jax-writes-whump

[jax-writes-whump]

What species are each of your characters?

So, for Spirits Untamed it's a little complicated since they are all like half-breeds 😂

But, Nazari is half-human half-something else (It's a secret). Rae is half-fire-giant. Zinnia is half-dryad. Caspian is half-siren. Thorn is Half-orc. Corech is full Orc and Lyla is Half-orc. Lorella was full Orc before she 💀

In The Sanctuary everyone is a human, (probably not relevant since I haven't started that story yet)

And in the Virgo one, which I haven't named: Virgo and Vidias are Aviors (Bird people, I guess you could say?? They chirp and have wings and stuff.) Kade is a human and Fallon is just a massive elf, (specifically the type I came up with for my book that have like... colorful markings on their faces!)

[jax-writes-whump]

Your bio says you’re a published author - what’s the title of your publication(s)?

Yeah! I wrote "The Wyvern's Guild: The Search for the Unknown" and the second book out of the three I plan to write, "The Wyvern's Guild: Echoes of Hope"

Actually the main three characters are my banner 💀 If you've ever read Six of Crows you might like this book, seeing as it was inspired by that

They're on AppleBooks, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

It's not very popular obviously because your girl is poor 😭✋🏻

[jax-writes-whump]

Virgo's wing pt 2:

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Takes place directly after this piece More whump because it's fun! Feedback is more than welcome!

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Content: Found family. Multiple caretakers. Questionable caretaker??? Whumpee lashing out. Mute whumpee. Protective brother. Idk guys I literally wrote this two years ago.

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Virgo drifted on the edge of consciousness, caught between the weight of exhaustion and the sharp, distant pulse of pain that anchored him to wakefulness.

The world was muffled, his body heavy, and the first thing he registered was warmth.

A blanket, tucked around his shoulders. The scent of smoke and desert sand clung to the air, familiar and grounding.

He didn’t open his eyes right away. Instead, he listened.

There were quiet voices around him, hushed but not tense. Kade and Fallon.

The tones were calm, worn, but not panicked. That meant he wasn’t in immediate danger. That meant the worst was over.

He felt someone shift on the bed beside him, and he didn’t need to open his eyes to know it was Vidias.

He also didn’t need to open his eyes to know he was in Vidias’s chamber. His bed was tied to the cave ceiling, so he would’ve needed to fly to get to it, meaning they had tucked him into Vidias’s bed.

He tried to move his wing, but pain flared, sharp and immediate, and he sucked in a breath through his teeth.

The voices around him hushed.

“Virgo?” Vidias’s voice, soft but laced with worry.

Virgo forced his eyes open.

The firelight flickered against the cave walls, casting long shadows across the chamber.

Vidias was sitting beside him on the bed, looking tired but alert, his sharp features drawn tight.

Fallon leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his usual smirk absent.

Kade was perched on the edge of the bed, watching him intently.

Virgo blinked slowly.

His body felt like lead, exhaustion pressing into his bones, but the ache in his wing was worse. A dull, constant throb beneath the fresh pulse of pain from his earlier movement.

Vidias signed slowly at him, giving him time to process the words. How do you feel?

Virgo let out a breath, lifting his hand to sign back. Like I lost a fight with a rock.

“What’s he saying? What’d you say?” Fallon demanded, red eyes glinting as he leaned forward.

“Hush.” Vidias grumbled, waving his hand at him. “We’re having a conversation.”

Kade groaned. “Come on, you know we don’t know sign language.”

Vidias shot them both an unimpressed look but relented, exhaling through his nose as he translated. “He said he feels like he lost a fight with a rock.”

Fallon snorted. “Well, technically, you did.”

Vidias glared at him. “If you don’t leave him alone, I'll bury you in the dunes.”

Kade’s mouth quirked slightly, but it didn’t last. His eyes flickered toward Virgo’s wing, his expression darkening.

Virgo followed his gaze.

His stomach twisted at the sight of the thick bandages wrapped around what remained of his wing.

His fingers lifted to sign again, slow and deliberate. How bad?

Vidias hesitated, his jaw tightening.

He looked away for half a second before his hands moved again. We stopped the bleeding. It’ll take time, but… you’re alive.

That wasn’t an answer.

Virgo’s breath shallowed. He turned his head slightly, his eyes locking onto Vidias’s. Will I fly?

Silence.

Vidias glanced around. Fallon and Kade’s expressions darkened with understanding.

With time. Vidias signed back, but there was doubt in his features.

Vidias was many things, blunt, sharp, stubborn, but he wasn’t a liar. If there had been real certainty in his answer, Virgo would have seen it.

His stomach curled in on itself.

His fingers twitched against the blanket before moving again, slower this time. That’s not an answer.

Vidias exhaled sharply.

He ran a hand through his dark blue hair, fingers gripping tight at the strands for a second before letting them fall.

