#ffxivwrites

[tsupertsundere]

FFXIVWRITES - DAY SOMETHING - SALLY DRABBLE ---- 100 WORDS

The cool under the pier was too inviting, the shade of the slats cutting lines across their skin. The bustle on the beach faded into the crush of the surf and the cry of the seabirds. 

G'raha mumbled lightly against Angeline's lips. "Let me tell them to go on without us." 

It took him the better part of a minute and went largely ignored. 

It was only until Alisae threatened to drag them out did Angeline groan loudly and slide back into the floatie in defeat. She shrieked in glee when, with tremendous force, G'raha seized the float and sallied forth.

[asteriasfallingstarsandtears]

Stamp

Hythlodaeus and my friend's (@cafe-melanion) OC Lycoris being work buddies

The pile of concepts on his desk didn't seem to grow any smaller, no matter how late he worked. It seemed as soon as one stack of forms was complete one of his assistants would come in with two more stacks, or a basket of crystals that he had to personally oversee. It was madness, an eternity of paperwork that haunted his dreams with no relief in sight. The pile of ominous aquamarine crystals on the far side of his desk likewise taunted him, no doubt a myriad of sharks he could hardly tell the difference between or would have so many extra appendages that he had no idea why they needed.

Who needed a flying shark? Or one that could walk on land? Or one that had a weirdly curved jaw that couldn't close and created what looked like a circular saw blade turned in on itself.

If he saw another shark, he would scream and tender his resignation immediately to the Convocation.

And so the pile, and any new additions, remained far from him.

Not to say other departments didn't have their oddities of choices or fada they all got into. He still remembered the horrible year that cactus shaped creatures were all the rage in the Words of Halmarut. Some of them had barely changed a thing, a different colour here, a specific flower on its head there, a very muscular one… he groaned.

The door swung open and his Deputy stepped in, bearing another basket. “Please, Lycoris, tell me that isn't a new batch?”

“Alas, Chief, it is. It is amazing how productive people are right now.” She sat the basket down and pulled out a smaller one from inside. “I separated the sharks already.”

“Bless you, would you like a promotion? I think you would make an amazing Chief.” He fluttered his eyelashes at her but she laughed. "You would have my stamp of approval!"

“No thank you, I like going home at night.” She put her hands on her hips and gave him a knowing look. “Besides, if a certain someone didn't hare off for weeks every time Azem called him, then he might be all caught up and able to go home at night.”

He gave her an exaggerated pout. “But, I'm drowning! You're so organized, between us we could smash through them all, perhaps literally in the case of the sharks, and we'd be done!”

“No you don't. You will not guilt me into overtime.” She wagged her finger at him. “I intend to go home to my husband and wife tonight, since Ajax and Talia are both in residence for once. I will not miss it for anything short of the end of the world.”

He sighed dramatically, sulking as he picked up another stack of paperwork. “Go on then, and think of me, wasting away behind my desk.”

“Good night, Chief.” She said cheerfully from the door, waving.

[sohkatani]

FFXIV Write 2023 - Prompt #3: Silence

Reverent.

There was no other word for the silence that lingered between the two of them, amongst tender, slowly exploratory kisses. And yet, were she to close her eyes, she knew his mouth as well as she knew her own. His lips slid across hers, warm and wet, his tongue teasing, tasting, his long hair tickling her bare shoulders, clad only in war paint and cloth straps.

There was nothing awkward about this silence. The little shaman didn't feel the need to fill the void with flirty words or sassy teases, as she normally would have. It had taken them so long to get to this point, but this was right. It felt right. The bridging of their past lives as lovers to the present - not just lovers, but as soul mates. Khel.

Dear Khel, who had waited half a lifetime to find her again. To find his little Sunspark.

He kissed her throat and she lifted her chin, gathering the strands of his hair at the nape of his neck. She stared at the stars through the little vent-hole at the top of the yurt and thought about how much she loved him, in so little time. Her heart had known what her head hadn't. Her heart had known just how it fit inside his, so perfectly, how her body molded to his, as if she had been made for him.

