Complete Challenge Once Upon a Whistle

[Chanlye]

"I wouldn't have expected you to place dignity over playing friends with some Sunshines."

Vengeful hissed in a snappy retort to @Ueno Mizuki, but Thunder was quick to reprimend.

"Show more respect. She is the one who killed the Alpha."

Vengeful ruffed, looking away from Thunder in defiance, and Wrath shook her head, looking at Mizuki.

"I would never go as low as that." She sighed. "... But the lady there isn't wrong. What makes you, or that guy over there-" She gestured with her chin to Azure, from afar. "- To join these Sun Claws? You are clearly not made for... This." She scowled at the joyful gather up.

 

[Luthien]

Explorers League      ∙ ∙

"L-LUTHIEN! NO!"

His pleas reached her ears, earning a half-smile from the girl before she shook her head softly. There was much about her fellow red whistle that the ranger didn’t know, one of those being how close he might’ve been to being UI locked into this game… but she knew her own score and, if her life was all it took for a happy ending to take place, then it was a small price that Lúthien was more than willing to pay.

"Uene, please…" She could feel her life energy draining away with each passing second, her knees buckling as the earth trembled in response to her defiant act. She could hear Diego calling out her name as Lune rallied the others towards the last stand, before the distraught cries of the small basilisk that clung to Yugam‘s leg pulled her gaze towards the pair. Te lo ruego… keep them safe.

A final silent prayer accompanied the apologetic smile she gave to her beloved before the last of her borrowed strength dissipated and the darkness took over…

​

Confusion reigned on her face when the elf had opened her eyes again, her revived body having materialized deep within the lair of the Moon Keeper instead of the Sunclaw village Lúthien had expected, before a cry of surprise escaped as Diego threw himself at her for a tight hug. "Aww, did ya miss me~?" Her words were spoken amidst a couple of chuckles in an attempt to lighten the situation, before her attention turned towards the small basilisk that cried and clamored for Lúthien’s attention.

"There there Tirsk, momma’s back." She cooed towards the small hatchling as her hands scooped them up once more, their croons loud as their tiny claws clutched onto the leather of her vest before hauling them up to the girl’s shoulder. Their head pressed hard against her cheek and underneath her skin, and for a long while after the basilisk remained as a scaly scarf tightly wrapped around Lúthien’s neck.

Crimson eyes quietly shifted towards @Yugam, knowing that the hunter undoubtedly had a few words waiting after her reckless actions, though they would have to wait as the young Sunclaw explained to the Moon Keeper who they were and why they were all here.

​

Her eyes quietly roved all those present in the gathering, a faint smile on her lips as the elf took in the various interactions of Sunclaws, the harpies, and even the captured Moonfangs not too far off. Little by little the world around them continued to change as the Starcalled interacted with it, hopefully for the better. A plate rested beside her, the last pieces of meat in it at the mercy of a hungry basilisk who was quickly gobbling them down, while her eyes rested on the glowing stone in her palm.

Quietly she turned it over, her mind riddled with plenty of thoughts and questions, before she finally pocketed it away for the time being. She would make her violet whistle out of a normal moonstone, and save this one for something more appropriate… once she could figure out what that something was. Picking up her now empty plate the elf found the proper place to discard it with others, before she spotted the pair of caenis excitedly speaking to one another.

"What are you roping our sweet Luna into, @Diego?" She gave the blond a questioning glance, though the teasing smirk that adorned her lips showed the ranger was just messing with him as she joined the pair. "Be careful with this one Luna, he’s a trouble magnet~"

 

[Chanlye]

"I am roping our sweet Luna into adventure, of course!"

Diego beamed, and Luna flushed while turning to both him and @Luthien.

"S-Sweet is a bit too much..."

She fidgeted, but Diego shook his head.

"It is exactly what it is, but... Wait, you should be vouching for my cool expeditions, Luthien!"

He protested, and Luna peeked, shaking her head and offering a timid smile.

"Even if he is a trouble magnet... It is fun. Much more fun than just staying in the village..."

Luna's tail wagged, and Diego puffed his chest proudly at Luthien.

"See? She gets it! W-Wait, I'm not a trouble magnet!"

He protested once again, and she smiled faintly.

"Don't worry. This is... a good part of you."

 

[Lune]

A small figure wearing a robe exited a building. The red hair gave it away that it was Lune, but if someone were to look only at her size, one would have thought that she was a local kid. Judging by her not-so-awake face, the woman most likely just woke up from a short rest to join the celebration.

After treating herself with some light snacks and drinks, she looked around to mingle. Spotting Ataru rolling on the ground and joking around with the keeper, she decided to greet them. "You really call everyone sweetie, huh." Lune chuckled, before turning to the Moon Keeper, bowing at him just slightly. "Keeper."

"I still don't understand," Holding the blessed moonstone in her palm, she asked the keeper. "The moonstones. That moonlight. The power that surged through us at that moment." She has her theories, but she would wait for the keeper's answer.

---

After a while, she looked around to search for Diego and Luna, finding them conversing with Luthien. Lune appeared behind them, jokingly knocking the small adventurer behind his head while chuckling. "No, you are a trouble magnet."

She then turned and smiled at the girl. "And you. You're reliable, Luna." Patting the girl's head wouldn't have looked this weird if only they were currently not the same height.

---

Lastly, she faced the elf ranger who fell at the very last moment of the battle. Tugging her hand to get her attention, she spoke. "Look. I know you'll probably want to ask about things. A lot of things."

Lune took a deep breath. "And I know Freya always told me that I don't owe anyone any explanation, but..." She looked away for a second, then faced up, looking at Luthien in the eyes. "If you want to talk, I'll be here. Just saying."


@Chanlye @Luthien

 

[Chanlye]

VALLEY OF THE SUN - TRANQUIL FALLS VILLAGE
Late Afternoon
Weather: Windy

Continuing from Comms​

Smiling shyly to @Luthien, Luna nodded as she held the moon stone necklace that rested on her chest.

"I will keep training... And doing my best... I will show you how strong I will become."

Meanwhile, Diego's eyes opened widely at the 'threat'.

"Hey now, I will receive that while Luna gets all the compliments?"

He chuckled, but upon the elf's words reaching his mind, he looked at her and winked.

---

Thunder shrugged, letting his shoulders slump right after.

"I guess. The bastard is sure having more luck than us. Or well, he is being stronger than us right now. So he is getting everything he wants."

Wrath, looked at @Ueno Mizuki as she offered the company, and despite everything, she half nodded.

"A much better one than the others who decided to get us tied... Huff."

As for Vengeance, that was barely recovering from the first throw, she gritted her teeth when Mizuki approached, and the healing applied to her only made her grit her teeth even more, either out of anger or shame.

"..."

She looked away, not responding at the moment. It would take a moment for her to let that sink in.

---

The celebrations went on through all morning and afternoon. And as time passed, each one of the guests parted ways.

The harpies were the first ones to take their leave, with a grateful hint in their voices, along with a promise they would continue to have a peaceful relation with the Tranquil Falls Village.

The Moon Keeper was the second one to leave, but not before sharing words of wisdom to the Sun Claw villagers, and even the Moon Fangs, if they were willing to listen...

And the last one was Diego, unless anyone of the group had decided to stay like him. He stayed in the Sun Claw village for the following weeks, dragging Luna to expeditions he had made up himself, and even crafting a Gold Whistle to her, eventually getting a moon stone... This time, a normal one, so he could finally craft his Violet Whistle.

And so... The peace of Tranquil Village was restored... At least for now.

The End​