kitty is writing

fantasy writer, author of the Legends of the Lost Tribes series. follows from main blog @kitkins13 https://ko-fi.com/kittyxiii www.kittylewisfantasy.net

[kitty-is-writing]

Writeblr Intro

I finally got around to doing one of these! ヽ(´▽`)/

I'm Kitty, and I mostly write fantasy set in my own world of Drenius. The world itself is one I spent most of my childhood building so I had a place to escape to, it's been over thirty years in the making so far. I also have some unrelated projects going, which are a little wider in scope.

Here's my linktree, where you can find my website, Kofi page, and places to buy my ebooks!

Drenius stories

Anything I post about this world will be tagged #drenius, including random character stuff and lore dumps. Each series also has its own set of tags if you're after something specific. All the released books so far are on my Kofi if you feel like supporting me that way :)

Series 1 is the Lost Tribes, which has 4 books in it. They mostly follow Kandrina on her explorations and adventures, except the last one which is more about the beginning of Enkarini's arc. Tags are: #the colourless, #beyond the serpent hills, #devil's moon, #wyld magic, #lost tribes

The Colourless

When Kandrina’s beloved older brother Perlak was taken by the fearsome Lightning Demons, she swore an oath to the gods that she would avenge him. But the Demons may not be as evil as the People’s temples say they are. They may not even be responsible for her brother’s death. Her tutor Remlik has another theory, but when Kandrina tries to explain it to her father, she is declared a heretic. The priests punish her, but she is rescued by a curious Demon, who takes her to their crystal city on the plains and begins teaching her that the two races are not so different.

Beyond the Serpent Hills

The old priests have fallen, the Demons are no more, but Kandrina has yet to find out what really killed her brother. Her need for revenge takes her and her former teacher on a perilous journey into uncharted territory. They must travel north, into the lands of the fearsome lizard men known as the Li Buqu. Meanwhile, the tribal lands are under attack from predators, and rising internal conflicts between the Vice-Chiefs threaten to disrupt the People's way of life.

Devil's Moon

The Lizard War is over and the tribal lands are slowly returning to normal. Now the People are asking what else lies outside of their own lands, what other threats or allies could be out there? In hopes of answering some of these questions, Kandrina and Remlik have begun a new study of the old Explorer's Guild journals. They discover a mystery in the writings of 'C', an explorer from over 200 years ago, whose last journal was lost. Legend has it 'C' was exploring the Forest of the West while writing it, so naturally the two scholars decide to head westwards in their never-ending quest for knowledge. But will they stumble across something best left undisturbed?

Wyld Magic

With her sister still lost in the Forest, apprentice mage Enkarini is practicing harder than ever in the hopes of finding some way of getting her back safely. A combination of natural talent and stubborn determination help her to quickly become one of the most skilled mages on Drenius, despite her tender age. When the green dragons of the Lost Lands become agitated and fly south, burning all in their path, Enkarini discovers she possesses abilities far beyond anyone's expectations.

Series 2 is the Northern Kingdoms, which is just 2 books. These follow Prince Michael after the events of Beyond the Serpent Hills, when he returns to the northern continent. The timeline for these runs parallel to Devil's Moon -> Dragon's Teeth, at which point the two plotlines converge. Tags are: #the shades, #mages and rebels, #northern kingdoms

The Shades

Prince Michael has returned from Slokos, bringing the fire-haired girl from the south he fell in love with. His father takes issue with the situation, but has no time to quarrel with his youngest son. The Dukes of the East and South are each plotting against the Crown, driving the kingdom towards civil war.

Michael and his brother, Crown Prince Oliver, try to bring the separate factions to an agreement, but the summit is devastated when a rogue shadow dragon attacks, bringing dark creatures to destroy Oakshire. As people flee the devastation in the east, Michael is tasked with hunting down Henry Tarworth, an advisor with a dark secret that could turn the kingdom upside down.

Mages and Rebels

After the evacuation of the East, King Oliver sealed off what little was left of the land in a desperate attempt to keep the Shades confined. The ship of mages from the southern continent arrives to help in any way they can, and discover an ancient ritual to release trapped souls from the magic controlling them. Prince Michael is still tracking the man behind the chaos, and his search leads him to a hidden village of mages deep in the Northern Mountains who are rather reluctant to help.

