#surfale

[zariasona]

DWC - Day 5 - Notorious/Altruistic

It had been two days since she had entered into the worst place she had ever encountered. She couldn't understand how, or why, anyone in their right mind would want to stay here any longer than they absolutely had to. What a dreadful place.

Her gaze lifted and peered at the iron bars, the brick walls, the very small space that had been dubbed her confinement. Her teal hair was greasy now, a feeling she detested more than anything.

Echoing in the dark halls, she heard the voices of so many of her companions. Misha, Aveium, Tenon, Sara, Mireeva. So many people she said she would protect. Yet she failed.

Zariasona was distraught. All of that hard work she had done, ruined in an instant. How was she to ever recover from this? She had dones years of reasearch in such a short time, and it was all lost, all gone. The Kirin Tor had even gone so far as to burn the building down, ensuring that there was no return to the isle.

Feylonis, her life mate, had been allowed to be in the cell with her after having used her "skills" in persuasion to good use. What it cost her was worth the price she paid. "Surfal, it will be alright. I'm here with you." Fey did her best to console her.

Zariasona, however, was inconsolable. "How am I ever going to accomplish anything with this? No one in my family has ever been in -jail-. And Now? I'm the first one. A legacy. Destroyed."

Feylonis sighed deeply, doing nothing more except hold her as she continued to cry. Her cries echoed out in the darkness of the stockades.

One of the guards down the hall gave a half laugh. "These 'Seekers' sure are a whiney bunch, ain't they?" The male guard gave a haughty laugh, another one joining in.

Soon, the large iron door burst open and an unknown figure stormed in. Whoever it was, the guard were quick to cease their laughter and stood at attention. Coming to stand before the cell that housed Zariasona and Feylonis, they spoke.

"By order of Magistrix Kamille Clinton: Zariasona Emberspirit, leader of the Seekers of the Rune, and her entire company, are hereby discharged from the Stockades and their records expunged. Furthermore your title of 'Magistrix' is hereby restored."

Zariasona lifted her head up as she heard the words, a sense of joy and relief washing over here. Even still, there was confusion and worry. "What do we owe this pleasure for?" She said softly, doing her best to be formal, polite, cordial.

"Magistrix Clinton says you did them a great service many moons ago. They are merely repaying you for what you've done."

Zariasona was stunned by the notion, having no recollection of this 'Magistrix'. She dared not say anything, lest it ruined everything. "Thank you then. We'll be on our way." She watched as the rest of the gates opened, letting out the rest of her companions. "We'll be off now. We're going to Duskwood." @daily-writing-challenge

[blixvoronin]

day 3: forest

synopsis: Blix has felt lost for some time. It’s coming to a head.

cw: anxiety attack

for more information on the daily writing challenge, click here

if you or someone you know is a veteran struggling with a crisis, don’t wait. dial 988 and press 1 to reach out.

mentions: @indraste-darktalon

•• sometime before the primal invasions began ••

Blix Voronin sat on the edge of a sheer-faced hill in the forests at the base of Cindervale, littered in pine trees and with the scent of fresh snow steadily growing stronger as the winter chill threatened to shower Ashbury and its surroundings in frost.

She wasn’t concerned about that now. Instead, she tilted her never-empty flask back as soon as the cold metal made contact with her lips, and she took a deep drink.

She tried to shove back every ounce of the anger she was feeling. The pain. She felt betrayed, in a way, though she’d never voice it. Not even to Ken.

I mean, she thought to herself, how am I supposed to say “hey, I feel really hurt that I’ve been frozen out by a leader I admired, and I feel like I’ve got maybe three actual friends in the entire damn military that would answer if I needed help”?

Olivia’s warm reception had helped, somewhat, during Dym and Toby’s wedding. But it didn’t dull the shock of feeling as if no one had honestly expected her to show up. The anger of knowing Lebryn would show up for them, all congratulations and well wishes, but ignore her own wedding. Olivia had been forced to give a gift in secret.

Blix’s knees curled to her chest, and she swallowed hard, feeling a too-familiar burn in her eyes and a knot in her throat. How many times had she put her life on the line for any of them? Trusted them?

Now, she looked at the 47th - the regiment she’d called family, where she’d cut her teeth and found her footing - and save for three faces, she saw a sea of strangers.

Tears flowed freely down her face as she allowed herself to sob. The days she’d relied on and known were over. Her time in the military had ended — not with public goodbyes and “I promise I’ll make sure you’re doing okay”s, but with a whisper and the sudden appearance of a new Knight-Captain.

The world, as it turned out, was lonely after leaving an organization like that. Her entire sense of sociality, of purpose — gone. Her trust in the others, too. She’d thought of them as family — it was clear that they didn’t reciprocate the gesture.

