#And Dawn Warden is so ENERGETIC!!

[eyenaku]

Do you have a favorite ward/warden in particular ??

OH THAT'S SO HARD!! I think it's easier for me to say my least favourite (Sun Ward).

After thinking about it I think that the remaining three are essentially tied, but by a hairline Dusk Warden and Moon Ward are my favourites!

I adore Dawn Warden's expression, but I feel as a whole he works better in conjunction with the rest as opposed to a stand-alone piece (just barely though), where as Dusk Warden was designed to be alone, and Moon Ward works well individually as well. Dawn Warden looks so very mischievous that she needs some context; whether that is the other pieces, a background, or something to "play" with is irrelevant.

I tend to pair up the wardens though, as they contrast each other very well in expression and design. They're really made for each other :3

TL;DR: Sun Ward is my Least favourite, and the other three are tied with Dusk Warden just barely being at the top as my Most favourite.

#I think I also might be more attached to Dusk Warden because he was the first yanno? #Also because I draw him the most (I don't think I've made a coloured drawing of any of the other ones actually wh) #I love love Moon Ward though... she's so BABY #And Dawn Warden is so ENERGETIC!! #Sun Ward is nice in its own right I just don't have any particular features that I like about it if that makes sense? #Gah they're all so different to pick a favourite #I love different traits from them all #Its a very hard question #ask #celestial wards #thank you for the ask btw :3 I love talkin about my guys #if anyone wants to know things about them (even dumb stuff like what I think they would like to eat or behaviour patterns) #I very much like to ramble about them :3

[monsoon-of-art]

Donut Hole - Chapter 15

Two Time

I'm out on the block again (Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba) So hopped up that I can't pretend (Ooh) Two time! (Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba) Stay friends Problem that you can't defend (Oh) Hands up, feel okay (Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba) Whose heart could I break today? Two time! (Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba) Stay friends Problem that you can't defend

[Big long chapter for you guys to snack on!] [ao3 Link!]

The two clan leaders met on the path to Jubilife.

“Good morning, Irida.”

“There is little good about it.”

Adaman smirked a little at this. “Oh, Sinnoh forbid you had to wake up early-”

“There was an accident at my settlement.” she said, the coldness in her voice immediately made Adaman regret his joking quip.

“I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware. Is it an overstep to ask what happened?”

“Yes. Yes it would be.”

They may have been working together to quell the nobles with the Galaxy Team, but things were still…frosty.

But Adaman wasn’t one to give up. “Just as well.” he said, arms crossed over his chest, his tone casual. “We’ve had issues as well. Currently half of our settlement is buried under mud from a landslide.”

“But it’s not the season for landslides?” Irida said quietly, raising an eyebrow.

“I know. There was…an incident.” he explained. “That's why I’m here, to seek the aid of the Galaxy team. My people can’t handle the frenzied nobles and the aftermath of a landslide.”

Irida was silent for a moment. “...there was a fire. A very bad one. I am here to discuss options-”

“It was the boy, wasn’t it?”

She shot him a surprised look. “How did you-?!”

Adaman shook his head. “Call it a hunch. And between you me, that kid was behind the landslide. He’s been running my poor people ragged. He ruined Iscan’s tent, and he even bit Arezu.”

“He bit her?” she repeated, “I suppose we’re lucky he only caused a fire.”

“That you know of. He’s still in the Icelands, right? Pray your precious mentor can handle him!”

“Well he handled Palina, Lian, and I-” she shook her head. “We are getting off topic. My people need to rebuild, and my Wardens cannot afford any more of their time. He already rattled Ingo something fierce. He won’t tell us what Berry said to him, but it’s clearly bothering him-”

“Well. Then we are here for the same reason.” Adaman drawled. “That kid needs help. And we don’t have the time -”

“- or space -”

“- to do anything about it. But Jubilife should be able to help, right? I’d hate to ask, but this seems like their…thing. They took Dawn in, what’s one more wayward child, right?”

Irida grimaced. “Argh. Dawn. Should we tell her?”

He waved her off. “Nah. Poor girl has so much on her plate already. She doesn’t have to worry about some…feral kid.”

As the two approached the gates, who else but Dawn ran out to greet them. Despite themselves, both Adaman and Irida smiled.

Despite the circumstances of their previous meetings, both of them had grown quite fond of the girl. 

She was a sweet little thing, kind and quiet. Every warden she had previous interactions with spoke highly of her (aside from Melli). And her way with pokemon, while terrifying, was equally as endearing. She really did love them.

“Irida! Adaman! It’s so good to see you!” she chirped upon seeing them, running up and around them like an energetic shinx. “I caught the most AMAZING pokemon yesterday! You have to see him!”

“Oh, I would love to under normal circumstances.” Adaman said, sounding genuinely disappointed. The last time she wanted to show them ‘an amazing pokemon’, it was the Alpha Sliggoo from the mirelands. “However, we must meet with the Commander. Time is short-”

“Oh, come now, Adaman. I am sure your Almighty Sinnoh won’t mind you spending a few moments to entertain her. Besides, I was told to offer well wishes from Ingo.” scolded Irida. “We would love to see your Pokemon, Dawn.”

Dawn’s grin split ear to ear. “I found him on the Coastlands yesterday, and he’s beeeeautiful!”

(Irida was almost positive it would be a Gastrdon. Adaman had his bets on a Drapion.)

Dawn presented the two with a buizel, slightly smaller than average. But the main thing was the color; this particular buizel was a pale yellow, its collar a brilliant white.

