Welcome Back Yuki!!!!

Alright all, another chaptttter. This one we are getting more :sparkle: Comfort :sparkle: -kind of anyway. It still has some moments that are a bit on the hurt side of things.

And I will probably go back to hurt soon. So bring your favorite slippers, get some tea and enjoy this brief moment of respite everyone, cause we are going right back into the rabbit hole after a chapter or two after this... probably

I love the curly hair you gave her, it looks flowwwwy AND fluffffy

The hooman

A Moonbird The fallen god

And Hannah, a regular human mage who gave the fallen god a secong chance and made a deal with her

Alright, another chapter and another one after this already in the works. It is good to be back on track with enough time left to worry about other things. Other than that I hope you all enjoy this chapter, it is a bit short but alas this was kind of the only way I could chop the chapter in a cohesive manner.

(:

Alright Folk, firstly I am still alive behest of efforts done by my midterms. I am still alive and kicking, anyway I have written another chapter actually I have written like three, but alas I decided that publishing all three would be a bad idea and that I should look em over before posting. I know, common sense is rather out of fashion but then again so is this site sometimes and we still keep on using it. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, more will be added in time. :)

Flufffff

Heya, Yuki's here again!

This is Areh (Or mother Porrima), Eridános's wife and the main healer of the cult. The story of her arrival to the cult is the same as her husband's.

She's really soft and caring person. She cherishes all followers (and Lamb) as her own children. No one knows much about her and Eridanos's past.

This woman is in charge of physical health and healing (while Enoki is mental healer).

Fun fact: Areh is the shortest and the fluffiest of immortals in the cult

Froglet

Hey People, firstly sorry for the delay. As you might have heard, my country (Turkey) ain't doing so hot at the moment. Between the storms and more importantly the earthquake it has been a little hard here. luckily we weren't hit by the earthquake where I live, but we got our fair share of unpleasantness from the storm. Anyway other than that there is not much I want to say, I hope you all enjoy this one. More regular uploads will continue when I can manage. Trying work without a stable internet and cold fingers is kind of hard sadly and there is only so much a candle can heat up.