She tangled fingers in her hair, hiccuping roughly as her ability to breathe became limited — the world closed tightly in a tunnel of dark, as if walls pressed themselves in too closely. She would always be alone. She’d never make a difference.

Arathi. Badlands. Revendreth. Kingsland.

Blix screwed her eyes shut tighter, trying to breathe — five things you can see —

Arathi. Badlands. Revendreth. Kingsland. The island. Cage.

Black. All black. Leaves. Dirt. Wood. Shoes.

Cage. Cage. Blood. Failure. Bodies.

it was your fault

YOU LET THEM DIE

You must take your share of blame.

The spiral of thoughts continued, and eventually, she couldn’t separate them anymore — voice from her own thoughts, real from lies.

Blix didn’t realize she’d been screaming until a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her in close and binding her to a strong chest. She didn’t notice the feathers that now scattered through the soil.

“Shh, shh, moonfire,” Indraste’s voice whispered. “Breathe, surfal. I’m here. It’s okay. You aren’t alone. You’re never alone.”

Blix’s thoughts rushed back to current too quickly, and she broke down into wordless, heaving sobs as she clung to Indraste. The druid carded fingers gingerly through Blix’s hair, pressing kisses to the crown of her head, and said nothing more.

Never alone. It still felt wrong — foreign, to think so. Blix felt more alone than ever. Broken. But… if anyone could help, it would be Indy. Even if it was just one day at a time.

[444names]

the entire article on canini (tribe) from wikipedia

Accipinus Accordess Acintic Aendblat Aented Afreata Afrepre Afris Afrooked Afroseus Agoldhe Agomam Alian Alklat Allatrily Amensis Amerd Amerue Amesis Amilycla Amilzherd Ammordark Ampas Anckark Andblat Anforre Anist Ansis Arcte Arebells Aricange Aricarces Arsan Arsarsan Arwide Aryson Asena Aures Aview Avulpiate Baccoyon Basarstoh Basells Basta Bastoh Bated Beloss Blacrion Blantster Blase Blateno Blaterce Bonim Borposted Borthouth Brand Brepre Bress Broce Brocyotal Broth Buralgo Buter Buthart Cabrelan Caloster Cameric Camposech Candian Cands Cansis Cantified Capeo Catenus Caterupus Caticand Catricape Cattord Ceric Ceseus Chislas Chous Chryon Civord Civorsal Claste Clells Cletich Clodinae Clogred Clota Cludia Comer Comerusta Comparide Conoce Cootal Coray Cordome Cormegal Corth Coruppe Coyon Cralia Cross Culpedfox Cultrate Cultrist Culus Culvipe Cuone Cyonocyon Daeukard Darde Dears Deart Depreber Depred Derrely Dhordog Diaterdom Diresely Dirsands Docer Docyon Docyone Docyonom Dogson Domer Domese Dompand Dorre Eardires Earwiked Eatal Edital Enustorma Etallike Etude Etudented Eukalarts Eured Expan Expande Extellis Exteny Extessi Fackallia Facked Facripes Falopexis Faloss Famac Famagolf Fameghion Fament Fameral Famic Famillion Familly Feated Fenompos Fentic Ferallis Fican Ficulpina Fireꞓ Fiscrills Fislardia Fland Foralls Fordog Forus Freppe Freprey Fricab Fripit Frocyon Frosed Frosted Frouthape Fulves Golvipe Gomand Gread Grebe Grellined Grerdom Gribel Grion Gripine Gristely Grocyon Grossis Gymnoma Gymnomy Gymnotoh Handblark Hionotic Hiorts Histe Hoare Horay Hordous Hoste Hostedfox Incess Inocyota Ischan Iscienae Istly Ithors Ittoh Jackarsal Kinde Kiptin Kitislani Knomant Knopeo Knory Knotal Lacran Lagols Lagon Lands Larears Lares Lasalk Lasechus Latalk Later Latic Latinna Latteus Liansis Likitalin Linaeus Linds Liocyno Liste Lital Loped Lostoid Lostrus Lothe Ludensi Ludesta Ludic Lundia Lupped Luppely Lupulup Lycaped Lyclanina Macroold Maingdoge Malatibe Maldhout Mammonsis Mareat Margendin Marotedia Masted Mastene Megal Melan Melocents Menceran Merculpia Mercuon Merichry Mertichus Meson Milia Milliana Minist Miodiatan Modgsous Montoh Mortini Moselly Moser Mostis Noccomman Nocyon Nopithis Nothatent Nyctifin Offst Offstoran Oftensi Ofter Ofterctic Ormagomy Orston Orufush Otents Otheim Otheric Otifires Palgo Palindest Pallan Pasand Phyletion Phyloped Phylup Phyureart Phyurue Pinamens Pints Platicaon Porbita Porria Porth Posencle Poste Preprouth Press Prest Preus Procyon Prookes Proton Prous Rabre Raldher Ralinus Ratuludia Relost Reoth Reotis Roglown Rostion Rothe Rotiopith Rufulped Ruppe Rupus Sachilzhe Scher Scivorbit Scrotel Sekown Sened Senocyon Sentis Seribe Shartic Shorribe Shostor Siani Simes Sionopus Sisted Skulpini Skulup Socyon Souppec Specen Spedfor Spedforac Spedit Spelocyon Spely Speres Spexista Spres Sprocyon Sterd Stesens Stestes Subfalk Subtrack Subtral Subtrania Subtrills Subtrion Suranclat Surates Sured Sures Surfal Surment Suroolf Surost Talpes Tands Tansifis Taresed Tarioreꞓ Tarwid Taxon Tedfox Tenterd Tericapeo Thaminus Thanis Thichress Thilly Thily Thorsalgo Tistenna Tocyonow Tocyont Tocyotion Toidavus Tookes Tordavis Tribet Trild Typed Typediani Typexis Urands Urfamerst Urusted Venceris Venne Venocer Venthart Ventstly Vesecer Vetark Vetinia Vetulves Viste Vulpe Vulpinds Whilii Whion Whisenna Whist Widavipec Wikipell Wiland Wincerita Woletic Wolvet Yeanis Yeank Yeasekow Zerae Zeres