“Look! Look! It has different colors!” she squealed, hugging the pokemon tight. “He’s one-in-a-million! He’s absolutely perfect, and we’re going to be best of friends!”

“Wow, I’ve never seen a buizel like that!” Adaman said, looking it up and down. “And I bet you’ll take good care of it.”

“Back home, my bestest friend in the whole world had a buizel.” Dawn said, voice barely above a whisper.

Adaman and Irida shared a look. Dawn rarely, if ever, spoke about her time before Hisui. 

“Yeah?” Irida asked, more than a little curious. “What was he like?”

The dam burst, and Dawn began happily telling the pair everything. 

“Well, we were neighbors, and we went to school together! From the very beginning!” she began, swinging the buizel in her arms like a stuffed toy, practically bouncing in place. “None of the other kids liked him because he talked and talked, but I liked hearing him talk!”

(Irida and Adaman wanted to interject and ask questions, but there was no stopping her now.)

“And we’d go on adventures! We traveled really far! He was always a step ahead of me, but he’d always make sure to wait! And when my bike broke, he’d let me sit behind him on his bike and he’d take me places! We’d share food! He loved- he-he loved-”

The joy in her voice was quickly souring. She had stopped bouncing. Adaman and Irida had noticed the shift, and even the buizel in her arms seemed to be aware.

“H-He loved pecha berries. An-And whenever we’d eat, I-I’d give him my berries. We-We got our pokemon together. W-We were side…side by side…always…always… and…a-and I miss hiimmmmmm…”

Dawn melted into a blubbery, weeping, whining mess, crying into the buizel’s fur. Immediately, Adaman and Irida knelt by her side, trying to comfort her.

“It’s alright, it’s alright, no need for tears now.” Irida cooed, petting the girl’s hair. 

Adaman put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m certain you’ll see him again, Dawn. It sounds like you were the best of friends, and I doubt that Almighty Sinnoh would tear you two apart.”

Dawn wiped at her face, still holding the confused buizel in one arm. “I-I named this buizel after him, a-after an inside joke, where we’d call a buizel ‘Barry’ and I-I’d call my friend ‘Human-Barry’, h-he never thought it was funny-”

“Dawn.” Irida said, an anxious tremor in her voice. “What was your friend’s name again?”

“Barry.” she repeated. “His name is Barry.”

“And…what did he look like?” Irida continued, suddenly looking very pale.

Dawn sniffled a little, the strangeness of the question seemingly distracting her from her sadness. “He…he was slightly taller than me. And blonde, with hair that tended to spike up, no matter how hard he tried. And he loved his green scarf, because he thought it made him look like his dad-”

“His father. What was his father’s name?” Irida continued the questioning, slipping into her ‘leader’ tone of voice.

“Uhm. Palmer?” Dawn squirmed, leaning closer to Adaman. “You’re freaking me out.”

“Irida, back off a little.”

She did so, hesitantly, flitting back like a spooked starly. “I-I apologize, Dawn. This must be hard for you.” She grabbed Adaman’s arm, starting to pull him away. “W-We really must be going now-”

He spun around, confused. “But what about Kamado-”

“I. Need. To Talk. To You. Remember?” Irida said through grit teeth, glancing at Dawn. “Alone.”

Irida dragged him away, giving poor, confused Dawn a polite wave as she did so.

Once a decent distance - out of Dawn’s earshot anyway - Adaman yanked his arm out of Irida’s grip. “Look, is all this really necessary-”

“The Boy that has caused so much havoc. He appeared out of nowhere, with clothing not native to Hisui, with the innate ability to tame pokemon?” Irida hissed through grit teeth. “Sound familiar?”

Adaman blinked. “...Ingo?”

“No! It-” Irida took a moment to stare vacantly into space, processing. “...maybe. Not what I was going for. We’ll put a pin in that.”

Adaman tried again. “You can’t be saying the Boy is the same as Dawn’s friend Barry. What if you’re wrong? Would you be willing to break a little girl’s heart by raising her hopes like that?”

“I’ve seen him. You haven’t. He’s a blonde little boy with spiky hair and a green scarf! Although granted, he looks as though he’s been dragged through dozens of mud puddles - You cannot deny these coincidences!”

“But what if they’re just that? Just coincidences?”

“What if they aren’t?!”

“What if they are?!” Adaman shook his head. “We are going in circles. What do you suggest?”

"We bring Barry to Jubilife. By any means necessary. If he is not Dawn's friend, then the Galaxy Team can take care of him at the least." Irida said. "We'll drag him here if needed."

"That I can agree on. Should we tell Kamado?"

Irida hesitated. Adaman didn't answer either. An uncomfortable silence fell over the two.

Adaman finally answered for her. "...so that's a no. Let's get Barry here first. And we'll explain along the way. I'll tell my Wardens. I still believe this to be nothing more than a series of unfortunate coincidences."

"And I believe you to be a fool."

---

When Barry finally woke, most of the egg pokemon were gone. A few chansey and happiny lingered, but the rest of the herd had left.

He awoke to a shrill noise, one that annoyed him initially, but after a moment caused alarm.

It was crying. 

Barry sprang to his feet, ignoring the confused noises of his team, the aching in his legs, and the cold starting to seep into his bones.

“Someone’s in trouble-!” he muttered as he darted across the frozen, snowy wastes. “Someone’s in trouble! Someone’s in trouble!”

The crying grew louder, enough for Barry to realize it wasn’t a baby or child crying. It was a pokemon cry, but that did very little to dissuade him.

Finally he crested a hill, seeing the source; a little snover, wailing and crying as it tried to pull its foot out of a snare trap.

Barry felt his blood start to boil.

