"Hymns."

((Forgive me if this sucks, this is just a story and isn't canon to Whistlers character should this become DLC.))

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Music and magic, are forms of art and can be made and practiced by anyone. It only takes the right amount of spark to get started.... Or so I thought. Turns out, all it takes to make Music is some form of rhythm and practice.... Magic, however, can be started as soon as a something realizes how powerful it is and what gems create the most.

"Friend!" A sudden voice had shouted at me. It was shrill and guttural, barely recognizable. I could feel my leg shake and suddenly, a rather sharp pain in my shoulders. I yelled out from the feeling.

"Friend!" The shrill voice called out, it was familiar. The pain felt familiar, it seemed like claws. I opened my eyes and saw a bat with fur as white as snow flap its wings erratically.

"Wayward?"

"Move!" He shouted before a large bright light whizzed past below my feet. I felt my eyes widened and instinctively grabbed my waist. All I could get was a handful cloth and I had a sudden sinking feeling.

"Wayward, what's going on, where's my flute?!"

"Out from photophanto!" He muttered as he kept dodging projectiles while constantly holding me by my shoulders. His face was ripe with worry and fear as the bright lights got closer and closer. I could feel a fuzzy feeling as they inched by, it was rather cold. I glanced over my shoulder. A large hairless creature was spitting out spheres of light, its eyes were replaced by two bright yellow gems and its claws were sharp and orange; two tusk were seemingly pointed at us.

I suddenly hear Wayward squeal and then we're both falling.

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"Hello?" A weary voice called out. They we're tall, skinny and seemed to be in their 20's. Red shirt and black hat and vest, shouting in the dark. He's definitely new and obviously someone who didn't fight.

Loud snarls emanated around him, it was no doubt dogs. No sooner did I figure it out that a handful descended upon him. A torch by his side suddenly swung around as he fended off the dogs. Its a bold move but it usually doesn't-Ah there it goes. One of the dogs ducked behind the man and bit into his arm. The torch fell and clunked on the ground, the flame still lit bright but it was away from the man. He fought and desperately, throwing punches and thrashing on the floor. I couldn't move.

"Leave him," One side of my mind shouted. "Search his corpse once they're done with him."

"Don't leave him, after all, you were helped." Another had ordered.

The man fell limp and one of the dogs lunged at his neck. The voices grew louder and my head begun to ache. I reached into my backpack.

The dogs ears shot up and they rushed towards me. I sighed and stared as they sat in front of me; their eyes turned to swirls. I pointed in a random direction and they obeyed. I glanced back at the man, his arm was bleeding and the torch that had once been used as a weapon was now in his hands. He seemingly glanced in my direction before running off. I felt my fingers clasp onto my wooden flute; the smooth engraved devils and angels were the best detail along with the vines holding it together. I took one last feel before stowing it back in my backpack.

The sound of rocks being hit by paws had started small before growing in sound. I faced it and felt my stomach sink. The dogs were back; the music had obviously been canceled. I reached into my backpack and took out an axe. I waited till one of them came close and lunged.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11- and I swung. One of the dogs whimpered and tumbled onto its side. The others lunged as well. One of them whimpered and the other snarled as a sharp stinging pain formed on my arm. It begun to shake its head and I let out a yell. I lifted my hand and swung the axe down on its head. I let out a whimper and let go, it snarled and begun to circle around me. I put away my axe and pulled off my back pack. I dug around as the inched closer. I sighed and used my other hand to remove my mask.

One of them lunged. I threw the mask. I felt the feeling of smooth pine and bamboo and nearly let out a scream of joy. I grabbed the flute and placed it to my lips. I could hear the dogs beckoning closer before suddenly they let out a loud bark and their paws hitting solid rock begun to deafen my ears. I took a huge breath for playing a series of notes as loud as my lungs could.

The dogs stopped once more and the sound of wood cluttering to the ground made me let out a breath of relief. I shambled towards one of them and picked up the mask from under its slobbery jaw. It reaked of meat and bones; my nose hurt just by smelling it. I placed in my backpack before turning towards the dogs. Three were covered in black fur, two were red, one was a bright lime green. I sighed, relieved that the situations hadn't gotten worse.

