Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Day 9 - Day 10 - Day 11 - Day 12 - Day 13 - Day 14 - Day 15 - Day 16 - Day 17 - Day 18 - Day 19 - Day 20 - Day 21 - Day 22 - Day 23 - Day 24 - Day 25 - Day 26 - Day 27 - Day 28 - Day 29 - Day 30 - Day 31
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Chapter 1 - Taste The Storm (NSFW-POLY-M/M/M)
Hooded
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Wren jolted awake, his hand reaching out for Rook’s falling body. The scream caught in his throat as he wheezed and shook. He can still remember all the details. His hands shook as he shoved a hand through his hair, before tossing the blanket to the side. He stumbled to the small closest that was his bathroom to splash water from the skin on his face. His hands would not stop trembling.
The Ceremony of Flight was in the same area as where Rook lost his leg. But it wasn’t the day Rook lost his leg plaguing his dreams, but seeing his brother fall from a greater height until the Abyss swallowed him. All while the Ceremony of Flight ran in the background. And then he was falling towards his brother, reaching out only to come to a stop right before the Abyss.
He straightened his back rubbing a towel over his tired face. He glared at his reflection over the top of the towel. Everything will be fine. It was just a nightmare.
Wren slowly made his way out to his kitchen to get a drink of water. Then made his way back to his room. Only to pause, and look out a window. He could see out towards the skyport and the airships docked for the night. The sea of clouds stretched out towards the horizon that their island floated over.
The nightmares could just be because of his brother leaving to finish his training after the ceremony. His hands still shook as he walked to his room. Climbing back into bed, he took a deep breath before letting it out. Then yanked the covers up and over his shoulders. He’ll go pester Rook in the morning.
OC-Tober: Day 10 - From the perspective of someone who loves them
OCs: Rook, unknown love interest (shhhhhh spoilers)
****Mentions loss of limb****
Prompt by @thepromptfoundry
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Rook Alderwood, I loved the way his name rolled off my tongue. Loved the fierce determination he has to accomplish his goals. He stands with his head high even when injured. That was a day the first time I saw him. The healer struggling to put him back in bed. Even flush and delirious with fever his looks were striking. But seeing him nowadays, weeks, later as we sit around a fire waiting for the food to cook I watch him. Unable to keep my eyes off him for too long. His mismatched blue and green eyes focused on cleaning and maintaining his sword his raven hair starting to grow into his eyes. I wonder if he realizes his brows pull down as he focuses, or that he scrunches his nose like he smelt something bad when something he doesn’t like crosses his path.
His golden sunwheat skin looked warm in the campfire as its light danced between us, and I wondered if he spent most of his life outside. Most likely did, I’ve seen the crest of a guardian-in-training on his sword’s scabbard. A fitting role for someone who helps without thinking. Yes, I’ve seen the way he slows to help someone older if we’re in town like the thought of helping someone was as natural as breathing. Or picking up dropped items to return to the owner. There had been an entertaining moment when a thief sprinted across our path, Rook’s sheathed sword had caught their legs. But if one calls him a hero his noes does that scrunch before walking away.
A tall lean athletic frame that was gained from rigorous training. His body was strong and capable even with his scars, a storybook to his life along his body. I watch as he finally puts the clean sword away, only to remove the leg of metal and leather from his remaining leg. He looked over the leg checking for something, it was a curious thing. Rook said his father a blacksmith had made part of it. Knowing he had a loving family standing behind him and supporting him seemed to calm a part that worried about him. As he relaxed, those mismatched eyes looked at me and I watched as he seemed to flush, embarrassed. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Food should be done in a few minutes. Do you want me to get you something?”
When he shook his head I tipped mine to the side. He finally said, “I’m good. Just hungry.”
“Okay.” Reaching out, I stirred the small pot over the fire. “We should sleep in tomorrow. The last leg to the skyport we need is only four hours.”
“No. We should leave as soon as possible to get there just in case something happens. At least this way we can rest in beds instead of on hard ground.” There was a little grumble to his voice that amused me. It was like he wanted to complain but held back.
“I bed would be nice.”
