IN THE VERY HOUSE THAT SHE WAS RAISED IN! // Open, burning a house

[Ares]

ARES THERVOS

The front door was thrown off its hinges, the entire house that Ares once called home had been seemingly abandoned since the first occurrence of her Rage. The first of many events to spiral out of control due to many different problems. The undead lioness gazed upon the ruined floors, broken furniture. With a broken, shaking sigh she looked back outside. Wings folded uncomfortably and her paw felt along the dagger that her adoptive mother gave her.

Anger bubbled within her and the lioness yanked the dagger off the rope it was affixed to. Doing a 180, she tossed the dagger further into the house, hearing it thunk against scarred wood. Turning back to the open doorway, a tail flick sparked a flame along the floor and she walked out, using her own anger to strengthen the fire as it started to engulf the inside of the house.

Getting to a safe distance, she watched as flames started to spider outside the house, and she focused on making sure the flames stayed on the house and wouldn't jump to any trees or other houses. The memory of Elsweyr's house going up in flames bubbled in her mind, but she forced it down. After most everything that had happened with her adoptive mother and all the shit that was caused, she just wanted to watch something burn.

[Eon]

Noxeon

Eon was resting nearby. He was unsure why he was so exhausted, but he was, and the patch of moss below him was surprisingly soft. He let his eyes flutter shut momentarily, though he didn't plan to sleep outside, a quick rest wouldn't hurt. It wasn't like he wasn't already covered in dirt. He supposed that was one of the downsides of living in a swamp. One downside he was unsure he would ever get acquainted with.

As he began to relax, his mind began to drift off taking long deep breathes. That was, until a strong smell hit his nostrils... was that... smoke?

His eyes shot open and Eon jumped to his paws. Where there was smoke there was fire, and that wasn't something the fox wanted to be caught in the middle of. Lucky for him, he had wings so could easily getaway. Of course, if there was a fire in the territory, he would want to alert the rest of Tanglewood. But first thing was first, he had to find out where the smoke was coming from; find out if it was actually a threat.

Beating his feathered appendages several times, the corsac fox would lift himself into the air in the direction of the smoke that slowly began to fill the area. It wasn't long until his gaze had caught sight of something ablaze. It looked like a house . Well, that certainly wouldn't be good. "Fire!" Eon would yell out, flying higher to get a better view before debating on getting closer.

Maybe he should.. someone could be in need of help.

"Hello!?" he'd call out, landing beside the burning house though making sure to keep a safe distance. He wasn't sure how he would help, but he would certainly try if someone needed it.

Notes:
N/A

  Words:
300

[Ares]

ARES THERVOS

Her ears flicked as Eon's voice rang out, and her lips twitched. Claws dug into the earth, the memories surfacing again. A low growl rumbled in her, and then she turned to Eon and almost screamed, "LET IT BURN. DON'T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING. I'LL MAKE SURE THE FIRE DOESN'T SPREAD." The house would be gone before long, with the dagger inside to be forever hidden in rubble. She turned to face the fires again, steeling herself against her better judgement.

[LUCINDER XIU]

EVERY OCCASION HAS ITS DISCUSSION—


a fire. he tilted his head as he arrived on the scene, drawn by eon's screeching. that same memory of his mother flashed in his mind again and he grimaced, body heating up uncomfortably hot. a small flicker of flame burst against his spine, causing him to leap back in astonishment. the hell? he padded up to ares silently, offering their mother's name. "elsweyr?"

// discovering fire elemental, triggered by the fire


—AND EVERY GENERATION HAS ITS MEN

"SPEECH"

ROUND UP YOUR SOLDIERS, QUEEN—
lucinder x — tanglewood — 2 years
[color=#C178B7]—BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL STRENGTH

[Orion]

//tracking on main as a reminder to post something long tomorrow

[Eon]

Eon Allure

Eons' attention was soon brought to Ares, who told him she had it under control. An expression of relief would wash over his features. Though that was soon followed by confusion.

