#rosecrownreserve

[rosecrownreserve]

DWC, Day 31 - Life, Death

Warning: Violence, death of an animal companion.

I decided for today that I would try to write things a little different. I’ve never written in first person perspective before.

I don't know why I'm in such a rush to reach Silvermoon. The march of the dead was pushing on no matter what stood in its way. The humans fell to it, why wouldn't my people meet the same fate? I'm exhausted both physically and mentally, but even rested I don't see myself making a difference alone.

Alone.

It had taken a lot to leave Oleander's body behind. I couldn't carry him, I haven't been able to lift him since he was a cub. I have to shake my head violently and force further thoughts of Oleander out. I can't stop now, going back is for when things are safe again. And I won't be able to see where I'm going if the tears return.

Ahead I see other defenders working hard at repelling packs of the dead and I all too eagerly, though tiredly as well, throw myself into it. This is muscle memory now. Drawing back the string on my bow, letting arrows fly even while having to keep moving to maintain distance. All of this grounds me in a way I need, keeping me from breaking internally from everything that's happening.

We rally ourselves as the bodies lie still once more, the others quickly learned to aim for the heads as well. There's barely time to regroup and exchange any intel before more packs come shuffling along. In the haze of combat, my ears pick up the sound of an all-too-familiar roar with an unsettling twist to it.

Beyond the current group of corpses, an undead lynx being ridden by an armored corpse awaited. Even altered by death, and in the heat of battle, I would never fail to recognize my own partner.

I suppose it made sense, didn't it? There had been some undead animals among the ranks pushing toward Silvermoon. Those that stood in the way of death's advance became part of it once they fell.

Which means if I fall, I could be reunited with him.

But this is the cold shock needed to push me out of my thoughts once more. I'm not ready to die yet, much less become part of something that could threaten the world itself. The rider using my partner has decided to get involved. There are only two other defenders left with me now, spreading out so we aren't all in one place for it to charge.

I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but I become the target of the charging cat. The rider, whether by design or inability to stay atop the pouncing lynx was left behind and tumbling along the ground.

I know the way Oleander fights. I've seen him in action more than enough over the years. But seeing it and having it aimed at me are two very different things. I avoid the charge but as the creepy glowing eyes stare me down, I don't find the strength to fire my arrow.

Dodging further attempts to reach me, or narrowly avoiding swiping claws, I try to keep my distance but he's always been great at keeping with me. Even with the other two firing at it, having dispatched his foolish rider, its clear that his focus is entirely on me.

“Please.” I plead with him. With any hint of him beneath the cold twisted exterior. But even commands don't break the spell upon him. Finally an arrow from one of the others catches his leg to slow his advances, his back already appears to be a pincushion. All of these things crush the part of my mind intently focused on remembering my partner.

My bow is finally drawn once more, my hand unsteadily holding the string. The shouting of the the other defenders has faded from the periphery of my focus. In the distance I know they're having to focus on new enemies while still confused at my hesitation. But all I see before me is my best friend in this world, even as he seeks to kill me. Hobbled leg or not, it's clear what he plans to do.

As he starts to move, my arrow flies.

I'm so sorry.

* * *

This forest isn't like the one I've grown up in. There are so many strange beings around, but all have been friendly. Every so often I catch a scent of something familiar, but the longer I stay the less I smell to make me think of home. How long have I been here?

I miss my friend.

I don't know how they know him but the keepers here once told me I had done a great thing and saved his life. That one day I might be reunited with him if I want to be. As if I wouldn't!

One day they excitedly announced that it was time for me to return. But as they were explaining, I fell into a deep slumber.

You will be reborn, experience life anew!

* * *

I've been placed in a box, told that I'm to have a new master after tonight. My siblings have each been given to people of their own, until only I remain. I can hear the sounds of people beyond the box, they all sound quite happy about something, until everything goes quiet and my box is picked up. I'm being moved!

The top of the box is removed and the light pours in finally. Unlike the long-eared people that have cared for me since birth, the one staring at me is pale, with hair a color I've never seen on a person before.

Something deep inside me fills me with a sense of happiness as we stare at each other. An instinct pleased to be reunited with family.

