FANTASY-NO MAGIC

[BlueWildRye he/him]

14 minutes ago, J. Magi said:

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

August was sitting on a log by the side of the road, covered in blood. His sword was balanced across his knees, and he was staring at the red blade.

Septembers body was laying on the dirt road, surrounded by a dark puddle. Her head was a few yards away, mostly covered by some road-side weeds.

July stood next to him, unable to look away from the body. He'd come outside when he'd heard the clash of swords stop. Even though August had told him to hide, he couldn't stop himself from seeing how the victor was.

Septembers assistant had run off when he'd killed her. The poor man had been terrified.

"A-are you alright?" July asked, finally tearing his eyes away from September.

August grimaced. "It could be worse."

"So no?!"

"I can still walk." He sighed and began cleaning his blade with what was left of his coat. It was unsalvageable anyway.

"How much of that blood is yours?" July reached to touch his stained collar.

"I'm not sure . . . but I was the one not wearing armor." He said it like a joke, and chuckled a bit, but July didn't smile.

The younger man plopped down on the log next to him. "This . . . this is terrible." 

"Yes."

"Did she have to die?"

August turned his head to look July in the eye. He had dark circles, and July was struck by just how exhausted his brother looked.

"She wouldn't have stopped if she hadn't," He replied, "The hunt became her world."

"I . . . remember when it wasn't."

"As do I, but time has passed and things have changed."

July closed his eyes. Couldn't the world be gentler? After all that had happened, didn't he deserve a breath of fresh air?

But no, the air reeked of blood.

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

All three badly beaten guards were either unconscious or had surrendered.

The night was won.

@The Bookwyrm @Through The Living Glass @Spark of Hope @BlueWildRye @anyone else

Sutter watched from a distance, holding a mug of ale in one hand. He took a long drink, then sat down and stared at the sky, hating and pitying himself at the same time.

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

56 minutes ago, J. Magi said:

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

August was sitting on a log by the side of the road, covered in blood. His sword was balanced across his knees, and he was staring at the red blade.

Septembers body was laying on the dirt road, surrounded by a dark puddle. Her head was a few yards away, mostly covered by some road-side weeds.

July stood next to him, unable to look away from the body. He'd come outside when he'd heard the clash of swords stop. Even though August had told him to hide, he couldn't stop himself from seeing how the victor was.

Septembers assistant had run off when he'd killed her. The poor man had been terrified.

"A-are you alright?" July asked, finally tearing his eyes away from September.

August grimaced. "It could be worse."

"So no?!"

"I can still walk." He sighed and began cleaning his blade with what was left of his coat. It was unsalvageable anyway.

"How much of that blood is yours?" July reached to touch his stained collar.

"I'm not sure . . . but I was the one not wearing armor." He said it like a joke, and chuckled a bit, but July didn't smile.

The younger man plopped down on the log next to him. "This . . . this is terrible." 

"Yes."

"Did she have to die?"

August turned his head to look July in the eye. He had dark circles, and July was struck by just how exhausted his brother looked.

"She wouldn't have stopped if she hadn't," He replied, "The hunt became her world."

"I . . . remember when it wasn't."

"As do I, but time has passed and things have changed."

July closed his eyes. Couldn't the world be gentler? After all that had happened, didn't he deserve a breath of fresh air?

But no, the air reeked of blood.

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

All three badly beaten guards were either unconscious or had surrendered.

The night was won.

@The Bookwyrm @Through The Living Glass @Spark of Hope @BlueWildRye @anyone else

Niamh carefully sewed up her shoulder as best she could; a blood-soaked crossbow bolt lay on the ground beside where she sat.

The three soldiers were tied to a tree nearby, where they could be easily seen and heard.

Edited September 27, 2024 by Through The Living Glass

[Through the Living Hope]

7 hours ago, J. Magi said:

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

August was sitting on a log by the side of the road, covered in blood. His sword was balanced across his knees, and he was staring at the red blade.

Septembers body was laying on the dirt road, surrounded by a dark puddle. Her head was a few yards away, mostly covered by some road-side weeds.

July stood next to him, unable to look away from the body. He'd come outside when he'd heard the clash of swords stop. Even though August had told him to hide, he couldn't stop himself from seeing how the victor was.

