Firebrand Risk
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Firebrand Risk is a lowkey place for the fiction enthusiast. Whether you write, draw, or are that special combo of all the above, you can feel at ease getting rabidly excited over your projects here. We all do it. Get amped and drag others into your worlds!
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March 15, 2023
Oakley Updates

Oakley and Skye discuss the new Hufflepuff boys. They aren't worried, but everyone else is freaking out. Kind of a reason Oakley isn't too worried is revealed when she tells Talbott about the assassin, and then attempts to threaten an adult wizard (and Dumbledor) for information. She might love being on a winning team, but she does have real worries going on.

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November 07, 2024
Worms!!!

I dunno I've always really liked earthworms. And right now the porch is full of them thanks to the downpour we've had in the last few hours! 🤩

00:00:52
October 04, 2024
Walking

Wish it was a longer video, or that I could include one from last month, but whatever. Just had to share it.

00:00:19
Just Sparrows

...pulling our window screen apart from the outside 😑

00:00:30
September 23, 2021
Some Story Talk ep. 16

I talk around this in ep. 15 and mention it in the second intermission story spitballs. Time for research; here comes the marriage pool episode.

Some Story Talk ep. 16
August 11, 2021
Some Story Talk ep. 11

Time for a research episode talking about one of may favorite theories (that I have unwittingly been applying everywhere, and you just might be too): Bak's Sand Pile!

Some Story Talk ep. 11
May 20, 2021
Some Story Talk ep. 6

This episode talks about the cream f the crop, the best and brightest of all time, the elite humans called colonials! I talk about these elites in found in Rebs and about the colonial system. The colonial culture is what leads the way, so this is one to hear.

Some Story Talk ep. 6
December 02, 2024
Far From Home... for the Holidays! Part 4

Mrs Weasley pulls Liana aside to thank her for her kindness to her family members, and she also gets the added bonus of very happy bebe dragon hugs! Ginny gets some too, and the dragon is named Snow for how Ginny found it lost in a snowdrift.

Snow's mom shows up as dinner is finished, and all have a great Christmas, human and dragon alike! Aww.

December 02, 2024
Far From Home... for the Holidays! Part 3

After regrouping and bringing the lost egg back to camp, Liana and Charlie set off to find if an Opaleye has taken up residence in the Sanctuary. They instead find a young Norwegian Ridgeback reclaiming the nest, but Dragonologist Charlie knows just what to do.

Upon returning to camp, the egg hatches to reveal a very cold Opaleye bebe, so they rush it inside and build it a cozy nest.

December 01, 2024
Far From Home... for the Holidays! Part 2

The Weasleys and Nichols arrive at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary to visit Charlie! They learn about his job and Apple the Welsh Green... and promptly lose Ginny 🫠

Liana finds her in a cave where she is attempting to keep a dragon egg warm. Hmm.

December 12, 2024
Not Your Time
A Tale of Ace Gallagher Short from Book #1

Gnashing his teeth, Ace clutched his father’s sword and swung at the raging beast before him. Anger and outrage spurred him on, but his lack of experience, coupled with his growing weakness, made his efforts unfruitful. Each swing missed as the dracleon flinched and remained just out of reach.

Finally having enough, Hylas uttered a crackly roar and swatted at Ace with a clawed paw. He made contact with the blade, and the Aureus was knocked from his hands and clattered onto the ground.

Ace was tugged in the sword's direction by the force of the blow, but before he could dive to recover his weapon, the mighty dracleon stepped on it. Between the beast’s weight, the age of the blade, and the uneven rocky ground, the sword snapped in two. His outstretched hands froze. 

The dracleon’s paw lifted, leaving blood behind on the broken blade. Eyes dilated, the beast roared again and ran at him.

Ace narrowly rolled aside, coming to rest in a coughing curl on the ground. He struggled back to his hands and knees, only to witness Hylas’ momentum carry him to a skidded stop at the edge of the cliff–and hear the clanging of metal as both halves of the Aureus sword were knocked down the mountain.

The dracleon’s wings folded. His silver eyes darted back to him.

