Snickering-kitsune - What A Tasty Morsel You'll Make!

The greatest shame about this scene is how Lunarre didn’t LAUGH HIS FOXY ASS OFF WATCHING THIS STUPID CHILD LEAP 500 FEET IN THE AIR AND CRASH FACE FIRST INTO A ROOFTOP IN FRONT OF HIM.

Alright, close enough Sorey

(Someone help that boy)

The Beast

[Cont. from here]

@destinedpartner

The prince heard his servants coming long before they entered his chamber. His pointed vulpine ears twitched. By the excited scrabbling of their feet on the flagstones, exciting news would soon be relayed to him. Whether it was good or bad was another matter, but nonetheless the prince bared his fangs in anticipation.

They all burst in together, each shouting over one another as they fought to get their master’s attention. So excited were they that they failed to notice the prince’s patience fraying until he exploded.

“SHUT UP!”

At their master’s anger every mouth clamped shut and the monstrosities that were his servants froze in place.

Prince Lunarre sighed, and the threatening aura of flame that had erupted from his person simmered down.

“Eguille. Tell me what happened.” 

The dog-like creature standing on its hind legs puffed out his chest as he relayed the news.

“We have captured a maiden for your Highness.”

The prince grinned. It was difficult not to get his hopes up, as each passing day brought more darkness and pain. The nights were no better; plagued by terrors that made him fear every shadow and distrust every kind voice telling him he was safe.

Unable to wait any longer, Lunarre led the way down to the castle dungeons, only half attending to the chatter of his servants as they descended. 

Eguille showed him to the cell, and the prince peered through the bars at the figure within. His heart pounded. 

Please. Please let this be the one.

“You,” he growled. “Come here. Let me see you.”

The Outstretched Hand

@shepherdiing

Once again, the stone thrown across the surface of the lake dropped into its depths with a loud, graceless ker-plonk. 

Lunarre had lost track of how many attempts it had been now. The repetitive nature of the activity had captured his attention, and it kept at bay the creeping painful things that lurked in his brain. 

When the hellion had first spotted the kid by the lake, one of many in the aptly named Lakehaven Heights, he had been confused. It was strange to see Sorey alone, for one, but seeing him engaged in such a solitary and silent activity intrigued Lunarre. 

At first he thought the kid was just venting frustrations by throwing stones into the water, but after a while it became clear from the changes in stance and the careful manner in which Sorey chose each stone, that he was trying to skip them. Perhaps he had a lot on his mind.

You and me both, kid.

Faced with failure for the upteenth time, Sorey only sighed and began looking around for another stone. It was at this moment that Lunarre was roused from his lethargy. Rather than make a snide internal remark, Lunarre became aware of the sudden swell of an emotion as Sorey prepared to throw again.

It was subtle, but recognisable as the same feeling he experienced as he watched Sorey armatise for the first time. 

I want him to get it, Lunarre realised. 

He had watched over Sorey and his group from the shadows ever since that fateful moment in the Great Sanctuary. Each day that passed Lunarre came closer to understanding why, yet his uncertainty over what to do grew alongside it.

While his guard was down, Lunarre realised he had his legs dangled over the tree branch he was perched on, as if to get down. He stopped himself just in time.

What the hell am I doing?!

Suddenly, a memory surfaced. 

It was afternoon, and the waters surrounding the Aquapolis were calm and clear. Lunarre and his father sat by the waterside and skipped stones. Lunarre bet he could get his stone to bounce six times and beat Pa’s record of five bounces. Pa bet he couldn’t.

Pa won.

A wave of pain coursed through his body and Lunarre grabbed his head, hissing through gritted teeth. He heard the sound of crunching feet on stones, and opened his eyes to see Sorey looking at him.

Shit. 

Lunarre turned and fled into the woods, using the branches of the trees as stepping stones. He fought against the burning sensation in his chest and the throbbing in his head. His eyes stung.

Damnit, damnit!

A little something for @alley-cat-sunflower - a quick sketch of Dezel punching Lunarre, out of chapter 26 of her amazing Tales of Zestiria (AUish) fan fic, “Ring of Fate.”  Lunarre’s already done a real number on Dezel at this point, hence why he’s missing his hat and jacket, and why his shirt is torn up.

If you love ToZ and are interested in DezeRose as a ship, I definitely recommend RoF!  Launching from the game’s bad ending, it has some really great slow burn development with its main ship and rewrites canon events in an interesting way while still adhering to established world mechanics.