The Soul

Setting: Duke Razanovs kingdom, Moscow.

Time: November 28th, begining of the long winter.

Shendrontanth's monthly visit for her three day free period to see Dimitrios.

(If you don't know the trend, it's sad— brace yourselves.)

——

Shendrontanth was walking slow, heels clicking against the cold stone as she went at the pace her beloved little was going. Her expression soft and full of love as she watched him attempt to walk only stepping on one stone at a time.

"You're doing so well, my little bat." The soft and caring tone she always used specifically with him.

Dimitrios looks up at her with a giant smile, a small gap residing where his left canine tooth would have been. "Really? You should have seen me last week! I did the same thing at the frozen creek behind the garden!"

Shendrontanth nods, stopping in her steps to crouch down and turn Dimitrios towards her. "I'm sure you did splendid, little bat." She reaches her hands up, adjusting his Svita with care. "How are your studies going? You're excited to become the Duke someday?"

Dimitrios nods his head quick, filled with excitement at the opportunity to talk about this. "My teacher is very proud of my recent—...improvements!" He struggled to find the correct word at first, luckily quickly finding it soon after the pause.

"I've gotten better with my writing, Papa was even impressed." He takes hold of the pale hand offered out to him, watching as Shendrontanth stood back to her full height. Her Orenburg Down Shawl sliding against the cold stone as she did so.

"I'm very glad." She waits for him to begin walking again, helping him keep steady with each step on the individual stones. "I'm proud of you, Dimitrios. Always." She felt the need to say it, not getting enough chances to see him lately, wanting him to know.

"You don't need to stick to just being a Duke either. I'll love you even if you find another passion to strive in." Looking down at him, the hair poking out from under his Gorlatnaya hat bobbing up in the air as he took more prideful, and confident steps.

A few silent moments pass as they continue walking, Dimitrios' expression shifting to one that seemed so serious and deep in Thought for a boy his age.

Shendrontanth had to stifle a laugh.

Suddenly, he stops. Looking up at his mother with his big mismatched eyes, one brow rose in question before he'd even spoken. "Mommy, would you still love me if I was a rock?" He tilts his head to the side, looking like a curious puppy now.

She mirrors his head tilting, a soft smile mixing with her curious expression. "Why on earth would my little bat be a rock?" She chuckles, crouching back down to wrap her arms around him and pull him in for a tight hug.

"Of course I would. I would Cherish you with all my heart and Keep you with me wherever I go." She adds, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. A dark print of lipstick staying in the spot.

——

In another Universe.

Shendrontanth steps out of the back door of her church, letting the door close behind her. The rain poured harshly, quickly soaking into her hair and dress. Her hands clenched around the handle of the basket she carried, filled with mismatched colored flowers, fresh picked from the next village over.

Walking through the graveyard in the same path she'd come accustomed to walking in, it was muscle memory by now.

Stopping in front of the all too familiar gravestone. The child she'd loved with all her heart, residing six feet under the dirt. She got to enjoy the joy of motherhood for Seven months. Over a year ago now, that had ended.

[Redacted] — Unknown Creature

Medium

——

"But I will never apologize for the things I've done that you call crimes." Her voice sounded through the courtroom, loud, firm with a bite, as if she'd rehearsed what she'd say when she got caught for the acts she'd committed.

A man sitting in the middle of the council nods his head once, meeting the young woman's eyes with a look almost... Understanding, of what she'd done.

However, he was at work. Couldn't be biased when it came to that. It's how cruel the world was, even people of power like this couldn't fight it.

"Now then." He starts, clasping his hands together atop the surface of the awfully large desk, long enough to fit the entire council along one side of it.

"You do not apologize for the mass murders you've committed on the villages of [Redacted], home to the [Redacted] species. Along with the spelling to hide their sacred libraries and Churches." He states loudly. Voices within the court and among the council filling the room in loud whispers that weren't lost on the young woman.