Athena grunted as she climbed back onto the mountain’s to the summit, cradling bruised ribs with one arm. She glanced back down for only a moment to look again for Dorian, but when the dracleon roared ahead of her, she turned back to find Ace, defenseless, in the beast’s path.

“Ace!” she shouted. She ripped her rapier from its sheath and rushed at Hylas.

Distracted from his prey, he swiped at her with a backhanded paw.

She managed to duck backward, albeit painfully, and while he regained his footing, she landed a jab to the beast’s shoulder.

“Raaakk!” He bellowed. He swiftly bowed his head, thrusted his massive body forward, and squarely headbutted Athena.

The force knocked her backward, and the back of her head struck the rocky mountain. She did not get up.

“‘Thena… no!” Ace blurted, every breath a painful wheeze as he leaned heavily on his hands.

Hylas backed away in defense, as if expecting her to rise and fight again. When she did not, his posture lowered as his lips curled to bare pointed teeth.

Ace struggled to rise as his breathing grew more and more labored. He searched the mountaintop, but there was no one left to come to Athena’s aid. Then, his focus narrowed in on the hilt of a different golden sword.

Saliva dripped from the dracleon’s mouth as bared teeth parted. Silver eyes looked upon its unmoving prey. He did not notice Ace running behind him.

Ace staggered to a stop before the unsheathed Sword of Ignarathos. This was the only weapon left–and it was the only way to return Hylas to his former state.

“‘A drop of blood the blade must shed; the blood must touch the stone of red.’” He glanced up at Hylas, gritting his teeth. “This is all because of me,” he choked on the words. “If this is my final act, so be it.”

His bare hand grasped the sword’s golden hilt. He stood and brandished the sword, holding it firmly in both hands.

Immense pain ripped through his chest; the very act of breathing felt like knives within his lungs. The rosy discoloration of the curse began to spread down his arms and up his neck; the act of holding the cursed object speeding its course. He doubled over, and the tip of the sword struck the ground.

The clang caught the dracleon’s attention. He turned around quickly, his silver eyes practically bulging from his lion-like head as they honed in on the golden sword.

Ace shouted and swung the sword with both hands.

“Aarrkk!” Hylas twisted to the side and retched as the sword sliced across his maned chest. 

Ace let the sword drop–this time, on purpose–and he held the sword upside-down by the golden wings of its hilt.

Hylas roared as his leathery wings stretched to their full breadth.

Ace dove below Hylas’ teeth and pushed the red gem into the bloody gash on Hylas’ chest.

The beast uttered a scream into the air, rearing back on its hind legs before tripping and falling to his back. Writhing in pain, the cries became unearthly heaves of sound as the once great beast began to morph back into a twisting, frenzied humanoid. Wings flapped erratically on the ground, bones melted away, and fur dropped from the ever-shrinking form.

Ace had fallen to his back. He gagged, unable to inhale or exhale as his body lurched with each attempt.

The Sword of Ignarathos had come to rest between them both with blood smeared across the red gem and golden hilt.

A man emerged from the knotted figure that once resembled a great draconic lion, though much of his lower half remained covered in fur. He, too, fell still after one last howling cry.

Ace lay on the rocky ground in silence. He could not breathe. His body had ceased its movement. His vision began to fade and darken. All warmth had faded from his body.

A shadow blocked the light.

This was the end.

Instead, a voice spoke.

“It is not your time.”

The man spoke the words gently as Ace slipped from consciousness–just as a spark of warmth broke from his unmoving chest.

 

CHAPTER ?

The sun was bright as he blinked the world back into focus. He found a young woman with freckled skin and brown hair tied back in a high ponytail, glancing away to give him only the profile of her face against the blue sky.

“...Athena,” he spoke breathily.

She nearly gasped as a smile broke out across her “Ace–oh, thank goodness! Are you all right?”

He grimaced and sucked in a deep breath. His expression fell blank as he exhaled. “I can breathe,” the words escaped his lips. “I can breathe!”

“The curse is broken,” Dorian came into view, crouching down beside Athena. 

“Dorian,” He huffed out a relieved sigh through a parted smile.

“Hey,” the usually stoic Kalgaran found a smile of his own.

From his angle, Ace could easily see the patch-sized bandage Dorian hid under his spilled hair –which hid the fact that was missing his left eye. He also saw a variety of scrapes, cuts, and bruises–undoubtedly from Dorian’s fall from the summit. His presence, however, proved he was able to climb his way back despite his injuries.

His eyebrows twitched, scanning similar wearing on Athena’s cheeks and arms. Memories of her being knocked out made his own head ache.  “Are you both okay?” He asked.

“I’ll heal,” Dorian said passively.

“I’m better now,” Athena admitted as she squeezed Ace’s hand–alerting him she had been holding it the entire time. He recoiled his hand as she blushed and returned her hand to her lap as Dorian glanced at her slyly.

Ace rolled away and onto his side. “Where’s Mioko and Raeya?” He asked, his eyes skimming the mountain’s edge before he pushed himself up to his knees.

“I haven’t seen them since Mioko fell,” Athena replied. “I hope they’re both all right.”

“Between Mioko being able to heal and Raeya able to change into animals,” Dorian followed their gaze, “I bet they made out better that we did.”

“Listen,” Ace held out his hand suddenly before inhaling and exhaling a few times. “I don’t think I’ve breathed this well in my entire life!”

“The curse is broken,” the Kalgaran repeated. “At last, you’re free of its grip.”

Ace rubbed a hand against his chest. The scarred birthmark was gone. The discolored pink splotches were gone. His heart beat steadily beneath his palm–all pain removed. “Thank you,” he glanced up at Dorian and Athena, “for everything.”

Athena bowed her head sheepishly while Dorian shrugged. “What else were we going to do?”

“I thought you had to keep an eye on me since I still owe you a bunch of potions,” Ace smirked.

“Considering I broke everything else I owned falling off the mountain,” he cocked an eyebrow, “I’ll call us even now.”

Ace grinned at him, only for his eyes to drift to the motionless figure beside him. “...Hylas,” he whispered. He pushed himself to his feet and started over, only to wince when he studied the half-shifted Amorfian’s form. Pale, bony skin and the remnants of black fur seemed to be heaped in a pile speckled with blood.

“He died before he could finish changing,” Dorian stepped beside him. 

Ace found it hard to breathe for an entirely different reason. “Did I… kill him?” He asked cautiously, as if hoping there would be no answer.

He shook his head. “None of his wounds would have killed him; they were too shallow, and there’s no evidence he bled out.”

“Then…”

As if on cue, the scattering of rocks nearby alerted the three of the final two members of their traveling party’s return.

Mioko slid from the back of the black-furred mule moments before it shifted back into a fur-covered Raeya.

“Hylas!” She moaned before rushing towards him. She faltered before gently coming to her knees beside him. She placed a hand on his face, her expression wavering between sorrow and disappointment.

Mioko gently laid his cloak around her shoulders. “Is he…”

“I think the curse stopped his heart.” Dorian answered.

“It was my fault he got the curse,” Ace hissed coldly, eyes still glued to his form.

“It was his decision to take the sword,” Dorian turned his good eye toward Ace, “and his alone.”

Raeya narrowed her silver eyes. “And he reaped his reward,” she muttered. Despite her apparent indifference, a tear glistened on her eyelashes.

Athena noticed, however, and she crouched beside her. “I’m sorry, Raeya,” she placed a hand on her back.

The Amorfian shut her eyes, wrapping the cloak around her body. “We must bury him here.”

Mioko gestured to the ground. “But, this entire mountain is rock.”

She stood abruptly. “We must find a place as close as we can; Amorfians must be buried where their spirit left this world, even if it’s at the foot of this mountain.”

“Then, we will honor that,” Dorian said, garnering a surprised glance from her.

“We should bring the sword back to Lord Ignarathos, too.” Ace said. He rolled his shoulders and pulled the sides of his white shirt together to button it back up. “Unless we can find a way to destroy this thing while we’re here.”

Mioko shook his head. “Because of its great power, the only thing, I read, that could destroy it was a fire not made with human hands.”

“So… a fire caused by lightning? Or something?”

“Perhaps,” Mioko shrugged and glanced up at the sky. “Doesn’t look like rain anytime soon, though.”

“Prince Ignarathos said to return it; so for now, we can return it.” Ace found his black overshirt and gloves on the other side of the summit. He slipped on the gloves, then returned to the Sword of Ignarathos to wrap the hilt in the black fabric. “Can you hand me the sheath?”

Athena was already gathering it, and she carried it over to Ace for him to gently lift and slide the sword within it.

Once sheathed, Ace paused before slipping on his overshirt. “Did you need this?” He held out the shirt to Raeya.

She shook her head and returned to her pack mule form. Mioko’s cloak fell from her back. “I will carry Hylas.”

Between the four of them, they took Mioko’s cloak and wrapped it around the fallen Amorfian’s body. They, then, lifted him up to place upon her back.

Athena hissed when this action reminded her her ribs were still bruised. As soon as the body was placed, she bowed and cradled her middle with her arm.

“Here,” Mioko stopped her, reaching a hand toward her side.

“No,” Athena stepped away. “Now that I know how your magic works, I don’t want you taking something I can handle.”

“It’s all right,” he offered with a smile. “I heal fast.”

She frowned, allowing him to gently rest his hand on her side. The yellow gem around his neck glowed brighter as the pain of her bruises faded.

Mioko winced for only a moment, stifling a quick breath, before he was able to relax.

Athena, too, smiled lightly. “Thank you,” she said.

He looked at Dorian. “Do you–”

“No, thanks,” he didn’t even glance up from the rope he was tying.

Mioko simply nodded and turned back to the others. He noted Ace, healed and curse-free, standing full of new life beside the body of Hylas, hanging lifelessly from the black-furred mule. “It’s unfortunate,” he said after a moment, “the sword still took a life, even though we healed the one dying from it.”

Athena and Ace glanced at each other.

Raeya’s long ears flicked back on her head.

“Life is full of giving and taking,” the Kalgaran looked out across the landscape before breathing out a short sigh. “I am ready to be back on the ground, now.”

Mioko smiled as Ace shook his head with a smirk.

“Then, let’s go.”

 

----

What, something from book 1?? Funnily enough, it's right at the big climax before the ending! I'm getting closer to the beginning I suppose 😅 I debated splitting it into 2 parts at the "chapter?" break but meh.

Lots of sub-plots wrapped up leading up to this moment: like discovering how Mioko's 'healing power' really works (not in great detail yet, just that he takes on whatever he takes away) and realizing Dorian is half-blind (and not just sporting an emo haircut for no reason). There was also a lot of tension between Dorian/Kalgaran and Raeya and Hylas/Amorfian since their races aren't fans of each other, but at least Raeya and Dorian begin to smooth things enough for them to be kind, though it still catches Raeya off guard.

A few 'changes' from the older drafts are Dorian wearing a small bandage over his left 'eye'. I figured considering the cirumstances of his injury, he would have lost his eye completely, and he's not going to leave that uncovered beneath his hair. Also, as Ace's curse progresses into the final stages, his skin gets splotchy so there's more of a visual of his oncoming doom (that sounds terrible).

Lastly, I grappled with what to do about the Amorfians as they shift when they're wearing clothes... do they shift with them? Do they lose them? I feel like shifting with them is lazy... lol... so I was trying out Raeya just keeping fur "on" until she can be clothed again. Especially in non-Amorfian society, they realize the importance of modesty around other humans.

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December 09, 2024
That Thing w/Perenelle
chapter 1
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November 22, 2024
Guilty
A Tale of Ace Gallagher Short from Book #2

“Michael Alan Harley,” the judge announced sternly, “by the evidence presented in this courtroom, you are hereby found guilty of the murder of Sir Hylas Greene. In Northaven, under the reign of Daethos, anyone found guilty of murder shall be sentenced to death.”

Ace’s body fell limp within his chains as all breath left his lungs. It felt as if his life had already been taken as he struggled to hold himself on his feet.

Behind him, at the edge of her seat, Athena gnashed her teeth and turned her face away in anguish. Beside her, Dorian had grown tense. The scattered crowd began to utter various quips in agreement, and many were already turning to leave now that the verdict was announced. There was no need to watch the murderer get dragged off.

“You will be executed by way of poison, as is customary in Northaven.”

Ace lurched forward as his arms were roughly grabbed by the patrolman stationed on either side of him. His green eyes shot toward the emotionless judge, as if hoping to find one last ounce of compassion for one destined to die.

“Move, Gallagher!” Yelled the patrolman on his right. There would be no such comfort offered.

The patrolman on his left–the one with the goatee–said nothing.

Ace exhaled through clenched teeth as he was wrenched from the center of the room. His mind fought desperately against processing what was happening, but reality set in with each trembling footstep toward the door.

The judge lifted his gavel. “This court is–”

“Wait!”

The room fell silent, and the patrolmen stopped moving.

Ace opened his eyes and turned to the crowd.

Dorian was standing, pressed against the wooden bannister that separated the judge and the accused from the rest of the courtroom. Determination narrowed his visible eye.

“Um, yes?” The judge adjusted his glasses to better focus on the Kalgaran.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t have someone else die on my behalf.” Dorian glanced at Ace.

Still seated behind him, Athena’s eyes grew wide, mirroring Ace’s dumbfounded expression.

“Your... behalf?” The judge was clearly taken off guard.

“Your Honor, Michael was not the murderer,” the Kalgaran spoke calmly, “I had hoped the lack of any real evidence would have proven him innocent, but it clearly has not,” he admitted as he bowed his head. “I was the one who killed Hylas.”

Gasps swept through the few that remained in the room, and many on their way out stopped to witness the new turn of events.

“Yes, the Aureus Sword had been bequest to Michael, and yes, it was in his possession prior to this event, but he was not the one who used it to deliver the final blow–as he, himself, has attempted to explain multiple times.”

“Sir,” the judge’s expression skewed, “do you mean to tell this courtroom that... you are the one who should be sentenced?”

“Yes.”

“Dorian!” Ace blurted, tugging against the goateed patrolman.

The Kalgaran, however, waved a hand at him. “It’s all right, Michael. I know you and Athena were trying to protect me.”

His face contorted in horror as Dorian turned back to the judge.

“So, all this talk of… cursed swords and dragons was… a fabrication?”

“It’s hard to admit guilt if you’re lying to do so,” Dorian said, "but the accused is a skilled gambler; he knows how to bluff.”

The patrolmen glanced between Michael, still hanging in their arms, to the judge, still fingering his glasses with a befuddled scowl on his lips.

“Your honor?” One spoke after a moment.

“Ms. Evans,” the judge looked to Athena, “as the only witness present, can you confirm what this man has spoken?”

Athena did not immediately respond. Her elbows remained tight against her sides while both hands were clamped across her mouth. Her eyes were focused upon Dorian in apprehension.

“Ms. Evans?”

She winced and stood, dropping her hands to her waist. She gave Dorian a cautionary glance.

His blue eye locked onto one of hers. It was both disarming and encouraging.

She dropped her chin and admitted gently, “Yes.”

“No!” Ace blurted.

“Well,” the judge sat back in his chair, eyeing the confused group of citizens still lingering in various places in the room, “I suppose not just anyone would admit to a deed that deserves the penalty of death.” He gave his glasses an adjustment. “I hereby absolve the count of murder against Michael Alan Gallagher, though the various counts of thievery remain. For these, Mr. Gallagher is ordered to repay all damages in full or to serve time in the patrol office if he is unable.”

The crowd began muttering amongst themselves as Athena slumped back into her chair and Ace straightened up on his feet.

“What’s your full name, sir?” The judge motioned to the Kalgaran.

“Dorian Andrew Swift, Your Honor.”

“Dorian Andrew Swift, by the evidence presented in this courtroom, you are hereby found guilty of the murder of Hylas Greene. In Northaven, under the reign of Daethos, anyone found guilty of murder shall be sentenced to death.”

Ace felt his legs give out again, but for a completely different reason.

“You will be executed by way of poison, as is customary in Northaven,” the judge continued the announcement. “Do you have any family we need to contact?”

Dorian’s hand fell away from his mouth. “No, your honor.”

He nodded, then gestured to one of two patrolmen.

Ace had one arm released and promptly slumped in its direction. He watched, unable to find words or movement, as one patroman exited the room and reentered through the door on the public side of the bannister. The goateed patrolman remained at Ace’s side, frowning.

“Mr. Gallagher, a patrolman will be assigned to work with you on repaying your debts. Sir Edwards, you may loose him from his bonds. This court is adjourned.” The judge gave a quick pop of his gavel on the wooden stand, stood from his chair, and exited the room through his own private doorway. 

The thief turned as the patrolman took Dorian by the arm and began to lead him to the door. At last, he found his strength. He tore out of the patrolman’s grasp and dove across the bannister at Dorian, catching him by his only free arm.

“Hey!” The patrolman holding Dorian barked at him.

“Dorian–what are you doing??”

“Trust me.” Dorian offered a weak smile.

Tears were welling in the corners of Ace’s eyes. “What?” The word was scarcely more than a breath.

“Trust me–and don’t worry.” He met Ace with the same steady gaze as he had given Athena.

The patrolman pulled Dorian away while Sir Edwards managed to pluck Ace from the bannister and set him back on his feet on the other side.

“Go take care of that one,” the first ordered the second. “This guy won’t put up a fight. I’ll meet you when we’re done.”

“Sure.”

Ace watched, trembling, as Dorian was led out of the door and down the hallway. He listened to his feet blend into the creaking of a door, and then silence. He gnashed his teeth and dropped to the floor.

“Hey,” Sir Edwards struggled to maintain his grasp on the limp young man. “What are you upset about? You’re free.”

“At what cost?” Ace squinted up at the knight through tear-stained eyes.

The patrolman’s eyes were not visible, but his lips remained parted as he released Ace’s arm and stepped backward.

By this time, Athena had darted through the open doors on either side of the bannister and fell into Ace’s lap on the floor. Wrapping her arms around him, she began sobbing into his shoulder.

The patrolman looked to the gallery. No one was left.

“So… um,” he glanced at the two on the floor. “You probably should go talk to the office to get your repayments set up. But, if you… need a moment…”

He received no response.

Awkwardly, he crossed his arms across his black chestplate and took a few steps away. 

Executions were always done in one of the back rooms of the courthouse immediately following the pronouncement of judgment. Poison was a swift and effective form of justice; hence why it had largely replaced other means of execution in Daethen territory. He, himself, had overseen a handful of executions since becoming a knight and joining the ranks of the patrol. 

But something about this one didn’t seem right. Was the man on the floor the murderer, or was the man being executed truly guilty? No matter which, the question remained–how could one of them want to give their life for the other? It was no wonder the two left behind were so distraught; the strength of their friendship was unlike anything else he had witnessed.

Minutes later, the first patrolman returned to the doorway. “It’s done.” He said simply before his lips skewed. “Why are they still in here? Send the thief to the office and go clean up the back.”

With that, the three were again left alone.

Sir Edwards bit his lip. “If you want,” he offered gently, “you can go see your friend.”

Ace and Athena looked up, their faces flushed with sorrow.

“Please,” Athena spoke for them both.

The patrolman nodded and gestured to the door.

 

---

After their ordeal in the mountain, Ace and Dorian basically walk back into town to face an arrest warrant for Mr. Gallagher on the grounds of murder. I haven't fully deciphered all the pieces since this was kinda unclear in the original draft, but the basics are Tier bequests his fairly renowned Aureus Sword to Ace once he's old enough, so when they reunite with Bengal in the story before, he is given his father's sword. It is knocked from his hands in the battle against Hylas (who just wanted the Sword of Ignarathos this whole time) and then Patrolman find it near where Hylas is buried. Putting these meager "clues" together, they decide Ace killed him. Unfortunately for Ace, Hylas dies as a result from the curse, which Ace attempts to break, so he does have this guilt that he may have actually contributed to his death.

Ace and Dorian just had their super bonding experience, but Dorian isn't able to divulge his plan, leaving Ace bitter with Dorian's apparent indifference -- and then getting blindsided with Dorian taking the blame and letting him go free with nothing but a "trust me"...

This is also when Ed enters the picture, and I realized he's been questioning what side he should be on since the beginning 😅

I debating continuing this short past where I had left it originally to include them visiting Dorian's 'body' but I may just make that its own short. Or maybe I can just start writing the whole thing. What a concept!

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