Thread by thread I come apart.
If brokenness is a work of art,
Surely this must be my masterpiece.
If brokenness is a work of art,
Surely this must be my masterpiece.
There was a moment of genuine terror as they collided in the air, their lanky limbs knocking into one another with bruising force as their bodies collided, petite chests crashing into each other with enough momentum to knock the breath from both of their lungs. Their wings flail and flounder in the air, desperate to separate themselves from their tangle of limbs but they can’t, they aren’t coordinated enough in a breath’s moment like this. A tiny little slip-up on Ard’s part ruined everything and then they were falling, down, down, down, crashing through trees and branches that groaned and snapped beneath their combined weight until-
Water.
Chest heaving as he and his brother crash into the awaiting waters of the Tinea Swamp, Ard gasps at the impact of cold water, hating the way that it swallows him whole and threatens to drown him. Foul tasting water immediately spills into his mouth and he gags, spitting it up, desperately fighting to right himself in this pool of stagnant water and moss that they had literally fallen into.
Rage and indignation burn within his breast as he surfaces, heaving large breaths, coughing and spluttering and legs and wings both flailing as he tries to find purchase. The water is too deep here and so he tosses his head back to shake his sopping wet forelock out of his eyes and it flies up with a wet splat! against his ears, but he doesn’t care. His eyes are searching for Erd, his heart pounding his chest that he fucked it all up, that he hurt his brother, that he got him back just to lose him again but this time at his own ineptitude…
But Erd is laughing, boisterous, full-body chortles that shake his entire frame as Ard’s terrified stare finds him. He seems completely fine and uninjured, thank Vespera, the sound of his laughter a calming balm to his terror, and for a moment Ard selfishly commits the sight of his brother to memory; the messy tangle of his mane and forelock obscuring his face save for his grey muzzle that pops out from beneath the mess of taupe curls, the wide grin on his lips, the way he seemed so carefree and elated…
Allowing a smile to cross his own lips, the younger warlock crosses the sparse distance between them and reaches out to affectionately brush the matted mess of Erd’s mane and forelock from his gaze. There is a touch of concern that he allows to show a genuine interest and worry for his twin’s well-being as their identical eyes meet, but Erd, bless him, is quick to soothe his rising worry with a chaste and wet kiss to his cheek. Ard rolls his eyes and grimaces in good nature.
Really, it isn’t surprising to hear that Erd was pleased with their efforts, even if it stung in Ard’s heart with guilt. His ears pin back and he grimaces once more, positively sneering as he says; “... They won’t be proud of you if you break your neck. This is a dumb idea.”
One miscalculating was all it took to send them careening down into the swamp. Yes, aerodynamics was a big part of the Halcyon, but they weren’t warriors. They were messengers. They would have no part in any fighting other than swiftly and efficiently delivering notes and orders between their commanding officers, but Erd, blast him, could be really fucking persuasive when he put his mind to something and Ard hadn’t wanted to disappoint him.
So, they tried. But Ard didn’t want to again. Not when they had come close to potentially breaking their very necks.
Before more could be said on that front, however, Ard is very aware of the way his brother’s body stiffens as a soft ‘oh!’ escapes his lips. Following his stare, the petite warlock spots another nearby; colored in ebony and ivory and speckled with gleaming stars, Ard immediately dislikes her. He shifts closer to his twin, pressing himself up intimately against his brother’s side, recalling vividly how it had taken no time at all for a stranger to come and steal Erd away to the Night Court…
And oh, this woman screamed of the Court of Stars.
Beneath his silver lashes Ard glares, the cool, vivid turquoise of his eyes burning in vehemence. One wrong move and he would tear this stranger apart.