[bogdanklimowicz]

FINCH SURF. . Beer (Bier). . FINCH - boutique hotel, Keizerstraat 18-20, Deventer, Overijssel, Netherlands (Nederland). . Drinking… in Deventer, The Netherlands (Nederland), a Surf Ale beer, brewed by DAVO. . Advertised as “Fruity, hoppy, refreshing and delicious. Citrusy aroma's and a great, sunny taste. This is Hawaii in a bottle!” . . . . . #finchsurf #surfale #surf #davo @davobieren #finchboutiquehotel #finch @hotel.finch #waardeventereet #waarnederlandeet @waarnederlandeet #deventer #overijssel #netherlands #nederland #thirstythursday #thankfulthursday . #bogdanklimowicz #foodblogger #beer #bier #garagardoa #pivo ##øl #bier #bière #піва #Бира #cervesa #õlu #olut #cervexa #μπύρα . (at FINCH - boutique hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7SCujqyRV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[limerancy]

blizzard hire me to fix your terrible, inconsistent, and psycholinguistically wrong conlangs challenge

[isei-silva]

Surfal for @zealouslynx! Thank you for your patience!

[kyuusei-shadowleaf]

Transplant

[ Photo by Blake Weyland on Unsplash ]

Roots stirred in the dark earth. A quiet awakening. Awareness.

I have grown here. Yet this is not my soil.

Tendrils recoiled. With awareness came will, with will came choice.

This is not my soil. Broken masks and shattered mirrors reside, though there exists an echo (taste) of birth. An echo brought here of hope, yet never has that hope found purchase in this soil.

A shift of growth, of intent. Slow, perhaps, for those with hearts that pulsed with red blood, that breathed the air created by kin. But urgent among the children of the green.

Some tricks take longer to bloom.

Val’sharah

Kyuusei woke, gasping for breath, her fingers grasping for purchase in the bedsheets.

“‘Sei-sei?” Lani’s voice was querulous, muddled with sleep from the other side of the bed. Her hand rested, cool and calming, on Kyuu’s back. Drifted lightly across old scars that were the last remnants of wounds long since healed. “Another bad dream?”

“No, not bad. But...”

She lingered a moment. The draw of the bed, their bed, was difficult to resist. A place of comfort made within the cottage in Val’sharah, no matter the demands and responsibilities that so often drew them apart. Darkshore, Astranaar, fledgling druids, the healing and rebuilding and vigilance of recovery. This was their place, their haven, their hard-won respite from... everything.

With a reluctant sigh, Kyuusei slipped from beneath the sheets and padded barefoot across the floor.

“Kyuusei?”

Alania rose up in the bed to watch, drawing the sheets around her as Kyuu knelt down to open a worn iron-bound chest. Inside, the chest was filled with the mementos of a life spanning almost a millennia. And on top of scrolls and trinkets and books rested the fragments of a staff shattered into three parts. A gift bearing Cenarius’ blessing, ever-blooming, crafted from an Ancient’s branch - yet broken almost two years past in the assault that ended in the Blightcaller’s welcomed demise.