What heartless, absolute dickhead of a person would set traps for pokemon like this? Didn’t they have pokeballs? Unless…Unless they were going to kill this snover.

He carefully approached. “Hey, hey buddy. I’m here to help!” he said, keeping his voice low and soft.

The snover whined, trying to squirm away. “It’s OK buddy, I’m gonna let you go now. But don’t freak out.” Barry reached into his pocket for his knife, leaning forward to cut the trap.

The pokemon whined louder, fearing the knife in his hands, but the snover seemed to settle when it noticed Barry was cutting the trap and not at it. It even allowed Barry to cut the twine wrapped around its foot.

“There! You’re free!”

Barry was caught off guard when the snover almost tackled the boy in a hug. But he returned it as best as he could, if a little awkward. “Yeah! You’re welcome buddy! You’re free!”

When he let go, the snover continued to stare up at him. And when he started to walk back, the snover started to follow.

“Oh, you are. Coming with me.” said Barry, seeing the snover waddling behind him with determination. “How does this keep happening to me?”

Barry - with snover in tow - returned to the dug out cave where his confused pokemon were waiting for him. “So uh. I found this guy.” he glanced at the snover. “...girl. Unsure. But I think they’re gonna stick around!”

His pokemon chittered amongst themselves, as if discussing their new companion. Barry turned to the snover. “Well? Got any neat tricks or anything?”

The snover paused, looking down at the ground, thoughtful. Then, around its midsection, small white berries began to form. Once they were the size of a strawberry, the snover plucked one and handed it to Barry.

Barry didn’t hesitate in popping the berry into his mouth. It had the texture of frozen yogurt, and it tasted mildly sweet.

“...I’m gonna call you Snacks.”

The now-named Snacks gave an appreciative croon. But then it glanced down at its foot, red and swollen from the snare trap. Barry also gave it a glance with a frown. “...I bet there’s oran berries around here.”

Rummaging in his bag, Barry said, “Alright team, slight detour while we look for oran berries for-”

He paused, realizing that Fern and Pest did not technically have pokeballs. That was very dangerous, especially now that Barry had no way to carry Fern if they were injured.

Returning to his bag, he pulled out one of the remaining great balls and pokeball. “Fern, you have seniority, so you get first pick. Which one do ya want?”

Fern trilled, shaking its head. “No, c’mon. You need a pokeball for emergencies. If you get hurt I can’t drag you to a pokemon center. I won’t even keep you in it, but you need one!”

With this reassurance, Fern relented. As its paw hovered over the great ball, Barry quickly snatched it back. “Actually I want Pest in the great ball. I want the colors to match. You’re kinda red, Fern!”

Giving the boy an annoyed glance, Fern picked up the pokeball, carefully turning it over in its hands. Satisfied, Fern tapped the pokeball to its forehead, allowing itself to be captured.

(Pest thought it was a game, dodging the pokeball for a time, but he too, allowed himself to be captured.)

Upholding his promise, Barry released the two as soon as they were registered to their respective pokeballs. “Alright! Let’s start looking for some berries, then we can get back to the mountain! Spread out, but don’t go too far!”

Mystery cawed and cawed, gesturing to something behind the boy.

Glancing over his shoulder, Barry saw a little sitrus berry, set in the snow just beyond the dug-out entrance. And beyond the sitrus berry was another. And another. And another. Dozens of sitrus berries in a neat little line, leading off to…somewhere.

“That’s…odd.”

Normally, Barry would be very suspicious. If anything, this looked like a trap from a cartoon. But this wasn’t a cartoon, and he sincerely hoped that Team Galactic didn’t think he was this stupid.

There was no chance this was one of Team Galatic’s tricks. No, it must’ve been the chanseys! Trying to lead him somewhere.

So Barry and his odd little companions followed the trail of berries. He made sure his pokemon got their fill in this unexpected berry feast before tucking them away in his bag for later.

If he squinted, Barry could see the trail of yellow and blue berries snaking through the snow, twisting around a group of enormous icy spires. Maybe that’s where the blissey and chansey normally lived?

He was finding it a bit harder to cling on to his ‘chansey’ theory, especially as the giant ice blocks loomed above them all…

Fern too, seemed to sense something he didn’t. It stuck to Barry’s side, eyes darting about. His other pokemon were still collecting berries without a care.

After crossing between two massive pillars, Fern froze. As if standing steps away from a threshold of some kind, Fern refused to take a step further.

“...buddy?” Barry whispered. “What’s wrong?”

Then, Barry made the unfortunate mistake - or perhaps very fortunate mistake - of looking behind them.

There was a Magmortar clearly stalking them. Following the trail of footsteps they had left in the snow, obviously trying not to be seen.

Barry felt his heart skip a beat.

This was a trap, wasn't it.

“Don’t take anymore berries.” Barry hissed, keeping the magmortar in the corner of his vision. “We need to leave.”

But to his horror, he could see another stalking figure just outside of the ice pillars; an Electivire prowling the outskirts, blocking him in. The only path he could take was deeper into the ice.

Vaguely, Barry recalled nature documentaries. Packs of Pyroar intentionally luring their prey into bottlenecks or blockades, where they had no chance of escape.

Was he the prey?

Was he going to die here?

Barry found himself reaching into his bag and clutching his knife.

Barry and his team found the end of the berry trail, leading into a large clearing in the ice. And at the end of the trail was a shirtless man and a young girl.

The man glanced at the girl. "I cannot believe that worked."

"I told you it would! My clairvoyance is never wrong!"