Meanwhile, the political situation in the elven republic to the west takes a turn for the worst when the charismatic but dangerous Councillor Nightbreeze becomes Archon. His promises of elven glory and power come at a terrible price, one that perhaps nobody should have to pay.

Series 3 is called Dragonmage, with probably 3 books unless Haven's Release runs away from me. Some snippets are here on Tumblr, along with info about the books. Tags: #dragon's teeth, #forgotten magic, #haven's release, #dragonmage series

Dragon's Teeth

After the devastating attack on the People's towns, young mage Enkarini and her friends, Soris and Caiara, travel to the mysterious village known as Dragon's Teeth. They plan to spend some time among the experienced and powerful mages there, learning more about their abilities. Enkarini especially wants to find a way to control her own shadow magic, something she has grown more uneasy with since her father's death.

Their plans go awry, however, when they discover the Mayor of the town has placed blood bonds on them all, keeping them from leaving. Learning takes a back seat as the three find themselves caught up in the village's internal struggles.

Forgotten Magic

When the plans to study advanced magic in Dragon's Teeth fell through, Enkarini and her friends fled the hidden village and its controlling Mayor. Their newfound freedom leads them to what they first sought in the village; advanced and powerful magic. While Enkarini works to further develop her shadow magic, Soris and Ember start to learn the lost art of energy weaving from the Isati.

Elsewhere on the continent, Prince Michael is searching for answers to a mystery that brings him back to the village, and into a mess he will need magical help to escape from.

Haven's Release (current WIP)

Now that the two sides of the world are irreversibly connected, travel between Trizes and Slokos has become easier and quicker. Enkarini's bond with the shadowy energy called isithi has grown, allowing her access to terrible power. With help from Soris and Ember, the first true weavers in centuries, and Caiara the Seer, she must return to the Forest of the West to fulfil an old promise.

While the young mages work to free the ancient spirits, the People's towns and the Kingdom of Oakshire must face enemies both new and old. Allies appear from unexpected quarters, and an age-old hidden conflict finally moves into the open.

I have a 4th series in mind to wrap up the story arc, yet to be titled. Probably only 2 books here, though that might change depending on how Haven's Release goes. There's a rough plan for the plot, but nothing definite yet, so all I'm putting here are the books' working titles.

The Gods Rise

tbw

The Dragons Fall

tbw

Side stories

The Catfriend's Tale: a spin off from the main series that focuses on Kester and his travels in the north, where he meets the Nightcats of the Glistering Forest. Mostly posted here on Tumblr, search for the tag #catfriend's tale (or old tag #kitty's nightcats)

Luke & Theresa: a collection of short stories, sort of acting as a prequel/backstory for the main series. Also mostly posted here on Tumblr, search for the tag #luke and theresa

Adventures in Time: a handful of random adventures and mischief involving my time goddess Dranjari. A couple of them are posted here, search for the tags #adventures in time, #dranjari

Pride stories: LGBT+ themed shorts, exploring some of my LGBT+ characters lives outside of the Plot Events(tm). All of these are centred around how the characters deal with everyday situations, and how their identities affect them. Posted exclusively here on Tumblr, search for pride shorts and they should pop up.

Non-Drenius related

Lone Wolf

My attempt at one of those werewolf romance things, only without the romance because the MC is aroace. Nothing posted yet, but when I do the tag will be #lone wolf

Tavern Eddyr

A collection of short stories centred on a tavern that waits between life and death, welcoming everyone who passes through. Tag: #tavern eddyr

When Mercy Fails

My newest project, so I'm not entirely sure where this one's going just yet, though it does have a darker feel to it than my other work so far. Tag: #when mercy fails

Miscellaneous shorts

I also have a few completely unconnected short stories, which are tagged #kitty's short stories

[kitty-is-writing]

Find the Word tag

thanks for tagging me @willtheweaver :)

searched through When Mercy Fails and found all five words!

my words are: peaceful, lay, drop, record, nod

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

Peaceful: The woods whispered with peaceful sounds. Aster had walked for days after leaving home, sleeping under the trees, eating the food she had cleared out of the pantry.

Lay: Another, this one sharing the colours Rowan wore, lay beside the enemy, just as still and just as buried. In the mud, black dirt almost hiding their different uniforms, they could have been brothers for how alike they looked.