How could it be that she could love three, so deeply and steadfastly, all so different in their own ways? Strong, brooding Altan, sweet, kind Ganzorig, and now Khel, who had brought memories back to her that she knew in her heart were true of their lives together on the Steppe.

Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he inhaled deeply of her scent. He'd told her no, but what she hadn't realized was that it hadn't been a no. It had been a not yet. This rejoining of bodies and hearts was going to be a soft thing, a sweet and poignant thing, one of coaxing past lives to the surface, one that wouldn't be complete until he knew every inch of her body again, and she of his. It was to be a reawakening. "I love you," she whispered, barely a breath, gripping his hair to make him look up at her. "I love you."

These words that he'd only heard for the first time in this life moments ago, these words, she wanted to impress upon him. That she, in this life, loved him. He smiled, and it was perfect. Just for her. Just as it always had been, just as it always would be.

[miyakosora]

Day 1 - Envoy

--- --- ---

She didn’t mind the extra company…really… --- --- --- Just a cross-world trip with her three best friends...that is...if they could ever get out of the city limits. --- --- --- Azem(Oc/Persephone), Elid --- --- --- Word Count: 790

--- --- ---

Day 1

Envoy - a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

“Are you sure you're ready to travel this far? Once we leave the city it’ll be safer to keep a low profile.”

She should be grateful that this was her ‘punishment’ instead of another censor. It would be nice to finally get out of the city and back on the road. To travel towards the endless sky towards destinations unknown…but…

“Of course! We don’t want to attract unwanted attention. No grand feats of creation magic while on the road!” Elidibus was already bursting with enthusiasm. “Our trip will be passing by the island with the grapes, I do hope we have time to stop by and taste them.”

She didn’t mind the extra company…really…

“I’ll say, I’ve been looking forward to these grapes since I first heard of their existence.”

“She should have left the damned island to its destruction as the Convocation desired.”

Hytho shrugged while Hades pinched the bridge of his nose.

Really she didn’t mind the company per say…

…but this was exactly how she expected the trip to go.

She had been placed in charge of escorting Elidibus as an envoy to another city. I.E. the other members of the Convocation saw this as a perfect opportunity to dump their youthful member onto her. 

Jokes on them, she much preferred his company to the others.

…speaking of the others.

Naturally, Hades had decided the trip would be too long and treacherous for the two of them to take alone. He ‘convently’ had work to do in the area, and needed to make sure she was held accountable for her previous actions. 

She’d almost preferred to be censored.

Finally, their darling Hythlodaeus had joined on a whim. Though she assumed he wouldn’t be left out of the chaos that was about to ensue. 

“Alright, gentlemen when we reach other towns outside the cities we should reframe from our titles. People from outside Amaurot can be hesitant to the Convocation. I don’t want to stir up too much trouble for them, I can’t image how frightened they’d be by three members showing up unannounced.”

“It’ll be a fun vacation, throwing titles and pretense to the wind.”

“As if they wouldn’t recognize the Chief Architect.”

“And the illustrious Emet-Selch doesn’t have an ounce of fame to his name?”

Kore let out a nervous laugh before clasping her hands together trying her best to regain control of the situation. 

“Okay gentlemen, let's settle down.” Trying to take a calm approach this time. “We’ve got a long trip ahead of us. We should head out while those spirits are burning bright.”

After all, they hadn’t even left the city yet. 

“Our first course of action is getting Themis to his destination. After that if and only if time allows will we make stops. The Convocation will be wanting a full report, and they expect everyone to be on their best behavior.” 

“Does that include you, or is that a veiled threat at our dear Kore.” 

Oh for Star’s sake Hytho.

The vein in Hade’s forehead threatened to pop. A perfect summary of how this trip was going to go. The two started bickering like the old married couples she’d met on her travels. 

“Boys, we’ll never make it to our first destination before dark if we-” She didn’t bother wasting her breath as the two continued. She dropped her shoulders with a sigh and turned towards Themis. Fixing the bag on her hips she kneeled down. “Come on Themis, I don’t want to sleep on the ground and Lahabread will have my head and my seat if you don’t arrive on time.”

