Spirit Animals One-Shots

what are titles [Devin, Dawson & Karmo]

  hi hi sorry i haven't updated in,, years. i haven't been doing too well lately and it's harder to write 😔👊 i wrote this at like 2 in the morning so i'm sorry if it's straight bootycheeks. also i couldn't resist adding some darmo at the end i apologize. now u can starve for another two months.

  Devin listened to the tapping of boots on stone, aware of what was to happen next. Only a few seconds later, Cordelia's cruel face appeared, then her whole body. He didn't speak, merely waiting for her to ask her question. She walked over, leaning down in front of him.

  "Speak," she hissed. "Or I'll break every bone in those pretty hands of yours." Devin met her gaze with surprising calmness.

  He was no fool. He knew when something would get him killed, or injured. He knew how the world worked. But, he wasn't afraid now. The world quivered before him. Slowly, he raised his chin, a spark of defiance appearing in his eyes.

I am a bird, and no cage can contain me.

  "No," he whispered. He resisted a scream as the first bone in his index finger snapped.

  Dawson gazed up at the sky, a curious glint in his eyes as he watched the flock of birds stretch out across the blue expanse. He wished he was a bird. The thought of spreading your wings and flying away from everything was such an appealing thought to him.

  When the birds disappeared, his gaze lingered. He wondered if Devin was truly up there. A cough drew his attention. A young man, barely out of his teenage years, waited impatiently for him, hands folded in front of him. "Dawson Trunswick," he greeted him.

  Dawson blinked a few times. "Good morning." He then flashed a polite smile. The young man smiled back.

  "The captain of the militia has requested to see you today."

  Lovely. Dawson hesitantly nodded. "What time?" He tried to keep his voice smooth and pleasant, like the delicate boy the town knew.

  "As soon as possible." The man bounced on his heels, obviously wanting to do something else that wasn't having a conversation with the twelve year old earl.

  Dawson paused, staring into space. "Tell Shylene I'll be there in ten," he responded softly. The man nodded, then hesitated.

  "Are you alright, Dawson?" He asked worriedly.

  Dawson smiled again. "Never better!"

  Shylene's talk was short, mostly just about the militia and talk of rebuilding the manor. Dawson now sat on the edge of his bed, allowing Rumfuss to get some belly rubs from his feet. He was in a mood again. Devin was never off his mind. It seemed darker without him. The world had no more colour.

  Rumfuss snorted. As Dawson stared at his spirit animal, he thought. Devin wouldn't want to see him like this. He'd both hold him tight and scold him at the same time.

  My colours are fading, but I shall not fade with them.

  A single tear fell from the young earl's eye.

  "Jolt," Stead called. "Will you train with Sharp today? He's rusty." The Redcloak leader sent a thank you over his shoulder as he began to walk away, just as Karmo nodded.

  Sharp glanced over at him. Karmo looked back at him, his heart stinging. Sharp had bonded with a cat. Just like.. just like Devin. He had similar eyes. His were filled with innocence and curiosity, unlike Devin's, but it reminded him of the Euran boy either way.

  "We should start then," he muttered. "The quicker we get it done, the more time we have to relax."

  Sharp stood up quickly with a grin. "I like the way you think!" He exclaimed, trailing at the taller boy's heels. Karmo tried to ignore the ache in his heart.

  The training only lasted an hour, but it felt like an eternity. He was constantly switching from wanting to stab Sharp, and wanting to hug him, even if he wasn't Devin. His room- their room was dark when he opened the door. He was so used to coming back to see Devin's grinning face. If it were a normal day, Karmo would run over and tackle him into the sheets, until they were both laughing too hard to move.

  But Devin's bed was empty. The sheets were still messy, exactly how he'd left them the day he left on his mission. Karmo closed the door behind him slowly, taking off his cloak and hanging both it and his mask on the hook. He didn't know what to do now. It was getting late. He supposed he could sleep.

  Quickly, he changed into some more comfortable clothing. Just before he moved to flop down on his bed, he stopped. Karmo glanced at the unmade sheets on Devin's bed. That looked a whole lot more appealing. He curled up in the other boy's bed, hugging the pillow to his body. Just Devin's scent all around him made him want to cry. He didn't realize how badly he missed him. Where even was he?

  One may long for something they cannot have.

  One tear fell, and then he didn't try to stop the rest.