Drop: Necks and limbs snapped, bodies contorted and obeyed her directions. She forced her eyes open, shoved away every drop of guilt and sorrow, sought out the owner of that too-familiar voice.

Record: "One record from the last emergence of the Sigils describes the Bloom growing saplings straight through a vicious warlord as the Chain held him down."

Nod: He only had time to nod before the rest of the new fighters arrived, soaked through and covered in dirt and twigs from their dash into the woods.

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

I'll tag @write-with-will , @bloodmoonloveletter and @oh-no-another-idea , plus open tag!

your words are: empty, kind, push, lose and help

[willtheweaver]

Character profile tag

Thanks for the tag @kitty-is-writing

Here it goes:

Name: Alder

Nickname: None known

Age: Unknown, at least 13 years old

Kind of being: Red Fox

Gender: Non-binary

Appearance: Red morph, with blue-grey eyes. Usually seen wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a straw raincoat.

Occupation: traveling toymaker

Family members: ‘Red’ Acacia (mother, deceased), Taiga (father, deceased), Jennie (oldest sibling), Amber (middle sibling), Bracken (youngest sibling)

Pets: none

Best friends: Closest friends unknown, they consider many they meet as their friend

Describe their room: The bed is shoved up in one corner, most of the room is a dedicated workshop. Scattered around the workbench and various chests and draws are pieces of fabric, blocks of wood, string, paint, and tools.

Way of speaking: Gentle, straightforward

Physical characteristics (postures, gestures, attitude): Rather warm and easy-going.

Items in their pocket/purse: A knife, fire starting kit, needle and thread

Hobbies: hiking, fishing, stargazing

Favorite sports: none

Abilities/ talents/ powers: possesses an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the roads and trails, a skilled wood carver and builder.

Relationships (how they deal with other people): They rather enjoy the company of youngsters. Always tries to see the best in others. Doesn’t like those who are disrespectful of others.

Fears: deep water

Faults: Can be stubborn, will not forget wrongs—and they won’t let others forget either

Good points: Kind, trusting. Will be there for those they befriend, strong morals

What they want more than anything else:To bring enjoyment and happiness to others

Tagging @thegreatobsesso @touloser-lautrec @author-a-holmes @seastarblue @illarian-rambling

@kaylinalexanderbooks @mrbexwrites @theink-stainedfolk @tildeathiwillwrite @jay-avian and open tag

[kitty-is-writing]

Character Profile tag game

haven't seen one of these around in a while so I figured I'd bring it back! doing a couple of characters from When Mercy Fails

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

Name: Aven Hart

Nickname(s): Ave

Age: 15

Kind of being: human, Sigil Bearer

Gender: female

Appearance: tall, skinny and pale, with a few freckles across her cheeks. deep red hair and hazel eyes. dresses in rough cloth and old leather, still growing into her boots

Occupation: rebel leader

Family members: Warpriest Arthur Hart (father, deceased), Darius Hart (oldest brother), Sophia Hart (oldest sister), Felicity & Francine Hart (twin sisters), Malcolm Hart (brother), Artie Hart (brother), Hanna Hart (sister), Gregory & Gareth Hart (twin brothers), Benjamin Hart (brother), Rebecca Hart (sister), Peter & Prudence Hart (twin brother & sister), Ernest Hart (brother), Oscar Hart (brother), Eliza Hart (sister), Joseph Hart (brother), Sonia Fletcher (mother)

Pets: none

Best friend: Rowan Hale

Describe their room: small and cluttered, quite messy. decorated with her sketches and paintings. furniture pushed against the walls so she has space in the middle to dance or train

Way of speaking: straightforward and sometimes harsh

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): holds herself tight and stiff, very little movement while speaking. rather cold and standoffish

Items in their pocket/purse: pencils and scrap parchment, a broken copper necklace, a tattered letter from her mother

Hobbies: drawing, dancing

Favourite sports: fencing, boxing

Abilities/talents/powers: marked by the Amber Chain, she can use that sigil's power to constrain and control anyone or anything. thanks to Koralie's training she is also surprisingly good at spying and jailbreaking.