Instinctively, Barry pushed his pokemon behind him. "Who are you? Are you part of Team Galactic?"

The man burst into a bellowing laugh. Only then did Barry realize - to his bewilderment and slight disgust - the man's chest hair was trimmed into the circular symbol of the Galactic splinter group.

It was obvious he was part of Galactic.

 "If I wasn't so furious, I'd almost be tempted to go easy on you for that!" The man said after settling himself down some, but a very irritated grin was still on his face. "Proper introductions are in order. I am Gaeric, Warden of the Pearl Clan!"

"And my name is Sabi, of the Diamond clan."

"You are Berry! The strange, wayward child that sets settlements ablaze and causes landslides!" Gaeric crossed his arms over his chest. The irritated grin was gone, leaving only anger. "And you will go no further."

The electivire slowly stomped into the clearing, the magmortar entering opposite it. From behind, Barry recognized the familiar silhouette of a Rhyperior.

Cornered. Trapped. Prey.

"Here are your options!" Gaeric held up a hand. "You willing come with me to the Pearl Settlement, and you wait while we decide how to punish you for your crimes. Or…we drag you there by the ankles."

"Ooooh, tough choices!" Sabi chirped. "Which will you pick, hmmm?"

Barry glanced between the three pokemon trudging through the snow to reach him. It felt like hundreds of battle strategies and movesets and possibilities raced through his mind at impossible speeds.

(He remembered fighting side by side with Her. He had begged her to come to the Fight Area, and she had gotten lost trying to find the ferry in snowpoint. Oh, oh how he had teased her for that. “I thought it was my job to get lost!” he said between fits of giggling.)

(Then, Flint and Volkner had challenged the two to a battle. With Her by Barry’s side, he knew the two of them would never lose. Flint sent out his magmortar and Volkner sent out his electivire, and-)

“Pest! String shot on the electivire, it’s fastest, so we gotta slow it down. Then, keep it distracted! Keep it confused! String shot, confusion, quiver dance! Go!” he barked, Pest launching itself off his head to follow the orders.

“Mystery! You take on the magmortar! Dodge the blasts, get in what hits you can! Haze to keep yourself hidden!” With a loud squawk, Mystery took flight, circling the fire type pokemon from above.

Finally, Barry turned to face the rhyperior behind him. “Jen! You’re on the rhyperior! It’s slow and bulky, so skirt around it until there’s an opening! No necessary risks, got it?!”

Fern shifted, ready to join the others in combat, but Barry grabbed its arm. “Not yet. Stay here. I doubt that’s all the pokemon they have…”

And his assumption was correct.

Gaeric groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose and exhaling loudly. “I knew you would do something stupid like this. Fine. If you want to fight so bad, I’ll give you a fight!”

Behind him floated in a glalie and froslass, both of them looking to the man for orders. “Freeze the boy! We’ll drag him to the settlement as an ice cube if we must!”

“Fern, take care of the ice types! I’ll protect Snacks!”

And Fern was all-too-happy to spring into action; the glalie, the froslass, and Fern circling one another in a strange, combative dance, none of them wanting to take the first shot.

Sabi frowned as she looked at all the battles before her, “You’re being so rough to my friends! That��s not how playing works! You’re being so mean!” she said with a whine.

With their Pokemon engaged in combat, Barry began to slowly move away from the battlefield, Snacks shuffling awkwardly behind him. He was looking for a potential exit, an escape plan. But it looked like they were trapped by ice and the trio of ‘friends’.

His hand was still in his bag, gripping the knife’s handle so tight it felt like he was about to lose circulation in his fingers. He was completely trapped. Cornered. Cornered. Cornered.

Gaeric, as if sensing Barry intent to escape, began making his way closer. Barry started to tremble, pressing himself against the pillar of ice behind him. Snacks let out a mournful croon, wrapping its arms around Barry’s legs.

But the man stopped. He stopped a few yards away, arms crossed. He had a strange look on his face that Barry couldn’t identify; the irritation and anger was still there…but just underneath was something softer.

“You’re not leaving.” Gaeric finally said. “I know you flee at the first chance you get. It’s not happening.”

Barry pulled out his knife, holding it with a shaking hand. “S-Stay back! I'm warning you!"

“Who taught you how to hold a knife?" Gaeric asked with an unimpressed frown. “Look at that stance! You know what-” he resumed his stride, gesturing at Barry. “Give me that. Give me the knife.”

“W-WHAT?” Barry squealed, pressing himself even more against the ice.

He didn’t actually want to have to use the knife. Barry was hoping he could bluff his way out of this, and clearly he could not.

Gaeric grabbed the boy’s wrist, the same hand currently holding the knife. “Alright. Give me the knife. You’re going to hurt someone.”

“AH- LET GO OF ME!” Barry shouted, scrambling to pull himself away. But the larger man was as solid as a boulder. 

“Give me the knife!”

“NO!”

“Just give me the knife!”

A near in-human noise clawed out of Barry’s throat as he squirmed and writhed in Gaeric’s grip. He tugged and pulled, his free hand clawing at Gaeric’s wrist.

Gaeric stood there, looking at Barry as if the boy had transformed into a feral shinx before his very eyes. “You are freaking me out. Listen, you’re not going to win this fight. Look-”

He pulled the boy over, twisting him around to show the battlefield. Pest was still keeping the electivire distracted, Mystery was dodging the magmortar attacks, Jen was still keeping the rhyperior occupied.

Fern was currently locked in battle with his glalie, attempting to land a punch on the floating ice type. What Fern didn’t notice, though, was froslass creeping behind it.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with your deformed Gardevoir…Gallade…thing. But whatever it is, I know it won’t be able to take a shadow ball in the back.”

