HOME | DD

Description
Just as a disclaimer, this bio is really sad because Thyra died super young and in a crazy gruesome way. But FINALLY, I got around to making this gorgeous girl's ref sheet! The main thing I wanted to focus on was making sure her and Corrosion looked similar enough to be recognized as mother and daughter, but also keeping her design a separate entity. I wound up going with pastels, which I LOVE.

~~~~

Thyra was born in a flowering pink tree around the center of Briarwood where most of the higher-ups lived. Her mother and father loved her from the moment they laid eyes upon her fluffy little form, big blue eyes sparkling like round moons. She had no siblings.

When the lovely female began maturing, she took it upon herself to begin exploring the forest around her home. The central area of Briarwood was phenomenally beautiful, giant cedar trees spiraling into the sky, the canopy high above her head. Thyra possessed the soul of a pioneer, those towering conifers a challenge that she was determined to overcome. She was a climber, gliding between the branches like a flying squirrel hunting for her next meal. It was her favorite pastime. It made her feel free.

One warm spring evening, Thyra had ventured a little further into the woods, hoping to find new trees to climb. The outskirts of Briarwood were more open than what she was used to, the overwhelming deciduous forest waning only to become patches of scarcely-present brushland. There were meadows filled with fragrant flowers and new saplings that smelled of fresh pine. Thyra was in awe. Why hadn't her parents told her about this place?

It was then, while the lovely young female was bent over admiring some red flowers, that she heard a rustle in the grass. She turned around, startled for a moment. That's when she saw him.

He was around her age, very young, big clumsy paws indictive of his expiring puphood. Tiny horns were just beginning to emerge from his head. His eyes were wide and orange like the sun. That was when Thyra noticed that the male across from her was completely black, no colors to be seen.

Her parents had told her about the black Acidwings. The stories they would spout were nothing but drawls of immense displeasure. They were convinced that individuals born without color were destined to be alone and cursed for the rest of their lives. Thyra didn't understand why they felt that way.

The male across the small meadow was staring at her in a curious sort of way, mouth agape. She giggled, covering her muzzle with a paw. She didn't know him, but he was all alone and very clearly wanted to introduce himself. So she waited for him to approach. He did so with a hesitant shuffle, coming close enough to converse.

"Er, uh, h-hello there," he managed with a wave, ears pinned back politely.

Thyra smiled. A new face in a new area! She was excited. "Hi! Sorry, I didn't know there was anyone living here! I was just appreciating the flowers around this place. Such fantastic sights and smells. You're very lucky."

"Oh, y-yes, it's nice here!" the male sputtered. "My mother loves flowers. I'm Asmodeus. What's your name?"

"I'm Thyra," she responded gently, letting him know that she was friendly. "It's lovely to meet you, Asmodeus."

Thyra tried her best not to stare. She had never seen a black Acidwing in the flesh up until she met Asmodeus. It was like looking at a night sky with no stars.

It was apparent that he had noticed her silence. He shrunk back, almost ashamed. Thyra shook herself away from her own fixation and realized that the poor male was probably used to strangers staring at him. Her eyes softened, and she took a step forward, placing her small paw on his shoulder. Asmodeus instantly ruffled up in response. She held back a giggle.

"Hey, don't worry, I know some Acidwings think black feathers are weird. They're a bunch of dummies. I think they're cool!" she stated, smiling brightly to reassure him.

Asmodeus blinked, astounded. Was he not used to kind words?

"A-Ah, well, I really appreciate that, T-Thyra," he mumbled, leaning into her touch.

Thyra grinned, but her smile fell when she realized how late it had become. The nighttime crickets were beginning to sing, the sun dipping just below the horizon, splattering the sky with gentle arrays of dim orange clouds.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Asmodeus! I must go home now, my parents will want me in bed soon," she apologized, waving her paws.

"That's okay!" he responded. "Um... will I see you again?"

Thyra giggled. "Sure, I'd like that a lot! Maybe tomorrow?"

"Y-Yes, that sounds great!" Asmodeus relayed, a little too excitedly.

Thyra trailed home, excited to return once the sun was up again. Asmodeus was so nice! A thrill shot through her at the prospect of having someone to spend time with.

The pair spent the next few moons in the new summer sun, playing in the meadow and speaking of the flowers that bloomed there. Thyra learned of Asmodeus's past, how his peers harassed him and how Acidwings in the trees would jeer at him because he was different. It was so unfair. Perhaps, if her parents knew about the sweet young male, their minds would be forever changed. She wanted to try. She had to!

It was a bad idea. Once Thyra told her parents about Asmodeus, they were appalled, forbidding her to ever step foot in the meadow filled with flowers ever again. The young female wept that night. She would never get to see Asmodeus's eyes sparkle when she comforted him, or prance around in the undergrowth prowling after crickets. Why were adult Acidwings so cruel? There was nothing wrong with Asmodeus. All he wanted was someone who would listen to him.

In her later teen years, Thyra had grown into her figure, a stunning Acidwing with feathers that her peers drooled over. The beautiful female had rejected offers of romance for the most part, even agonizing over displays of courtship. Males and females would attempt to woo her with their dances during early spring. Thyra hadn't found her soulmate yet, and it was beginning to bore her. She watched as her friends all found mates of their own, pairing off and starting their lives together. That was what Acidwings were supposed to do. But Thyra wanted more. She wanted freedom, exhileration, exploration! If she were to ever find a mate, they needed to share her love of the world and what could be found within it.

