Forum Thread

Sign Ups

*The sun began to rise over the kingdom of Telmar. The birds began chirping for attention as they flew through the trees and the city. The suns have landed on Maddy's eyes and she slowly began to get up. She looked around her bedroom and looked down at Tani, who slept so peacefully next to her. Tani still had scars from the fire 2 years prior, but Maddy could barely notice them as she looked at Tani, who flew in the morning sun. Maddy slowly leaned over Tani and kissed her cheek before getting out of bed and walking to her dresser to get ready. When she was dressed, she walked out of the room but then saw something. Down the hallway sat a little girl, who was curled up in a little ball, weeping into her knees. Maddy slowly walked towards her and upon reaching her, Maddy slowly began to reach down to her. But then, the girl grabbed Maddys hand and looked up. It was Talla. Her emotionless eyes looked into Maddy's soul and caused Maddy to run back to her room, where she locked the door and ran to Tani*
Tani! Wake up! We have to-! *Maddy moved Tani but saw her clothes were soaked in blood and a dagger layed in her chest. Tani looked at Maddy and spoke with Bentons voice* You could have saved them.. *Maddy screamed and fell backwards into the town. It was now night outside and the town was set ablaze. As she looked around, she saw Cloaks swarming the city, killing all in her path. Then, suddenly, she tripped over Dylan's body. He too looked at her and spoke in Bentons voice* You could have saved them..
*She stood up and began to run, with tears in her eyes until she ran into something. She looked up and saw a post, where she saw the bodies of Sage, Gwen, Luke, Star, Barry, Leaf, and Blossom hanging from it. They all then looked at her, with black eyes and Benton's face. They then all simultaneously yelled* You could have saved them!! *Maddy began to scream and she saw Talla, who grabbed her by the throat and began sucking the life out of her once again. But this time, she intended to finish the job*

*Maddy woke up screaming in the middle of the rainy night. She was drenched in sweat and both her head and heart were pounding. Both Sage and Star rushed into the room and looked at Maddy, who nervously reached out for her wheelchair but instead fell out of the bed. Sage ran over to Maddy, who looked at her fearfully and began to push herself away. She began to yell with fearful tears in her eyes and she took out a knife which she held out as she distanced herself from Sage* Get away from me!!! Get away!!

Star very gently pulled Sage away, recognizing that Maddy was having either aftermath of a nightmare or PTSD, heck, for all Star knew it could be both. Still keeping space between them, Star spoke in a calm but firm tone to try to calm Maddy down. "Maddy, it's just us, Sage and Star." She didn't dare say that Maddy was going through a nightmare because for all Star knew Maddy could be suffering from PTSD and didn't want to send the wrong message.

Leaf and Blossom were at their house. Leaf was going over a list of what they needed to get in the marketplace today to replenish their medical items, this list she handed over to Blossom who nodded and after giving Leaf a kiss on the cheek headed out to the market with her bag slung over her shoulder.

---

Sage doesn't say anything. She simply keeps her distance from Maddy, giving her the space and time that she needs until Maddy realizes that they weren't a threat. The battle two years ago had destroyed her finest allies. While Sage had attempted to do some damage control, her efforts were nothing short of futile. Her people were broken, some more than others. This was something that even she couldn't fix.
"Give her some space" Sage orders Star calmly. "Honey, you need to breathe, deep breaths now, everything is okay," Sage tells Maddy now, she keeps her voice calm, hysteria was the last thing they needed right now.

---

*Maddy continued to breath heavily before shakily throwing the knife to the floor. They were her friends. No one would hurt her there. Maddy began to weep more heavily into her arms and as Sage rushed to comfort her, Maddy embraced her. She buried her face in Sages chest and continued to weep as she began to shakily speak with quick breaths* I'm... soooooo.. sorry.. Saaaage.. *Maddy felt as Sage began to stroke her hair* So... many.. faces... all.. watching me!!

There is obvious confusion on Sage's face. What was she apologizing for? Who was watching her? She could only assume it had something to do with Maddy's dream. Whatever it was, it triggered a pretty big reaction out of her. She was certain that Maddy was continuing to have dreams about the previous battle.

"It's not your fault!" Sage responds fiercely. "None of this is!" She pauses, allowing Maddy a moment to try and calm down. "Let's get you back into bed" she tells Maddy softly as she gently lifts Maddy up high enough for her to be placed back onto her bed. Once Maddy is comfortable, she tucks her into bed. Sage had never had kids, never wanted to have kids when she was younger. But now, she considered Maddy to be like a daughter to her. Maybe that was why her heart was breaking for the younger girl. Maddy, along with her kingdom, has been through so much. When would there be an end?

---

"Sage is right Maddy, what happened was never your fault." Star agrees.

(oof short. Not sure what to really post for Star otherwise though.)