Relationships (how they are with other people): wary and distrustful of almost everyone, trying to compensate for the passive and naive behaviour she was raised to exhibit

Fears: becoming too much like the rest of her family

Faults: quick to anger and will hold a grudge forever

Good points: loyal to those who have earned it from her, smarter than she gives herself credit for

What they want more than anything else: revenge against the Church that raised her to obey mindlessly and discarded her when she did not

~~~

Name: Aster May

Nickname(s): firebug, little lass

Age: 12

Kind of being: human, Sigil Bearer

Gender: female

Appearance: small and petite, dark hair and wide grey-blue eyes, often wearing clothes in shades of grey and purple

Occupation: travelling herbal witch

Family members: bio family are all deceased, but her chosen family includes Keyne Evans, Laurel and Anise Pierce, Kendra Mitford and Lia Crowe

Pets: Indi, a spirit guide that takes the shape of a small bird with indigo feathers

Best friend: Keyne Evans

Describe their room: cosy and bright, three walls lined with bookshelves, a small writing desk in one corner and a low, soft bed under the window

Way of speaking: soft & gentle, has a slow cadence to her speech

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): tends to lean forward on her toes when standing still. has a habit of staring into the sky when outside, as though imagining herself flying with passing birds

Items in their pocket/purse: dried herbs and a small notebook, a pouch of seeds, a tarnished bronze coin with a hole bored through the middle

Hobbies: singing, gardening, watching wildlife in the forest

Favourite sports: none

Abilities/talents/powers: marked by the Violet Flame, she can summon a flame that burns only the wicked and cruel, leaving the innocent unharmed. she also has some skill as a herbalist

Relationships (how they are with other people): always tries to see the best in people, willing to befriend anyone who shows her kindness

Fears: small spaces, ending up stuck with someone like her father

Faults: a little too trusting and forgiving

Good points: kind, has a strong sense of justice

What they want more than anything else: a safe home and kind family around her

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

tagging @leahnardo-da-veggie , @agirlandherquill and @willtheweaver , plus open tag!

[writeblr-live-again]

May Live -- Q3

Remember this is a live ask event!

What that means is I will be active for the hour, hopping into ask boxes with followup questions as I am able, while encouraging you to do the same.

Answering the questions tells me you are cool with this.

You may answer all questions via reblog, reply, hopping in my askbox or even reposting. Just remember the #writeblr and #writeblr live tags if reblogging/reposting so we can find ya.

We’re here to help rebuild interaction in the community, so get in there and have fun with it!

[kitty-is-writing]

hey! gonna yap about a couple of mums and mum-adjacent characters I've written here.

Laurel Pierce, from When Mercy Fails

Mother to 5 year old Anise, Laurel has lived a hard and cold life so far. When her husband did not return from the endless war between kingdoms, she was forced to choose between marrying someone the town elders paired her with, or carrying the widow's brand as a mark of shame. She chose the brand rather than risk allowing a cruel man near her daughter.

She has grown weary and numb to her own fate, accepting that she will forever be subject to the whims of others, but she wants Anise to have a better life. Throughout the story she begins to stand and fight for her daughter's future, without realising that she is also fighting for her own to change.

Kandrina, from the Drenius novels

Kandrina is a new mother, learning as she goes since her own mother disappeared when she was young. Her twin daughters Ganjue and Meradina keep her busy, but she still finds time to run a tea shop and study space for students at the university where her husband teaches.

Though she is not much older than most of the students, many of them seek her out for advice and stories of her adventures. Her experiences while travelling and exploring has given her wisdom that cannot be gleaned from books alone, and she will gladly share it with anyone who asks.

Soft-Paw, from The Catfriend's Tale

Though Soft-Paw is not a biological parent, they are the caretaker of five catlings in Bright-Claw's alitera. They have a cautious nature, born of their past, and will rarely trust any but the catlings' mamas and papas to be around them.

They have raised three other litters of catlings, each one with its own challenges and rewards, and they hope to raise several more before they grow too old. They struggle sometimes to let the little ones explore and learn, as they remember their own youth and how their exploration led them to spend a full cycle in captivity, but they know that sometimes a catling needs to experience the world themselves before they can truly understand it.

[kitty-is-writing]

When Mercy Fails masterpost