“FERN!” Barry screamed, still trying to tear his wrist from Gaeric’s grip. “FERN BEHIND YOU!”

The warning came just moments too late. Fern was just barely able to spin around and raise an arm to try and protect itself from the attack. 

The shadow ball was a direct hit.

Fern was engulfed in an explosion of purple, ghostly energy.

But when the smoke cleared, Fern was still standing. Shaking, clearly injured, but still standing.

Gaeric’s jaw dropped. “What in Sinnoh’s name IS that thing?!”

“That’s my FRIEND, you ASSHOLE!” Barry practically screamed, continuing his writhing struggles.

Snacks was crying behind him. Pest and Mystery were clearly growing tired. Jen was barely dodging attacks. Fern was outnumbered.

His pokemon needed him. His pokemon needed him! 

“NOW LET! ME! GO!”

Barry kicked him. Kicked him hard. Right between his legs.

The surprised and pained squeak from the man was almost satisfying. But more importantly, as Gaeric slumped to the ground, he let go of Barry's wrist.

His glalie and froslass, alerted by their master’s distress, abandoned combat with Fern. 

“FERN!” Barry shouted, trying - and failing - to pick up Snacks. (Since when were snovers so heavy?) “GO HELP JEN!”

A bit slow from the shadow ball, Fern eventually staggered over to the rhyperior.

“Hey! That’s no fair! And no fun!” Sabi yelled from…somewhere. Barry had kind of lost track of her in the fight. But he finally noticed her on top of one of the pillars with a giant bird. “You’re cheating!”

And said giant bird looked mean. There was no way his team could take that thing on, not now.

“I’m fine with that!” Barry yelled back. “Take out the rhyperior!”

The rhyperior wasn’t sure which target to focus on with Fern joining the fray, and this confusion was enough for Jen to land a well-placed water pulse and for Fern to hit with a close combat immediately after.

The enormous rock pokemon staggered, falling onto its back. It wiggled pitifully, like a stuck ledyba.

It wasn’t fainted. But it was an opening.

“LEAVING NOW! LEAVING NOW!” Barry called to his team. He grabbed his very last pokeball, tapping it against Snacks’ head to capture it. “Sorry bud, you’re real slow. Fern, Jen, you too-” and he recalled them for good measure.

He could hear Pest and Mystery start to fly after him. But he could also hear the screech and wingbeats of the giant bird under Sabi’s command.

Barry risked glancing over his shoulder. The giant bird was gaining on them, any moment it’d swoop down and crush Mystery and Pest between its talons-

That was, until Mystery spun right around and smacked it with assurance. The giant bird, either taken by surprise or genuinely hurt, let out a loud squawk and gave up chasing them entirely. It flew back to Sabi, metaphorically tucking its tail between its legs like a frightened poochyena.

“HA! YOUR STUPID BIRD CAN’T HANDLE US!” He shouted, Mystery letting out a loud caw in agreement.

“YOU ATTACKED LORD BRAVIARY?!” the girl squealed, Braviary pitifully crooning and nudging its head into her chest. “You’re going to be in sooooooooooo much trouble!!”

“I don’t care what pedigree or whatever that thing is! You’re lucky I didn’t fine you two!”

With the electivire breaking the silk slowing it down and the magmortar helping the rhyperior back onto its feet, Barry knew it was time to leave.

He ran back into the frozen wastes, Pest and Mystery flying just behind, hoping that Gaeric and Sabi were too slow to give chase.

Luckily for him, they didn’t bother giving chase at all.

Sabi and Lord Braviary made their way to Gaeric, curled up on his side, on the ground. “Well. That could’ve gone worse.” she said with a shrug.

Gaeric laid there for a moment before asking, “...Sabi. How much of that fight could you see…with your foresight?”

“Hmmmmm, I saw most of it. Attacking Lord Braviary was a surprise-”

“So you knew. He’d kick me in the dick. And you said. Nothing?”

“Yeah! It was sooo funny!”

He groaned again, “I hate you. I hate you so much.”

---

[Finally!! Dawn Speaks!!! And the Leaders know…….] [And a team update! Now featuring Snacks!]

#pokemon legends arceus #pla #rival barry #barry in hisui

[skritt-shinies]

Notebook ask game: Coriandus about the Luminaries

"Aife is... interesting. As the Luminary for the Cycle of Dawn, my brother and I were delegated to speak to her for guidance. She was very formal. It clashed with our personalities. Roxysis was- er, is- a very energetic man... very silly. I was too, at that age, but perhaps... a little bit meaner about it. I don't think she liked me much. Our clashing personalities and the fact that I was more attuned to a schedule akin to that of a Night cycle Sylvari got me landed in the Night group. It was easier to actually show up that way."

"Malomedies... I don't think he was prepared to drag along a Dawn sapling with the personality of a Night. He tried very hard to keep me in line. A valiant effort but a futile one. He was too smart for his own good. We fought a lot. But after... Vorpp... we saw eye to eye. He understood me, and I him. Suffering is something anyone can bond over, I suppose."

"I never grew to know Niamh or Kahedins as well as Aife or Malomedies. They're both very noble people who work hard. Without them to tend to the saplings or the Grove, I believe us Sylvari would fall. Kahedins talked to my brother and I and he had so many questions, I almost beheaded him. Rox and I were the first twins to come from the Tree, so naturally he would prod us for information. He would write down everything we said. It infuriated me. Roxysis was a bit more willing to comply... He would run his mouth to anyone. Despite this, Kahedins was integral to my growth. He helped me process the Dream when even he barely understood it. I can only hope he's forgiven me for the death glares I gave him during our first talk."

