diaveborn Lyn looks very peaceful in this. It puts me in mind of those bad days that end on a brighter note, or have some small silver lining to make things feel a little better. Nice work :)
DelightfulDragon I love how you’ve written this! The two POV’s are a really interesting approach, and give a great insight into both Kol and Aaren’s feelings. It’s easy to see that they care for each other (but definitely don’t), and the fact that they both try to return to the norms after giving/receiving comfort is a lovely touch!
Azurrys I think Sylvain just took bad days to an entirely new level. |:  I’ll admit that I found the demon’s taunting and Slyvian’s account of his day a little comedic, but I certainly wasn’t expecting things to end well here — and I’m very glad to have been proven wrong!
Crow The imagery in this is great! It’s really easy to picture the scene and connect with the feelings behind it, and though I’m not sure what’s happened to Vincent, I definitely want to know more. Darker writing done very well~

Juneberry Oh no. D8 I hope Beniko comes back soon, and I hope that Minoru is okay! I’m super curious about what the creature is, though!
Jordii Aww, poor Pumpkin. I imagine looking through old memories is probably really hard for the undead! Nothing worse than ruining your day when you try to do something good and productive. :I
thewordeater Oof, bad days at work. I can super feel for Sylph here. The Cave having a magically regulated water cycle is a really cool idea! :D
Condor Oversleeping is never the start to a good day. Poor Matt! It’s nice to see that after such a rotten day, he came home to a very worthwhile surprise, though!
Cien Wow,  I really liked the whole… setting of this. 8I Also, poor March; betrayed. Poor Sias, though I can understand his actions too. Poor everyone. Except maybe the church — I guess they kind of got their way haha.

[@Brighteyedbeast] I had to run and get a jacket reading this entry because I could feel the cold. 8| Winter had a hard enough decision without tossing in an an antagonist as well… I can’t see a perfect way out of this situation, but I hope things conclude as peacefully as possible all things considered! :( Great entry!
Vysal More cold days nooo! :( Poor Dahlia. I hate having to redo work, especially when it’s work I didn’t enjoy the /first/ time I had to do it. At least it’s only once a year she has to endure! I’m very curious about Dahlia on her less-frustrating days, and if she’s usually a little more pleased to see poor Briar. :)
OregonCoast Being lost in the woods on a hike is something of a personal nightmare - Patti was a real trooper to find somewhere pleasant like that to enjoy it! As terribly as this hike went, I’m so glad things resolved well for Patti and Ness. They say these things bring friends closer together! :)
Zukana Ohhh Myth, she looks like she’s had such a rough time. Her expression is so sad and dejected. :( It looks like she needs a long, relaxing bath and some comfort food. Really cute entry - feel better Myth!
Dracogryph This was a great read, Dracogryph! I loved seeing the family dynamics at play. Shoku learned a hard lesson today, but at least he has the loving support of his parents to help pick him back up again. I’m sure with practice and time he’ll be a master at his fire magic! :)

For Kol: It was when nothing went right. When his words came a little slower, his brain not moving fast enough, quick enough for him to formulate his teasing, his threats. His remarks; his words that spouted hate (when he no longer does, not really). It was the sight of his beaten, pathetic form; unable to stop someone from injuring his hunter girl—his human, who said you could touch, she can’t leave him alone, not again, he never wants to be alone again—she’d been near death for days. Scorn of other demons, usually a mere irritation, burning into an inferno, bright enough to raze and scorch him. Strip him of all he had left.

Those were the days he curled up; tail and snout and his great big head for once lying upon his paws, unwilling to change into his human form because that meant talking. And he couldn’t do it, he couldn’t. These days everything seemed too much for him, and he longed for the days long since past. Where he was a King; worshiped by those weaker than him and he bit and scratched and killed all those who didn’t. They had been so much easier (but he’d grown so bored of it all, he’d hated it. He never wanted to go back).

He much preferred his Hunter Girl—but even she was too much on those days.

