BendtedWreath

That makes so much more sense now... I mean, anyone can go see those debates.

CSI: Moments like when the detective compared the prints. CSI's all about trying to figure out what happened referencing the evidence or the crime scene itself. Taking Lives: This is a twisty tale of a murderer who passed himself off as someone else to fool a female detective and was ultimately uncovered by her at the end. You're not missing much, it's just the passing as someone else part that reminded me of it.

"cloud coverlet"- this little detail made me so happy for some reason. They have wings, they have cloud coverlets. I heard an answering call in my mind but again was so distraught that I didn't think about what it meant. - Oh! Someone heard him. I didn't read the summary going into this, I find I rarely read summaries at all. I just dive right in. And I'm very much intrigued. What an interesting peek of the world these characters live in. It sounds like Velaku's father was also a clan leader. A lot's been thrown at this youth. Dad died, wings came early, dad turned out to be murdered, and now he's the heir of a whole clan, it seems.

It was time well spent. The story was heartachingly amazing. While I can't say I've ever hidden anything in a teapot as a kid, I do remember hiding things in shoe boxes beneath my grandmother's porch, things like colorful beetles, twigs and flowers I found.

Out of curiosity, about how long did it take you to write your story? Was it something you already had in mind to write about?

Which ones did you guess right?

This was great fun! The real list makes a lot more sense. 🤣 I enjoyed reading all the entries, though.

Just read the name Kage and I haven't finished reading that series yet, so I will be back after I'm caught up.

Before I get too deep into this story, I have to say that Wythuf and Nelonius are the coolest names ever. Without a steady flow of entertaining content, they spiral into a derivative of depression.- I mean, this is not wrong. "You hear that? You'd think Gnomie would be here instead of me."/She rolled her eyes. "Please. Her ego wouldn't fit in here." - Noooo not the @Mrsgnomie shade! I can't. 🤣

Teen boys will be teen boys, but I'm concerned about Greg and Brendan. I hope Greg finds employment closeby.

This was a fun read for a fun prompt.

"Do you try to put your tongue in his mouth, like daddy tried sometimes?" - Good Lord, grant me patience. I can't bury a fictional character six feet under.

Brendan's well on his way to being a parent. 😂

Brendan knew there was more going on there than met the eye, but didn't push. She'll share what she wants to, and anything too awful, she'll likely be sharing with the cops and/or CPS. - That doesn't sound good at all. Brendan thought to himself, 'Fuck jail, maybe I should just go over there and kill her.' - No. You can't commit murder; you have to help those kids. We'll do it for you. Just give us a few minutes here...

No matter what search he did, Brendan couldn't find anything close to what he could afford. At least in the same general area as he lived. - Time to find bunk beds, or air mattresses. Or even a pull-out couch. Kids can sleep anywhere. Alright, Rich! Our hero! So quick to help his family out. It's a shame their sister isn't the same. I'm glad things are progressing relatively well so far. I'm worried they won't have the house in time, and of anything the kids might have to testify for legally.

Uncle Brendan's got a lot on his hands now.

May you recover well.

Really? That's a shame. I loved it. There wasn't a dull moment, and I look forward to reading some of your other work as soon as I finish off some of the other series I started.

Read on as N'than goes from being a 'lad in distress' to a guy who knows what he wants and fights tooth and nail for it. The story's world is unique and sucks you right in. Highly, highly entertaining.

“He’d not leave his boots behind; that’s a fool’s errand. So where did he go? Did he go, or was he taken?” - Smeeth, the cleverest detective sea-person in all of Deegan’s Port. “Father, I need to be away—”/“What? Again? This is a business, boy. It will not run itself!” The elder Farriver removed his spectacles. “What is it this time? Is it that young’un again?” - Hit the nail right on the head. Several minutes later, N’than was again shackled to the cave wall. He kicked the men who fastened him there. - Well, at least he got a few kicks in this time. “Aye, well, not for much longer now.” The man laughed but stopped when N’than jumped at him, his small foot catching the man’s privates. “OWWWWW! Be damned!” - Yes, go N'than, go! “It gives me no pleasure, N’than. But you must realize I cannot just run you through. That is murder and I simply cannot have that.” - ...and drowning him isn't murder?????? Qa glared down at the General. “You are marked now. You will remember this lucky day each morning when you draw on your boot, and each night when you remove it.” - Traumatizing him is one way to do it, I suppose. Smeeth also watched. “The one in front … he’s small. That is N’than. I’m sure of it.” Smeeth urged his mount onward. “Come on!”/ “No! Smeeth … we cannot tell. Stop!” Obertan watched in surprise for a moment before kicking his mount too. “Damn him. Suddenly he can ride!” - Ha! This is my favorite part of the whole thing. --- Well, that was entertaining. Other than the aquatic Qa, I saw no real comparisons to "The Sparkle thingy" 🤣. N'than was just as unique and completely different. I enjoyed it.

“Did it sail, where is it?”/“It is on its way to the other side of the world, over the Mother then she sails to The Deep.” - Well, shit. “With luck, I will get there before them.” Smeeth whispered to himself, “I will bring N’than home again.” - Best of luck. Together they watched as the angry man hauled the boy up and appeared to be ready to throw him off the boat. - That guy just can't catch a break. If he's not chained to be drowned, he's about to be tossed overboard. “That damned Daryaneeg was to take care of N’than. He cannot be here. Dineeta cannot hear of my past.” - Who would go out of their way to even tell her?

Outside was a large statue of the God of the Earth; the mighty Ohrus.- Earth is Ohrus, ocean is Mother. Got it. Last, from all the clothes, you will need a warm, waterproof jacket. That’s worth spending on lad, because it can save your life, if the worst should happen. - I want me one of those, too. “We will have the roast and two glasses of the best ale, please, Pellier,” Smeeth replied. - This isn't helping my hunger one bit. “Tis because I am not a man. I am a Hydorcivis.” - I wouldn't be announcing that so freely if I were you.

“I must take a wife. You are in my way.” - Now, hold on just a second there! How dare you? “Then you must come with me. This … earther … will never find our home.” - That's good enough for me. Go hide with him, N'than. Go go go. The slim young man pulled off his shirt and then hesitated./“Those also. Remove them.” Qavrind grinned. “I am male, what you have is nothing new to me.” - Your pants or your life? The one who hurt you … if he tried again, I would feed him to the sharks, slowly. - I'm all for that plan, yes. “You rest. I will find us some oysters; we can eat them raw along with some seaweed.” - I didn't expect to feel hungry while reading this. “You’re here. Do you have him?” The soldier sat down on a similar-sized rock. - Wait, they know each other and made an agreement? What's with that soldier finding all these water folk? He doesn't deserve to have come across them. Qa gazed down at his webbed fingers. “There is more … there is the issue of my wife.” - What is with N'than's lousy luck that all the men he's come across are married? “No. If you will not free me, I will just go and try to find my way out. Death would be better than living with all who hate me.” N’than’s words flew from his lips like bats from a cave. - Guy's got a point.

Glad they sorted things out in ways that worked for them.

These characters, love them or hate them, felt real. I have nothing else to say since I can no longer see what I am typing through the tears.