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 Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 6:14 pm
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 A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF CREATION!
Kin Name: Grim Grinning Ghosts
Drabble: Grim Grinning Ghosts was not a kin’s kin. That much, he knew. He was born of a different calling, not meant for the joyous world of the living. Certainly he could dabble, weave in and out of their gatherings and celebrations. He would never be impolite, goodness no! But the lot of them did not take pleasure from his work, and that much he respected. So at the winter festival’s end, Grim took his leave of the market and retreated back to his own world. After all, being dead wasn’t the fault of the dead themselves! And they needed someone to celebrate their afterlife!
Today, he had grown tired of the company of other kin. They were not bad, gracious no! Just… exhausting. So instead of more pleasantries, Grim had excused himself, ducking away to the darker parts of the swamp. Oddly enough, he recognized these trees- this was most certainly a place he had tread before. A smile, more natural than the orange one borne onto his fur, took his features, and the zikwa’s leisurely stroll turned to more of a canter.
Yes, yes, there was that oddly shaped puddle that resembled a skull… and there was the rock he had spied! Grim Grinning Ghosts certainly knew where he was, now. More than just familiar, this place was special- and not only to him. It would take a bit to coax the newest of his friends out, seeing as how shy Bait was, but Grim was certain the little foxbun would understand the importance of this.
When he arrived, the Zikwa turned and gave a high-pitched call, the one he’d trained his friends to recognize. And just as it ever was, Thirteen arrived first with a keening noise, followed with Widow at his heels. Then, there was the delay. Despite his worry for little Bait, Grim knew he would be along soon enough.
And there he was! The little foxbun, peeking round the brush. Grim dropped to his knees and coo’d softly at the little beasty, laughing with delight when Bait finally ran to him. The spectral bunny hopped atop his head, and Grim gleefully turned back to the grove.
“There’s something amazing here,” he whispered, his voiced hushed yet still full of awe. Thirteen draped about his neck- a comforting presence if ever- and Widow trailed about his hooves. With all of his friends’ attention, he continued.
“Life. Life from death. We all die, you know. But the MotherFather- our glorious SisterBrother!- takes that death, and makes new life. It’s why death is so wonderful! It’s not the end, it’s a beautiful new creation!”
Perhaps they weren’t truly listening, weren’t truly aware of what he meant, but it mattered not. His teacher had taught him about the swamp giving new life, taking the souls back to the MotherFather and turning the corpses to flowers and trees. It brought a tear to his eye, knowing someday he’d experience the majesty of death. And as long as someone listened… well, he was doing his part for the world. And now this kin he had buried was a beautiful garden, feeding the world. He’d do that someday.
He could give life in his children, and when it was his time, give life from his own corpse. What a beautiful world this was. |
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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 7:35 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF DRAGON!
Kin Name: Second Star to the Right
Drabble: Dragons were the true saviors of this swamp. Rather than flounder in the water, they burned in the fire. Their souls, their spirits were beyond the normal kin who roamed this place. They were simply better. That was all there was too it.
Each time she fought with her siblings, Second Star to the Right felt it. Each day she spent with her children, she saw it. The fire that burned in their hearts. The fearsome strength of the dragons, just behind their eyes. The MotherFather had turned the true dragons small, in fear of their awesome power. But their spirits lived on in the kin raised by them, borne of their blood. Perhaps they weren’t the fire-giving beasts they had once been, but they bore all the strength of the dragons of old.
Secret flitted about her head, and Second Star wondered- what would their world be like, had the original dragons not been punished? How much greater would they be? She longed for such days, such power in her steps. The swamp would be theirs and theirs alone. It was their birthright, their destiny. And one day, the greatness of the dragons would take back the swamp once more.
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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:53 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF OCEAN!
