#oc:linkoln

[melodyofflight]

Happy pride from max and his kids!! He’s always taught his children to be proud of who they are and they are!!

I might draw more pride stuff soon, but if anyone wants to see any specific kids then let me know!!

[melodyofflight]

The Angel stares down his enemy, flames licking up his arms.

The rage inside of him burns far hotter than his magic ever can. The sight of the man before him standing over his son, laughing as the boy was beaten... its enough to feel the strength he hasn’t had for years, his eyes themselves burning with his rage.

He glances back, ensuring that Linkoln was still breathing. Thankfully, he is, if only just barely. He slides his eyes back to the Shaded man before him, raising a hand in his direction.

“What did you come here for wretch? Don’t you understand when you’re unwanted?” He growls, very aware that the king stands at the doorway above him, weapon pointed their way. The prince has been sent to ensure his mother’s safety, and now this fight is between them.

Noite laughs, throwing out his arms in an extravagant gesture. His grin is sickening and Max can feel his wings and fingers twitch and ache to throw himself at him. But he resists, standing his ground. He’s not a child anymore.

“Unwanted? Oh dearest Maximilian, you hurt me. Were we not friends once? Very good friends if I remember correctly,” The broken doctor steps closer, reaching out a hand. Max growls a warning, flames flaring higher and his wings spreading as if to block his son from view. Noite clicks his tongue, his smile falling as he pulls his hand back a small bit.

“I’ve only come to right a wrong old friend. To destroy the people who destroyed my family,” He growls, face turning towards the king at the top of the stairs, steadily shooting down any of the undead guard that try to make their way up. Max sends a flash his way, clipping him and making him hiss in pain.

“You’d do well not to take your attention off your opponent old friend,” Max spits, nothing but hatred in his words. “I’m telling you now, this is not a fight you can win. You know as well as I do that should word of your... tactics get to a certain someone, they will do far worse than I could ever dream of. Turn around. Go back from whence you came and never return,”

There’s a moment’s pause before Noite steps closer, looming over Max’s 6’2” form. The Angel is unintimidated, standing strong and simply raising a hand.

“Noite. I know what you believe, but you know you’re wrong. Look what your anger and hatred has turned you into. Do you think this is what Opal would have wanted?” The Angel lowers his voice, feeling a sense of victory in the flash of pain in the man’s eyes. For a brief moment he feels he may be breaking through before there’s a pain in his side and he’s thrown aside by one of the grotesque shadebeasts. He growls, kicking at it and prying it’s mouth off his side as Noite raises his voice.

“I had thought you of all people would understand Angel! Had these corrupt, disgusting creatures have taken your son from you, perhaps you’d realize who you’re protecting!” He cries, Max crying out in pain as the creature’s teeth sink into a different part of his body, the flames spreading as his body rushes to heal itself.

He struggles as Noite looms above him, crouching down and ignoring the shots ringing out from the top of the stairs.

“You’ll be glad old friend. I know how you cared for Opal as if he were your own,” He grins, putting a hand to Max’s chin as he struggles. “You can see him again. While I was gone, exiled and alone, I found a way. I saved him when you all wished to abandon my boy into the ground,”

Max stares, horror crossing his face as he fights yet harder, shoving the beast away if only to be tackled back down.

“Noite! Noite, tell me you didn’t!”

“Oh I did!” He laughs, grinning wildly and turning up towards the stairs once again, locking eyes with the king.

“Did you hear Windrow? I did what you stopped me from, I saved him! Do you wish to see my son again old friend? Perhaps Praesidio will like to see his brother. That’s what they called each other is it not?” He grins, the smoke raising around him and slowly taking shape.

Max watches on in horror as a falsehood of the boy he watched grow alongside his own children forms beside the creature that used to be his father. It’s eyes form first from the mass, cold and empty, and then it’s body slowly takes shape. Heavy limbs, partially crafted from wood as if hobbled together, replaced. It’s stance is wrong, but when it turns to look at the Angel, it’s face... it’s face is perfect. It’s the face of that boy he watched get sick and fade away as his father was running fool’s errands, trying to cheat death.