Rook Alderwood was a good man. Handsome in his looks. Stronger than he looks. Stubborn to a fault. But with a heart as open as the sky. He was meant to fly, like his namesake. And I was willing to make sure it happened.
OCs: Wren and Rook, Their dad (I'm still thinking of a name for him),
****Mentions loss of limb****
finished this early forgot to post it yesterday cause I was stuck hugging a heating pad to my shoulder T_T I wanted to share it regardless
Prompt by @thepromptfoundry
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Rook slowly attached his new prosthetic to what was left of his leg. He made sure everything was secured, the buckles, the straps, and when that was done he looked up to find his brother waiting a few yards away. He could do this. Their dad was in the house in case something goes wrong. He’ll be fine.
But his body doesn’t move.
He was scared.
What if the leg broke?
His dad and the other craftsmen worked tirelessly on his new prosthetic. What if he broke it?
His hands trembled, and his chest felt tight. He was going to fall. He wouldn’t be able to walk again.
A hand on his shoulder had him looking up with wide eyes. Wren stood there, smiling at him. “Like dad said, one step at a time.”
“What if I break it?”
“Dad will fix it,” Wren said it like it was the most simple thing ever.
“I’m scared.”
Wren stepped in front of Rook and held his hands out, “It’s just standing. You do it all the time with the crutch.” He wiggled his fingers. “Come on. One step at a time.”
Rook slowly grabbed his brother's hands. His heart felt like it wanted to escape his chest. The what-ifs were bunched up and tangled. His hands were shaking in Wren’s palms.
“You caught me, Rook. Now it’s my turn to catch you.” The smile had Rook nodding.
“Okay.” Gripping Wren’s hands tightly he lifted himself up. His whole body shook, there was pressure around his stump. Rook wobbled a bit as he took a step, only for the prosthetic to make an odd sound making Rook freeze. Wren gripped his hands tighter, “One more.”
Rook slowly lifted his good leg putting weight on the prosthetic only to tip. Wren caught him quickly as something gave in the prosthetic’s joint. His breath caught in his throat and chest. He was going to fall again. Fingers clutched at Wren’s linen shirt as Rook tried not to cry out in fear. Then Wren was stumbling as he helped Rook to sit down, both of them flopped on the ground.
A laugh slipped out of Wren as he said, “Need to get stronger if I’m going to catch you. But you took a step!”
Rook looked away as anger sparked hot and fast. He was the older one he should be helping Wren, not the other way around.
Rook’s anger quickly diffused as he heard his dad’s deep rumble from the house. “The prototype didn’t work?”
Wren sat up, “No, back to the drawing board dad!”
“Seems like it.”
Rook stared at the trees as he listened to his dad and brother talk. He felt broken. A hand rested on his head and he turned his head to find his dad’s larger mountain of a frame crouched next to him. “We’ll get it next time.”
“What if we don’t get it next time?”
“Then we keep trying. Life is too short to spend it asking ‘what ifs’ after the moment. Come on.” His dad held his large hand out to Rook. Rook took it letting out a surprised sound as he was pulled up onto his foot easily. Then his dad picked him up placing him on his broad shoulder. Rook wrapped an arm around his dad’s head, fear spiking at the thought of falling. “I’ll get you walking again Rook.”
It was a dream Rook was struggling to hold onto, but seeing his dad work so hard eased that struggle a bit. Having Wren there to poke and prod him into moving made everything a little more bearable. Even his mom’s soothing words, as she helped him through the days when his leg ached and would not stop. Even on the bad days when everything just went wrong, they were there to help, to pick him up, to soothe him when he was upset.
“I don’t want to fall.” He whispered above his dad’s head.
“Falling is a part of life. Failure is a chance to get stronger. You learn, you grow, you stand back up.” His dad was serious when he finally added. “And I’ll make sure you stand back up Rook. Always.”
“Yes!” Wren shouted as he chased after holding onto the broken prosthetic. “I’ll be here to help too!”
A deep chuckle left their dad, “One step at a time, Rook. We’ll get there.” His Dad grinned large and wide. “You’ll see.”