Kin Name: Timorous
Drabble:
Timorous had heard of the ocean, but had never seen it for herself. Her birthplace had been the desert, a sprawling length of sand with the random oasis that had been come across and the swamp had been interesting enough, with more water that she had ever come across. So the ocean was intriguing to her and almost hard to imagine (almost, had it not been for her knowing how sand could just go on and on and on) but she had never had reason to go visit. There was work to do and water enough in the swamp here that her curiosity could be sated for the time being.
But it was a hot day and Dauntless, her daughter, had suggested they gone because she had found a path and a break from working the groves was well needed. She even managed to get By the Roots to agree and so their little group of three took a journey to the ocean, a break from the working of the plants. It was well worth the trip, Timorous thought, when they actually made it there. The sea sparkled and shined like something she had never seen before, a wide expanse of blue that was almost impossible to describe. She thought she could have imagined it like the deserts but it was different in so many ways and Timorous was almost a little scared of it. But her daughter dove in and By the roots behind her and Timorous joined and it was exciting, swimming and playing in the most water she had ever seen. There was something beautiful about the ocean and for once, she didn't think of the sands she had left behind.
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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:45 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF CREATION!
Kin Name: Swarm
Drabble:
Her maternal instinct surprised her.
Swarm hadn’t expected it not even while she was carrying her young.
The pregnancy had been easy enough, even if it was her first and completely unknown territory. But wasps bred too, even if the queen spent very little time nurturing her own young. She didn’t complain, though near the end of her term her temper had frayed and even Dapper had raised her ire.
There was always someone with her, watching over her. Dapper was a constant presence, anxious and excited. He was the warmth to her cold. First Strike still seemed intent on killing Dapper and eating his body but settled for bringing Swarm an endless supply of food. Brother and Sister kept wanting to settle down and create a nest but Swarm kept driving them on, until she’d found just the right place.
It was in a sheltered copse that she finally knew her sacs were ready to emerge. She laid them out one at a time, with a soft grunt but not even the hint of emotion disturbing the blank expression she’d held to since she’d first realized she was pregnant.
Only once it was done and the five sacs had been separated from her body that something stirred in her chest.
It developed over the long days spent waiting, each time she stared down at the little forms growing slowly inside their protective layer something new tugged at her heart.. A wasp did not feel love the way kin did. A wasp was connected to its hivemates, it knew how to protect, it knew of revenge, it knew to defend family. It didn’t just feel.
But she wasn’t just a wasp, she was a Kimeti and each time she looked at her children, some remarkable feeling grew stronger.
Then the day came that it was time to join the world.
A female first; pushing out before the others, a young queen. Swarm knew she would be strong.
Two males tumbled out next, eagerly searching for light and warmth.
There was a wait, in which she knelt amongst her young brood. They sought out her heat and she knew with fierce emotion that she would die for them. They were hers and she loved them.
The fourth was another female. She tore her way out and sat unmoving. Brother and Sister had crept down from the trees and they buzzed but there was no reaction. And then Not Wasp was there, with the rasp of one long limb against the other. The foal finally stirred and joined her siblings with hardly a wobble.
A mantis among her wasp children, Swarm thought and waited for the last.
Green and gold, her final daughter was all emotion and sound, bleating even before she’d hit the earth. One limb still tangled in the remains of her sac. Swarm simply watched and refused to let anyone assist. It was an agonizing wait until the foal finally pulled herself free and sat in an exhausted heap.
Satisfied, Swarm let the others fuss if they wanted. Dapper could give his adoration and attention. Her love was no less powerful but it would be measured. They would learn how to be both kin and other, how to hunt and understand more than was said with words. She would be their queen and their mother until they were old enough to seek their own life.
Somehow she had created them from her own blood and body, with Dapper Mantis at her side.
Swarm looked down at her offspring and smiled.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:53 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF MUSHROOM!
Kin Name: Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy
Drabble: Muhsrooms were like. Everything, man. Gifts from the Motherfather that proved they loved us and wanted us to be happy. Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy definitely loved her some good mushrooms. There were the wicked nasty ones, of course. One bite of the wrong s**t and you were mushroom food yourself. Rest in pieces, all that good noise. But then there were just the wicked ones. Once, on a particularly groovy bender, Touch Fuzzy had eaten a cave mushroom she’d never seen, and woken up a week later in a tribe that was determined to kill the spirits of the swamp as a blood sacrifice.