He didn’t sign anything back immediately, and the hesitation was enough to make Virgo’s pulse hammer against his ribs.

“Vidias.” Kade said, his voice quiet. A warning, maybe.

Vidias’s jaw tensed before his hands finally moved. You need to rest. We can talk about this later.

Later?

There was no later.

Virgo’s whole life had been spent relying on his wings, on the sky. It wasn’t just something he wanted back, it was something he needed.

Ignoring the pain, he forced himself to sit up and stretched his good wing.

“Virgo.” Kade started, but Virgo paid him no mind.

He ran his fingers over his bandaged wing, hoping to feel it twitch like it used to when it was touched.

Nothing.

The bandages shifted beneath his fingertips, rough against his skin, but there was no response. No twitch, no faint movement like before, just stillness.

Virgo’s chest tightened.

His throat felt thick, and his breaths came too fast, uneven.

The weight of exhaustion was still heavy in his bones, but the cold, creeping realization was heavier.

Vidias reached for him, but Virgo jerked his arm away, his hands trembling as he lifted them. I need to know.

Vidias shook his head. “Not now.”

Virgo didn’t care about now or later. He didn’t care about the exhaustion pressing into him, or the way his body ached from injury.

He tried to flap them.

His good wing snapped through the air, a few feathers falling loose, but the bandaged one merely twitched at his side, drooping at an awkward angle.

Virgo clenched his jaw, frustration twisting inside him, tangled with something worse. Something he refused to name.

He tried again, ignoring the way his muscles protested.

The same result. A pathetic twitch. A useless weight at his side.

He gritted his teeth, fists tightening in the blankets. His breath came sharp and shallow, his vision blurring at the edges.

Vidias moved first. He caught Virgo’s wrist gently but firmly, his grip grounding.

Enough. His hands moved with quiet finality, fingers steady despite the storm brewing behind his eyes.

Virgo wrenched his arm away. It’s not enough.

Vidias exhaled, slow and deliberate. His hands remained still for a moment before he signed again. I know.

That was the worst part.

Vidias did know, and still, there was nothing either of them could do.

The fire crackled softly, filling the silence that stretched between them.

Kade shifted from where he sat on the edge of the bed, watching carefully. Fallon, for once, stayed quiet.

“It’s fresh.” Kade whispered. “It could come back. Don’t panic just yet.”

Virgo didn’t look at him. He couldn’t.

The words were meant to be comforting, but they felt hollow.

His fingers twitched against the blanket.

He knew Kade meant well, but Kade didn’t understand. Neither did Fallon. Even Vidias, who understood the sky better than most, had never known what it was like to lose it.

“Come on, bubba.” Vidias murmured, stroking through Virgo’s hair. “Don’t be like that. You’re probably just hangry. Let’s get you out to the main chamber, and I’ll cook you something. The feeling in your wing may come back. It’ll just take a while.”

Virgo shook his head, turning away and scooting back against the headboard, using his good wing to shield himself.

“Oh, V.” Vidias crooned. He felt his hands running over his feathers. “I know. I’m sorry. Please, come eat.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the weight of their stares, the dull ache in his wing, the gnawing hollowness in his chest.

Vidias’s fingers were still carding gently through his feathers, a grounding touch, but it only made the ache in his throat worse.

“Come on, Virgo. Moping isn’t going to give your wing back.” Fallon said, taking a step closer. “Come eat. You’ll feel better.”

If Virgo wasn’t mute, he would’ve screamed at him, told him and Kade to get out, that he just wanted his brother, but he was mute, so he just tightened his wing around himself.

Vidias let out a slow breath, his fingers stilling in Virgo’s feathers for a moment before he pulled back.

“Fallon, stop. He’s allowed to be sad.” Kade mumbled.

“He’s not being sad, he’s being overdramatic.” Fallon sighed. “If it were me—”

Virgo moved before he could think.

He was so tired of everything. He knew it was his own fault his wing was hurt, but none of them had any right to judge how he processed his loss.

He snatched a plate off Vidias’s bedside table and whipped it at Fallon’s head, watching as it zipped by him and shattered off the rock wall.

He wanted to have handled it a different way, but he couldn’t speak, and Fallon and Kade didn’t know sign-language, so they never listened.

Fallon froze, red eyes wide as the shards of broken ceramic scattered across the cave floor.

For a second, no one moved. No one spoke.

Then Fallon let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down his face.

“Alright. Message received.” He spun on his heel and left.

Kade sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Virgo—”

Vidias cut him off with a sharp look. “Don’t.”

Virgo’s breathing was still uneven, his good wing trembling where it curled around him.

His hands clenched the blanket in his lap, fingers twitching as if he wanted to sign something, but he didn’t bother.

“I’m gonna go before something gets thrown at me.” Kade muttered before he stepped out too.

The moment he and Vidias were alone, Virgo couldn’t help the tears that began to stream from his eyes.