He motioned to move in before pausing. She glanced up at his apprehensive face.

“...Aren’t I getting a little old for you to carry me, Kore?” 

She tried not to be taken aback by the question. Sure he was a growing young man, but he still had several years before he’d reach up to her in height and stamina. 

“Nonsense, and I’ll put you down as soon as we’ve reached a safe distance from those two. Now come on, I wouldn’t mind stopping by that island for some grapes.”

“If you say so Kore.” 

It took a little more effort for her to hoist him onto her back. Perhaps he had gotten a little heavier since their last trip together…how long ago had that been? Nevermind. It wasn’t important. He was a growing boy and it wouldn’t be much longer before he would be trusted to make his envoys alone. 

She’d certainly miss his boyish optimism.  

“Kore, is it okay to just leave the two of them behind like that?” 

“Don’t worry they’ll catch up in a little while. I just wanted to spend some quality time with you.” 

[sea-wolf-coast-to-coast]

FFxiv 30 Day Writing Challenge SEPTEMBER 1st - 30th, 2024

Welcome to YEAR 8 of our annual FFxiv 30 Day Writing Challenge, folks!

Last year we had 7,935 total entries! Which brings us to a total of 50,656 unique written entries over the last 7 years. That is just incredible! And something that I think that we should be super proud of as a creative fan community.

Whether you're new to the FFxivWrite community or a 7-year writing challenge veteran, if you'd like to give perfectionism in your creative writing process a swift kick in the butt, then this challenge was designed for you!

More info is below the cut~

Here’s the gist:

Runs from September 1st - 30th, 2024. During that timeframe:

Visit sea-wolf-coast-to-coast​ once a day at 12:00pm (noon) PDT for the prompt of the day. Convert to your timezone accordingly. All prompts will be one word or brief phrase that you can interpret however you please.

You have 24 hours to write something for that prompt.

Submit the link to your entry post via this Google Form: https://forms.gle/jDWjFKfmeaGnH3PL9

There are no length or skill requirements (short & sweet is fine!).

There will be no 24-hour deadlines for the first week, September 1st - 7th. The deadline will go into effect on September 8th at 11:59am PDT.

Makeup/extra credit days every Sunday.

Every entry posted within its 24-hour deadline will count toward a participation prize raffle at the end.

You can join any time with any prompt #! There’s no need for latecomers to start with prompt #1. Picking up with the most recent prompt is A OK.

If you’re an artist and you would like to volunteer to do a simple black & white illustration as a participation prize at the end of this challenge, you can volunteer here!

RULES & MORE INFO can be found here: https://ffxiv-write.carrd.co/

(( banner art - by @dantinmikannes ))

Rules & Info || Prompt List || #FFxivWrite2024 || kofi

[makiokuta]

A makeup prize for FFXIV Write of @eva-cybele ( @dawnslight-aegis )'s beautiful Au ra, Kaede.

Thank you to @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast all your hard work on this event!

[myreia]

Sketches of Times Lost

Day 01: Steer

ryne x gaia. minor shadowbringers patch & eden raid spoilers. written for ffxivwrites 2024. 943 words. ao3 link.

“Not like that—”

“Then like what? I did it the way you said!”

“You didn’t! You must put your paddle on the other side—”

“What other side? I put it where you told me—”

“The left side!”

“I put it on the left side!”

Voices ring out across the Source, breaking the sleepy Lakeland day. A sturdy little fisher boat bobs haphazardly in its waters. It streams away from the shore, pushed to and fro by the wind despite the best efforts of its occupants.

“You’re not listening to me.”

“I am listening to you, Ryne!”

“If I am steering from the right side, you must paddle on the left—”

“Ugh…” Wood clatters against wood. “…every time… why must you be like this—”

“Gaia, we’re going in circles!”

“I know—ah!”