As he watches, seeing Noite hold the miserable, broken creature to his chest and begin to gloat, to laugh wildly, he feels a rage even stronger than before rise in his chest, filling his throat with fire. In moments, a voice echoes in his head and things go blank.

“Foolish creature,”

Max cries out, the sound echoing with a strength that doesn’t belong to the young Angel, Windrow knows that much. The king stands down his weapon for a moment, staring on in amazement as he sees a ball of flame explode from his ambassador, sending the Shadebeast pinning him flying into the wall with a loud yelp, crumpling to the ground in a whimpering heap. When Max stands, there’s something wrong. It takes Windrow a moment to see it fully through the dust and chaos before him.

The young man’s head is ringed with a halo of flame, the magic tracing patterns in his skin that are familiar. His eyes are black as he stares at the creature before him, throwing himself his way and managing to get Noite slammed to the ground, wings splayed behind him.

“Do you believe the natural order your plaything? You seem to think yourself worthy of choosing what lives and dies,” Noite struggles, shocked that he’s being controlled. Shocked that these flames burn so badly.

“W-who-“

“You should not have come here, you disgusting thing,” Max growls, his voice changed, stronger than his own has ever been. He barely seems himself at all. Noite struggles violently, screaming out in rage as he begins to see that once again, he will lose.

Opal, or the version of him that has been created, comes running to his father’s defense, but he is quickly thrown aside by a ball of flame, left crumpled to the ground. He gasps, Noite looking toward him.

He doesn’t get a chance to speak, screaming out as the flames seem to burn through his body, lighting him from the inside out. The undead creatures around him scream with him in a gruesome chorus, Max’s eyes staying on his face.

“Never return.”

The Shade ghost before them lets out one last scream before disappearing into smoke, the bodies of the guards dropping to the ground and the crumpled forms of the Shadebeasts and Opal dissipating with him. Max stays there a moment, on his knees, staring at the spot where Noite just was before the flames fade away and he crumples, crashing to the ground.

“Max! Linkoln!” Windrow cries, rushing to make his way down the stairs. Praesidio comes running with the palace doctor, everyone left alive hurrying to gather the fallen men and rush them to treatment. Windrow stares on, steadying his shaking hand as he watches the rush. He takes a deep breath, putting the terrified thoughts out of his mind and rushing to help. After all, a good king should care for his people.

It takes over a week for the bodies to be properly buried and cared for, there’s a mourning parade and every guard that was felled is given the highest honors. Max heals quickly, and he and his other two children are rarely seen, always visiting with Linkoln until he’s released from the hospital three days after the incident. The melancholy of the city has darkened further, combined with a deep fear. The ever peaceful city has been shaken to it’s core and now, as Windrow stands looking out his window, he hopes he can find some way to fix it soon. It kills him to see his people so unhappy. He sighs, closing his eyes before speaking over his shoulder.

“You ensured none of them could rise again?”

“Of course. They can rest well now,” A smooth voice answers. Firae steps up beside him, arms folded behind their back. He nods, looking down.

“You saved us again. I... don’t know how to thank you,” He looks up at the elegant skydancer, earning a small smile.

“Simply continue to make this city a kind and gentle place, for the living and the dead, and we will be happy. And take care of all who enter. Leave the bad ones to us,”

The king hums, sighing at the answer from the deity. He looks back out at the city below, barely blinking at the sound of wings as Firae disappears. He simply has to make this a home.

After all. A good king cares for his people.

[melodyofflight]

A Darkness Falls

The forest around Melody seems to fall into a hush as a heavy, frightened feeling seeps under the city’s walls. Tavir is one of the first to feel it, distracted from their gardening by the way the creatures of the forest go silent in their mind. The silence comes first, followed by swift panic, followed still by a sharp, acidic scent that the tundra knows all too well. It isn’t long before their shears lay abandoned on the ground and they’ve run inside, the door slamming shut behind them. Nothing must harm Mama, nothing.

The next to feel it are the guards, and swiftly they search for the source. The dutiful soldiers arm themselves, dimly remembering the last attack upon the forgotten city and feeling something similar on the horizon They gulp, frightened. Something about this feeling is wrong. Something is very very wrong.