…Maybe that wasn’t the best story to be remembering while waking up.
Her eyes strained against the harsh light of the sun, and Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy shakily rose to her hooves. Good mushrooms, that much was for certain. And hey, no horns at her throat! That was always a bonus. She nodded to herself, looking about the area. She was in… a den? Huh. Nice digs, definitely. Unsure of what else to do beyond sleep, Touch Fuzzy trot out of the nesting area and back towards the swamp. Chicken feathers… a few bones… and oh boy, plenty more kin scattered around, in various states of consciousness. Whatever went on… it must’ve been a great party.
One kin still in a stupor nodded to her, and as she trotted by, Touch Fuzzy nodded back.
“Some dig, huh?” The stranger offered. “You were wicked awesome last night!”
“Thanks, man!” She called, not even bothering to learn what she’d done. If it was important, it’d come to her eventually. If not… eh!
That was the beauty of mushrooms.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:34 am
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF TURTLE!
Kin Name:A Graceful Dance
Drabble:
A Graceful Dance watched it glide, just barely, underneath the surface of the water. He has never seen such a lovely dance from a creature. He watched as Twirling made nice with the creature and together they both danced.
He learned that the creature is a turtle, a sea turtle to be precise. And to be in such a presence of this animal was a treat. He and Twirling decided to practice dancing today by the sea side and it was going along perfectly...until he sensed a distress from his companion. He turned around to see Twirling trying to float towards him, as fast as a jellyfish can go. He wondered what has his friend so distressed until he saw what it was, the very same sea turtle they are with now. A Graceful Dance intercepted the creature, telling it that his Jellyfish friend isn't for eating today. The creature was adamant though, trying to get to his friend until he got very close to the turtle to show him he was serious.
The turtle relented and wanted to apologized and, to kill two songbirds with one stone, he asked the turtle to make nice with his pet and dance together.
It is now that A Graceful Dance is watching them dance, and what a lovely dance it is too.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:40 am
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF CHICKEN!
Kin Name: Blue Heart
Drabble: She'd been on the hunt for something more tasty to snack on. While she was quite used to the norm, and didn't typically have that finicky or particular palette, she had come to a more lush and fruitful area. It was packed with berries, nuts, and all sorts of critters that looked promising and tasty.
As she nosed through a rather burly bush, rooting out the firm berries that were attached, her ears flickered at the sound of a.... something. It was clipped, and staccato, lasting only for brief moments. Lifting her head straight up, Blue Heart instantly looked around her, nostrils twitching as she gathered all the scents that surrounded, chewing slowly the berries she'd gathered in her mouth.
There. That sound again! Leaning around the shrub she was stationed at, she was met with a turned head, that had an eye aimed right at her... a chicken. It stared at her, as she stared at it, a contest of who would blink or move first. The bird lost, making a cluck again, its little chest expanding and relaxing in the motion. Its beak was a mess with flecks of seed residue... with a blank expression returning to her face, Blue Heart continued with her berry feasting, deciding today she would pass on chicken.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:49 am
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF RUNNING!
Kin Name: Blue Heart
Drabble: Perhaps since her leaving home, and venturing out on her own, it had become her favorite activity. Running was an ultimate form of working her body out, pushing her limits, and feeling the full sense of freedom. Blue Heart was a powerful kin, one who took pride in her physical prowess, and partook in daily exercise religiously. Running was a staple, a necessity, no different than the need to eat and drink.
The way it would tousle her long locks, sending them streaming behind her like ribbons of liquid water, as her hooves thundered quietly along any surface she tread upon. It was exhilarating, her heart pounding in her ears, air cycling through her deep cavity to keep her going.
Really, there was nothing like it. Nothing that compared.