Splash. With a sad, despairing sound, the paddle hits the water. Ryne jolts upright in her seat and leans over the side, the boat wobbling precariously with her movement. Gaia yelps, her hands flying out to seize the gunwales, frozen in fear as Ryne slides her paddle over the edge. She presses her lips together, brow furrowed with concentration, and attempts to fish the other out.

A few prods later and she has only achieved the opposite.

“Ah!” The boat rocks as Ryne pulls back, red-cheeked and spluttering. “I can’t get to it.”

Gaia sighs, her hands still holding the gunwales in a death-grip, and carefully peers over the side. “Goodbye, you useless old thing,” she drawls, deadpan. “I knew I should never have brought you.”

The paddle floats away, uncaring, and vanishes into the lake.

The girls fall silent. Small waves lap against the boat, calmly, quietly, the only sound for malms save for the wind and the occasional bird call above. The sun beats down, its rays sparkling across the surface of the water. There was a time in her life when she never knew water could be like this—bright and clear, shimmering like the crystals of the Crystal Tower and brimming with life. She can still taste the putrid scents of her childhood, the stink of stagnant water and rotting fish. The green, stinking waters around Eulmore were where one went to drown. If they were lucky.

Ryne sighs and crosses one leg over the other. “All right,” she says, glancing over the side of the boat. The wind is pushing them in circles and they are moving further and further from Sullen by the minute. At this rate, they might as well be pushed clear into the Isle of Ken. Perhaps they could ask Bismarck for another favour. “I admit… perhaps we… made a mistake.”

Gaia snorts. “A mistake? I thought you said you knew how to handle a thing like this.”

“I do! Or… in theory, I do. I haven’t… actually. Done this before.”

Gaia glances over her shoulder, her dark brows drawn together. She would look angrily ferocious if not for the way her lips were moving as if she is about to laugh. “Surprising. You don’t say.”

A small laugh bursts out of her and Ryne slaps a hand to her mouth. Flashing her a grin, Gaia twists around in her seat and stretches out, fluffing out her hair behind her as she settles in to bask. She closes her eyes and throws one leg over her knee, her foot bouncing back and forth. The polished stiletto heel she insisted on wearing glints in the sun.

Ryne smiles, soft and quiet, and looks away. “Regardless,” she says, dipping a hand into the lake, letting the cool waters flow through her fingers. “This is nice, isn’t it? The sun is out, there’s a nice breeze, we have food and water…”

“Spinning in the middle of the lake doesn’t sound very nice to me,” Gaia says. Despite her irritable tone, she is already deeply relaxed. “I’d have rather stayed indoors.”

Ryne raises her eyes, staring across the lake to Sullen’s docks. Villagers mill to and fro, some fishing, others swimming, and moreso out to the enjoy the nice day. Their bright clothing makes them visible even from this distance. Would any notice if she stood up and waved her arms?

A pang squeezes her heart. “Did you know Urianger tried to walk on water once?” she blurts out.

Gaia yawns. “Where?”

“There. Stepped right off the dock.”

Gaia’s eyes open. Slowly, she pushes herself up and twists around, following Ryne’s gaze to the distant shore. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” she declares.

Ryne makes a face. “You don’t believe me—?”

The boat rocks. A warm hand slips into hers. A familiar weight presses into her as Gaia rests her head on her shoulder.

“You miss them a lot today,” she says quietly. No judgement, just simple acknowledgement.

“I miss them everyday.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know when Aureia will be back. I don’t know if Thancred has gone and done something stupid. I don’t know what books Urianger is reading, what theories Y’shtola is pursuing, if Alphinaud and Alisaie are…” She lets out a soft breath. “I’m sorry. I wanted today to be nice.”

“You’re here. How could it not be?”

Sullen fades into the distance.  

“Gaia?” Ryne asks, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Do you think this will ever end? Feeling like this? Feeling like I’m grieving the worst before I know it’s happened? I’m so worried about them, some days I can barely breath.”

“I don’t know the answer to that.” Her hand squeezes hers. “I don’t think anyone knows. But I do know what it is like to feel alone and…”

“And?”