Septembers assistant had run off when he'd killed her. The poor man had been terrified.

"A-are you alright?" July asked, finally tearing his eyes away from September.

August grimaced. "It could be worse."

"So no?!"

"I can still walk." He sighed and began cleaning his blade with what was left of his coat. It was unsalvageable anyway.

"How much of that blood is yours?" July reached to touch his stained collar.

"I'm not sure . . . but I was the one not wearing armor." He said it like a joke, and chuckled a bit, but July didn't smile.

The younger man plopped down on the log next to him. "This . . . this is terrible." 

"Yes."

"Did she have to die?"

August turned his head to look July in the eye. He had dark circles, and July was struck by just how exhausted his brother looked.

"She wouldn't have stopped if she hadn't," He replied, "The hunt became her world."

"I . . . remember when it wasn't."

"As do I, but time has passed and things have changed."

July closed his eyes. Couldn't the world be gentler? After all that had happened, didn't he deserve a breath of fresh air?

But no, the air reeked of blood.

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

All three badly beaten guards were either unconscious or had surrendered.

The night was won.

@The Bookwyrm @Through The Living Glass @Spark of Hope @BlueWildRye @anyone else

Naise stared, wide-eyed. Slowly, Jolane moved forward. She went to July’s side and hugged him. She avoided looking at the corpse or its head. 

[Mags she/they]

9 hours ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Niamh carefully sewed up her shoulder as best she could; a blood-soaked crossbow bolt lay on the ground beside where she sat.

The three soldiers were tied to a tree nearby, where they could be easily seen and heard.

August stood, slowly, and came over to inspect them. He didn't recognize their faces, September must have brought them on after he'd left. There was a time when he had prided himself in knowing every man in the Paragonia. No more, it seemed.

He left them and wiped his blade off on the grass. The sound of it sliding back into the sheath tore through the silence.

2 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

Naise stared, wide-eyed. Slowly, Jolane moved forward. She went to July’s side and hugged him. She avoided looking at the corpse or its head. 

He lay his head on her shoulder, looking away from the body, too tired to cry.

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, J. Magi said:

August stood, slowly, and came over to inspect them. He didn't recognize their faces, September must have brought them on after he'd left. There was a time when he had prided himself in knowing every man in the Paragonia. No more, it seemed.

He left them and wiped his blade off on the grass. The sound of it sliding back into the sheath tore through the silence.

He lay his head on her shoulder, looking away from the body, too tired to cry.

She stayed silent for a while, then finally whispered, “We’re both free now.”

[Mags she/they]

4 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

She stayed silent for a while, then finally whispered, “We’re both free now.”

"No." He said, voice brittle. "This . . . this is only the start. The first wave."

August approached, overhearing them, "When they find she doesn't come back, they'll send more in our direction. Granted, it's better then her finding us and returning to them with our exact location, but still not ideal. It was never going to be." He shook his head in disappointment, maybe in himself, maybe in September.

With a grimace, he gently picked up her head, and put it in it's place with her body. He'd bury her before they moved on--he owed her that at least.

Edited September 27, 2024 by J. Magi

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, J. Magi said:

"No." He said, voice brittle. "This . . . this is only the start. The first wave."

August approached over hearing. "When they find she doesn't come back, they'll send more in our direction. Granted, it's better then her finding us and returning to them with our exact location, but still not ideal. It was never going to be." He shook his head in disappointment, maybe in himself, maybe in September.

With a grimace, he gently picked up her head, and put it in it's place with her body. He'd bury her before they moved on--he owed her that at least.

"O-oh..."

She leaned more into July.

[Mags she/they]

7 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

"O-oh..."

She leaned more into July.

He held her tightly, trying to breath slowly to calm himself down.

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, J. Magi said:

He held her tightly, trying to breath slowly to calm himself down.

She held him back. The cut in her neck hurt, but bearably.

[Ookla de los Cuervos he/him]

26 minutes ago, J. Magi said:

"No." He said, voice brittle. "This . . . this is only the start. The first wave."

August approached, overhearing them, "When they find she doesn't come back, they'll send more in our direction. Granted, it's better then her finding us and returning to them with our exact location, but still not ideal. It was never going to be." He shook his head in disappointment, maybe in himself, maybe in September.

