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+--- Thread: AW Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella (/showthread.php?tid=10783)
Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Wendigo - 3/17/2026
Gone. Sarge was gone. Now, clearly Wendigo didn't really care. He didn't like being part of a family, obviously, and he didn't like being told what to do by parents that weren't -but were?- his parents.... So why did he keep looking at the door, crawling atop the bed-on-a-frame to peer out the two windows. Sometimes, he could see others walk past in the comings and goings of daily life, but the tawny figure of their Dad remained absent. He'd been wounded, resting in the cellar, but Wisp had said he was gone now -- off healing somewhere else.
Wendi knew there was something strange about that, but he also knew the Wisp to be.... truthful, to a fault. The Queen's precious little right hand fae, the perfect advisor to the faewilds.
So he went to investigate for himself, one night after Wisp had gone for her nightly walk. Those were new, too -- usually, when she came in for the night, that was it! It was cuddle puddle time! Lately, she'd been leaving it, and outside, every single night, he could hear the single note of her call before utter silence consumed the icy pine forest. She was always there again when he woke in the morning, chilly-furred and damp as if she'd not been in long.
Suspicious.
Tonight, he lay awake, waiting. Watched, with a slitted gaze that mirrored hers, as Wisp slipped from the room, pushed the door against the frame with a quiet thump. He waited just long enough to hear the front entryway get the same treatment before pulling himself from the nest --take that, siblings, he was the one ruining the pile this time!-- and slinking over to the closed door. He was big enough now that, with persistent digging at the wooden lip, his claws could pry open the door enough to shove his muzzle through and let him squeeze his way out.
And Wisp had taught them how to sit and scoot from stair to stair, solely, he thought, to keep them from tumbling down and hurting themselves; she'd rather them have freedom than a cracked skull, he supposed.
Wendi sat at the top of the landing and, using his forelegs, pulled himself down onto the first step.
He grinned, giddy with such a stupid little success, and went down another step.
And another.
And another.
At the landing, he reared up and put his paws onto the windowsill to poke his head up... but the view afforded him mostly trees, and cloudy sky -- he was too short to see all the way down into the yard. And there was salt here, great; with a swish of an angry paw, Wendi scattered the pale grains, knowing he'd suffer the consequences later either way. Growling under his breath, he turned, sat, and repeated his bumpy decent (over grains of salt :) ) till he'd hit the bottom of the steps and was granted the entire bottom floor. It was dark, and cold, and quiet, nothing like the night of the party or even in the day when the Howff was most alive with commotion. Still, this was Wendi's element; he wasn't afraid, and the cold just didn't bother him so much. His toes were cold, so what?
His sharp gaze moved to the front door, at first, and the boy stood there for a moment to consider; legs splayed wide, tail arched above his back, glaring at the portal to his parents freedom wistfully and debating sneaking out after Màthair. Was she going to visit Father? Did she know where he was, when he was coming back? Again, not like he cared or anything! He just... wanted the cuddle puddle back to its proper glory, of course! And for Wisp and the others to stop sulking about. He wouldn't be going to follow her or anything, but to look for Sarge himself. Yeah!
The window at the bottom of the stairs had a crate below it, so he went for that, first, scrambling atop it and once more rising to his hind paws for an indignant glare outside. There! The Wisp's tiny grey form was harder to spot against the gloom of the night, but he caught the movement from the corner of his eye and turned to watch as she keened out that sad, keening sound.
Like she was calling for something.
Waiting.
Another growl left Wendi, teeth baring in a snarl as he watched her wander further away without apparent purpose. He didn't like this. The family --the one he hated, remember-- had never been fractured like this. Sometimes Father was distant, or gone for long periods of time, but not like this. Not leaving them all... confused, Wisp lost and crying all the time when she thought nobody was watching.
Wendi knew there was something strange about that, but he also knew the Wisp to be.... truthful, to a fault. The Queen's precious little right hand fae, the perfect advisor to the faewilds.
So he went to investigate for himself, one night after Wisp had gone for her nightly walk. Those were new, too -- usually, when she came in for the night, that was it! It was cuddle puddle time! Lately, she'd been leaving it, and outside, every single night, he could hear the single note of her call before utter silence consumed the icy pine forest. She was always there again when he woke in the morning, chilly-furred and damp as if she'd not been in long.
Suspicious.
