#umbran

It’s been so long since I’ve posted but I’m really excited to share this perspective of the story with you! This one will be written and posted in chronological order. This story belongs to my whumper Gabrial, you’ll see him in my story Umbran- but this one has Plot, rather then just whump.

Words: 934

Characters: Row, Ria (Gabrial), Kol

Cw: Nonhuman characters, they/it pronouns. That’s it have fun!

(How do I add a line break on mobile again?)

Blue eyes opened to the sound of pattering feet and the rustle of leaves, a sound Ria knew urged it to follow. Carefully, it stretched its wings and stood, stepping over the sleeping limbs of its colony members and siblings. Its own footsteps were quiet, creeping things, carefully avoiding stray leaves and other Bird’s hair. A sleepy mumble made it freeze, counting the seconds and its heartbeat while its dozing companion settled back to sleep. A moment later it had reached the entrance.

Into the moonlight it stepped, breathing in the fresh dew scented air of its home. The little bird balanced, hanging off the entrance to the hollow as it reached for a hand hold. Little cream colored wings fluffed against the chill- but Ria wasn’t cold! Climbing down was always a careful endeavor, being so high up, but this was a familiar path. Hand and foot, hand and foot, Ria made its way down from a hundred feet in the air to the safe ground below.

On the forest floor sharp grins were exchanged, stifled giggles mixed with periodic shushes could be heard as Ria dropped the last ten feet, landing lightly with bent knees. It looked up, clicking as its companions took its hand to rush it forward. Tonight had been planned for a long time, they couldn’t afford to be seen.

Together the three ran, hands joined together with tiny wings flapping excitedly behind them. Nothing could hurt them while they were together! They weren’t going to cross the border- just take a look! They were so curious… the adults always said not to go too far- they knew why they shouldn’t.. but they just wanted to see! They would be home before anyone noticed they were gone! These sentiments murmured between them as they urged each other on.

Soon they came to a border, two pairs of wings bristling with excitement and one with fear. “Wait!” Said the first one, a strawberry finch too shy to step forward. “It’s not safe!” They called, refusing to move from their safe, ten foot distance as the blackbird inched forward.

“I just wanna touch it!” The blackbird called, chirping excitedly. “I’ll touch it, then we can go back” it claimed, so focused on its goal it didn’t see its companion’s anxiety.

The dove, Ria, watched with blue eyes, still holding the finch’s hand. “We’ll be quick” it promised, bumping its head into the finch’s shoulder. “I want to feel it’s magic” it turned its gaze to the border, a long obvious thing.

The trees stopped ten feet away, farthest reaching branches barely grazing the edge. Ferns and low level plants grew to three feet away, then stopped abruptly- and moss stretched the rest of the way, ending as a black mass on the forest floor at the contact point. Ria wanted to know what made the plants so scared.

Slowly, it let go of the finch’s hand, leaving the chick with trembling wings. “I’ll be quick” it promised.

“It’s not safe!” A sharp tone clicked.

“We have to! Otherwise we might as well just stay in the nest” challenged the blackbird. “We have to prove we aren’t chicks!” It called, already past the fern’s.

“I don’t like this-“

“then go back, it’s alright. We’ll be safe.” A hand on the finch’s shoulder helped them calm, helped them regulate that fear into something usable, communicable. Ria waited until the finch looked a little more confidant, before stepping away to join the blackbird. “You should go back. We’ll join you soon” it suggested.

An impatient trill sounded, responded to with warning clicks.

“Okay.. be safe Ria, I’ll wait for you” the finch promised, tail curled around their arm anxiously. They started turning away, heading down the path they’d come.

“Be safe Row, we’ll be home soon. Don’t worry about us” while Ria’s back was turned, the blackbird had snuck farther, causing Ria’s wings to puff up at the sight of Kol with its hand half way through the barrier. “You’re not supposed to go *through* it!” He shouted, dashing forward to grab Kol’s arm. “That’s so dangerous!”

“It’s different! The air is cooler!” Kol exclaimed, black wings puffing with excitement. Slowly it took a step forward, then another as Ria tried to convince them just how bad of an idea this was. “You don’t want me to go alone right? Just a quick peak! I just want to stick my head through!”

“You’ll say that-“ Ria’s voice broke, wavering with anxiety. “You say that, but you’ll always want more. You’ll never be happy- that’s why you’re a scout! You’ll go and explore and leave without anyone to drag you back home!” It knew it was right, when it saw Kol hesitate.

“Then come with me” a request, a temptation.

“No” a refusal, sharp and clear.

“Come with me, then you can reign us back.. but, I just want to see what’s on the other side. Come on! We’ve never been this far!” Kol’s tail flicked, black floof bristled at the end. There was no clearer way to tell that someone was distressed.

Ria hesitated, coming closer, gazing at the border with suspicion. “..just a peak?” It asked shyly, now holding the black bird’s hand. It wanted to keep its friend safe.. and it couldn’t do that if it let Kol go on without it. What would happen if the blackbird got lost? Or hurt? It needed Ria to make sure it wasn’t alone at the least.

“Just a peak” the blackbird promised, grin just a bit too sharp. And with that, they stepped through the border.

((UPDATED ART FOR UMBRAN! I didn’t do much in the way of changes to his design, mostly to his abdomen area and a new design for his helmet.

In-character, he approached @machinesandman‘s Shaska to help design and make a new helmet for him, as he’d been flatly refusing to wear his old one anymore (he has his reasons).

Very pleased with how this turned out x3

Please do not use, edit, copy, trace or repost my artwork!

@robotic-hearts-n-minds liked for a starter!

It was early evening, just a few hours before most stores would be closing for the night.

Umbran didn't normally wander into the city this early, but there was a particular store he wanted to visit before he eventually drifted off to his usual haunts of bars and clubs.

In civilian disguise, hood up and cyberpunk face mask on, one wouldn't think to look at him and know him to be one of the Hunters' most wanted Mavericks. The reploid walked with such a confident stride, it wasn't difficult for him to not be seen as suspicious.

He let a small smile tug at his lips behind the face mask as his red eyes caught sight of the store and made a beeline for it.

It was a punk clothing store, with a mix of general punk, cyberpunk, steampunk and dieselpunk clothes and accessories. Umbran didn't really buy much of anything from this store, but he liked to come every so often to enjoy the aesthetic and, *every so often*, he did sometimes spot something that took his interest.

enjoy Kei!