I took out a small roll of bandages and wrapped it around my arm. The slimy lukewarm honey stung as it entered my open wounds. I let out a pained squeak before walking.

The dogs followed, their eyes still a purple swirl.

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One of the dogs whimpered as I ushered it into its pen. I frowned and nudged it inside. It kept whimpering. It's wounds were covered and its eyes were still swirls. It wanted company. Perhaps I should keep them all in the same pen? No, then they'd all bite on the fences.

I reached over to its head and lightly scratched it, it whimpered more before it begun to snarl. It yanked my hand back as it turned feral. The swirls we're gone and it begun to push against the wooden fence. It creaked but barely moved. I sighed; had it been 5 minutes already?

The hounds kept pushing against the fence. Gnawing at the wooden posts at an attempt to break loose.

I walked away as I had things to do; perhaps I could spend some time with them after I'm done with everything.

I shut the door behind me and I dusted my sleeves of dirt and grime.

"Friend?" A voice had said warily. I spun behind me and came face to face with a white creature with pink wings. In an instant I patted its head.

"Hey little bud." I cooed as it begun to smile. A reminder popped in my head and I frowned, "I have to go to the market,"

He opened his eyes and immeadiatley flew to a chest. Using his claws he grabbed a small piece of parchment. Letters written in Ink were barely readable, good thing there were pictures. I glanced at list and an image of a small lumpy tear shaped gem had caught my eye. I glanced at him and slowly shook my head.

He tilted his head and spoke, "Overpriced?"

I nodded, "Perilous. I know you how much you want it, but remember our motto."

"Protect over profit plus opulence."

I grinned and lifted my mask for him to see, he smiled back-or at least attempted to-and perched on my shoulder.

"Follow friend!"

I wistfully grinned and opened my backpack; he flew in immediately. I could feel his small fur push against the cloth fabric as I slug it on my back. Patting the backpack, I could her him let out a small squeak. I nodded and walked. While I was walking a days worth of traveling, he was resting comfortably in a feathered fill compartment. How the world is unfair. In a good way.

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"Spider products!" A lizard man shouted-with a slight lisp-from a wooden stall. He waved a small gland in one scale hand and a bundle of webs in the other. I nodded at him and pointed at the bundle of webs. He grinned and put away the gland. I dug into my pocket and slid a handful of coins on the stall desk. He grabbed them rubbed them together. Deeming them real he handed the bundle of web and handed me a card. His green scale face smiled while pointing at the words "A purchase from Fluffy's stall is always a good choice!" I looked back at him and pointed at his name.

"You might need to change your name." I said. He rolled his slit eyes, bags we're barely visible and he placed a sharp nail against the desk. It loudly tapped against the wood and several dryads had begun to stare. I sighed, "I'm just saying, you have scales. Maybe you should choose a more fitting name."

"Quiet Lydia." He whispered. "You call yourself that stupid name, why don't you change it?"

I rolled my eyes and took out my pan-flute, "I do what my name implies, yours is just ironic."

By now several other creatures begun to stare, all of them whispering-even the ones without mouths. Fluffy stared at me with a mouth full of fangs. I stared and dug into my pockets. Sliding two more coins, he closed his mouth and handed me a small piece of hard honey wrapped in paper. I nodded and walked away from his stall.

As I walked through the handful of people who had been staring at me, all of them narrowed their eyes at my backpack. I tried to ignore it all; it seemingly didn't work as I had something constantly poking my back.

"... Weak." A voice had said. I glanced in their direction but couldn't tell who. I turned and kept walking.

"Hey!" A lizard man had shouted. I stumbled as he grabbed a hold of my pack. I ripped it away from his clawed hands and spun around. "What's in there." He asked.

"Nothing that you should worry about." I answered back.

"Really," He opened my backpack and nicked something. I felt my heart sink when it let out a small series of squeaks. I took out an axe and held it in front of the Lizard man. He held a small white bat.

