1. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Never did get used to the cooing. It reminded her that Dove was part bird, and she wasn't used to treating birds with such care. They were simply something you kept as a pet. Or something you ate. Or ran away from. But birds were never people – and that was a new way to look at them now. Was...
  2. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Vyn'd always thought that it was mental scars Dove carried. But now, under her fingers she could feel the wrongness of it. Scars weren't new. Seen many. Caused more. But the size was concerning – in a sense this really was a mortal wound. There were healers around the world who could heal this...
  3. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    It may have been the other woman's innards cracking open – but it all felt sour. Because Vyn wasn't a person you gave up in front of. Not while there were still options left. Something to do. To try. So no – she couldn't accept Dove simply describing dying as slow and inevitable. Wouldn't...
  4. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Well, at least she was no longer clawing at her face. Small victories. Maintaining calm was steadily becoming difficult. Was this how Jem felt when she fell apart? Did he also want to shake her until everything came out and then just sweep it away? Everything that could be done felt wrong. Each...
  5. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    The kettle boiled over – only what came out wasn't water. It was that soft inside terror of things that just never quite fit together right. Being able to fix things never meant being fixed in turn. It only allowed you to see the damage...recognize it. So what was wrong? Everything was wrong...
  6. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Goddamit! The night was not promising a better end at all. Bits and bobs led her here like cursed breadcrumbs. Should've known it would be bad when she found the strap torn. Dove cared about that bit of leather. So she knew it wouldn't be good. But knowing doesn't prepare you. The slumped pale...
  7. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Her hand got grabbed by what she could only describe as a person drowning. Vyn was never sure what to do. Grew up with goats and was now supposed to handle glassware. Wondered what Jem would do when people panicked. He would probably just let them get it out, then deal with whatever came next...
  8. V

    Private A Bad Place To Be

    Jem was already moving ahead of them. The Road would make way – or a way would be made. For someone so quiet, he really was surprisingly forceful in primal form. Each hoof thudded the dirt like a knock-knock joke she was yet to learn. Vyn pulled the reins, pacing Myrtle to follow. Looked to Xen...
  9. V

    Private A Bad Place To Be

    Humor was decent. Joke could use work. But she’d get there. All Elum did…eventually. Because the Road was long and often dull. Vyn mounted up and Jem nodded from the orphan soup. When Xen came to him, he was already undressing. Coat first, then the robe, tossed at the newcomer without...
  10. V

    Private A Bad Place To Be

    Vyn’s brow shot up faster than she’d intended at that. Scare Myrtle? Same Myrtle that had been around Jem for years? The one that’d seen more primal shifts than even Jem’s worn britches? And there was Vyn too – and she never shifted, obviously – but Xen didn’t know that. But best not to poke the...
  11. V

    Private There won't be a third

    Would've been a warm moment – braid in memory and offer both. But the new voice took away those feelings. Didn't know how to feel anymore. Jem, on the other hand, seemed certain. Moved in front of her before she even clocked it. He always moved a bit too quietly for someone whose only business...
  12. V

    Private A Bad Place To Be

    “Sure did.” Vyn always wondered why she didn’t get attached. Most people would’ve named their damn horse by that point. Not her – had to wait for a halfstarved newcomer to do it instead. “Said only an ass carries more than another.” Tsk tsk. “And her horsiness couldn’t have that.” Had more...
  13. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    Vyn was no longer sure whether it was the thunderclap or the talking bread, or this whole fucking day that had her stunned. Suppose it didn’t matter. Simply outstretched her hand under what would be her new roof window. Let it rain on her a little. Reminded her she was still there. Roki’s inner...
  14. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    Took a moment to recover from the white, both of 'em. If burnt air had a smell, that's what she was smelling. Still, that wasn't all that was burning. Her neck craned up and to the side. Unlike the Wagon, her mind knew no peace. „That was...“ Was it even him? „My roof, Roki.“ Probably should've...
  15. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    And Vyn would be another one without any questions. With each passing beat, the ritual looked less and less serious. Next they'd be asking them to shed their spiritual burden or some such. If it really was that easy to get rid of the ugly parts of yourself – everyone would be drinking this...
  16. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Vyn looked at him with concern and surprise, because it only seemed obvious. You cut the oak and named it Plank. Plank did its job and claimed the name of Wagon. Wagon broke and you got to meet something named Chunk. And Chunks were a good sort, but they lived short lives before they too were...
  17. V

    Private A Bad Place To Be

    “Sure she can.” Vyn spoke with a start. Not like she was afraid of Xen – her nerves were still a bit raw from the day’s upsets. “But she’d rather not.” Looked down to Xen’s knees, weighing. “You lot have perfectly good legs. And paws or hooves or whatnot. Figured you and Jem would primal up and...
  18. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Still felt the bygone meal in her sweat. Whatever craft she hoped to employ in fixing the saltmine Dove had opened hadn't taken. She'd foregone a lot of the more common spices since. Somehow, all flavors felt already saturated in her mouth. And perhaps it was this saltiness that pressed her...
  19. V

    Private let the winds take 'em

    Vyn'd heard of similar practices. Suppress the joy of living in the name of some imagined sin. But whatever you prayed to didn't fill your gut. Food did. Denying sustenance in penance seemed like a bad trade. She wouldn't make it, and was surprised to learn Dove had. Because there was no cure...
  20. V

    Private A Bad Place To Be

    Of course he was sure. Certainty wasn’t the issue. Gordar just didn’t like being called an Elder. And, technically, he wasn’t. But if you asked any living Elum, they’d count him too. Rightfully so. He just nodded at the rest. Suppose she would meet the Wagons soon. Watched Vyn mess with the...
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