Everyone had slowly grown used to him, to reading his moods (and they were right, occasionally, but just as often wrong), but no one could mistake this. It didn’t happen all the time; the first time no one noticed Kol tormenting someone, hearing his mocking laugh, his voice full of threats and violence, they’d been worried of all things. Was he planning something? Had he run off, finally? Killed the girl? That’ was what always happened, you know. These things never ended well, someone always died.

And they’d gone and looked for her, all over the village. Not stopping until they found the body, because the thought had taken root now, no one expecting a happy ending. Not with this pair. And imagine their surprise when she stumbled back into the village, swearing and hissing and dirty, but alive.

——

Aaren was clearly alive—and didn’t know where he was either, to her own surprise. Since Kol had never left her side before, too busy tormenting her to give her any peace, and she was shocked at how weird it felt. Without him, some malicious remark here, his overbearing presence. It all felt so wrong (and she didn’t know what to think of that, that she’d grown so used to him that him not being there was treated as wrong. Not normal, something she couldn’t quite muster up the emotion to be thankful for, wasn’t this what she’d always wanted?)

And she’d gone looking for him, her annoyance at her confusing emotions clearly visible in her angry stride, wanting to shout at him. Since when, she’d say, have you been something that I would miss, that would make my day wrong just because you weren’t there? This is your fault, Kol. Like everything. She’d make sure he knew how she felt.

She rounded a corner; he was flopped over on his side, not even bothering to change or look at her. He was in front of her house and he wasn’t even bothering to acknowledge her and she was so angry she could scream.

She opened her mouth—-and hesitated. He looked wrong.

When had Kol ever not looked up at her, a smirk on his stupid face? Or a lazy stretch before he rolled over, silently telling her no, he wasn’t following today before inevitably popping up sometime on her outing, no matter how much he denied, how much he said he would not move an inch today.

He’d never looked so still before.

And this, this was something completely new, she didn’t even like Kol (she didn’t, she was sure of it. Regardless of the mess of silly, moronic things she was feeling). She should leave, smiling in satisfaction that Kol seemed so out of it. Surely she’d get a break from him now. A day of not having to spend time with Kol, it sounded like paradise.

Instead, she sat beside him, not saying a word. Pushing all thoughts away, gently laying her hand on his head, ignoring the start of surprise and stroked his ears. She’d never mention this, though Kol would definitely tease her about it, but leaving Kol now…

It wasn’t something she could do.

She didn’t know how long she stayed like that, just sitting next to Kol, when she felt him change. Hearing the sickening cracks as he morphed into his human form, she quickly jerked her hand away. It felt stranger, petting his hair when he looked human.

“And here I thought,” he said, his tone off, a forced mocking lilt to it. Desperately trying to appear normal. “That you didn’t care, Hunter Girl.”

She replied the only way she could. “Fuck off, Kol.”DelightfulDragon

The wilting petals clouded her mind as she stretched her arm as far as she could. Her limber legs hugged around the tree branch for dear life, eyes scrunched as she tried to further her reach. “I have to…Get that cone…For Laurel…”

Gasping, she felt her other arm losing strength, before plummeting twenty feet to the bottom of the Juniper she’d been so carefully climbing. With a wince, her weak arm moved to rub her posterior, a groan of irritation quick to escape.

She stood tall again, after a few more minutes of moping. Hazel eyes glared up at the single cone sitting at the top of the tree, its round shell hiding a fruit that could be the cure for her little sister’s weak body. This was already her sixth attempt at getting the potential solution to her problem- and so far, she wasn’t getting any closer.

“It’s getting dark,” She mumbled soon enough, noting as some of her red hair fell into her face upon a breeze from the nearby shore, the strands blending in almost perfectly with the painted sunset above her. “I can’t give up now! I need to get that thing for Laurel. She’s not going to stop wilting if I give up!”

With a groan and grunt, she began the battle of climbing up the tree once more, getting just a touch closer to the cone. She reached her tired arm one more time, grasping at it- but losing strength, she fell as her fingers wrapped around the hard shell, falling to the earth once more.