Spring soon melted into summer, which blended into autumn. The weather was chilling, golden leaves fluttering to the ground, rain clouds gathering in the sky. Thyra's feathers ruffled. She loved the rain! There was something so soothing about crisp droplets of water splattering on her pelt. She needed to be above the canopy to truly appreciate it!

The lovely female bounced into a broad cedar tree, springing from branch to branch until she reached the top, poking her head out of the honey-colored leaves and peering around. She hadn't realized she had ventured so close to the ancient tree where the royal Acidwings with golden antlers made their homes. It was astoundingly tall and vast in its age, old spiraling branches reaching for the sun itself. She mused for a moment, admiring it, before hauling herself past the leaves to drink in the rain.

Suddenly, Thyra heard a noise, something like a muffled squeal. She swiveled her ears and turned her head towards where the sound had come from. She rested her eyes on the balcony of the royal tree where a broad navy-blue male stood, paws on the railing, jaw open. His pelt was breathtakingly beautiful, splashes of sky-blue on every feather, and rose reds melting into his wings. His eyes were kind and sea-foam green. It wasn't the first thing she noticed, but she soon realized she was staring at new King Ethereon,his shimmering golden antlers stretching into the leaves above him.

She was shocked for a moment, dipping her head ever so slightly to show her respect. It wasn't every day that a commoner came in contact with a royal! The situation was so bizarre that she had to stifle a giggle. She was even more stunned when the handsome king called out to her.

"Hey, you there!" he boomed, voice echoing through the branches. It was deep like thunder. "Y-You could catch cold out here, flying in this weather!"

Thyra tilted her head, smiling. Was the patriarch stammering? It gave her some confidence to respond.

"Perhaps, king! But I love the rain, always have. Can't say the same for you, though!" she joked, noticing that the large male had stuck his head out past the shelter of the branches and was now being drenched by the rain. He reeled, glancing up with a horrified squawk and shaking his pelt dry. Thyra laughed, watching the king become a mess of damp feathers. He wasn't so intimidating after all!

"Well, uh... would you perhaps be interested in enjoying this weather from my balcony? It's less dangerous, and warmer too!" he sung out to her after regaining his dignity, infatuation heavy in his voice.

Thyra raised a brow, smirking at him. The king was... flirting with her. Was this all a dream? Had the female wandered into some haze where the impossible became possible?

"Is that an offer of courtship, your highness?" Thyra called out to him, playful smile teasing her cheeks.

Ethereon's feathers rumpled up once more, his demeanor suddenly bashful. Thyra giggled again. Even though he was a ROYAL male, he was still a male, young, and easily flustered.

"I-I.. uh..." he managed, a cluster of words all strung together incohesively.

"Maybe I'll take you up on that someday, then," she laughed flirtatiously, batting her sky blue eyes at him before crouching down and whisking herself away into the undergrowth. She knew she was teasing him. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but that was the only thing she really knew how to do. Anything extending past friendship was a farse in her eyes.

"W-Wait!" the king shouted after her, frantic. "What's your name?!"

Thyra hesitated at the base of the tree once her paws hit the earth, unsure if she could respond. What would happen? Would he seek her out? Would mighty King Ethereon get lost in the thrall of other Acidwings who wanted to have her? But... something was different this time. The feathers at the base of her neck fluffed up. What was it about him that seemed so right? She had only spoken a few sentences to him and his image was already ingrained in her mind.

She decided she would tell him.

"Thyra," she finally shouted out, and leapt into the woods.

~

Months went by, her and Ethereon spending more and more time together following the afternoon of their first meeting. He wanted to know everything he could about her, like her favorite types of flowers, her hobbies, and what she did in her spare time. The season of love was over, but Thyra couldn't help but feel powerless in the face of her undeniable attraction towards him. She tried to resist it, but she soon fell prey to the beast that was true love. It was like breathing, effortless and easy.

Ethereon danced for her on a quiet late-autumn night, fireflies glinting in the trees, stars sparkling above their heads. It was a display of courtship she was so used to, but this time it was different. This time, their footsteps were so in sync, their movements so rhythmic. This time, Thyra knew she had found her soulmate. She accepted his advances, and her whole world changed. Suddenly, she was no longer Thyra the Acidwing. She was Thyra, queen of Briarwood.

She bore Ethereon's offspring the following season, a beautiful female pup with deliciously vibrant purple feathers, splashes of greens and blues all over her pelt. She named her new daughter Corrosion, holding the tiny bundle of fluff so close to her chest that she was afraid they might meld together. She was so happy, so in love with her new family. Life in the royal tree was perfect. The whole kingdom gathered below its mighty branches that evening to celebrate the princess's birth.

Ethereon held Thyra in his arms, Corrosion coddled in her own. The king and queen glanced down at their people, glee splattered on both of their faces. That night was nothing short of a dream come true.

Until it wasn't.

Thyra and Ethereon were asleep in their hollow, cuddled together in their luxurious nest, baby Corrosion snuggled in a cot of her own beside them. Things were quiet... until a loud chilling scream startled them both awake. The pair shot upright, suddenly frantic. What was going on? Where had that scream come from?

The night outside the tree was suddenly loud in every direction, sounds of slashing talons and snapping fangs filling the air. Thyra whirled around to look at her mate, who was equally afraid.

Ethereon was already on his feet when one of his soldiers rushed into his room, arm seeping with crimson blood. Thyra was frozen with fear, cupping a paw over her mouth.

"Your highness, it's the black Acidwings! They're rushing the tree! T-There's hundreds of them! I don't know if we can hold them off!" the soldier sputtered, eyes wild.

