Riven Wight

Shackles of Revenge

Ava went ahead a couple steps before realizing Lydia had stopped. She put her fingers fully into her shallow pockets and turned back to her friend.
Her grin only widened at Lydia’s response. She watched the girl tie her shoe as if the distraction could hide her from the topic. Ava glanced down the street as the choking rev of a motorcycle answered the girl’s statement.
“And Grams says I’m supposed to be psychic!” Ava chortled at the timing of the sound during Lydia’s short pause.
She eagerly started back down the sidewalk when the other girl stood, apparently satisfied with the tightness of her shoelace. Ava glanced over as Lydia fell into step beside her and tacked on her statement “for the record.”
“Denial,” Ava said through a feigned coughing sneeze. She sniffled and wiped at her nose to enhance the effect. Grinning, she shrugged lightly. “You’re too good for him, anyway. Now c’mon, Hoodie Queen.” Ava removed her fingers from her pockets, turned, and started jogging backwards. “I’ll race you to Jason’s block!”

The Destined Ones

(Text: The Destined Ones)

(Photo: A dark chasm with golden light pouring through a rocky, sinuous crack above.)
PG-13 / Fantasy, Adventure, Action, 1x1, Advanced / Random readers welcome!
@AutumnFrost

Mood Music

(Picture: A wavy page divider in orange.)

(Text: A Connected World)

Earth. A modern-day, technology-run world with little, if any room for such whimsical ideas as magic and impossible creatures. Yet, they exist, living among the humans undetected. It is a world, a realm we all know well. But it is far from the only one out there.
Connected to the place so many of us call home is a mirror realm. A realm cultivated when Earth was still new to the creation of fire. Its continents and their divisions mimic our own. Even their names bear a resemblance to ours if read from right to left. But, unlike our world, this realm is run by magic and creatures of lore. Here, what we accomplish with technology, they succeed at with sorcery. Magic runs through the very core of this realm, a realm its denizens call Htrea.
In Htrea, both humans and supernatural beings live and work side-by-side knowingly and willingly. At least, most of them do. It is from here most of Earth's supernatural creatures originated, many stumbling or traveling to Earth in an era long past. Travel allowed through access to now well-guarded portals.
For just as long as their existance, rules have been laid down to keep the supernatural beings from harming humans. While they can roam free within Htrea so long as they maintain peace, on Earth, they have been forced to keep to the shadows. After all, Earth's humans are far more simple- and closed-minded. There was no telling how such primitive, destructive creatures as Earth's humans would react to discovering the true existence of creatures they quickly dismissed as lore.
But not everyone follows the rules. Some strive to break them. In Htrea, wars have erupted between those who support living alongside humans, and supernaturals who believe humans are meant only to be dominated and used for sustenance as they see fit. To this day, hate crimes are committed daily against humans. Though law enforcement has been established, patrolling the streets and investigating murders and other crimes with keen eyes, even some of them—and their leaders—have fallen to corruption.
Despite the occasional raids and wars between clans, races, and even the occasional entire towns, Htrea has lived in a time of relative peace for nearly a hundred years. For just as long, Earth has had few "supernatural" disturbances, only the irregular creature going rogue.
But a period of peace is always bound to shatter.

(Text: An Ancient Evil)

When both realms were yet new, a man arose from amidst the chaos of development. He displayed powers and magic beyond anything anyone had ever seen. But slowly, he fell into corruption, playing with and altering things that aught not be tampered with. His mind and body twisted until he was little more than a shell, a suit for the powers of death and destruction incarnate.
Even in Htrea, it is a tale that has sunk into little more than a fairy tale. A fable told to children to warn them against dabbling in forbidden arts.
Alas, it is far more than a fairy tale.
Locked away in a chasm between the realms in a time even the rocks have begun to forget, this evil has begun to stir. Freed of his prison, this vile monster has only one desire: to bring humanity and other weaker species to their knees. He will stop at nothing until he sees the streets of Earth and Htrea run red with the blood of his enemies and humans alike.
But all hope is not lost.

