+- Vivarium (https://vivariumrpg.com)
+-- Forum: Vivarium (https://vivariumrpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Northern Alpines (https://vivariumrpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=24)
+--- Thread: AW Another one bites the dust (/showthread.php?tid=8004)
RE: Another one bites the dust - Devika - 7/22/2025
Slight PP, let me know if I need to change it <3
Clever man.
The Ghost felt a ripple of relief as he offered another idea, her eyes flicking back to the names etched before them. As he carefully spoke his name, she pointed to each letter in turn, aligning each sound with its symbol as best she could. They repeated the process several times, him pronouncing, her matching the letters on the ground, again and again. If he was going to learn and understand, this was all she could offer in this aspect.
Then, an idea struck the dappled woman. What if she mouthed her name for him? Showed him how to shape each sound with his lips and tongue? The thought sent a flicker of hope through her. Perhaps the two of them, together, could bridge this gap.
She turned to him, pointing at herself and then at her name traced in the dirt, before slowly forming each letter with deliberate, exaggerated mouth movements. It felt foolish, this over-enunciation, but what else could she do? She wanted to connect with this Duskbreaker. She welcomed the challenge, especially since so few ever bothered to try, to put in the effort to learn how to communicate with her.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Duskbreaker - 7/23/2025
They went over his name, Duskbreaker, multiple times. He would say it slowly, and she would point to where the sounds changed. It was still difficult to understand, but he felt that he somewhat got it down after a bit. He looked from the name above his to his own, and considered the matching letters. But how would be figure out the ones that do not match? As he considered this, the woman points to herself and then the name.
He looked to her then, molten eyes determined and curious. Her mouth moved in a rather dramatic way. He watches carefully, and figured that she was mouthing her own name. He watches a few times, and tries to mimic her movements, although silent at first.
”D….D….D..” he says softly, looking back to his name, pointing at the D and the E in his own name. But…it appeared twice and seemed to sound slightly different. The EA sounding more like ‘aye’ and the ER sound like ‘err’. He wasn’t sure if either E matched up. ”D…aye?” he questions, then mouthing similar to her again. It was almost like she was mouthing the B in breaker but it was a little different, not quite B. The letters also did not match, so it probably was not B. He mouthed a few times, making the Buh sound then to the…”V…v? D…aye v?” He looked to her with hopeful eyes, although knowing it was a long shot, he wanted to see if he was on the right track before continuing on to the rest of the word.
He looked to her then, molten eyes determined and curious. Her mouth moved in a rather dramatic way. He watches carefully, and figured that she was mouthing her own name. He watches a few times, and tries to mimic her movements, although silent at first.
”D….D….D..” he says softly, looking back to his name, pointing at the D and the E in his own name. But…it appeared twice and seemed to sound slightly different. The EA sounding more like ‘aye’ and the ER sound like ‘err’. He wasn’t sure if either E matched up. ”D…aye?” he questions, then mouthing similar to her again. It was almost like she was mouthing the B in breaker but it was a little different, not quite B. The letters also did not match, so it probably was not B. He mouthed a few times, making the Buh sound then to the…”V…v? D…aye v?” He looked to her with hopeful eyes, although knowing it was a long shot, he wanted to see if he was on the right track before continuing on to the rest of the word.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Devika - 7/23/2025
His patience and willingness in these moments did not go unnoticed. Devika found the whole thing rather humorous, but they weren't finished yet. Her ice-blue eyes studied his face, watching the careful movement of his mouth as he spoke. He got the “D” with no trouble, but, just as she had expected, the “E” was giving him a bit of trouble. Eh, even if it was a little off, it was still progress.
The dappled woman nodded encouragingly, her eyes bright with excitement. She continued mouthing her name in an overly exaggerated way, urging him to finish sounding it out. As they grew closer in the small, shared moment, she found herself wondering what he might say once he succeeded. His way of speaking was so enchanting, and she was eager to hear more of what he had to offer.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Duskbreaker - 7/24/2025
The uncertainty was killing him. He so desperately wanted to get it right. It was difficult, but it as he continued on she seemed to get a bit more excited. It seems he was somewhat on the right track. His tail waved behind him, despite the fact that he was trying to remain rather formal. He considered for a moment if there was more ways to figure out the rest of the name. His mind went to the members of his pack and the names of myth. He thought of the matriarch, and how when his silent friend was mouthing her name, some of it seemed similar.
“We draw near, this one believes… Could you shape the name Starcaller Vireya in your symbols? She leads the Hollow. Her name may yet light our path,” he asked, hoping he was not asking too much of the woman. It was a puzzle he was determined to solve, but he also did not want to disrespect her. His ears fold back a little bit as a touch of doubt cling to him. Was he getting too carried away?
“We draw near, this one believes… Could you shape the name Starcaller Vireya in your symbols? She leads the Hollow. Her name may yet light our path,” he asked, hoping he was not asking too much of the woman. It was a puzzle he was determined to solve, but he also did not want to disrespect her. His ears fold back a little bit as a touch of doubt cling to him. Was he getting too carried away?
