sonic-the-hethog

Other Folks:

Andi 〔🔧〕 》》 Ze/zem/zir ▪︎ OC Introject ▪︎ Android Mechanic ▪︎ Young Adult ▪︎ Nonbinary, Aroace ▪︎ @andi-the-android

Bark 〔🎮〕 》》 He/him ♡ Markiplier Factive ♡ Domestic Dog Therian ♡ Adult ♡ Pupgender, Aroace

Claire 〔👽〕 》》 Fae/faer/faers, She/her ☆ Mobian OC Introject ☆ 24yrs ☆ Nonbinary, Greyace ☆ @parlouzer-siblings

Janus 〔♦️〕 》》 He/him ◇ Anger Holder, Prosecutor-protector ◇ Non-sourced Humanoid ◇ 24yrs ◇ Cis Man, Queer

Meg 〔🎨〕 》》 She/her ♡ Syskid ♡ Sharkkin ♡ 10yrs ♡ Sharkgender girl, Aro ♡ @megs-playworld

Sonic/Arthur 〔⚡️〕 》》 Ze/zem/zir, He/they ☆ Ex-Host ☆ Archie Sonic Introject ☆ 24yrs ☆ Nonbinary, Aroace ☆ @parlouzer-siblings also

Teto 〔📛〕 》》 She/her • Symptom Holder • Kasane Teto Introject • Ageless • Cis Girl

Uhu 〔🌀〕 》》 He/him ○ Creativity Embodied ○ Non-sourced Shapeshifting Orb ○ Ageless ○ Agender, Aroace

Zonic 〔🔀〕 》》 Ze/zem/zir, Zi/zin/zins ◇ Gatekeeper ◇ Zonic the Zone Cop Introject ◇ 25yrs ◇ Nonbinary, Aroace

[lovablethings]

🌩️Name ideas for a storm!

Aura … Blitz … Bolt … Boom / Boomer … Cell … Cirrus … Cloud … Crash … Faraday … Flash ... Fulmine … Gale … Hector … Jericho* … Jules / Joules … Jupiter … Lux … Nimbus … Plasma … Rayne / Rain / Raine / Rein / etc … Rumble … Skye … Squall … Strike / Striker … Surge … Tempest … Thor / Thora … Thorson / Thorsen … Zephyr … Zeus

*Resembles 'derecho', a type of wind storm associated with thunderstorms.

And, of course, there are always the names Storm / Stormy and Thunder, too!