Folding themselves into the far corner and letting the floorboard and rug close atop them and cover them, the brothers sat in tense silence for what seemed like eternity, barely daring to breathe. Though he couldn’t see very well in the pitch-black of their hidey-hole, Naga knew Snek’s face must’ve been mirroring his; pinned ears, an uneasy frown, and wide eyes filled with a sense of wariness not unlike a small animal waiting for a predator to pass over.
“Hold on, wains, back it up,” he rumbled softly, running a hand through his long, greying hair and scratching at his beard. Something in the sheer size of him – maybe seven or eight feet tall – made Reese’s entire body stand on edge, soothed only by pressing closer to Glais.
General: Biology: Pod structure:
“I guess sometimes cats just… outgrow each other, in a way.”
“I didn’t realize the giants were actually getting this close to the town,” a male voice sounded softly through the trees, tone pensive. “They’re supposed to be skittish, aren’t they?”
CONTENT WARNING: Referenced genocide
“Child,” her grandmother’s voice echoed in her head, “For every Troll they have killed, every sin they have committed, we will kill twice as many humans. One day, you will be there to see what a world clean of their carnage looks like.”
CONTENT WARNING: Blood and injury
Helgi could feel the way it weakened bit by bit with every breath, fading from his tail and underbelly like the sunset into night. His body was dulling it to conserve the energy it burnt, vital to keeping him alive through his injuries. He watched with intent blue eyes the same color as the borealis still shifting above him. The earth around him smelled like soil and pine needles and metal.
“Huh. So you’re the other newcomer everyone’s been on my ass about meeting. You’re a lot different than I expected. More nerdy. No offense. Who’re your folks?”
“Hey, heads up; Josephine’s gotten us lost.”
CONTENT WARNING: Referenced suicide, menstrual cycles, referenced genocide
Who even were they? Small, plucky Astrid, who had run away because of lack of parental support and a few mysterious pranks taken too far, but who could kill a bear all on her own with nothing but spite and a kitchen knife. Aloof, prideful Finner, who had lived in the shelter of one body of water his whole life, yet could hypnotize and drown foes with something as seemingly innocuous as a melody. Brazen, emotional Greta, who had fled her home after failing to stand up to her family’s violent crusades against humankind, and yet put her all into trying to help others. Bitter, frightened Esko, who had never even been outside the walls of his home city. Who had lost everything he’d ever loved. Who swore revenge on the entirety of his own species. Who was lost and had no idea where to go or what to do. Whose only experiences with nature came from botanical gardens and zoos. Their advantages were few, and their flaws were numerous and prominent.