"I do not." She scoffed, tail scraping against the hard stoned floor. Creating actual scratches in the spots it touched. "Why would I Apologize for Saving the Children of those Villages, of the [Redacted] species?? They would have not made it, if I hadn't done anything. I wouldn't have made it." A growl rises from her throat, causing the people in the courtroom to shiver at the sound they'd never heard before.

A specific sound only accustomed to the different species in the Villages. They weren't well known at all. Forced to grow old within the village, never leaving it in the span of their lives. Which seemed never ending, unless they were properly dealt with.

"Nobody will ever find those libraries, nor the churches. Not even the strongest Gods!!!" The loudest she'd been, and it had shook the entire court building. Stone dust falling from the ceilings and pillars, cracks edging themselves into the walls.

The council erupts into loud exclamations.

The gavel hit the desk several times roughly before silence filled the court again.

"Very well then." The man states, standing from his chair as he prepared to give the final orders.

"Miss [Redacted], the court of beings here by sentence you to be burned at the stake. The rest of your remains will be thrown into a stone coffin, and stored in a crypt that will be submerged under water entirely. Hidden from all."

The gavel hits the desk two final times.

Marking the end of the meeting, and the end of [Redacted]'s life. The protector of The Unknown Creatures, and the reason they are all alive.

The final person to truly know who they are, and what they can do. Sentenced to this.

"What." Her heart sank, and desperately, she worked to move. Free herself from the restraints she had been stuck in for so long. "NO! THEY NEED ME! ALL OF THEM!!" The building shook again, harder, more stone dust raining from the ceiling, more cracks quickly growing bigger and bigger.

The restraints snap, and she takes that opportunity to shift. Large feathered wings, unfurling, flapping in one strong motion to hurl herself high.

Chains are thrown, other creatures in the room move. Water controlling ones, brought in specifically for this species case.

The chains don't reach her wings, but they tug at the absurd length of her purple hair, dark like ink, longer than she was tall. Caught in a chain that only brought her lower.

Low enough for the water to hit her.

It hit the wings, burned through them despite the feathers.

[Redacted] fell from the height she flew, graceful even in pain and danger.

Unconscious when she met the floor.

Only when the fire spread to the wood sprawled beneath her did she regain consciousness. The words she screamed into the night sky could never be repeated in documents, for all beings fear it is some kind of magic, curse, or spell that was created by her species alone.

Sekis — Tanner — Blue — (Male) Koa — Dimitrios

Unknown creature— Hell Hound— Unknown Creature— Ultra Unknown Creature — Human

Long.

——

It was a Hot day in Lavender village, everyone was inside buildings enjoying the cool air inside of them. Or off in the forest enjoying the water, and the few local waterfalls.

The kind of day many creatures and humans dreaded. It wasn't a nice heat at all, it was more tortuous.

Koa was in his Normal form, shorter messy hair. One of the many forms where it really did seem like he and Blue were twins. Long demon looking tail, Big horns, a striped sweater that had a skull printed on the front, and bedazzled dark jeans to pair with it.

Blue was sitting laying on the cool hardwood floor, a big bag of ice resting on his torso. Running too hot to be up and about.

Sekis was also laying on the cool hardwood, beside Blue. An arm draped carelessly over the bag of ice. Though, he was laying on his stomach.

Tanner was in the corner, pressed up against the stone wall. Quite honestly looking like he was ready to drop dead.

All three of them were wearing different colored tank tops and shorts. No shoes or socks as to not overheat even more.

"Koa, the ice is meltingggggg!! We need moreeee!" Blue sounded weak, like the head had taken the proper strength needed to be more firm with his words. It sounded like he was whining.

"Blue, shut up." Irritated from the heat, Sekis was mean. His usual kindness drained and poisoned by the tortuous warmth that had claimed his body against his will.

Shendrontanth, the owner of the house that they all stayed in. She was out for the next three days, picking up a shipment for the church. Unaware that the Air conditioner in her home had broken, and the creatures she'd taken in as her own— plus their friends, were suffering.