Tonight, he lay awake, waiting. Watched, with a slitted gaze that mirrored hers, as Wisp slipped from the room, pushed the door against the frame with a quiet thump. He waited just long enough to hear the front entryway get the same treatment before pulling himself from the nest --take that, siblings, he was the one ruining the pile this time!-- and slinking over to the closed door. He was big enough now that, with persistent digging at the wooden lip, his claws could pry open the door enough to shove his muzzle through and let him squeeze his way out.
And Wisp had taught them how to sit and scoot from stair to stair, solely, he thought, to keep them from tumbling down and hurting themselves; she'd rather them have freedom than a cracked skull, he supposed.
Wendi sat at the top of the landing and, using his forelegs, pulled himself down onto the first step.
He grinned, giddy with such a stupid little success, and went down another step.
And another.
And another.
At the landing, he reared up and put his paws onto the windowsill to poke his head up... but the view afforded him mostly trees, and cloudy sky -- he was too short to see all the way down into the yard. And there was salt here, great; with a swish of an angry paw, Wendi scattered the pale grains, knowing he'd suffer the consequences later either way. Growling under his breath, he turned, sat, and repeated his bumpy decent (over grains of salt :) ) till he'd hit the bottom of the steps and was granted the entire bottom floor. It was dark, and cold, and quiet, nothing like the night of the party or even in the day when the Howff was most alive with commotion. Still, this was Wendi's element; he wasn't afraid, and the cold just didn't bother him so much. His toes were cold, so what?
His sharp gaze moved to the front door, at first, and the boy stood there for a moment to consider; legs splayed wide, tail arched above his back, glaring at the portal to his parents freedom wistfully and debating sneaking out after Màthair. Was she going to visit Father? Did she know where he was, when he was coming back? Again, not like he cared or anything! He just... wanted the cuddle puddle back to its proper glory, of course! And for Wisp and the others to stop sulking about. He wouldn't be going to follow her or anything, but to look for Sarge himself. Yeah!
The window at the bottom of the stairs had a crate below it, so he went for that, first, scrambling atop it and once more rising to his hind paws for an indignant glare outside. There! The Wisp's tiny grey form was harder to spot against the gloom of the night, but he caught the movement from the corner of his eye and turned to watch as she keened out that sad, keening sound.
Like she was calling for something.
Waiting.
Another growl left Wendi, teeth baring in a snarl as he watched her wander further away without apparent purpose. He didn't like this. The family --the one he hated, remember-- had never been fractured like this. Sometimes Father was distant, or gone for long periods of time, but not like this. Not leaving them all... confused, Wisp lost and crying all the time when she thought nobody was watching.
RE: Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Selkie. - 3/17/2026
Vater was gone.
That was what máthair said. He was going to heal! Selkie didn't like it. If he would just come upstairs, Selkie could fix him! He was very good at licking. That was what máthair did when he got out of the nest too fast that one time and scraped his paw and cried and cried. Máthair had come and pulled something pointy out of his pawpad and licked and it had been all better.
But she kept closing them in the room, and got sad when they got out and down the stairs, and she had been really sad the one time when Selkie had crept up to the dark stairs and cried for vater until she had picked him up and taken him away. And she wouldn't even stay, so Selkie was alone and sad and cold.
Tonight, when máthair left, it was bráthair who squirmed out of their little pile. Selkie blinked awake and watched him with eyes open wide and round. He had figured out how to get out of room, but máthair was getting better at closing it so he couldn't escape. Bráthair did not seem so bothered, and wrenched it open to scurry out into the dark hall.
Was he going to find vater? All by himself? Not fair. Selkie leapt after him, out into the hall, and then bounced down each stair, tail whipping wildly. They had once been so scary! Now it was easy to get down them.
Someday he would be as big as vater and then it would be even easier!
On the floor, Selkie caught sight of Wendi, scrambling up some broken wood by the wall to stare outside the window. Ears perked, Selkie crept after him, doing his very best to be quiet- and as soon as he was close enough, made an eager pounce for bráthair's hanging tail.
That was what máthair said. He was going to heal! Selkie didn't like it. If he would just come upstairs, Selkie could fix him! He was very good at licking. That was what máthair did when he got out of the nest too fast that one time and scraped his paw and cried and cried. Máthair had come and pulled something pointy out of his pawpad and licked and it had been all better.