Thyra let out a sharp gasp, running over to Corrosion and shielding her cot with her wings. She looked down at her daughter, barely a day old, somehow still peacefully asleep.

"Black Acidwings?!" Ethereon repeated, unsheathing his claws. "Who's leading them?"

The soldier shuddered, weak from blood loss.

"He calls himself the 'Black King,' sir... I'm sorry... I think it's your old friend... Asmo-"

The soldier's answer was cut short by a long painful drawl outside the hollow. Thyra hadn't heard the last part. She didn't care who was leading the onslaught, she was scared, and wanted nothing more than to protect her pup and her family at all costs. The young queen was rabid with disbelief. After all this time, she had held firm that black Acidwings were simply misunderstood. She hasn't even guessed that they could be capable of... this.

"Rally the guards!" Ethereon bellowed, "Those Acidwings will not make it up to these chambers, do you hear me? Now go!"

The soldier nodded his head quickly, rushing out of the room and back into the chaos below. Ethereon whirled around, glancing at Thyra, who suddenly felt so small and afraid. He raced over to her, placing a slow kiss on her forehead.

"My dear, I promised I would always protect you. I will keep that promise today. Stay here with Corrosion, keep yourself hidden, and I will join my people in battle."

Thyra shook her head frantically, clutching onto his shoulders with her paws. Beyond their hollow, a war was raging. If Ethereon left the safety of their chamber, he could fall prey to its fatal grasp.

"N-No! Please Ethereon, you can't go out there! You could be killed!" Thyra weeped back, her voice rife with fear.

"It is my duty, Thyra," he told her softly, caressing her cheek. She leaned into his touch with a gentle sob. They met eyes for a moment, the stagnating air suffocating with fate's unavoidable chokehold.

"Be careful," the queen pleaded him, tears falling down her face.

"I'll try my best for you, my love," Ethereon whispered, holding back his own cries, before whisking out of his chambers and into the dimly-moonlit hollow.

Thyra watched him leave, wiping away her tears, praying with the ancestors that he would be alright. She again peered down at her beautiful pup, little pink chest softly expanding every time she breathed. Princess Corrosion was the most perfect piece of heaven that Thyra had ever seen.

"My sweet daughter," she sniffled quietly, stroking her baby's cheek, "I'm so sorry that the eve of your birth is heavy with hatred. I hope that after the dust settles, after things are set right, that you may reap the rewards of this earth. It's so beautiful, Corrosion. Everything is so perfect. And so are you."

Suddenly, there was a scratching sound beneath the window in the far corner of the room. It echoed grotesquely and lingered in the air like an omen. Thyra whipped around, heart hammering in her chest. Was it an intruder? One of those black Acidwings? She inhaled sharply and whisked Corrosion out of her cot, making sure she wouldn't wake her up, and scrambled over to the wooden table in the back of their hollow. Sprawled beneath it was an intricate ruby-red tapestry made of fine cloth. The queen grabbed a corner of the fabric and lifted it, placing her daughter beneath the tapestry and draping it over her like a cloak, hiding her from view.

By the time she had whirled around to face the window, it was gone. In its place stood a tall inky black figure hunched over like a hungry snake, eyes blood-orange and glowing angrily. Its talons were unsheathed and dripping with some sort of thick liquid. Thyra could only imagine what it was. She froze, feathers on the back of her neck standing on end. The air was suddenly so cold, yet thick and hot at the same time.

The silhouette inched forward, allowing some of the moonlight from the window to seep in. The intruder was backlit, but it made him easier to see. Thyra fell back ever so slightly, blue eyes wide and horrified at what they saw.

The feathers were freshly torn on his tail, part of his right fringe ripped away completely. New wounds on his face and chest were profusely oozing blood. The pelt on his right arm had been shredded away to reveal swollen pink skin. Thyra watched him move towards her, his neck arched, long slender horns hooked and sharp, eyes filled with suffocating hatred.

"Hello... Thyra," the intruder finally spoke, an icy voice that sounded wrong coming out of his throat.

Thyra was horrified when she realized she recognized that furious growl. She glanced at him, scrambling back as he moved in on her. Memories flooded her mind, the scent of flowers from eons ago filling her nostrils, the sun shining on her pelt, and a small black Acidwing chuckling at her corny jokes in the middle of a meadow.

It couldn't be him.

Not him.

Thyra was surprised she was even able to form words with her trembling lips.

"A-Asmodeus?!" she peeped, shaking her head with disbelief.

It was silent for a moment... until he laughed. It was a garbled, terrifying sound that filled the hollow. Thyra shook her head again, eyes welling up with tears.

"I'm 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 that you remember me," he snarled, baring his teeth in a sinister grin. "I was beginning to think I had been forgotten."

"W-Why..." Thyra stammered, her whole body shaking, "h-how could you do this? How could you join the other black Acidwings to murder your own kind? Why would YOU, of all-"

"-Oh, sweet, naive Thyra," he cut her off sharply, "You still don't get it, do you?"

Thyra was confused, frozen in place.

"I haven't joined them... I 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 them."

Thyra blinked.

No.

Impossible.

He was their leader.

"You and your kind are so privilidged," Asmodeus spat. "Happiness is just given to you! What do we get? Nothing! Fine, then I shall simply TAKE what belongs to me! The throne!"

He came dangerously close, lurking over Thyra like a hawk ready to snatch up its prey. She could smell his rancid breath stream across her face.

"Sweet Thyra... you were always so... pretty, weren't you?" he rasped into her ear, canines grazing her auricle. "Perhaps I should be claiming you as well."