“You’re not, Ryne. You are never alone.”

[starrysnowdrop]

My best friend may not be my sister by blood, but she’s my sister by heart… ~💖

Yume ~ @firelightmuse

[spotofmummery]

Are you participating in FFXIV Write this year?

You can share your writing on this community just for FFXIV Writers - open to join!

[mimble-sparklepudding]

FFXIVwrite2024 Masterlist.

Yet another list of some of the most ridiculously daft poetry ever inflicted upon an unsuspecting reader - featuring alcoholic dwarfs, Gridanian coleslaw, escaped chocobos, some very strange goings-on in the back of a trolley, and G'raha Tia's terrible cooking...

Steer.

Horizon.

Tempest.

Reticent.

Stamp.

Halcyon.

Morsel.

Apricity (free day).

Lend An Ear.

Stable.

Surrogate.

Quarry.

Butte.

Telling.

Serene (free day).

Third-Rate.

Sally.

Hackneyed.

Taken.

Duel.

Shade.

Redame (free day).

On Cloud Nine.

Bar.

Perpetuity.

Zip.

Memory.

Deleterious.

Guffaw (free day).

Two Heads Are Better Than One.

Thank you to everyone who offered support and encouragement to me over the past month. And well done to everyone else who took part - I have put together a post highlighting some of my favourite pieces of writing here (all of which are considerably better written and more sensible than my nonsense).

[tsupertsundere]

"‘If my lord feels some chilling presentiment Despite his firm status as Heaven-sent, Doubt he not what he sees, With limp thrusts such as these, It explains why his wife is so -- "

FFXIVWRITES 2024 - DAY 4 - RETICENT LIMERICK ---- 32 words ---- Notes: Despite her status as Warrior of Light, Angeline Carax never was invited back to the home of Lord and Lady Voixeurienne. (She swears to this day she was referring only to his bad attempts at jokes.)

[asteriasfallingstarsandtears]

Reticent

Hythlodaeus, Hades and Theia (my Azem before she becomes Azem)

Theia comes to visit Amaurot and Lahabrea from Pandaemonium and the boys take her on a walk.

Suggestions of Something Wrong

Hythlodaeus smiled as he hugged his dear friend, it had been years since they had seen her. She was much thinner than he liked and had a haggard look about her that worried him but he put it down to her work and being a mother of two very young boys. “Theia, it's been nigh on forever, I'm so glad you could stop in. How are the boys? And Athena and Lahabrea, of course.”

He had been so proud when Theia had asked him and Hades to be the guiding parents of the boys and he missed them since they had moved to the Pandaemonium facility. It had seemed only a year or two ago they had been born, small chubby little creatures with bright red curls like their one mother and father. He wondered what colour their eyes had settled on, would they be red like Athena and Lahabrea's? Or would there be a secret green eye from Theia? A ring of orange around the pupils to add to their uniqueness?

“Did you bring them with you?” Hades asked, looking around suspiciously as he held himself slightly away, just outside of reach for a hug.

Hythlodaeus gave him a stern look and a slight tilt of his head to indicate he needed to join in, earning a rolled eyes and an awkwardly wrapped arm to the two.

“Um… no… they're back home.” Theia pulled away from them both, keeping herself separate and gazing down at her feet. “I should be there but Lahabrea needed my assistance with the reports to the Convocation.”

“Oh, a shame.” Hythlodaeus watched her closely, shifting his sight until he could see her soul.

Her usual brilliance seemed dampened, her soul heavy and clouded, the fires within burning embers. He tried to hide his frown with a false smile, giving Hades a sharp elbow, hoping he too would look and confirm what he saw.

“Well, are they well at least?” Hythlodaeus pressed, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Respectable, bright, well behaved.” She sounded distracted as she spoke, describing the boys more as subjects than children. Even Hades had a deepening frown and furrowed brow with confused concern as he listened in. “They are a credit to their father.”

Hades and him exchanged a quizzical look. “Theia, that is all very well, but are they happy and healthy?”