Three green fragments, each of which bore the green leaves of new growth for the first time since their shattering, extended tendrils towards each other to draw again into a single whole.

“It woke up.” Kyuu lifted the tenuously-joined fragments and held them - it - aloft for Alania to see. She pushed ivy-laden hair out of her eyes with one long-fingered hand, a sharp-toothed smile upon her features.

“And I think,” the druidess mused, “I know what awakened it.” She settled on the floor, the green-leafed staff cradled to her chest.

Alania exhaled a sigh with all the dramatics of the long-suffering.

“And where, surfal,” she asked, “should I tell the captain you’re going this time?”

Kyuu grinned. “Pandaria. But I don’t think I’ll come back alone.”

“So long,” Lani offered a knowing smile as she pushed the sheets aside, “as you return to me.”

“Always.”

Pandaria

A stormcrow flew high above the Jade Forest, dark eyes set upon the grounds far below. The manor was all but enveloped in growth and neglect, the few caretakers fallen far behind the green’s advance. But there, behind the long-uninhabited residence, was a small clearing surrounded by thick stands of bamboo, long familiar to the one who flew above.

Lazy circles brought the stormcrow lower and closer until the winged form resolved into a kaldorei’s shape. Kyuusei set foot lightly in the clearing, looking about with a well-acquainted gaze.

The grasses were familiar if overgrown. And there was the stone memorial to the mentor of another, etched with Pandaren characters once again grown thick with moss.

But where the teldorei had once taken root to the memorial’s side, there was only a disturbance in the earth - thick loam cracked and broken as if something had pulled itself out of the rich soil.

Kyuu looked from one side to the other, then drew the reborn staff from her back.

“Ande’thoras’ethil, teldorei,” she murmured, placing the staff into the broken earth where a small sapling had once grown. “Bandu belore a’Kalimdor?”

The staff twisted, the tendrils that drew its fragments together twining closer as small white flowers blossomed along its length. A faint rustling sound grew at the edge of the clearing before, tentatively, a small shape emerged from the encircling bamboo.

The shape of a sapling tree, yet mobile. Roots worked across the grass, branches moving in the approximation of limbs, and a pair of bright green eyes blinked as if looking upon the world for the first time. And perhaps, it was the first.

A sense of an uncertain question. The creak of wood, of green growth, raised as if it were a questioning voice. Clear enough to the druid’s ears.

“This was home enough as you grew,” Kyuusei offered reassuringly. “But it’s time to come with me. It’s time to rejoin your kin. Come to Kalimdor.”

The fledgling Ancient crept forward on uncertain roots, branches reaching out to twine with the green growth of Kyuu’s staff.

“Let me take you home.”

[tiny-flower]

I had this done by the lovely @lady-amaranthine, and I never saw a post I could reblog, so I’m posting it here with credit given, as I love it so much, and I wanted it on Surfal’s IC blog. <3

[longveil]

✿ - DECAY - an old memory, from childhood perhaps

[ Photo by Nelson Wong on Unsplash ]

“They are your daughters!”

Minn’da’s voice echoed up the stairway, angry and amplified by too much wine. Seraanna, a girl of pale skin and ashen hair, all skinny legs and elbows, crouched in the shadows atop the stairs. Finger over her lips, she turned back to her younger sister to motion quiet only to receive a frown from the dark-haired child. Annadia was already far more devious and needed no such reminder to silence.

“They are my gift to you, surfal. But you know I cannot be their father; they cannot be my daughters.” A masculine voice now, one the girls had heard before. Calm and even, attempting to be a voice of reason despite the unintended hint of condescension. “Don’t I see that you are all cared for, that they’ll never worry for want?”

“What they want is to know their ann'da! You know I never needed any of this - we were happy without it, Vaeran, just you and I. It could have been so simple, we could have been so happy...”

“We were young, Aralya, but you knew. You always knew my House would make its demands.” A silence, the sound of fine silks moving below. “We still have each other. The families have what they want, the deals are met; she has my name, but you still have me. I would not allow that to be taken.”

“And don’t the girls deserve that?” Their mother’s voice was quieter now, almost pleading, “to know their father? They’re your own blood, Vaeren. You held them when they were born, kissed each of them. Why won’t you be their father?”

“Her son - my son - cannot be contested. An heir was agreed, and all would be lost if he were challenged. Morrowsun would be crushed by the breaking of the accords; we would be paupers. The girls,” he emphasized gently, “would grow up with nothing, Aralya. I can give them everything, but they cannot be my daughters.”

A long silence, the two girls shifting uncomfortably in their hiding place before the sound of quiet sobbing drifted up from below.

