MW: So, sorry for the late update. I've been busy with my upcoming story, To Survive in the Wild! Or TSW, as we can abbreviate. I am opening OC submissions for TSW as of now. As I have already been given two OCs from BuBu Winter and Di KNight respectively (Belenus and B.L.A.S.T.), I will only be accepting three more OCs. So hurry, while you can! OC subs will be open until Valentine's Day.

Anyhow, as for DASR, I've decided to leave things relatively ambiguous to add to the intrigue and confusion. Instead, there will be timeskips and flashbacks that depict what happened over events that I left ambiguous. Please enjoy this chapter, and be sure to PM me your OCs for TSW! I will need:

Name:

Age (Can be anything between newborn and three hundred)

Personality (Flesh this out): Are they willing to go to war for the safety of the Spiral?

Appearance: Do they look like a teenager, an adult, an infant, etc.?

Race:

Primary and Secondary Forms of Magic:

Weapon of Choice:

How Would They React if Magic Disappeared?:

How would they react if Marleybonians suddenly overran the Spiral?:

Relationships With Other Students or NPCs:

Rank:

Lineage (Not required, but if they have any living relatives, I suggest you fill this out):

Backstory (Flesh this out):

Battle Style:

EnJoY!


3 – The Consequence of Disarray

I am you.

The words rang out in Talon's head continuously as he tugged vainly on the ropes to raise the sails.

Thalomir.

At least he'd learned how to put up with the voice that referred to itself as an ancient tyrant who was in close relations with the first Titans of old.

It'd only been at least 28 days since Talon and Hunter had found themselves trapped on a ship full of gangly, burly and irrefutably sour pirates after trying to steal food. After learning that they were already at sea on a course for Ravenwood, Talon and Hunter found their hopes dashed and their minds full of discomfort and fear.

What would happen to them on the ship? Would they be...violated like Talon had heard in the stories many wizards tended to spread around? Would a brawl ensue and Hunter die as a result? Would the moonspikes kill Talon if he tried to run?

Damn. He thought, shaking his head clear of negativity. I'll get off this place. I won't become a slave to these…retarded pigs..! Talon silently declared, clenching his fist and pressing it against his heart in a quiet promise. That was the fifth time he'd said that within the month, and he still hadn't made it off yet. In actuality, he'd befriended most of the crewmembers, and didn't really want to leave. He just…he just had to reassure himself that he was still the same person.

Talon sighed again and tugged at the ropes netting the sails together. Night had fallen, and the silvery light of the moon was almost comforting. He felt droplets of water sting his neck and drench strands of his shoulder-length black hair, and he turned, red eyes scrutinizing the sea. During his stay, after observing many pirates navigate, and reluctantly taking tips from Raht, Talon knew enough about reading the sea to be what Raht referred to as dangerous. This ship…although he still had hopes that he could escape…this ship was as much his home as the house he'd lived in with Lucas. Although he probably wouldn't admit it, he liked the people. They were kind enough to teach him how to use his axe enough so that he could actually stun someone for a short duration.

A day earlier, when Hunter had coincidentally brought up Raht, Talon had contemplated the short, young man for over an hour before deciding that he was as much of a friend as any and had earned Talon's full trust. Hunter had scoffed and noted that he wasn't so sure that the 4'10" bastard had earned his trust, but he would support his sibling's decision.

Talon smirked to himself and shook his head, tugging on the ropes a final time, sighing in relief as the rope dropped to the deck with a dull thud and the sails rose, flapping wildly, the sound annoying Talon. He growled and kicked the post the sails were attached to before sticking his hands in the pockets of the slightly undersized clothes he'd received from Raht a week after his arrival and made his way towards the lower deck.

As the young man descended the deck, his mind drifted to a time in the past—a time when his mother was alive, a time when she died, a time when Lucas had only just snapped.

A time with Astra.