“Ow…Dangit…” eyes peeking at her scuffed hand that was in the form of a fist, she found herself glaze over in surprise. “I…I DID IT! I got the cone!” A large smile made her face shine in the dimming sunlight, before she ran off deeper into the forest, finding the village of huts in a clearing not far away.

She made her way to one of the thatched huts and smiled slyly to the flower in the bed. With a thin body and equally frail looking viney limbs, it was hard for the girl to look at her sister so easily. The yellow petals were turning lighter each day, and already seemed drier than tumbleweed.

“Sis?” With a hoarse voice, the flowery head turned to look at the doorway. “Why’re you all dirty? Did you get in a fight with the macaw again?”

“Nope, not this time.” With a toothy grin, she held out the cone from the Juniper tree. “I finally found it…A Juniper cone! Mom said this might help you, didn’t she?”

Laughing timidly, the weak flower sat up and sighed. “Um…How’d she say I’m supposed to eat it again?”

“...I’ll have to ask her. Something tells me this isn’t going to be easy going down….”

With a mix of booming and frail laughter, the two were able to smile and let it go. Eventually, they’d have to find a way to break the cone for the frail flower to get the nutrients she needed- but until then, at least there was some sunshine coming their way.

“I’m telling you, it’s not that far, honest.”  Leape shifted the rucksack of supplies to his orange marbled shoulder and flipped his tangerine hair out of his emerald coloured eyes.  He looked back on PattiPearl, noting the Pearly Depth’s slow progress up the steep incline.

“Th- *whheeeze! -  that’s w- wheeze-  hat you said about 100 feet further back…. *gasp!  ....down!”  Patti glared at the lanky Orange Calcite Drasilis.  Not only was he taller than her, he was lankier, and clearly used to such exhertions.  She was not.  She continued puffing and panting, trying to get her wind back, her milk chocolate and ocean blue sides heaving painfully.

“You said you wanted to come collecting with me.”  he said with a tinge of hurt in his voice, and more than a little concern in his eyes.  He hadn’t counted on his companion being this out of shape when they’d discussed her coming along this morning.  “You said you wanted to see where the gems were born.”

For the moment all Patti could do was nod and close her eyes as she bottomed out on a convienent rock.  After a few minutes of huffing and puffing, she finally had her wind back.  She wiped a beadlet of sweat off the tip of her nose.  “I didn’t realize they were born so far away!”  she blurted. 

Patti glanced down and out across the wide expanse, the outcroppings of rock leapt around them, hard and jagged and just as reddish orange as Leape.  She’d been working in her shop that morning, happily clicking her pearls together into a necklace when Leape had appeared with his rucksack full of fresh gems.  They’d tumbled onto her worktable, gleaming in the early morning light.  When she expressed a desire to come collect a few for herself, Leape wasted no time in his enthusiasm to whisk them out the door.  Now she was hot, her pawpads were sore and she was thirsty. 

As if reading her mind, Leape thrust the water bottle at her.  “Take what you need m’dear.  We’ll be passing the fresh spring soon.”  Leape tipped his auburn head back and squinted up at the ridgeline.  “It’s not that much further to the collecting point.”

Patti drank deeply from the bottle between breaths.  ‘Not far’  she looked at Leape’s legs and then her own and wondered just how much further it would be.  Still, she shoved the cork back into the bottle, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do sometimes!  It was one thing to create from the pearls offered by the sea that she lived near, quite another to actually collect the shiny gems that would serve to enhance her pearls’ beauty in her jewelry.  “Lead on my dear Leape!”. 

Leape had been watching Patti’s very real struggle and began to realize much of the trouble stemmed from their differences in leg length.  Granted the change of altitude and Patti’s daily lack of exercise didn’t help either.  When he set out again, he paced his stride this time, determined to help his friend keep her wind, and to sling her up alongside the rucksack if need be. 