She drummed her fingers against the arm of her throne. Each tap trying to rise above the cacophony that has overtaken her temple. Each tap trying and failing to silence the clattering steel and shouts of warriors getting ready for what was to come. Tap, tap, tap, tap her four fingers went with her thumb pushing against the side of the throne, digging into the wood. She was calm, really she was. She was so calm indeed that she was barely even thinking of what was to come, it was simply off from her mind as she calmly waited… and waited… waited. Her eyes were closed, all four shut against the world and the temple she called her own. To the cut stone beneath her throne to the rustic walls that kept her cult sheltered. To the ones she used to call her patrons, now divisions and warriors that were meant to march. Really calm, really, truly calm… No, she wasn’t. She was not calm, not in the slightest. She couldn’t do this to herself. She was many things, a Goddess, a Bishop of the old faith, a sister and not a liar. Besides, she was not really someone to believe in her own lies. Though was she? Was she really not a liar? Even in that sentence there were lies if not some half truths at least. It was true she was a Goddess, Lady of Famine, the one over the domain of sate and hunger in their dance that only ended with the release of death. Then again, if she were the Lady famine then why were her patrons armed in weapons instead of scythes and buckets? Why were they getting ready for what was to come, instead of fasting in their homes? She knew the answer, but really it was better that she kept the answer away from herself. It was also true that she was a bishop of the old faith, she was the new right hand of Shamura, the first one to establish the faith. Then again, was she really? She did not really feel like she was a bishop as much as a commander for her armies now or some odd figurehead at times. She was not really preaching the perseverance that came with the abstinence of what was most vital to life and the release and euphoria that came with the feast. The dance of gorge and the fast. No, these days she was preaching the righteousness of what was to come. Of how one can only find themselves true in war and not by the release of a hot meal after a long day of work toiling in one's lot. It was true, she was a sister. Sister to Leshy, the fifth in the roster of the old faith. God of Chaos that stood over the realms of green and brown. The one that has been with them the least. The hardest to contain amongst the old faith. The one that had brought nothing but a headache to her since his lowly beginnings as a mewling worm. From the days he saw fit to set ablaze her temple in his many ‘pranks’ to his inability to listen to her heeds and warnings. Choosing to ignore where she tried to reason, to use his domain against the criticism he needed to improve. A child she could never see sitting on a throne. Sister to Kalamar, The fourth to come to their coven of Gods. God of Pestilence that stood over the blue and yellow. The one that had done nothing but cower behind her, never setting right where he erred. The one that threw the blame when her honest words came too much. The leach that took all love and gave but disloyalty, a snake she had to trust in what was to come. A coward she never wanted to see ruling. Sister to Shamura, her oldest sibling who was the leader of their quartet. The one that has given her the weapons and arms to wage the war they assured her was necessary. The sibling that has taken the honest work of her patrons in her tavern and has transformed them all to warrior kin only they could assemble. The one that has only taken when her dance was of gift and forfeit. A dance she came to break with their steel and bronze where once there was only wood and clay. A mad tyrant with a vision that may as well have been for their ruin rather than salvation. She was lastly, the sister to Narinder. The second to come in the pantheon of the old faith. The one she was to meet soon, in what was to come. The pompous prick that dared to defile the word of the old faith, dare go against Shamura’s wishes, dared to take his lot away… dared to leave her alone, dare to leave her in charge where he was meant to stay and lead with Shamura, dare to push this responsibility to her. The one that caused all of this… did he though? The traitorous thought snaked its way into her mind. Did he truly cause this all? No, well yes but… half truth she supposed, it could only be called that. He was the one that left, the one that took his followers with him away from them. Into lands they were to march in what's to come. He was the one that made his temple there, on the misty mountains where white met against white with the snow and clouds. A temple he built of marble and stone of the unforgiving silver mountains where his realm was closest to. But, she knew he didn’t want to. She knew he didn’t mean to defile a faith he helped to create in its infancy, if it hadn’t forgotten his name. He was the one that went against the creator of the old faith, their eldest sibling, Master of War, Shamura. To fight against their gospel when it stopped suiting him instead of accepting them as law as must all in the lands of the old faith, be they mortal or God. But she knew. She knew he wouldn’t have went against Shamura’s wishes if they weren’t so unreasonable as to demand him to reduce his own cult to nothing. To waste his days away from them in solitude. Though she supposed, that part did come to be eventually. He was the one that took what was left of his lot away. The pitiful bunch that stuck with him even after what had happened… She knew they had no other choice as much as he. He was the one to leave her alone. To fend for herself in this complicated dance of politics she was thrusted into from her humble patrons and tavern, to the halls of the spider. To the insolent and egotistical court of lies. To make her a moth to the webs of affairs and intrigue, she had to learn from. She knew a lot, but she still didn’t know how he could have done such a thing when he was the one that embraced her for the first time when she was but a tadpole, swimming in the unknown depths of her soon to be realm. Again came the taps; tap, tap, tap, tap as she remembered the faithful day. She was alone on those days. So long ago she could barely remember the way stars have shone when she came crashing down from the heavens above. Alone and with no purpose, wading through the swamps of her now land. She was fierce, she was strong, she was the second inevitability of the world. Hunger. She hunted as she jumped from pond to pond, letting her hunger guide her in the murky waters. Alas, she was not the strongest nor the fiercest for she met one mightier. A dark God she could best in but a moment now, but back then a foe she withered against. However, even with the odds against her, she did not meet death that day. At least not in the way she thought she would while struggling in the dark God’s grasp. A slice and a broken body in the pond where she thought she would see the last of the stars. Finding herself in the arms of the cat clad in black black with three kind eyes and a mouth full of gentle but sharp teeth. She met him then, God of Death, her second eldest. The one they would slaughter soon.   