Thyra was suddenly angry, and despite her fear, reared back with a paw and slashed him across the face with her talons. Asmodeus shouted with pain and staggered backwards, clutching his snout in pain. Thyra leaped to her paws and gaped at him, claws still outstretched. How dare he! A soul she once called a friend... had become this... MONSTER! She was enraged at him, eyes narrowed and furious.

Then she realized she had made a mistake.

Asmodeus released his muzzle, a new bloody wound where she had clawed him, and glowered at her. His eyes were suddenly colder than a sheet of ice, as if he were looking straight through her. The Asmodeus that Thyra had briefly known all those years ago was completely gone. In his place stood a beast that she didn't recognize.

"Wrong choice," he whispered.

Asmodeus hissed, a sound that sent chills down Thyra's spine, and launched himself at her. She yowled, feeling the sheer force of his unrelenting mass strike her down into the wooden flooring. She felt the air rush out of her body as he pinned her to the bark, claws digging into her wrists. The queen struggled, kicking out with her back legs, teeth snapping just beyond the reach of his face. Asmodeus locked eyes with her for a moment, a sickening smile on his maw.

"P-Please," Thyra begged, thrashing some more against his weight. It was no use, he was too heavy, his claws too deep in her skin.

"If you had only accepted my offer..." Asmodeus trailed off, gripping onto her wrists even harder with his talons. Thyra felt those daggers hit something hard beneath her pelt... bone. She screamed, tears falling from her face onto the wood below.

Suddenly, he lurched forward with a snarl, teeth bared. Thyra yowled again when she felt his canines hit her throat. His jaw snapped shut, fangs shredding through feathers, skin, and muscle. Blood spattered from her windpipe and onto his face, a garbled wet sound bubbling into her mouth. It was agony. No greater pain could have existed. The world around her began to shift. Everything was fuzzy. At some point, she felt Asmodeus release her throat from his teeth. It was hazy and distorted. She watched him with woozy eyes as he unlatched her wrists and rose to his feet, hovering over her like he had just slaughtered himself a fresh meal.

She watched the hollow tilt and shift, bending unnaturally under the weight of her blurry vision. She only just barely made out a set of thundering footsteps racing into the chamber, and a voice that she knew so well. It sounded so far away.

"A... Asmodeus..?" Ethereon's voice asked in disbelief.

"Perhaps I was called that once," Asmodeus responded gently, his icy ting-tang of a voice eerily calm. "You may now call me...King."

Thyra heard him cackle wildly and whisk himself out of the window again. She couldn't bring herself to move her head to watch him flee. Everything was suddenly so difficult. Her whole body felt heavy, but also like it was floating away. She could hardly breathe.

She fazed out for a moment, and when she came to, she vaguely felt a set of strong arms holding her close. She sighed. It was so nice and warm. She knew it was her mate Ethereon, but that was the only thing she could register.

"M-My love," Ethereon weeped, holding her tighter, "What d-did that brute do to you?"

Thyra tried to respond. She tried to tell him that Asmodeus did the worst thing ever, and how much it hurt. Oh... it hurt so much. She really did try, but the only thing that came out was a sloppy wet sound, followed by the taste of blood on her tongue. She sighed again. The pain wasn't so bad anymore, just a distantly dull ache in her throat.

One more try.

"Ethereon..." Thyra managed to sputter, blood bubbling out of the corners of her mouth, "C-Corrosion... she..."

"N-No..." he sputtered in response. "Did Asmodeus-"

Thyra cut him off, shaking her head. No, their daughter wasn't dead. She raised a paw weakly, trying to her best to point in the direction of the tapestry beneath the table in the corner.

"Corrosion... there..." she quaked, her voice barely a whisper.

Her mind was foggy, but a small smile spread across her face when she heard her daughter mewl in response, almost like she was letting her daddy know that she was okay. Thyra closed her eyes, letting the darkness of her eyelids envelop her vision. Her life was ebbing away, she could feel it.

"You... you saved her." Ethereon breathed, still holding onto his queen.

Thyra coughed again. This time, it was loud, urgent, and horridly painful. She felt Ethereon's voice rumble with fear, gripping onto her frail body.

"Shh... I'm here, my love," he sobbed, "I'm here."

Her mind was in a haze now, everything bending and tilting, the world fading away. Senses and sounds blended together, the air tasted lovely on her bloodied tongue. She remembered her life and how wonderful it was. She recalled the colors of her home, how vibrant the greens and oranges of the trees had seemed. She felt the rain on her feathers again, and the cold brisk wind of nightfall. She saw the proud faces of her parents when she left the nest, and the warm loving gaze of her mate on the night she brought Corrosion into the world. Even those pictures were becoming foggy... so foggy.

"I-I.... l-love you, so much..." Thyra felt herself say, but the words were like quiet echoes streaming through other voices. Where were they coming from? Somehow, the whispers brought her comfort.

She didn't know if Ethereon said it back, but she didn't need to hear those words. She knew he loved her. He had given her the life she'd always dreamed of having, every last second of it. She wished she could thank him.

Perhaps... in another life... she'd meet him again.

More whispers... louder this time.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰, one of them said.

𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺... 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨? Thyra asked.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭.

~~~~

AND THEN SHE JUST FRICKEN' DIED IEUR:NOQIVWU:RI

Ugh, I knew it was gonna be hard writing Thyra's death scene out. I soooorta briefly touched on it in Ethereon's bio but it's so much worse from her point of view because she literally GETS MAULED TO DEATH. Good lord. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I put myself through pain? Anyhow lol, she ded.