He removes me from the box at last to hold me in his arms as everyone around returns to their happy activities. By morning, he announces that he plans to call me Myra.

@daily-writing-challenge

[rosecrownreserve]

DWC, Day 3 - Romance, Compromised

Suncrown Village had once been a place Leo'mar enjoyed visiting when he had free time. It had been a place he could come and relax during down time with plenty of friendly people. There had even been a girl he always made sure to visit, even if he was only passing through briefly. Whatever budding romance there may have been, unfortunately there could be no visits now.

The undead plague had swept through Lordaeron to the south. To hear it from what remained of the Human Paladins, the kingdom's food had been compromised. Unaware, those who consumed the tainted food soon fell ill and became dead monstrosities. Word was that the Human Prince led the growing army of the dead.

Leo had been among a number of Farstriders keeping an eye on the situation. While some were sent back to give warning when the parade of death moved for Quel'thalas, it hadn't been carried out with urgency. How could these monsters break through the protections?

Having followed the trail of death, Leo found himself looking over what remained of Suncrown Village. Along with his lynx, the pair were doing their best to remain concealed as even with the bulk of the dead working their way toward Silvermoon, he could still see movement in the village. Whether they were formerly villagers or the invaders Leo tried not to think about.

As the pair continued on, he doubted the girl he kept returning for would ever be seen again.

[rosecrownreserve]

DWC, Day 2 - Wander, Blame

“Where have you been!?”

Leo'mar had barely been in his room for two minutes when the door had swung open. His mother stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. The look she had fixed on him was more than a little familiar. His mouth opened to say something but she quickly cut him off. “How many times have I told you that animals belong outside?”

His red lynx, Oleander, was lying on his bed looking pleased with himself. If anything, the more pleased the lynx seemed, the more annoyed his mother became. It had been a topic for years, ever since he had claimed the lynx as a cub. No animals were allowed in the house. A reason was never provided, at least not from her. He had once asked his father about it but the only answer he received was a tense remark about an accident when Leo was a little.

Despite this, it had never stopped him. Especially when Oleander was still small enough to sneak in. It also hadn't taken him long to discover that there were enchantments on doors to let animal companions come and go. Whatever had happened when he was a child, he wasn't letting it get in the way of bonding with his companion. Now that Leo spent most of his time out and away from home he respected the rule less after spending most days and nights with Oleander at his side. It made every return home more confrontational than normal.

“You were supposed to be here for today's mixer! You have to come out of hiding and socialize! Do you realize how difficult it is for us to find you a wife when they have nothing but our stories of you? Our family only has so much power to rely on a suitable match!”

Leo did indeed pull every trick he had to avoid attending his family's gatherings. He had known there would be one today, and had slipped out with the sunrise to wander the woods and perform some impromptu training. He had gotten wise to his mother's attempts to make him socialize. Every so often he even let her win and suffered through it.

If it was the sort of event he could quietly sit and enjoy Leo would have been fine with it, but as he got older his mother became more intent on pushing him into the spotlight to meet more people. Family friends and acquaintances, people connected through work. Particularly young ladies. Leo disliked all of it, though he tried not to hold it against her. She was doing what had been done to her, once upon a time.

He also knew that if he had siblings her attention wouldn't be quite so intently focused on him. As such, he always tried to make it up to her, yet both knew what would happen the next time he was expected to attend an event. He dreaded the idea that one day he would return home and find a woman waiting to be bound to him. The longer he spent away from home, the more likely it became. The message become increasingly insistent. Without siblings, the sooner he married and had children the better. At least as far as the family was concerned.

Leo tried very hard not to blame her for that increasing pressure leading him to rarely returning home.

[rosecrownreserve]

DWC, Day 16 - Sincerity, Sorrow

Revendreth left Leo'mar uncomfortable. A place for souls in need of redemption, it nearly unsettled him more than Maldraxxus.

He helped how he could, all the while wishing to somehow help the souls he witnessed. Even having been told that they needed to be cleansed of their sins, it was hard for Leo to ignore such sorrow. Until he read his first Sinstone.

