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<-- Chapter 4: The Catastrophe | Coming Soon... -->

!!CONTENT WARNING!!
[Violence, Death (mention)]
Word Count: 1006
————

Sticky black blood dripped down from the traveler’s face. Rin tried not to look too hard at it, but it was like his eyelids had been glued open.

A druid folk clad in armor barreled forward on all fours, staking the bulkier folk with a set of horns, tossing them to the side like they were made of nothing but paper. She rose to her full height, hefting an ax in one hand and a hammer in the other. She was adorned in a set of armor and a helmet that completely covered her face. The armor reflected the light of the destruction, making it look as if she were glowing.

A pair of hands wrapped around him and sliced the rope that dug into his flesh, but Rin was too enraptured by the sight of this druid to check who had freed him.

“Bring them to the tribe. Ensure that they are safe.” The armored folk instructed firmly, casting him a glance before turning her gaze to the two travelers that were fleeing farther into the village. She charged after them, Rin’s head jolting from side to side as at least twenty others followed from behind him, each clad in a similar set of armor. With the druids here to help… maybe there was hope.

————

Wait.

That was all Rin could do after he was brought to the druid settlement. The folk that lived there had tried to offer him food, water, and a place to rest in one of their tents, but he refused, despite the exhaustion that tugged at him. The thought of doing anything normal without first knowing if anyone else survived felt wrong to him. Rin knew that it was probably hopeless. That there was no way anyone else survived.

While he waited, staring in the direction of his village, Rin began to nod off. The kit stubbornly tried to stay conscious, but after the events he’d just gone through it was no use. Each time felt sleep drag at his paws he would get up and pace around or shake his head, anything to try and stay awake. But despite all his trying, sleep blanketed the kit, carrying him into a heavy dreamless sleep.

————

The morning came, just as always.

Sunlight beamed down from above, bathing Rin in its comforting warmth. Furrowing his brow and turning over, Rin yawned. It was a weekend, which meant that he had a break from chores. And… It was his birthday!!

Head jolting up and ears perked to attention, Rin twitched his tail excitedly. Only… to discover he wasn’t at home.

…

He would never be at home again.

The kit’s expression grew dark as he looked around the unfamiliar hut, the events of last night flashing before his mind’s eye. Scrunching his nose, Rin rubbed his eyes, as if he were trying desperately to scrub the memories from his vision.

“You’re awake.” The stranger’s voice made him jump, despite how calm it was. Head snapping toward the sound, Rin fluffed up, extremely tense.

“Who are…” He trailed off, spotting the helmet resting beside her. She was the one that saved him.

“My name is Bakir, I am the leader of this tribe.” She introduced, pushing herself to her feet. The folk picked up a cup of water and presented it to him, which he took gratefully. The kit gulped the water down, having had no idea how parched he was till the cool liquid touched his lips. Once it was empty, Rin peered inside, fearing the answer to the question on the tip of his tongue.

“Did anyone else…” Rin struggled to finish his sentence, but it seemed he didn’t have to. As Bakir returned to her place on the floor across from him, she responded despite the lack of a complete question.

“No. I’m sorry… You were the only one we were able to find.” The words hung heavy in the air. He’d expected that, but hearing it spoken out loud, having a definitive answer…

Rin nodded, exhaling shakily. He’d hoped it wouldn’t have been true, but… With what he saw the night before… He knew the chances of others surviving was slim. The kit closed his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to imagine what kind of gruesome ends all his friends met.

He needed to change the topic.

“Why did you t-try to help us..?” Rin sniffled, hoping that if he ignored his crying well enough it would simply stop. The druid frowned sympathetically, setting her hands in her lap.

“Our tribe was passing near your village. Our previous home was destroyed by predators some number of months ago, and we have been searching for a new location to settle ever since.” She explained.

“How old are you, child..?” Bakir asked softly. Rin inhaled, about to answer that he was nine, but stopped himself. That was different now. Just like everything else.

“I’m… ten.” He responded somberly. He shouldn’t be here. He should be with his parents, sewing his section into the Dhal family quilt, officially taking his place in their generations long tradition.

But now that would never happen. He would never have that experience. That life. All of his potential had been cruelly ripped away, his life changed permanently.

All because of travelers.

“And your name?” Bakir asked, interrupting his thoughts before they turned sour and boiled his blood.

“My name is-” He stopped himself. It didn’t feel right to just call himself Rin anymore. The kit pulled his brow together. He didn’t want to stop using the name. He liked it, and knew that it was something his parents had picked. He didn’t want to lose anything else, just… He felt that a change was necessary. It felt… incomplete. Not only that, but tacking on his last name after the fact felt like a disservice.

Then, an idea struck him. A way to uphold his family legacy, to honor their memory.