RE: Another one bites the dust - Devika - 7/24/2025
Starcaller Vireya? What were these names? Where in the hell did this Duskbreaker come from? Interesting. Very interesting.
Still, she gave him a nod before shifting to write the name. It was considerably longer and in two parts, and she wasn’t entirely certain of the spelling, but she did her best. Once she sat back and studied the three names together, she felt more confident that they would be able to solve this now.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his ears folding back, some kind of negative reaction. Was she getting too far ahead of herself? Overwhelming him? This was the most effort anyone had ever put into learning her name, and she was truly grateful for that.
Not wanting to give up, she leaned in and booped her nose gently against his shoulder, an encouragement to keep pressing forward.
Returning her attention to the names, she prepared to follow along as he spoke, ready to track the sounds under each letter as he indicated which belonged where.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Duskbreaker - 7/25/2025
They repeated the process again, with the woman using her symbols on the ground. Duskbreaker was completely enamoured with it. It was like reading the stars and their stories, but instead, using these symbols. Drawings on the ground were not completely foreign to him, and the symbols were a known thing, but he was never exposed to them directly. The stars were considered more important, but he saw much potential in what was before him.
As he stared at the symbols and put the puzzle together, he felt the gentle touch of her booping his shoulder. He freezes, fur standing on edge. Molten eyes darted towards her, but it appeared to have been a boop of confidence. He nodded, feeling now that both of their eyes were on the same star.
”Vi….Vi,” he says while pointing from Vireya’s name to Devika’s name. ”Rey…rey…ey…St ar, ar…ah…Vireya…ah…” he sounds out the letters, then looking to his own name. ”Break…k…kah…” he ruffles his brows, making an attempt at combining it all together. ”D….eyy…vi…k….kah?” he questions, turning towards the woman to see if he was anywhere near correct. His ears were erect, eyes wide and hopeful. Somehow, the silence around them did not bother him. It did not seem to even exist. The communication filled the air, even if it was without sound.
As he stared at the symbols and put the puzzle together, he felt the gentle touch of her booping his shoulder. He freezes, fur standing on edge. Molten eyes darted towards her, but it appeared to have been a boop of confidence. He nodded, feeling now that both of their eyes were on the same star.
”Vi….Vi,” he says while pointing from Vireya’s name to Devika’s name. ”Rey…rey…ey…St ar, ar…ah…Vireya…ah…” he sounds out the letters, then looking to his own name. ”Break…k…kah…” he ruffles his brows, making an attempt at combining it all together. ”D….eyy…vi…k….kah?” he questions, turning towards the woman to see if he was anywhere near correct. His ears were erect, eyes wide and hopeful. Somehow, the silence around them did not bother him. It did not seem to even exist. The communication filled the air, even if it was without sound.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Devika - 7/25/2025
Sweet relief and a rush of joy flooded her as her name tumbled from his mouth. She hadn’t heard it spoken since she had left her birth pack.
It caught her completely off guard, and she realized, quite suddenly, that tears had sprung to her eyes. Stunned, she lifted a paw to dab at the wetness on her cheeks, pulling it back to stare at the damp fur in quiet wonder.
When was the last time she had felt like this? When had she last let herself feel like this?
She couldn’t remember.
The realization struck hard, leaving an ache in her chest, a void carved into her by the silence that had ruled her life. Just the utterance of her name had completely unraveled her.
Fascinating.
Her icy gaze met molten as she stared at him, intense and unblinking, letting the moment sink in.
He knew her name.
He had spoken it.
Without warning, she lurched forward, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. She wasn’t one for physical affection, but she was so overcome by the tide of emotion that a simple name had torn through her defenses.
And then she cried.
Silent, full-body sobs shook her as the warm tone of his voice echoed in her mind.
The ghost had been seen.
It had been so long.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Duskbreaker - 7/25/2025
The air gently moved between the two as he looked to her with bated breath. She did not react quickly, and he wondered if it was still off. A single ear flickered and he looked to her, feeling a bit more awkward as each moment passed. He wanted to move inward, and perhaps he leaned in slightly, but quickly he refrained and straightened up again.
The feeling of his heart pounding in his chest began to take over and fill the void of silence. She then moves, reaching to…wipe tears from her eyes. Had he upset her? Did he utter a word of objection? Was she frustrated at his lack of understanding? So many thoughts swirled in his mind, and the anxiety of failure tingled his heart.
Then surprise.
It happened with swiftness, like a shooting star in the sky. He felt her form crash against his in a hug, and due to his size, it only but made him waiver. It was then he felt her energy physically reverberate within him. He knew then that he had found the word of her stars.
His tail begins to wag uncontrollably behind him. A smile unfolded on his black, white, and brown features. ”Devika is the name you carry, then,” he exclaims, his muzzle then lifting into the air to celebrate with song. Allowing her to continue her embrace, he sings the song of naming. Warm tones fill the chilled night, weaving through the trees and racing to the stars. The song was deliberate and sweet, and slowly he lowered his visage once completed.