Characters mentioned:

Description
Just as a disclaimer, this bio is really sad because Thyra died super young and in a crazy gruesome way. But FINALLY, I got around to making this gorgeous girl's ref sheet! The main thing I wanted to focus on was making sure her and Corrosion looked similar enough to be recognized as mother and daughter, but also keeping her design a separate entity. I wound up going with pastels, which I LOVE.

~~~~

Thyra was born in a flowering pink tree around the center of Briarwood where most of the higher-ups lived. Her mother and father loved her from the moment they laid eyes upon her fluffy little form, big blue eyes sparkling like round moons. She had no siblings.

When the lovely female began maturing, she took it upon herself to begin exploring the forest around her home. The central area of Briarwood was phenomenally beautiful, giant cedar trees spiraling into the sky, the canopy high above her head. Thyra possessed the soul of a pioneer, those towering conifers a challenge that she was determined to overcome. She was a climber, gliding between the branches like a flying squirrel hunting for her next meal. It was her favorite pastime. It made her feel free.

One warm spring evening, Thyra had ventured a little further into the woods, hoping to find new trees to climb. The outskirts of Briarwood were more open than what she was used to, the overwhelming deciduous forest waning only to become patches of scarcely-present brushland. There were meadows filled with fragrant flowers and new saplings that smelled of fresh pine. Thyra was in awe. Why hadn't her parents told her about this place?

It was then, while the lovely young female was bent over admiring some red flowers, that she heard a rustle in the grass. She turned around, startled for a moment. That's when she saw him.

He was around her age, very young, big clumsy paws indictive of his expiring puphood. Tiny horns were just beginning to emerge from his head. His eyes were wide and orange like the sun. That was when Thyra noticed that the male across from her was completely black, no colors to be seen.

Her parents had told her about the black Acidwings. The stories they would spout were nothing but drawls of immense displeasure. They were convinced that individuals born without color were destined to be alone and cursed for the rest of their lives. Thyra didn't understand why they felt that way.

The male across the small meadow was staring at her in a curious sort of way, mouth agape. She giggled, covering her muzzle with a paw. She didn't know him, but he was all alone and very clearly wanted to introduce himself. So she waited for him to approach. He did so with a hesitant shuffle, coming close enough to converse.

"Er, uh, h-hello there," he managed with a wave, ears pinned back politely.

Thyra smiled. A new face in a new area! She was excited. "Hi! Sorry, I didn't know there was anyone living here! I was just appreciating the flowers around this place. Such fantastic sights and smells. You're very lucky."

"Oh, y-yes, it's nice here!" the male sputtered. "My mother loves flowers. I'm Asmodeus. What's your name?"

"I'm Thyra," she responded gently, letting him know that she was friendly. "It's lovely to meet you, Asmodeus."

Thyra tried her best not to stare. She had never seen a black Acidwing in the flesh up until she met Asmodeus. It was like looking at a night sky with no stars.

It was apparent that he had noticed her silence. He shrunk back, almost ashamed. Thyra shook herself away from her own fixation and realized that the poor male was probably used to strangers staring at him. Her eyes softened, and she took a step forward, placing her small paw on his shoulder. Asmodeus instantly ruffled up in response. She held back a giggle.

"Hey, don't worry, I know some Acidwings think black feathers are weird. They're a bunch of dummies. I think they're cool!" she stated, smiling brightly to reassure him.

Asmodeus blinked, astounded. Was he not used to kind words?

"A-Ah, well, I really appreciate that, T-Thyra," he mumbled, leaning into her touch.

Thyra grinned, but her smile fell when she realized how late it had become. The nighttime crickets were beginning to sing, the sun dipping just below the horizon, splattering the sky with gentle arrays of dim orange clouds.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Asmodeus! I must go home now, my parents will want me in bed soon," she apologized, waving her paws.

"That's okay!" he responded. "Um... will I see you again?"

Thyra giggled. "Sure, I'd like that a lot! Maybe tomorrow?"

"Y-Yes, that sounds great!" Asmodeus relayed, a little too excitedly.

Thyra trailed home, excited to return once the sun was up again. Asmodeus was so nice! A thrill shot through her at the prospect of having someone to spend time with.

The pair spent the next few moons in the new summer sun, playing in the meadow and speaking of the flowers that bloomed there. Thyra learned of Asmodeus's past, how his peers harassed him and how Acidwings in the trees would jeer at him because he was different. It was so unfair. Perhaps, if her parents knew about the sweet young male, their minds would be forever changed. She wanted to try. She had to!

It was a bad idea. Once Thyra told her parents about Asmodeus, they were appalled, forbidding her to ever step foot in the meadow filled with flowers ever again. The young female wept that night. She would never get to see Asmodeus's eyes sparkle when she comforted him, or prance around in the undergrowth prowling after crickets. Why were adult Acidwings so cruel? There was nothing wrong with Asmodeus. All he wanted was someone who would listen to him.

In her later teen years, Thyra had grown into her figure, a stunning Acidwing with feathers that her peers drooled over. The beautiful female had rejected offers of romance for the most part, even agonizing over displays of courtship. Males and females would attempt to woo her with their dances during early spring. Thyra hadn't found her soulmate yet, and it was beginning to bore her. She watched as her friends all found mates of their own, pairing off and starting their lives together. That was what Acidwings were supposed to do. But Thyra wanted more. She wanted freedom, exhileration, exploration! If she were to ever find a mate, they needed to share her love of the world and what could be found within it.

