Prompt: Flirty

She’d been searching around the city a while before her tufted ears picked up the trilling song.

The sound led her to the fellow singing. And not just singing. He was doing an elaborate dance to show off his glorious, long black tail. “Time to head out, On’ Lasu.”

<”Ah, dear Phae, I am- how you say- occupied.”> the widowbird flapped his wings in a manner to display the orange and white patterns on his shoulders. <”The lady- she is coy.”>

Phaedra pressed a fang against her lip to hold back a chuckle. 

“That's- not a female.
It's a hat.”

Prompt: Coin

 ((This one is over 100 words. Not the first time, probably not the last))

The bell over the shop door jingled as the Lionguard stepped inside and did a quick glance around the store, the clicks and ticks of mechanical clockworks a constant symphony from the toys, clocks, and devices that lined the shelves. The curtain to the workroom was pushed aside and the owner was deftly working away. 

Some approaching steps and the tap of metal from a gauntlet on the hilt of the guard’s sword before an address to the shopkeeper. “We got a report filed about a missing cash register from a baffled bookseller. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?”

“Nope.” the norn tinker still didn't look up from her project.

“Well, the cash contents had been removed and bagged on the counter. Left with a note saying the register was taking a holiday and would return rejuvenated.” The Lionguard eyed the disassembled register that the norn was diligently repairing and, no doubt, making her own brand of  improvements to. “Registers have legs now, huh?”

That did get a smirk and the norn looked up finally from her work. “Now there's a wild thought.” The craftsman reached into her toolbelt and tossed something to the guard. A glint of gold in the light before the coin was caught and pocketed.

Some footfalls before the bell jingled again. "That wasn't a suggestion," the parting words before the Lionguard stepped outside. 

A loud raspberry came from the very adult mechanist as the door shut.

Prompt: What Comes Next?

 Gaia was finishing her first deckhand duty on the Leopard’s Paw. It helped when your magic could cut down the time it took to swab a deck.

She realized she was being scrutinized by a norn with fiery hair and a grin that was- a little unsettling, though she couldn't pin down exactly why. Lurking slyness, perhaps? 

“You're an ele, eh?” 

Gaia blinked and answered dutifully. “Yes, ma’am.”

The norn strode up, clapped a heavy hand on Gaia's shoulder, and steered her toward the mast. “Excellent. I need a new Windcaller apprentice!”

“W-what-”

Her question was interrupted by the norn shouting to the first mate. “Hey, Zanna! Your new deckhand is mine now!”

Zanna raised a brow at the norn though opined no objection, unless one counted the squawk from one of the pair of seagulls perched on her shoulders. 

What have I gotten myself into?

Gaia looked between the two. 

I'm not sure this is going to be what I signed up for…

((Edits/Permission from Ambro of the Vanguard Guild for the cameos of her characters/NPCs.)) ((I cannot add any more tags to my character introduction post, so do note that my *Introduction* post has a brief intro of Lasaíriona, as well as a little screenshot of her face.))

Prompt: Tea Time

((Over 100 words again! Oops))

 “Break time!” 

Phaedra found herself almost dropping the cup of chai tea that was thrust into her paw, but managed to juggle it as she leaned the pitchfork she’d been working with against the wall. She turned to see her friend, Dante, strolling into the stables with his usual sociable presence filling the space.

He sat himself in a pile of hay. “So what are the critters talking about today?” He grinned at Phaedra and gestured around him with his own teacup. 

“Well..” Phaedra drew the word out before pausing to sip the tea and look around the animals in the stables. “It's springtime, so- care to guess?”

It was a brief moment before Dante burst into laughter. “Why Clicks! Are you getting several earfuls of horniness‽”

Phaedra choked on her swallow of tea, sputtering with a cough through chittering giggles. She gave Dante a chastising look, but the reprimand was lessened by her own tells of amusement. Dante observed that *and* her lack of contradiction to be taken as encouragement for his guess.

“Ahh! Well, now you MUST tell me all the dish, girl!” Dante urged with gossipy glee, grinning with winsome slyness over his teacup.

Prompt: Grace

"What's the prognosis, Clicks?" The black-haired man watched the tufted-eared charr apply her healing-infused unguent to the fledgling's damaged wing. 

"It will be a while before he can fly," the ranger replied calmly as the young widowbird stayed still and trusting under her paws. "Given some time and practice, I think he shall be able to soar quite gracefully."

"Would he, a… like to be friends with the fella who rescued him?"

"Hmmm," the charr chuckled "so long as you don't eat his food, Lunchbox."

"Dang it, are they really calling me that‽"

"Maybe stop raiding the canteen?"

"Worth it."

Prompt: Footsteps

He saw the flick of ears when his footsteps alerted her to his approach.

Dryden leaned against the railing beside her, looking over her features with a growing grin. "The cubs doing something funny?"

His mate shook her head slightly. "They are following their drills under their Primus in good order."

"And… what has you so pleased?"

"Just recalling their actions with the scavenger hunt I left them last night."

"You are encouraging our cubs' fahrar to sneak out of the barracks at night?""

"They enjoyed it," Callista's whiskers perked, "they think the Mad King left them the candy hunt."

Prompt: Motherly

<"Did you have something to eat?">

"Yes, Mamasita." The young charr on the cusp of thirteen glanced at her and then returned to prepping her gear for her fahrar drills.

<"Was it a filling meal?">

…

<"Phaedra, will you have strength to hunt the next grasshopper, if you don't eat up the first one?">

Phaedra's whiskers perked with a chirping giggle. "I don't eat grasshoppers."

<"I just worry for you, mourning heart.">

Phaedra blinked back damp eyes, giving the motherly critter a weak smile. "Yes, I know."

<"Maybe bring some things you might like nibbling and I keep you company?">

Prompt: End of My Journey

((Continuation from Prompt: The More They Stay The Same))

The pounding pressure against her mind was completely gone.

She felt wildly giddy, but at the same time, ready to run to the edge of the island and heave her stomach over the side.

It was over.

And Mother Tree! She could go to her homeland. To her home in the Reach. To her family on the Jester airship.

But before she went home, she would return to the golden Exalted city. They could help teach her to heal others and be strong.

Mordremoth was dead. He would never be able to use her again.
No one else would, either.

Prompt: The More They Stay The Same

((Continuation from Prompt: The More Things Change...))

Caedyn felt a supporting hand on her shoulder as she swayed, taking off her helmet. She was about to sally a joke with the charr at her side when her attention was caught by the green and purple sylvari doubled over in sobs. “Bear's balls, Zaree hurt?”

Even as the words left her mouth, Zaree and one of her brethren embraced with a laugh.

“Quite the opposite,” Callista assured her. “Mordremoth was telling her people they would die when he did.”

“Shit storms. I missed that intel. Shoulda kicked him in the nuts while I had the chance.”

Prompt: The More Things Change...

((Continuation from Prompt: Salt))

She looked around. A sense of relief washed through her siblings within the range of her empathy. Many tinged with shock to be alive.

“It's over, sister.” Her brother smiled, though she could feel a similar tempest swirling through him.

She clasped his hands, wanting to agree but unable to form the words. She pulled him into a hug. Relieved to feel her family, able to touch them, able to carry on despite their makers threats.

She felt a similar joy in her brother as they embraced, blooming against each other until they couldn't help but release it in laughter.