Next come the children and pets, feeling the magic cloaking the city change and waver without knowing what it is, and the city echoes with uneasy whimpers and fearful movements towards their parents, who feel the fear soon after. The melancholy of the city grows with the fear.

And near the edge of the city, just within it’s walls, the humble palace of the royal family stands quiet. Danyl, having been ill all day for unknown reasons, sits up in her bed, urged back by Melsanguis, the royal doctor. The woman puts a hand to her shoulder, urging her to lay back.

“You shouldn’t push yourself Milady. At least until I can tell what’s wrong,” She says, lowering her head to better see the queen’s face. The woman shakes her head, frowning heavily.

“No, Mel... something is wrong. Can’t you feel it? There’s something horribly off,”

“I’m sure there’s no need to be worried my queen. If anything happens, the guard is more than capable. Just rest now,”

Danyl swallows thickly, turning her head towards her window and gripping her blankets tighter. She looks out towards the forest, where she knows the city’s protectors stay. Surely Melsanguis is right, with such strong protectors... all will surely be well.

Elsewhere in the palace, Max sits with King Windrow and Praesidio, explaining the information reported by his siblings when last they visited. As he prattles on, informing them of the goings on of a city called Wunderheim, Linkoln paces behind him, studying the intricate details of the tapestries beside him for the thousandth time. The grandeur of the palace has long since worn away, as well as the star struck aspect of being near the royal family. He and Praesidio have been friends for quite some time at this point, simply for having nothing better to do when they were young but play together while their fathers spoke of diplomacy.

The young man paces quietly, whistling to himself. It isn’t long before he begins to feel it. A strange mixture of fear and anxiety that coils in the pit of his stomach and makes him stop in his pacing. It feels like it’s coming in from every side, and instinctively his hand moves to one of his knives, his heart beginning to beat in his ears. He glances around, surprised to see that everyone else around him is still speaking calmly. He walks closer to the table, and unbeknownst to him, spreads the fear to the others.

And somewhere close by, just inside the walls and looking up at the palace, a man stands. He grins, a sharp, inhuman grin as blackened eyes scan the palace in front of him. He puts his hand to his cheek, tapping a flawed finger against his cheekbone.

“Finally. That woman must finally be getting tired if I could find my way back,” He makes a sound close to a purr and a black, dripping shape stalks up beside him and twines between his legs, black smoke curling up from it’s form as if it’s steaming. He reaches down and pats it’s head, clicking it’s tongue as one would when greeting their pet.

“Don’t worry darling, it won’t even long now,” He turns his eyes back to the palace, smiling yet again as he begins his walk towards it.

“Come. Let’s go back home,”

[melodyofflight]

A while after the attack on Melody, after the dust has settled,

Linkoln sits in his bedroom, hunched over his writing desk and chewing on his pen. This is the first time he’s writing a letter to Dissolve after the... changes to their relationship, and he can feel his heart pounding.

“Dearest Dissolve,” The letter begins. He looks at it before shaking his head and crumpling the paper.

“My Dearest, Dissolve,” He changes, nodding to himself and continuing.

“So much has happened since I returned home. Some of it I’d much rather tell you in person, but I... have to remain home for now. I have much to do here. Of course you’re welcome to visit anytime you wish! Miss Carla says she’d love to speak with you again!” He pauses, looking over his words before softly smiling to himself.

“I’d love to speak with you again. I know it hasn’t been long since I left, but... I miss your voice already. Maybe I’m simply a hopeless romantic, too hung up on a new relationship but I find your presence calming. Is that strange?” He stares at the paper, biting his lip and sitting back. Is he strange? Has he fallen too hard, too fast? Maybe he has, but he can’t seem to care. He nods, getting back to writing.

“Koi says she’d like to share some of her new tea recipes with you, if you’d like them, and Papa says he’s excited to meet you once and for all. Don’t be nervous! Papa pretends to be big and scary and mean but he’d never say no to something that makes me happy. Not that you’re something! You’re someone, someone who makes me happy.” He winces a bit, knowing that he slipped up. But he doesn’t want to start the letter over again.