Her eyes opened, slowly as she drummed her fingers faster and faster. Tap, tap, tap, tap they went as she accepted the truth, she was a liar. A true liar. Truth was, she was none of those things. She failed in all of those or at least she was about to. With  the blood of her brother spilled over the marble of his temple, her fate would forever be sealed as a liar. In those misty towering behemoths of white would he be waiting, for what was to come. So what was to come, came. Here she was, waiting for her fate just as much as the cat clad in white with three eyes and a not so kind sharp teeth had. Tap, tap, tap, tap came the noise out her axe as her claws met the handle. She waited, she waited for something she knew was not going to happen. She waited for him to give up, to let them take him back, to let them exact punishment against him and his ilk. A miracle. But she knew, he would never give up. He would fight, now and always as he had all those faithful years ago against the Dark God. With vain hope she looked around, to see her own ilk. All discarded like toy soldiers, strewn about like mere dolls. Their sorrowful faces drowned amidst the warriors of Shamura with their proud eyes. Another thing she was to blame him for, but she knew she couldn’t. From seeing her ilk to seeing her kin. She saw Kalmar first, terrified as ever. He wore a face of nervousness, his ears hung low as his eyes peered around as if he looked all as an enemy to fear. His followers did not share their master’s fear however, all brave faces. Not proud, but brave. All holding their heads high even if their very Lord couldn’t. She held off her sneer as she looked to see Leshy. Bored eyes met hers, he looked all around lazily like it was just a game. Just some sightseeing tour he was barely paying attention to as he twirled his hammer. Unmoved by the soulless eyes that gazed back at him from the ground. His own followers now gone and dust, looking at them with emotions even she didn’t know. She held her tongue as she gazed once more which landed on them, the one that brought them here, Master of War that looked sorrowful where they were to be in delight. The crest of their brow low, hiding all that was going on behind that old decrepit mind of theirs. Looking straight at the one they came to slaughter with eyes that spoke of only regret. She felt the blood in her veins boil as her fingers went TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP. She held her venom as she looked to see him. He held himself high, ears following afoot. His brow high and eyes that shone with purpose and commitment. There wasn’t much left of his followers, but they held the same look as their master even in the end, and most likely beyond. Waiting for him to join them in his rightful domain. ‘So he is the whom I am to slaughter, one that stayed one with his ilk when the rest of his kin had not’ she thought. One that looked not apart from the bodies that once fought against the invader in his name. Shame, she thought. Shame to the ones on the ground, the ones who are about to meet it and to the rest who are still above it. So it began, after a couple of pretty words uttered by their sibling. First tap, she swung first and true. If she was to be damned, it was to be done with grace to match the one that dodged her attack. He fought with elegance she had only seen from their eldest, one that had not fought for long years even before this. He would vault over the haphazard attacks of Leshy that at times felt like they were meant for her. Just as he would vault he would dodge the opportunistic attacks of Kalamar in the same breath. He would complete the dance with a counter to her own attack that would have hit if he had waited but a moment more. Second tap, she changed tactics. Now she would try to push him instead of hitting him, trying to force him into the attacks of Leshy who lacked the cohesion to understand her idea or just didn’t care. Just as she would push him off Kalamar would be there to give him back the space she so hardly fought to take. Running and dodging where he was meant to stay and deliver. After the third tap of the scythe against the axe she realized she was not just outmatched but she was also very much alone. It didn’t matter what she did, what tactic she implored. All it did was to give her a fool's hope that would be dashed into pieces when put into practice. Her tactics were like the speeches she delivered in court, ignored without the input of their sibling who still hadn’t joined them. Before the fourth tap she saw her brother, this time fully. His brother stood above the three, like the dark God that was to take her to his realm from all those years ago. For one terrible moment she realized, she was going to die. Maybe not a liar like she thought but dead nonetheless for his brother was death, the killer of Gods fore and now. At the fifth tap that she sounded with the drop of her knee she could see. She saw the still figure of Shamura who watched the slaughter. She saw the sibling that brought them here, to the place where his kind brother became the nightmare from her long lost nightmares. The one that watched with pity as they were cut down. The one that still looked from above as their brother breathed death against them. She saw her enemy. She saw the real traitor. There was no sixth tap, it was more of a clang that reverbated across the halls of the temple. The clang that came to be by her axe which saw the claw of Shamura. At that moment as all of her family looked at her, she knew she was dead. For a moment silence and in the next ‘’Traitors’’ came the hiss of Shamura, then came her claw that with grace that could only be matched by their second eldest. Proven with his scythe came between her and the cold claw of their eldest. She didn’t know what compelled her to block the hit that came from Kalamar that was meant for Narinder. She didn’t know and would most likely never know, but at the moment she couldn’t think much about that. So they continued, a froglet and a kitten against three dark Gods. Scythe and axe matching claw, sword and hammer. It was a dance now, one that somehow felt comforting as she sliced the ears of their cowardly brother. It felt like the ones they shared when it was just the two of them when the traitor had gone to tend to their court. When the cold of the night and the mist of the temple reminded her of the day she met the monster that almost made her its prey. So when he took the eyes of Leshy she couldn’t help but tap, tap, tap, tap. Then came tap, tap, tap, tap from his scythe to the ground as they were pushed back by the enraged Master of War, who now only saw red as their two siblings met the stone of the temple. Slice to cut, out came the ichor that danced in the air. For a moment she had a lip barring no scar that sang away those awful nights with his brother’s kind eyes watching. Now scarred they were, with a split that came from the claws of the traitor. The kind eyes looked at her once more as she lost her footing. Shining with determination she wished she could match before the three were now two as the traitor took more off of them. She found herself on the ground as his brother found himself pushed to the ground as the traitor took him apart, slice after slice as they cursed him. His weapon broken and away where he could not reach. For as many things she knew she didn’t know many yet. But she knew one thing, the traitor had to meet their end. She didn’t know how she matched the grace of the spider for that moment, but for a moment she truly felt like she danced maybe for the first time with Shamura before she met the cold claws once more. This time she would gain not a scar but lose a tooth and maybe two. But there came no more slice nor cut for the Traitor met his end with the sharper claws of their brother. With the same claws that gently took her up from the pond to a home, he took apart the brow that hid many and the mind that was behind this terribleness. Tap, tap, tap, tap. She heard, against her palm as she lay. She held his gaze as her four met the last two eyes of a cat clad in white and much red, with a mouth full of kind razor sharp teeth that gave her a smile. She closed her eyes as she heard ‘’Tap, tap, tap, tap froglet of mine’’ His hand found her lip as she felt his soothing cold claws, healing the damage of the traitor. ‘’Tap, tap, tap, tap cry not for I am here. Forever and more, with you.’’