hi! sharing some fancy new Ellipsus Reader links to my new work, When Mercy Fails! it's still very much a WIP, but parts 1-3 are finished and live! I'll add more links as I finish writing the rest (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

Part One - Children of War

Part Two - The Prisoner and The Sailor

Part Three - Of Storm and Root

Part Four - Cursed Thrones (in progress)

Part Five - The Black Heart

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

taglist (ask for +/-): @eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @leahnardo-da-veggie

[kitty-is-writing]

When Mercy Fails - part three is finished!

reblogging the masterpost here with fresh links, and the interludes are now included after each part (⁠ﾉ⁠◕⁠ヮ⁠◕⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠*⁠.⁠✧

just gonna tag everyone cos idk who's interested in this:

@eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @agirlandherquill @leahnardo-da-veggie @willtheweaver

@theeccentricraven @rhiannonhgarrard @desastreus @oh-no-another-idea @mysticstarlightduck

@revenantlore @keeping-writing-frosty @charlesjosephwrites @nightmaricwriter @bloodmoonloveletter

@i-can-even-burn-salad @the-golden-comet

[kitty-is-writing]

Nine(ish) lines tag

thanks for the tag @willtheweaver ! here are some lines from When Mercy Fails

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

“I’ll put it to the crew. Most’ll want to head home, I imagine, but ye might get a few takers for this mad fight. If this King be as nasty as ye say, I’ll be glad to run him through. Shiny hats and fancy chairs don’t mean ye get to cause so much grief.”

Keyne nodded. “Thank ye, Cap’n.” Even if only a handful stayed to help, he could say he had brought something more than a capricious spirit to this crusade against a foreign King. At least a few extra bodies between himself and any opposing swords, if it came to it.

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

taglist (ask for +/-): @eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @leahnardo-da-veggie

[oh-no-another-idea]

Sunday Snippet Share

Thanks for these tags, @kitty-is-writing and @willtheweaver!

They eat fluffy pastries stuffed with potato and other vegetables and coarse spiced flatbread spread with ground meat. Quintus eats half of everything and puts the rest on Nikolaos’s plate. Nikolaos waits until he’s not looking and replaces the food with half of his own. Miriam wonders why he doesn’t just tell Quintus to stop. Every time she thinks she’s starting to figure them out, the two of them invent some new and disturbing dance that they insist they’ve been doing the whole time and is perfectly normal. At this point, there’s not much point in mentioning it, but habits linger, so Miriam puts her foot in her mouth and says, “Quintus, why do you feed him like that?” Quintus looks at her. It’s a flat stare, the sort made to intimidate, and Miriam is intimidated, but she does her best not to let it show. “Like what?” he says, the two syllables precise in his mouth. “Isn’t he capable of doing it himself?” And to Nikolaos, because she’s sorry they’re talking about him like he’s an infant, she adds, “Aren’t you?” “Do I tell you what to do?” Quintus demands. Miriam raises an eyebrow. “On the regular, I’m afraid.”

@the-inkwell-variable @reneesbooks @eccaiia @memento-morri-writes @pertinax--loculos @chauceryfairytales and anyone else who'd like to share! Please do!

[kitty-is-writing]

why am I crying over this boy I only invented him yesterday

[quietwingsinthesky]

too much monogamy in fandom in general

[quietwingsinthesky]

as we all know, everyone falls in love once and only once with their one true love the first time, and if they had relationships before that they weren’t real and didn’t love each other, and you can’t love more than one person at once, and your friends and family need to be pushed out of the picture to focus more on your romance, and no one has sex with people they don’t love, and if they did, they’re dirty and they have to have hated it and the sex they have with their one true love after they’re officially together has to be better sex than they ever had before, and no one ever breaks up for any reason other than death, and everyone wants to get married and have kids. aren’t you fucking tired.

[quietwingsinthesky]

I SAID AREN’T YOU FUCKING TIRED

[kitty-is-writing]

✍🏻 WIP snippet ✍🏻

I made it back to Drenius for the first time in months! ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

this is a little snippet of Haven's Release, which I hopefully will be working on a bit more soon.

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

A small crowd had gathered at the back of Viridian Park, several of the townsfolk wanting to get a look at the mysterious birdbath Malise had brought back with her. She and Eliora had been in Oakshire for several weeks examining it, sharing notes with Prince Michael on some of what they found, and arranging to have it transported here. From the looks of things, Emwyn had gained a pet along with the device, a little monkey-like creature with shining gold fur.