For a time they walked on in silence, Patti’s labored breathing being the only sound as they continued to climb.  Soon they paused at the burbling stream for Leape to top up the water bottle.  “It’s ocean colllllldddd!”  Patti’s own ocean blue eyes shot open wide.  “Why is it so cold Leape?”  she looked about at the arid countryside and barren rocks.  “Shouldn’t it be warm?” she asked. 

Leape laughed and settled on his haunches, “Nope, that is an artesian spring Patti!”  The water comes from very deep under the ground and then is forced up with considerable pressure.”  His eyes twinkled.  “Didn’t know that did you?  I bet you thought there wouldn’t be any water out here, right?” 

Patti nodded in amazement.  “Artesian….”  she murmmered.  “Leape are there sapphires in the outcropping?” 

It was Leape’s turn to be amazed.  “Ummm… actually, yes.  How did you know?” 

Patti laughed, it sounded like the water at her feet, playfully burbling over the rocks, “I didn’t.  I’d just hoped there would be!”  Her own eyes twinkled.  ‘Artesian’ held great promise as a name for a new line of jewelry.  She couldn’t wait to tell the customers she’d collected the stones!” 

Fifteen minutes later, bottle topped up, they’d continued onwards.  Suddenly Leape said in a hushed tone, “Patti.” 

“Hmmmmm?”  Patti continued padding along the path untl she bumped into the still form of Leape.  She looked up puzzled.  “What’s wrong?”

Leape remained rooted in the path.  He wasn’t sure how to tell her, but in the middle of their walking path was a coiled scorpion.  Sometimes they hung about, and he wasn’t too fussed about them.  Usually they had plenty of time to feel his footsteps coming and would skitter off the pathway.  With Patti in tow, however, he was all caution and didn’t want to frighten her. 

“Patti, I need you to hold still for me for a second.”  he remained rooted in the spot, could feel her breath as she popped her head around his side. 

“Why?  What’s there?”  she began, she managed to get a glimpse in the crook of his arm, “OOOOOHHHH!!!”  she began, her blue eyes suddenly huge.  Leape could feel her take a deep lungful to scream, so he rocked back into her, hissing as he did. 

“Patti,  I need you to be still.  Yes, yes, it’s a scorpion.  No, it’s alright, they live here.  Ah yes, they are actually poisonous.”  At this Leape could feel her begin a flurry of motion, so he reached back with his hand, not turning his torso as he did.  “Patti I need you to be still for me.”  and with that he clamped down on her, snugging her close.  When he felt her nod, he let go and without turning to her, “I’m going to go move it off the path.  I need you to stay right where you are, okay?”  Again the nod. 

Leape advanced cautiously down the path.  He’d already found a walking stick earlier, more for the snakes and scorpions than for helping his long strides.  The scorpion scrunched tighter on itself, bunching it’s tail as Leape advanced.  “Hey there” Leape murmured as he advanced.  He carefully slid the end of the stick along the ground in front of him, pausing several feet away and carefully moved the stick alongside the scorpion.

Tap. Tap. Tap.  STRIKE!  The scorpion replied, it began waving it’s claws around, outraged at the intrusion, and how very dare the stick bump it!  Didn’t Stick see Scorpion was here first?!  Leape stifled a laugh as the scorpion looked like it was hyperventilating as much as his friend was behind him.  He moved the stick just a little further to the back of the creature and with a deft flick, the scorpion sailed quite cleanly from the path, landing in a sage bush several meters beneath them. 

“Patti m’dear, you will have to tell the ladies about this, yes?”  he smiled down on her, hoping to ger her mind back on her creations, and the reason for being out here in the first place.

Patti nodded firmly, her own pearls jingling with the motion. “Indeed!”  she agreed.  “Onwards yes?”  she smiled brightly, warming to the idea of embellishing her tales of daring do.  She stepped up behind Leape, “Umm, these things don’t travel in herds, though, right?”  Patti glanced about her feet. 