"As for Niamh, I'm curious, to say the least. I barely know her besides her name and appearance. I was there when she founded the Wardens. She tried to ask me and I bolted. I hated responsibility like that. Ironic, since now I'm the Commander of the Pact and Champion of an elder dragon. I wonder what she thinks of me now."

#gw2 #guild wars 2 #commander coriandus #this ask was so interesting... i never explored her relationship w firstborn outside of #caithe and trahearne so i was super happy to write about how she views the others! #it was a bit difficult since shes a secondborn tho #WAHHH tyvm for the ask! #aife #malomedies #niamh #kahedins #commander roxysis

[sheabutterskyes]

The Mask of White Waters

XXXIX | The Reckoning | Part 3/3

Content warning: Violence, blood, death.

–

The warden moved quickly, readying to take the last thing keeping Caia alive – and just as quickly he was pushed backwards by another human.

The two went rolling away, eventually splashing into the water.

Caia knew it was a mistake, watching blearily as the warden had one last look at them before his body was pulled back and down into the depths – too quickly for him to even cry out.

The other was left untouched, groaning in pain. And when the human turned back, they knew why they hadn’t been pulled in with the warden.

“Kenelm?”

“Caia,” he replied promptly, his voice terrifyingly weak.

They moved to him, shivering from the cold water that felt heavy soaked through their clothing. They could barely keep themselves sitting upright long enough to pull Kenelm further onto the shore.

He weakly grasped Caia’s arms, falling heavily into their body as he seemed to fight to remain alert, blinking hard and furrowing his brows.

Caia frantically attempted to sort their mind and push healing energy into him. But their body hadn’t even begun healing itself. There was nothing to give. 

They sat up with a great struggle, and Kenelm’s hand settled over Caia’s, a bloody finger pointing at the ring they wore.

“Fits,” he breathed. “Small hands.”

Caia smiled, still hopelessly attempting to heal him.

“You’re badly hurt,” his words became clearer if only for a moment. “Caia?”

“No… no, I will heal,” they replied calmly, even if the pain and shock was threatening to shut their body down. 

They had to remain awake. They had to.

“But your horn.”

“Kenelm,” they began, stopping to take a deep breath only because their voice faltered. “Why are you worrying about me when you could be viewing the stars?”

He frowned at that, shivering now uncontrollably, but slowly looking upwards.

“The reflection,” Caia said softly. “You once said you wanted to see the stars reflected in the waters here?”

He made a small sound that could have been a laugh, and adjusted his gaze.

The stars were indeed there. The reflection looked even deeper and realer than the sky above. Caia wasn’t sure the last time they had seen it reflected in the waters; it was not a common occurrence.

The waters revealed the true colors of the starry heavens; colors that could not be seen by simply looking up. By instead looking to the reflection, the stars were multiplied, brighter, energetic and alive. The otherworldly colors were swirled around the clusters of stars, illuminated faintly against the dark night sky.

“Got my second chance,” Kenelm suddenly laughed.

Caia only nodded, feeling the two of them slipping on the rocks and pushing them forwards.

“Caialuen.”

They looked out across the still water, the constellation glittering brightly. They didn’t recall Kenelm ever saying that name aloud. 

“Yes,” they answered. “That’s me.”

“My favorite one.”

--                                                  --                                                        --

When Caia was no longer able to keep them upright, they fell back onto the smooth rocks and turned to Kenelm. Not that it truly was him any longer.

Only a body. No soul.

Wherever the souls of humans went after physical death, Caia did not know.

The hands of his body were only bloodied from Caia. He had only suffered from a few gashes and small broken bones. It was internal damage from the Envisioner that had taken him. It had meant to be used on Caia to take their horns… it hadn’t been for another human. Kenelm had been lucky to have lived as long as he had once touched with it.

His dark hair had become longer since his last visit, falling down into his eyes and brushing against his long lashes.

Something twisted in their chest, and they stared at the water instead.

The night around them had yet to completely settle. But there was nothing more they could do.

So they watched the water. 

When the familiar constellation above them dimmed as clouds moved in, their breath was cut off by a chest-aching sob. That alone that was too much for their debilitated body, and they promptly collapsed back down into the shore, heavy, empty sobs overtaking them.

It was Saevyl’s gentle voice that brought them back to their senses again at the cusp of dawn.

“I almost thought you were dead.”

Caia’s vision was blurry as they opened their eyes again, unaware if had it been minutes, hours, or days.

Their injuries would heal within days as long as they did not wear their mask or use vital energy. Though the crushing weight they felt in their chest was something else entirely. Something else entirely more painful.

“Your aura…that was what told me you were still alive,” They lowered themselves down near Caia and placed a hand on their arm.

“Not many of the others would be able to recognize it.”

Caia’s head lolled to the side, meeting Saevyl’s opaline eyes.

“Heartbreak.”

--

TG -> @alwolfe​​

#TMOWW #The Mask of White Waters #so #that was a lot #but now we have completed the backstory for Caia/Kenelm #and we can all be sad about it #because I'm sad about it lol

[braincoins]

For the Grey Warden Shallura squad: @yslanam & @m1tz0

Shiro goes home. He’s one of the rare Wardens who does. There’s Old Widow Robbins, the village’s long-time midwife and herbalist; Mother Cerca and her apprentice, Sister Thyla (who is increasingly doing more and more of the mother’s duties); Nivven the innkeeper, who took over after his father died and runs the small inn, The Tankard & Barrel, the same way his father did. 