No matter how the wailing souls pulled at the part of him that wished to help, everything he read on the Sinstones he paid attention to left him feeling a conflicting amount of satisfaction that they were suffering now. Encountering the ones on their way to repenting gave him hope for the rest as they confessed the error of their ways with the sincerity of one looking to be better.

In all the stones that caught his eye, he never expected to see one that he would recognize. Yet there was no mistaking the name of his own mother. His eyes were naturally drawn to it. It had been years since he had truly thought about his mother. The thought that she was here somewhere, potentially among the chorus of cries...

It didn't feel satisfying at all.

Leo wouldn't have imagined her deserving this fate, even in the days and months following her death. He had slowly come around to the same thing everyone else had, remembering her for who she had been for all the time he had known her, and not as she had become at the end.

Before he could read the first line of her stone, Leo forced himself to turn away. He couldn't read the sins that had landed her here. He didn't want to know anything about her actions that he may have been blind to in the moment. He hoped with all he had that her soul wasn't out there stubbornly refusing to repent.

He doubted he would be told anything if he asked about her.

@daily-writing-challenge

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DWC, Day 4 - Accomplish, Macabre

Kael'thas Sunstrider had fallen. For real this time. Many of his steadfast supporters had chosen to join their King in the afterlife than be taken and live as the traitors they were considered to be. The combined forces had been able to reclaim the Isle of Quel'danas, though they had pockets of resistance left to deal with. The Sunwell had even been restored and purified into a font of Light.

But as many celebrated, there was a lot to clean up and deal with.

Leo'mar and his father found themselves not celebrating but instead faced with the macabre task of identifying the bodies of family members that had supported the Sun King until the very end. Most of this was performed by his father, as the one that knew his family best, yet Leo remained at his side out of support even when at times he could barely make himself look upon the twisted bodies.

Not until they found the body of his mother.

Until that moment, every memory he had of her she appeared the same way. She had always been a beautiful woman, with long light red hair and eyes that seemed to twinkle with every smile. No matter how many times he had angered her with his antics, she always softened later on no matter how fierce she looked in the moment.

The woman he couldn't help but stare at now was nothing like his memories. This woman, while once beautiful, had become twisted from her use of destructive powers. Once long hair was now short with only hints of color beneath whatever had caused it to become blackened. Also blackened were her hands and patches of skin on her arms, dark patches cracked and raw from undoubted repeated damage. And her face...

Gaunt and somehow radiating hatred even in death, Leo wouldn't have believed it to be his mother if not for his father's pained confirmation. He had always wondered why she had so fervently supported the push to embrace Fel energy and all the terrible plans Kael'thas had on the other side of the Dark Portal. She had always been so reverent to the ways of Nature, what had she hoped to accomplish?

There were many questions Leo had been left with, with no way to ever receive the answers.

[rosecrownreserve]

Daily Writing Challenge 2021

This was the first time I committed to such a thing, I can’t wait to do more. Whether it’s next year’s challenge, or other similar writing challenges. Maybe one year NaNoWriMo?

Here’s a compiled list from this year’s challenge.

Day 1 - Reunion, Afterlife

Day 2 - Wander, Blame

Day 3 - Romance, Compromised

Day 4 - Accomplish, Macabre

Day 5 - Music, Savage

Day 6 - Festival, Ruins

Day 7 - Charity, Soul

Day 8 - Wonder, Invasive

Day 9 - Colors, Disappear

Day 10 - Feast, Sleepless

Day 11 – Moonlight, Watch

Day 12 – Ball, Gravestone

Day 13 – Pride, The Maw

Day 14 – Redemption, Hollow (Warning: Violence, death of an animal companion.)

Day 15 – Memory, Chase

Day 16 – Sincerity, Sorrow

Day 17 – Spellbinding, Disappointment

Day 18 – Precognition, Collapse

Day 19 – Affection, Wake (Warning: Sexual content)

Day 20 – Master, Jealousy

Day 21 – Rendezvous, Carnage

Day 22 – Court, Taboo

Day 23 – Serendipity, Frightened

Day 24 – Revelry, Denial

Day 25 – Reprisal, Immortal

Day 26 – Sensual, Burn

Day 27 – Delicious, Blood

Day 28 – Ascension, Obsession

Day 29 – Heart, Monster

Day 30 – Ceremony, Catastrophic

Day 31 – Life, Death (Warning: Violence, death of an animal companion.)