Talon wasn't going to deny it—he loved her—but he would never tell anyone else. Talon could always remember the day the two first met: It was sometime in the season of the sun and Talon was five and Hunter was four. Their father was with them then, in the days before the Third Great Wizard War, the aftermath of the Second Great Wizard War still a heavy burden on Valdus. After all, he was a powerful wizard during both conflicts, recognized and praised by some, hated by most. Anyhow, Talon had met Astra when she moved in—her mother was healthy and her father wasn't an alcoholic. They were nice people—Hunter would play outside often, and Talon would have to watch him. It was during one of these days that Hunter was outside; pointing a stick at thin viridian blades of grass and imagining them grow, discussing the properties and fundamentals of basic magic with his nonexistent friends and begging Talon to toss him into the air. Talon wasn't really paying attention because his soft gaze was fixated on her. She was probably the most beautiful specimen he'd ever come across (The only woman he'd ever interacted with was his mother, and she was quite pretty) and he was quite sure that Hunter pushed him over more than once (Which isn't something that Talon would normally let his brother do). He just continued to stare at the girl as she closed her front door with exceptional grace and strode down the cobblestone path, pausing briefly in the road that led up to her house. Her eyes were a piercing, soul-gazing amber, and her hair was the most interesting shade of red Talon had seen—besides his eyes—rather, it transitioned from a bright scarlet to a deep burgundy-maroon mixture, each strand curled neatly except for the long strands that passed her waist. She was so interested in the ground that she didn't notice the wizard speeding on his broom down Talon's street. She glanced up as the quickly incoming wizard let out a shriek as if to warn her. Her eyes widened and within a matter of seconds, Talon had tackled her, pushing her down as the broom hit him in the side and tossed him a few feet over. The wizard hastily scrambled off of his broom, checking to make sure that it remained still before hurrying over to Talon, but Astra was there first. She stared down at him for a moment, and without warning, drove her fist into Talon's gut. Talon, who was unconscious, bent around her fist and his eyes snapped open. He dropped back onto the ground and remained limp.

Talon smiled softly as his mind continued to sift through memories of Astra. He remembered the first time he kissed her. Or rather, the first time she kissed him because he never seemed to know when kissing was…allowed.

He was eleven then, and he sat with Astra in her basement, hugging his knees to his chest. A fire raged in front of them and Talon couldn't help but note how the light that reflected off of Astra's body made her look even prettier. He glanced away hurriedly when she turned to stare at him. "What's wrong?" She had asked, her fingertips brushing against his shoulder. Talon yelped and moved over slightly, which caused her brows to furrow and for her to scoot closer to him. Talon's face was burning with embarrassment. No matter how much he wanted to hold her, touch her, caress her, kiss her, comfort her, just talk to her…he could never bring himself to it unless she initiated. He felt stuck in her shadow even though he was always next to her, always with her, always driving her. Talon paused momentarily, lost in thought, and turned to Astra.

"Hey, Astr—" He began, but stopped abruptly. His lips were warm. His vision swam. He couldn't think straight and now Astra was kissing him. Talon hadn't been kissed by anyone other than his mother. It scared him and he was tempted to push the girl away, but he didn't. It was soothing, almost, her lips on his. It was almost as if he could feel what she felt, to taste what she tasted.

Waves of empathy and delight were coursing through his veins and he struggled to wrap his arms around her waist, managing to do so only as she started to pull away. "No," he hissed fiercely, as if he were fighting off another young man who wanted Astra as well. "You're mine." He whispered gently, more to himself than to her. But she heard and he felt the smile on her lips as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck, embracing him in return.

"My mother always told me to express my feelings openly," Astra muttered, and Talon could feel her breath on his ear. She was warm.

"…What do you mean by that?" Talon asked, confused. What was she saying? He didn't understand, partially because he didn't put any thought to it and partially because his brain was melting.

"You idiot." Astra hissed angrily and drove her fist into his stomach. "It means…It means I love you…Talon."