So many old faces Shiro recognizes and who recognize him in return. So many of them who ooh and aah over his Warden uniform and new arm. So many of them happy for him and Allura (because surely she’s not like other elves or mages; she’s an exception since she’s a Grey Warden). 

And Allura knows by now that, the third day they’re there, Shiro will slip away after breakfast and not come back until nightfall. She knows by now not to follow him, and to keep others from following him as well. She knows where to find him if she needs him; she could find him without any means of tracking him. 

She knows he’ll come back quiet and haunted, eat dinner mechanically, and then they’ll go to bed. She knows they’ll strip down and she’ll hold him, because he needs to feel her skin, hear her heartbeat, hold her tight - almost too tight - and fall asleep to her breathing. They won’t speak a word, and she’ll pretend he’s not crying, because he doesn’t want these tears acknowledged. She lets all of it happen. Right now, he’s a lost child missing his parents, a lost older brother missing his younger one, a lost lover missing his love, a lost man mourning a life that was killed.

It’s one of the rare differences between them, that he had a life he wanted taken from him, whereas she was happy to be rid of her old life. But maybe it’s not that different after all: they both came to the Wardens because they had nowhere else to go. Ultimately, that’s how most of the Wardens wound up in the blue & silver.

Come dawn, he’ll be more like the Shiro she knows again. Sometimes he’ll be silly and sweet and romantic, and they’ll try to be quiet when they make love; sometimes he’ll wake famished and energetic, eager for breakfast before they hit the road. It’s like he dies and is reborn on these visits, and he needs to do this every year. She doesn’t really understand, but he needs it, so that’s enough for her. 

And she knows the next time they attack or are attacked, he’ll be vicious, bloodthirsty, almost reckless. He’ll take paths more likely to have bandits, or head for villages rumored to have darkspawn sightings. He will have already indulged his nostalgia, his homesickness, his sadness, and this will be the last stage: to vent his anger. And then he’ll truly be himself again. 

Shiro goes home every year. Shiro comes back every year. But, in between, he’s not Shiro; he’s little Takashi Shirogane, not-so-little anymore, back to mourn his family, boyfriend, and a dream he once had. The life he has now is as good as it can be, and he appreciates it all the more after visiting the past. 

#DA Shallura #Shallura #Dragon Age #VLD

[netherwar-rpg-blog]

Welcome to the Wardens, Art! Your application for a RANGER OC has been accepted with a Joe Dempsie FC.

This was a really exciting application to read through because the character is quite different from the rest of the Wardens and he is certainly going to create a lot of tension! Where most Wardens know that their duties are essential to save Eldris, Támhas doesn’t believe they will achieve victory and it will only create more destruction for the north! How awesome! It’s endearing to see how his devotion for his friend has led him to the same destiny and path he is so passionately against. Plus, it will be really interesting to see when that gryphon egg decides to hatch and what happens - they are a proud and massive mount in times of war and it’ll help the Wardens have an advantage in the air if Tám ever feels compelled to fight with them. Can’t wait to see what he chooses to do!

The application can be found under the cut. You have 48 hours to create a roleplay account (cannot be a sideblog) for your character and we will be updating our opening date soon!

O O C - I N F O

Name: Arthur/Art

Age: 22

Timezone:  GMT-8, PST

Activity Level: I do have a full time job that requires me to be up at the crack of dawn (or earlier, some days), but I’ll be able to at the very least be on for plotting every day after work, and I’ll be able to get to replies at least every other day.

Extra:  I got nothing other than pure excitement.

C H A R A C T E R - I N F O

T H E - B A S I C S

Name: Tàmhas Cathán Caibre

Nickname:  Tàm

Gender:  Cisgender male

Age:  26

Class: Ranger

Faceclaim:  Joe Dempsie

C H A R A C T E R - D E T A I L S

Nationality:  Crywrenian

Appearance:

Tàmhas Cathán Caibre is a brooding sort of man, more the sort to frown than to smile.  Dark blue eyes and even darker hair lend him a seriousness that extends far beyond his 26 years.  Unlike his father, who prefers to keep his hair long and tie it back while at work in the forge, Tàm keeps his hair short and unruly.  Stern brows and a strong jaw complete his face.  His serious look only softens on the rare occasions he smiles, eyes wrinkling; though when he does smile, it’s a completely genuine one.  

Years of smithing and sparring with his father have strengthened his broad shoulders, lending him an extremely fit profile, but years of hunting in the nearby woods have lent him a much lighter step than most would expect.  

Personality:

{ + } Loyal, Compassionate, Hard-working

{ - } Brash, Moody, Combative

C H A R A C T E R - B A C K G R O U N D

History:

Tàmhas Cathán Caibre was not born under any significant circumstances.  His mother was a seamstress, and his father was the village blacksmith. They made sure their wee babe wanted for nothing, but they also gave him a strong moral compass and values.  They taught him right from wrong, and taught him to speak up if he disagreed with someone - though, they did begin to regret it when he learned how to speak.

He met Aneirin - Eirin, since he couldn’t pronounce the other’s name - when he was only a year old, and the other was just a babe with big ears and even bigger blue eyes.  From the moment he saw him, Tàm knew he wanted to protect the young boy.  He stuck by Eirin as they grew up, protecting him from all the teasing from the older village boys, always a dark, brooding figure looming at the boy’s side.  

He was there when Eirin’s father was executed.  He was there when Eirin broke free from Tàm’s father’s arms and ran into the flames, heedless of Tàm’s cries and Eirin’s mother’s screams.  He was there when the flames died down to glowing embers, revealing the twig of a boy with eyes on fire.  He was there when the elders took Eirin away.