[rosecrownreserve]

DWC, Day 9 - Colors, Disappear

Warning: (Non-descriptive) Shower scene, anti-glitter propaganda?

Camliri had been right. Glitter was hard to remove.

The Fire Festival had ended, and after a weekend  wearing little more than a pair of shorts, Leo'mar had come home with a fair bit of glitter on his upper body and his legs below the knees. It was almost impossible to avoid, to a point.

There had been no especially close contact with anyone, though he had been lured into dancing by Cam. The Tarts had been quite kind to him throughout the weekend. No doubt partly professional courtesy as hosts, but he had seen enough before and after to know it was more than that.

Leo had done little more than climb the stairs up to his bedroom in order to flop into bed to sleep somewhere cool after days in the desert. It wasn't until he had slowly risen later on that he noticed specs of glitter that had transferred on to his bed as he slept.

The bed got stripped for washing before he stripped himself and stepped into the bath. From above water rained down upon him as he scrubbed at his skin. Leo had mentioned a potential concoction to remove glitter when Camliri had flirtatiously asked for help in the matter.

He tried it out as he scrubbed, opening up the bottle of oily elixir to work into his skin. As pretty as the colors might have been, Leo much preferred not having to find specs of glitter on himself or anything he came into contact with for weeks to come.

Rinsing himself off the glitter seemed to just disappear, leaving behind only a few stubborn bits on his torso. Although without eyes on the back of his head he couldn't tell what the state of his back was. The mirror as he towelled off was only so useful.

Leo made a note to offer some of the elixir to Cam when they got the chance to talk again.

Mentions @dawnweaverestates @camliristarfallen

@daily-writing-challenge

[rosecrownreserve]

DWC, Day 1 - Reunion, Afterlife

Leo'mar awoke with a start as a weight settled against him. He had been resting against a tree deep within the forest, and as he looked about he found the only thing around to be his great red lynx fixing its golden eyes upon him as though unhappy he had moved so suddenly. The pair had spent so much time in the wild after Leo joined the ranks of the Farstriders, yet the forest around them suddenly felt unfamiliar.

Where Quel'thalas and even Lordaeron to the south had vibrant green grass, the grass here was somehow dull even if still green. The trees were wider and taller, with dark foliage canopies high above. Bioluminescent plants and flowers appeared to form pathways and designs in the grass.

Leo had risen from his resting place to take several steps into the clearing to get his bearings, but every step only left him feeling more confused. “This doesn't feel right. Come on, we'd better...” He spoke as he turned about, but found his lynx was no longer lying by the tree. “Go.”

He called out for his companion as he searched the area. Under normal circumstances Leo would have been thrilled to explore somewhere new but a nagging feeling was working its way into him. His lynx had never failed to come when called, or do as he said.

Except... Again the nagging feeling pulled at him.

The sudden call of his lynx sent him running. Leo found the lynx sitting in front of a tree as though waiting for him. For all he could tell anymore, as he dropped do his knees and threw his arms around the lynx, it could have been the clearing they started in. The reunion the lynx reminded him of everything, including the place they were in.

Ardenweald. The afterlife.

Leo had taken his lynx everywhere, they had been inseparable. Until the Scourge. His lynx had given its life for him. The thought of what had happened after made Leo's eyes shut. “I'm so sorry. I never wanted to.” The lynx butted its head into his shoulder, then pulled itself from Leo's arms. The longer he watched, the more the lynx resembled the other spirits he had seen on visits to Ardenweald.

Leo's eyes opened to the darkness of his bedroom. The last thing he recalled was the sudden roar of his lynx, and the feeling that it had found peace. As he struggled to return to sleep, he was left wondering if his mind had made it up to console himself, or if it was a sign. Thoughts of revisiting Ardenweald ran through his mind as he drifted away once more.