“...damn you.”

“Come out to the balcony, love. The night air will do us both good before I have to leave.”

Annadia nudged her Seraa’s shoulder, blue eyes lambent in the shadows atop the stairs. “That’s ann’da?” she whispered, “I want to see!”

“No, Minn’da will be sad if we’re up.” Seraanna turned to gently push her sister back towards their bedroom. She was only a few years older, but more knowing of people than her brash sibling. “Come on.”

A hushed whine from the younger child, “Seraa...”

Seraa only raised a finger to her lips again and nudged Anna back to their rooms.

[mysticelf]

"You saved me from the worst this world had coming for me. My heart is yours, forever and always."

Azura's smile widened genuinely. "Kenethil surfas, surfal. If it is you who speaks to me, that is. There is nothing in this world that we may not face in the strength of one another."

[pettyelves]

the man on fire

[boy on fire] [ vacationing ]

She had come home to a quiet house, kissed her children, and immediately gone to the bath. There she drifted in and out of sleep. By the time she caught wind of Kurel’s return home. It was too late. 

In the living room, Kurel had leveled a pistol at Silthas-- who had fallen asleep on the couch and gone undisturbed until the Admiral’s return.

"I explained this all to Eilithe already..."  Silthas paused, like he was hoping she'd come out of the shadows and help him, only to resume a moment later. "... I'm the son of Shadeala Moonsong. She... And my grandmother Morinthe, tricked me, manipulated me, forced me... Into coming here. I bear the scars of their abuse, of their attempt to mold me."

 Another long pause and he reached beneath the couch, slowly, quietly, to grab a box of Kul Tiran cigars and a bottle of fine bourbon. At some point he stashed a cutter and glasses, which he now tried setting on the coffee table, so he could open the bourbon and pour. "Want a drink? A smoke?"

Oh you sweet, foolish boy. 

"Kurel," Eilithe's voice came from the hall. She had come all the way down the hall, without a sound. Wrapped up in a black silk robe, her hands at her side. There were a dozen things she might've said, knowing that one of them might soothe him, while another might give him whatever he needed to pull the trigger.

"Remember Vol'Dun. When you almost stabbed me. It doesn't count if I'm not in control'.” She recited his own words when he'd almost ran her through while under Morinthe's strings.

When the gun lowered, Eilithe was filled falsely with a sense of security. "Pick up the box an' the bottle. Come with me,” Kurel commanded and turned for the door. Silthas obeyed.

She was just about to call her daughter from the shadows, knowing the girl was spying. It happened too fast. 

Kurel lifted his gun just enough to aim at Silthas’ thigh. The trigger pulled, the bang came loud. The door shut in the boy’s face. Upstairs, Karkah came barreling out of her room, bow drawn. Down the opposite hall Malik screamed, frightened. But none were louder than Eilonwy, who shimmered with arcane out of invisibility long enough to scream in horror with such force that the window rattled. In Tanari, she screamed, “Father, no! Stop! He is good! I saw him! He is good!” In a second, she was gone-- teleported out and into the world after the boy. 

"Well, surfal, at least you didn't shoot him in the head, right?" She stalked for the door. Not with her usual temper. It was more concern and a surprising amount of understanding. If Kurel had meant to kill the boy, he would have. She attempted to push by him and straight for the door to go out it. "Karkah, please go sit with your brother until Lady Mirin gets here. Everything is fine." “No’ yet.” 

Everything wasn’t fine. She stopped to mutter to Kurel, in bubbling rage, “I would think, that you of all people, would understand what it is like to bare the mark of your father. And if not for mercy-- then think of this as an opportunity. He knows where his mother is. How many men she has. What resources she has. It took balls and stupidity to tell you, stop to think what the fuck he stood to gain from telling you all that. A bullet. Apparently."

Their exchange was one of epic, petty proportion. Him storming out onto the porch to scream at her, her flinging a flower pot in his general direction. 

When she found Eilonwy and Silthas, she was still in the shadows-- watching as her daughter summoned thick ice around Silthas to protect him from her father’s lackeys. The girl, bold and brave, stood with her fists up against Kurel’s explosives expert. “Just leave us alone!” She screamed. 

For only a sturdy bandage meant for the boy, Perry backed off.

Eilonwy lowered her arms and was about to drop the barrier when she heard footsteps. When she saw it was Eilithe, still the girl kept her fists up. "Mai, leave us alone! He didn't do anything."

How important he must be to her, that she would raise her hands against her mother. "Drop the dome, Eilonwy. He needs to see a doctor. If you must, you can stay with him."  "Will I be safe there?" Silthas asked as Eilonwy melted the ice from around him.

