𓇢𓆸 𓆤 𖧧 𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𖧧 𓍊𓋼 𔓘

𝔸𝕊 the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon ascended in the sky, the passage of time etched its story on the canvas of Melody and Vign's shared existence. Days seamlessly transformed into weeks, weeks into months, and with each passing moment, the bond between them deepened. Philo, a welcome addition to their circle, became an integral part of their lives.

Within the hallowed walls of the library, a space that evolved into their sanctuary, the glow of lanterns cast a warm embrace over Melody and Vign. They lay on a carefully arranged bed, wrapped in a cozy blanket that cocooned their forms. The air was filled with a tranquil ambiance, punctuated by the whispers of knowledge that surrounded them. In this intimate haven, Melody cradled a bead shaped like a delicate flower, connected to a string entwined in Vign's hair. A curious inquiry escaped her lips, "What does this represent?" Vign, with a fond smile, responded, "It signifies my surname—Stonemoss."

As the conversation wove its tapestry, Melody's fingers traced the contours of another bead. She inquired once more, her eyes filled with curiosity, "And this one?" Vign's gaze followed, and he shared, "It marks the year of my birth." The unspoken stories within each bead echoed the narrative of their love, a tale written in the language of shared moments and intertwined destinies.

"Which is?" Melody inquired with a playful glint in her eyes. Vign responded with a teasing grin, "Oh, that would be telling." Melody smiled as her fingers gently explored a woven bead, curiosity evident in her gaze. "What about this one?" she asked, prompting Vign to share another piece of the intricate puzzle. Vign's eyes softened as he explained, "That is the one a lass gives away when he gives his heart." With a subtle shift, he sat up and reached for a cup nearby, taking a sip. Melody mirrored his action, turning her back to him momentarily. His gaze lingered on her, and his eyes caught sight of a large scar. Intrigued, he traced it gently with his hand, sending a shiver down her spine.

"It's a childhood injury," Melody explained as Vign studied the scar. His curiosity piqued, he inquired, "How did it happen?" Her response carried a touch of nostalgia, "I don't know. I was too young to remember. All I know is that the same thing happened to Philo, who has similar scars on his back but not as pronounced as mine. Also, how we both ended up at the Finding Home. " She chuckled sadly.

Vign, filled with sympathy, looked at her and then back at the scar. Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed the scar with a tenderness that spoke of love. The kiss trailed to her neck as he whispered, "I think you are beautiful no matter what." In that moment, the scars became a testament to resilience, and Vign's words echoed the depth of his affection for the imperfect, yet captivating, canvas of Melody's being.

ଓ༉‧.⭒ֶָ֢⋆.

As a few moments passed, Melody found herself walking alongside Philo, seeking refuge under the sheltering roof of a nearby building. The ambiance was warmed by the flickering flames of a fire, and to their surprise, a male fae with crutches stood nearby, basking in the heat.

Philo, ever considerate, returned with two cups in hand. "It's cold," he remarked, filling the mugs with a comforting, warm liquid. One cup was extended towards Melody with a gentle smile. Just as the fae was about to depart, Philo's concern broke the silence. "You all right, mate?" he inquired, his eyes fixed on the fae. The fae met his gaze, and with a touch of vulnerability, he admitted, "I know it sounds mad, but I swear sometimes I think I can still feel it." Gesturing to the stump where his leg once was, the fae expressed the physical reminder of a loss that lingered.

"It's not mad. Just don't try standing on it, eh?" Philo joked, prompting a small chuckle from the fae before he left the shelter. Fluttering his wings, he gracefully ascended towards another building. Meanwhile, Melody observed the scene outside while sipping her drink. A voice interrupted their moment, drawing the attention of the siblings. "So, Sergeant... I saw you talking to that chap. What do you think of the fae?" inquired the captain, cigarette in hand. Philo responded, "They're an interesting people."

"Are they?" questioned the captain, his curiosity evident. "In what sense?" he pressed, just as Melody decided to join the conversation. "Well, they've been around much longer than we have, for a start," she remarked, locking eyes with the captain.

He raised an eyebrow and took a drag from his cigarette before posing a thought-provoking question, "And yet, their industry lags far behind ours. Why do you think that is?"

"I really couldn't say, sir," Philo responded. "Perhaps they've pursued different ends to ours." The captain nodded in acknowledgment before adding, "Indeed they have. Idolatry, intemperance, fornication. Their ways have built the very empire that now crumbles around us. And we must be careful not to be seduced."

Philo exchanged a brief glance with Melody before the captain made his exit. As he left, Melody sighed, sensing the weight of the captain's words. However, her attention quickly shifted as she observed Darius hastily making his way toward the exit. Without exchanging words, Melody nudged Philo, and they began to follow Darius, who seemed unaware of their silent pursuit.

As Darius reached the forest, he hastily discarded his coat and began removing his clothing with an urgent motion. "Fucking... wait," he muttered. He dropped to his knees, facing the pale moon as the clouds shifted, unveiling the celestial body in its full glory. "All right. I'm all yours."

With those words, Darius's body underwent a profound transformation, breaking and reforming itself into a new, primal shape. An animalistic howl echoed through the night as the two siblings observed from behind a tree, maintaining a safe distance. They hid in the shadows as Darius, now transformed, bolted off into the deep forest, on the prowl for his prey. A meal.

ଓ༉‧.⭒ֶָ֢⋆.

As morning unfolded, Darius lay on the blood-drenched forest floor, beside a lifeless deer. Awakening to the sight of the dead animal, its eyes devoid of life, he examined his blood-stained hands. With a sense of realization, he walked to the nearby lake, washing the evidence of the night's hunt from his body.