It was with those legs that ran so long and fast that took her where she needed to go, that got her out of tight situations, and that outran any one who thought they could best her. There was a bond she felt towards the act, a sense of ownership and place. She could always count on galloping to be an option. And while she wasn't one to run away from a fight, or turn from a challenge that posed difficult, the option was always there, at the ready, to let her lead on to another day.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:40 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF OCEAN!
turtle, ocean, chicken, magic, creation, dragon, mushroom, firewater, smash, monster, running, beauty
Kin Name: Beast of a Burden
Drabble: Beast stood before the expansive ocean, tail twitching behind him as one hoof raised off the damned sand. Disgusting. He despised the sensation of sand under his hooves, but what was worse was wet sand, which he never had the displeasure of feeling until now. Glowing eyes watched the waves, mouth frozen in a perpetual frown. What had taken him here, again? Curiosity? The inability to understand why people called the ocean 'beautiful' when he himself never had seen it? Now, he regretted it, and deeply. It'd take both forever to get the sand out, and miles to avoid that stench of salt. The screaming birds didn't help, either. Really, this was just a terrible experience he would be relieved to leave.
His hoof lowered to smack a shell, eyes narrowing violently. Perhaps that was the only interesting part of this evening; the shells. Maybe he'd grab a few to take..... wherever he considered home was today? No, it wouldn't matter in the end; he'd just end up traveling. Carrying dozens of these things didn't look worth the bother, really. Maybe one couldn't hurt. He could find a way to poke a hole through it and slide a vine through, perhaps. Shrugging, the male bent down, grabbing a seashell with his mouth (and instantly regretting it as the taste of salt filled his mouth). There. Journey over, he figured a purpose. Now he could go home and forget this hideous place.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:53 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF MUSHROOM!
turtle, ocean, chicken, magic, creation, dragon, mushroom, firewater, smash, monster, running, beauty
Kin Name: Goodbye
Drabble: It had been days since Goodbye had managed to find food. To be honest, the desert was not his friend, and he had completely forgotten that when he decided to continue his adventure through it. He hadn't been dropped in the sands when he was born; no, he had been left in the swamps. The desert never was his home, and he was not eager to make it one.
So, when he finally stepped onto green land he almost fainted right then and there. Finally! That only took, what, three days? Longer? Shorter? He had forgotten time as he tried to fight through the sands. His mouth watered as he stared at the green world before him, tail flicking idly behind him. He was too hungry to care what he consumed, honestly. If he was being real, he'd even eat something already dead. His stomach practically screeched in hunger as he padded through the greenery, considering just even eating grass at this point. So, when he saw a group of mushrooms he forgot all the pretty rules about what he should look for, immediately snatching up a bite of the plant. Delicious. Down went one full mushroom, and almost another was consumed before, suddenly, the world turned..... hazy? Why was it spinning? What..... what were those colors? Was that an.... scorpion? Hadn't he left the desert?!
As quickly as he consumed the mushroom he fell to the ground, letting out a soft and low whine. Oh no.... was he dying? Was this the end? A delicious end, but an end none the less! Oh, the world was turning black.... Was this the en-
When he came to it was night, and his head hammered violently. Full he was, but wary he had become as he stared at the patch of mushrooms. Yeah, no, not again.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 6:16 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF RUNNING!
turtle, ocean, chicken, magic, creation, dragon, mushroom, firewater, smash, monster, running, beauty
 Kin Name: Maybe Never
Drabble: He wasn't sure what he was running from, but he knew, deep down, there was something he couldn't acknowledge. Something he needed and yet was afraid to obtain, instead fleeing at the very sight of it. Maybe this was why he traveled so much; as an escape. He didn't enjoy it, certainly. He despised the miles and adventures. It took him further from where he felt safest - the swamp - and no where closer to whatever he needed. Nothing was worth the miles, and yet he couldn't stop. He wouldn't. It was the only thing that made his life matter, lately. Not that he was desperate to find a meaning, really, but it was easier to answer a question when someone questioned what he did. It wasn't like saying 'all I do is feel lost and completely empty' was an adequate answer. Not in society, at least. That was a do-not-discuss topic, one of many he wanted to talk about but couldn't.