"I feel fine." Koa chirps proudly, naturally running ice cold unless he was forcing his body temperature to be warm. Which he did most moments of his life aside from now.

"Koaaaa" Tanner cries from the corner, crawling over to the couch to rest his head on the creature's arm. His tail hit the floor lazily as the chilled skin cooled him off.

"Fine, Fine. Give me a second." He exhales, knowing exactly what he had to do to make his sibling and friends feel better.

Using a hand to gently grab hold of one of Tanner's horns, he lifts his head away from him. Slowly shifting himself to grow much larger, soon no longer fitting on the couch.

He releases his hold on Tanner, moving off of the couch and on to the floor. Laying on his back, tail scraping against the floor as it swayed lazily.

The two creatures on the floor lift their heads in unison, gasping in excitement as they took in the scene.

This was an event that only ever happened during the scorching summers, even as they all grew up.

Tanner was first to get to Koa, sprawling out comfortably beneath the sleeve of his sweater. Quickly drifting off into much needed slumber.

The other two quickly followed. Sekis took the other arm, and Blue starfished along Koa's torso, their bodies practically melting as the freezing temperature leaked through the fabric and cooled them off.

"You're lucky I love you idiots." He murmurs, closing his mismatched eyes.

"We love you too." Blue cheered, his tone lighter and much stronger once again.

"mhmmm" a quiet hum, as Sekis drifted off to sleep. His tail limp and dangling from his spot.

Slowly, Koa and Blue soon followed their friends into Slumber. All relaxed and cooled off on this big day of harsh heat.

Dimitrios soon got home with all of the snacks he'd left to buy for everyone. Sweating and panting, grimacing sadly as he set them down in the kitchen.

Koa woke up, tilting his head to look at Dimitrios as he entered the living room.

"Come on, get your sweaty self over here." Laying there, giant and emitting chilly air into the living room. Voice quiet, and welcoming to his other sibling.

Dimitrios nodded, staying silent as he kicked off his shoes and stepped over. Taking his usual spot on the floor between Koa's bicep and their torso, hugging them as best he could as he relaxed.

Then, he fell asleep.

Koa just laid there, staring up at the ceiling, wondering how he'd fallen asleep in the first place. Maybe he had been tired enough, but now that he were awake, it was different.

Either way, he was happy to stay in this spot as long as needed.

Mind you, they've all known each other for years—

Rotted — Zara — Sekis

Short

——

Sekis shamelessly staring at Rotted while Zara was fitting the clothes to his body. "There's an innocence in those eyes. I like that."

Throwing a roll of fabric at Sekis, brows furrowed, gripping the shirt on Rotted with her other hand. "LEAVE THE POOR ZOMBIE BOY ALONE, YOU FREAKKKK!!!"

"But he likes me! I'm allowed to like him back!!"

Rotted, who only heard the first half before dissociating/daydreaming about Sekis back in the days he wore dresses— "What ??? Did I miss something —" Looking between them both, then down at the shirt on him. "Oh! This is lovely! Is my waist really that small though??"

"mhmmm, fabric doesn't change your size, Hun." She lifts her free hand, patting Rotted's arm.

"See??? So much innocence..." He exhales dramatically, fainting against the lush couch Zara kept in her studio. His horns poking into the cushions.

——

I'd just like to put it out there that I think appreciation for Chubby bodies is genuinely hot— like, yes, tell me more about how my body type is desirable and loved !!

It's not just hot, I think it's sweet, and a whole bunch of positive things I can't quite name.

I just think that someone speaking about it, like a partner, sharing their appreciation for it is so intimate on so many different levels.

Not only can it help boost confidence, but it takes away pieces of doubt and insecurity held in ones mind about their own body.

Short.

——

He still lingers by the doors he once felt were open. Looking in through the glass he used to be on the other side of often.