She took a step back, a wavering smile on her face. “Of course. I said as much, didn't I?” She glanced at the door. “Oh, I should find Lahabrea, he'll need my help…”

“Oh no, I forgot to mention it.” He gave a dramatic sigh. “I ran into him before you, he suggested we take you out for lunch.” It wasn't entirely true, if anything Lahabrea seemed as disconnected as she did, but he had agreed that Theia could be spared from the upcoming meeting. “We're going to eat something nice.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, steering her towards the door. “And take a little walk in the park, and you, my dear, are going to smell some flowers.”

“But…” she struggled half-heartedly against him but was stopped as Hades wrapped his own arm around her as well, effectively trapping her between them. “Okay…”

She was quiet through most of the walk but she did seem to relax and become more of her old self as they went. Eventually Hythlodaeus couldn't keep his questions to himself any longer. “What is Pandaemonium like? Hades and myself were considering requesting passes, so we might visit you and the boys. Would you like that?”

She stiffened. “I don't know if that would be okay.”

“Oh, we could make a study of something there, I'm certain. It is part of Elpis, after all.” He tried to act as though he didn't see her reaction. “Right, Hades?”

“Oh.” He coughed. “Yes, Emet-Selch has suggested we expand our horizons, as it was. Learning from the best of Lahabrea's Words would be fascinating. Athena is his second in command, is she not?”

“Yes, Athena is a marvel…” she murmured.

“What kind of work do you do there, Theia?” He pried gently. “Do you have your own research?”

“I… assist Athena.” She began to stare intently at the flowers at her feet, kneeling down to stroke the delicate blossoms. “It is very… fulfilling.”

“Fulfilling.” Hades sounded baffled by her words, giving Hythlodaeus a look that suggested he found the whole thing unbelievable. “Theia, what are you talking about? Why are you talking like this?”

“I don't know what you mean.” She became defensive, standing tall, her back erect and her expression hardening, her words becoming cruel. “I'm happy, perhaps it's too much for you to understand, for someone like you to understand. It's not like you've ever wanted me happy, why should I be happy when you're so miserable and disdainful of everyone else but yourself? So determined to push everyone away so you can be alone and we can all be as miserable and alone as you.”

Hades took a shocked step back, his frown turning from perplexed to angry. “At least I still know who I am outside of my partners, you're little more than a shell of yourself, obsessed with your wife and husband to the exclusion of all else. If that's all you want, go back to them and I won't bother you with my misery.”

“Now, both of you…” Hythlodaeus held his hands up, trying to diffuse the situation.

She whirled on him. “And you, so nosy about other people's lives because you've nothing interesting and worthy in your own. So determined to live through other’s achievements, since you've none to claim.”

He blinked, hating that she had struck so close to home. He had nothing of his own, he did live vicariously through his friend's lives. Without them, he was just a clerk in the Bureau of the Architect, his only redeeming feature his eyesight which was only marginally better than Hades’, who likewise was powerful in creation magic and aether manipulation. Compared to Hades he was nothing more than a shadow.

He saw something glimmer in her eyes and around her body, something that had never been there before.

He almost lost it, a faint shimmer of silvery-purple that covered her entire self, invading her soul and being.

She stormed off as he stared at her and he turned slowly to Hades and was standing there with crossed arms, looking in the opposite direction. “Did you see that?”

“See what?” He grumbled.

“I don't know… something's wrong.” He puzzled over what he saw, wondering if it was real or he was imagining it to excuse her behaviour. “She's never been so withdrawn before.”

“Sounded like she held on to some of that for years, withholding her true opinions of us.” He kicked at a stone on the path, sending it flying into a nearby bush. “Well, she gets what she wants, I won't be bothered to let her go.”

Hythlodaeus watched as Hades shuffled away, noting the droop of his shoulders.

Oh Hades, it does bother you.

He decided he would ask Lahabrea if he has noticed anything changed about Theia recently, and talk with Azem. If anyone would want to know if he suspected something was wrong, it would be Azem. She had always seen Theia as a daughter, raising her alongside her own son.