---

*As Sage helped Maddy into bed, Maddy remembered in her dream how she could walk. Walking. She missed it. Sage tucked Maddy in and Maddy silently spoke towards her* Sage.. *Sage looked at Maddy and Maddy continued* I almost got her. They would all be alive right now if it werent for me..

There was a quiet knock on the door and Star opened the door to find Leaf on the other side with a small smile, she too was carrying a bag with medical supplies. As per usual, she was here to check up on Maddy.

Star visibly relaxed knowing full well that Leaf could handle social situations better than herself.

Leaf smiled warmly at Maddy. "Hey Maddy, I'm just here to check in on you. You doing okay?"

---

Eric was jolted awake, but not by a nightmare. In fact, until then, he hadn't even been dreaming. But that confused him. If he wasn't dreaming, if he wasn't having a nightmare...what was it? For a minute, he sat awake in bed, his thoughts swirling like the rain outside, but he eventually understood. He was hearing his sister's voice again. His parents. He grit his teeth, leaning forward with his arms on his knees, hands holding his head. He had to make them stop. What kind of soldier, hell, what kind of man was he if he couldn't stop this? Eric wasn't crazy. He had a good head on his shoulders. He should have been able to handle this. His family had been gone for years. He had other things to worry about. He moved out of bed, stumbling outside into the rain. He was immieadiently drenched, but he didn't care. He tilted his head up to the sky, eyes closed. His head started to clear, and the voices disappeared. Getting outside always helped. But when he went back in and sat down on his bed, he did not move or fall asleep for the rest of the night. It was terrifying enough waking up for no reason to hear it, he didn't want a nightmare.

---

*Maddy watched Leaf as she walked into the room. She lit a candle to make it brighter before placing her stuff on the table. She then asked Maddy if she was ok, to which she shook her head.* No, Leaf.

*Across town, Tani slept peacefully. Like how Madfy saw her in the dream, her burns had healed rather nicely with some minor scarring. The night before, her and Maddy had a fight so now she slept in Luke's home*

Leaf internally frowned, the same response as last time. Besides the fact that Maddy seemed to have lost her fighting spirit after the end of the last war, she was vaguely aware that her and Tani's relations were a bit rocky. . .but that last part wasn't yet confirmed by either party, only what she heard through the grapevine. She decided to tackle whatever was plaguing Maddy's mind first before trying to help Maddy relearn walking again. "What seems to be bothering you?"

Star and Sage stood off to the side and quietly watched as Leaf worked with a motherly touch as she tended to Maddy.

---

"Talla is strong. There is no such thing as getting close to killing her, not without having a knife pressed across her throat" Sage takes a step back, allowing Leaf to check up on her. "You need to stop beating yourself up, all of this is Talla's doing. One day, she'll finally get what's coming to her. You did everything you could to stop her, we all have." Sage tries to make her voice sound convincing, but it was apparent that she didn't believe her own words. They were not prepared for another battle. Their citizens were just holding on and their army barely had a leader.

Gwen was in a similar state as Maddy. She was nothing but a shell of what she use to be. She was once mighty and courageous, now, Gwen looked sickly. Her once muscular body had grown thin. Her sharp and calculating eyes looked haunted. Even her mood had changed. Gwen was usually sad, but sometimes, she would randomly get angry. Those moments were oddly pleasant, because it seemed like, if only for a moment, the old Gwen had returned.

Sage doesn't mention any of this. It was her burden to bear. She was determined to rebuild this kingdom. No, it was her job to rebuild this kingdom. It would be helpful if a few people worked with me she thinks to herself bitterly, thinking of Gwen.

---

*Maddy shook her head* No Sage. I didnt give everything. Not yet at least. *Leaf then began to speak to Maddy to which she responded* Leaf, can we do this later? It's late.. *Leaf opened her mouth as if to speak but suddenly, Maddy's eyes turned black and she yelled at her* Leaf! *Leaf looked taken aback by Maddy but then Maddy's face turned from ferocious to empathetic. She wanted to apologize but she instead held her tongue and adjusted herself to go back to bed.*

Star was also taken aback, but then she looked upset a the sudden outburst at Leaf. Leaf looked at Star and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Maddy's probably tired. I'll let Maddy rest more and come back later." Leaf stood up and packed her things. "It'll give me a chance to go check up on other people and make my rounds."

Star nodded again and after Leaf had to resist glaring at Maddy. "What was that about? You know she was trying to help, so what's bothering you?"

---

*Maddy ignored Star. All she wanted to do was try to get some sleep. Sleep that she needed. Sleep that she felt she hadn't had since before she and Tani escaped Francis' kingdom so many years ago.*

Maddy's sudden outburst was unexpected, but not surprising. After everything they had been through, there was bound to be sudden unexplainable mood swings. "Star? We should get going. It's late and I'm sure the both of you are going to be busy tomorrow" her voice was light, but her words were demanding. "She is dealing with a lot, try to not pay too much attention to her outburst" she tells Star quietly; so that Maddy won't overhear. She is the first one to step out of the room, but she pauses by the doorway, waiting for Star to follow so that she can close it once Star passes by.

