#Ozodug Hydrae

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Info Tidbits

B A S I C S

Name: Ozodug of the Hydrae

Nicknames: N/A

Age: Around his 60s

Nameday: 9th sun of the 6th Astral moon (8/11)

Race: Au Ra - Xaela

Gender: Male

Orientation: Straight

Profession: Unemployed || Former Khan

P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: Black with dark blue streaks

Eyes: Mullberry purple with warm pink limbalrings

Skin: Dark, dusty purple

Tattoos/scars: Broken left horn and minor scars.

F A M I L Y

Parents: Died in his youth

Siblings: Elder brother Bolgue (Current First Khan of Hydrae) and younger sister (deceased)

Grandparents: Died in his youth, raised by grandparent's sibling

In-laws and Other: None he has contact with

Pets: None

S K I L L S

Abilities: Gold/blacksmithing, carpentry, mining/gathering

Hobbies: Exercise, adventuring, singing, crafting, animal care, stalking his son

T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: Adaptable

Most Negative Trait: No sense of direction

L I K E S

Colors: Bright shades

Smells: Floral, meadow, woody

Textures: Silky/soft fur

Drinks: Tea, milk, kumis

O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: Never

Drinks: Occasionally, close to never since start of adventure

Drugs: Never

Mount Issuance: N/A

Been Arrested: Yes, minor issue

Tagged by: @grumpy-limsan-customs-cat

Tagging: @umbralsound-xiv @blueberryaesthetics @ffxivaltaholic @neoma-eltanin

[ffxivtribehydrae]

#11 Once Bitten, Twice Shy

For FFxIvWrite2023 Characters: Ozodug, Dubus Warnings: Family issues

“Why did you come here!? How did you even know!?”

Ozodug blinked in shock at the infuriated words thrown at him with acid, by his eldest son no less.

“I fricking told Khu not to tell you I was here! Little shite- Was it Childé?” Dubus continued to fume.

The moment Ozodug had entered the clearing in the forest and the other spotted him, he had flown out of his seat- just not for a heartfelt reunion like the father had envisioned. Rather the opposite, Dubus had made as big a gap between them as possible, looked at him as though a pest ridden rat just scurried in and began yelling.

 “Dubus I…” How was he supposed to react? Sure they didn’t always get along before the trio of sons left… But was their relationship really this bad..? “I just wanted to see how-“

“I don’t care! Not a word! I’m supposed to be dead as far as you are concerned! Gone!”

Dubus’ brow knitted together in such a deep frown it distorted the facepaint on his forehead. It looked different from what Ozodug remembered, not that the other seemed interested in sharing his stories.

“I don’t want to see you, alright? I don’t want to speak with you, I don’t want you to go around talking about me, and I am not part of your life anymore!”

Something heavy churned in his chest at his son’s words. It was familiar, similar to pains he felt before. When he lost Aroujin to the disease, Tagadus to the beast… Loss, yes, that heavy emptiness you can’t put away anywhere, you can’t hide nothingness after all. But this was different, worse somehow. As though his own son plunged a knife into his body, carving out the piece of himself Ozodug always held so dear.

Though no physical contact was made, the ache in his chest caused his breathing to become heavy, his stressed mind trying to understand what prompted this, what happened, when did it happen?

“Why..?” was the only word that managed to leave him.

The laugh that left Dubus was in pure disbelief, wringing the knife in his chest all the deeper.

“Why? Why!? Did you really pay that little attention? You never realized how you treated me? If you can see how different you treated us all you surely will understand why I hate you!”

His words had the father flinch back, the knife going straight through his very being, leaving him hollow, defeated, bereft of hope that he could change this encounter to anything better.

While the silence lingered, Dubus’ seething anger didn’t cool off. With a sudden wave of the hand for the other to go away, Dubus took the matter into his own hand and promptly turned to leave, disappearing into the dark forest never to be seen again by the mourning father…

For moons, for seasons, entire cycles… Until today.

He’d seen him, he was here, his son was really here! Alive and well, in this small company house.

But old feelings accompanied the memory, prompting Ozodug think twice about attempting a reunion, instead he opted to press himself against the wall, praying Dubus had not spotted him around the corner. His heart ached to fill that hollow in his chest, what once resided there so mercilessly stolen long ago, to tell his son he was sorry, that he wanted nothing more than to make amends, to understand.

His son’s desire was still strong is his mind and the potential of the past repeating… It was better to keep away for now. Take the opportunity to just see and know from a distance. If he could just see his eldest son smile and laugh, that was all he needed.