That was all he was these days, anyway. Someone who couldn't speak freely. Someone who had nothing to offer except questions and confusion. He wasn't worth anyone's time, and as each night progressed he was reminded that he might as well give up. As morbid as that was, and how disgustingly pathetic he knew it to be, it was the truth. All the while he ran from the one thing that could provide answers. That frightening feeling inside of him that screamed at him to notice it. The one answer he didn't want.
So, he ran, and he'd continue to run until his hooves grew old and bones resisted each step. So far, it looked like he be running for a long time yet.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:05 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF CREATION!
turtle, ocean, chicken, magic, creation, dragon, mushroom, firewater, smash, monster, running, beauty
Kin Name: Vibrant Hues
Drabble: Her throat closed up as the other kin rambled, eyes rolling to view the grass instead of her. The other kin wouldn't stop rambling about her kids, and it left Vibrant sick to the stomach. Why did she feel the need to discuss her family? They had just been fine discussing medicine until, suddenly, kid talk was brought up. Vibrant wasn't ready for this topic, or even the fact the other kin had winked and said, if Vibrant was "lucky", she'd be the one gushing soon. No, Vibrant didn't want that. She wasn't ready to be a mother or creator. She couldn't be expected to be responsible for someone. She didn't care if furthering her species was a concern. She really didn't. Couldn't someone else take over for her?
Creation scared her. The idea she could birth another life and suddenly be expected to become this being that had created, added to this world a life that was completely her doing. She could never take it back should it go wrong, and it might. She doubted she'd be a good mother, really. She wasn't family material. She never would be.
She managed the tiniest smile, which really read 'please stop talking about this'. Of course, the other kin didn't read it at such and only continued....
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:36 pm
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF FIREWATER!
Kin Name: Gecko
Drabble:
Gecko had been talked into Firewater once. ONCE. It had been the winter carnival, and everyone had been in the spirit of things. Welcome Home Fair Hunter was having some juice, and it’d looked yummy! So then Gecko had some! And then things had been really, really funny. They had danced, and giggled, and… and there had been some emotionally hard talks, but she and Hunter had worked through it. Which was very much a good thing, yes! It had just been such a very crazy happenstance for them to get there that Gecko wondered, without the magical Firewater, if they would’ve gotten there at all.
Hunter was fast asleep, and Gecko looked over to her friend with a smile. If firewater made things so happy, maybe she should have it more often! Hunter would relax, and they could just be calm and happy about everything. No pasts. No bad stories. Just them, and Frog, and the Caimans. And maybe occasionally they could sing, and laugh, and just be the two of them forever. Now the question was… where could she get her hooves on some? Maybe when Hunter woke up, she would know a friend with the hookup.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 1:30 am
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A DRABBLE ON THE THEME OF RUNNING!
Kin Name: Sheer Cold
Drabble:
He always ran.
It was what he did best.
First it was across the plains; far from the herd he was born to. His running did not end. When he met another Kiokote, he hardly stopped for pleasantries. He stood with muscled tense, poised to bolt. He was always seeking something over the horizon, they said of him but it wasn’t that.
It was a fear deep in his belly. A fear of being tied down, trapped, constricted by his own kind. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t live with responsibilities and feelings, with others. So he ran and ran.
Eventually he ran so far he left the plains behind and did not look back.
The world changed around him. No longer did he race across endless grassland, first rocks took its place. It was a land unfit to live in. Then the ground turned soggy and plants sprouted. Trees appeared and the Ache in his chest started to ease.
Now when he ran he splashed through water, mud coated his legs and the sun was could not quite reach him through the leaves of the trees. He was forced to dodge and shift direction, hardening new muscles.
He ran now because he wanted to, not because of fear,
Though still, when he saw another kin in the distance, he turned the other way.
He didn’t need them.
Sheer Cold always ran.
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