That was the first time she'd ever placed his name with such powerful words, and Talon froze. She loved him? This was new. If she did, then why—"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He inquired, voicing his thoughts out loud.

Talon heard the blush in her voice. "Because…well, how am I supposed to know how you feel? How are you supposed to know how I feel if I don't tell you? Wouldn't this be…wouldn't this be the best time to confess? It's just us after all."

Talon nodded and then answered, "How do you—How do you think I—How do you think I feel?" He stammered, struggling to push the words from his maw. He still embraced her tightly, felt her breath on his neck, felt her hands against his back.

"I think you feel the same." Astra said, letting go of Talon, moving her head to glance up at him.

Talon grinned childishly and Astra scowled, kissing him again.

Talon had reached the lower deck by this point, and a wide grin was spread across his face. He strode towards his room, clearing his mind with thoughts of Astra, inhaling deeply and pushing open the door. Hunter sat on the top of the bunk beds, a platter clutched tightly in his hands, lined with an array of assorted foods. "Why're you so happy?" Hunter asked skeptically.

I am you.

Talon threw his arms wide in a massive shrug. "Dunno," He answered plainly, grabbing a platter from the large table that occupied the other half of the room and lining it with rolls, dragon meat and treefruit.

"That treefruit tastes like hell, you know," Hunter interjected, and Talon placed it back on the treefruit plate. Instead, he added more dragon meat to his platter and another roll before climbing onto the top bunk to sit next to his sibling. In the silence that followed, the only sounds that filled the room were the crashing of waves against the ship and Talon and Hunter chewing feverously. Hunter swallowed loudly, then, "You were thinking about her, weren't you?"

Talon froze, set a piece of dragon meat back onto his platter and stared at his brother. "How did you-?" He began.

"You always think about her, Tal. You say her name in your sleep. Talon. She's gone. She's been gone for nearly a year. Get over her."

"That's a lie…" Talon muttered, dropping his platter. His fists clenched tightly and his body trembled with rage. The food spilled onto the bedsheets, but Hunter didn't notice and pressed on.

"Talon, you have to move on. She's gone. She left us. She isn't coming—" Hunter wasn't able to finish his sentence and his latter of food was knocked from his grasp as his brother tackled him, shoving him hard against the bed. Talon's hands were wrapped around Hunter's neck, an iron grip that wasn't likely to be broken anytime soon.

Talon could no longer think straight. All that filled his head was Thalomir's voice, instructing him to embrace anger. Embrace it. Embrace it.

EmbracetheangerembracetheangerembracetheangerembracethEANGEREMBRACETHEANGEREMBRACEITEMBRACEITKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL

"Take it back!" Talon yelled angrily, crushing Hunter's throat between his palms. "You asshole, take it back!"

Hunter choked audibly, gasping for air which he was unable to find beneath Talon's calloused hands. The younger brother kicked and flailed, his right fist finally connecting with Talon's cheek. Talon fell backwards, and Hunter pounced without bothering to catch his breath. The younger of the siblings straddled his older brother, fists flying over Talon's body. "Go to hell, Talon! Just die already! Die, you idiot, die!" Hunter roared in fury. Talon struggled to stand and managed to push Hunter back and rise to his knees before the twelve year old shoved the thirteen year old with all his might and sent him tumbling over the edge of the bunk bed and crashing to the floor.

Talon couldn't see. His vision swam, and multicolored spots dotted his retinas painfully. His head ached and he couldn't feel anything. "Take it…back…" He murmured before losing consciousness.


When Talon awoke, he felt the rock of the ship and was tempted to return to the dreamless sleep. The door to the room he was in opened, and Hunter came in, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry," he murmured.

Talon's eyes were hurt, his smile pained. "It's….alright. I just…haven't been in my right mind lately."

"Being on a ship with lots of burly….greasy men will do that to you. Cling onto the last thing you have left that you love, right?"