But she kept closing them in the room, and got sad when they got out and down the stairs, and she had been really sad the one time when Selkie had crept up to the dark stairs and cried for vater until she had picked him up and taken him away. And she wouldn't even stay, so Selkie was alone and sad and cold.
Tonight, when máthair left, it was bráthair who squirmed out of their little pile. Selkie blinked awake and watched him with eyes open wide and round. He had figured out how to get out of room, but máthair was getting better at closing it so he couldn't escape. Bráthair did not seem so bothered, and wrenched it open to scurry out into the dark hall.
Was he going to find vater? All by himself? Not fair. Selkie leapt after him, out into the hall, and then bounced down each stair, tail whipping wildly. They had once been so scary! Now it was easy to get down them.
Someday he would be as big as vater and then it would be even easier!
On the floor, Selkie caught sight of Wendi, scrambling up some broken wood by the wall to stare outside the window. Ears perked, Selkie crept after him, doing his very best to be quiet- and as soon as he was close enough, made an eager pounce for bráthair's hanging tail.
RE: Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Honor - 3/17/2026
The siblings were always getting into something. It felt like there was no reprieve from their chaos and constant rule-breaking, not that mathair seemed to mind much. If anything, she almost encouraged it.
But she hadn’t been herself lately.
The sadness that clung to her was suffocating, and it filled the little soldier with quiet worry. Not to mention vater was missing. His large form had been gone for so long, his steady presence, his warmth. The last time Honor had checked, he had been down in the dark place. He never came to visit them, yet mathair always smelled like him.
Him… and something else.
Something that made Honor’s stomach twist, nausea curling deep in her gut. It was wrong. A bad omen. Even her young mind could piece that much together, though she didn’t understand why.
It was the scratching that woke her.
The dull drag of claws against wood.
Lifting her head from the tangled mass of siblings, she spotted movement near the door. She watched in silence as the dark figure pried its way out of the room. Moments later, Selkie wriggled free and bolted after Wendi.
Honor hesitated only a beat before pulling herself from the warm pile and following.
By the time she squeezed through the doorway, Wendigo and Selkie were already halfway down the stairs. Pausing at the top, she peered down as they scooted their way toward freedom.
Now, any logical pup would have followed mathair’s example.
Honor, however, seemed to lack that particular instinct.
Instead of scooting, she simply stepped forward, and promptly tumbled head over tail down the entire flight of stairs.
Thankfully, puppies were durable. Aside from a few bruises, she escaped relatively unharmed. Even more impressively, she managed to stay quiet through the ordeal, refusing to cry out.
For a moment, she lay there dazed.
Then she pushed herself upright, casting her brothers a thoroughly judgmental look.
What exactly was standing on a box supposed to accomplish? And was Selkie… playing? At a time like this?
Vater was gone. Mathair was gone.
Shouldn’t they be helping?
Ignoring whatever they were doing by the window, Honor marched to the front door and began clawing at it with determined focus.
If her brother could get the damn thing open, so could she.
RE: Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Wendigo - 3/25/2026
The sounds of other clumsy feet following were not lost on Wendigo, and the beast took comfort in the idea that he was not alone. He had been for so long, he almost forgot what it was like to have others on his side instead of against him. Well, more or less. His siblings got rowdy, and mouthy, but thusfar as long as they stayed away from his neck the great blue beast was content to play nice. Perhaps he wasnt even playing all that much.
It should have been suspicious, the sudden quiet. Wendi was too focused on the task at hand to think on it, pulling himself into the ledge and watching as Máthair stood sentry on the edge of the forest; once he thought she was going to vanish into the cold, dark night, she turned to pace back along the treeline towards the cabin.
Was she waiting for Sarge?
Where was it he had gone to heal? Somewhere like a doctor, or somewhere.... fairer?
A reflexive growl thundered from Wendi's throat as pressure found his tail, and he twisted around swiftly to snap his jaws in sharp warning, yanking his tail away to flag it high, looming on the scrap wood over Selkie. There was merely vague irritation to the sound, more of a 'not right now' than anything really discouraging.
They had shit to do!
Honor had the right idea. Wendi hadn't heard her come down behind them, but there she was, trotting forward with her firm sense of purpose and heading right for the door. She wasn't fuckin' around.