He was a terrible friend.

Fallon had been right. He had been moping, and Fallon was only trying to help and Virgo nearly broke a plate over his head.

Vidias didn’t say anything.

He didn’t scold Virgo or tell him he’d overreacted. He just let him sit there, breathing unevenly, tears slipping silently down his face.

Virgo curled into a ball, burying his face in his arms and sobbing, letting his one good wing wrap around him.

“I know it’s crappy right now, bubba, but you’re gonna be okay.” Vidias murmured. “We’ll lower your bed, and make you some alcoves lower to the ground.”

He felt like he was unraveling, and there was nothing he could do to hold himself together.

The loss of his wing was more than just physical. It was a piece of himself, a piece of the sky he could never get back.

Vidias didn’t press him to stop. He didn’t ask him to be strong or try to fix anything. He just stayed there, the steady presence that Virgo had always known.

Vidias’s voice was soft, as if speaking too loudly might break the fragile air between them. “I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

His fingers threaded through Virgo’s hair again, slow and deliberate, as if to offer some semblance of comfort.

Virgo could feel Vidias’s warmth, his constant support, but it didn’t change the hollowness inside him. No one could change that.

I don’t want to stay like this. Virgo finally signed.

The words felt heavy, even more so because he couldn’t say them aloud, but he needed to say them, needed Vidias to hear them.

He unfurled enough to make his signs more clear. I don’t want to be broken.

Vidias didn’t pull away. His thumb brushed over Virgo’s temple, a silent reassurance.

“You’re not broken, bubba.” He said quietly. “You’re just… you’re just going through something hard right now, but you’ll heal. We’ll make sure of that.”

Please go tell Fallon I’m sorry. He begged. I didn’t want to throw the plate. I just wanted him to listen.

His signs were clumsy, his hands trembling too hard to keep them clear.

Vidias reached out slowly, gently placing his hand on top of Virgo’s trembling one.

“Hey.” He murmured, his voice steady and warm. “I’ll talk to Fallon. You don’t have to worry about that.”

Virgo nodded slightly, though his tears still fell silently, his body curled into itself.

The air between them was thick with unspoken things, the weight of loss, the grief that hung around them like a storm waiting to break.

Vidias stayed quiet for a moment, letting the silence settle between them before speaking again.

“You’re not broken, V.” He repeated, his voice a little firmer this time. “You’re hurt. You’re hurting, and that’s okay. You’re still my brother, and I’m not going anywhere. No matter how hard it gets.”

Virgo’s chest rose and fell with each shaky breath. He wanted to believe it, wanted to feel like everything would be okay again, but the doubt clung to him.

Vidias seemed to sense his spiraling thoughts.

His thumb continued to trace small, soothing circles against Virgo’s temple, grounding him, steadying him.

He pressed a kiss to his forehead, and muttered something against him.

Virgo didn’t need to hear it to know what it was.

A sleep spell.

The exhaustion he’d been ignoring tripled, and he lost control over his limbs.

“Just rest. It's okay.” Was the last thing Virgo heard as he slid into unconsciousness.

[jax-writes-whump]

{Insert super cool caption}

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An actual whump writing this time. 😂 Once I get started on an OC I just can't stop. Sorry not sorry!

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The desert winds howled outside, kicking up fine grains of sand that slipped through the cracks in the rock like whispers of ghosts.

Inside the cave, the air was cooler, still carrying the dry scent of sunbaked stone and old dust.

Kade sat on the sofa of the main chamber, absently flipping a dagger in his hand.

The firelight flickered against the blade, casting brief flashes of gold against the walls.

The others were tucked away in their rooms, Vidias was probably trying to organize supplies again, Fallon was likely passed out on his pile of stolen blankets, and Virgo…

Kade exhaled, shifting the dagger between his fingers.

Virgo had been off for weeks now.

Even after months of freedom, after the wounds had healed and the nightmares had dulled from sharp daggers to distant aches, he still carried a kind of weight in his bones.

He didn’t flinch as much anymore, didn’t shrink away when any of them got too close, but there was still something fragile about him, something that hadn’t quite settled.

The cave was a strange place to call home, but it was theirs.

Each of them had claimed their own space.

Vidias had claimed the deepest, coolest chamber, where he could keep their medical supplies from spoiling.

Fallon had stolen a corner near the entrance, half-buried in pillows and cloth like some kind of hoarding desert creature.

Kade’s own space was a mess of weapons and maps, half-organized and half-forgotten.

Virgo’s was the smallest, but the coziest.

His bed was suspended by hooks that he flew onto all the time, he had a wardrobe, the enclosure for all his snakes, and his own desk.

He had multiple perches carved into the side of the rock with cushions and blankets instead of any form of chairs.

Vidias had the same, though he prefers to sit on actual chairs, not liking the mess his feathers made anytime he pulled them from his flesh.