"Now you sound like the older brother." Talon scoffed, a smile playing on his face.

Hunter shrugged. "I love you, so I gotta take care of you when things get like this, right?"

Talon smirked, turning his head away. He flexed his toes, studying the surprising…whiteness in the room. The bedsheets were white, the bedframe an ugly brown color, covered in grime and scratches. Talon didn't doubt its horrendousness, but accepted it all the same and snorted to himself. His attention was turned towards his brother when the younger of the two spoke.

"We're leaving in two days."

Talon blanched. "What?" He was surprised that Hunter would still be so keen to leave, even after it seemed he'd taken a liking to most of the crewmembers. To bring it up right after Talon had nearly killed him, right after Talon was still attempting to recover, to push the thoughts of Astra from his mind—the thoughts that seemed to corrode him, degrade him, break him inside—to bring it up at such a time was preposterous.

Hunter shrugged, his eyes fixed on the ground. He brushed some of the curly brown hair from his eyes. "You and me. We're leaving. Raht said he'd assist us in getting off. We'll arrive in Ravenwood in two days. When we get there, we'll sneak off and hopefully restart our lives." Hunter said, his voice full of some sort of emotion, although Talon couldn't discern what exactly it was. The boy's eyes sparkled with hope.

Hope.

Hope.

Hope disgusted Talon. It reminded him of everything he'd wanted to be, of everything that he could've had, of everything that could've been, of everything that he wanted it to be—hope—hope was futile. Hope was for the foolish, for the weak, for the people who gave up at a moment's notice.

I am you.

Talon was none of those. He'd killed Lucas. He'd survived a near month on this rotting piece of junk with this group of misfits, each who seemed to account for the other's weakness. He was strong, and he sure as hell wasn't going to give up now. "Okay," He hissed, his eyes narrowing. The mere prospect of hope disgusted him. His gaze then softened and he turned to look at his brother. "But are you sure you want to leave without saying goodbye to these…to our…to our friends?"

Hunter chuckled. "I already said goodbye." He produced a weapon from behind his back and tossed it to the older sibling. "Raht wants you to have your axe back. Midnite was tearing up when I told him that you wanted to say goodbye. He says you should never let go of that axe, and remember his teachings."

Talon smiled. Midnite was the second person he and Hunter had been introduced to, the burly man who had released them from the cramped cell so long ago. He was the person who had taught Talon how to wield an axe, the man who had been Talon's friend, always optimistic, never down, pushing the boy to his limits and praising him even when he did terrible. In some ways, Midnite reminded Talon of Hunter. Just…older. "Alright," Talon said softly. He glanced at Hunter and grinned. "We can finally fix things."

Hunter nodded with a small smirk. "Luck to you, Talon."

My child…

Talon pushed the voice from his mind as Hunter closed the door. He tangled his fingers in his hair with a sigh of exasperation and crashed against the pillow. Everything was in disarray. He just wished he could start over again. He imagined it. It was like a sensual fantasy, emitting a mouth-watering pheromone that drew Talon to it. He wanted to start over. He needed to start over. This life…it was sufficient, but it wasn't enough. It was painful. It was…no, it scared him. It scared Talon to death, really. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and imagining something…better.

Israfel…

The voice inside his subconscious was nothing more than a mere whisper. A whisper that seemed to imply that there were secrets. Secrets that would soon be uncovered. Secrets…secrets that Talon had yet to uncover about himself. About the world.

After all, he was but a child, and the world was only so large.

Israfel…

It hissed again. Talon growled. "Don't call me that," He whispered, gritting his teeth at the mention of his name. "I rid myself of that name a long time ago." He murmured. "You will never call me that again." His voice held a certain level of ferocity, and Talon almost swore he felt the presence withdraw from his mind. It was soothing, those few seconds of silence. And then,

Can you see it?

Talon growled under his breath. "Stop. Stop asking me questions I have no answer to. Just…stop. Get out of my mind."