https://archiveofourown.org/works/44580424/chapters/112140313

Hello There! First chapter of 2024!!!!!! With many more to come... hopefully, I have more free time now that I don't have to contend with 14 classes in uni anymore, sooooo I think I will be able to write more... Hopefully! :)

It feels rare to see media of any type that take inspiration from our people/culture, it brings me great pleasure to see such a lovely art.

Also the dress is lovely as well, you have eye for design I must say :)

this next character is a striped gnoll! Because the range of real life striped hyenas extends into the Middle East and India, I took inspiration from 19th-century Ottoman Turkish fashion for her outfit.

I imagine this character as living a cosmopolitan life in a city or busy town, working as the owner of a high-end textile and jewelry shop. New customers are sometimes surprised by her species; she resents the misconception among non-gnolls that her people are coarse barbarians who can't have an eye for fine things.

Draw em however you wish, I have full faith on the fact that you would draw them perfectly! Also your drawings are inspiring too, they are truly wonderful.

Hi again!

I've read the 10th chapter of TBF and I'm really interested in Narinder' past with Baal & Aym. Would you mind to tell some more things about them? Like some good memories they share

Hello! Firstly, I am happy that you have read the 10th chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Secondly I would love to talk about it but I feel like making a story is a little bit better, you know show don't tell and all that stuff they keep saying. So I decided to write that story of the Brook or the River situation in its entirety. By the way, I am sorry if I am a bit late as again the Uni decided to pull a fast one on me along with the new years eve doing its usual thing. Anyhow I hope you enjoy this one. Also anyone else who wants to ask for a prompt, feel free I am open. It doesn’t have to be about TBF it can just be normaş Cotl or really any Au

Brook or River

Trek was not long, nor was it treacherous. It was rather pleasant indeed, he thought as he made his way through the soft grass yet tall grass. There was a mild wind in the air, but it was not cold as it was warm. Sun shone in the sky as it was now way into the afternoon.