As long as he knew Dubus was happy, Ozodug didn’t care how their eventual confrontation would go.

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Quest Complete

It was dark when Dusk finally saw the familiar halls of the company again. Tired steps brought him down empty corridors towards the private chambers.  He didn’t mind the lack of staff or other colleagues welcoming him back, in fact he preferred the solitude for once, considering the warnings he received about other’s opinions about his actions…

Outside the door to his and Auro’usk’s shared room he shivered slightly, briefly recalling the final errand and encounter he had had on his long quest. Finally home, finally he could warm up and relax, finally see his brother and critters he was so suddenly forced to leave behind… When he opened the, to his surprise unlocked, door however he was greeted by someone else on the other side.

There, on the opposite end of the room sat a large familiar man on the alcove sofa, trying to coax a smallshell crab to come closer in exchange for treats. The critter scurried away however as he shifted his attention to Dusk, and his dark features lit up as he stood to greet the other, “Dusk! My boy you have returned! Ah, it’s so good to see you again! I was so worried when none of you two were here! How was the journey?” Ozodug spread his arms in welcoming, excited and joyous to see his son hale and whole.

“Dad?” Dusk stared a little dumbfounded at first, but once he realized that indeed his father had returned from his own journey, he returned the joyous smile, though a little more tired. “I didn’t know you were coming back already!” Stepping into his quarters he dropped all that he had carried with him off on the floor as Ozodug came up to him, ready to give him a comforting hug. Being enveloped in such a soft embrace made Dusk realize even further just how exhausted he was, and how lonely he’d felt on his quest, it was nice to finally have someone there he felt he could trust completely. Dusk let out a deep sigh, clinging to the comfort like a child would to a parent, as they are, “It’s been… a long journey. So much have happened…”

By the time Dusk had shared his story, the moon had started to give way to a brightening sky. In the alcove he was tucked in, with a more comfortable change of clothes, and head hanging low. Of course he’d told of the entire story from its very beginning, the threats, his revenge, and the punishment that was his quest.

Ozodug had listened diligently; he’d been concerned ever since Neoma shared what she knew of the entire situation, so to hear it from his son’s perspective gave him a little wider understanding of the misfortune. But he still found himself unable to figure out how to be of assistance, aside from simply listen to his boy’s troubles. Still he had a desire to try being a guiding force, as a father should be, in his mind. So with a hand on the other’s shoulder, he tried to find words that could aid a troubled mind. “Dusk, I cannot claim to have the answers to solve this conflict… And even if I did, only you have the ability to take action and improve, you understand this, right?”

Tired eyes lifted to meet his father’s concerned ones. But he nodded.

Just that small response had the larger man broaden his smile for just a moment. “This place- these lands, it is all different from home. When you felt you had been wronged… perhaps it would have been better to accept the broken bone than blemish your name,” his tone held steady as he spoke, feigning a confidence he didn’t entirely have but put on for the sake of his son, “It was after all you yourself who chose to come here, wasn’t it? Much like how our people would visit the Qestir and accept what they provided us after long journeys, we would follow their ways so that we may return to trade again. You have not forgotten these teachings, have you, Dusk?”

The amount of time he had to think about it suggested he might as well have forgotten, especially with how his head had simply sunk lower and lower in thought and guilt while listening to the wise words. “If I… drink their water… I follow their customs…” Dusk eventually glanced up, remembering with little delight as he simply felt more at fault.

Ozodug nodded with encouragement never the less, along a comforting rub of the other’s back. “And if you still remember this, you can turn your fortunes around, Dusk,” his tone was more optimistic now, “Don’t let your mistake consume you, my boy, after all… you’ve gotten this far, you’ve touched many souls, and have many more to reach! It’s… what you wanted, right?” the brief pause of hesitation was mostly the father hoping he still understood the dreams of his youngest son. But with how Dusk seemed to brighten, if just slightly, gave him confidence, and confirmed that his words had achieved the desired effect. Still he hesitated a final time, pushing aside a personal conflict he held well hidden for this occasion. Instead he patted the boy on his back, “Always remember… If the self tries,-“

“-the fate strives.”

“The fate strives.”

Dusk straightened in his seat, beaming through his exhaustion at the hopeful look of his father’s, “I’m happy you are back, dad.”

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Moonlit Hearts F1 / Starstruck B2 / Either Opposite Pages or Words Unspoken for D1

I know you said /or/ but why not do both?