"Put him down." I ordered. The lizard man kept holding the bat by his leg. "I said put him down." He continued to stare. "Just put him down I don't-" I felt a resounding wave of pain radiate in my leg. I quickly dropped to the floor and felt my friend collide with my head. His white fur blocked most of my vision.

The crowd of people disperse and we were left alone on the floor. I was struggling to pick myself while my little bat friend had begun to flap its wings. It ducked into my backpack and dropped a large stick in front of my face. I grabbed it and slowly lifted myself on my two feet. My leg continued to sting as I shambled out the market place. I heard a group of Lizard men chuckling as I dragged past them.

We had everything we needed, it wasn't worth potentially losing it all from one simple mugging.

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"YEOW!" I screamed. My little friend merely winced. It was clear he wasn't enjoying the show. My leg stung as I picked out pieces of rubbles that had dug into my skin. Each one removed left an noticeable gash. What the heck did they attack me with? the rocks were no-doubt from the pavement but among the stone and dirt we're white thorns. It would be pretty if it weren't so painful. It leaked out a sappy pink liquid. It smelled like death and felt like iron nails pressed under my eyelids.

I picked out another and let out a scream of agony.

"Little bud, get some-ow-get something to help with the cleaning." I asked. He immediately dashed into a nearby container.

I picked a small little thorn and examined it. Looking for any details on what It could've been. It had small little ridges and was smooth as metal; metal is common everything down here, on rocks, plants, even on the fish. The pink sludge squished like gum under someones shoe and felt like liquid gel. Right on queue my stomach had begun to rumble.

I glanced at my little buddy and he was still rooting around in a crate. "Hey, can you fetch me something to eat while you're doing whatever you're doing?"

He squeaked which I could only assume was a yes. I was proved wrong when he flew out the chest with a claw full of honey and cloth bandages.

I flinched.

"Really?" I asked.

He beat his wings twice and I felt my skin turn white. Sighing I placed my hands on my knees and clenched my skin hard. "Little bud, remember, on the count of three-"

"Pardon?"

I sighed; vocabulary words before math was a bad idea. "Ok, on the third word you say. Apply the bandages-make sure they're covered in the honey."

He squeaked and begun to speak. "One."

I clenched my teeth and waited for the pain.

"Follow-up one."

I closed my eyes.

I screeched when he placed the bandage on my leg. The honey seeped into my wounds and stuck to the openings. The worst part was the slight itching and how I was covered in what essentially is goopy dessert.

I sighed and rested my head against clumps of beefalo hair. "I miss pillows so much....." I muttered to myself. The soft feeling of cotton and fabric was one I had no idea was a luxury along with blankets and pre-made houses with plumbing. Home was a word I had forgotten but didn't miss all too much. I suddenly had a need to sleep and gave into the desire.

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"How much you think we'll get for this?" I asked putting on a pair of ear muffs. It didn't feel good against my scales nor did it look normal; rabbits and ropes are horrible materials for ear muffs. Itchy and uncomfortable were words I had never used in unison until now. The money better be worth this hell on my ears-well ear holes.

"60 coins. Each" Red boasted, audible gasp of amazement emanated around us. Kyle and Lucy were smiling to each other, Red grinned and I just sat they're looking at the three of them.

"We're going to be rich!" Kyle exclaimed, his grey scales had begun to turn white.

"Hey, calm down. If we want to get paid we have to complete this job." Lucy said while placing a clawed hand on his shoulder. She turned to me and frowned, "Do you have it?"

I grinned and tossed her a glass bottle filled with tar. "Yup, let's do this."

She and the other smiled and ran. I followed.

It took almost two days but we were ready, a large wooden shack with a connecting stable. No-doubt they're were animals inside. Not like it would matter, fire would be enough to deal with them. Maybe even get some light snacks.

"Ready?" Lucy asked as she placed her mask on. Torches were in her backpack.

"Yup." I answered.

"Ready to earn some money." Kyle said with a slight snarl; insanity was clearly affecting him.