Or as Strunk and White said in Elements of Style (to the best of my memory), "Feel free to ignore everything in this book rather than write something inelegant."
OCs: Wren and Rook, Their mom (I'm still thinking of a name for her lol),
****Mentions loss of limb****
Prompt by @thepromptfoundry
______________________________
Rook watched as Wren climbed the tree. Wren had begged him to come outside, and he figured it would be okay since his leg wasn’t bothering him that day. He had a crutch propped under his arm to help him stand until his parents could get him a new leg. He remembered his parents talking to him after the accident. They had mentioned a new leg and called it something that he couldn’t remember. This confused him at first, how does one replace a leg if people can’t regrow limbs? Until his dad showed him the pictures of different leg designs he had drawn.
His attention was brought back to his younger brother when he heard the scrape of bark and Wren let out a squeak. He yelled, fear in his throat, he can’t protect Wren like this, “Wren, leave it! We can get help when dad gets here from the forge.”
But stubborn Wren shook his head, “I’m going to get your toy back.” The small toy wind glider Rook owned was currently stuck in the branches, many feet above their heads. The tree wasn’t as large as the ones in the forest. It was old and wide and had large limbs that swooped down. All the kids of Aerilon climbed it, all the kids who could at least.
When Wren kept going Rook’s blue and green mismatched eyes were shadowed with worry as the wind picked up and tugged at his raven black hair. “Wren we should wait for dad. He can get it.” He could see how the wind tugged at Wren’s linen shirt.
“I got it.” Wren gripped a branch as he swiped away the loose strands of his own raven black hair falling from his hair tie out of his face. He looked down at Rook. “I’m okay.” Blue and amber eyes were bright and full of childish joy. Wren knew he could do this. He could help his brother with this. “Trust me.”
They were only eleven with Rook being the oldest. And now his younger brother was the one risking himself this time. That grin grew, and Rook sighed, before nodding, “Okay. Just don’t hurt yourself.”
“I won’t.” Wren turned to look back up at the branches. “I can do this.”
Rook sighed again as he shook his head. He found himself slowly moving over to where a large decorative boulder sat and got comfortable as he waited. His crutch was propped against his good leg as he watched Wren.
His brother had always been the mischievous of the two of them, and his pranks tended to drag Rook along. It was amusing to watch Wren talk his way out of trouble and lately, he’s seemed to get better at it. There was movement from his side and he noticed a hooded man standing and watching Wren. Rook narrowed his eyes, his hand finding a loose rock near him just in case.
Their eyes met and the man raised a hand in a small wave. So when he approached Rook, he wanted to leave. What Rook didn’t want was to talk to a stranger. He looked over his shoulder to see the weaving shop door was open. The tapestries for sale waving in the breeze. All he had to do was yell and his mom would be out the door.
“Hello.”
Rook eyed him suspiciously.
“Easy. I wanted to ask if the kid in the tree has always been that nimble climbing things?”
When Rook didn’t say anything and just stared at him, the guy sighed.
“Okay, where’s your mom or dad? I’d like to talk to one of them.”
“Why?”
“Oh, you speak.”
“I don’t like you.”
“Right.” He rested his hands on his hips. “So, parents?”
Before he could motion to the shop’s open door something pelted the hooded man in the head. He flinched away from the attack. Rook couldn’t help the grin as he watched Wren throw another acorn at the hooded man.
“Get away from Rook!”
“Alright! Alright!” The hooded man took a few large steps away, holding his hands up. “I just wanted to talk to one of your parents!”
Wren was still glaring at the man from his perch in the large tree and Rook gave the man a guarded look. Before he could say anything else a voice cut across the square, “Wren! Get down right now!”
Both boys jumped at the yell. Rook twisted around to see their mom standing in the doorway of the shop. Her long raven black hair was in a braid down her back. Two long furry and pointed ears gave an agitated twitch while her long sleek black tail twitched wildly behind her. “But mom! Someone had to get the glider out of the tree!” Her sapphire blue and brown mismatched eyes were locked on Wren. And Rook could see the anger and worry.
“You can wait for your dad to come pick up his lunch! Get down now!”
