#sonorusgloom

🏹Hunter & Huntress🏹

This AU has been living in my head rent-free all day so I just had to spend all night working on this :D

In the wake of a bunch of twists and turns of their already tragic romance, (newly transformed!) Naelle, equipped with the Bow & Arrows of Artemis, is sent on an epic quest to hunt down the monstrous Beast who slew her true love... little does she know that the Beast and her Opera are one and the same! As night falls and their hunts begin, will either of them realize the other’s identity and stop this looming tragedy before it’s too late...? 

          Ending on a high note, the child steadied his footing and bowed (somewhat haphazardly, as anyone witnessing the display would surely note) to the seedling, one hand keeping a skull-like mask pressed to his face.

~ ~ 🐦︎ ~ ~ For @sonorusgloom​

    The woods nearby the castle are some of the gloomiest that the Boiling Isles has to offer. Constantly dark from the thick tree branches, with an ever present mist and a chill in the air despite the season...it’s not a place most people willingly go. Unless you’re a teenager who is trying to keep a secret from your all powerful uncle and ruler of the Isles, that is.

    Noel has snuck away with Rascal this day, considering that Goldie’s been sent out again on another mission. Something a lot more dangerous and complicated that would be unsuited for his eyesight. He can’t exactly complain on this day; the vision in his left eye has been dark and blurry compared to his right since he woke up.

    At least this gives him a chance to work with the Palisman that’s chosen him and his twin; something unheard of, but happening in their lives. He absolutely feels the need to prove himself to the tiny bird, since it chose Goldie first and him second.

Terrance leaned back as the Beast loomed down to him and he swallowed, but despite the imposing figure before him... The taur felt like this creature was old and must be shown respect... It felt like the forest, like the trees, like earth itself, even if something about him was... dark.

It was that time of year again.

The autumn "offerings."

The time of year where their little, superstitious village had to select one of their own to send away to the forest. A decade old tradition, and a sacrifice to the dangerous creatures that lurked within. In hopes to appease them enough to provide safe passage throughout the long, deadly woods. So that they might travel, and trade with their far away neighbors.

They'd pick their sacrifice, dress them up in silk and fineries, before gathering at the forest's edge, and sending them away. Left to face the dangers all on their own, and, should anyone survive, titan forbid they somehow made their way back to the village. They'd be shunned, cast away, and chased out again, for fear of offending the forest spirits.

And it seemed, this year? It was her that was to go.

Azura had been dressed up in a fine gown, hair filled with braids, and flowers. An small, antlered crown of roses placed upon her head. She almost looked like a blushing bride! If it weren't for the nervous frown at her lips, or the rough, enchanted silver cuffs and chains attached to her wrists. The cold metal chilling her to the bone as she was escorted the the edge of the forest.

No....this felt far more like a funeral.

& ( @sonorusgloom​ ) cont. from here. 

            “Well, what am I supposed to act like? Please, oh great and wise deer-man, educate me.” the petite winter spirit rolled her eyes as she gave her sarcastic response.

beneath the trees, the ground turned pitch, mercer’s reflective hues flashing at the most minute glints of light. he could clearly detect thermal signatures of the creatures around him ( a redundant shift he decided to keep nonetheless ), sense the prickling of spiders wrapping their meals for later, hear the muted heartbeats of small ambushers holding their breaths around him, the natural world chimed its cacophony of natural sounds, yet something aside from the virus was out of place here : movements strangely not linked to muted clicking of muscle friction, the careful shifting of grass beneath one’s feet & clawed digits gently pressing against bark. 

abruptly, mercer turned in its direction, noting a distinct pause of all movement as the creature attempted camouflage. if he were as he appeared, mercer would not have noticed the creature at all, but his gaze far surpassed that of most creatures. like blacklight, this creature did not breathe, yet unlike the viral construct, the claws peeking around the curvature of the tree it currently hid behind possessed very little warmth. interesting.

❛ i can see you back there. ❜ head tilted upward beneath his hood, arms crossing as blacklight clicked his tongue mockingly. very few animals stalked humans ( even fewer lived in these climates ) & this creature moved with an intelligent coordination, yet it wasn’t intelligent enough to stay far away. ❛ come out. ❜