DROWN ALL DREAMS SO MERCILESSLY - Open

[SirDio]

Asteri

Coy loved the ocean. And such is the pain of remembering what a lost friend loved. As she walked along the coast, hungry black fur buffeted by cold winds, memories came to her. Coy singing loudly about an ocean legend, Asteri creating the beat and humming along. The two singing shanties on a boat, occasionally capsizing. The music box she found in an old sailor's home and gave to Coy, how he loved it, and loved her even more. Him putting it on when Asteri couldn't sleep, Asteri finding him passed out with the music box between his paws, little ship rocking quietly to the music it played.

Engulfed in memories, Asteri almost didn't realize the dark body laying on the sands some feet before her. At least, not until she saw the blood, the red bandana torn up and scattered. Oh. Oh no. No. No. It could not be him. The stars would not be as cruel as to kill off her once only friend. As she stepped closer.. oh no. No, it cannot be him! No. The small fox body, dark-furred with white markings on their paws, a moon on their right cheek... A choking sob left the trembling wolf as she pressed her nose to the cold body. Coal... Coal and Sea Salt.. God..

"Why... Why, stars.. why.." Her sobs suffocated her words as her upper body collapsed, holding onto the bloody and matted fur of Coy's cold body. Wait. The music box.. WHERE WAS THE MUSIC BOX. Panic set in, but as she lifted a dead paw and spotted a dark spruce box with gold clasps... wound up the rod at the back... opened the box.. A sob of so many emotions choked her as the tune played, solemn in the rolling thunder, little pirate ship rocking in imaginary waves..

Sobs became louder, became a wail, then a scream, then back to a wail, then back to sobbing. The scent of bandit was all over the area, and bloodied footprints led further down the coast and into the forest. Breathing a heavy, raggedy breath, she let out an anguished scream, "DAMN YOU.. YOU SICK BASTARDS! HE WAS YOUNG.. HE STILL HAD LIFE.. AND YOU TOOK IT AWAY! HOW COULD YOU?! HAVE YOU NO REMORSE, NO MORALS? HE WOULD HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HURT YOU, AND YET YOU KILLED HIM, YOU -- YOU-YOU-YOU.. YOU MONSTERS!" She had screamed to nothing but the starting storm, thunder gently rolling over the sky, appearing to mourn with her.

"Cruel and cold.. like winds on the sea..
Will you ever return to me?
Hear my voice..
Sing with the tide..
Our love.. will never.. die.."

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. god of war - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. formerly blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family. courting halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, laeglin, sloan and colwyn. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette. (strike is deceased/unknown status)

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nerves ran rampant along muscle, eyes wide open, paws thundering over ground upon hearing the cry, the screams and sobs. approaching as swiftly as they could, the kingpin came at a full run, hit by the scent of blood and bandit. ploughing to a stop, the kingpin stifled their gasps for breath, gaze taking in the scene of asteri over a body they didn't recognize. coming to a stop as they approached her, they kept their distance, "asteri?", they would call her name softly, eyes locked onto the body of the fox at her paws, the musicbox beside her. their eyes took on a sullen look, noting the grief she held within her. this must have been somebody close to her .... they could tell her rage, they could see her world breaking for her. in their own way, the kingpin knew that if she sought comfort, that she would find someone to lean upon. they could only offer their shoulder silently.

they made no move to track the bloody trail into the forest, standing close yet far, waiting for when it would be permissable to close the distance between them. exhaling softly, they let their head droop, witness to her grief and loss. they could not blame her for what she might choose to do. her words rushed over them, accepting her rage and grief, steeling their resolve to take out the bandits. they had all lost too much due to this scourge upon their lands. they would speak to her later, when it was appropriate for talks of war.

[SirDio]

Asteri

Bai's voice hardly reached Asteri with her grief-stricken mindset. She took a sparing glance at them, eyes glassy with tears, before she pressed her face against the body. Grief became a rage, then rage crumbled into numbing sorrow. Rage again surfaced, as she stared over into the open ocean, evident in the way her wings twitched and creaked with movement. She was without mercy for the bandits who took the life of her jolly friend. A heavy breath drew from her, "They have stepped too far for me. Their sins will be paid in blood, or they will be thrown into the ocean for sharks. I care not what happens to them now." Words of strong resolve hid the breaking little child within, world dark and grey now.

All she wanted to do now was exact revenge upon the beasts that dared kill an innocent fox.

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. god of war - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. formerly blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family. courting halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, laeglin, sloan and colwyn. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette. (strike is deceased/unknown status)

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bowing their head in silence, they gave a soft sound - they could not blame her grief. stepping closer to keep guard over her and her grieving, they remained a distance away to allow her personal space, "their sins and their crimes will be punished in blood, yes.", they would speak quietly, touching their nose to her ear in silent support. they would exhale, lifting their head up to the skies, breathing in the scent of snow, "asteri. let's move him somewhere safer.", they would speak softly as they looked down upon the fur of the murdered fox. shaking their head, they rumbled, speaking a gentle prayer, "dear spirit, wide wanderer, rest now, find peace in our lands and take the path to the heavens above.", they would murmur, looking upon coy as if he had been a wonderful friend.

"rest assured, traveler, your journeys are not in vain. you lay beside your friend, and you have passed the torch of your life. we will look after her, as we will look after you.", they spoke softly.

[SirDio]

Asteri

Body slumped, she moved her gaze to look at Bai for a moment, though she quickly looked back at Coy. Rage again surfaced, prickling her fur like fire. Standing up with a shaky stance, she pressed her nose to Coy's body. Hushed were the words that left her, a promise; "Rest assured, Coy, they will know pain when they look into my eyes, and they will know fear. Just like you told me, those months ago, our bond is the ocean. Unfathomably deep, forever there. Those who dare tempt it will regret it." Giving the air a sigh, facing the growing storm, she prayed quietly that he found peace, and if he didn't, he would soon. A brief nod to Bai was given as she started nosing herself under him so that she could carry his limp body on her back. Wings helped support the body and she gently grabbed the music box in her mouth. Oh, god help the bandits when the time came.

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THE KINGPIN

golden lung dragon & black jaguar w/ vitiligo & platinum silver fox. god of war - ancient. bai shi lynn lingré. proper chinese name is lin bai. prefers lynn if close. they/them. formerly blind. wind element & electric element. firstborn son of jerisidie lingré & current head of family. courting halo mercer. kingpin of alithís evgenis. demiromantic gray-asexual. parent of veris, arvin, leoku, erian, flos, kekhai, evarhi, laeglin, sloan and colwyn. elder brother of ramona and hope, uncle of quennel and cosette. (strike is deceased/unknown status)

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moving to help her put the body onto her back, they would walk just ahead yet beside her, keeping their senses aware of any incoming danger, ready to cut down any bandit that interrupted the solemn walk. shaking their body out, they raised their eyes to the sky, exhaling shortly with a huff, toes curling into the sound as they peeled their lips back into a snarl. so many dead ... so many innocent lives stolen by these bastards. looking back to asteri, they exhaled wearily, knowing the pain that she carried within her chest. pacing ahead, they scored their claws through the sand, "do you want him buried or put to rest in a tree?", they asked lowly, looking back over their shoulder, "i'll get the funeral items ready."