Spring soon melted into summer, which blended into autumn. The weather was chilling, golden leaves fluttering to the ground, rain clouds gathering in the sky. Thyra's feathers ruffled. She loved the rain! There was something so soothing about crisp droplets of water splattering on her pelt. She needed to be above the canopy to truly appreciate it!

The lovely female bounced into a broad cedar tree, springing from branch to branch until she reached the top, poking her head out of the honey-colored leaves and peering around. She hadn't realized she had ventured so close to the ancient tree where the royal Acidwings with golden antlers made their homes. It was astoundingly tall and vast in its age, old spiraling branches reaching for the sun itself. She mused for a moment, admiring it, before hauling herself past the leaves to drink in the rain.

Suddenly, Thyra heard a noise, something like a muffled squeal. She swiveled her ears and turned her head towards where the sound had come from. She rested her eyes on the balcony of the royal tree where a broad navy-blue male stood, paws on the railing, jaw open. His pelt was breathtakingly beautiful, splashes of sky-blue on every feather, and rose reds melting into his wings. His eyes were kind and sea-foam green. It wasn't the first thing she noticed, but she soon realized she was staring at new King Ethereon,his shimmering golden antlers stretching into the leaves above him.

She was shocked for a moment, dipping her head ever so slightly to show her respect. It wasn't every day that a commoner came in contact with a royal! The situation was so bizarre that she had to stifle a giggle. She was even more stunned when the handsome king called out to her.

"Hey, you there!" he boomed, voice echoing through the branches. It was deep like thunder. "Y-You could catch cold out here, flying in this weather!"

Thyra tilted her head, smiling. Was the patriarch stammering? It gave her some confidence to respond.

"Perhaps, king! But I love the rain, always have. Can't say the same for you, though!" she joked, noticing that the large male had stuck his head out past the shelter of the branches and was now being drenched by the rain. He reeled, glancing up with a horrified squawk and shaking his pelt dry. Thyra laughed, watching the king become a mess of damp feathers. He wasn't so intimidating after all!

"Well, uh... would you perhaps be interested in enjoying this weather from my balcony? It's less dangerous, and warmer too!" he sung out to her after regaining his dignity, infatuation heavy in his voice.

Thyra raised a brow, smirking at him. The king was... flirting with her. Was this all a dream? Had the female wandered into some haze where the impossible became possible?

"Is that an offer of courtship, your highness?" Thyra called out to him, playful smile teasing her cheeks.

Ethereon's feathers rumpled up once more, his demeanor suddenly bashful. Thyra giggled again. Even though he was a ROYAL male, he was still a male, young, and easily flustered.

"I-I.. uh..." he managed, a cluster of words all strung together incohesively.

"Maybe I'll take you up on that someday, then," she laughed flirtatiously, batting her sky blue eyes at him before crouching down and whisking herself away into the undergrowth. She knew she was teasing him. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but that was the only thing she really knew how to do. Anything extending past friendship was a farse in her eyes.

"W-Wait!" the king shouted after her, frantic. "What's your name?!"

Thyra hesitated at the base of the tree once her paws hit the earth, unsure if she could respond. What would happen? Would he seek her out? Would mighty King Ethereon get lost in the thrall of other Acidwings who wanted to have her? But... something was different this time. The feathers at the base of her neck fluffed up. What was it about him that seemed so right? She had only spoken a few sentences to him and his image was already ingrained in her mind.

She decided she would tell him.

"Thyra," she finally shouted out, and leapt into the woods.

~

Months went by, her and Ethereon spending more and more time together following the afternoon of their first meeting. He wanted to know everything he could about her, like her favorite types of flowers, her hobbies, and what she did in her spare time. The season of love was over, but Thyra couldn't help but feel powerless in the face of her undeniable attraction towards him. She tried to resist it, but she soon fell prey to the beast that was true love. It was like breathing, effortless and easy.

Ethereon danced for her on a quiet late-autumn night, fireflies glinting in the trees, stars sparkling above their heads. It was a display of courtship she was so used to, but this time it was different. This time, their footsteps were so in sync, their movements so rhythmic. This time, Thyra knew she had found her soulmate. She accepted his advances, and her whole world changed. Suddenly, she was no longer Thyra the Acidwing. She was Thyra, queen of Briarwood.

She bore Ethereon's offspring the following season, a beautiful female pup with deliciously vibrant purple feathers, splashes of greens and blues all over her pelt. She named her new daughter Corrosion, holding the tiny bundle of fluff so close to her chest that she was afraid they might meld together. She was so happy, so in love with her new family. Life in the royal tree was perfect. The whole kingdom gathered below its mighty branches that evening to celebrate the princess's birth.

Ethereon held Thyra in his arms, Corrosion coddled in her own. The king and queen glanced down at their people, glee splattered on both of their faces. That night was nothing short of a dream come true.

Until it wasn't.

Thyra and Ethereon were asleep in their hollow, cuddled together in their luxurious nest, baby Corrosion snuggled in a cot of her own beside them. Things were quiet... until a loud chilling scream startled them both awake. The pair shot upright, suddenly frantic. What was going on? Where had that scream come from?

The night outside the tree was suddenly loud in every direction, sounds of slashing talons and snapping fangs filling the air. Thyra whirled around to look at her mate, who was equally afraid.

Ethereon was already on his feet when one of his soldiers rushed into his room, arm seeping with crimson blood. Thyra was frozen with fear, cupping a paw over her mouth.

"Your highness, it's the black Acidwings! They're rushing the tree! T-There's hundreds of them! I don't know if we can hold them off!" the soldier sputtered, eyes wild.

