Hi! I just wanted to let you know I love your cloudwalker series!! I come back frequently and re-read my favorite chapters. I know you haven’t updated this blog in a while, and I hope you have been alright!!
First of thank you for checking up on me. I do not remember the last time I used this site, honestly, there certainly wasn't tips last time I posted on here that's for sure. I may have fell off the face of the earth for a little while since the adult world and work smacked me in the face with a bat and then kept smacking and tbh it still is 🤦♂️
HOWEVER, I am really glad that you like the Cloudwalker Series and I have decided-like literally yesterday- that I'm going to make it an actual story to publish. Hopefully that's good news to everyone who likes the series. There will be quite minor tweaks, the whump will be reduced a teeeeeny bit and the plot cranked to full power. The only reason I've even seen this post is because I was reading through all my stuff and forgot what half my characters even looked like. So yeah I'm doing okay, and I'm determined to see this through, so fingers crossed 😅☺️
Alright, you can all have a Flint. Let me know what you think of him! :) This is set a fair bit further along in the story (like a year).
Word Count: little under 2000.
Warnings: Uh not much, contains biting, abduction/ restraints, a kinda intimate whumper for a few moments and a dirty joke. Yeah, I think that’s it. Avizon is trying to be intimidating but it’s a bit difficult with Flint’s dumbassery.
Picrew for Flint here
Avizon tossed and turned in his sleep. He knew something was amiss. He could feel it, enough to wake him. He dressed quickly and went to find his cloudwalkers, to check on them. He needed to know they were safe.
Dyan was still fast asleep when he opened the door, but Ihuka was awake, feathers fluffed up and ready to attack… something. Ihuka snarled at him, but stopped as recognition struck.
Avizon put a finger to his lips, telling him to be quiet. He opened the door wider and let him pass “Search,” he whispered.
Ihuka disappeared down the corridors, sniffing the air. Avizon turned to Dyan, who was waking. “Be prepared, I fear there is an intruder. Stay here.”
Avizon closed the door and went after Ihuka, hoping that he was wrong, that there was no one here. For one thing, Avizon should have been able to feel their presence, but it wasn’t as clear as usual. It was blurred, far away, hard to aim at.
Whatever it was, he could only hope it wasn’t dangerous.
Ihuka had heard the great clattering of something in a room, even if it was far away. He wasn’t sure if they had just fallen by themselves, but when his master came to his room, he knew it wasn’t just him that was worried. His feathers were fluffed to make him look bigger, his teeth were bared.
“Search.” Had been his master’s order, and so he did, hurrying after the source of the noise to be sure the castle was safe.
He found a man stuffing a sack full of shiny things, expensive things. That wasn’t allowed! They belonged to his master! Ihuka silently flew up to the ceiling of the ball room, using his height to stay hidden until he was directly above the man. Then he swooped down, just as he would for a hunt. He grabbed the man by the arms and lifted him into the air.
He screamed loudly, and in a higher pitch than Ihuka had expected, making him accidentally drop him. He wasn’t far off the ground, so he fell with a thud.
“What the fuck are you?” he cried, eyes wide with fear. He scrambled back and tried to get up to run away but Ihuka pounced again landing on his back, pinning him down.
“Get off me!” he yelped. “No, no, no! I don’t have time for this- get off me, you oversized pigeon! Back! Sit! Oh, come on!”
Ihuka was struggling to hold him, but his master soon appeared to see what he caught.
“Good bird,” he said with a smirk. “Very good bird.”
Ihuka beamed, but he had to focus on the wriggling man. He was strong, but Ihuka wouldn’t let him go.
Avizon watched him for a moment and remarked, “Are you finished, thief?”
The man stopped struggling, panting, and Ihuka slowly relaxed. A mistake. As soon as he did the man used a gush of energy to throw him off.
No, Ihuka was not going to lose him. With a yap, he jumped on him again and bit him on the back of his shoulder.
“Ow!” he yelped.
“Ihuka, back!” Avizon ordered calmly. “I doubt he’ll be able to get far now.”
The man groaned and tried to crawl forward, toward the window. Avizon stepped on his back, pushing him down with one foot. "You're either a fool, or incredibly brave to dare come here. I haven't decided which yet," he murmured. Ihuka watched him and tilted his head, licking the blood off his lips. Human blood wasn’t the best. He much preferred the meat from rabbits and deer, even from the cattle his master gave him
“T.that… is rude,” the man slurred, “C.could have at least bought me a drink first...”