As he cleansed himself, a feeling of being watched lingered. Turning around, Darius discovered the two siblings, Philo and Melody, gazing down at him. Philo held Darius' discarded clothes, and as he rose, Melody averted her eyes. "It's not what it looks like," Darius insisted to Philo, who retorted, "How the hell could it possibly be anything else?" With those words, Philo dropped the clothes for Darius to dress into, the weight of the morning's events hanging in the air.

"I've got it under control," Darius reassured after getting dressed, and the two siblings sat beside him, their gazes fixed on the tranquil view of the lake and the surrounding forest. "It's only once a month. And I've got a whole forest to get myself lost in," he continued, attempting to downplay the gravity of his monthly transformation. As the trio contemplated their future, Philo posed a question, "What are you gonna do when we get back to the Burgue?" Melody, lost in her own thoughts about leaving behind the place and people she had come to care about, felt a pang of uncertainty.

"Nowhere to run there," Philo remarked, acknowledging the challenges of returning to the city. Darius, with a resigned expression, responded, "I'll hand myself in. And they can do whatever they do." Philo met his gaze and added, "They'll take care of you is what. You're their soldier."

A chuckle escaped Darius. "Not anymore. Not to them. To them, I'm... I'm this. A bloody Critch. Except worse, because I'm a Critch that could turn them Critch. They'll put a bullet in my head on the spot," he lamented.

Melody, refusing to accept that fate for Darius, spoke up, "They won't." Philo nodded in agreement, determined. "I'll take care of it," he asserted. Darius, appreciating their support, glanced at the siblings, particularly Melody, before turning his gaze to the lake. "Anyway... I'm not the only one with a secret, am I, Melody?" Darius asked, catching her off guard. Their eyes met, and he continued, "I can smell it all over you." Melody blushed slightly, and Darius, without waiting for her response, diverted the conversation. "The wolf fades slowly. It's that pix you've been doting on, isn't it?"

Philo intervened, "Don't change the subject." Darius persisted, looking at Melody, "You're really in deep, aren't you?" Melody remained silent, the unspoken answer lingering. "I get it," Darius said, looking up at the sky. "I look forward to the change. I'll be shitting bones and leather for a week," he joked, eliciting a small chuckle from them.

"But in the moment... when the wolf comes out, it's freedom. It's like the wolf was that you were all along, underneath it all, and the bite was just permission to stop pretending. And that's what this whole fucking place is," he concluded, his words hanging in the air.

As they absorbed the weight of Darius's revelation, the tranquillity was disrupted by the distant sounds of an engine and wings. They turned their attention to the horizon, witnessing the arrival of fae folk at Anoun while a horn echoed through the air.

ଓ༉‧.⭒ֶָ֢⋆.

As Vign stood with his fellow fae, watching the arrival of others attempting to land, a sense of weariness emanated from the newcomers. Concerned, some fae rushed to assist them. Vign scanned the group, searching for a familiar face. When he finally spotted the fae he was looking for, he swiftly descended from the little balcony, approaching him. "Aline," Vign exclaimed with relief as they embraced each other. "Oh, Vign! Oh!" Aline replied, the relief evident in his voice. Vign pulled back from the hug, concern etching his features. "What happened?" he inquired.

Aline's expression grew somber as he shared the harrowing news, "We were attacked. Kish... it's fallen." Vign's eyes reflected the sadness he felt for his friend. They embraced once more before guiding Aline inside. There, a bath awaited, and Aline immersed himself, while Vign fetched herbs to tend to his wounds.

"It was awful," Aline recounted. "They waited to start shelling until they could surround the city with sharpshooters. Once it began, and we tried to get away, they started picking us right out of the air." The gravity of the situation hung heavy in the air as Vign listened, his heart heavy with the weight of the news. "Fecking Pact." Vign gritted his teeth as he crushed some herbs, "Like the Burguish are any better?" Aline asked as Vign replied, "They're our allies, aren't they?" As he put the herbs in the water, "Please. They're Imperialist shites, same as the Pact. They play the fae against each other so they can take home the spoils."

"So you flew all night?" Vign asked, his gaze fixed on his friend. Aline nodded, a mixture of exhaustion and introspection in his eyes. "It's, um... it's funny how a crisis brings all your regrets into focus. I saw my whole life go up in flames, and all I knew is that I had to get to you, my brother." Vign smiled before his gaze shifted downward. "What?" Aline questioned, seeking an explanation. Vign looked back up, a revelation on his mind. "I've met someone," he confessed, his eyes meeting Aline's.

"Oh? Well, it's about damn time," Aline teased, a sigh of relief escaping him. "I thought you were going to die alone." Vign rolled his eyes, chuckling at the jest. "Is it someone you met here?" Aline inquired as Vign rose and handed him a towel. "She's a nurse... a Burguish nurse," Vign revealed. Aline's expression shifted from relief to shock. Before he could say anything, Vign preemptively addressed the unspoken concerns. "Before you say anything, yes, she's a Burguish nurse, she is fae, but please do not tell anyone." Vign clarified, locking eyes with Aline. The shock transformed into a mix of relief and confusion.

"She's a great woman," Vign asserted. Aline responded, "I'm sure she is, but if she is fae, why is she a nurse for the Burguishmen? And I won't tell anyone, I promise." Vign sighed, recognizing the need to explain. He recounted Melody's story about her wings and Philo, shedding light on the complexities of the situation.

Aline smiled at his friend, "I'm happy for you man, but I've got to ask, have you thought about why she hides her wings and as to what will happen if she leaves?" Aline asked as Vign looked down as his mind wondered at the question, would she leave? Vign wondered.

𓇢𓆸 𓆤 𖧧 𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𖧧 𓍊𓋼 𔓘

By: SilverMist707