“My name is Dhal Rin.”

nyehehe finallyyyyy end of this arc...

i told myself i wouldn't get extra with this after doing such a big piece for the last chapter, but ummmmmmm i lied <3

12/170 Acorns

Description

<-- Chapter 4: The Catastrophe | Coming Soon... -->

!!CONTENT WARNING!!
[Violence, Death (mention)]
Word Count: 1006
————

Sticky black blood dripped down from the traveler’s face. Rin tried not to look too hard at it, but it was like his eyelids had been glued open.

A druid folk clad in armor barreled forward on all fours, staking the bulkier folk with a set of horns, tossing them to the side like they were made of nothing but paper. She rose to her full height, hefting an ax in one hand and a hammer in the other. She was adorned in a set of armor and a helmet that completely covered her face. The armor reflected the light of the destruction, making it look as if she were glowing.

A pair of hands wrapped around him and sliced the rope that dug into his flesh, but Rin was too enraptured by the sight of this druid to check who had freed him.

“Bring them to the tribe. Ensure that they are safe.” The armored folk instructed firmly, casting him a glance before turning her gaze to the two travelers that were fleeing farther into the village. She charged after them, Rin’s head jolting from side to side as at least twenty others followed from behind him, each clad in a similar set of armor. With the druids here to help… maybe there was hope.

————

Wait.

That was all Rin could do after he was brought to the druid settlement. The folk that lived there had tried to offer him food, water, and a place to rest in one of their tents, but he refused, despite the exhaustion that tugged at him. The thought of doing anything normal without first knowing if anyone else survived felt wrong to him. Rin knew that it was probably hopeless. That there was no way anyone else survived.

While he waited, staring in the direction of his village, Rin began to nod off. The kit stubbornly tried to stay conscious, but after the events he’d just gone through it was no use. Each time felt sleep drag at his paws he would get up and pace around or shake his head, anything to try and stay awake. But despite all his trying, sleep blanketed the kit, carrying him into a heavy dreamless sleep.

————

The morning came, just as always.

Sunlight beamed down from above, bathing Rin in its comforting warmth. Furrowing his brow and turning over, Rin yawned. It was a weekend, which meant that he had a break from chores. And… It was his birthday!!

Head jolting up and ears perked to attention, Rin twitched his tail excitedly. Only… to discover he wasn’t at home.

…

He would never be at home again.

The kit’s expression grew dark as he looked around the unfamiliar hut, the events of last night flashing before his mind’s eye. Scrunching his nose, Rin rubbed his eyes, as if he were trying desperately to scrub the memories from his vision.

“You’re awake.” The stranger’s voice made him jump, despite how calm it was. Head snapping toward the sound, Rin fluffed up, extremely tense.

“Who are…” He trailed off, spotting the helmet resting beside her. She was the one that saved him.

“My name is Bakir, I am the leader of this tribe.” She introduced, pushing herself to her feet. The folk picked up a cup of water and presented it to him, which he took gratefully. The kit gulped the water down, having had no idea how parched he was till the cool liquid touched his lips. Once it was empty, Rin peered inside, fearing the answer to the question on the tip of his tongue.

“Did anyone else…” Rin struggled to finish his sentence, but it seemed he didn’t have to. As Bakir returned to her place on the floor across from him, she responded despite the lack of a complete question.

“No. I’m sorry… You were the only one we were able to find.” The words hung heavy in the air. He’d expected that, but hearing it spoken out loud, having a definitive answer…

Rin nodded, exhaling shakily. He’d hoped it wouldn’t have been true, but… With what he saw the night before… He knew the chances of others surviving was slim. The kit closed his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to imagine what kind of gruesome ends all his friends met.

He needed to change the topic.

“Why did you t-try to help us..?” Rin sniffled, hoping that if he ignored his crying well enough it would simply stop. The druid frowned sympathetically, setting her hands in her lap.

“Our tribe was passing near your village. Our previous home was destroyed by predators some number of months ago, and we have been searching for a new location to settle ever since.” She explained.

“How old are you, child..?” Bakir asked softly. Rin inhaled, about to answer that he was nine, but stopped himself. That was different now. Just like everything else.

“I’m… ten.” He responded somberly. He shouldn’t be here. He should be with his parents, sewing his section into the Dhal family quilt, officially taking his place in their generations long tradition.

But now that would never happen. He would never have that experience. That life. All of his potential had been cruelly ripped away, his life changed permanently.

All because of travelers.

“And your name?” Bakir asked, interrupting his thoughts before they turned sour and boiled his blood.

“My name is-” He stopped himself. It didn’t feel right to just call himself Rin anymore. The kit pulled his brow together. He didn’t want to stop using the name. He liked it, and knew that it was something his parents had picked. He didn’t want to lose anything else, just… He felt that a change was necessary. It felt… incomplete. Not only that, but tacking on his last name after the fact felt like a disservice.

Then, an idea struck him. A way to uphold his family legacy, to honor their memory.

“My name is Dhal Rin.”

nyehehe finallyyyyy end of this arc...

i told myself i wouldn't get extra with this after doing such a big piece for the last chapter, but ummmmmmm i lied <3

12/170 Acorns