A flicker of movement caught his eye.

Fallon entered the main room, stretching his arms with a tired look in his eye.

“Hey.” Fallon greeted, voice rough with sleep, before he flopped onto the sofa beside Kade. “Any trouble?”

Kade’s eyes flickered over to him, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Nothing new. Just the usual... you know, desert wind, sandstorms, that sort of thing. All quiet here.”

“Are you sure? You seem distracted.” Fallon said motioning toward the dagger still in his hand.

“Yeah..I just—I’ve been thinking about learning sign language.” Kade ran his thumb over the blade.

Fallon raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

He shrugged. “I know we said it wasn’t necessary, but I feel bad that Virgo always has to wait for Vidias to translate so we can understand what he’s saying.”

Fallon shifted on the sofa, giving Kade a sideways glance. “Yeah, I get it. It’s rough, but maybe we should talk to Virgo about that. I think he likes having secret conversations with his brother.”

Kade let out a soft, thoughtful hum, tossing the dagger between his fingers again. “Maybe. I just don’t want him to feel like we’re leaving him out or trying to make him dependent on someone else to talk to us.”

Fallon tilted his head, studying Kade for a moment. “I get it. But, sometimes, I think we forget that Virgo’s used to being alone. I mean, yeah, he has us now, but for a long time, it was just him and Vidias, right? Maybe he doesn’t mind waiting. Maybe he’s just... used to it.”

Kade’s grip on the dagger tightened slightly.

He hadn’t thought about it that way.

Virgo had always been so quiet, so reserved, and it made sense that he might be comfortable with silence. Still, there was something about the idea of him being alone that nagged at Kade, like a wound that hadn’t fully healed.

“Yeah.” Kade muttered, glancing toward the hallway where Virgo’s room was. “I don’t want him to feel like he’s stuck in the past. He’s free now. He should be able to speak up when he needs to, not wait for someone else to speak for him.”

Fallon opened his mouth to speak, but a loud crash followed by a shriek from Virgo cut him off.

Kade was on his feet before he even had time to think, dagger already in his grip as he bolted toward Virgo’s room.

Fallon was right behind him, curses slipping from his mouth as they skidded to a stop in the doorway.

Virgo was crumpled on the ground, thrashing violently, trying to get his wing free from the stalactite that had impaled it, pinning it to the ground.

“Don’t move!” He ordered, dropping to his knees beside him.

His dagger clattered to the floor as he reached out, hands hovering over Virgo’s trembling form.

His wing was skewered clean through by the jagged rock, dark blood pooling beneath him, soaking into the sand. Virgo’s breath was ragged, his entire body shuddering from pain and shock. His free hand clawed at the ground, fingers spasming like he wanted to sign something but couldn’t focus long enough to do it.

“Vidias!” Fallon bellowed, already kneeling to press a hand to Virgo’s shoulder, steadying him. “We need you, now!”

Virgo jerked again, his wing opening around the rock, and feathers flying everywhere.

“Don’t move!” Kade repeated, trying to hold him still, but it was too late.

His wing wrenched against the jagged stalactite, tearing the wound wider. More blood spilled onto the floor, dark and glistening in the firelight. His face twisted in agony, and pained chirps slipped from his lips.

“Virgo, stop.” Kade growled, gripping his uninjured shoulder to keep him from thrashing.

He thrashed anyway, and this time, he freed himself, the stalactite tearing through his wing, leaving it in two, bloodied pieces.

The moment Virgo’s wing tore free, a ragged gasp escaped him, silent, but the agony on his face was deafening. His body seized, then went limp, slumping against Kade’s grip as more blood pooled beneath him.

Vidias arrived just in time to see the damage.

“Oh, Virgo, no.” He rushed over, gently taking Virgo from Kade's arms. “It’s okay, buddy. I’ll fix it. Promise.”

His hands moved, signing something.

“I know. It’s okay.” Vidias whispered, and in that moment Kade really wished he had considered learning sign-language sooner.

In that moment, he would’ve given anything to understand what Virgo was saying.

Vidias didn’t waste time. He pressed gauze to the wound, his hands steady despite the sheer amount of blood. “Fallon, get the stitching kit. Now.”

Fallon hesitated for half a second before scrambling to his feet, bolting toward Vidias’ supply chamber.

Kade hovered close, feeling utterly useless.

His fingers curled into fists. Virgo was barely conscious now, his breath shallow, his skin too pale. His free hand lifted weakly, signing something again.

“I know.” He murmured, brushing blood-matted hair away from Virgo’s forehead. “You don’t have to say it.”

Kade exhaled sharply, frustration tightening in his chest. “What’s he saying?”

Vidias glanced at him, his lips pressing together. “He’s apologizing.”

Kade’s gut twisted. “Why?”

Before Vidias could answer, Fallon returned, hands full of bandages and stitching supplies. He dropped to his knees beside them, eyes darting between Virgo’s mangled wing and Vidias’ grim expression. “This is bad, isn’t it?”