Wren let out a grumble as he swung down off the branch, and quickly climbed down. Rook’s attention was drawn to the hooded man as he headed for his mom. He watched as the two talked. There was a surprised look on her face as she looked at them, before looking back at the hooded man. Wren plopped down next to Rook, his arms crossed. “I was almost there.”
“What do you think he’s talking to mom about?”
“Who cares.” Wren waved the question away, before leaning against Rook. “I’m good at climbing. I can climb anything.”
Distracted, Rook cut off his grumbling, “Dad will be here soon. He wanted to talk to mom about the guy he’s hired to help him with making my new leg.”
Wren frowned in confusion, “I’m still confused about how that’s working. Dad said they’ll have to make a new one for when the… other is… too small?”
Rook shrugged, “I just want to walk around without the crutch. It hurts my shoulder.”
The hooded man finally left, leaving their mom to stand there looking like she was thinking of something. She looked at them, before heading towards them. As soon as she reached them, she reached out to tug on Wren’s ear.
“Mom!”
“Keep your feet on the ground.”
“Okay! Okay!” She released his ear, causing him to pout and hunch his shoulders from being scolded.
“That man just now. He wants to know if you want to learn archery.” Wren looked surprised, and then their mom looked at Rook, “He also said that there is a Guardian who wants to talk to you, Rook.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders, before tucking her skirts under her so she could sit with them on the rock. Both Rook and Wren were still getting used to standing almost as tall as their mom. It was slowly dawning on them how much smaller she was when paired with other people. “But he’ll be here tomorrow. I told him to let the Guardian know I could meet him at the docks and lead him to the house.”
Rook stared at the large tree as his mom ran a hand through his and Wren’s hair. Wren spoke up, “Why does that guy want me to learn archery?”
Their mom gave Wren a mixed expression before saying, “Something about being able to hit him with acorns while in a tree.”
“Oh.” Wren looked at the tree. “It’s not that far. I have to toss acorns at Simon’s window to get his attention when he’s home by himself. He won’t answer the door.”
Their mom sighed as she rubbed at her forehead, “Right. Your father should be hear soon. Let’s head inside so you two can eat at least.” She stood up and Wren quickly jumped to his feet to rush ahead. Rook was slower to stand, and when he looked up she was still standing there waiting for him.
“You don’t have to wait, mom.”
She smiled at him, “I will wait as long as I need to.”
Rook ducked his head to hide his face as he slowly made his way towards the shop door. The swelling hope he felt in his chest had a smile slowly spreading across his face.
Look, if you're starving in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and suddenly someone is like 'oh I have tons of food and it just happens to be meat do you want some lol' you CANNOT act surprised when it's people. You simply CANNOT.
There are times and places where it is realistic to expect NOT to be served people. For example, in a pie shop underneath a barber shop. THEN you can be all 'OH GOD IT'S PEOPLE.'
If you are in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and are suddenly served a really good meat pie, you have to know it's people. Do you see any cows? No, they all apocalypsed. It's your neighbor.
I'm sorry I can't remember who on my dash said they were going to have a ton of spoiled food because of the hurricane.
If you have any kind of home insurance (owner or renter) there is likely a clause to cover spoiled food in the event of a power outage or disaster. It's generally between $200 and $500 and often no questions asked about the food itself. But you do have to call them and request it.
If you know anyone who's having this trouble please tag them in on this.
to add onto this, if you’re receiving food stamps, the government will also give you a refund of your money for that month if you call and tell them. you will probably have to provide evidence in some form, but it’s not too hard.
Wren gave a wild grin as he looked up at the mushrooms floating near the top of the cavern ceiling. “So, I’ll shoot them, you pull them down and cut them off the roots.” The cavern was cast in blue luminescence that made his sun warmed bronze skin look darker.
Simon squinted earth brown eyes at the floating mushrooms. “We need three? Right? To get the jars to float.”
“I was going for four.” Wren gave a shrug in Simon’s direction, his mismatched sapphire blue and amber eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Elara is going to kill us.”