He squared his shoulders and resolve, heading in the opposite direction of both his friends.

[feelingkoii]

I had the honour of drawing a FFXIVWrite Prize piece, and I'm super proud of how it came out! I don't often do black or white and I experimented a bit but I'm happy with the result!!

@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast

[fair-fae]

FFxivWrite24 Entry #6: Halcyon

FFxivWrite 2024 Prompt #6: Halcyon It was a lazy summer day like any other in the Black Shroud, humid heat hanging heavy in the air outside the Covington manor, a marvel of tall, white marble and manicured gardens that stood in stark contrast to the wild woods surrounding it, either a bastion or a blight of mankind among the expanse of nature. Faye rested upon a bench outside her home, a half-emptied and forgotten cup of tea sat surely now cold beside her as she focused on her embroidery–or tried to, anyway. It was a quiet afternoon, only the birdsongs and the ambient buzzing of insects breaking the silence. That was, until Zularti had found a long, skinny stick and decided to pretend it was a spear. He paced around the garden, thrusting the stick this way and that, adding in sound effects and striking occasionally at a nearby tree, fighting off invisible foes. Faye did her best to tune him out, quite accustomed to his antics by now, and kept her focus on her needlework and the piece of fabric in her hands. Suddenly, however, her attention was stolen away as the boy suddenly exclaimed. “Guhhh! I’m so boooored!” He easily snapped the stick over his knee, tossing the two halves aside and wiping away the sweat that matted his dark auburn hair to his brow before he dramatically collapsed onto the grass. Faye heaved a sigh, giving up on her task and setting her embroidery hoop aside. “You could try doing something useful for once,” she offered helpfully. “You could try shutting up for once,” he muttered in a mockery of her own tone, squinting up at the sun bearing down on him from the cloudless sky. Perhaps she should have appreciated those days more, when life was simple and everything was peaceful, when all the horrors of the world were far away things that happened to other people and there was no cause for pain or want. But the truth was, she was bored, too.

[sea-wolf-coast-to-coast]

I'd love to see a follow-up after the event is over of people sharing their favorite piece from the event. We just wrote for thirty days! What are we proudest of making?

YES, I love this idea! Now that the challenge's 24-hour deadlines are officially closed:

Writers, what were your proudest moments in FFxivWrite this year?

[ahollowgrave]

Horizon (noun):  1. The apparent intersection of the earth and sky as seen by an observer. 2. The limit or edge of the observable universe. 3. The range of one's knowledge, experience, or interest. A nun. A river. A journey. Who can say?

You tip over the edge of one world and into another.

Sometimes it feels like falling from a cliff, plunging into the hungry maw of the ocean. Sometimes it feels like a river rises around you. Water bubbling over your feet, tugging insistently upon the hem of your dress, flowing over the top of your head. This time it feels like ice cracking beneath your bare feet. A sudden, sharp fear driven like a spike at the base of your skull.

You cannot say for certain what this place is. Words have never been your strong suit and even less so the educated ones a proper scholar might use. You’ve a guess, of course, but it is something you’ve always kept close. This is where you do your work. It is not a difficult leap. 

The water is frigid and pitch-black. You feel hands ghosting over your body, your hair, your face. Thumbs brush your closed eyelids. You see. The currents of the water around you are suddenly illuminated; faint blue, glowing dim against the swallowing darkness around you. They should be brighter. They should be moving with great joy. Yet when you reach for those currents they react slowly and hang limply; dying. They flicker when you reach too far and your cry of anguish escapes your throat in bubbles. Dread spirals out from that point of fear; tendrils wrapping slimy feelers around your spine, your ribs, pulling itself into the hollow of your chest to feast and grow. In that cold, in that dark, among dying, twinkling lights it is easy to curl around it. To see the dread as certainty. As always, you are saved from yourself. The feeling of hands come once more. Impressions of fingers pulling at your limbs, unfolding them, drawing your head up and directing your gaze -- West.