I'm Likely To Redraft The First Chapter; However, I'm Just As Likely To Erase It Completely. I Don't

I'm likely to redraft the first chapter; however, I'm just as likely to erase it completely. I don't actually have any idea whether it's worthwhile.

A first chapter should introduce the protagonist and set the stage for the rest of the story. But the reality is that, the first chapter takes places a couple hours before the inciting incident, with chapter 2 skipping to right after.

Elijah is (initially unknowingly) saved by his mother, hence the chapter title "Goodnight Elijah."

The story involves uncovering what happened. The inciting incident is that Elijah's people (the Wilsics) have been exterminated.

We don't introduce Hayden (second trio member) until chapter 2: "that's a friend," and Xander is teased in chapter 3: "for girls."

Trio De Hearts: Dust & Ashes

Sample from: Chapter One

Story by @ayaisokay (main blog)

A trio of unlikely friends embark toward neighbouring lands, hoping to find answers about the attacks against a warrior clan native to their land. While united with differences, will they find more similarities than expected?

The following sample is being redrafted, this will soon be outdated

"I'm not gonna lose to you again!" Elijah told his cousin, rushing past Tiago as he tossed a thick ball of snow at his head. Tiago stumbled, but he wasn't beaten just yet. He had longer legs that came down hard with a loud crunch against the snow.

Elijah was much smaller still; but he wasn't above finding ways to compensate for his shortcomings.

"There's more where that came from." He warned the older boy with a ghastly grin, scooping up more snow and balling it up in his stiffening hands. He turned back and found that Tiago was already gaining on him once more.

"Try it again, you little cheat." Tiago warned him, working to close the gap. He'd have probably managed it if he wasn't being pelted the entire time. The first strike scarcely missed his knee, the second strike, to his hip, almost sent him face first into leafless trees, but the third was better. Another headshot. Tiago was left struggling for footing after tripping on a rock he'd missed while temporarily blinded. He went down, lightly enough to roll and resume running fast, though he'd still wasted enough time for Elijah to create a large gap.

Yelling and making all manner of noise, the cousins soon found themselves breaking free of the forest's trees and into a short stretch of open plains.

Almost every blade of grass had been concealed in a thick layer of snow. Luckily, the cut out path remained illustrated by horse-tracks and their prior steps.

The boys had been at the race for 12 minutes already— this was the returning and final lap. They'd undergone this race countless times, but their return was always a test of their stamina— and yet, unyielding against his depleting reserves of energy, Elijah pushed on where he would often falter. Tiago wouldn't give up either. With two winters more growth, his strides made up for lost time— he was rapidly closing the gap between himself and Elijah.

They’d traversed roughly 2.4 kilometres already— there was barely 800 metres left to run.

Committed and at their limits, the rivals quartered the remaining distance in about a minute and a half. But, they’d fallen into silence. Only the sound of faint pants and the soft thud of snow crushed underfoot escaped them. Neither dared to utter a word, as they advanced onward, adorning the path with frantic steps.

Determined as he was, Elijah could only maintain his leading position for about a minute longer.

In the short stretch of plains, Tiago was unstoppable— Elijah had no branches or roots to help slow Tiago to his pace.

He passed Elijah with a grin, making sure to tilt his head back so that his rival could see it.

Unphased, Elijah stared dead ahead. The family estate was in sight, just 200 metres ahead. His objective: the well. It was visible through the open gate. He'd make it there first, he told himself, pushing to keep going, much to his aching legs' displeasure.

He'd noticed something his opponent had not. His legs just had to hold out long enough to take the advantage. "You're forgetting to keep your eyes forward," Elijah thought to himself, with a smirk forming on his face.

In close to 30 seconds, Tiago passed the village's gate first, triumphantly pumping his fist. Anticipating victory as the well sat just 20 metres away, he began to yell and cheer. "You're gonna lose ag—" he started, only to stumble on the latest coat of ice while Elijah slid past him. He'd happily embraced the opening, dropping to his knees and letting physics take control. For the first time, he attained victory against Tiago.

"Again?" He asked, "I wouldn't count on it." The proud boy exclaimed, taking his seat at the well.

"No way you won. You're as slow as a blind scribe writing lore." Lyra claimed, yelling from her house opposite the well. She was a meek girl with the voice of a Lion and the kind of attitude that would get boys into trouble.

"Leave him be," Tiago told the girl between breaths, tossing a snowball as he rose. Prepared, she dodged it quite effortlessly, surprising Elijah who watched as he caught his breath. "I'll be back to winning tomorrow." He claimed, tossing a second snowball bounding toward a red faced Elijah.