“Nah, it’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing.” Wren pulled back his shoulder length hair into a small tail before grabbing his bow. “Just make sure you tie it down. Is the rope long enough?”
“Should be.” Simon jumped down off the ledge to wait for the first arrow. “Alright let’s get this done before a critter finds us!”
“Okay.” He pulled back the arrow and shot at the first floating mushroom. When the arrow hit Wren pumped a fist in the air. Simon yelped as something else fell along with the rope’s end and landed on his golden brown hair. “It’s just rope.”
He watched as Simon shook his head to get rid of the old vine debris before grabbing the rope with pale hands that looked blue under the light.
“Wait till you’ve had a snake drop on your head.”
“I’ve shared a tree with one while helping the hunters. They’re not that bad.”
Simon waved him off as he tied the large mushroom to one of their packs. “You’re only saying that because animals like you.”
Wren pulled back another arrow. “Not all of them. Rook’s brood doesn’t like me for some reason. Except for Rocky.”
“Kind of wish you asked Rook to come out here.”
“Rook is a stick in the mud. He’ll stop us if he got so much as a whiff this is for a prank.”
“Is that so?”
Wren sucked in a breath in surprise as his shot missed and knocked loose a tangle of vines. Simon let out a yell as he ran from the mass of old vines right into Rook.
Rook was standing with his arms crossed. “Really, Wren?”
“It is a harmless prank that Lucus asked me for help on.”
Sighing, Rook motioned to the young teen who waved hesitantly from the cavern’s mouth. “Hi.”
“Lucus came to find me when he heard the hunters talking about colatzal sightings in the area.”
Wren frowned, he jumped off the ledge heading for Rook. While Simon untied the mushroom to pass to Lucus. The boy gave a grin at the sight of the floating mushroom. Simon looked at the brothers, “We should leave then.”
Wren groaned out loud as he walked for the mouth of the cavern, “Spoilsport.”
“Colatzal.”
“They’re harmless if you give them space.”
“We’re going home.”
“Fine!” He looked at Lucus. “Sorry, we could only get one.”
Lucus grinned up at him. “This is enough.”
Simon picked up the packs full of rope and shrugged it one. Rook frowned as he watched him pick up the coils laying on the ground. “Why do you have so much rope?”
Shrugging, Simon answered, “We didn’t know how long we needed them to be.”
Wren motioned to the rocky ceiling, “The smaller ones grow up high before drooping from the weight of the vines.”
“Lucus needed the smaller ones for his prank,” Simon added as he walked over to stand next to Wren both of them grinned at each other before looking at Rook.
Rook sighed as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose. Wren leaned over to whisper, “He’s not annoyed so we’re good.”
He got a glare from Rook’s mismatched sapphire blue and emerald green eyes making Wren grin back. “I don’t even want to know how you know that. But I’m remembering something that happened in class years ago.”
“Wow! Look at the time.” Wren quickly headed back towards the village with Simon quickly following after him. “Come on Lucus! I can show you how to spread out one mushroom among many jars.”
“Oh cool!”
Rook groaned as he rubbed a hand over his face. Elara was not going to be happy. He ruffled a hand through his hair and quickly followed.
OCs: Rook and Wren (Might have a last name soon. Yay!)
****Note: Legal drinking in this world is 20, Rook and Wren are months over 20 years old. On that note drink responsibly.****
Prompt by @thepromptfoundry
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Wren skipped into the training yard. When mismatched blue and amber eyes saw Guardian Allistair look his way, he waved. The older man sighed and shook his head and Wren felt the grin on his face grow. Allistair motioned in a direction. Looking over in that direction, he saw his brother swinging a practice sword at a dummy. The dull blade’s metal diminished from use. He grinned as he skipped over, his voice taking on a singsong quality, “Rook-”
Wren was cut off unable to ask his question by Rook quickly and swiftly saying, “No.”
He sputtered at the quick cutoff. “I didn’t even ask anything!”
Rook stopped practicing long enough to point a finger at Wren’s chest. “You have a tone, and I know it. And, you just admitted you were going to ask something.”
“But you don’t even know what I was going to ask.”