“Overall, I suppose this is all I’d like to say. I miss you already, and I can’t wait until you return, or until I’m able to return to you. Until then, this letter carries with it a kiss from me. Hold onto it until I see you again,” And with that, he lays the letter out to dry and bites his lip, leaning down to kiss the bottom corner.

Finally, absolutely, things have begun to look up for him, for his family. Everything is going to be just fine.

[melodyofflight]

A boy rushes through the woods, his brother at his side.

His sister had awoken him only minutes ago and told him to run. She had shoved a bag into his arms, tears streaming down her face as his twin came running in. She’d pulled him from his bed, the strength she’d had before her illness took hold coming back into her muscles as he stumbled, barely catching them both.

“Go! Brother, you must go! Please!” She’d screamed, more emotion marring her face than he’d seen since the day she woke in the middle of the night saying she’d had a dream of their Papa dying, cold and alone. He’d studied her face, putting his hands to her cheeks to try and wipe the tears away, searching her blank eyes for any sign of what could have happened.

“K-Koi, darling, wh-” 

“There’s no time!” She’d pushed him away, sending him stumbling into his larger brother, caught by him this time as he stared at his sister in shock. She was never so... violent in her fits, instead he was far more used to her shutting down into silence, sometimes for days on end.

She’d looked down at her older brothers from her full height, her eyes seeming almost to glow as she trembled before them. He’d thought he’d seen green flame licking from her lips for a moment, but soon decided it must be a trick of the moonlight that flooded from his window. 

“...Please Brother. Go, save the Miss. We cannot afford to lose another. None of us will survive it,” 

It took only that, only the crack in her voice to make him nod, the mage’s hands tightening on the worn bag in his arms. He’d spun on his heel and ran, his sister calling after him as his twin followed close on his heels, a growl in his throat. 

“I promise you Brother! I will protect our home! Please, come back to me!”

He can only remember nodding as the door, the same heavy wooden door he struggled to open as a child, closed behind him with a quiet, final click.

And now, he shakes the memory from his head, focusing only on the crunch of the underbrush under his and his brother’s feet as they follow the long-memorized path to the home of their dearest friend, lit only by the light of his faithful familiar. Over the distant sound of screams and crunching bone, he hears his brother’s voice, shaky and afraid.

“Xi... Xi what’s going on? Why was Koi so scared, w-what are those noises?” 

“...I don’t know Linkoln. I don’t know anything. All I know is, if Papa were here, he’d be doing exactly what we’re doing now,” He answers, determination cutting through the fearful trembles in the young man’s voice.

“... You’re right. We have to find Miss Carla, maybe she’ll have the answers. She always has before,”

The mage’s teeth clench, a breath hissing in through them as he glances down at Purity, the creature’s bright green coat of flame settling a comfort into his heart, a feeling that despite them being alone, they just may be able to survive this fight.

“...She may. And even if she doesn’t, we will protect her, as she does us. Won’t we Brother?” He smirks, lifting a gloved hand towards his brother. It takes Linkoln only a moment before he smiles past the tears in his eyes and takes the other’s hand, nodding.

“Of course. Always and forever,”

[melodyofflight]

Mother barely hears the boys arrive.

When they do, she’s kneeling in her garden, a hand clutched to her chest and her charge kneeling over her panic in their voice.

“Mama!? Mama what’s happened!? Are you alright!?” 

The woman stares at the ground, her bright eyes wide as tears fall from them, glistening like so many diamonds in the light of the pale moon above her.

“S-so many... so many... so much pain...” She gasps, her face twisting in pain with every roar from the city.

“...M-Miss Carla?” Linkoln speaks up, his voice wavering for a moment. It brings the attention of Tav, their lips pulling back in a snarl before they throw themself at the boy, a hand wrapping around his throat to pin him to a tree, a loud choking noise leaving his throat. 

“Who are you!? What have you done to my Mama!?” They scream, cutting off in a cry of pain as a claw formed from ice wraps around their chest and pulls them away, throwing them to the ground with a loud thud. Xilian growls, hand outstretched to cast the spell as his brother drops to the ground, a hand at his throat as he tries to catch his breath.