It doesn't take long for Sage to fall asleep. She was keeping herself busy everyday. She could've swore she was starting to feel like her actual age.

---

Star headed home where Blossom was already getting ready for bed. Blossom looked up at Star, "how's Maddy?" Star just shook her head and got dressed for bed.

---

*Not far from Telmar, Mead's Tavern stood, but it was much different. Trap's had been set around the Tavern. Many men circled the area, with crossbows ready to fire upon trespassers. Inside, however, Irin's family knife sat on a pedestal surrounded by candles. Several men, including Tirik sat inside drinking. But then Tirik held up his hand and they went silent. It was faint, but he heard swords colliding and men groaning. He looked to his side and pointed at several of the men who ran to the door with their swords drawn. Then the fighting drew closer and Tirik readied his sword. Suddenly, the sound of fighting stopped and silence filled the tavern. Suddenly, a figure busted through the door, and slid to dodge the men's blades. In a matter of seconds, they had impaled or decapitated them all. Tirik tried to draw his sword but his hand was chopped off and he was thrown to the wall by the figure. They walked towards Irin's knife and grabbed it. Tirik yelled at the figure* Dont you dare touch that!

*The figure threw the knife into Tirik's shoulder with such force it lodged in his shoulder and pined him to the wall. The figure then began to speak* Do you know what I am? *Tirik spat at the figure and they walked towards him, taking off their hood to reveal a mask made from an animal's skull. Talla grabbed him and looked him in the eyes with her black eyes.* Do you remember this face? *Tirik's eyes began to constrict. He began to speak as he slowly began to take out a knife* You killed the last Drakonov *Talla smiled and Tirik took the knife and stabbed Talla's gut. She looked down at the knife and then up at him. She took the knife out of her gut and shoved it up Tirik's neck* And this is the face that will be smiling when Telmar burns. *Talla ripped Irin's knife from Tirik's shoulder and walked out of the tavern to her horse, leaving blood and destruction in her wake*

The sun had risen over the land. Although it was hard to tell due to the cloud cover in the sky. Just outside of the kingdom, there is a lone figure standing over a grave. Her eyes and cheeks are wet and her limbs look weak. It almost looked like a small gust of wind could easily knock her down. She had visited this grave every day for the past two years. She could walk over here blindfolded. Her eyes were dazed as she stared at the gravestone of her former lover. She had plagued her mind with thoughts of him. It had gotten to the point where she felt as if she had driven the sword through his side. She could see it now, her sword through his side. His eyes meeting her's, wide and questioning. Blood splattering out of his mouth as he dares to take a breath. "Why?" He asks. He falls back and she tries to catch him, to stop him from falling onto the cold ground, as if that would save him. But her hand just passes right through his and he disappears beneath the ground.

Gwen had gone over Dylan's death thousands of times. Each time, she was desperate to find a way to save him. But she could never find a way. It was almost as if his death was nothing but a cruel fate. No, this wasn't fate. If only Gwen had picked up on his plans sooner! That was the way she could've saved him! Gwen's arms begin to shake as she starts to sob at this realization. She leans onto her sword for dear life, before her despair drives her to the ground. She sits on her knees, her head rested on her sword.
"You dumb fool!" Gwen screams. "If only you told me sooner- everything you were planning! Maybe then I, no, we could've done something to save you!" She takes in a shaky breath, painfully gulping down a sob. "Or you could have been a coward and continued to make me hate you so that I would no longer be forced to burden this pain" she whispers. She reaches a hand out to place it onto the gravestone. It felt warm beneath the touch. She doesn't move until she hears footsteps behind her.
"General? Will you be joining us for the morning announcements?" A voice asks.
"No" she responds curtly.
"We understand you are still mourning, but you should be hesitant to defy Sage's orders-"
"Enough!" Gwen roars. She stands up quickly and meets the eyes of a younger boy, her assistant. He takes a fearful step back, unsure of the situation.
"I won't be around forever, somebody has to take my place when I die. You are the one for the job." It was nothing but an excuse, she wasn't fooling anybody. "Consider this to be practice. Did our patrols find any signs of an invasion?" She asks.
"No" the boy responds.
"Then I have nothing to say to my men and women. You can be the one to catch them up. I'll be joining you momentarily." She turns around now to stare back at Dylan's grave. "You're dismissed."

---

*What lttle there was of the morning sun lit up Tani's room as she began to wake up. She slowly sat up and moved her feet out of the bed. Out of instinct, she looked behind her to look at Maddy but didn't see her there as she was at Sage's home since their fight. She stood up and began to get dressed for the day. A few minutes later, she opened the door and saw two of the town guards outside the door. She then uttered something.* When do we stand? *One of the guards answered Tani's code* We stand against the falling sun and the growing shadow. *Tani nodded and began to walk down the muddy roads with the guards in tow*