Avizon rolled his eyes, “Oh, you’re one of the brave jokers,” he mumbled. "I've made up my mind. You're a fool. Ihuka, go and get the antidote. I want this one alive.” Ihuka frowned, but did so. When he returned with a bottle which he was sure was it if his letters were right, he found his master had tied the stranger up. His hands were behind his back but tied to that his arms were crossed and kept together, his wrists at the opposite elbow. And his ankles were tied to his thighs.
Avizon picked him up like he were a hay bale and dropped him onto a chaise. He took the bottle from Ihuka, checked it, and praised him. Praise always made him happy, it made him as giddy as the liquorice root he ate. He knelt and waited for Avizon to force the unconscious man to drink it. Ihuka was glad he'd brought a pipette now. It made things a little easier.
"Well then, now our guest isn't dying, I fully intend to go back to sleep. Go back to bed, Ihuka, it's safe now. You did very well, I am proud of you. You've earned a reward tomorrow."
"Thank you, master," he peeped.
_____
Avizon watched Ihuka leave and then turned his attention back to the thief. He was a pretty thing, he had to admit. With lush red hair and emerald green eyes that had stared so wildly at him. The white line of face paint beneath his eyes seemed to pull even more attention to them. He smirked, he wasn’t used to thieves being so bonnie-faced.
Avizon was able to see, now that he was still, that he had a small part of the top of his left ear missing as if it had been bitten or cut perhaps. That didn't stop him from wearing an earring in his ear lobe. Perhaps a piercing had been the cause of the injury. He had a scar on his freckle-covered cheek and small shaved lines in his eyebrow.
Speaking of injuries, he would have to treat the wound Ihuka had left. He went to collect some salves and turned the thief onto his side. He rolled his shirt up to apply it. He paused seeing a tattoo, and not just any. This was a magic tattoo, a rune of protection, invisibility. No wonder he'd struggled to locate him. To most magic users he'd have been untraceable, but he was more powerful. Still, this was an ancient rune. He hadn't seen this for a very long time. "The Northern Mountains… you are a very long way from home, thief," he mumbled.
The wound was small, and with the salve, it soon stopped the bleeding, acting almost like a seal. It would do. He wanted him alive, but that didn't mean he particularly cared about him. As long as the venom didn't kill him that would be enough.
So Avizon used his powers to lift him and carried him downstairs to the old dungeons. They'd been empty for a long time, but it seemed they still had their uses. He put the thief in a cleaner cell, leaving him on the old stale bed and untied his legs before leaving, locking the door behind him. He heard the thief groan, but he paid it no attention. He was going back to bed.
_______
Avizon woke early but he felt rested enough to go downstairs, check on his birds and serve them their breakfast. He ate his own meal and only then did he go to the dungeons.
It seemed he'd timed it well; the thief was only just starting to wake up.
"Ow…" he mumbled, still half asleep. "Shoulders… what…"
"Wake up, thief," he called impatiently.
The man yelped in alarm and tried to turn over, succeeding in falling off the bed with a painful thunk. "Ow…"
Avizon couldn't suppress a smirk. He watched the man turn onto his back and strain to sit up. He paused, seeing him standing there.
"Um… hello?" he gulped. "Don't suppose you feel like untying me? Not the most comfortable thing in the world."
"And why should I untie the man who tried to steal from me?" Avizon raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know where you are? Who I am?"
The thief stood up with difficulty. "You don't have wings like those other things so I'll wager you're human- and very good at tying knots," he grunted trying to wiggle out of the bindings.
"Those 'things' happen to be cloudwalkers, and they deserve the respect of a human. Then again, you are from the Northern Mountains. Cloudwalkers aren't native to that land," he grumbled.
"H.How did you know that?" he gulped.
"Your tattoo."
"My… oh. Right. Magic people tend to know about magic things…"
Avizon struggled to hide his smile. It was strange seeing someone so naive near him. He appreciated the change, but this man needed to know who he was dealing with. He needed to fear him as everyone else did. He wasn’t used to talking to anyone any differently.
"An astounding deduction. What's your name, thief?"
"Ma always taught me not to share my name with people who could kill me, sorry," he answered warily.
"Even if I untied you?" Avizon raised an eyebrow.
He thought for a minute. "That's… fair."
Avizon opened the cell door, watching as the man stuck his chest up, raising his chin.
He grabbed him by the arm and turned him around, pinning him against the wall with a hand on the back of his neck.
“Steady on!” he exclaimed, but Avizon ignored him. He kept his focus on the knots, unpicking them and unravelling some of the rope but not all of it.
“Well?” Avizon said.
“The name’s Flint Stirling, I’d call myself a master thief, but I’d feel a bit stupid considering you’ve caught me… Who are you then?”
Avizon smirked. He grabbed the two ends of the rope and pulled them tight in one hand, while the other reached around, grabbing Flint by the neck and jaw, pulling his head up close to his. Flint froze, but Avizon could practically hear him thinking, planning, scheming.
Avizon leaned in close to his ear, “I believe in the north they call this castle the Palace of Everblood, the place where the rivers flow red...”
Avizon felt the man stiffen in his grip, felt him try to get his arms free, and he couldn’t help but get some satisfaction out of it. He felt him gulp in his hand. The bottled up panic.
He leaned in a little closer. “Ah, familiar with the name? I wonder what stories made it so far north.” Flint shuddered in his grip. “I am Avizon the Terrible, killer of Royals, destroyer of Kingdoms. And you had the gall to try to steal from me.”
Flint gulped, “How silly of me,” he murmured, his breath hitching. Avizon saw him grit his teeth. “That a knife in your pocket or are you enjoying yourself, Mr Terrible?”
Avizon was unable to hold back a splutter. He had not expected for him to say that. Avizon couldn’t lie, he enjoyed holding him, having that control, but it had been becoming too intimate and now far too awkward. He shoved him away in disgust.
“It was liquorice root, thank you very much,“ he retorted. He couldn’t quite find his words. This one had courage, that was for sure. “This time, I will let you go free. Let it be known, Flint, that no unspeakable amount of money is worth even a drop of life. Don’t waste yours.”
He stepped back and allowed Flint to wiggle out of the rest of the ropes and cautiously walked past him to the door.
“Tell me,” Avizon said, unable to resist the question. “What did you plan to steal from me last night?”
Flint hesitated at the doorway. “Anything I could get my hands on… Let’s just say I’m in a lot of… debt.”
Avizon inclined his head. “You might find work in the village.”
Avizon hoped he took the hint that he wasn’t welcome to stay here.
“Is there nothing I can do for you here? Please, there has to be something. I’m desperate-”
Avizon shook his head. “Go. Out the door, up the stairs and then left. Be grateful you’re leaving with your life.”
Flint’s posture deflated. “Yeah… lucky me.”
Avizon frowned, but decided against arguing with him. He let him leave and assumed that would be the last he'd see of him. He sighed to himself. He was getting too soft.
So yeah, lemme know what you think of the boyfriend to be XD
Apologies for the lack of updates despite having stuff written, but I figured I needed to add this part in first. It’s shorter than most of the others, but that’s alright.
Warnings: Fight scene, older person being whumped, injuries from the fight, blood, fear of death, animal whump (Enchanted metal dragon), fear for a character (non-con)- but that doesn’t happen.
Masterlist: Here
Approx WC: 1450
Taglist: @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @thegreatwhodini
Orrien was good at overthinking. It had been his job to think of potential threats, to think of the things enemies hoped he wouldn’t. So of course it had crossed his mind that Erix might appear at his home, that he might attack him, use him as a weapon, perhaps even kill him. He’d put thought into it, and he knew that if Erix was so bold that he wouldn’t stand a chance… he wasn't strong enough. He was a sitting duck, vulnerable, and afraid.
He knew that, and so he tried to plan for the worst. Most importantly, he had to make sure Blue and the others were safe. Blue was defenceless if he wasn’t there to fight. He had to keep him safe, but how could he when Erix was so good at offense compared to him? If a fight broke out he was as good as dead. Unless he reached out to Avizon in time, he was doomed.
He had tried to talk Blue into moving in with Avizon, but he wouldn't hear of it. No amount of pleading had changed his mind. Blue was just too loyal, practically devoted. It was a trait Orrien could only hope wouldn’t get him killed.
So when Erix appeared, he simply didn't know how he was meant to keep him safe.
The morning was bright and fresh when he'd woken up that morning. Blue had already scurried off to do his chores before Orrien had even woken up, but that wasn't anything new. He made breakfast while Blue fed his animals. He'd boiled the water ready for some tea and the smell of frying meat and eggs soon had Blue sitting at the table. Orrien smiled warmly and ruffled his hair. "We'll be going to Avizon's home later today. I'm sure you've missed Dyan."
Blue nodded eagerly with his mouth full of toast. "'m excited!"
The morning had been so pleasant, and it had all changed so quickly.
Orrien had been washing the dishes when he felt Erix appear outside his door. The heaviness, like a shove to the shoulder.
"Blue, here. Quickly." His plan had been to teleport straight to the castle. To bring Avizon back with him to protect everything.
Blue hesitated with his confusion. But that was enough time for the door to be thrown open. Erix attacked without hesitation.
"Look out!" Orrien yelped, making a magic shield which rattled his forearms as they protected him from the bursts of magic. He gritted his teeth and hurled some magic at him, enough that he couldn’t ignore it. He needed to buy Blue time to get to him, it was the only way they could leave. He threw Erix back into the cupboards with a wave of his magic, casting aside any tiredness he began to feel.
Only Blue ran upstairs in his fear. Orrien tried to call his name, but Erix was up with a groan and there was a dangerous fire in his eyes. Orrien couldn’t concentrate enough to find Avizon within his mind. He formed another shield, hoping beyond hope that it would be able to counter the molten orb in Erix’s hand, it crackled like lightning, glowed like fire. That was about as dark and dangerous as light magic could get.
“Why are you here?” Orrien bellowed, hoping that perhaps words could end this fight before it killed him.
“Nothing personal, old man.”
He hurled the orb towards Orrien, but as it flew, it changed shape, looking more like a spear. Orrien tried to jump to the side, towards the living area, but he was sure the magic followed him. He was made certain when he felt the hot rip across his side. He screamed and hit the ground hard. He felt the blood slipping fast from him. It wasn’t enough. He wasn’t enough to protect Blue.
Erix slowly made his way towards him. Orrien bit back a mewl and tried to get up, using the chaise as some kind of support. He felt Mouse hiding behind his ear. He tried to ease some healing magic into his side while he had a few seconds to spare. That just felt like he was washing out the wound with lava. He clenched his teeth hard.
“I hear you’ve been protecting Avizon. Shame, really. I didn’t mind your existence.”
“Oh I see,” Orrien spat onto the floor, getting rid of the blood that filled his mouth. “This is all for Dyan… you’re a sick piece of work. Leave us alone!”
More crackling energy, and this time he hit him hard in the head. He was thrown back down into the pool of his blood. “No!” he cried out, feeling Mouse drop from his ear. It had hit him. Orrien desperately scooped him up and held him close. No, not his Mouse. Not the only thing he had left of Ro, his closest little friend. Tears pooled in his eyes. And then he felt it, the shift, the emotions snap. His rage.
He lowered Mouse down and without a word, he hurled a massive attack of energy in Erix’s direction. It was everything he had, his last chance. Erix crossed his arms over quickly, making the quickest shield he could. Orrien screamed out, but his magic was only just starting to crack the shield. He could feel himself running out. He flicked his hand down and his magic hit a weaker part of the shield. But Erix was prepared for that. He threw his arms out, and the shield practically became a mirror. And all of Orrien’s wrath crashed into him. He barely managed to reabsorb it in time to save it from killing him.
But Erix suddenly shouted in pain and Orrien’s heart froze in his chest. Blue had jumped up at him and bit him in the shoulder, shaking his head violently. He left a bad wound behind but it wouldn't kill him.
“Blue, here!” Orrien cried. “Come to me!” if he could just get to him, if he could just grab his hand he could push himself on to whisk them away. But he would not leave without Blue.
With some effort, Erix managed to throw Blue off of him, and kicked him in the head, disorientating him. Blue whimpered Orrien's name, but he couldn’t get past Erix. Orrien gathered the energy to teleport behind Erix, to just grab Blue’s hand. But as soon as he did, another blast of that terrible magic slammed into his back. The scream that left his lips was cold and raw. Blue scrambled over to him, clinging to him, but Orrien was barely clinging to consciousness. He barely felt the wave of power whizz past him and hit into Blue, throwing him away from him. Orrien needed time to pull himself together. Time they didn’t have.
Erix grabbed Orrien by the hair and lifted his head up high. Orrien hissed as he struggled to keep his arms under him.
“You can thank Avizon’s greed for this.”
Erix slammed Orrien’s head down with such aggression that he didn’t remember hitting the floor.
His vision returned slowly, and he didn’t know how long had passed. But he was still in his home, and Erix and Blue were nowhere in sight. Immediately he feared the worst. He had to find him, he had to find his boy. With a breathless whimper, he dragged himself onwards. He tried to force himself onwards, out of the living area. He tried to gather what magic he had left, but he was spent. His only chance was the mirror in the downstairs bedroom. He could force himself to make a few drops more of magic, just a few more drops, but that meant pushing his body onwards, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
He barely made it into the hallway when he heard Erix’s footsteps.
“I’m starting to see a habit in the lads you take in. They all end up dead by your fault.”
Orrien clenched his jaw. He wasn't wasting his energy answering his taunts. But Blue… he groaned and tried to desperately go faster. He needed Avizon. He needed his help-
He felt Erix's hand grip the back of his shirt and pin him to the ground just as he made it to the bedroom.
"You won't get away with this," Orrien wheezed, struggling with the tears in his eyes.
"And you won't stop me getting to that fucking bird… I wonder how many I'll have to kill to get to him. So far the tally is at one, and you're next."
Orrien shuddered as he felt Erix take him away with teleportation magic. He’d failed… That his last thought as his eyes slipped closed.
Alright, part 29 is done, and you can have some cheeky Rhix whump.
Warnings: Mentions/brief descriptions of murder, brief part on previous eye whump and descriptions of it, mentions of nsfw and a non-con assumption, but it does not happen.
Approx WC: 3500
Taglist: @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi, @thegreathowdini
Seeing the castle of Everblood come into view, the enormous towers and mighty walls, the ragged eerie flags that hung lifelessly in the cold air, seeing the old battle scars where the castle had survived attack after attack didn't quite give Avizon the comfort he'd expected it to have despite longing to return- and it wasn't because he was out in the open. He didn't feel like he could be safe anymore. He feared an attack from unseen enemies at any moment. He willed the metal gates to open until he was through and then slam shut behind him. He doubted it would be enough anymore. Maybe Orrien was right; he'd become too dependent on walls and stone despite his claims he was the most powerful in the land.
He set to work on unloading the supplies and tending to Secret, brushing her coat, feeding her and getting her settled for the evening. He smiled at his birds once the work was done and let them do as they wished for a while until dinner. He'd hunted some rabbit along the way so their dinners were sorted. He didn't really feel like eating after killing that man. He'd deserved it for causing such pain, but Avizon still felt like a monster, he still felt out of control. He did wish he could give up his power, but he just didn't have the courage. He knew what he was with that power, but what would he be without it...
He sighed, thinking back to the time where he'd returned to this castle years ago after his wounds eventually healed, after he'd lost Ro and been found after weeks of torture. He'd kidnapped the king with ease, teleporting in, grabbing him from his bed, and teleporting out. It had been that simple. He'd forced him down on the stone altar despite his cowardly begging and pleading.
Oh, the riches and powers he had promised him, wealth beyond measure, the ability to pick any man in the land to replace Ro and Halve would make sure he was able to have him as he wished, fine steeds, castles and servants to command. As if Ro was some cheap toy! As if everything he'd suffered through was so quickly washed away. He'd stared him in the eyes and stabbed him clean through the heart, giving him the sacrifice he'd needed to be able to inherit the dark powers that had soon controlled him.
That had been the easy part, but the sacrifice he had to personally give in exchange had been his eye. That pain had been unlike anything he'd ever felt, the heavy rotting, burning sensation. He didn't like taking off his patch. He hated seeing his eye, how it was black as coal, weepy and so painful whenever light reached it. It did nothing to stop him feeling like a monster. Sometimes it still hurt, the heavy burning withering feeling returned and nothing could ease the pain…
He'd taken over the palace in a rage after that. He'd given the innocents the chance to leave, Orrien helped see to that. Avizon had been left with the scum, and their screams still echoed in his mind. He didn't fully regret what he'd done. Especially to the princess. Eriona had deserved it and so much more. Not just because of what she did to him, but to her two cloudwalkers. Fluffy and Flutter had suffered just as much as he had, perhaps worse at times.
He wanted to find them as soon as he could. Now he was finding himself again, he wanted to give them a chance at happiness. He should have remembered them, he should have cared more. He'd remembered to save Rhix before he drowned in darkness, but he hadn't been able to remember the birds. Back then he was a different man and didn't view them as well as he should have. He'd hated their suffering of course, but he hadn't considered them to be so human… but things were different now.
If they were out there. He would find them and give them the chance to be safe from harm.
Avizon sighed, thoughts wandering to Rhix. Rhix had been a good friend before he'd taken over the castle. Avizon had been the only one Rhix had dared tell about how the King, Kellis, treated him, how he suffered and was constantly being humiliated, treated like some common entertainer. His castle had been almost as bad as Avizon's. Avizon had saved him from that, giving him the chance to grow into a more confident young man. He'd saved him, and it hurt to think all the circle saw him as a truly evil. But Orrien's words gave him hope. Maybe Rhix hadn't completely given up on him…
-----
Avizon struggled within his own skin as he sat on the throne in the gallery. Sometimes twirling a small parchment around in his fingers, other times scrunching it up, waiting impatiently for his 'guests' to arrive. He'd sent a message days ago, a message to the neighboring kingdom where Rhix 'served'. In his hand he held their cowardly answer.
Surrender your sorcerer, Rhixius, to me, alive and well. If you do not bring him, your kingdom will be next to fall. It is my one and only demand.
It was no surprise when a message had been returned quickly. They'd given him up, without even thinking about the possibilities of what Avizon could do with dark magic and a sorcerer with containment talent. Fortunately for them he wasn't interested in that, though the darkness inside certainly was. For now Avizon could only wait for them to bring him. He'd managed to fight the dark part of him that wanted to tell the king he knew his secrets, how they treated Rhix, and send all his rage at him. But he feared that they would harm him for telling someone. Avizon wanted Rhix alive and well and there was no point in risking that.
He felt the presence of men in his domain. He could feel Rhix was with them, but his powers were… weak, incredibly so. As if he'd been sapped of all his energy. He crushed the paper in his hand. If they'd leeched him then so help him…
The men carefully made their way to the throne room. Avizon barely managed to tuck away his shock. He'd expected for Rhix to have resisted, to be bound, but this was different.
Rhixius had been a pitiful sight, his hands were bound in front of him with rough ropes and he was shirtless, covered with shining jewelry and silky baggy pants. His body was littered in bruises and scratches. Avizon wondered how much he'd struggled on the way here. They really thought he wanted Rhix as a partner. No doubt Rhix was terrified. He didn't suppress the growl that rose in his throat, seeing Rhix's pale skin, the old scars and signs of torment, new and old.
He'd been gagged and blindfolded, and was so unaware of what was going on around him. He swayed, but Avizon wasn't sure if that was because of the blindfold or not. Rhix whimpered when they forced him to a halt and shoved him down on his knees. He groaned and struggled not to fall forward. A hand in his hair ensured he couldn't.
"We brought your whore," one man sneered.
Avizon brought fire to his hands and glared. "Repeat those words."
The man gulped and let go of Rhix, backing away and bowing. "I… I.I thought that you- I didn't- I beg your forgiveness-"
Avizon had already hurdled a ball of fire at him, hitting him hard in the shoulder. The man screamed and rolled around the floor, trying to put out the flames. The flames tore through the clothes quickly and chewed at his skin until he managed to put the last if it out, panting, sobbing. Avizon didn't care.
Rhix tensed up, bracing for pain. Avizon saw how he ducked his head down, trying to seem as small as possible. Avizon didn't want to scare him too. He'd clearly been through enough. The others deserved to suffer. He clenched his fists.
"Do not speak of this man as though he were nothing," Avizon snarled. "One word from him seeking revenge and I will destroy every last brick of your kingdom!”
"B.but we have your word you will not attack our kingdom or any other?" The leader spoke up carefully.
"It's true I have what I wanted. But I will not deny Rhixius the chance of revenge if his heart desires. You'd best pray he is far more forgiving than I. If I am left alone and Rhixius chooses peace, then you've nothing to fear. But if I ever hear-" Avizon summoned a wave of dark magic, the deepest he could feel at the time which engulfed the room in darkness.
From the shadows, hands reached out and grabbed all the men, restraining them. He brought fire to his hands and approached the leader slowly, bringing the fire closer and closer to his sweating face. "-that the king is using another man and hurts him as he did Rhix I will not hesitate." Avizon clenched his fists again to put the fire out, ignoring how his hands went numb for now.
"I… I will inform him of your conditions, my Lord." The men bowed, fear radiated off their bodies. Avizon stood and snatched the rope from him that was connected to a collar around Rhix's neck. He let the magic disappear in the blink of an eye and his body felt so heavy from it. His eye throbbed, but he let the pain fuel his anger for now.
"Out."
That had been enough for them to flee, as if they'd never even been there.
Avizon's attention turned to Rhixius. He struggled with his dark side, he could feel it churning inside him. He circled his trembling form. Part of him wanted to savour the sight, but the rest of him was appalled at the thought, yet unable to stop himself. He felt like a puppet. He grabbed Rhix by the chin and made him look up. Rhixius whimpered. Avizon groaned trying to beat his urges back. He let go and Rhix's head dropped forward limply.
He wanted him. He wanted a pet, a servant, something to be dependent on him and to have complete control over. Rhix would be perfect- He was able to break out of it when he saw Rhix sway badly. He slumped forward with a groan and Avizon's body acted without his mind. He caught him and pulled him close to his chest protectively. No. Rhix was a friend. He would not hurt him! He had to protect him, even from himself.
Avizon was stunned at just how cold he was. He reached for his blindfold. Rhix yelped and flinched away. "Shhh, be at ease." Avizon continued, sliding the white material up, revealing what really were beautiful iridescent eyes. Rhix blinked hard to adjust before he stared up in shock. Avizon ignored him and carefully eased the gag out of his mouth. He cupped his cheek to support his jaw.
"There… I always swore to you that I would save you from that place. I have done so."
"A.Avizon… why…" tears shone in his eyes. "Why did you turn to the shadows… y.you were free…"
"Because I wasn't strong enough," his voice harsh like sandpaper. "I couldn't protect him."
"Ro? Avizon, that wasn't your fault…"
Avizon shook his head. "I don't expect you to understand. I'm not important. Where is your power?.. Did they use a leech?"
"N.No… I. I breathed in powder… they found a way of blocking it for hours at a time… I… I don't know how it's made."
Avizon took a deep breath. He felt better, being closer to him, closer to light magic. It was easier to think clearly, but it made his eye hurt more. Avizon hissed and covered it with a hand.
"Let's get you a bath, a meal, and bed," he managed.
Avizon started to free his hands but Rhix whimpered "Is that why I'm here? What the other man said, what they've all been saying…"
"No." His voice was firm. Solid. "I swore I would free you and I found a way of doing so. It's true that I… I want you to stay, as a friend, so I can protect you but… I already know you wouldn't want that. I'm dangerous now, and the best way to keep you safe would be if you weren't here. Once your powers have returned, I can only beg of you to go to the spire. They should be able to do what I cannot."
Rhix's expression was hard to read. Relief, worry, shock. Avizon gave up trying to understand it. He sighed. "Can you walk?"
Rhixius nodded hesitantly. "I think so?"
Avizon managed to put his own pain aside and carefully helped him up, teleporting him upstairs. Using his powers, keeping the darkness flowing, made it easier to control the urges. He sat Rhix down on the side of a bed for now. Rhix only frowned and reached up slowly for Avizon's face. "What happened to your eye?"
Avizon turned his face away. "It… was sacrificed, let's say. It's not a pretty sight. Hopefully time will ease the pain."
"May I see? Perhaps I can help?"
"I doubt it…"
He let Rhix reach up with trembling fingers and ease the eyepatch away. He winced at the sight. It was dark magic for sure. The eye was pitch black, weepy, and looked almost like stone or charred wood. The surrounding skin was practically purple as the darkness had made its way into the surrounding capillaries. It was a terrible mess, and Avizon despised it.
"Avizon…" but words would not come to him. "Please let go of this magic before it's too late. Let go of it a.and I'll stay. I swear it. You'll have enough power to stay safe with me. You don't need it."
Avizon shook his head and moved Rhix's hands away, feeling another wave of darkness. "I can't. I am sorry…"
"But it could kill-"
Avizon's mind slipped. He grabbed Rhix by the throat before he could stop himself. Rhix tried to bring magic to his hands on instinct, but nothing happened. Fear glowed in his eyes.
"The magic stays," Avizon hissed. "Unless you care for a share of it too? We could rule together, be unstoppable, and reshape the world in our image."
Rhix brought his elbow down hard to force Avizon to let go. He coughed hard and shook his head. "I. I don't want that. Take a look at yourself! You can't control it! It's not meant to be controlled. Avizon, please do not go down this path, I'll do anything. Let me help you, let me at least stop it from destroying my friend!" Tears pooled in his eyes.
Avizon groaned and fell back against the wall, clutching his head. He looked up at him and whimpered. "I am so sorry. I.I'll go before I really hurt you… I'm sorry, Rhix. I never wanted this." Avizon rushed away, keeping his hands close to his body. What had he done?!
---
Avizon wished he'd taken Rhix up on that offer. Maybe he'd have been happy with a friend by his side, but there was no point thinking about it. He'd made his decision and had been miserable and alone.
Avizon finished up at the stables and found Dyan's dreamcatcher still hanging up in the cart where he'd first stored it. He'd have to put it up for him before night fell. He sighed, took it down, and went to the birds' room.
He found Dyan laying glumly in bed. He sighed softly. "What's wrong, Dyan?"
"Nothing really. Just… I miss Blue. This place is so big that it makes me feel more lonely…"
"I understand that feeling all too well. You can stay in the tower today with me if you like?"
Dyan nodded and rubbed his eyes. He watched Avizon put the dreamcatcher up in the window. "There, that ought to help you," Avizon smiled.
"Thank you, master, for doing so much for me a.and buying me nice things. I'm the luckiest cloudwalker in the world to be by your side."
That caught Avizon off guard a little. He smiled softly and ruffled his hair. "Thank you, Dyan. Now let's get going. I need to study the venom I collected from Tashka."
Dyan sat sleepily beside Avizon, resting against his knee, drifting off to sleep with his head against him. Avizon smiled and left him to rest, for now focusing on his work. He needed to know what had happened, to know just what Borgurk was planning. Tashka had certainly been right. The magic he could feel in the venom certainly belonged to Borgurk. That scum had lingered in the shadows unsupervised for far too long, ever since Avizon had fought him. In truth, Avizon wished and had even thought him dead. It scared him to know he could come back. He had loved ones he could lose again…
He was still working when Dyan woke up from his rather long nap. He startled awake with a loud cheep before flopping back down against his master's leg.
"It's alright, little bird. Bad dream?"
"I'm not sure.. I think I was being chased."
"Are you well enough for me to ask for a little of your venom, for comparison?"
Dyan gulped but nodded and got up on his knees. He opened his mouth and waited. Avizon was patient as he massaged behind his ear, sometimes a little rougher than what was relaxing, but it worked. Venom dripped and Avizon collected it. Avizon had what he needed. He patted Dyan's hair and invited him to lie down again.
Dyan peeked over the top of the table to see what his master was doing. He was surprised by all the bottles and tools and devices.
"I don't like this at all…" Avizon mumbled. "Borgurk's up to something terrible… Dyan, I don't want you or Ihuka leaving the magic circle that surrounds this castle, you understand? Something dark and dangerous is afoot."
"Yes, master."
Avizon wished he knew what but until Borgurk played his hand he feared he wouldn't know. Of course he realised Borgurk was interfering with cloudwalker magic, probably to make himself stronger but… Then what? Did he have a target in mind? A goal? That's where he was less sure. He needed to prepare, take measures to protect everyone…
"Master?" Dyan said softly, breaking Avizon out of his thoughts. "Are… are you alright? Can I help?..."
Avizon looked down and smiled at him. He stroked his hair lovingly. "You already are helping. Good bird. Are you feeling better?"
Dyan nodded and decided to hug Avizon's leg.
"I wonder where Ihuka wandered off to… its almost dinner time. This can wait a little while, I need time to think. Come, let's go find him."
Dyan let go and waited for his master to stand before he rose up off the floor. "Maybe he's at his favourite window?"
"You go search there and then your room. I'll wander until I can sense him."
And so he wandered, Dyan returned without Ihuka and Avizon frowned in mild confusion. He knew Ihuka was still in the grounds. He wasn't worried, just curious.
He didn't expect to find him sitting at the top of one of the towers, looking out at the immense view, hugging his knees with the stuffed toy Avizon had bought him.
Avizon approached noisily so as to not startle him. Ihuka turned quickly, likely not sure if he was in trouble or not.
"Good bird," Avizon said softly, hoping to ease that anxiety as soon as he could. Ihuka visibly relaxed and went back to looking at the view.
"It's dinner time… Ihuka? Anyone in there?" Ihuka seemed lost in thought, in emotion. He stared out into the world and… longed? Grieved perhaps?
Ihuka flinched when Avizon carefully touched his shoulder. "You miss your brother?"
"Sorry, master," Ihuka said quickly.
Avizon hushed him softly. "We'll find him. Let's get you fed now, alright? Dinner time."
Avizon ruffled his hair gently and then made his way down for a meal. Ihuka hugged Dyan when he saw him sitting at the table. Avizon was glad they had each other since they couldn't find much comfort with him. He really did wish he could do more, but as Orrien said, they needed time.
He hoped giving them some time back home away from everything would help all three of them. He knew fate was in motion, conflict was nearing and they needed the time to rest. If it didn't work, he didn't know what else he could do.
△ Avizon, how do you feel about the way you acted before and when you got your birds and what you were planning to do with them?
6/10
Avizon sighs and looks away. “I was... My powers... the darkness... I did not realise how much it had corrupted me over the years when I was alone. There was no way for me to even realise how far I was falling. I am ashamed of what I have done... but that is why I have to speak about it. I have to accept what I have done to become better.
“When I first got the birds, I was only meant to get one. I was lonely, they were company. I was meant to break them, to make them obey me and bring me comfort. I didn’t even think about their own needs. I was so driven by a need for power that I wanted everything I could get from one. I was going to use their feathers, granted when they shed naturally, but I was going to use them like they were cattle- and they are so much more than that- I see that now!
So... yes, I am ashamed of my actions, I will never forgive myself for what I have done to those poor birds and I admit, there are nights where I cannot sleep. I have taken away a part of Ihuka that I can never put back. I branded him, and I was so determined to make myself happy I couldn’t see my reflection in him. How much he suffered, just as I once had... I could have saved him from all of that and I didn’t.”
He looks back with tears standing in his eyes. “I suppose I really am Avizon the Terrible.”
