Nothing Left

parrotsnpineapple's picture






Part I | Part II | Part III






Not even a bird flew in the unsettling calm that particular afternoon.
It was a time of day when most were quiet-when the sun realised it was nearing its end, letting the forest bask in its warm sorrow. Not a fawn even dared play amongst the dappled light of the afternoon that eve and the only beings that dared move were the dusky grey snowflakes that fell like ash underneath the canopy. The silent beings spoke of a war that had raged eons before this particular moment in time, and perhaps, for a being old enough, one could read into the frosted chapters and recite the tales of old. Not a bird flew through the forest that particular day, except for a solitary, old raven. To some, she was the only known raven in the forest whose feathers were not black. She was a raven who had cheated death three times and had slipped through worlds seamlessly to find and fight for others. To the few closer to her, they knew of her as a stoneheart; who had cast her heart out to many, but none would ever keep it. Much like her raven-kind, she constantly found herself alone whilst others moved on. In her eyes, the world turned around her whilst she remained still, like a wayward stone in a realm far from this place. However, no amount of legends or tales that surrounded the Raven could shroud or turn from the honest truth of this particular being;

she was utterly alone.

Ravenflight walked with a solemn grace, her head hung low to the ground, her hooves gently scraping through the crisp winters grass. The does feathers drooped low to her neck and not even a fragment of light dared dance across the sheeny surface of her plumage; she didn’t even cast a shadow. Her eyes were stern, cold and lost in a distant place wrought with sleeplessness - lacking the once keen and bright gaze they once held. The doe had become a shadow of her former self; her very existence became meaningless. Finally the doe came to a halt on a lone hillock, air escaping her empty old body as she let out a calm sigh. Slowly, Ravenflight lowered her body closer to the ground and sat amongst the grassy needles. The cold was quick to seep into her now aching joints and tired body. The doe’s heart beat slowly and her breaths slowed; concentrating on the cold sensations that filled her empty shell. Had it been any other deer, they may have moved to a warmer location or made sure to seek the company of others and cling desperately to the warmth. But this was not the case. Ravenflight remained still, letting the snowflakes gently coat her pelt and feathers, the cold chill slowly overcoming her and she would have moved if she had any will or energy left in her. But she remained still, as if she were a monument of a past life; commemorating some grand story that had occurred before her. Did anyone even remember her?

This was not what it was meant to be like. This was all the doe had wanted, all she had ever wanted. Ravenflight had been tricked, cheated or blinded. Perhaps it was all three. The stone-doe let her sullen eyes wander through the trees and forest before her; marks of milky white and depthless browns and blacks. She knew she was alone, but it was always good to check. No one. Good. After months of silence, the doe finally parted her dry lips, throat slowly coming to life.

“I’ve been cheated.”



“This is not freedom.”


The does head became heavy and she slowly let it drop to the ground effortlessly. There was no warmth left in her.

"I've spent my whole life running. And fighting. Sacrificing.
And now it's all gone.

They all come and go and I remain. I have no one.

I forgot to raise a family. Is that why all the ones I loved left?"


Ravenflight let her eyes close as she rested atop dandelion hill, her ears listening desperately to the silent void underneath her and the snow became her only lover to comfort her.






"What do I fight for when all the fighting is done? Who do I love when all the lovers have gone.


I have nothing left anymore."









parrotsnpineapple's picture

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thelittleraven's picture

Beautiful writing. Your

Beautiful writing. Your wording is absolutely amazing, I felt like I was with her the whole time. And this feels... final.

Wish there was more I could say.
Iaurdagnire's picture

^ Totally agree, it does feel

^ Totally agree, it does feel "final". But I desperately want it not to be, you feels-tugger you.
Reading this feels effortless; everything just flows and makes sense like all the other things you've written to do with Ravenflight... So I'm left wondering how she was let to get to this state actually. It never really occurred to me how similar Dag and Ravey are until recently, and I can't help but think if I were a little more proactive about commenting on your stuff and wanting to interact with Ravey back in the day... if both of them would have turned out differently? If that makes any sense at all haha. Just seems like a weird parallel that went unnoticed. Or was naturally left alone to work out its own way. Bah I don't know what I'm talking about.

THIS IS SAD OKAY.
parrotsnpineapple's picture

thelittleraven: Thankyouu so

thelittleraven: Thankyouu so much. I struggled with writing it for awhile, I wanted it to be perfect. Such the perfectionist hahahaha. Ahhh this wont be the last of Ravey, would never let her go. But I guess she is at her lowest. So that sort of final in a sense. Thankyou for taking the time to read it though, it always means so much to me when people take the time to do so x

Dag: HELLO NOVEL WRITER.
Ahahaha It'd be such a scumbag move if It was final. AFTER ALL THAT.
I often wonder that too. I wonder if I'm partly to blame for not being active. But then again most things with Ravey are pretty organic, especially with me. You must get that with Dag too. Some things just feel right with her and I'm glad I have that clarity.

Iv'e had that similar realisation, wonder what it would have been like if they had interacted more. But they have always had that silent respect which is lovely. The whole thing is lovely to watch, all the paralells.

Anyways. I DIGRESS. Thankyou for le comment you <3
Apoidea's picture

Following her for the years

Following her for the years that I have makes this all seem even more heartbreaking.

I can't wait for Ravenflight's story to collide with Iaurdagnire's.

Your writing is beautiful, Kate. It wrenches on all of the right feelings. Your word choice is impeccable.


I am really hungry for more.
Apeldille's picture

Urrr all the feels for Ravey

Urrr all the feels for Ravey ;_;

This is amazing to read, it just flows like Dag said. What music is it? It fits super well, love the thunder in it.
Imagine what a depressive discussion she and eph could have.

parrotsnpineapple's picture

Apo: Awww gooodness ;; Shes

Apo: Awww gooodness ;; Shes such an emotionally invested character for me too, so you aren't alone at all. Thank you, it means a lot <3 I'm always so reluctant to post writing things, I always worry its not that good.

Apel: The music is Mr Clem Leek snow tale #3 <3
Thankyouuu, means a lot.
I think if Eph and Ravey ever had a conversation together, they might both kill themselves. SO MUCH DEPRESSION.
---

idk I need to do more with this blog. Letsee how we go. UPDATED.
Iaurdagnire's picture

Hello update... ee I'm

Hello update... ee I'm excited to see Ravey have a severe case of the badass again...
Apoidea's picture

^^ That is what I'm

^^ That is what I'm thinking!

Yes. Ready for this girl to do what she does.
Reyy's picture

I find myself wanting to

I find myself wanting to reach out to her.

This gives me an intense feeling of nothingness.
A mix of emptiness, of desperation, and a strange acceptance, perhaps the kind someone has before death finally cradles them in his arms.
Finality is the perfect word.

It feels familiar, something I also see in Swan:
They all come and go and I remain

(By the way, you typed call instead of all)