[color=purple]"Why let it burn?" He'd question with a slight tilt of his head. Not that he knew how to stop the fire, but if he could he was sure that would be the best option. Having a fire of this size in a territory full of trees that could be set ablaze didn't seem like a good idea; even if it was controlled.

"Who's house is this anyway?" He'd continue questioning, trying to pry information about the situation. "No one is hurt, right?" He'd ask,  before looking around seeing more had gathered at the scene. This didn't seem like a very safe situation at all.

[Ares]

AND NOW, WE'RE ALL TO BLAME
GONE TOO FAR, FROM PRIDE TO SHAME

She felt no need to answer Eon's question about Why. This stranger didn't need to know what happened. A paw shot out, and the fire seemed to shrink slightly. "It was mine. When I was younger." She spoke above the roar, and once the fire stable again, she turned to face Lucinder. Rage lined her eyes, but her face was blank.

"What about her." She spoke flatly, keeping the fire in her vision should it get out of hand.

— Reggan

[LUCINDER XIU]

EVERY OCCASION HAS ITS DISCUSSION—


"is this about her?" he couldn't see why ares would want to go crazy and burn down a house. did they have a bad past or something? he really couldn't tell, he cherished the memories of his mother. she glared at him, rage filling her optics, a rage so strong it made him take a step back and frown. face blank, voice flat she asked him the question to which he responded quietly.


—AND EVERY GENERATION HAS ITS MEN

"SPEECH"

ROUND UP YOUR SOLDIERS, QUEEN—
lucinder x — tanglewood — 7 months
[color=#C178B7]—BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL STRENGTH

[Ares]

AND NOW, WE'RE ALL TO BLAME
GONE TOO FAR, FROM PRIDE TO SHAME

She processed his words, and as the charred house began to crumble, she drew in a shaky breath. "Somewhat." She muttered, and turned to the house ablazing. "She was a piece in a terrible puzzle that never should have been. She did something that made no sense." Especially not to a hurting child. "Giving a weapon to a threat, no matter how small they were in body." Her last words were but a whisper, and she fell silent as the house kept crumbling.

— Reggan

[XANTI]

straight for the throat you’re like an animal!

in for the kill, like you're an animal!

[align=center]

Drawn by the burning house, Ximen padded towards the light. Though the fire and smoke had already disfigured the house, he recognized it as Elsweyr’s. As he drew closer, the voices became clearer, and he understood their words even if their heated discussion pinned his ears to his skull.

Passing by Eon, he muttered softly. “Don’t worry, it’s been abandoned for a long time. This is… family stuff.”

Continuing towards Ares and Lucinder, Ximen’s wings shifted uneasily against his back. Was this his fault? Should he have raised his sister’s children in their mother’s home?

Ximen knew he was inattentive as a father—he never wanted the job, he never produced his own because he hated children—but he’d thought he began doing alright once they reached become teenagers. Ironic, how Ximen understood teenagers better than children, while most who doted on children hated teenagers. But that wouldn’t erase their trauma from Elsweyr dying and his own paltry attempts at taking her place. Especially since Ares literally died and recently returned from the dead after two years.

He stood quietly, thinking over his words carefully. Why couldn’t Elsweyr and Arrow be here instead of him? None of this came naturally to him. His teeth clenched. Jaw popped. Why couldn’t he have just been their uncle? He didn’t know how to talk sense into idiots, let alone idiot children.

“Elsweyr gave you her knife because no child is perfect. Every one of us is capable of great violence. Even a rabbit can claw the eyes of a lion.” Ximen sighed. “I’m sorry her gift brought you pain.”

Ximen could recommend half a dozen books with a protagonist wrestling with this theme, to show Ares she wasn’t the only one. He could train her more. Sit with her to meditate. Tell her, over and over, that she isn’t defined by her mistakes and isn’t the threat she thinks she is. But he has already tried. These, and countless others.

As he looked at Ares’s face, he saw the niece he failed. Elsweyr would’ve known better; he was never supposed to be a father.