- Shipping art prompts -

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Literature Edition - Ozodug

STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

ᴄᴏʙʙʟᴇsᴛᴏɴᴇ sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛs / ʟᴀᴍᴘs sʜɪɴɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏɢ / ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴀ ғɪʀᴇᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ / ᴜɴᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴛᴛʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴡɪɴᴇ / ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢs sᴇᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴀʀᴇ / ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟ ᴏғ ғʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ / ᴘᴀɴɪᴄ ᴏғ ʟᴏsɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ / ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ / ɢᴜɪʟᴛʏ ᴠɪᴄᴇs / ᴛᴏᴘ ʜᴀᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ sᴛɪᴄᴋs / sᴇʟғ-ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ / ᴏʟᴅ ᴅᴏᴄᴜᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛᴜᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ɪɴ sᴀғᴇs.

FRANKENSTEIN, OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS

ʀᴀɪɴ ʜɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡᴘᴀɴᴇ / ᴄᴀɴᴅʟᴇs ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ʟᴏᴡ / ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴ ʀᴀɴɢᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ, sɴᴏᴡʏ ᴛᴏᴘs / ғʀᴇɴᴢɪᴇᴅ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ / ᴀ ᴄᴇᴍᴇᴛᴇʀʏ ᴀᴛ ᴅᴜsᴋ / sʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀʜᴏᴜsᴇs / ᴀʟʟ-ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪʀsᴛ ғᴏʀ ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ / ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙɪᴛᴛᴇʀɴᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴛʀᴇᴅ / ᴀ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏғ ᴅᴜᴛʏ ᴡᴇɪɢʜɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀs /ɪɴᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴀʙʟᴇ ɢᴜɪʟᴛ / ᴛʜᴇ ғʀᴏᴢᴇɴ ᴡᴀsᴛᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄᴛɪᴄ ᴄɪʀᴄʟᴇ/ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴏғ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴇᴄᴋ / ʟɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ sᴘᴀʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴋʏ.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

ᴇʀᴏᴛɪᴄ ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ / ᴘᴀɪɴᴛ ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴘᴀʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ / ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴄᴜʀʟs ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏsʏ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋs / ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜᴛʜ / ʙᴇᴇs ʟᴀᴢɪʟʏ ᴅʀɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀss / ʜᴇᴅᴏɴɪsᴍ / ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋɴᴇss ᴏғ ᴀ sᴏᴜʟ / ᴀ ᴅᴜsᴛʏ ᴀᴛᴛɪᴄ / ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs / ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴘᴏᴏʟɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴏʀʙᴏᴀʀᴅs / ɢᴜᴛ-ᴡʀᴇɴᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴊᴇᴀʟᴏᴜsʏ / ᴀ ᴅɪᴍʟʏ-ʟɪᴛ sᴛᴀɢᴇ / ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ.

THE PRIVATE MEMOIRS AND CONFESSIONS OF A JUSTIFIED SINNER

ᴄʟɪғғs ʀɪsɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏᴜᴅs / sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴀᴍʙɪɢᴜᴏᴜsʟʏ sᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴜʀᴋɪɴɢ / ᴇᴅɪɴʙᴜʀɢʜ’s ᴡɪɴᴅɪɴɢ sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛs / ʀᴇʟɪɢɪᴏᴜs ᴢᴇᴀʟᴏᴛʀʏ / ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴍᴀɴɪᴘᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ / ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ʀɪᴠᴀʟʀʏ / ᴀ ʙɪʙʟᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴀɴ ɪɴᴅɪsᴛɪɴɢᴜɪsʜᴀʙʟᴇ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ / ᴀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ sʜɪғᴛɪɴɢ / sᴄᴏᴛᴛɪsʜ ʟᴀɪʀᴅs / sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴɪᴄ ᴍᴀsǫᴜᴇʀᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴘᴜʀᴇ.