(Text: Entwined Destinies)

For as long as this ancient evil has existed, so too has a prophesy accompanied the stories. A prophesy speaking of a young man and woman destined to meet. Of two powerful souls designed to be strong apart, yet unstoppable together. Side by side, they will free the good this evil has locked away and strives to extinguish, and conquer one of the greatest of threats. Together, when the time came, only they could stand against the ancient powers and maintain peace on Earth and in Htrea.
For just as long, those who reject order among humans have hunted this prophetic couple. Known to the people of Htrea as the Destined Ones, many wars have been raged whenever rumors of their birth arose. But all have failed, for their time to live had not yet come to pass.
Now, these two have been born, separated as they grew with their own families, neither knowing the great destiny that awaits them. Though they come from different races—and even different realms—fate will see them together not a moment too soon.
If they cannot accept their fate—or each other—and find a way to stop this evil before they become his next victims, both Htrea and Earth as we know it will fall.
But the ancient evil lurks close at their tails, intent on destroying the Destined Ones. With the ruthless shadow of the embodiment of death already stretching across Htrea, can these two youths once more shed light and hope to the world and rise up as heroes against the impossible, or will the darkness consume the the realms around them?

(Photo Text: The Fate of the Realms Rests in Their Hands)

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Quick note: Not sure if you were just writing for how Ghent saw it or if I didn’t get it across well enough, but, just in case, I was attempting to imply that the mist in Margen’s sneeze knocked Drust out. If it’s the latter, I’ll try to make a mental note to be clearer about that kind of thing in the future!

Well. You’re a great writer. It’s not surprising we managed to make it flow nicely. ;-) Even ending it there would have still given enough to move things forward. But I like it better that you added that in there!

I will be sure to let you know if I ever end up calculating that! Heh.

I’m glad to hear it! Oh! Wasn’t expecting the comments. Sweet! Hey, Elayra warned him there would be no talking Drust down if he woke up outside a Safe Zone. ;-)

Post Comments

My intro to psych teacher was a believer that the "fight or flight" response should have "freeze" added to it, since that is such a common reaction in stressful situations. We know which one Ghent's most prone to, I think! Seriously. You play his fear so well! That he forgot about Elayra being down in the heat of, well, almost getting ran through was great, too.

And seriously, you can turn some good phrases! Some of my favored lines:

> Any remaining hope was shattered with two words. (... Yes. Just yes.)
> Shock robbed him of his senses and left him unable to react. (There's that "freeze" so wonderfully and simply explained!)
> Hollow Forest was denied another victim...
> It happened so fast and effortlessly, Ghent wondered if Margen was better suited to save Wonderland. (Aww, poor Ghent. Outdone by a spirit fox. xD)
> The state of sleep hardly made Drust appear less threatening, but it was definitely an improvement.
> She remained where Drust left her, her frame looking smaller than usual against the tall, looming tree. (That's a fantastic contrast. Hadn't thought about that. Awesome sauce! And I like the word "looming.")

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Margen watched Ghent as the boy went over to the slumbering Knight. The cushion of mist Drust had landed on, keeping him afloat a couple inches above the hard ground, flickered with the gentle motion caused by Ghent’s nudge.
The fox cocked his head at the sound of his name. His tail swished slightly quicker. The tichari’s brows rose and the corners of his long mouth pulled down at the simple, typical praise used for a pet. All the same, he perked up proudly, his large ears standing a bit straighter, at the compliment that followed.
When Ghent agreed, the fox turned, ready to traverse the forest. The fox paused when Ghent’s words trailed off. He turned around, his ears ever twitching, and gave a curious, confused whine.
Its gaze flicked to the fallen girl. In understanding, Margen trotted to the side and sat to wait.