”Your name has reached the stars. Among them, you will not be forgotten.”
The feeling of his heart pounding in his chest began to take over and fill the void of silence. She then moves, reaching to…wipe tears from her eyes. Had he upset her? Did he utter a word of objection? Was she frustrated at his lack of understanding? So many thoughts swirled in his mind, and the anxiety of failure tingled his heart.
Then surprise.
It happened with swiftness, like a shooting star in the sky. He felt her form crash against his in a hug, and due to his size, it only but made him waiver. It was then he felt her energy physically reverberate within him. He knew then that he had found the word of her stars.
His tail begins to wag uncontrollably behind him. A smile unfolded on his black, white, and brown features. ”Devika is the name you carry, then,” he exclaims, his muzzle then lifting into the air to celebrate with song. Allowing her to continue her embrace, he sings the song of naming. Warm tones fill the chilled night, weaving through the trees and racing to the stars. The song was deliberate and sweet, and slowly he lowered his visage once completed.
”Your name has reached the stars. Among them, you will not be forgotten.”
RE: Another one bites the dust - Devika - 7/25/2025
His voice rose to the heavens above, resonating deeply within the dappled woman. She listened, breath held, as his song echoed around them.
It was beautiful. Serene.
She leaned back from the giant of a man, meeting his gaze. Never had she felt so connected as she did in that moment, so grounded, so reassured.
A brilliant smile broke across Devika’s face, tears still spilling from her joy-filled eyes.
Duskbreaker.
His face, his voice, his name, his presence, imprinted upon her heart.
For once, she did not feel so lost, and she was ever so grateful.
She didn’t know how to express such gratitude, for she had never felt it before. How could she repay him for this kindness? Did he know the depth to which he had touched her life? Did this moment hold the same significance for him?
She hoped so.
Leaning forward, she pressed her forehead to his, eyes closing as she collected herself, letting herself bask in this otherworldly connection.
To think the stars, her only companions, knew her now… She couldn’t even put into thought what that meant.
So she let it settle, focusing on this moment of warmth and familiarity, letting it fill the empty spaces within her, if only for now.
RE: Another one bites the dust - Duskbreaker - 7/28/2025
In a way, the song was shared, for no song can live without the silence that cradles it.
Duskbreaker was overwhelmed with joy as he saw the meaning in Devika’s face. His mind swirled. Without someone to speak her name for her, it was quite likely she had gone a long time without anyone knowing her name. Such a thing saddened him once that thought sank in. Names were so important for the Starwoven, with different naming ceremonies for different stages of life. At least now, there is one more who can recall the name of Devika.
He knew there was great gratitude resonating from the stranger. A feeling of connection was forged, and Duskbreaker felt he was succeeding on his mission…even if it was one simple thing. Eyes were drawn downwards, and it was then she pressed her forehead upon his own. He took in a deep breath, savoring the gentle touch that he had never before experienced.
The large male pulled his head back, and gave her singular lick on the forehead. It came naturally to him, but almost immediately afterwards he questioned himself on if he should have done it. Regardless, what was done was done, and his ears pinned back just a bit in perhaps a touch of embarrassment. He was not used to this sort of thing, but it was something he could certainly get used to. It was a long moment between them, and her certainly did not rush it.
The silence remained in the forest, but the wind played gentle between their fur.
”Devika… let us find a place where rest may hold us safe. When dawn returns, we shall rise and take what the day offers,” he states, voice not wavering as he allowed Devika to decide when she was ready to leave the embrace. He wished her no issue. ”Only if your heart leans that way. This one would not see you uneasy. Rest and protection is all that this one offers,” he confirms, bowing his head slightly to her with humbled grace.
Duskbreaker was overwhelmed with joy as he saw the meaning in Devika’s face. His mind swirled. Without someone to speak her name for her, it was quite likely she had gone a long time without anyone knowing her name. Such a thing saddened him once that thought sank in. Names were so important for the Starwoven, with different naming ceremonies for different stages of life. At least now, there is one more who can recall the name of Devika.
He knew there was great gratitude resonating from the stranger. A feeling of connection was forged, and Duskbreaker felt he was succeeding on his mission…even if it was one simple thing. Eyes were drawn downwards, and it was then she pressed her forehead upon his own. He took in a deep breath, savoring the gentle touch that he had never before experienced.
The large male pulled his head back, and gave her singular lick on the forehead. It came naturally to him, but almost immediately afterwards he questioned himself on if he should have done it. Regardless, what was done was done, and his ears pinned back just a bit in perhaps a touch of embarrassment. He was not used to this sort of thing, but it was something he could certainly get used to. It was a long moment between them, and her certainly did not rush it.
The silence remained in the forest, but the wind played gentle between their fur.
”Devika… let us find a place where rest may hold us safe. When dawn returns, we shall rise and take what the day offers,” he states, voice not wavering as he allowed Devika to decide when she was ready to leave the embrace. He wished her no issue. ”Only if your heart leans that way. This one would not see you uneasy. Rest and protection is all that this one offers,” he confirms, bowing his head slightly to her with humbled grace.