DRACULA

ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴀʀɪᴇs / sᴜɪᴛᴏʀs ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀ ʟᴀᴅʏ / ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇs ɴᴇsᴛʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴs / ᴛᴇʀʀᴏʀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ / ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴡʟɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴡᴏʟᴠᴇs / ᴀʀɪsᴛᴏᴄʀᴀᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇs / ᴀ ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍɪɴɢ ʜᴜɴɢᴇʀ / ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʀɪsɪɴɢ / ʜᴏʀsᴇs’ ʜᴏᴏᴠᴇs ᴛʜᴜɴᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ ᴀ ᴘᴀᴛʜ / ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ sᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sɴᴏᴡ / ᴄʀᴜᴄɪғɪxᴇs ᴡᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴏғғ ᴇᴠɪʟ.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

ғᴏɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏʀs / ᴇᴍʙʀᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ / ᴀ ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴀʙᴜsᴇ / ᴠɪᴄɪᴏᴜs, sɴᴀʀʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏɢs / ᴀ ʜᴏᴜsᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴜɪɴ / ᴀ ᴛʜᴏʀɴ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏsᴇs / ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ʟᴏᴠᴇ / ɢʜᴏsᴛs / ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴡʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪɴᴅ / ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇɢᴜɴ ᴛᴏ ʀᴏᴛ / ᴡᴀsᴛɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ / ᴀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪғʏ.

Tagged by: @avampyone

Tagging: am pretty late on this one so all who haven't done it!

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Warrior Father in the End~

[ffxivtribehydrae]

#28 Blunt

For FFxIvWrite2023 Characters: Auro'usk, Ozodug

The other two occupants of the room were still asleep when Auro’usk returned from his morning chores. Dusk on the loft and their father in the alcove couch, it was just big enough for the large man to lie down properly in.

On the floor laid the pack Ozodug brought along his travels through Eorzea, and below the window rested an axe against the wall. The tool caught Auro’usk’s attention, held him with a memory of long ago, of when he, Khu and Dubus set out together into the world. He’d brought an axe just like this one, because of his father favoring it, for its utility, and for defense.

He didn’t really register his own actions when he stepped over and picked up the tool, weighing it in his hands, so familiar, like a distant memory. Over time his weapon of choice had increased to a size outweighing its practicality, and he had learned to wield it with such ease despite its weight. This one was a miniature in comparison to his current great axe.

A yawn and grunt brought Auro’usk out of his reminiscing; his father had awoken and stretched his tired limbs with a pleased grin. His son’s curiosity had not gone unnoticed either, even if the axe was returned to its original spot. “I remember when we made you one of your own, for the journey. Do you still use it?”

Slowly Auro’usk shook his head, a hint of shame in his features with how his gaze fell. It had broken long ago, blade grown dull and fragile, chipped at both metal and wooden handle beyond repair.

“Oh, don’t look so down my boy! If it served you well, then it has fulfilled its purpose of keeping you safe,” his deep voice was lower in volume than usual, likely a little groggy from the rest, “And I am glad you kept a piece of me along with you, for a little while.”

Auro’usk lifted his trademark gentle smile to the other’s words, “It was helpful to have along…” equally gentle tone to match his features.

The soft nature of his son mellowed his own grin as he stood for a second stretch, of his legs this time. Once feeling ready for the day he stepped over and retrieved the tool, inspecting the stained steel and thumbing its once sharp edge. Wear and tear had blunted the blade, a worthy price to pay to keep your life. “This one has served me well long before I even left for this adventure... Perhaps we should craft a new one, for old time’s sake?”

Surprise greeted the suggestion, taking a moment before he responded, “I… That would be nice, actually,” Auro’usk couldn’t help but feel excited about the idea, like going back to good old days, “You need to stay safe now, too, after all.”

And now it was sons’ turn to help along their father, on his new, grand adventure.

[ffxivtribehydrae]

All my ask answer banners~

Updated with a couple new arrivals! Now I just need to fix the prompt banner too...

[ffxivtribehydrae]

After all the adventuring on the island, I felt like I had seen all there was to see there. And what a journey it was! Across La Noscea- that's the name! It was time for a break, rest up and see my boys.

To say the least I was surprised to come back to the company and find neither Dusk nor Auro'usk around. Their room was locked too so I couldn't stay where I normally would. I ended up sleeping on whatever couch was free elsewhere in the building for a couple of nights. Eventually I met a face I knew!

Neoma woke me up, I'm glad she still comes to speak with me with such ease. But she had heavy news to give me... Auro left suddenly, and had yet to return, apparantly he had a troubled heart to take care of. And Dusk had... broken rules, and was away to make up for his actions...

I know enough about the importance of rules in and of itself to know I cannot do anything to help. Even if I had proper knowledge of the situation I would just end up making things worse for him, most likely... Oh, but I pray to Nhaama she sees both of them returned safely soon.