Leape laughed goodheartedly, shook his head no, and continued up and around the bend.  Not much further on, he stretched out comfortably, watching Patti as she darted here and fro amongst the rocks.  “There are so many!!!”  she exclaimed.  Leape nodded and smiled, watching as she made many trips back and forth amongst the rock to collect the blue sapphires, darting back to dump them at his feet before dashing away again.  Finally she plopped down in the sand at his feet, panting and grinning from ear to ear. 

“Thank you!!!!”  she blurted after a mouthful of cool water from the offered bottle.  “Oh my!  Oh my!!!”  she laughed “There are SO many ideas I want to create!!!”  waving her paws around her head.

Leape laughed again, “So, was it worth it then?” he asked.

Patti thought it over, and without really hesitating she realized this was the toughest collecting trip she’d done for her gems, but honestly, that made her love them all the more!  “Yes!  Yes, these are worth it.”  she said, wiping her brow.  “Granted I don’t know if I feel like repeating it, but it certainly enhances the beauty.” 
 

Rapunzel had been locked away in her tower, alone for most of her life. She was still young, however she was old enough to dream. She constantly read the few books she had in her tower over and over again, dreaming that she was the characters in these fairytales, with the wonderful lives. She desperately wished she was someone else, and that she wasn’t destined to be alone.

Finally, she decided she was done feeling sorry for herself. She had to do something about it. Perhaps someone would rescue her. Help her escape, and begin the life she had always dreamed of in the kingdom she could see from the window of her small, tall tower. So she started writing up an ad. Or a plea for help. It could be seen as either.

She was willing to give all she had to escape this life; the only life she had known. Surely, what is out there could not be worse than being isolated. Isolation did get very lonely and sad, which is why she kept her days busy with reading, writing, painting - anything she could do and think of.

This was the advertisement she made. She wrote it out a few times, and gave them to her little critter friends, and instructed them to take it out and drop them in the forest, or kingdom; wherever they could. In return for the person who rescues her, they will receive a reward; all the gold she has stashed away in her tower, and even some of her prized possessions.

Though there has been no claim for the reward yet, Rapunzel remains hopeful. Surely somebody out there would be willing to help her, right? She has done all she can for now. Until the time comes, she remains filling her days with all of the past times she has available to her.

Alice paced back and forth in her tent nervously. In an hour she was going on a play-date. She’d never been on a play-date before, and wasn’t sure what to expect. Her parents had set it up with a kitten named Abel who she’d seen around the guild and town a few times. Apparently he was deaf, so her parents thought they would get along since she was mute.
    Alice never been good at interacting with other kids, a fact her parents knew well. She really wanted a friend, but so far she hadn’t had any luck. She wiggled anxiously before laying down on her belly to draw a picture for Abel.

    The hour passed quickly, and soon Alice was riding on her dad’s back toward the guild hall. Abel and his dad were waiting for them in the guild’s yard. Alice tumbled off her dad, and gave him a hug before running forward to meet Abel. She extended a paw in greeting like she always saw her parents doing when they met new ineki. Abel cautiously accepted the paw. Alice smiled, handed him her picture. It was of a kitten and a puppy trying to catch a frog.
    Alice assumed that Abel, like all the other kids she’d encountered, couldn’t read. She had to use pictures to communicate everything what she wanted to say. This was rather simple since her magic was in doodling, but the problem she found them facing was that she couldn’t understand the signs he was making with his paws. she figured it was a type of communication, so she suggested that he teach it to her.
    It wasn’t long before the two of them started a game of sorts. Alice would draw a picture or letter, and Abel would show her the sign for it. She would sign it back until she got the form right, and then she’d show him how to write the word for it, and they’d move on to the next sign. After a little bit, she began recognizing more and more of the signs he was using. She quite enjoyed the process, it was nice to have a way of communication that didn’t involve her wand.
    Hours had passed, and Alice had just learned the sign for frog when her dad patted her on the shoulder and took her paw.
    “It’s time we got home kiddo.”
    Alice shook her head and yanked her paw away, there was one last sign she needed to know. She hastily used her wand to draw a picture of Abel and herself, and brought it to life with her magic. The mini versions of them started to play together. She hoped he understood what she was trying to ask. Abel nodded in understanding and gave her the sign she was looking for. Friend.
Us, Friends? Alice signed.
Yes! Abel signed back.
With a wiggle of excitement, Alice clambered onto her dad’s shoulders. Happy to finally have accomplished her life-long goal of finding a friend.

