#wbsb

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

                                    WE BURN SO BRIGHT

                                                 a wip intro by cindy

GENRE: ya fantasy

STATUS: first draft, writing

POV: first person, present

THEMES AND TROPES: found family; discovering identity; coming of age; lgbtq+ romance; poc rep; anti-heroes; anti-villains; friends to lovers; magic

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TAGLIST

We Burn So Bright (We Burn Out)

Chapter 54

By the time dawn rolls around Harry still can’t shake his sinking feeling of dread. The others almost all seem at peace, but Harry feels a storm brewing. He feels the inevitability of loss. It’s just like it was the day that Gemma died, when Harry wanted to pull out of the appearance because he knew something bad was going to happen.

“She’s been safely hidden away.” Niall says, sensing Harry’s mind wandering towards his sister. “I discussed it with her last night. She’s in a bunker that one of my people found, and she’ll stay there until after everything has happened. You don’t need to worry about Gemma.”

“Why is she hidden, but nobody else is?” Harry questions.

“Because Gemma didn’t have any role to play in this.” Niall says softly. “We all do. Don’t you think I want to put Molly somewhere safe? I would if I could, but she has a part to play in this, just like the rest of us.”

“You know what’s happening, then?” Harry asks, his heart skipping a beat.

“I do.” Niall nods. “My part, at least.”

“Then what’s mine?” Harry asks, grabbing Niall by the arm.

“I’ll tell you when we get where we’re going.” Niall says gently, slipping his hand into Harry’s. “We just have to wait for one more person.”

“Niall, I- I feel like I’m going fucking crazy here.” Harry says, his voice breaking in a way he can’t control and doesn’t give a shit about. “Why- Why are you being so fucking cryptic?”

                          ❖  WE BURN SO BRIGHT ❖

                                                        characters

We Burn So Bright (We Burn Out)

Chapter 50

“How are things going with you and Harry?” Ashton asks, taking Niall by surprise. He would have thought that Ashton would head out after Niall called an end to their training. It’s not one of his days with Harry or Molly, so he has the opportunity to just relax.

“Think it’s more important to ask how things are going with you and Harry.” Niall points out, shifting his bag on his shoulder.

“Niall, I- I’m trying here.” Ashton says quietly. “Please don’t make it harder.”

“We’re good.” Niall admits, looking at Ashton and seeing the pain and grief there in his eyes. “Something new has started happening, so we’re learning to cope with that, but it’s good. Have you tried talking to Cal and Lu?”

“I saw Luke the other day at the café.” Ashton says with a soft smile. “He said ‘hi’ and let me buy him one of his new fancy iced coffee things. Left after that, though. I think he only said anything because he had Molly with him.”

“We don’t buy anything here.” Niall chuckles.

“You know what I mean.” Ashton huffs.

“And you know what I mean.” Niall counters. “Why haven’t you tried to have a real talk with them?”