In her ear, Kurel argued with her and she could tell by the proximity of the half of her soul residing inside if him. Each pushed it further, cutting deeper and deeper until Eilithe was the first to say something she would come to regret:  Go home, Kurel. Go home. Get a drink and a cigar and I will stay the fuck out of your way. I should have just let you leave again for another eight months and handled it like I always do when you decide there's nothing here for you.

"As long as I am alive, you have my word that I will put myself between you and harms way." There were tears in forming in her eyes, which likely were directly correlated to whatever Kurel was seething into her ear. "Come on, we have to move." 

After Silthas was treated and almost to sleep, Eilithe left to return home to a powder keg. And so, with a cigarette she awaited Kurel’s fury on the balcony which faced the harbor. "Helpin' the enemy now? Been ou' there a long while, did you dig ou' his bullet an' cauterize the hole? Then tuck'em in with a kiss on the head-- then leave my daughter ou' there with'em?" His head shifted as though barely affording a glance back over his shoulder towards her. He was paranoid as he was suspicious.  Wrapped in an anger that for the moment was bundled and controlled. "You shoul' know better." He sneered.  "Our daughter wouldn't leave that boys side if I demanded it. She is angry at both of us. I won't make her hate us." Eilithe stood firm on that for as long as it took for her to inhale on a joint. "They are not alone and yes. I instructed that he be mended." 

So then, she doubled down.

"No reason. No explanation. Nothing I say will be good enough for you right now. I could explain, in detail, how I know Morinthe is no longer with him. I could explain that I didn't just leave the children to chance. None of it will suffice, so I won't waste your time." Eilithe swallowed, her throat tense. 

"I wrote you. Because I need you here and I had hoped, by now, you were starting to need me too." Hurt and guilt showed only in that sentence, so she quickly covered it with another. "The more pressing matter is that Morinthe's soul is in two more pieces. They are far from here, but when Shadeala finds that her son is converted and that her plot is foiled? What do you think will happen?" "Wha' will happen. She will come righ' here. An' I'll shoo' her firs' an' then him second-- You shoul' have pu' him on a fuckin' boat an' sen' him FAR from this fuckin' place. Bu' instea', you're entertainin' this idiocy-- why? Because Eilonwy feels somethin' for him an' you don't want to break her hear'?" He turned, to face her. Arms crossing as he leaned his hip back against the guard rail. "Cause you can't stop yourself from takin' in ever stray an' straggler?”

"Where are they." It was not a request.

“You..said that, when you left. Gone until you could find a reason to come back. I shouldn't have said what I said." And that was as close as she got to admitting guilt.

Eilithe shook her head, "She will come here. Regardless. Not even herself. She will send lackeys and she will expend every resource. Because we took everything from her. And no, I can't bring myself to kill another child based solely on the blood in their veins. I cannot sentence him to death by my hand, yours, or by shipping him off. He is an asset, not a burden."

She shook her head, "Why? So you can go finish it? So you can get yourself barred from the home we built together?"

"Oh we didn't take everythin'-- Bu' now we have. Thanks to you. I can agree he's an asse'--- an' asse' to be used. Bait, to be used. A fuckin' carrot to dangle. One ain't gotta sentence him, jus' have to pu' him on a ship an' sail a fuckin' long ways ou' from here. An' a' the very leas' if Shadeala was goin' to be comin' here regardless, she'd be comin' for us." He gestured angrily between himself and her.

"Boy ain't even a fuckin' child-- He's practically grown, Eilithe! You talk like he can barely fen' for himself. An' if gettin' barred from this place is wha' it costs to keep you an' my children safe, then yes."

"He was a tool." Eilithe said, in calm tone that did not match the way that she shot up from her seat, clutching his shirt in her right hand. "He means nothing to her, less than nothing now that he failed." She took to stomps in his direction, but stopped herself in a good-old-fashioned Darnassian stand-off. "He is powerful and could help us. He can protect her too. She threatened to take Eilonwy many years ago now, Kurel. That was always a horrifying possibility. So put one more thing between our daughter and a woman that's willing to send a child to his death in order to bring me pain."

It was the last part that made her close the gap between them, two freezing hands place on his rough cheeks. "I need you,so please.. remember that day in the wheel when you told me you loved me and needed me too. Don't. Do this. Hate him. Distrust him. Shun him. If that it was you must do. But please. Don't do this."

Whatever went through his head, whatever paranoid scheme, he did not speak. Because if anything, he understood why she couldn’t bring herself to harm a child. "If he so much as missteps or if I think he missteps in my presence, I will aim higher an' I won't miss." He threatened. "An' wherever you have hidden them away-- Eilonwy is no' stayin'. She is to come home. Now or I will wake every dockhan' across this islan' an' have them join hands to comb this place until she is foun'. An' dragged back here. Willin' or not. She can hate me for i'. She is not grown an' she is no' ye' free of this house an' my command."