Wendigo flung himself from the box and moved to help her, curling his nails and trying his damnest to find a hold so that they could pry it open. This one was a little fuckin' harder! Better shut. In better -or maybe worse- condition than the one that blocked them in the room. He reared above his sister, using both paws to scrabble at the wood.
With a loud, prolonged squeeeeeeak, the door began to pry open. Victory within reach, he rumbled an excited sound, something close to a coo, and shoved his paws through the gap to pull.
He stuck his head out against the burst of icy wind, grinning, took one step, looked to the side.
And saw Wisp sitting there, eyes dull but amusement creasing her features.
Wendi grunted, freezing in place, narrowing his eyes.
It should have been suspicious, the sudden quiet. Wendi was too focused on the task at hand to think on it, pulling himself into the ledge and watching as Máthair stood sentry on the edge of the forest; once he thought she was going to vanish into the cold, dark night, she turned to pace back along the treeline towards the cabin.
Was she waiting for Sarge?
Where was it he had gone to heal? Somewhere like a doctor, or somewhere.... fairer?
A reflexive growl thundered from Wendi's throat as pressure found his tail, and he twisted around swiftly to snap his jaws in sharp warning, yanking his tail away to flag it high, looming on the scrap wood over Selkie. There was merely vague irritation to the sound, more of a 'not right now' than anything really discouraging.
They had shit to do!
Honor had the right idea. Wendi hadn't heard her come down behind them, but there she was, trotting forward with her firm sense of purpose and heading right for the door. She wasn't fuckin' around.
Wendigo flung himself from the box and moved to help her, curling his nails and trying his damnest to find a hold so that they could pry it open. This one was a little fuckin' harder! Better shut. In better -or maybe worse- condition than the one that blocked them in the room. He reared above his sister, using both paws to scrabble at the wood.
With a loud, prolonged squeeeeeeak, the door began to pry open. Victory within reach, he rumbled an excited sound, something close to a coo, and shoved his paws through the gap to pull.
He stuck his head out against the burst of icy wind, grinning, took one step, looked to the side.
And saw Wisp sitting there, eyes dull but amusement creasing her features.
Wendi grunted, freezing in place, narrowing his eyes.
RE: Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Will-o'-Wisp - 3/25/2026
Pacing, pacing, pacing. Every once in a while, she did a circuit around the whole cabin.
Silent. Searching. Sullen.
It seemed she'd been noticed. The scrabbling of determined nails against wood caught her attention over the gust, and Wisp turned to squint back in the direction of the howff. She sighed, considering ignoring it, but gods-damned Wendi and his bulk on the other kids, he had the weight now to crack the doors open and let everyone loose, showing them how to do it.
The hinges squealing, slowly, almost painfully on the ears, was enough to turn her back. Fuckin' kids. Fuckin' cold. They wanted to freeze their little toes off? Fuckin' fine. She was there in plenty of time, reclining to her haunches and sweeping her tail close to wait. She wasn't going to help them -- if they wanted out, they'd figure it out all on their own.
Independent pups, and she was alone. Wisp's heart clenched in her chest.
Wendi was the first to shove out, and spotted her lurking there.
"Tha thu nad cheannard an turas seo, aye Wendi? "
It was a toss-up. Selkie was adventurous, Kobold was always charging about searching for something, but Wendi was getting bolder. The others, she worried about a little less; Lichen usually just followed after whoever looked like they were... having fun? Caught her attention? Wisp wasn't entirely sure. Grim was a good cookie, which didn't surprise her in the least. Honor, the sweet little thing, she was never pleased but usually involved in the shenanigans all the same.
She'd corral them inside before anything really turned blue. Why not just... let them have something nice?
Silent. Searching. Sullen.
It seemed she'd been noticed. The scrabbling of determined nails against wood caught her attention over the gust, and Wisp turned to squint back in the direction of the howff. She sighed, considering ignoring it, but gods-damned Wendi and his bulk on the other kids, he had the weight now to crack the doors open and let everyone loose, showing them how to do it.
The hinges squealing, slowly, almost painfully on the ears, was enough to turn her back. Fuckin' kids. Fuckin' cold. They wanted to freeze their little toes off? Fuckin' fine. She was there in plenty of time, reclining to her haunches and sweeping her tail close to wait. She wasn't going to help them -- if they wanted out, they'd figure it out all on their own.