teatree - I am amazed by Spencer’s outstanding determination to uncover what happened to his parents; after six years many might have given up on their endeavor, but he persevered and even now continues to search! I hope that in the end he will discover the true cause of his parent’s absence, and that that light sheds more than the pathway for Spencer!
diaveborn - Look at that adorable painting! I am impressed, Lyn! Perhaps she should try out for an artist position next time! ;D
Jordii - Looking for a better tomorrow is always a good thing, and I am rooting for Rapunzel in her quest to escape that tower! I know some day she’ll find the one to carry her to a brighter future!!! <3
Zukana - Knowing that Drum’s crew are a family, and that they stuck together through thick and thin, is very heartwarming. Family should be there for you no matter what, and reading that Drum’s is loyal to her and to each other makes me smile. I’m glad that things ended well for them and I hope their adventures in the future continue to go as smooth as they can be—and that they’ll always have each other to turn to when the waters get choppy!

Juneberry - I’m not sure which character this is about (in the future, would you mind clearly indicating this?), but it’s super cute that the main character is willing to try so hard to find something to cure her sister. :)
Vely - Aww, I’m glad to see that he managed to rebuild his cafe! It looks like a nice place; I would definitely eat there. *v* He looks so pleased!
Titan - Vela sounds like a really interesting character! It was really brave of her to risk her life to save her crewmate’s, even if it didn’t work out in the end. At least she can always proudly look back and know that she tried!
[@Failsafe] - Zephyr’s world sounds really interesting! I would love to learn more about it. It’s also nice to see that he and Lyridius are good friends, despite having some pretty brutal training sessions!
Mozzi - Aww, this was super cute! I loved reading about Darcy’s Spring Sweets Dash from the point of view of a Mycenian taking part in it. I’m glad that Glitter achieved his goal (and got an extra nice surprise for his friend, too)!
Sinnapine - It’s a shame that Sage’s herbs didn’t grow! As someone with absolutely no talent in caring for plants, I know how disappointing it can be to not have that hard work pay off. :( I’m glad he has some good friends who are willing to help him achieve his goals!

[@Dune] - Dune this was amazing! I absolutely loved the final two lines. I also really enjoyed the alternative perspective offered - not just the wonderful things Galen is missing out on hearing, but ‘protection’ from curses and malice. Lovely poem!
OregonCoast - Patti’s back! She sure gets dragged out on some grand adventures, although I’m glad this one turned out so well for her! I’d say piles of sapphires are worth battling an indignant scorpion any day. :) Great entry, and glad to see a returning character!
Dracogryph - Another returning character! I was thrilled to see more interaction between Shoku and his stoic father. It can be difficult sometimes to notice the small ways people are supporting you, but I’m glad Shoku is learning how Nanashi shows his love!
Garjansverd - The search for answers can drive even the most stable of minds mad eventually - it sounds like Whisky’s diligence paid off in some big ways though! I’m glad she has found some new form of purpose and peace. :)
Arintol - Oh no this was absurdly cute Arintol. So cute. I adored Alice and Abel’s communication game, and the depiction of Alice’s unique magic. I’m so happy they made friends, and would love to see more stories for both of them!
Cien - Hakan no! Curiousity and the best of intentions can cause so much accidental chaos. :( The ending had me wanting more - what exactly has Hakan summoned? Can he control it, or at the very least, stop it before the damage is too great? Great storytelling here - I hope the lesson Hakan learns doesn’t come at too steep a cost!