"She doesn't hate you. She won't. You are hard to hate. And she loves you--idolizes you." Shadows sucked Eilithe away from him and the distinct feeling of her soul moving away and into the night.

Eilonwy did return home that night, refusing to speak to either parent before she hid herself in her room to sob. After her mother had done the same, in a similar fashion, Eilonwy clutched the moon pendant on her bracelet. Until the door to her bedroom opened and her father’s footsteps fell against the wood floor.  "You will no' be alone with him. From now until I decide otherwise, when you leave this house a Warden or an operative of my choosin' will go with you. Every where. A' school. In Stormwin'. This islan'.”

"If you disobey this. I will pu' tha' boy on a ship. I will sail tha' ship to the edge of the Malestrom, where I will sink i'. With him on i'. If you think tha' you can ou'smar' me, the Wardens, or whoever I have pu' as your chaperone. An' evade them. I' will no' be they who suffer the consequence. It'll be the boy."

Eilonwy flinched, audibly at the tone that he rarely, if ever, took with her. She let out the softest of whimpers, before she balled up in the bed. The words that came out of her were pained and echoed the very same defeated tone that her mother held when all felt hopeless.

"Okay, Ah'vey," she said, just loud enough that he would hear her, before she buried her face in the pillow and bit back a spurt of silent weeping. @kurel-andiel​ @revthepunchbear​ (silthas) @deadsunharbor​

[sanasunbringer]

The Meaning of Loyalty

[continued from here]

"You're probably right, surfal." Sana mumbled with a smile, eyes nearly closing as her ear was toyed with-it quickly turned a delicate shade of seashell pink. "I know that she can handle herself well." There was no small measure of pride in her voice. "But how can I not worry a little?" She let out a quiet laugh. "At least she usually lets me help her if she gets hurt."

Slowly, her gaze drifted from Mengersh's frosty eyes to the boy resting on his shoulder. "Perhaps we should put him to bed? Seems like he'll be out for awhile." She suggested, idly rubbing the little one's back.

(@mr-arlien)

[selysona-wra]

“I’ve got you”

The c

(( This is a hella old prompt, but no one is surprised that I take forever to answer things. Sorry for the delayed reply. LOVE YOU. <3)) Azure skies were dotted with a myriad of crystalline stars that twinkled overhead, the glowing crescent hanging low, creating a swell of illumination along the beach that the duo usually happened along. It was her favorite spot, somewhere she’d opened up to him rather intimately about the shadowed past she liked to keep hidden away. Since then, it’d become hallowed ground for her soul, a place of peace and consolation. Something she had hoped for the man who rested up on his elbows. Jade orbs admired upon his features, allowing just the ghost of a smile to curve her lown lips. How she adored him, even as he disappeared into the confines of his mind, entrapped by an unknown entity that dug its claws in and held fast. “Surfal?” Came the gentle crooning from the woman to her lover, rolling onto her side, head propped up into a palm while wild curls hung in a fiery flag behind her. His empty gaze was all she received, one she knew well. And so a hand lifted, delicate fingers twitching along his jawline, lips offering a warm simper to him. “You keep disappearing. I need you to stay here with me. Come, lay.” Guiding him to lay down earned a small hum, the beginnings of a lullaby as she was mote to do. Once he'd relaxed enough for some of the tension to leave his body, she reached over to twine their fingers together, giving a squeeze. He wasn't alone, she knew that. He had plenty who cared for him, who loved him. But still, her voice broke some when she glanced over, jade depths urgently seeking his own. "I'm not going anywhere, Iloam. I'm right here with you, just as you were with me. I've got you." A gentle flex of her fingers was meant to be reassuring, ears pinned back on either side of her head. "Always." Rolling, she tucked herself into his side, pulling his arms around her of her own accord while a kiss was pressed to his jawline. If he wanted to be quiet, that's precisely what he could be.

[ferilclawmane]

Visions of the Past

That day…. He didn’t go to the shop as usual. He didn’t find comfort in those activities he otherwise would have. Instead, he trekked long and far into the jungle of Dead Sun, never stopping along the way until he found a place he could settle in. The trees opened up into a small circle, an open patch of ground laid bare between them. 

Slowly he set about setting up camp. He popped a small tent, hung his food, made sure his spear and dagger were close. Then he set about gathering rocks to make a fire pit, along with wood to fuel the fire. Once it was all gathered, he built up the fire and set about getting it going. Once the flames roared to life, he sat on the ground next to it with pursed lips. 