The memories of it all flood his mind, the person inside that still cares for him, the other protector that used to care for him after long days.

Distant.

He knows there's love, and warmth, waiting for him inside the door. Knows there's a soft voice with a kind smile waiting to welcome him back.

But every time he's spotted, he shrinks away. Eyes lingering on the one that opens it every time, for him.

For her voice, will summon the other guards that now alienate him and fight against him.

She doesn't call for them, never. She only smiles and greets him, hoping he'll step through the threshold to be held in her arms once more.

He doesn't want to risk it.

Back through the hole of the wall, a last glance at the place he once called home.

Shimmering, gorgeous. Hearing peoples wishes, but being unable to grant them.

Like many others, your hopes hang high as they go.

But you know it is but a rare miracle your wish is granted by the stars you look up to.

So the tears you shed, and the wails you let out while sobbing could all be a simple release of emotions you struggle to communicate with anyone else.

Or, you play it off.

Vent post.

——

The words you never want to say, not when you're told that you have to get rid of two cats you raised since they were born.

Not when you spent the first three days of having one, hiding him and taking care of him, making memories while he slept on your neck or in the crook of it. When he climbed on to you just to get close to your face to lick your lashes for whatever reason. When you called him Orange Juice, Garfield, and Your little Cannoli and watched him light up. Raising him for four years.

Or the other.

When you'd go into your siblings room just to see him and the other kittens. Giving them all stupid names but loving his most, because he was Your baby, Your Sniper. You knew it the second you saw his little derpy face and called him the cutest little Alien. All the time you spent cuddling with him when he was a kitten, and as he grew. You watched him get bigger, watched him become strong and brave. Meowed back in reply to all of his talkative meows. Raising him for one year.

The two that completed the little family you'd gotten so used too. The little family that made you feel secure because the humans in your life that you lived with couldn't provide that.

Suddenly, it felt like the world was against you. Tearing apart what you built, what you got used too.

While contemplating it, I've also managed to gain four stories in my drafts so far (⁠｡⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈๑⋅⋯ ୨˚୧ ⋯⋅๑┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

A vow, a promise.

Hold this in your heart like it's keeping you tethered to the earth, because when the time comes that phrase will be the one thing that reminds you how much you're loved.

When doubts are high in your mind and you can't hear the sound of the voice that made your heart race, and brought an uncontrollable smile to your lips.

That and the memories will be all you have until they fulfill that promise and stay true to their heart and you.

Because even after being bitten, becoming undead, forced to love amongst the very things you hide from or fight daily.

They'll still search. That last bit of their human self, so stubborn and determined. It drives them that much further, to find you and make sure you are okay and breathing.

They wouldn't eat you, wouldn't dare try. Just seeing you would be all they needed to feel full.

Because you are the love of their living and undead life.

You are their humanity.

❀•°•═════ஓ๑♡๑ஓ═════•°•❀

Short.

——

Your day was good, all until 2pm.

Everything went to hell. What was once a day that brought you joy and good memories now held the ache of it all suddenly fading into the distance.

Constant argument and testament to your own peace, reaching for it, the tips of your fingers grazing it's surfaces.

But it never turns to take your hand, doesn't reach back for you, doesn't even think about bringing you into its sweet embrace.

—

You find yourself staring at the scenery you pass as your adult drives.

One person you love talking to sitting in the passengers seat. The other that causes you constant distress sitting in the drivers seat.

You want to be included in the conversation, want to give your input.

But no matter how hard you try, you can't bring yourself to speak. Even as the words sit on the tip of your tongue, dreaming to reach the air around you.

Another time.

Can we talk about how absolutely beautiful these outfits are (⁠｡⁠•́⁠︿⁠•̀⁠｡⁠) I wish they were in the chocolate shop 💔 I'm also hoping they stay in the shop even afterrr the multi banner bc like, I want to get them at some point ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠•̥⁠`⁠ʔ