With a grimace, he gently picked up her head, and put it in it's place with her body. He'd bury her before they moved on--he owed her that at least.

Arke looks distinctly happy about the thought of more fighting. 

[Mags she/they]

45 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

She held him back. The cut in her neck hurt, but bearably.

After a few minutes, he noticed the cut.

"Where did this come from?"

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, J. Magi said:

After a few minutes, he noticed the cut.

"Where did this come from?"

"One of those soldiers... My sister said I know August, and I think he thought I had some sort of business connection with him. He... he held me hostage to get Niamh and Arke to stop fighting..."

[Mags she/they]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

"One of those soldiers... My sister said I know August, and I think he thought I had some sort of business connection with him. He... he held me hostage to get Niamh and Arke to stop fighting..."

"What?!" July had had no idea, he'd been hiding the whole time. A massive wave of guilt rushed over him. He'd been hiding while everyone else had been in danger . . .

"I . . . I'll go get my first aid supplies."

He rushed off towards the tavern.

Edited September 27, 2024 by J. Magi

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, J. Magi said:

"What?!" July had had no idea, he'd been hiding the whole time. A massive wave of guilt rushed over him. He'd been hiding while everyone else had been in danger . . .

"I . . . I'll go get my first aid supplies."

He rushed off towards the tavern.

She watched him go, then sat on a nearby rock.

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

Ma'tani walked up to Jolane as July ran off. She limped slightly from the wound on her leg.

"You aren't safe when he's around."

@Spark of Hope @J. Magi

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Bookwyrm said:

Ma'tani walked up to Jolane as July ran off. She limped slightly from the wound on her leg.

"You aren't safe when he's around."

@Spark of Hope @J. Magi

She looked down.

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said:

She looked down.

Ma'tani walked over and put a hand on her shoulder.

"But you don't want to leave him."

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Bookwyrm said:

Ma'tani walked over and put a hand on her shoulder.

"But you don't want to leave him."

She shook her head.

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

2 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

She shook her head.

"...My offer still stands. I can teach you how to fight."

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Bookwyrm said:

"...My offer still stands. I can teach you how to fight."

She looked up at her and nodded slightly.

[Mags she/they]

6 minutes ago, The Bookwyrm said:

Ma'tani walked up to Jolane as July ran off. She limped slightly from the wound on her leg.

"You aren't safe when he's around."

@Spark of Hope @J. Magi

August nodded from where he his sitting. He didn't try to deny it, that was the way of things.

July came back with his bag slung over his shoulder. Hastily, he sent it down and pulled out some ointment and a sticky bandage.

"This is for you," He didn't look her in the eye as he handed them to her. "The ointment will help it heal faster."

He quickly moved away, sitting down by August and pulling out bandages to treat the cuts on his arm and side.

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, J. Magi said:

August nodded from where he his sitting. He didn't try to deny it, that was the way of things.

July came back with his bag slung over his shoulder. Hastily, he sent it down and pulled out some ointment and a sticky bandage.

"This is for you," He didn't look her in the eye as he handed them to her. "The ointment will help it heal faster."

He quickly moved away, sitting down by August and pulling out bandages to treat the cuts on his arm and side.

She rubbed it on and attached the bandage.

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

2 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

She rubbed it on and attached the bandage.

Ma'tani sat beside her and helped make sure the wound was treated. 

"You just found your family, though," she said softly. "July isn't going to be here much longer. Would you really leave them? Go into danger? Travel an unforgiving world?"

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Bookwyrm said:

Ma'tani sat beside her and helped make sure the wound was treated. 

"You just found your family, though," she said softly. "July isn't going to be here much longer. Would you really leave them? Go into danger? Travel an unforgiving world?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "But... but this time if I left it would be my choice to."

[Ookla de los Cuervos he/him]

8 minutes ago, J. Magi said:

August nodded from where he his sitting. He didn't try to deny it, that was the way of things.

July came back with his bag slung over his shoulder. Hastily, he sent it down and pulled out some ointment and a sticky bandage.

"This is for you," He didn't look her in the eye as he handed them to her. "The ointment will help it heal faster."

He quickly moved away, sitting down by August and pulling out bandages to treat the cuts on his arm and side.

Arke throws a message to August. "Who do you want me to murder?"