-------

There was no doubt in Elayra’s mind: she was unconscious. She struggled to force herself to awaken. There was no telling what Drust would do with her down for the count, to her or to Ghent. Especially to Ghent.
She stirred slightly as, all too slowly, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant cries of lost souls returned to her. She swore she heard her name, but she could not be certain. She sensed movement around her, heard the gentle scrabble of hurried footfalls.
Something brushed against her face, snapping her fully back into awareness.
With a sharp gasp, she startled and her hand shot up and gripped Ghent’s wrist. The other reached to draw her dagger, unsure what new threat she would face, but her fingers came up empty.
Breaths heavy in anticipation, it took her a moment to fully register her surroundings. Ghent kneeling beside her, half his face illuminated by silvery blue light. Drust laying on a bed of twinkling mist. A tichari watching them from a few feet away, impatiently padding at the forest floor.
How hard was I hit? She released Ghent and shook her head, unsure if she believed what she saw.
Her gaze settled on Margen. “You… actually… found one?” she asked incredulously, deciding to first address the easiest of the oddities before her. Her voice came out a bit weaker than she expected.
Margen’s ears twitched toward her. He blinked, the white of his eyes winking out for a fraction of a second.
“And… took out Drust?” She had to still be unconscious. But the pounding in her head and ache in her back promised her otherwise. Her eyes narrowed as she remembered Ghent’s ability with magic. Her attention snapped to him. “How?” she demanded curtly, pulling one leg toward her in preparation to stand.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

*Offers you one of my stuffed animals to hug.*

It all worked out! Well, I hope so, anyway. xD Since the pacing of a fight is really quick, it tends to make things a bit difficult in a post-by-post situation. From what I've noticed, you'll end up with either short, open-ended posts, or semi-longer ones and working around what is written. I mean, in the time it takes to read about a single action (depending on the description and reader's reading speed, I suppose), realistically, one could have likely completed a couple different attacks depending on the circumstance and character's skill and agility. It can take a couple paragraphs to describe actions that occur simultaneously, or near to it. A fight that takes four-ish pages to write about could be over in technically 30 seconds to a minute (rough gustimate. Never actually fully checked word-count to time-count... Aaaand that's been added to my "To Do" list).

In short, don't worry about possibly misjudging when to end a post. Just write what you want and are inspired to write. One way or another, it'll work out. If I ever can't work around something or one of my characters would interrupt and completely derail the rest of your post, I'll be sure to let you know! Just be sure to do the same for me if I do that to you! :-)