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Character Theme - Ozodug Hydrae

What instrumental track would play in the background of your character’s story during their most meaningful moments? 

Tagged by: @sundered-souls (thanks!) Tagging: @umbralsound-xiv @sayuriaoki @cadrenebula @blueberryaesthetics @neoma-eltanin

[ffxivtribehydrae]

Man Vs Wild~

[ffxivtribehydrae]

9: A song that makes you happy

From Other Hydrae's playlist, in the section of Ozodug x Aroujin (the brothers' parents) we have "For the Dancing and the Dreaming"!

They might not be part of RP in more than backstory purpose, but I personally love the loving parents! Not to mention the movie the song origins from is so good and the couple so sweet too. It just makes me smile to listen to!

- Send a number for music -

[ffxivtribehydrae]

#31 Desiderate

For FFxIvWrite2021 Characters: Ozodug, Dusk, Auro’usk Warnings: None

”It’s been so good to see you! But say, where is your dear brother?”

Ozodug beamed expectantly at his sons. He’d been told Dubus was around the company as well but during all the time he spent talking with his two youngest boys, the eldest hadn’t even been sighted.

“I… haven’t seen Dubus in a while,” Dusk admitted with a moment of thought following, “I saw him… A few suns ago I think? He’s usually outside or in the kitchen.”

“Ah, outside? Maybe I didn’t look hard enough on my way here, then,” Ozodug laughed, masking the disappointment he felt.

“I’m sure he is out there still, I can go look for him!” Dusk offered and with a hopeful little exchange the youngest was off and out the door.

Left was Auro’usk, having kept his silence with a worried look. Of course Dusk didn’t know how strained the relation between Dubus and their father was, he was never there whenever they visited home and the eldest refused to even be seen. Now he hadn’t heard anything from the other either, but at least Auro’usk was used to Dubus disappearing now and again on his whims.

With a discreet sigh Ozodug turned to the other, this time his smile was sadder, not bothering to mask as much of his feelings. “He isn’t here, is he?”

Auro’usk looked almost distressed by the question, not wanting to make them sad but very much knowing the possibility was high. Noticing that, Ozodug shook his head and waved a hand to keep them from speaking.

“You just need to tell me how he is doing, or was.”

Still worried, Auro’usk bit his lip and it took a while before he spoke, “Are you okay?”

The question took him a little off guard and so he blinked a few times at that worried look he was receiving. Ozodug dropped his gaze and looked out the window where Dusk was still doing his best in finding his brother.

After waiting patiently, eventually Auro’usk got an honest response. “I can’t say I expected Dubus to be excited to meet me, but I had hoped to at least see him. See for myself how he has grown and how he is doing on his grand adventure…”

“I’m sorry…” Auro’usk struggled to think of any words of comfort, but the other only shook his head once more.

“It’s nothing you could change, Auro’usk, I’m still overjoyed to be here with you and Dusk!” His tone was growing optimistic again to cheer up the other and brighten the mood.

Truth was though that he was incredibly sad. He’d hoped to see his eldest son even if just on a distance, smiling with his brothers, see with his own eyes how he was doing and how he has grown. But even that had been too much to hope for after all these cycles of seasons.

At least it was a great comfort to be in the here and now with his two youngest.

[ffxivtribehydrae]

#5 Consequence

For FFxIvWrite2021 Characters: Dubus, Ozodug Warnings: None Note: This piece follows up #4 Baleful

”What were you thinking!? Stealing a horse not yet ready to be ridden! Bringing your brother along for it even too!” the Khan basically roared at his eldest son, “Don’t you understand what trouble you have brought upon all of us from such reckless act?”

Dubus merely stood there, in the middle of the iloh, with lowered head and taking the blame with a faint frown on his brow. He didn’t rise to meet his father’s gaze or to see the horn now broken in half.

The tribe members rushed back and forth around them, too busy to listen to the scolding as they quickly packed everything up for a sudden migration. With the Buduga’s pursuit of the children they had been given the start of a trail to their camp and they would not risk another confrontation.

“Had they caught you, there would have been no way for us to get you back! Do You Understand? Dubus!” Ozodug demanded a response, to which Dubus merely glanced up at him for a moment. Dropping his gaze again had the large man deeply sigh and shake his head. “Would that have been worth it? Was the risk worth it!?”