Independent pups, and she was alone. Wisp's heart clenched in her chest.
Wendi was the first to shove out, and spotted her lurking there.
"Tha thu nad cheannard an turas seo, aye Wendi? "
It was a toss-up. Selkie was adventurous, Kobold was always charging about searching for something, but Wendi was getting bolder. The others, she worried about a little less; Lichen usually just followed after whoever looked like they were... having fun? Caught her attention? Wisp wasn't entirely sure. Grim was a good cookie, which didn't surprise her in the least. Honor, the sweet little thing, she was never pleased but usually involved in the shenanigans all the same.
C'mon then, beasties. Freeze yer beans off, if ye' like, jus' stay close.
She'd corral them inside before anything really turned blue. Why not just... let them have something nice?
RE: Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Selkie. - 3/27/2026
Selkie's little jaws clasped tight on Wendi's tail, and then released to send him tumbling to the floor as brathair spun and snapped at him.
Then he just leapt down and walked away, leaving Selkie there on his back. That wasn't supposed to happen! He sprawled like a turtle trapped on its shell and tilted his head back enough to see Honor marching straight past towards the door.
Of course! They were going to adventure! Without Kobold, which was sad, but Selkie would have a story to make him very jealous. Because now both she and Wendi were clawing at the front door, and front door meant they could get outside. And if they were outside, Selkie could just go find vater!
He wouldn't have to cry at the top of the stairs, and màthair wouldn't be so sad all the time, and vater would be back to play and look at his treasures! Selkie rolled himself over and went to join everyone clawing at the door with gusto.
When it creaked open he did his very best to be the first one out. But Wendi was not big enough for him to sneak through his legs, so instead he tried to duck and faceplanted in very cold snow with a startled yelp while máthair looked down at all of them.
But! They were being allowed outside! So Selkie didn't scream, and squirmed on his belly until he could skitter out on careful paws, looking around wide-eyed. It was very dark, so dark he could barely see, and wind howled cold and stinging in his face and made him squint his eyes. He was never going to find vater like this, and looked wet-eyed at máthair in plaintive question.
Then he just leapt down and walked away, leaving Selkie there on his back. That wasn't supposed to happen! He sprawled like a turtle trapped on its shell and tilted his head back enough to see Honor marching straight past towards the door.
Of course! They were going to adventure! Without Kobold, which was sad, but Selkie would have a story to make him very jealous. Because now both she and Wendi were clawing at the front door, and front door meant they could get outside. And if they were outside, Selkie could just go find vater!
He wouldn't have to cry at the top of the stairs, and màthair wouldn't be so sad all the time, and vater would be back to play and look at his treasures! Selkie rolled himself over and went to join everyone clawing at the door with gusto.
When it creaked open he did his very best to be the first one out. But Wendi was not big enough for him to sneak through his legs, so instead he tried to duck and faceplanted in very cold snow with a startled yelp while máthair looked down at all of them.
But! They were being allowed outside! So Selkie didn't scream, and squirmed on his belly until he could skitter out on careful paws, looking around wide-eyed. It was very dark, so dark he could barely see, and wind howled cold and stinging in his face and made him squint his eyes. He was never going to find vater like this, and looked wet-eyed at máthair in plaintive question.
RE: Sit down, Im gonna tell ya, A little story bout a sad little fella - Honor - 3/28/2026
Annoyed that her brothers had taken over her job, she aimed angry nips at them, trying to pinch skin wherever she could land them. It was really fucking rude to bowl her over when opening the door had been her idea. All they had wanted to do was stare!
Fuming silently, she let them slip out of the Howff first. What was the point in trying to compete? It wasn’t like anyone really noticed her anyway.
Stepping out into the cold winter night, she watched as her small breaths curled into soft mist. It was much colder out here. She didn’t like it, but she would be damned if she got left behind.
When Selkie face-planted into the snow, she scrunched her face at him in annoyance before carefully stepping over him.
The snow itself was intimidating for the little mite. It never seemed to stop, and even with mathair’s constant pacing, the paths were still deep.
Instead of heading toward the safety and warmth of their mathair, Honor deliberately turned the other way and began to march off. Not that she made much progress, but the little soldier liked to think highly of herself and her abilities.
Let them goof off.
She would find Vater.
Her tail arched high over her back as she moved, golden gaze sweeping the darkness that seemed ready to swallow her whole.