A hand reached into a pouch at his waist, pulling out a fistful of herbs. These he tossed into the flame and watched as they combusted. Thick, heavy smoke poured from the fire and enveloped him, even as he closed his eyes. Deep, long breaths followed, the smoke filling his lungs as he sought to elevate his mind. 

It wasn’t long before visions took him and he was no longer in the jungle… Well, not this jungle. Thick tall trees surrounded him, the inky darkness of night permeating everything. In the distance he saw the flicker of fire and he slowly began to make his way towards it. It took awhile, there was a trek around the large trees but eventually he made it. He looked down to the flames which where not entirely unlike the ones he actually sat before. As he did, slowly a face formed in the darkness and stepped forward. 

The figure that resolved itself before him was all too familiar. A kaldorei woman, nearly as tall as he was, with violet hair down to her knees. A flowing gown drifted in the breeze around her, arms bare alongside a low cut to the chest of the dress. A smirk split her elegant features, moonlit hues meeting his amber ones. “Well, hello surfal.” 

He faltered, mouth gaping slightly until he managed to close it. “Is’Stalae… That can’t be you.” Inadvertently, he reached out a hand towards the figure, fingers grasping at something he would never touch again. “You are… Dead…” A harsh barking laugh cut the silence that followed, something he’d only heard once or twice his entire life. She flicked her fingers dismissively. “I am only dead when you no longer remember me.” 

Falling to his backside, he stared over the flames at her. “How could I ever forget you.” A sneer spread on her lips. “Oh, I don’t know. Could it be someone else? Could it be that you think you can replace me in your heart? You think she’ll ever be like I was? Do you think you could spend -millennia- with her and want for nothing?” Another flick of fingers followed as she paced on the other side of the fire. 

His head lowered, unable to meet her gaze. “You will always have a piece of my heart. How could you expect me to live out my years in agonizing loneliness? I love her. She loves me. You filled my life as my surfal until… you were no longer there.” A sharp nailed finger pointed at him over the fire. “And why is it that I am no longer here? Could it be your weakness? Your failure as a protector? As a surfal and a father?” Her moonlit hues stared daggers into him, the accusation in them clear. 

For a moment he was left speechless, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. That was the deepest scar he had and she had just torn it open, letting the pain and sadness flow free. “I…” He couldn’t even seem to find the words to speak. What could he say when he did feel like he had failed? “... I did fail. I failed you. I failed… Haeshia. There…” He met her gaze once more, hopelessness in his eyes. “It can never be undone… What would you have me do? Flagellate myself for the rest of my life?” 

Her face grew dark before she suddenly lunged, flinging herself through the fire to stand towering over him. “Get. Up.” It was like he was compelled, like he had to. Soon he found himself rising to his feet, only to have her grab at his vest and tug on him angrily. “I want you to fight. Not to wallow. Not to cast away what worth you have left because you failed. She’s to be the one? Then fight. Protect. Be fierce. Be savage. Never let her or those children face the fate we did. Now…” She shoved him violently. “... Move!” The last vision of Is’Stalae was of her pointing. The entire vision ripped away and he was left on his feet, blinking clear his eyes. Long ears twitched as he heard movement in the trees. His gaze snapped to the direction of the sound, the direction Is’Stalae had been pointing. Quick as he could, the fire was extinguished and buried, tent and food hidden. Taking up his spear, he fell into the shadows, feet moving through the underbrush silently. A group of men with black circles over white rectangles for insignias were marching through the trees, a sled full of stone towed behind a pair of horses between them. 

Feril followed them, waiting, watching, seeing where they went. It wasn’t long before he found where they were going. An outpost, half complete, flying the colors of Moonsong. His grip tightened on the spear as he sent out a message over the seal. “Speakers…” 

To  be continued…. (Tagging for general mention at the end: @revthepunchbear, @eilitheduskbringer, @velerodra-valesinger)

[belore-invictus]

✨: What motivates them? Is it a deep rooted passion/motivation, or is it something they struggle with from time to time?

((  Send some symbols to hear about more in-depth about my muse(s)! - @swearwolf-werewolf tank u again <333333 <333 )) 

“My motivation has always come from the people around me. Everything that I do, I do with compassion for those I love and want to protect. The one thing that I know I can die peacefully knowing is that the people I have in my life... I am blessed. I will do anything to keep them alive. My Wolf, my surfal, my sons, my cousins, colleagues, peers, confidants... It is a deep rooted passion-- but, I struggle with it all of the time. Despite being around the same people for years now, we all still have differences in opinions... Which makes it too damn difficult at times to know how to protect some of them.”