“No. It’s great.” Vidias grumbled, glaring at him.

Virgo signed something else, tears welling in his eyes.

“No, don’t say that.” Vidias’s tone softened again. “It might be a while, but you’ll fly again, I’ll make sure of it. We’ll take all these stupid stalactites off the ceiling too.”

Virgo’s gaze wavered, doubt flickering behind the pain, but he didn’t argue.

Kade exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus on what he could do now. He grabbed some of the bandages from Fallon, rolling them tight in his grip. “How do we help?”

Vidias looked up at him, eyes sharp. “Hold him still. I need to clean the wound before I stitch it.”

Kade nodded and took Virgo’s trembling frame back into his arms. He was so light. Too light. His breath was barely there, his body wracked with exhaustion.

Fallon pressed down on the worst of the bleeding while Vidias worked, carefully dabbing at the ragged flesh with antiseptic-soaked cloth.

Virgo twitched, but he didn’t pull away. He just clenched his jaw and let Vidias work, his free hand gripping onto Kade’s wrist so tightly it ached.

It took longer than Kade liked.

The bleeding slowed, but the damage was gruesome, what remained of the wing was in ruins. By the time Vidias finished, Virgo had long since gone limp, unconscious again.

His breathing had steadied, his grip on Kade’s wrist had slackened, but Kade didn’t let go just yet.

Fallon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Well, that was awful.”

Vidias didn’t respond. He just sat there for a moment, staring down at his brother, his hands bloodstained and trembling.

Kade finally spoke. “You think he’ll really fly again?”

Vidias swallowed. His voice was quiet, but firm. “No, but he doesn’t need to know that. Not until I’m certain.”

Kade’s stomach twisted at the words. He looked down at Virgo’s still form, his face slack with unconsciousness, the dried streaks of tears still visible on his cheeks. His ruined wing was wrapped tight in gauze, but the damage was clear even beneath the bandages.

Fallon let out a slow breath. He rubbed at his face before glancing at Vidias. “You don’t think there’s a chance?”

“There’s always a chance, but I… I just don’t know how to tell him that this might not be one of those times.” He exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable. “I’ll do everything I can, but… wings don’t just grow back.”

The words settled heavily between them.

Kade shifted slightly, adjusting Virgo’s weight in his arms. His grip was still loose around Kade’s wrist, like even in unconsciousness, he didn’t want to be left alone.

“He loves to fly.” Vidias whispered, though he seemed to just be thinking aloud. “He didn’t mean to tear his wing. He panicked. How can I take that away from him?”

Kade clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around Virgo’s limp hand.

“You’re not taking anything away from him.” He said firmly. “This isn’t your fault.”

Vidias let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

“Yeah? Tell him that when he wakes up.” His hands were still shaking, blood drying in the creases of his fingers. “Tell him that when he realizes—”

He cut himself off, pressing his lips together.

Fallon, unusually quiet, rubbed at his neck before muttering. “Maybe we don’t tell him yet. Not until we know for sure.”

Vidias shot him a look, half-exhausted, half-skeptical. “And when he tries to fly? When he finds out the hard way?”

“We’ll deal with it then.” Fallon said simply. “Right now, he needs rest. You need rest.”

Kade nodded as he motioned to Vidias’ bloodstained hands. “Go wash up. Fallon and I can watch him.”

Vidias hesitated, looking down at Virgo, then at the two of them. He sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. “Fine, but if anything changes—”

“We’ll get you.” Kade finished.

Vidias gave a small nod before dragging himself toward his chamber, exhaustion evident in every step.

Once he was gone, silence settled between Fallon and Kade, broken only by the crackle of the fire and the faint, uneven rhythm of Virgo’s breathing.

Kade’s eyes lingered on Virgo’s face.

His features were slack, peaceful in a way they rarely were when he was awake. There was always something tense about Virgo, like he was bracing for something, expecting something to go wrong.

Now, after tonight, Kade knew that feeling wasn’t going to go away. If anything, it would be worse.

[jax-writes-whump]

More of Virgo because now I can't stop myself. Thank you @livelaughwhump for the ability to draw again

Some more Info on Virgo's backstory under the cut, if anyone is interested. It's pretty dark so if that's not your thing, not a problem.

Virgo (16, M) and his brother Vidias (18, M) were kidnapped by Avior poachers when they were young, and while their parents were slaughtered, they were sold to the orc king, Titan, where they met their other two friends, Kade (19, M) and Fallon (20, M)

Vidias was used as a regular servant, and served at banquets and stuff.

Fallon worked in the quarry, because he is just a massive excuse for a elf, only a little smaller than an ogre.

Kade was used in the fighting pits as entertainment. Never lost a match once.

Virgo, However, was used as a bed-slave since he was twelve. Before that, he helped Vidias serve at banquets.