The birdbath itself was obviously more than it appeared, and it grew more obvious the longer Jonathan looked at it. The fluted column had developed more intricate carvings, and the bowl atop it seemed to waver around the edges, as if seen through a distorted window. “Hey, Dr Blackwood? Are we sure this thing’s safe?”

“Yeah, absolutely safe. More or less. I’m, maybe seventy percent sure it’s fine. I don’t think it’s likely to explode or anything,” she responded without looking at him.

Her answer didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. “Would it be better to keep it somewhere more secure until that seventy percent is more like ninety plus?”

She buried her fingers in her nest of hair, her head tilted slightly as she frowned at the object. “Well, the thing with that is it really didn’t like being put in my lab. Otherwise I’d have it in one of the shielded rooms there. Just in case. It seems to change depending on where it is, you see? Michael told me it was quite fancy looking when he first found it, but when he had it down in Whitewater, it was quite plain. Now it’s up here, it seems to be changing back to a more fancy one.”

“What might be causing that?”

“We’re not sure. Working theory is that it’s attuned to magical energy, and the more magic is around it, the fancier it gets, inside and out. There was a lot in there that we couldn’t reach down in Oakshire, but now we have it around more magic we’re hoping it will be more responsive. Eliora’s working with it too, using her creation magic to unlock more parts.”

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

taglist (ask for +/-): @eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @leahnardo-da-veggie

[kitty-is-writing]

✍🏻 WIP snippet ✍🏻

sharing another snippet of When Mercy Fails! this is one of the interludes between parts, it goes between parts 3 and 4. hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it ʘ⁠‿⁠ʘ

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

Beneath ice and snow, buried in ruined stone, a festering darkness stirred. The one who had been lost to it ages past awoke and reached for the familiar presence flickering at the edges of its consciousness.

The Sigils had returned, and were gathering strength once more.

Deep within the pit of rot, it began to remember.

They had done this, all that time ago, the ones she had called friends. Destroyed all she had built, taken those that belonged to her, and dared tell her she had gone too far.

Too far! The darkness reared up around and within. She held the power to do as she pleased! If she could, then why should she not?

They had been too weak to defeat her then. They had only caged her, buried her and let the world forget her.

But as their strength rose, so did hers.

For now, they piddled about with petty Kings to the south. Perhaps they believed that would be their greatest battle.

Through the frozen land she had been trapped within for an age, her darkness spread, waking the ruins of her domain, binding what remained of her thralls. The once mighty kingdom lay broken and decaying, much like its ruler, but her power still held fast over it.

She reached the edges of the confinement they had left her in, a barrier sealed by three sacrifices, and could push no further. Fragments of her will called her from outside, but they were unreachable for now.

They would act as breadcrumbs, though, little hints to entice those who opposed her into her reach. Once they crossed the mountains that separated her from the old lands, they would be hers to take and bend and break like the rest.

What was left of her shifted in the dark, a snarling smile twisting the remnants of her face.

“Come, then, my old friends. Bring me your new faces, and let us end this.”

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

taglist (ask for+/-): @eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @leahnardo-da-veggie @agirlandherquill

[kitty-is-writing]

✍🏻 WIP snippet ✍🏻

sharing another snippet of When Mercy Fails today! this one's from a bit later in the story, but I love how it turned out ʘ⁠‿⁠ʘ

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

“You left. You went off to some island and left me behind.”

Sonia flinched at Aven’s cold tone. “I had no choice, sweetheart, they were going to kill me. I thought you were safe, your father’s position should have protected you…”

“Well it didn’t. You left and nobody else in that damned house gave a shit about me. I wasn’t a daughter, I was a doll they could play dress up with and pose however they wanted, as long as I kept my mouth shut and my head empty! When I needed protecting it wasn't from some random street thug, it was from them! I kissed a girl and my sainted bloody father threw me in a hole to rot!” The amber glow around her signalled danger, but none moved to calm her yet. “They were going to burn me as a traitor and a spy, for knowing how to read and caring about someone I didn't even know was Predian! And you! Weren't! THERE!”

Her furious tears reflected the light of her chains as they flew towards Sonia’s neck.

Clement moved then. She could easily kill her mother in this blind rage, and though her feelings were justified he knew she would come to regret it later. The chains wrapped around his arm instead, and he pulled them gently away from the woman. “Easy, lass. She’d’ve died if she hadn’t left, and you’d’ve been in the same place. Be mad, be upset, but don’t be stupid.”