As he pushed aside the tall grass he could hear the brothers behind him following the path he had made through the grass. They were on a journey to the place Aym had described as ‘The giant river with all the fish and the pond and the birds and the’ so on and so forth. That boy sure likes to speak, he thought as he tried to look out for the river while trying not to blind himself. Even with the veil helping with the sun shining above it was still hard not to get his eyes burnt.

As they exited the plains and entered the more forested areas, he started to hear Aym talking to Baal.

Aym looked proud as he said ‘’It was so huge you could put a whole ship in it, like the ones on the coast’’ He opened his arms wide to show how big it was supposed to be.

Baal rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics ‘‘there is no way, we are in a forest, it is too big for that’’ Narinder let out a chuckle as he heard the indignant noises that came from Aym.

He scoffed ‘’You will see, it is so large that I am gonna make a ship myself then I am gonna go over the horizon and you are just gonna stay here’’ He giggled before continuing ‘’Maybe you can befriend the fish while I sail across the sea’’

This time it was Baal’s turn to splutter indignantly as he yelled ‘’You can’t just leave me!’’ He turned back to Narinder ‘’Isn’t that right Master?’’

He smiled at his young servants ‘’Well if it is a big ship I might wish to join in with him’’ He couldn’t suppress his chuckle as he heard Baal gasp.

He could see his face turn red as he looked like he was about to cry out of frustration ‘’You two cannot just leave me! I-’’ Before he could finish himself and most likely burst into tears Narinder turned around and took both the brothers and embraced them both.

After a second he let go of them, they still remained in his arms as he said ‘’I am just joking my little Baal, I am not planning on abandoning either of you ever. All for one and one for all.’’ He smiled to the brothers ‘’We do not leave each other ever not for venture, nor glory’’

He could see the way Baal seemingly calmed down, but he also saw Aym deflate a little. He felt a sigh almost escape him as he saw the way Aym looked at him with those disappointed eyes. He knew that Aym was not really thinking of staying here forever, he was too free spirited for that. Though he would eventually break that out of him. It would take him some time but slowly he would stop him from these silly dreams. He had to. He could not lose him too, He would not lose him too. He had already lost too much, never again.

Aym’s sudden shout took him out of his thoughts ‘’Here! Here!’’ He pointed at the brook up ahead, which was definitely not a river. He looked down the way he pointed and yeah, there was just the brook.

Baal looked over his brother who was still looking over the small brook with wondrous eyes ‘’That is not a river dumb dumb, that's a brook’’

Aym’s wondrous look shifted into an indignant scowl ‘’No, that’s a river’’

Baal rolled his eyes before he jumped out of Narinder’s arms to the ground, landing perfectly on the rock as was expected of him. He got close to the brook and dipped his leg into the brook which proved it to be rather shallow as it only came up just slightly above his knee. Without a word he just turned to his brother with a look that said ’Are you sure?’

Aym took his brother’s example and got next to him to dip his own leg into the water to confirm that yes, it was indeed shallow. Undisturbed by this he claimed ‘’It is just a small river’’

Baal slapped his forehead ‘’That is called a brook you dumdum’’

This time it seemed like it was Aym’s turn to look at his brother indignantly as his face grew red ‘’Don’t call me a dumdum, you dumdum! It is a river if I say it is a river’’ He turned to Narinder ‘’Isn’t that right master?’’

Before he could answer him Baal cut him off ‘’Don’t waste Master’s time with this. Master has no time for things like this’’ He looked at Narinder ‘’Isn’t that right Master?’’

Before he could answer him this time it was Aym who cut him off ‘’I am not wasting his time, you are!’’

And it started, the brother’s started their little scuffle with hands flying into each other in an odd slap fight. He could chuckle at their childish doings but really, he knew where this was headed. It would only be a moment before they would start attacking each other with curses and their staffs, which was good for training sure but he didn’t want the brother’s to be mad at eachother for the next week or two as both would get injured.

So weighing his options he decided the only viable one, or in other words the fun one. The brothers were in the middle of arguing what constitutes a curse before they were both lifted by their robes and dropped into the river.