[jax-writes-whump]

Doodling! because why not?

This is my mute Avian oc Virgo and Elliot from one of, if not my favorite series, "Worthless" by my favorite person @livelaughwhump, because I just felt like they would actually be besties because their traumas are similar

[jax-writes-whump]

Introducing Ari Venturi

Age: 19

Ever heard of Bryce Tankthrust by Brandon Rogers? He's basically the male version of her in a fantasy realm

Decided he wanted the family business at 16 and killed his father for it at 17. Mother left when he was a kid. Like Robin hood as he blackmails bad guys for their money, but instead of it going to the poor, it goes to him

[jax-writes-whump]

Spirit's Untamed Introduction piece:

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This one isn't Whumpy as it's an introduction piece, but I have more to come that are. Feedback welcome!

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The hardest thing about Lorella’s passing was probably raising the five children she’d left behind. Of course, she’d died three years ago now, and Lyla had just turned four, but that didn’t make things any easier. Thorn had been struggling to manage everything around the house, but luckily, that was all about to change. Today.

One of Thorn’s cousins, whom he was incredibly close to, owned a ranch a few hours away from their cabin, and since he never married, he had extra room in his home, so he’d invited them to stay with him immediately after he heard about Lorella.

Thorn had been hesitant to accept it, seeing as he had plenty of stablehands, and he didn’t want to take all the kids, who were still adjusting to their life, and surround them by strangers, but his cousin had said his door was always open, and Thorn had begun to struggle more and more, so here they were, heading to a ranch, planning to use the cabin as a vacation house.

The wagon creaked as it bumped along the uneven dirt road, the morning sun casting long, golden beams through the trees. Thorn kept one hand steady on the reins, the other resting tensely on his knee. He kept glancing back at the wagon bed, where the kids were gathered with their few belongings, sitting quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.

Lyla, at least, seemed excited. She was babbling softly to her raggedy doll, her small legs swinging off the edge of the wagon bed. Zinnia sat beside her, keeping a gentle arm around to make sure she didn’t fall off. Rae and Caspian sat across from each other, their knees bumping now and then as the wagon lurched. Nazari was tucked beside Rae, his arms wrapped around his stuffed dragon.

He caught a glimpse of the ranch as they rounded the last bend. It was a wide, open stretch of green pastures, dotted with cattle and horses. The house was a sturdy two-story building, smoke curling from the chimney. Fences crisscrossed the land, and a few ranch hands were already moving across the fields. Standing on the front porch, arms crossed and a wide grin stretching his weathered face, was his cousin, Corech.

Thorn felt a little of the tension bleed out of his shoulders, as he glanced back at the children “Here we are.”

Lyla gasped in awe, her tiny fingers gripping Zinnia’s sleeve. “It’s huge!”

Zinnia smiled faintly, brushing Lyla’s hair out of her face. Rae and Caspian exchanged a look. Even Nazari tilted his head toward the sound of the horses and the creak of saddle leather in the distance.

Thorn steered the wagon toward the porch, where Corech was already coming down the steps, waving a hand.

“About time!” Corech called, his voice booming with easy warmth. He reached the wagon just as Thorn hopped down, giving him a quick embrace, before pulling back. “Now, where are all the children you were so worried about? I bet you they’ll get along great with the others on the ranch.”

Thorn gave a small, tired smile and turned, offering a hand toward the wagon. “They’re right here. Just a little shy.” He explained. “That’s Rae, that’s Zinnia, Caspian and Nazari, and the littlest one here is my Lyla.”

“I’m Lyla!” She announced, as if Corech didn’t already know, standing with her chin up like Lorella used to do when she was determined.

Corech chuckled, crouching down to her level. “Well, Miss Lyla, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I can already tell you’re the real boss around here.” Then, he glanced up at the older kids. “Well, Rae, Caspian, you two like horses? My right hand man has twins a year older than you two. Good kids, you’ll like ‘em.”

Rae shrugged stiffly, not quite ready to offer anything more, but Caspian, after a quick glance at Thorn, gave a small, polite nod.

“I guess.” He said. His voice was low and uncertain, but it was something.

“That’s good enough for me.” Corech said with a wink. “We’ve got a few hundred acres to ride if you’re up for it, once you get settled.”

As the children grabbed their packs, Thorn made his way around and helped Nazari out of the wagon, and for some reason, it was only then that he realized why he was clutching his dragon so tight. There was no den. He knew moving was going to be an adjustment for all the kids, but he’d forgotten about the fact that Nazari wouldn’t have any safe spots.

Thorn crouched down beside him, keeping his voice low. “Hey, bud. It’s alright. We’ll find you a spot, okay?”

Nazari just nodded, shifting the bag over his shoulder.

Corech clapped his hands once, not too loud, just enough to stir the energy back up. “Alright! Let’s get you inside before the cookies cool off, baked fresh this morning by Miss Resh. Best welcome I could think of.”