The younger brother that had come along on the adventure, was the only who watched from the side, though none of their father’s harsh words was directed towards him. He hadn’t fully understood the severity of the situation anyways until their father, along with the tribe’s hunters, had found them fleeing and confronted their pursuers to mislead them, lose them in the woods where they made their home. It had come at the costs of injuries, Ozodug’s broken horn but one of them.

“You are supposed to look after your brothers! Not expose them to dangers!” The scolding continued without Dubus ever once speaking and none coming to his side for comfort even after the Khan’s rambling was over. Not even the younger brother as their father had chosen to look after the younger child before the start of their move.

They’d travel further into the mountains, farther away from the border to the Azim Steppe so that it would no longer be just a day’s worth of travel. Hopefully it would discourage the wild teen from running away again.

[ffxivtribehydrae]

#19 Amend

For FFxIvWrite2021 Characters: Zo’ogai, Ozodug Warnings: None

This little village certainly had been a spectacular first stop of his journey, even the son he had worried about the most stumbled through the door!

But in the late evening, when all had retreated to their bedrooms, Ozodug had barely spent time or spoken to his son. So he held a conversation with the lady that had taken him in when he first arrived, or rather got a pep talk. About his son and why things felt so awkward despite his joy of seeing him again. It was a comfort to have someone else listen to his worries and give their thoughts, Zo’ogai’s banishment wasn’t an easy topic to remember with the regrets he felt with it.

‘Talk I will!’ He had declared at the end of their conversation and waltzed out of the bedroom to seek up the other before Yuina had had time to talk him into waiting for the morrow. And while walking down the hall to what now was Zo’ogai and Zo’tall’s room he imagined up a number of possible ways this meeting could go, good, bad or nowhere at all…

It nearly startled the man when he turned the corner and found the one he was seeking right there in the hallway. The surprise was mutual as Zo’ogai flinched back, his hand on the door to another’s bedroom dropping quickly. All the practiced conversations suddenly vanished as Ozodug silently studied the other, shame creeping into his expression as he recalled why he wanted to speak to the other. Zo’ogai in turn waited in silence for his father to be the first to speak, knowing well how good he usually was at it, but as silence lingered he only fidgeted where he stood awkwardly.

Noticing the wait, Ozodug finally laughed lightly, just to ease the atmosphere, “I was just looking for you, Zo’ogai. Sorry, I didn’t expect to meet you here so I lost my words…”

Zo’ogai gave no immediate change, simply waited for the deal to be dropped.

He knew his son had always been like that, still it was extra tough right this moment and so he sighed, “Zo’ogai, you hear… I don’t expect you to forgive me for failing my duties that day…”

This time Zo’ogai’s head lowered, whatever expression that made it onto his face hidden by hair now.

Ozodug let the pause linger for a moment, wishing for just a moment he was able to read minds before he hesitantly continued with a sudden weight in his chest, “My greatest regret from that day… Is that I did not follow you too. Seeing where I am now, I should have gone ahead and banished myself then and there..!” the attempt to put humor into his tone didn’t feel right and the chuckle fell flat.

As expected, Zo’ogai remained silent and obscured.

“What I mean is… That I am truly… very… tremendously… sorry, Zo’ogai. I don’t think there is anything I can do to make up for it all, but… I wanted to have it said… Do you plan to stay here? It seems like a good place, calm and happy…” The question was mostly to try gaining some kind of reaction out of the other.

When silence lasted still, Ozodug sighed discreetly, fearing he had reached the conclusion of getting nowhere after all. Before he decided to give up and wish a good night however, Zo’ogai did speak, brightening the father’s face in hope.

“I understood from the hug already…” he referred to the greeting he’d received when Ozodug first laid eyes on him when the three returned home, “Thank you…”

Even if those last words were barely audible, it lifted the weight in Ozodug’s chest and for just a moment he almost felt emotional, resisting the temptation to go in for another hug for his son. After all there were still a lot of words he had hoped to hear but did not get.

“I will do whatever I can to make up for it as much as possible..!” Ozodug promised, smiling widely now in joy, “For now, sorry that I came to disturb your sleep, or rather… keep you from speaking to Cyrus. I will retreat for the night and let us do something tomorrow, like old times?”

At the mentioned name, Zo’ogai suddenly forgot about their “conversation”, but was very happy his father did not seem to notice his embarrassment of him noticing that detail.

[ffxivtribehydrae]

I’ve wanted to make a family portrait of all the Hydrae brothers as children for such a long time and finally I made it!

They used to be such a (almost all) happy family once upon a time