Never one to just let someone take his closest friend away, Tàm went to his father and begged him to convince the elders to let him see Eirin - surely his friend must be scared and upset, and Tàm needed to comfort him.  Be there for him.  And after a week of continued begging on Tàm’s part, and pleading on his father’s - and Eirin’s uncle’s - part, he was finally allowed to visit Eirin.  Soon enough, he was the only person allowed to visit him in his cage.  And, seeing how they treated his friend - as if he was a precious, fragile thing never to be let out of their sight - Tàm became disillusioned with the people who followed the Fenarious faith.  What faith would let them treat a child like they treated Eirin?

Alongside his visits with his best friend, Tàm’s father began teaching him how to smith.  Tàm spent his days in the forge, learning how to shape and strengthen the iron and steel needed for horseshoes and swords. Sometimes - well, most times - when it got slow, his father would even teach him how to fight with a sword.  Usually, Tàm’s mother would bring them lunch and find them dancing back and forth across the forge, trading blows.  As Tàm grew older and stronger, the sparring matches grew more and more energetic, until Tàm’s mother began just leaving their lunches at the door to avoid flying blades.  

His father also taught him how to hunt for his food using a bow and arrow, and soon enough Tàm was almost a perfect shot.  He taught himself some trick shots to keep himself entertained - and, quite frankly, to screw around with the boys who’d bullied Eirin.  

So, when he went to the elders after a long hunting trip, only to find Eirin had run away with nothing but the clothes on his back and his father’s dagger, Tàm decided to go after him.  The elders blessed him, gifting him a large gryphon egg they’d found in an abandoned nest, and sent him to the south to bring their Dragonborn back home.  

Reason for joining the Wardens:

Tàm does not believe in the Wardens.  Knowing what happened during the last Rifting, and how it affected Crywren, he doesn’t believe that they’ll be able to find someone like the High Lord Alarik and stop the Netherworld from leaking into their world irreversibly.  What he does believe in is the need to make sure his closest friend is safe.  He’s not joining the Wardens to save the world.  He’s joining the Wardens to save his friend.  

Desired Connections:

THE DRAGONBORN - Tàm grew up with THE DRAGONBORN and fought to stay by his side when THE DRAGONBORN was taken under the elders’ wings.  He will do anything to protect the other man, up to and including laying down his life to ensure THE DRAGONBORN’s safety.

#accepted #admin notice #medieval rp #oc rp #skeleton rp

[eyenaku]

PLEASE GUVE WARDS AND WARDEN LORE IN THE CONTEXT OF BEHAVIOUR, ARE THEY CATS DOGS BOTH OR OTHER IN THAT SENSE???

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAYA OKOK

Dawn Warden: DOG! Literally modeled after a dog's play bow! Very dog-like in behaviour- highly energetic! I imagine it behaving like my dog when she catches vermin or a ball on the farm, a lot of over-excited play and tossing up into the air with little understanding of the Fragility Of The Thing. They'd probably get confused as to why other things can't play the same! Though she also has cheshire cat-like mischievousness :3 But truly very dog-like.

Dusk Warden: BOTH! More cat-like than Dawn Warden in social patterns, but dog-like in other behaviours. Rather than being high energy and eager to play, Dusk Warden is more like those big dogs with the big sad eyes that always look up at you like you haven't fed them dinner even if they have had So Many Snacks/look extremely guilty all the time for no reason. She would lie near or even others like a cat, wanting attention/affection but wouldn't be jumpy like a dog. He's a protector, watching over everything and being Gentle, something Dawn Warden cannot/does not do (not intentionally rough however). They also probably have protected things from Dawn Warden when he gets a bit rowdy.

Sun Ward: KINDA NEITHER (?) Sun Ward very much has kid (as in goat not human) behaviour. Playful, but also cautious and cuddly. Fun fact: I helped birth (and subsequently take care of) ~200 of em on a local dairy one year! I can see Sun Ward doing the little tail waggle, and tryna butt heads with everyone. They're also so sleepy a lotta the time, doin that cute little tucked leg lay down. Sun Ward is so baby istg. But yes also very energetic and playful in the way that's very goat specific. Both wards are meant to be babies, so that impacts their behaviours as well.

Moon Ward: DOG BUT ALSO KINDA NEITHER (?) BUT ALSO BOTH DEPENDING ON VERSION! Moon Ward is very much rabbit-like! More docile and skittish than I've observed in kittens and puppies, though of the two more puppy-like. Moon Ward'd be like those puppies that don't really engage in play, but watch everyone else play and aren't scared if other puppies come up to them to play! Also a sleepy guy. Moon Ward was actually designed to have three "forms"/phases though: New Moon, Crescent Moon (normal), and Full Moon. New Moon would've been smaller, with a fully black eye, darker colour scheme, and feathers down like a lop eared bunny. This version would be much like a week (2-)3 kitten- just barely exploring it's surrounding but kinda bumbling around and reliant on the wardens. Full Moon would've been all the same colour as the feathers, with all it's "wings" extended to more of a full-moon silhouette with no black in the eye. This version would be much more like a puppy- bumbling but hyper with bursts of energy rather than the constant energy of Dawn Warden.

Also, the wardens groom the wards. It would be a mix of the fleecing from dogs and licking of cats, mixed with the grooming behaviour of birds due to the feathers. Sun Ward is the only one without feathers though, but they'd make sure its kept clean and well groomed!

#myaaaa ty for askin towoni :3 BITIG YOU #celestial wards #ask