Thyra let out a sharp gasp, running over to Corrosion and shielding her cot with her wings. She looked down at her daughter, barely a day old, somehow still peacefully asleep.

"Black Acidwings?!" Ethereon repeated, unsheathing his claws. "Who's leading them?"

The soldier shuddered, weak from blood loss.

"He calls himself the 'Black King,' sir... I'm sorry... I think it's your old friend... Asmo-"

The soldier's answer was cut short by a long painful drawl outside the hollow. Thyra hadn't heard the last part. She didn't care who was leading the onslaught, she was scared, and wanted nothing more than to protect her pup and her family at all costs. The young queen was rabid with disbelief. After all this time, she had held firm that black Acidwings were simply misunderstood. She hasn't even guessed that they could be capable of... this.

"Rally the guards!" Ethereon bellowed, "Those Acidwings will not make it up to these chambers, do you hear me? Now go!"

The soldier nodded his head quickly, rushing out of the room and back into the chaos below. Ethereon whirled around, glancing at Thyra, who suddenly felt so small and afraid. He raced over to her, placing a slow kiss on her forehead.

"My dear, I promised I would always protect you. I will keep that promise today. Stay here with Corrosion, keep yourself hidden, and I will join my people in battle."

Thyra shook her head frantically, clutching onto his shoulders with her paws. Beyond their hollow, a war was raging. If Ethereon left the safety of their chamber, he could fall prey to its fatal grasp.

"N-No! Please Ethereon, you can't go out there! You could be killed!" Thyra weeped back, her voice rife with fear.

"It is my duty, Thyra," he told her softly, caressing her cheek. She leaned into his touch with a gentle sob. They met eyes for a moment, the stagnating air suffocating with fate's unavoidable chokehold.

"Be careful," the queen pleaded him, tears falling down her face.

"I'll try my best for you, my love," Ethereon whispered, holding back his own cries, before whisking out of his chambers and into the dimly-moonlit hollow.

Thyra watched him leave, wiping away her tears, praying with the ancestors that he would be alright. She again peered down at her beautiful pup, little pink chest softly expanding every time she breathed. Princess Corrosion was the most perfect piece of heaven that Thyra had ever seen.

"My sweet daughter," she sniffled quietly, stroking her baby's cheek, "I'm so sorry that the eve of your birth is heavy with hatred. I hope that after the dust settles, after things are set right, that you may reap the rewards of this earth. It's so beautiful, Corrosion. Everything is so perfect. And so are you."

Suddenly, there was a scratching sound beneath the window in the far corner of the room. It echoed grotesquely and lingered in the air like an omen. Thyra whipped around, heart hammering in her chest. Was it an intruder? One of those black Acidwings? She inhaled sharply and whisked Corrosion out of her cot, making sure she wouldn't wake her up, and scrambled over to the wooden table in the back of their hollow. Sprawled beneath it was an intricate ruby-red tapestry made of fine cloth. The queen grabbed a corner of the fabric and lifted it, placing her daughter beneath the tapestry and draping it over her like a cloak, hiding her from view.

By the time she had whirled around to face the window, it was gone. In its place stood a tall inky black figure hunched over like a hungry snake, eyes blood-orange and glowing angrily. Its talons were unsheathed and dripping with some sort of thick liquid. Thyra could only imagine what it was. She froze, feathers on the back of her neck standing on end. The air was suddenly so cold, yet thick and hot at the same time.

The silhouette inched forward, allowing some of the moonlight from the window to seep in. The intruder was backlit, but it made him easier to see. Thyra fell back ever so slightly, blue eyes wide and horrified at what they saw.

The feathers were freshly torn on his tail, part of his right fringe ripped away completely. New wounds on his face and chest were profusely oozing blood. The pelt on his right arm had been shredded away to reveal swollen pink skin. Thyra watched him move towards her, his neck arched, long slender horns hooked and sharp, eyes filled with suffocating hatred.

"Hello... Thyra," the intruder finally spoke, an icy voice that sounded wrong coming out of his throat.

Thyra was horrified when she realized she recognized that furious growl. She glanced at him, scrambling back as he moved in on her. Memories flooded her mind, the scent of flowers from eons ago filling her nostrils, the sun shining on her pelt, and a small black Acidwing chuckling at her corny jokes in the middle of a meadow.

It couldn't be him.

Not him.

Thyra was surprised she was even able to form words with her trembling lips.

"A-Asmodeus?!" she peeped, shaking her head with disbelief.

It was silent for a moment... until he laughed. It was a garbled, terrifying sound that filled the hollow. Thyra shook her head again, eyes welling up with tears.

"I'm 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 that you remember me," he snarled, baring his teeth in a sinister grin. "I was beginning to think I had been forgotten."

"W-Why..." Thyra stammered, her whole body shaking, "h-how could you do this? How could you join the other black Acidwings to murder your own kind? Why would YOU, of all-"

"-Oh, sweet, naive Thyra," he cut her off sharply, "You still don't get it, do you?"

Thyra was confused, frozen in place.

"I haven't joined them... I 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 them."

Thyra blinked.

No.

Impossible.

He was their leader.

"You and your kind are so privilidged," Asmodeus spat. "Happiness is just given to you! What do we get? Nothing! Fine, then I shall simply TAKE what belongs to me! The throne!"

He came dangerously close, lurking over Thyra like a hawk ready to snatch up its prey. She could smell his rancid breath stream across her face.

"Sweet Thyra... you were always so... pretty, weren't you?" he rasped into her ear, canines grazing her auricle. "Perhaps I should be claiming you as well."