“Don’t touch my brother!” He growls, moving to again lift the larger dragon from the ground before he feels a small, warm weight hit his stomach, pushing him back with far too much strength to match the gentle nature of it. 

“Baby, baby no! Please! No more pain, n-no... no more pain...” Carla begs, the boy’s spell dissolving as Purity moves to sit at Carla’s feet, as they always do when around her. Tav gasps for air from their spot on the ground for but a moment before pushing herself up at the sound of Carla’s quiet sob. 

The clearing goes quiet, save for the distant sounds of screaming and creatures roar’s, and all three young people find themselves on the edge of tears, along with the small, gentle woman before them. Xilian looks down, letting his hair cover his face as he wraps his arms around her shoulders, hugging her tightly. 

“...Yes Miss Carla. No more pain. We’re sorry. but please... what’s happening?” 

The woman takes a breath, her darkened wings folding behind her back before she pushes herself away from Xilian, shaking her head.

“...We have to set up a protection spell. Stronger than the one I have, and then... then I promise I’ll tell you whatever I can,”

With Xilian and Carla’s combined power, along with some help from Purity, it isn’t long before a protection spell is placed around the clearing, also helping to block out the increasingly unnerving sounds spilling from the city.

Tav meanwhile, goes over to, ashamedly, help Linkoln up, their head turned down and away from the boy. 

“...I am... sorry. That I harmed you. I understand I was wrong,” They mutter, hand still outstretched as Linkoln stares up at them, already feeling the bruises forming at his neck. Though, kind boy that he is, it doesn’t take him long to reach up and take their hand, nodding. 

“...You were protecting Miss Carla. I can hardly fault you for it. Are you her new charge?” 

They nod, turning to watch the magic users return and start off towards the house before rushing to Carla’s side to help her walk. Linkoln watches after them both, gulping and feeling an icy shiver move down his spine. When they were so close, hand around his throat they looked... excited. He could of sworn he saw a small smile on their lips past the growl.

He shakes off the thought and follows the others inside, watching as Carla is sat in a chair and Purity shifts their form into that of a cat to better settle into her lap, purring loudly. Linkoln takes a seat while Xilian and Tav both take to standing, perhaps too anxious to sit. The young mage crosses his arms, looking down at his feet after placing the worn bag on the table.

“Okay Miss Carla... What’s happening? What are those... things attacking the city? And why did Koi insist we come here and take this bag?”

Carla’s bright eyes fall to the bag and she sighs, those rare tears of sorrow still slipping down her cheeks as she reaches to grab it. 

“What’s happening is, a child got very lost in his way, and has fooled himself into believing he is an Apostle of the Lady. Those “things” are creatures he’s created, via necromancy to... cleanse the city of those he finds guilty of sins against the Lady,” She takes out a worn, beaten tome and brushes it off, a sorrow behind her eyes that’s just so very deep and old and tired. 

Linkoln looks up at her, frowning at seeing their old friend, their mother in a strange way, so very sad. 

“Why would he want to do that? And how do you know?” 

“There’s a lot about this city that you don’t know. And a lot you shouldn’t,” She sets the book down, Tav finally sitting down as they stare at her in awe, eyebrows furrowed. “I promised your father that you both and your sister would live well, happy, and safe. But I fear that to allow you to do so means... making you remember this day, this attack when so many others will not,” 

Xilian stares at her, frowning heavily to himself. 

“...Miss Carla. What is in that book?” 

“...A spell I’d hoped I’d never have to use again. And another, to call the Lady home,” 

“Call her home? Where is she?”

“They are with your father. But not for long,” She opens the tome and Purity jumps on top of it, soon changing to a shapeless mass of green flame as a whirlwind goes through the room, the green flames reflecting off the tears on Carla’s face. 

“There is much you have to know my children. And I promise you, I will tell you all of it. But first,” Carla reaches into her pocket and crushes a handful of herbs before throwing them into the flames and blowing the smoke into the children’s faces.

First Xilian, then Linkoln, and finally Tav’s eyes close and they slump over, each falling to the ground in a deep sleep. 

“...Sweet dreams babies. I’m sorry you had to be in so much fear,” She whispers, guilt swirling in her stomach until she uses it to cry out into the flames. 

“Firae! Return, and guard this land from those who abuse your domain!” The flames grow taller, kissing the ceiling and making her take a step back before suddenly receding, Firae sitting before her on the table with Purity curled against their neck, lighting their skin with an electric green glow.

“Miss, you know you don’t need to be so formal with me. You need only call my name and I will rush to your aid,” They mumble, their eyes hidden in their hair as they stand themself up, Purity jumping down to curl up with her master with a quiet purr.

“I understand, but Firae there’s-”

“I know what’s happened Miss. I can hear my children crying... calling out against the wretched man who pulled them from their loving home in my darkness,” They reach up and pull their hair back, their bright eyes glowing in the dim light as their blackened wings stretch behind them, green flames matching those of the familiar at Xilian’s side leaking from their mouth. Carla feels an odd sense of pride rise in her chest as Firae turns to face the window, baring their fangs in rage.

“This fool calls himself my Apostle. He is but a thief, stealing my children away. He shall taste the power he so desires as it rips itself through his body and tears his soul to shreds,”

“...Be careful baby. Don’t strain yourself,” Carla says, reaching out to take Firae’s hand. It’s cold in hers, and thin, but for just a moment, their slender fingers squeeze hers tightly. 

“...I won’t. Stay here, guard these children. I promise you, peace shall reign again in our home. And we will disguise this scar from their memories,” They look at her, taking a moment before dropping to a knee and bowing their head. 

“And then, when his journey is finished, I will bring your boy back home safely. All will be well Miss. I swear it to you,” They kiss her knuckles, getting a nod in return before disappearing in a flutter of wings and a stiff breeze.

Carla takes a deep, painful breath before looking down at the sleeping three on her floor.

“...I’m so very sorry. I should have seen this coming, should have protected you... I should have protected everyone,” She covers her face, sinking to her knees by their heads. What good is it being hailed as a god, when all you can do is let people forget? What good is it when it’s all an illusion?

What good is she?

[melodyofflight]

A child awakens on the floor, wrapped in a soft blanket and with a pain pounding in their temples.

Tav gasps and sits up as fast as they can, surprised by the sun that streams in through the window. With a hiss of pain they hold their head, trying to remember how they got on the floor. When a hand lands in their hair, their own lashes out quick as a whip to catch the other’s wrist, stopping millimeters from them as the scent hits their mind. Mama... it’s their Mama, dear gods how could they have thought of hurting their Mama?

Tav looks up, squinting past the pain to see Carla’s face above them, and allowing their eyes to follow her as she kneels in front of them, petting their hair back from their face.

“Good morning baby. I knew you’d be the first awake,” The woman smiles, though Tav’s eyes look through it, studying the dark circles, how her kind, unnaturally bright blue eyes are dulled by the shadows of old tears. They can feel her hand trembling, can see how her lips pull up a bit less than her real smiles, hear how her voice is quieter, rougher... Mama’s lying again.

“I asked you not to pretend. You promised you wouldn’t...” They mutter, letting their head tilt as their fingers wrap around her wrist. “You... you look scared? Why are you scared? I promised to protect you, I’ll protect you Mama I swear it,” 

Carla blinks, looking them over before the smile moves that fraction of an inch closer to being real and she sighs, kissing their forehead.

“You did protect me baby. You did a good job, you were very good,” 

Tavir feels their heart swell with the praise, the pain in their head fading not in actuality, but in comparison as they get up. They look at the others, the strangers. Two males, no older than they are... twins. And a small creature created from fire that they can’t hear, which is awfully unsettling. The scent is familiar, but mixed with something new and strange. They give a hum of thought and help Carla up.

“I’ll make tea. I know you won’t sleep, but rest. You can’t do anything until those two are awake, right?” They are relieved when she nods and takes a seat, that book still open on the table.