There was peace, for but one moment before all oblivion broke loose. Shouting and hissing the two brothers started to yell over each other. However he couldn’t focus on what they were saying as he was laughing his ass off. It was perfect the way two looked at him like he had stabbed them in the back, the betrayal he saw in their furious eyes was too good.

Eventually though he knew what he had to do, as he shrunk himself in a moment before he too threw himself into the shallow brook. Splashing the two brothers and coating himself in cold water of the brook. It was only fair he should join them, all for one and one for all afterall.

Seeing the playing field becoming more fair the brothers teamed up against him, seemingly forgetting their dispute as they started to splash water on him. Their attacks were countered by his own as he began his own onslaught.

It went on for a while but eventually they decided to call it off as the water was getting colder by the moment. As they got out of the water he could tell it was getting into lunch time. Now by this point they should have been back at the temple with brothers eating lunch and getting some training done while he took care of a ritual or two.

After some thinking he decided that the followers could wait for a bit. He got both the brothers to take out their staffs and stand over a rock in the brook. they looked at him with both their heads tilted quizzically

He turned to them with his own crown turning into a trident like his own brother once showed him, before… He decided to avoid that thought for now. He cleared his throat ‘’Alright you two, now normally we should be back at the temple’’ He saw both the brother’s face fell but before they could complain he continued ‘’But, I decided that instead of learning some ancient war tactic or two, I would teach you both how to fish.’’ He smiled as he saw both the brothers perk up to his words.

He showed them how to hold their staff correctly for fishing before He demonstrated how to wait for the fish and strike at the right moment. At first the only thing they catched was bits of moss and water. Aym almost threw his staff away before he took it and showed him he was holding it slightly wrong. But eventually both the brothers started to learn what he was trying to teach them.

In the end, he caught around four fish. He could probably have gotten more but he didn’t want the brothers to get upset and besides they couldn’t even eat that many anyway. Other than Baal who almost got stabbed by Aym because he thought his feet were a fish. He could say that ‘their class’ was a success as they had caught three fish of their own. With one for each brother and plus one they caught with teamwork.

Now they sat around the fire they made together, cooking the fish and trying to dry their cloaks and fur. As he tended the fire he heard Aym and Baal discussing the previous water fight.

Aym showed up his hands with six of his fingers open. ‘’That makes six plus the ones before it makes at least twenty four points’’

Baal nodded as he showed his own five fingers ‘’Indeed, add my five and it makes it twenty nine points’’ He turned to Narinder ‘’Which means we won’’ He said with both brothers looking at him proudly.

He chuckled, shaking his head ‘’I didn’t know we had a point system. Enlighten me you two, how many points have I gotten?’’

The brothers looked at each other as they started to count; they looked up to each other before nodding. Aym begun ‘’You got around thirty’’

Baal took up where his brother left ‘’But since you are old you only get half the points’’

Rolling his eyes Narinder turned the fish to their sides to keep them from burning ‘’Unfortunately even so I have still won, my dear servants as I have gotten sixty points’’ The brothers looked at him confused before going back to calculating with frowns gracing their brows. He didn’t know how many points he had or really what they got points out of, but really he didn’t really care. He knew the brothers would argue about it either way.

As he looked at the two brothers as they calculated their points again, he felt a pride blossom within him. Even at such a young age, such capable fighters with such loyalty. As a fond smile grew across his face he knew they would be together, no matter what. He would make sure of it. After all it was all for one and one for all wasn’t it? https://archiveofourown.org/works/43839834/chapters/110724444

Alright, firstly THEY LOOKS SOOOO AMAZING THEY ARE SO SMALLLLLLLLL AND IT IS SOOOOO CUUUUUTE WITH THEIR LITTLE ROBESSSSS ANSAJBFAKSBFNK. Secondly seeing what I had written had inspired you to draw this makes me happy in a way indescribable to me. You have truly brought me happiness in a manner I had never experienced before. Thank you so dearly. Also THEY ARE SOOO CUTE

Hi again!