"Watch and learn." Red grinned.

We all grabbed a torch and held them under the glass bottles. Wait a minute....

"Wait, where's the cork and string?"

Lucy stared and Kyle begun to giggle.

"Dang it guys, C'mon. Red?"

He shrugged. "Its not my fault."

I sighed and sat on the ground. "What now?"

Kyle stared before a mad grin cut across his mouth. He dashed from me to Lucy to Red, grabbing our bottles of tar. "I have a better idea." He pressed one of his fingers against the glass and it cracked. Tipping the bottles Tar begun to leak and pool on the floor. He punctured the other bottles and lined the ground with tar, it lead from the shack to us. His plan finally hit me.

"Give me a torch."

Lucy stared at me in confusion while Red just tossed it to me. I opened my mouth and placed it on my tongue. It took five minutes but it felt like an hour as the taste of burnt wood lingered on my taste buds; It was on fire and I dipped it into the line of tar.

It caught fire immediately and the shack begun to glow from the flames.

Kyle begun to shamble away, then Lucy and Red, finally me. We were all going to get paid for what was just our average Tuesday.

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"And the men of the mountain and in the hall......" I repeated to myself hoping some sort of inspiration would come to me so I could put it into my poem. My eyes shut and my pressed my mind to think of something inspiring and poetic-or at least enough to write sheet music. The itchy grass and beating sun weren't making anything easier.

"And the men of the mountain and in this hall..... Begun to bawl..." I opened my eyes and sighed. My hands were occupied by two months worth of musicals notes all compressed into a single page. Why is this so difficult? Music should be easy.... so why it so hard to write one song?

I sighed once more before the sun's rays were beginning to become too much. I folded the paper into my bag. The crumpling noises were slightly satisfying; progress does have a sound. I lifted my self from the grass and took in the breeze of fresh Chicago air.

"Hey, Lydia!" A male voiced called out to me. I spun around and nearly jumped out of my skin with delight.

"Percy!" I waved at him. He nodded but pointed to his ears, I grimaced and just waved again. He walked towards me and grabbed ahold of my mask. Placing it on his face he held up an iron rod he found and pretended to be an evil shaman; it'd be annoying if it also wasn't so adorable every time he did it; but it still peeves me how he is so carefree with it on, It sends me to the edge of worry as he could simply fall and shatter it into many wooden pieces.

Of course, I couldn't tell him that, mostly cause his ears didn't work.

I just merely waited until he finished his incantations which would have "Summoned a great deity" but in all fairness, I think he just wanted an excuse to act silly.

"Percy." I signed at him, he continued to act silly and grabbed a little girl by her collar; she seemed about 2 years below our age.

"SACRIFICE FOR OUR LORD!" He shouted; I never really knew if even HE knew what he was saying. The little girl let out a loud shriek and thrashed against Percy. Despite her obvious unwillingness, he continued to play around, waving his metal rod around like a cane. "I SHALL BASH THE HEAD OF THIS ONE LIKE A WATER MELON!"

"Percy no!" I futilely shouted at him. I paused and immediately facepalmed. I reached into my bag and dug out my flute. I placed it to my lips and blew out a full breath of air.

I immeadiatley smacked myself for realizing the issue. I sighed and simply tossed the flute at his head. He screeched and dramatically fell onto his knee's. "I HAVE BEEN STRUCT DOWN!"

I rolled my eyes grabbed my mask back. The little girl backed away from him and stared at me.

"No, I'm not related to him. Yes, he has some problems, I'm not sure if its mental."

She stared at me and shook her head.

"I was going to ask if you two are boyfriend and girlfriend."

I couldn't help but laugh as Percy scrambled to get up and deny her claims; it didn't help that his face reddened like a cherry. How he managed to understand what she said I didn't know nor did I care, this was too fun to lampshade.

"She's a friend, plus she's weak." He screamed, immediately slamming his iron rod into my knee.

I cried out and collapsed onto the floor. The little girl stared, she no doubt had the same question I had.

"Why.... just why?"

