Mébène's stories

Silently, she crouched by the fire, stoking it before pulling her cloak back over her shoulders. The flames made the shadows dance on her face and the stone hanging from her ear gleamed.

“You know, Tarann, you’re a young man… An adult, and at your age, young Fomori often leave their arn to test themself but also to meet new people."

-"Yes dad, you often talked to us about your praden", replied Tarann in an even tone.

- "So, if you wish, you could go off on your own, as a mercenary, or some other kind of work for that matter, or just to follow someone…"

Luggh stopped when he saw Tarann turn towards him, staring at him with an expression he couldn't read.

“Why leave? Things are fine as they are now."

-"Of course", his father replied quickly. "But if you wish…"

-"My place is here, among you, isn't it?"

-"Yes, of course!"

Here is the current cover

I like it but it doesn't fit the mood and the style of the story. It looks like a manga/comic or a YA story.

Here are the two ideas I currently have (those are quick drawing just to play around with my ideas)

The first is a painting (here digital, but it would be watercolour), showing the environment, with an element of danger with the 3 riders on top of the mountain.

The second is the silhouette of the MC and her brother, with his horn and her earring in the middle. I would add arabesque around the title and found a better font. The middle image would be a traditional drawing/painting.

Luggh saw Ida in the crowd, standing right next to the young paravès. The years were etched on her former friend's face, but she still had the build and bearing of a twenty-year-old. Her eyes shone. Luggh was speechless for a few moments. Without a word, Ida crossed the crowd toward him. He barely had time to whisper her name before she slapped him, hard. Ela shouted at him to step aside, but he gestured for her to calm down. Bringing his hand to his swollen cheek, Luggh turned to Ida. She stood straight as a yew, towering over him with the size of her antlers and her face covered in tears.

“I imagine I deserve much worse," said Luggh softly. "Excuse me, Ida."

-"Twenty years!" She shouted. "You disappear for twenty years and you dare to come back today?"

It feels like I'm writing into the void.

I'm trying my best to try and stay positive. I always said I wrote for myself, but the lack of engagement on my story is weighing on me.

I feel the urge that take me every few months.

The urges to delete all social media, to flee back to my cave and to go back to writing texts that noone will read but myself.

this is right after a huge fight between my MC, Ela and her father about how they should try to save Tarann (Ela's brother). It's full of angst.

Seeing a break in the clouds over the capital, the queen opened the window and stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the city.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83972691

Ela and Luggh talk about their plan to save Tarann.

It turns into a huge argument.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83972691/chapters/230394576

chapter 12/???

Word count: 22150

The warrior hadn't considered following Osrin and Telenn in their decision to help Luggh and his family. They were only five people, only four warriors, without a plan or allies among the humans.

But now, having sensed Tarann's despair, staying behind seemed cowardly. However, war threatened the Fomori, and they needed all their warriors. Aumnios knew that. For the first time in a long time, her head and her heart were at odds.

“You were the one singing at the Three Hares tonight, weren’t you?”

Asja's voice died in her throat, so she simply nodded. The guard marched toward her. Ariana tried to intervene, shouting that she hadn't done anything. Asja raised her hands in front of her and tried to reason with him, but without a word, the man grabbed her wrist. His free hand grasped the shackles hanging from his belt with the other. Asja knew that, even if innocent, her chances of seeing the light of day again if she were arrested were nil.

Remembering what the mercenary, Ela, had taught her, she closed the distance between herself and the guard and struck his nose with her elbow. He let out a cry and released her. Asja tried to escape. The door was inaccessible, the window was the only remaining exit. She leaped over the first bed but wasn't quick enough. A guard grabbed a fold of her dress to restrain her, pulling her off the bed. Without thinking, she kicked the guard and quickly got to her feet. But other guards had already surrounded her. This time, two of them tried to subdue her. Scratching and biting like a wild cat, Asja resisted. One of the soldiers managed to seize her arm and twisted it violently behind her back. Despite the pain, Asja tried to fight back. A guard's gloved hand grabbed her hair and pulled it upward, exposing Asja's ear. The young woman stifled a cry of pain. The entire room fell silent for a moment.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/83972691/chapters/229288836

chapter 12/????

Luggh and Ela try to save Tarann, only to meet another familiar face.

I feel so honoured that people took the time to read my story. I hope you all enjoyed it.