I've read the 10th chapter of TBF and I'm really interested in Narinder' past with Baal & Aym. Would you mind to tell some more things about them? Like some good memories they share

Hello! Firstly, I am happy that you have read the 10th chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Secondly I would love to talk about it but I feel like making a story is a little bit better, you know show don't tell and all that stuff they keep saying. So I decided to write that story of the Brook or the River situation in its entirety. By the way, I am sorry if I am a bit late as again the Uni decided to pull a fast one on me along with the new years eve doing its usual thing. Anyhow I hope you enjoy this one. Also anyone else who wants to ask for a prompt, feel free I am open. It doesn’t have to be about TBF it can just be normaş Cotl or really any Au

Brook or River

Trek was not long, nor was it treacherous. It was rather pleasant indeed, he thought as he made his way through the soft grass yet tall grass. There was a mild wind in the air, but it was not cold as it was warm. Sun shone in the sky as it was now way into the afternoon.

As he pushed aside the tall grass he could hear the brothers behind him following the path he had made through the grass. They were on a journey to the place Aym had described as ‘The giant river with all the fish and the pond and the birds and the’ so on and so forth. That boy sure likes to speak, he thought as he tried to look out for the river while trying not to blind himself. Even with the veil helping with the sun shining above it was still hard not to get his eyes burnt.

As they exited the plains and entered the more forested areas, he started to hear Aym talking to Baal.

Aym looked proud as he said ‘’It was so huge you could put a whole ship in it, like the ones on the coast’’ He opened his arms wide to show how big it was supposed to be.

Baal rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics ‘‘there is no way, we are in a forest, it is too big for that’’ Narinder let out a chuckle as he heard the indignant noises that came from Aym.

He scoffed ‘’You will see, it is so large that I am gonna make a ship myself then I am gonna go over the horizon and you are just gonna stay here’’ He giggled before continuing ‘’Maybe you can befriend the fish while I sail across the sea’’

This time it was Baal’s turn to splutter indignantly as he yelled ‘’You can’t just leave me!’’ He turned back to Narinder ‘’Isn’t that right Master?’’

He smiled at his young servants ‘’Well if it is a big ship I might wish to join in with him’’ He couldn’t suppress his chuckle as he heard Baal gasp.

He could see his face turn red as he looked like he was about to cry out of frustration ‘’You two cannot just leave me! I-’’ Before he could finish himself and most likely burst into tears Narinder turned around and took both the brothers and embraced them both.

After a second he let go of them, they still remained in his arms as he said ‘’I am just joking my little Baal, I am not planning on abandoning either of you ever. All for one and one for all.’’ He smiled to the brothers ‘’We do not leave each other ever not for venture, nor glory’’

He could see the way Baal seemingly calmed down, but he also saw Aym deflate a little. He felt a sigh almost escape him as he saw the way Aym looked at him with those disappointed eyes. He knew that Aym was not really thinking of staying here forever, he was too free spirited for that. Though he would eventually break that out of him. It would take him some time but slowly he would stop him from these silly dreams. He had to. He could not lose him too, He would not lose him too. He had already lost too much, never again.

Aym’s sudden shout took him out of his thoughts ‘’Here! Here!’’ He pointed at the brook up ahead, which was definitely not a river. He looked down the way he pointed and yeah, there was just the brook.

Baal looked over his brother who was still looking over the small brook with wondrous eyes ‘’That is not a river dumb dumb, that's a brook’’

Aym’s wondrous look shifted into an indignant scowl ‘’No, that’s a river’’

Baal rolled his eyes before he jumped out of Narinder’s arms to the ground, landing perfectly on the rock as was expected of him. He got close to the brook and dipped his leg into the brook which proved it to be rather shallow as it only came up just slightly above his knee. Without a word he just turned to his brother with a look that said ’Are you sure?’

Aym took his brother’s example and got next to him to dip his own leg into the water to confirm that yes, it was indeed shallow. Undisturbed by this he claimed ‘’It is just a small river’’

Baal slapped his forehead ‘’That is called a brook you dumdum’’

This time it seemed like it was Aym’s turn to look at his brother indignantly as his face grew red ‘’Don’t call me a dumdum, you dumdum! It is a river if I say it is a river’’ He turned to Narinder ‘’Isn’t that right master?’’

Before he could answer him Baal cut him off ‘’Don’t waste Master’s time with this. Master has no time for things like this’’ He looked at Narinder ‘’Isn’t that right Master?’’

