Clink, clink, clink. The constant grate of former farmlands-turned-gravediggers' shovels rang out into the budding light of the chill dawn. The face covered in dusk and fastened with vemon smirked. It took this being of chaos a the self-control it had not to burst out in laughter. This really was too amusing....

Not Reuby, btw :)

I don't have any guesses yet, but here's a snippet from the novel I'm writing~

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There is blood on my doorstep.  I’m certainly no stranger to death, but the suddenness of this sight has alarmed me.  Droplets lead across the snow-sprinkled ground into the woods’ thick darkness.  They urge me to follow the path, to find the source of this strangeness.  I shouldn’t, but if it is from a sprite, they’ve emerged from their slumber unseasonably early.  Maybe they’ve found something of value.  And so I follow, leaving light footsteps in the snow.

The evergreens grow thicker around me as I walk, until the watery sun is practically invisible.  To my surprise, I don’t recognize this part of the Adelwood, despite spending my childhood exploring its icy streams and deep hollows.  The air is thick with silvery mist and an eerie silence.  After a while I stop and sigh.  This was just a useless detour, it seems.  Faint howls resound in my ears, from far away and right behind me all at once.  Despite myself, chills run down my spine.  I’ve wasted enough time.  I huff as I turn back, but stop dead.  Blocking my path is a towering shadow of fur and teeth.  The lupine beast’s thick coat, dark as ashes or a new moon, is adorned with twisting briars that shimmer like gold.  His fiery eyes meet mine in a petrifying glare.  The pounding of my heart tells me to run, but my limbs refuse to move.  I can’t even speak, my tongue as heavy as stone.  Those old horror stories - tales of a beast whose claws could tear iron and whose gaze froze your very blood - they couldn’t be true…

The old widows called Him the Wolf King.  A hunter more cunning than any man, a terror to be venerated.  No, I am a fool to let fear grip me.  Stories are just words, and words are rarely ever true.  Having found my voice again, I let it echo across the placid drifts of snow. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re blocking the path.  Move.”

“Raisa of Adelwood.” The beast’s speech is like thunder.  The very wind is silenced by the sound. “Do not try to control what you cannot own.”

“I’m just trying to get out of here,” I mutter, raising an eyebrow at my name.

He laughs and it shakes the trees.  It is not a lighthearted act, instead He scoffs at me. “I suppose I gave you too much credit for your feeble attempt at cleverness.  You see, it is not I who is at fault here.”

“What did I do to offend you?  I don’t even know who you are!” I snap.

“I am the hunter of midnight, the herald of justice, and the kind of wolves.  You will listen when I speak.” The briars adorning His head are gold, I realize, not thorns but a crown.  His words freeze me, stealing the breath from my lungs.  I have no choice but to obey. “How many lives have you taken for your own gain?” He continues. “How many lies have you spun?  How foolish must you be to mutilate one of my own pack?  No, theirs will be the last blood you will ever spill.  I do not allow you to live, to go unpunished.”

@Lyric, you guessed me - I'm Poinsettia. How did you know??

The salty breeze whisks my hair into my face and I dive beneath the surface to escape. I cannot risk being seen by any of the sailors above. It’s a looming ship, one that could kill me if I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Exactly why I must be careful. The High Queen told me three boys would fall today, two of them slaves. The third one must be a stowaway, or else they would not toss him overboard. The young men on this boat are priceless, or at least that is what the captain thinks. 

Suddenly, I hear an arousing cheer echoing over the water. I poke my head up to see the sailors carrying two boys, younger than me by a few years, it looks. I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, knowing that I cannot save them. In fact, I am the reason for their death. But alas, my sisters must eat, and there is only one way for that to happen. 

“Toss em’!” a man with a scruffy beard and a bright red tunic yells. “Make it quick!” The boys are frozen in terror, their young faces contorted in pain. They are much too young for this. 

The men speak for a moment, and I only catch a few words, not enough for me to make out what they are saying. But then the thinner boy begins to walk along the edge of the ship, and I know what they want. I shake my head—-he is taking too long. Much too long. They will be angry. 

“Go, boy! Jump.” the red—clad man shouts. “Or we’ll stab this one, easy. No need for drowning.” That’s all it takes; the boy jumps off, and I swim quickly toward him. 

With a quick slash of my long claw, I kill him. He does not need to suffer any longer. I peer around for the other one and spot him drifting along the surface, blood spiraling from a hole in his jacket. Hastily, I do the same to this boy and lug them closer to the ship. According to the High Queen, there should be another. But he has not arrived—if he ever will. 

But she’s true to her word—a commotion has begun on the mast of the ship. A boy about my age struggles against the grip of a burly man. I spot the metallic sheen of a blade and my heart clenches. Before I think anymore, he’s flung overboard. 