Percy grinned and leaned down, whispering, "Cause I must be the strong one."

I frowned and gripped my leg, the bone ached and it felt like a gunshot. Strange as how I never even been shot.

The little girl sighed and grabbed my hand. She lifted me onto my feet and steadied me when I begun to stumble.

"Your friend is weird...."

I nodded and snatched Percy's metal rod. "This is mine now," I murmured to him as I begun to use it as a cane. The little girl removed something from her hair and wrapped it around the metal rod. "Hmm?"

A small pink ribbon now adorned the makeshift cane, the name "Winni" written in black marker. I glanced at the little girl and pointed at the ribbon. She nodded. "I like watching things be turned into ash."

"Wait what?" I glanced at her. Her white hair and face begun to melt. Then the tree's and grass. Then Percy and my "cane".

Finally, I felt my legs give. Everything begun to melt like a candle to a flame.... in fact, everything seemed to have an orange hue. It was also suddenly warm.... Wait... why do I hear shouting.... it's familiar.

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"FRIEND FRIEND FRIEND, FIRE FIRE FIRE!" A hoarse voiced called out while a strange force begun beating its wings against my side. I stirred and waved my hand to hopefully shoo the annoyance away.

I then felt a sudden sting of pain slide along my cheek.

I screamed and sat up. My hand traveled to my face as I felt a thick liquid run down my cheek. I then realized I touched my cheek.

"Where is my mask?!" I shouted as my eyes stung from the sudden amount of light. I rubbed them and wished I had kept them shut.

Fire and flames licked the walls and singed every thing they touched. My little friend flying erratically around the room, grabbed what he could and chucking it out the windows and opened holes in the wall.

I scrambled towards the pens, knocking over several signs and lightly bumping into my little bat friend. He squealed and landed on my shoulder. I silently prayed he would be able to stay on.

Dogs, birds, small reptiles and large insects cried out from the flames near them. I rushed towards the pen of dogs and gripped the gate. I heaved but it barely moved. Stuck.

I groaned and ran towards a chest. I frantically begun to look for a Shovel or an Axe, something to loosen the gate.

"MOVE!" My little bat friend screamed from behind me as he collided into the back of head. I didn't expect him to be so strong and then suddenly I fall inside the chest. My little bat friend huddled under my head as the sounds of animals yelping and crashing wood echo as I shut the chest closed.

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"Friend?" My little bat friend mumbles as I slowly open my eyes. His large eyes are staring at me. I groan and sit myself up as best I can. The chest smelt of burnt ash and I felt small amounts of pain in my leg. My hand was numb and resting against something slick and smooth. Wait what? I say in my head.

I glance to my hand and nearly scream. An axe.

I use my left hand to grip the tool and place the head against the roof of the chest.

"Hey, little bud, move." I tell my little bat friend and he complies. I reel my arm back before slamming it back into the wooden roof. I repeat until finally a small burst of light nearly blinds me. I squeeze my hands into the crack and tear at whatever loose pieces would break.

My hands full of splinters, I manage to make a hole large enough for me and my little bat friend to squeeze through. Part of me wishes I was back in the chest as nothing but burnt wood and ashes remained.

I walk away from the debris to a small ledge over looking a nearby town.

I hear the clicking of my little bat friends claws against the rocky floor as he slowly wades towards me. He collapses and lies flat on his fluffy belly. I can't help but slightly chuckle. In his mouth is a small piece of paper.

I nab it from his jaw and read it. On it we're words from some dictionary I wrote in an attempt to teach some of the animals English.

My blood runs cold as I remember the animals.

I sorrowfully sigh and bite my lip, doing my best to not cry. I read the paper again and see a small highlighted word. Any tears that would have fallen have been stopped as an idea sprang in my mind.

"Wayward," I mumble. I glanced at my little bat friend and scratch his back. He lets out a small coo and I smile. "You're name is now Wayward."

He yawns and we both fall silent, staring at the distant town as mushrooms glow around us.

(END)

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((Thanks for reading, please leave some criticism and tips to make future stories better.)