P.S. Your whole post was wonderful (love how Ghent responds and tries to talk Drust down), but this stood out to me: "Staring down at the dagger he managed to retain, Ghent's mind spun. He wasn’t a stranger to a brawl or two, but this was different. This was Drust. Armed or not, he didn't stand a chance." It, in particular, gave me happy reader shivers.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Behind Drust, Elayra clenched her teeth and hopped to her feet as quickly as she could. Another wispy flash lit their forms for little more than a second.
Drust sneered at the dark shape of Ghent lying prone on the ground. “Imprudent, fickle weakling.” He readjusted the saber in his hand.
Elayra took a quiet step toward him and crouched. Drust raised the saber, ready to bring it down on Ghent as the boy sat up, gasping.
She sprung at his dark, imposing form. She locked her legs around his torso and hooked her elbow around his neck. Ignoring the ache in her shoulder, she reached over and grasped his arm as close to the saber as she dared, derailing the strike before it could begin.
She felt the muscles beneath his shirt tense. He let out a crazed, snarling shout as he stumbled back from her sudden, unexpected weight.
He quickly recovered and gripped her wrist. He pried it from his throat. Keeping ahold of it, he twisted his weapon-wielding arm to try shaking her off. Elayra tightened her leg hold and struggled to not release his other arm.
“Come on, Dr—!”
Her hissed words cut off as he leapt backwards, slamming her into a tree. She gave a shocked gasp. Her hold slackened, and she slipped from him. She sunk to the ground with a moan, incapable of telling if the darkness around her came from lurking unconsciousness, or the depths of the forest’s night.
Freed of Elayra’s weight, Drust spun wildly to face her.
“DRUST!”
With an aggravated snort, he glanced over his shoulder at Ghent. Deeming Elayra the lesser problem for now, he turned fully when Ghent stood. He glanced to the discarded dagger, the action lost to the darkness between phantom lights.
Drust snorted at Ghent’s less-than-promising start. He stepped forward as the boy glanced away. He held Elayra’s sword at the ready. Its blue blade glinted in another ghostly flash.
Though Ghent’s words bled together in a rush, Drust hesitated. His neck twitched. The motion radiated down his arm, and his grip tightened on the saber’s hilt.
When the boy finished, Drust stared at Ghent. The second stretched into an eternity. The darkness hid his eyes. The phantom flashes provided scarcely enough light to make out more than a guessing glimpse of the pulsating lines snaking from the corners of his eyes.
His lips pulled back into a snarl. “Adorable notion.” He raised the sword and stepped to lunge at Ghent.
A flash of crackling silver and blue whizzed between them. The phantom lights cowered away, fleeing like frightened pixies. Unlike the flashes, its light shone brighter and a bouncing train of electric mist trailed behind the newest spirit.
With a surprised shout, Drust startled back as the streak twirled in a quick funnel mid-air, then rushed back toward him.
Snarling, he bent, bracing himself for impact. He raised the sword and slashed at the streak. The crackling light flitted easily back then flowed forward.
It stilled for scarcely a second in front of Drust. The font half of a blue fox materialized at the head of the mist, nearly nose-to-nose with Drust. Without giving the Knight time to react, the fox sneezed. A puff of glittering indigo particles burst from the creature’s snout.
Drust stumbled back, snarling, but it was too late. His knee bucked at his attempt. He teetered unsteadily on his feet, his eyes fluttering. His heel snagged on a vine, and he tumbled backward.
Before he could hit the ground, more of the mist swirled to life behind him. The glow of the cloud crackled and intensified when he hit it as if surprised at his weight. The man laid there, his chest rising and falling with the steadiness of sleep.
Margen swirled once in the air, his form blurring back into mist with the speed. Satisfied, he trotted down to ground level in front of Ghent.
As the tichari's pace slowed, the mist formed into the familiar, silvery blue fox. Unlike in the Betwixt, here, his form took on a translucent, ghostly appearance. Blue and silver strands of electricity occasionally sparked through his body. The glow radiating from his fur illuminated the space around him like a living lantern. Mist rained upward from his back and swishing tail, only to dissolve into the air.
Margen came to a stop in front of Ghent. He cocked his head and gave a crepitating yip. The sound rang with a hollow echo from his throat. His incandescent white eyes glanced from Ghent to the forest and back with a gentle whine, as if asking, “Ready, slowpoke?”

Current Mood in One Gif

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

He is the king (or she's the queen?) of the lawn!

Already commented elsewhere, but aww! Foxes are so adorable.

My turn!

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Elayra grit her teeth and closed her eyes, bracing for an impact that never came.
Drust snarled loudly as Ghent’s arm wrapped around his before he could bring the hilt down on Elayra.
At the sound of Ghent’s voice, she gave a small gasp and opened her eyes. She almost wished she had kept them closed. The sight of his awkward, poorly balanced position lit by the tail of the green flash made her groan.
“You idiot!” she muttered, her words nearly drowned out by an echoic battle cry as a luminescent ghost rushed through the trees a couple yards away. It collided with another, and the two vanished in a puff of vapor.
Drust’s arm scarcely moved when Ghent tried pulling further back on it, the Knight undaunted by the dagger pointed toward him.
“I’m serious, Drust!”
A menacing, twisted smirk jerked the corner of Drust’s lips upward as another phantom light flashed by.
“Is that even possible?” Drust asked tightly, the Curse-induced grate in his voice sending a shiver down Elayra’s spine.
In little more than the span of a blink, Drust attacked.
He leaned back from the dagger’s point and took a single swift sideways stride away from Ghent, putting more space between them. He straightened his trapped arm as he moved, letting it slide between Ghent’s pathetic hold. He shoved Elayra aside to the ground, shifted his weight onto his left leg, and struck out with a powerful side-kick aimed at Ghent’s torso.

Through the Doors of our hearts - Finished

@Saltwater Thief: Gotchya. Edited! Let me know if it works for you, or if you need anything else on my end. :-)