#runnerswift

Art by @hugtherobots, whose commission post is here: http://hugtherobots.tumblr.com/post/166954981311/updated-commission-sheet-i-will-draw-almost

What an amazingly talented and accommodating artist. There’s something spectacular about finding someone willing to back-and-forth to do the first art you get of a character, so you have a reference for future pics.

Bunny’s my Summer Beast Runnerswift, and right-hand manimal to Blessed Queen Jaqs of Summer.

You could always tell when it had been one of those nights, ones that drag you down until exhaustion plagues at your every step. Tonight had definitely been one of those nights. She would normally have gone straight to bed, dropping her exhausted frame onto the soft padding of her mattress and not moving for at least twelve hours. Normally that’s what she would do. But the stinging ache that lanced her left side was a quick and startling reminder of why sleep would have to wait, the cut weeped blood even still. Even with the gauze pressed against it to stem the flow. It wasn’t deep. She wouldn’t need to bother the spring courts healers, but she did need some medical attention. At the very least it should be cleaned and dressed correctly.

It was that reason that saw her weaving her way through the Winter courts levels, raising a hand to knock upon a familiar door. She’d checked the other places they were likely to be and realised that, this late in the evening they were probably playing chess in Ryker’s room. She heard the music before she even knocked. Selah. She would always recognise the busy body Nightsingers particular brand of haunting melody. Just from the way it could enthrall, chasing fingers of desire down someone’s spine. Then came Rune’s soft grumbling. Sounded like Ryker had beaten her again, it always happened. Fighting Rune excelled at, chess she did not. As her fingers rapped upon the wooden door all but the drifting music ceased. The door slid open and a familiar pair of pale grey hues stared down at her, touched with a concern that made her blush. There strangeness came in that, instead of black, the pupils were pure white, most would think he was blind. Yet he saw far more than you might think.

“Meadow? I wasn’t expecting you tonight. Is everything okay?” His hushed baritone voice, mellowed with the sullen quality that made it so uniquely his sent a shiver dancing down her spine. Wyrd. She hoped he didn’t notice even whilst secretly longing for him to do just that. He ran his fingers through his cropped blonde hair, making it stick up at odd angles, which just made him look even more appealing. Say something Meadow! Sheesh. Why was she just staring at him dumbly.

Rune nudged Ryker out of the doorway, her red-golden gaze appraising Meadow in her shrewd warriors way. “How’d it go? Not hurt are you?” Her wickedly pointed red fingernails caught the light as she brushed her dark brown bordering on black hair from her face. The only one who hadn’t gotten up to crowd the doorway was Selah, who’s soft flute music had changed to a more upbeat tune. Meadow shook herself, as if the sudden shift in music broke the spell and she could finally move, talk. She smiled shyly at her three favourite people.

“It..it went okay. We got what we went for.” She cleared her throat, affixing her eyes upon Ryker. “I...I got knicked by a spiked tendril. I um...I was hoping..you’d uh...fix the dressing for me?” She couldn’t seem to stop stammering, her cheeks flushing with mortification. Ryker smiled at her, pulling Rune out of the doorway and gesturing her to come in. “Of course. Have a seat.” He wandered across the room to find his first aid kit as the shy little doe perched herself upon his bed, cloven hooves swinging back and forth. Blood soaked gauze clutched in hand.