With a long sigh, Rook lifted the hem of his sleeveless linen shirt to rub at his sweat covered face. Then rubbed a hand over the short black hair that he and his brother shared in color but not length. Mismatched blue and green eyes looked at him as he rested the dull sword on one of his shoulders.
When he silently motioned that Wren had the floor, Wren gave a pout and a sniff of indignation. “Just wanted to know if you wanted to get a drink with me and Simon?”
Rook sighed, before scrubbing a hand over his face. “Fine.” He watched as Wren’s face quickly split into a grin. “On one condition.” That grin fell, and he watched Rook with narrowed eyes. “No trying to set me up with whatever visiting guy from some land far away.”
With a grumpy pout, “You're no fun.”
“Wren.”
“Honestly, Rook.”
Rook sighed and turned back to the dummy to keep practicing. “No.”
“Rook!” Wren drew out Rook’s name in a whine. “You’re going to die alone.” He flopped over Rook’s back who let out a curse as he almost stumbled into the practice dummy.
“Wren!”
“I can't have my brother die alone. Mom is also worried.”
Rook sighed loudly, “No. After the Ceremony of Flight, I’ll be leaving with Guardian Allistair to finish my guardianship.” Wren blew a raspberry, causing Rook to jerk his head away from his brother's childish antics. Rook shoved his hand against his brother’s face. “Get off.”
Wren moved away as Rook shifted with a wince. When he saw the worry on Wren’s face, he waved it off. Scratching at his jaw, Wren sighed, “Fine, I agree to not set you up.”
“Good.” Rook sat down on a crate nearby and stretched his legs out. “Where am I meeting you two?”
“At the tavern.”
“After I feed the animals.”
“Sure.” Wren was slowly getting his grin back. He watched as one of the newer apprentices ran over to pass Rook a cup of water. “Don’t forget to clean up a bit. You're looking a little scruffy and I can smell you from here.” Wren motioned at his jawline to indicate the shadow of a beard starting to show up on Rook’s own jawline. Rook glared at him from over the cup's rim as the younger apprentice gave a cutoff giggle.
“I guess I’ll just stay home then.”
Wren gasped, “No you won't. You agreed, no takebacks.”
Rook finished the cup and passed it back to the younger apprentice thanking them as they ran off. “I need to finish training.”
A frown appeared on Wren’s face. “Fine. But you better be there. If you don’t show up I’m going to find out and drag you out.”
“Good luck.”
Wren stuck his tongue out at Rook as he walked away. Rook only waved at him, which had Wren huffing in annoyance.
___
Wren walked up to the tavern his shoulder length black hair tied back out of his face. He had dug out his nicest clothes and a nice pair of boots he saved up for just recently. He was walking up to the propped open doors of the tavern when Rook showed up in something so plain Wren wanted to chase him back home to change into something else. But if he knew his brother, it was a miracle he didn’t just show up in his usual clothing plus leather armor.
“You wound me.”
Rook frowned, “It’s nice and clean. I don’t have anything else.”
“Yeah because mom stopped making you nice clothes to wear.”
He got an eye roll from Rook who shoved him towards the tavern. “I need a drink and you're worried about my clothes. Let’s go.”
“Do you even know how to enjoy a night without being stiff?”
“I’d rather be at home enjoying my quiet and space.”
“Why did you agree?”
“Because I know you actually want to have a drink and not worry about obnoxious people. And you can whine about whatever happened today while drinking and having a warm meal.” Wren narrowed his eyes and Rook raised a brow in challenge. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
When Wren didn’t say anything Rook then added on. “You also invited Simon along and if you were planning to get any type of anything you would be here alone.”
“Alright! Fine!”
Wren crossed his arms with a huff. While Rook shook his head, “Let's get a table and food. And as soon as Simon gets here you can complain.”
“Sometimes I hate how well you know me.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Shut up.” He also mostly did it because the ceremony was fast approaching and soon it would just be him on the island with his mom and dad. Rook was just as much his best friend as Simon was. Rook was always the one looking forward, and Wren was always looking for something that gave him more freedom. “Let’s get that drink.”