The hit almost knocked him into the well, but he couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah, if I freeze to death in there," he proposed to Tiago, who dragged himself over to take a seat at his side.

Can't relate. My blog is dead 🥀

It seems like posts go nowhere（•́⁠ ⁠ ⁠‿⁠ ⁠,⁠•̀）

I'd like interaction ❤️

seeing my followers and notes go up day by day genuinely feels like a drug, for once i feel wanted and not like a dog on the roadside

If you get armour and a spear, kangaroo is honestly not that bad. Pouncing at a spear is generally a bad idea if you're not a bear (that is known to tank bullets) and was at points in history considered an near unkillable man-slayer.

You're allowed armor and a sword or perhaps even a spear. No guns.

🐈🐈🐈

Woof, woof, Bork, awoo.

Woof woof bork arf ruff ruff awoooo! *wag wag*

This was supposed to be posted here.

I choose state control— as a trans girl, you can guess why.

Though, I think there's equally obvious bonus benefits.

SLP—1: Super Powers

The poll is simple, there are super powers, but you may only take one. If you choose a power, please tell us why. If you need help deciding, check below the poll for more information.

Memory Regeneration

You are as immortal as your name. As long as someone recalls your existence— the idea of you, you cannot truly die or cease to be. You can be restored from the image of yourself within the minds of others. A life long friend may be suffice alone, but it may take a hundred strangers. Your legacy is your life.

Psionic Abilities

Your mind is capable of influencing both the world, and even other minds. Telekinesis allows you to exert control over physical things— moving, crushing, feeling, etc. Telepathy allows you to speak into the mind's of other's, transmit memories, thoughts, raw emotions, or even dreams— more impportantly, you can access what's already there, and come to know any person more intimately than they know themselves.

Neo Sense

Our cognition informs our subjective view of reality. You're familiar with the 5 sensory abilities we commonly use, but science has categorised numerous additional senses. Neo Sense allows you to mix and merge the nature of a sensory abilities to create new ways of experiencing reality. For example, integrating smell with sight to visually perceive various scents, or integrating your ability to discern hot form cold to gain inmate thermal vision. One can also use a form of "super sense," to vastly amplify or enhance a singular one of the 5 main senses at the cost of the other 4 (temporarily).

State Control

Some fear that, for as much as they are themselves, their body cannot reflect it. But what if you could change it, all of it? You could make cosmetic changes, like colour, hair length etc, or you could be practical. Additional limbs, sensory organs, etc. Or perhaps you'll change the material composition of your body— enhancing muscle efficiency and bone durability. Sure, it could take getting use to. But you've got time. It's not like ageing is a problem anymore.

Elementalist

You wield a subset of seemingly simple powers: thermal, hydro, atmo, and geo.

Thermal is tied to creating and controling thermal energy. You can draw on fire, or even sparks and excite them into blazes or explosions, boil liquids enough to scar flesh. It's not quite as bland as just shooting beams of fire.

Hydro is about water (and it's relevent states, ice and vapour). Avatar-like waterbending is quite akin to this. But there are nichè uses even Avatar fails to touch on. For example, making a vapour aura that rapidly shifts form to accommodate your needs.

Atmo is about air, or gasses inhabiting a space. Manipulate the vibrations in the air to create and influence sound, compress and rapidly release air to shatter bones, or create and manipulate localised atmospheres or bubbles.

Geo is about the planet itself: employ mud, stone and metal as means to attack and defend— they're yours to control. Alter the elemental makeup of your body, or even manipulate that of objects to create polymers and alloys.

Most importantly. Don't forget you can combine each of these "simple" powers in complex ways... For devastating effect. For example, heat a localised pocket of air and excite the particles to create lightning, encase the pocket with water, fuelled towards a target... You have a thunder gun.

Kleptoknowledge

Simultaneous possession of the aforementioned powers would make someone dangerous. But, what use is power you cannot comprehend and thus apply? What if, you were capable of siphoning the intelligence of those around you— diminishing their minds while your own grows stronger. You could walk through a town center and drain a singular IQ point from each person; you will leave with twice the intellect of the greatest historical geniuses.

Like the photography? ❤️ (P.S. my walk playlist)

I took a walk to enjoy nature and it was honestly nice 😌

With all this despair, my alter human but needed it 🥲

I guess lately, I've just been enjoying the whole nature child vibe 🥀

But in a way I guess it makes sense. As much as I've at times avoided them, I prefer animals to people 🐈

That being said, I didn't get home and expect to find a wasp casually crawling about my neck 💀

Maybe I'm too in touch with nature 😅

Tragic therian matters 😭