Can you see it, Israfel? Can you see it, my child?

The thirteen year old roared in anger, pulling at his hair in frustration. "Go away!" He yelled, his voice drifting into nothingness. He hung his head, placing it within his hands. "Just go, damn you. I can't see it, and I'm not expecting to!"

Let me show you.

Talon remained silent. He lifted his head from his palms slightly.

Humans.

Why did they underestimate curiosity?

"Who…are you?"

I am you.

"Stop saying that!" Talon exclaimed, sending his boot to the wooden planks that lined the floor of the ship. A few snapped beneath the force he wrought on them. "You are not me! You will never be me! I am Talon! I am me! You are not me!" He yelled, sending his fist sailing towards the wall of the ship. The wooden planks cracked and Talon drove his fist even through them, opening his hand wide and flexing his fingers as the ocean breeze whirled around his hand. He clenched his hands again and drew his fist back into the room. Wood must've been old. He exhaled, and his shoulders relaxed. "Who—who are you?"

The voice seemed to sigh within Talon's mind, and then finally exhaled and spoke. You will know, in time. Let the secrets reveal themselves.

Talon swore albeit hesitantly and exited the room.


"So, here's the plan-"

"Shut up, Raht," Talon complained, letting out an exasperated sigh. "You still haven't come up with a solid idea and we leave in an hour."

"Oi! I'm running this now, you listen to me, ya twat." Raht yelped, his fist connecting with Talon's forehead. The younger boy toppled over with a snarl. "This is what we'll do. I'll go in, yeah? I'll go in and I'll tell the guards some story while you two use th' for'st as cover fer when the guards run to th' ship."

Talon spoke second. "Why don't we all distract the guards. Say that the Pirates captured us. Although, I do feel bad about doing such a thing...'specially to Midnite."

Raht nodded in agreement. "Good idea, kiddy. But how 'boutI go to the guards first? I'd love to tell the story. I hold no love fer this hellhole." He jabbed a thumb accusingly at the door behind him, and Talon felt a pang of pity for his friend.

He paced a hand on Raht's shoulder. "It's alright. We'll make it out of this. Together." Raht glanced at Talon, a conflicted emotion in his eye. "We're friends, right?" Talon concluded.

Raht rose to his feet, staring at Talon before wrenching his eyes away and stepping towards the door. "Sure." He exclaimed. The short young man opened the door, adopting a scornful expression as he closed it behind him. "Friends." He hissed angrily. An elegant vase rest on the table nearest to him, and he swiped it off its perch, his brows furrowing even further when it shattered. "I don't...got friends. Those...the...them bastards think I got friends...they don't seem to realize that I don't got friends. All I gotta do is kill a few, place th' blame on them fools and I'm home free. Gets me fartha away from them soft, weak, pitiful pirates. Talkin' 'bout how they don't hurt nobody..." Raht snorted angrily and strode away, burying his hands in his pockets.

Talon and Hunter were fools. Bastards. Morons. Assholes. They didn't seem to realize the scope of the situation. Raht was the mastermind. Raht was in control. He was the puppet master, the manipulator. It was all he'd ever known, really. Deceit. It was all he'd ever found satisfaction in. Rousing hate and anger in others. Using others to achieve his own goals before taking advantage of their shock and throwing them overboard of stabbing them with that dagger he'd always kept on his belt. Trapping a "friend" in a blazing volcano somewhere in that hellhole Dragonspyre and escaping just before the damned thing exploded.

Deceit was his life.

He didn't intend to throw that away for a couple of naive kids.

He had no friends.

He was Raht, the true captain of the White Owl Pirates. He answered to none, and he went his own path. There was no wrong or right.

Only lies.

It was only right to let everyone else feel the pain of abandonment, too. To feel the sting of betrayal. The stab of deceit.

It was only right to betray the two naive children who couldn't tell right from wrong.