Thorn stood up, shooting his cousin a look. “Miss Resh, eh?”

Corech’s grin widened like he’d been waiting for Thorn to ask. “She’s the best cook this side of the river. Runs the kitchen and the house, makes sure I don’t live like some kind of animal. You’ll love her. Kids’ll love her even more.”

At the mention of cookies again, Lyla gave a happy squeal and grabbed Zinnia’s hand, tugging her forward toward the porch.

Zinnia laughed under her breath and let herself be pulled along, adjusting her grip on their packs.

Rae and Caspian followed, though a bit slower, Rae gently taking Nazari’s hand and guiding the blind boy up the steps.

Thorn didn’t take his eyes off his kids, but he didn’t miss the opportunity to tease his younger cousin. “Sounds almost like someone has a crush. Or perhaps I’ve misread the situation.”

Corech barked a laugh, waving a hand dismissively even as a faint flush rose to his cheeks. “Nothing of the sort. She’s just got a way of running things that keeps us all in line. Besides, she’d box my ears if I even hinted at something like that.”

Thorn smirked, but let it go... for now. He had more important things to focus on. Like making sure the kids got through this first day without feeling like the world was shifting under their feet again.

Inside, the house was a swirl of warmth and life. The smell of fresh bread and cookies practically wrapped around them like a blanket, and Lyla actually sighed happily the moment she stepped through the door. Nazari flinched slightly at the new sounds, but Rae kept a firm hand on his shoulder.

Miss Resh appeared almost immediately, wiping her hands on her apron, and smiled when she saw them. “Well, there you are. Come in, come in. Let’s get you fed before you start drooping where you stand.”

Lyla didn’t need to be asked twice. She let go of Zinnia and skipped toward the kitchen, following the smell of cookies like it was a trail meant just for her. Caspian and Rae were more cautious, hanging back by the door until Thorn gave them a small nod, and only then did they sit at the table.

“I hope you know I didn’t invite you here for nothing.” Corech said. “I’ve got fences that need fixin’ and cattle that need corralling.”

Thorn chuckled under his breath, the sound low and rusty from disuse. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”

He hung his hat on a hook by the door and glanced over at the children again, as if to reassure himself they were still alright. Miss Resh was already setting a platter of cookies down on the table, her movements brisk but careful, like someone used to working around kids who might be a little jumpy.

When the plates were mostly empty and the room had settled into a comfortable murmur of sounds, Corech pulled out another chair and flopped into it.

“Okay.” Corech said, stretching out his legs. “If you all were okay with it, I figure I’ll show you older ones around the ranch, and Miss Resh could take care of Lyla for a bit while we’re gone.”

Rae rose first, stiff-backed and wary, but he nodded. Caspian hesitated only a moment before standing too, brushing crumbs from his lap. Zinnia ruffled Lyla’s hair before she stood up too.

Nazari started to move as well, but Thorn crouched beside him again. “You’re staying here this time, Naz. We’ll explore later, when you get accustomed to the house.”

Nazari shifted, disappointment creeping into his expression, but there was also a hint of frustration. “I’m not a baby.”

“I know.” Thorn assured him. “Just because you aren’t a baby doesn’t mean you don’t have to adjust.”

Nazari gave a frustrated huff, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest. Thorn gave his shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze, and Miss Resh stepped in smoothly, her voice light but kind. “How about you help me, sweetheart? I’ve got a pie cooling that needs tasting.”

Nazari nodded, though he didn’t look any less disappointed that he wouldn’t be with the ‘big kids’.

Thorn forced himself to stand up and ruffle his hair, then he turned toward the others, straightening his back even though he felt like someone had tied a rock to his spine. He didn’t like leaving any of them, even for a short time, but he also knew they needed to see where they’d be living.

Corech grabbed his hat and jerked his head toward the door. “Alright, troops. Let’s saddle up.”

The group filed out, their boots thudding softly against the porch wood.

“Are we gonna have chores?” Caspian asked Rae, probably thinking Thorn couldn’t hear him.

“Probably.” Rae replied even softer. “It’ll be just like with the full-blooded orcs, earn your keep, take your punishments, keep your head down. This place is a lot nicer than our cell.”

Thorn’s chest twisted at Rae’s words. They weren’t meant for him to hear, but they hit him like a slap all the same. No matter how many times he reminded himself it wasn’t his fault, it still gnawed at him in the quiet hours of the night.

Corech must’ve caught the shadow on Thorn’s face, because he clapped him on the back. “We don’t run things like that here. A little work, sure. Builds character. No chains. No whips.”

Thorn swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. He knew that, he only hoped they could believe it too.

[jax-writes-whump]

Starting off strong we have my baby Nazari, ages 16 and 8, with his plushie dragon made by Lorella, which he names 'Dragon'

Thank you @cryboycries for the pose reference I borrowed from this post!