Before he could answer him this time it was Aym who cut him off ‘’I am not wasting his time, you are!’’

And it started, the brother’s started their little scuffle with hands flying into each other in an odd slap fight. He could chuckle at their childish doings but really, he knew where this was headed. It would only be a moment before they would start attacking each other with curses and their staffs, which was good for training sure but he didn’t want the brother’s to be mad at eachother for the next week or two as both would get injured.

So weighing his options he decided the only viable one, or in other words the fun one. The brothers were in the middle of arguing what constitutes a curse before they were both lifted by their robes and dropped into the river.

There was peace, for but one moment before all oblivion broke loose. Shouting and hissing the two brothers started to yell over each other. However he couldn’t focus on what they were saying as he was laughing his ass off. It was perfect the way two looked at him like he had stabbed them in the back, the betrayal he saw in their furious eyes was too good.

Eventually though he knew what he had to do, as he shrunk himself in a moment before he too threw himself into the shallow brook. Splashing the two brothers and coating himself in cold water of the brook. It was only fair he should join them, all for one and one for all afterall.

Seeing the playing field becoming more fair the brothers teamed up against him, seemingly forgetting their dispute as they started to splash water on him. Their attacks were countered by his own as he began his own onslaught.

It went on for a while but eventually they decided to call it off as the water was getting colder by the moment. As they got out of the water he could tell it was getting into lunch time. Now by this point they should have been back at the temple with brothers eating lunch and getting some training done while he took care of a ritual or two.

After some thinking he decided that the followers could wait for a bit. He got both the brothers to take out their staffs and stand over a rock in the brook. they looked at him with both their heads tilted quizzically

He turned to them with his own crown turning into a trident like his own brother once showed him, before… He decided to avoid that thought for now. He cleared his throat ‘’Alright you two, now normally we should be back at the temple’’ He saw both the brother’s face fell but before they could complain he continued ‘’But, I decided that instead of learning some ancient war tactic or two, I would teach you both how to fish.’’ He smiled as he saw both the brothers perk up to his words.

He showed them how to hold their staff correctly for fishing before He demonstrated how to wait for the fish and strike at the right moment. At first the only thing they catched was bits of moss and water. Aym almost threw his staff away before he took it and showed him he was holding it slightly wrong. But eventually both the brothers started to learn what he was trying to teach them.

In the end, he caught around four fish. He could probably have gotten more but he didn’t want the brothers to get upset and besides they couldn’t even eat that many anyway. Other than Baal who almost got stabbed by Aym because he thought his feet were a fish. He could say that ‘their class’ was a success as they had caught three fish of their own. With one for each brother and plus one they caught with teamwork.

Now they sat around the fire they made together, cooking the fish and trying to dry their cloaks and fur. As he tended the fire he heard Aym and Baal discussing the previous water fight.

Aym showed up his hands with six of his fingers open. ‘’That makes six plus the ones before it makes at least twenty four points’’

Baal nodded as he showed his own five fingers ‘’Indeed, add my five and it makes it twenty nine points’’ He turned to Narinder ‘’Which means we won’’ He said with both brothers looking at him proudly.

He chuckled, shaking his head ‘’I didn’t know we had a point system. Enlighten me you two, how many points have I gotten?’’

The brothers looked at each other as they started to count; they looked up to each other before nodding. Aym begun ‘’You got around thirty’’

Baal took up where his brother left ‘’But since you are old you only get half the points’’

Rolling his eyes Narinder turned the fish to their sides to keep them from burning ‘’Unfortunately even so I have still won, my dear servants as I have gotten sixty points’’ The brothers looked at him confused before going back to calculating with frowns gracing their brows. He didn’t know how many points he had or really what they got points out of, but really he didn’t really care. He knew the brothers would argue about it either way.

As he looked at the two brothers as they calculated their points again, he felt a pride blossom within him. Even at such a young age, such capable fighters with such loyalty. As a fond smile grew across his face he knew they would be together, no matter what. He would make sure of it. After all it was all for one and one for all wasn’t it? https://archiveofourown.org/works/43839834/chapters/110724444