I swim toward him, my eyes gleaming. He’s a fine young man with plenty of meat on him. It’ll be an easy kill. 

Then I notice who he is. 

“Anders?” I bubble, my heart beating like a catan drum. He’s half conscious, and a gash leaks thick blood into the salty sea. It must hurt like the devil.

His eyes open blearily, and his mouth works. I pull him above water, and he coughs and hacks like his life is ending. Maybe–maybe it is. 

“Nereibel, listen to me. I won’t be here long.” I nod frantically, but..my Anders, he will not die, surely? 

“You must save my brother, please. He lives on the Island of Koralli, but Thanatos is out for him, like me. Except…he does not deserve to die—-he is not sick, no symptoms.” My eyebrows furrow, and then I realize. A curse. “Ursa!” Oh, that witch!

“Ur-ursa, yes. I am sorry, Nereibel. I wish to be with you longer.” I press a kiss to his chapped, dying lips, and then he is gone. I want to cry, but the High Queen will ask too many questions. Instead, I slit his throat like the others, and swim to the depths like any other day. But this isn’t any other day, far from it. Anders, my human love, dead? The coincidence is heartbreaking. I always thought that when I was released from my siren form, I would come back to him. 

Now, I will never be embraced by him again, never comforted by him again. So I harden my resolve—-forever.

I still have not been guessed...

If no one guesses me by next Tuesday I'll just reveal 

Not really sure who anyone is. It's a bit hard to guess. Here's a part of a story I'm working on, though it's modified.

Verena, the High Witch of Kemry, was well-known and respected for her magic skills, spells, and being a quest-giver, especially one to Isul, who had saved all of Kemry. So when Verena received news of a new quest to achieve, she would have expected the designated quest-taker to be Isol. Instead, the designated quest-taker chosen was Ivy.

 She was not at all famous like her older brother, and was in fact the complete opposite of him. She was known to have caused many incidents in Kemry, and her personality was not at all like Isul’s. She never was used to formalities, dropping them completely, was constantly curious and asking questions, even when she wasn’t supposed to, was a bit selfish, and always focused on achieving her own work, never thinking about anyone else. But, Verena reflected, If she’s the designated quest-taker, there must be a very good reason. So she sent word to Ivy straight away. 

When Ivy heard the news, she was certain that there was a mistake. She was constantly aware of her shortcomings, as her parents were always comparing her to Isul, and barely anyone really knew her. Surely Verena meant Isul?, she thought to herself.

Ivy shrugged, thinking that Verena would call for Isul once she realized her mistake. She knocked three times at the door to Verena’s place, which one might call a witch’s hut, even if it was more like a mansion than a hut. It was made of smooth, mythical stones, and carved wooden symbols decorated the whole area. The door itself had an intricate design of a tree. 

Verena heard the knocking and immediately answered the door. There stood Ivy, dressed in a simple tunic, leather pants, and dark brown boots. Her blue eyes seemed clouded with confusion. 

Ivy looked back at Verena, a tall woman dressed in a long cloak with graying eyes and a wise face. She stared for a moment, then finally started speaking.

“Verena, forgive me if I lack formalities, but are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?” Ivy asked, thinking that Verena would indeed say that she made a mistake.

Verena drew her lips into a small half-smile. “No, I did not. I do not know why, but this quest calls for you, my dear. Shall I explain?”

Still dazed from the fact that this quest was actually for her, not Isul, she nodded without really knowing she did.

“You may know that Isul brought peace to Kemry, but there are more worlds out there that need saving. However, some have gone past the need for saving, as they have become far too evil. The evil world, if not stopped, could invade Kemry, especially since they have the magic capable of doing such a feat.”

“Evil world?” Ivy echoed.

“Evil world, Ivy dear,” Verena said. “Some call it…Karviek.” The name sent chills down Ivy’s spine. “It is full of terrible, terrible beasts, horrid beings, and dark magic.”

“May I ask how to stop them?” Eve asked meekly.

“You will find out on your quest,” Verena said simply, making Ivy even more confused and a little frustrated. “But do not worry, I can give you some assistance. Here is the clue: 

To bring an end to evil,

An end to a world,

You must endure the danger,

Before it uncurls.

Go through a quest,

Defeat a beast,

Collect its blood,

And head to the East.

Search for a fairy,

Hope will give it light,

Collect some glow,

And keep it bright.

With the tears of a dragon,

From a mythical cave,

Earn their trust,

And danger you shall brave.

As Ivy ran through the words in her mind, Verena chanted a spell, opening a portal to a gloomy-looking world. Ivy stepped through, and it closed behind her. She took in a deep breath, and decided she had to start. 

Nope, I'm not Darkvine. 

I'm honestly really not sure who anyone is, but everyone's stories are gorgeous.