1. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    “ It does. “ He buoyed his head and huffed a laugh, half-hearted. Tried at his eye again with his knuckles and swallowed the rest of the mourning that threatened to bloom out of him. Residue lingered, there in the sorrowful twist of the brow and gaze that dare not look at anything too long. Yet...
  2. Jens

    Private Sang the Fiddler's Bow

    They were on about the instruments and the music. Despite the immediate though that he did, indeed, know a myriad of sweeter sounds, he kept it to himself. We’ll speak of that, later. At his arm, Delilah was snickering at the enthusiasm, all gleefully bared fangs and a pleasant bounce to her...
  3. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    The weight was off, the thing with the accursed story gone, wrapped away to cloth and stashed away. Arm falling, he sagged with what felt like relief, but wasn’t. It was heavier to breathe and he didn’t think it was for the smoke and the crowd, the milling that’d grown blurry and ghostlike. Out...
  4. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    It wasn’t a chord. Not even a tune. But there was music, a song as she had called it. Telling him things he already knew. Or found himself in, as one did in plenty a lyricist’s work. Art. A serpent mingled in the mouth, down the throat and into the chest, where it coiled. Wouldn’t bite...
  5. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    Vyn took charge, but gave no rope. Left an empty spot on the bench by him where the fife had been. He put his cup down himself, slow and measured to a spot he wouldn’t knock it over from. Maybe. With everything she said, whether coaxing, charming or warning, she gained something bewitching to...
  6. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    Before their lull had the time to stretch, again as for how he felt the man enjoyed toying with him, a response from beyond them both broke it off. The ghost herself, come sailing in with words and drink. He accepted his in a nod and a smile, overtly cordial as any sailor accepting wanton...
  7. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    Delilah croaked for breath, face twisted with an agony that forced tears out of her eyes. She’d fought it, fuck, with everything she had left for how violent it was — and it hadn’t been enough. “ Param! “ She yelled into the spray, knees and palms leaving their marks in the beach as she...
  8. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    “ Sure burns. “ He remarked, spirited even as the line of his mouth grew tighter. A nod, eye regarding the firelight in tune with the man’s glance. All the trappings of a warlock, a wizard, a witch — coat, demeanour and words that held a crypticism much rivaling that of Vyn. In the mill of the...
  9. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    A whine, the reek of shame or some other turmoil. Averted stare, though yet she traced the face against the blinding shimmer of the sea. Her stare narrowed and a yawn stretched her face, front claws drawing lines in the sand as a cat’s toes splayed and curled back again. Her shape rose...
  10. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    The sea beaded on their skins like dew, broken wave snaking about limbs and the body of one brought low. She hovered above him, held him down with her greater weight at the end of broad paws and unflinching posture. Her ribs expanded, deflated, exhales leaving her in low rumbling. Warning. But...
  11. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    Fur and skin ripped. The cost of freedom was blood, a trail of those little drops in her wake as she went, landing in a wet slosh into cooler sand. Her face was set with pain and anger, baring teeth even as another complained and faltered. Heart, body. She paced a semicircle against the surf...
  12. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    Her weight landed close enough for the reach of a thrashing and she held back no blow if she could give it. Dull thumps, her teeth bared for the might and rage she put behind them. Too few — his skull too damn thick, for he wouldn’t stay down. And the kid was fast, full of wide-eyed fear that’d...
  13. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    What was that— a stillness, a hesitation? Biding of time. Her shape angled as she begun a predator’s circle, experimental and confident, toes on the front paws curling into the ground with each heavy step. The ground felt different where it lay closer to the waves, more solid, cold beneath the...
  14. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    At her words, she’d stopped. A distance that held guard, afforded seconds should her call not yield results. Beast stirred to attention and as they stared, the more she realized herself having spoken in vain. He was beyond it, made deaf to things of tongues when blood rushed the loudest. Claw...
  15. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    “ Ey— “ That was all that left him as twice-smitten devils broke loose all at once. Jens stared, one red eye a wide circle as the carnage captured every inch of him, brought to a still and disquiet. For a whole two seconds, that was. “ Ey! “ He shouted, a mix of outrage and reprimand, similar...
  16. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    Night and day were they, Jem and Vyn. A much tougher crowd she’d left him with, the man with the cursed coat of the more impassive persuasion when met with his cheerful antics. It was no matter to him, naturally, but perhaps he ought keep some of his best jokes for himself. Lest he waste them...
  17. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    “ Forbidden knowledge? “ He repeated belatedly, feigning surprise, at Vyn’s distancing back. There’d been no talk of that, but suppose he could use some. Never underestimate the value of any which smidge of occult intellect, was what my— Well, what someone had probably said. A lot. If they were...
  18. Jens

    Open That other Horizon

    Most dramatic. He tossed his head at that, the image of a prize horse. Damn right— And he could afford to get much worse yet. The gesture and the flame only kindled his smug expression, despite the bit of nervousness bubbling in his chest. There was something about her specific blend of...
  19. Jens

    Open Pick Your Poison

    One way. And he’d damn well find it. Both him and Delilah were struck to silence as the barkeeps, in tandem, escalated the jest to parts unknown. He was almost impressed, like watching a door open further than he’d expected it to, wider still. Revealing a— Spare room? With a lichen coloured...
  20. Jens

    Private A shallows, a secret

    “ Damage report! “ Shroudsmaster Kurkela called into the swimming air, the voices, gullcalls and hiss of the sea. The engines were booming and the bosun was ordering men around, a whole lot of them lined up at the stern to peer into the boiling wake of the ship. The helmsman looked worried. “...
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