Go follow them, they're amazing and talented and great

[jax-writes-whump]

Greetings whump community!

My name's Jax, lover of all things writing/whump. I've been snooping around tumblr for over two years, and I finally decided to create a blog to post my own stuff.

Favorite whump tropes:

Permanent disabilities. (Deaf, blind, mute, etc) Especially when they are given later in life by a whumper is just *chef's kiss* Peak trauma

Long, hard recoveries. Seeing the whumpee work through the trauma is just my favorite type of high

To build on that; Recapture. Whether by a different whumper or the same, forcing them to regress after so much progress and then the team being disappointed that the whumpee has lost so much progress. More trauma, more fun!

Necessary pain. Like physical therapy when it genuinely hurts to do it and a begging whumpee with a reluctant caretaker... it just gives me the best whumperflies.

Dehumanization. Specifically the recovery. Choosing not to sit in furniture, sitting by peoples feet instead, voice changing because of a shock collar, afraid to speak because they were muzzled. just... 😁

Fade to black Noncon/Off screen Noncon. I won't ever write explicit, though I may read it, but I do enjoy implications purely for the aftermath and the recovery. Like... being comfortable being touched if they became touch-averse, re-learning that what they want matters if it was a slavery type thing. Just makes me proud of any of my characters when they progress.

Series under the cut...

Some of my characters that I may post:

Story 1, Spirit's Untamed:

Nazari (M, 16): half-unspecified creature whumpee. Blinded by acid. Grew up with Caspian, Rae, Zinnia in slaver, and raised by Thorn since he was 7

Caspian (M, 19): Half-siren Caretaker. Also grew up with Nazari, Rae, and Zinnia in slavery, and raised by Thorn since he was 10

Rae (M, 19): Half-fire-giant leader. Grew up in slavery with the others, raised by Thorn since he was 10

Zinnia (F, 18): Half-dryad healer. Grew up with the others in slavery, raised by Thorn since she was 9

Thorn (M, 68): Half-orc (Can you see the theme yet?) guardian. Grew up on a farm, but cast aside because he was only Half-orc. Added onto his own cottage after finding the four children struggling in the city.

Lorella (F, 59): DEAD! Orc Caretaker, was married to Thorn before she died and had one daughter with him Lyla (8), but since she's like...super dead you'll only see her in flashbacks or something set in the past.

Corech (M, 65): Orc Guardian. Thorn's younger cousin. Owns a ranch that Thorn took the kids to live on after Lorella's death, because he just had space for all of them??? idk man it was 2am

Masterlist:

Introduction post

Story 2, The Sanctuary:

Virion (M, 45): Father of Vett, Vex, and Vel, Side caretaker, leader of the council inside a sanctuary that is a city encased in crystal inside an otherwise collapsing society.

Elis (F, 40): DEAD! Yes, another mother is dead. My bad, besties. Loved the stars, had a whole observatory made because she married the leader of the council so she could do whatever she wanted. Said to be the most beautiful woman in the sanctuary (Idk man it was 2am when I came up with her. I haven't drawn her yet soooo up to interpretation.)

Vex (M, 19): Oldest son of Virion and Elis, main caretaker of his siblings because Virion can't actually parent and likes to play with politics and swords instead. Fills in for his father on the council when he is away, so like all the time. Doesn't like it, prefers staying in bed. (Girl same)

Vel (F, 18): Only daughter of Virion, main protector of her siblings, because Virion can't PARENT. A captain of the guard, mostly trains recruits when she's bored and uses it as an excuse to get out of school. Prefers punching people over learning.

Vett (M, 15): Youngest child of Virion, said to look just like his mother by every creepy old man ever. Main whumpee because Virion CAN'T PARENT. Has a malformed left leg so uses a brace and crutch (Is this because I watched Arcane and fell in love with Viktor? Yes. Am I ashamed? A little.) Goes to school because he is forced to when in reality he is smarter than his teachers and he hates everyone there, would rather spend that time in his observatory made by his mother.

Story 3, Steel Sun

Vidias (M, 18): Avior. Virgo's older brother, but doesn't let his wings out as often as him. The crew's medic??? kinda. He a lil confused but he got the spirit. Used as a regular servant under Titan after poachers killed he and Virgo's parents.

Kade (M, 19): Human. The crew's main planner and fighter. He was born in the slaver's city and was used in the fighting pits to entertain the orcs.

Fallon (M, 20): Elf. The crew's brute strength because he is just a behemoth. Sold by parents to Titan and used in the rock quarry because he was just... generally huge.

More to come...

Virgo (M, 16): Avior. Mute, and since Fallon and Kade can't understand sign language, he chirps to get their attention/communicate The stealth guy of the crew and a genius with snakes and poisons. Used as a bed slave after he was taken into slavery

Masterlist:

Part 1 Part 2