As they go off to make the morning’s tea, they allow their racing thoughts to sort themselves out, falling into quiet silence as usual. They’re... afraid. That’s what this tight feeling in their chest is, it’s fear. They’d known that their Mama was part of some dangerous things, but this is so much. This woman had taken them in, was the only person who had never hurt them, who sat with them and taught them the things they didn’t know, who woke them with a gentle touch... this woman was the only family they had ever had and now she’s being hurt, she’s being hurt so very much-

Tav cuts off the line of thought as tears hit their hand, hot and burning the scrapes from the night before. Bruises ache at their ribs, their back scraped raw and old cuts reopened and rehealed overnight. They wonder if it was their own quick healing that did it or if their Mama had once again tired herself for them on top of it all.

They wipe their eyes and get back to work. No time to think of those things. You have to make it better, for Mama. They think, ears perking to the sounds of the others waking up behind them. They silently take out two more cups, taking the chipped one for themself.

“Boys, you’re awake. Good morning,” Carla mumbles. Tav wonders if these boys can hear the waver in her voice.

“Miss Carla? What... what happened? Wha-” The thinner one says. He gets up, that odd creature jumping onto the table as he sits down, a hand on his head. He smells like paper and leather and ink past his scent, and as Tav sets his cup before him, the way he pauses makes them to the same.

“...There’s not honey in this, is there?”

Tavir is surprised by seeing him look directly at them. Mama’s guests never look at them past a glance, and they’re even more surprised to see that he’s waiting for them to answer.

“N-no... w-would you...” They trail off, irritated by their inability to form the last part of their sentence. They expect irritation as the pause lengthens, but the boy smiles their way and shakes his head, bowing it over his cup soon after.

“No, thank you. I’m allergic, so I wanted to be sure,” They nod, jumping a bit as the larger of the two reaches out to take his own cup, his hot fingers brushing their skin. They glance his way, guilt flooding their body as they spot the already-darkening bruises on his throat from their attack.

They shake the guilt away before moving to sit beside their Mama, handing her her tea. The larger boy speaks first, Tav’s ears perking to the lilt of his voice, a hint of some accent there they try to place.

“Miss Carla, what happened last night? Why were we on the floor? Is the fighting over, are the creatures gone? What about Koi?” 

Tavir blinks at both the speed, and the clarity of his questions, wondering what it must be like to speak so quickly and with such conviction. Their attention switches when Carla speaks, though their eyes shift to the smaller twin’s hands and how they shake against his mug. They begin to worry he might break the cup and cut himself by mistake if he holds it any tighter.

“One at a time baby. Last night was an attack from a man who called himself the Lady’s Apostle. As for being on the floor, I put you to sleep so you wouldn’t have to listen to the fighting all night, and to be quite honest, carrying you to bed is awkward now that you’re adults. In a size way, not a personal one. As for your sister...” Carla pauses, looking out the window to the surrounding forest, the protection spell set the night before giving a slight shimmer to the light that Tav wonders if others can even see.

“Your sister is strong. Stronger than any of us can imagine her to be. Even if these creatures did get inside the walls, I can promise you both that she found some way to protect herself and your home,” 

The two boys sigh in relief, the smaller one who smells of books placing his head in his hands and removing his glasses. Tav wonders how seeing in less clarity will help him relax any.

“Gods above... Miss Carla, you said you had much to tell us, but... what does that have to do with anything last night?”

Carla bites her lip in that way Tav sees when they ask her difficult questions, like she’s trying to bite back the urge to simply say “I don’t know” and move on. They realize that this is going to be hard for their Mama, and subconsciously move closer, whimpering very quietly under their breath.

“...I promise, it’ll all make sense. For now, we have to wait for my spell to take effect in the city, and for Firae to awaken and fetch your sister. You all have to be here for this, but I fear your sister already knows everything I am about to tell you,” She sighs yet again, covering her eyes for a moment.

“I’m so sorry babies. We- your father and I- have hidden so much from you. And I fear that now is the only time I’ll be able to tell you. I have to, for your own safety. I can only hope your father can forgive me,”

[melodyofflight]

A family of angels and servants of their forest allow their determination to fill their hearts as the patriarch sets out on a perilous journey, his broken heart finally filled again.

Will they find their missing 5th member who’s long since become a ghost to time and space? Or are they doomed to remain fractured for all time?