Aven screwed her eyes shut, gripping her own hair so hard he could see the strands coming loose. “She left! She should have been there and she wasn't, she wasn't there and I needed her!”

Rowan stepped forward to glare at Sonia, almost as angry as Aven. “You should go.”

“I didn't know… I never meant to leave you in danger,” she whispered.

“Not knowin’ or meanin’ didn’t stop it happenin’. Your girl’s been hurt, and you weren’t around to stop it, that's all that matters to her right now. Let things cool off a bit, maybe you can talk another time.”

Sonia nodded and left with a final, conflicted look at Aven. Once the door swung shut behind her, the chains faded and Aven sank to the floor in tears.

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

taglist (ask for +/-): @eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @leahnardo-da-veggie

[kitty-is-writing]

✍🏻 WIP snippet ✍🏻

part 3 of When Mercy Fails is underway! sharing a little of Laurel's story here, which might be upsetting to some but shows what she and the others are fighting against. things do get better for her, I promise!

** content warning for rape/coercion (no graphic descriptions but heavily implied) **

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

“Men are lonely. Bored. Camp girls all left, tired of rough life. You are pretty Predian. Want passage, be camp girl tonight.”

She felt her stomach churn. “Is there nothing else I could do?”

“I give three choices. You are camp girl tonight, pass in morning with child. You pass now, leave child here. Or, both die now. Choose.”

Laurel did not have to think, given those options. “Fine. I'll be your camp girl tonight, if you swear on whatever god you follow my daughter will be unharmed and untouched.”

The officer nodded. “On God, your child safe. You… will not die. Men are very bored and very lonely, see.”

She barely heard what he said after swearing to Anise’s safety. This would not be the first time she had offered herself in exchange for her daughter. Being directly on the border, Edgerest was conquered, raided, claimed and reclaimed on a fairly regular basis. Soldiers came, killed or recruited some of the males, had their way with the females, and left. She had stopped caring which colours they wore after a while. Both were as bad as each other.

It would be a long and rough night, but she would endure it.

She made sure Anise was sleeping soundly behind one of the tents before beginning her night’s service. Her little girl did not need to see this.

The first two were over quickly. The third went out of his way to hurt. By the sixth, she was numb to it. The tenth was interrupted by more soldiers crashing through the trees.

Laurel rolled herself away from the fight, covering what was necessary. Green and red clashed violently, and she left them to it, checking Anise was safe. Only when the noise ceased did she look back.

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[writingdose]

I don’t know about y’all but my first draft is literally always my final draft and this has been the case since I started writing fics almost a decade ago. I proofread my works for typos, plot holes or grammatical errors but that’s it 😭

[isabellebissonrouthier]

have u written today

yea (WHAT HAVE YOU WRITTEN)

nah (TELL ME WHY NOT)

Voting ended onApr 19

[kitty-is-writing]

yes! I wrote a little of When Mercy Fails on my break at work ᕙ⁠(⁠ ⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠‿⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠ ⁠)⁠ᕗ here it is!

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

Something stirred behind Clement’s eyes, reacting to the tremors of the earth and reaching out to steady it. “Stop it.” He spoke softly but firmly, as though reprimanding an unruly child, and the trembling earth grew still. Without thinking about why, he knelt beside the crack in the floor and made a pushing motion against one side.

The split began to narrow, pulling itself back together, a wound healing in rapid motion. The shaking from its repair felt calmer, somehow, guided by a gentle and powerful force. When nothing remained but a thin line in the rock, he stood and brushed the dust from his hands. A faint orange glow shimmered over the left one, and he watched it for the second it took to fade away.

[kitty-is-writing]

When Mercy Fails masterpost

hi! sharing some fancy new Ellipsus Reader links to my new work, When Mercy Fails! it's still very much a WIP, but part one is finished and live! I'll add more links as I finish writing the rest (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

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Part One - Children of War

Part Two - The Prisoner and The Sailor

Part Three - Of Storm and Root (in progress)

Part Five - The Black Heart

Part Four - Cursed Thrones

❇❦✾ ~~~ ✾❦❇

taglist (ask for +/-): @eli-t-spoon @write-with-will @leahnardo-da-veggie

[kitty-is-writing]

reblogging the When Mercy Fails masterpost, part two is now live!