Thyra was suddenly angry, and despite her fear, reared back with a paw and slashed him across the face with her talons. Asmodeus shouted with pain and staggered backwards, clutching his snout in pain. Thyra leaped to her paws and gaped at him, claws still outstretched. How dare he! A soul she once called a friend... had become this... MONSTER! She was enraged at him, eyes narrowed and furious.

Then she realized she had made a mistake.

Asmodeus released his muzzle, a new bloody wound where she had clawed him, and glowered at her. His eyes were suddenly colder than a sheet of ice, as if he were looking straight through her. The Asmodeus that Thyra had briefly known all those years ago was completely gone. In his place stood a beast that she didn't recognize.

"Wrong choice," he whispered.

Asmodeus hissed, a sound that sent chills down Thyra's spine, and launched himself at her. She yowled, feeling the sheer force of his unrelenting mass strike her down into the wooden flooring. She felt the air rush out of her body as he pinned her to the bark, claws digging into her wrists. The queen struggled, kicking out with her back legs, teeth snapping just beyond the reach of his face. Asmodeus locked eyes with her for a moment, a sickening smile on his maw.

"P-Please," Thyra begged, thrashing some more against his weight. It was no use, he was too heavy, his claws too deep in her skin.

"If you had only accepted my offer..." Asmodeus trailed off, gripping onto her wrists even harder with his talons. Thyra felt those daggers hit something hard beneath her pelt... bone. She screamed, tears falling from her face onto the wood below.

Suddenly, he lurched forward with a snarl, teeth bared. Thyra yowled again when she felt his canines hit her throat. His jaw snapped shut, fangs shredding through feathers, skin, and muscle. Blood spattered from her windpipe and onto his face, a garbled wet sound bubbling into her mouth. It was agony. No greater pain could have existed. The world around her began to shift. Everything was fuzzy. At some point, she felt Asmodeus release her throat from his teeth. It was hazy and distorted. She watched him with woozy eyes as he unlatched her wrists and rose to his feet, hovering over her like he had just slaughtered himself a fresh meal.

She watched the hollow tilt and shift, bending unnaturally under the weight of her blurry vision. She only just barely made out a set of thundering footsteps racing into the chamber, and a voice that she knew so well. It sounded so far away.

"A... Asmodeus..?" Ethereon's voice asked in disbelief.

"Perhaps I was called that once," Asmodeus responded gently, his icy ting-tang of a voice eerily calm. "You may now call me...King."

Thyra heard him cackle wildly and whisk himself out of the window again. She couldn't bring herself to move her head to watch him flee. Everything was suddenly so difficult. Her whole body felt heavy, but also like it was floating away. She could hardly breathe.

She fazed out for a moment, and when she came to, she vaguely felt a set of strong arms holding her close. She sighed. It was so nice and warm. She knew it was her mate Ethereon, but that was the only thing she could register.

"M-My love," Ethereon weeped, holding her tighter, "What d-did that brute do to you?"

Thyra tried to respond. She tried to tell him that Asmodeus did the worst thing ever, and how much it hurt. Oh... it hurt so much. She really did try, but the only thing that came out was a sloppy wet sound, followed by the taste of blood on her tongue. She sighed again. The pain wasn't so bad anymore, just a distantly dull ache in her throat.

One more try.

"Ethereon..." Thyra managed to sputter, blood bubbling out of the corners of her mouth, "C-Corrosion... she..."

"N-No..." he sputtered in response. "Did Asmodeus-"

Thyra cut him off, shaking her head. No, their daughter wasn't dead. She raised a paw weakly, trying to her best to point in the direction of the tapestry beneath the table in the corner.

"Corrosion... there..." she quaked, her voice barely a whisper.

Her mind was foggy, but a small smile spread across her face when she heard her daughter mewl in response, almost like she was letting her daddy know that she was okay. Thyra closed her eyes, letting the darkness of her eyelids envelop her vision. Her life was ebbing away, she could feel it.

"You... you saved her." Ethereon breathed, still holding onto his queen.

Thyra coughed again. This time, it was loud, urgent, and horridly painful. She felt Ethereon's voice rumble with fear, gripping onto her frail body.

"Shh... I'm here, my love," he sobbed, "I'm here."

Her mind was in a haze now, everything bending and tilting, the world fading away. Senses and sounds blended together, the air tasted lovely on her bloodied tongue. She remembered her life and how wonderful it was. She recalled the colors of her home, how vibrant the greens and oranges of the trees had seemed. She felt the rain on her feathers again, and the cold brisk wind of nightfall. She saw the proud faces of her parents when she left the nest, and the warm loving gaze of her mate on the night she brought Corrosion into the world. Even those pictures were becoming foggy... so foggy.

"I-I.... l-love you, so much..." Thyra felt herself say, but the words were like quiet echoes streaming through other voices. Where were they coming from? Somehow, the whispers brought her comfort.

She didn't know if Ethereon said it back, but she didn't need to hear those words. She knew he loved her. He had given her the life she'd always dreamed of having, every last second of it. She wished she could thank him.

Perhaps... in another life... she'd meet him again.

More whispers... louder this time.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰, one of them said.

𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺... 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨? Thyra asked.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭.

~~~~

AND THEN SHE JUST FRICKEN' DIED IEUR:NOQIVWU:RI

Ugh, I knew it was gonna be hard writing Thyra's death scene out. I soooorta briefly touched on it in Ethereon's bio but it's so much worse from her point of view because she literally GETS MAULED TO DEATH. Good lord. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I put myself through pain? Anyhow lol, she ded.

Characters mentioned: