Riley woke up to the sight of a rifle, its cold metal glinting in the dim morning light. His dad stood at the foot of his bed, expression as hard as the gun he held. He tossed Riley the rifle, followed by a box of bullets that landed with a heavy thud on the blanket.

“Go out and kill something.” He said, then turned and left the room without another word.

There would be no cake, no presents, nothing to mark his thirteenth birthday except for the rifle now in his hands. Riley wasn’t surprised; celebrations weren’t something his dad did. But still, a part of him wondered if the rifle was meant to signify something. Maybe turning thirteen—officially becoming a teenager—made him more important in his dad’s eyes.

He knew how to use a gun. His older brother, Drew, had taught him years ago, back before he stole their dad’s truck and ran off to marry a boy. Drew had learnt back when their mom was still alive, and their dad was a different man. He’d been a good man once—someone who loved his family, his job, and, most of all, his guns. That last part hadn’t changed.

Riley remembered the story he had told him, the one about when their dad took Drew into the woods for the first time. Drew had been six years old, still just a kid, when their dad shot a rabbit and handed him the gun. “Shoot it.” he’d said. Drew didn’t want to. The rabbit was still alive, twitching and helpless. “It’s innocent.” He argued, but he wanted to make his dad proud more than he wanted to care.

So, he pulled the trigger and, that night, they ate rabbit for dinner.

Before Drew left, he’d told Riley something their dad said that day, something that had stayed with him ever since.

“Nothing is innocent.”

Riley thought about that every day. Was it true? Maybe today he’d find out. He dressed quickly, grabbed the rifle and his backpack, and rode his bike into the woods. There was a tree he always climbed, one he’d been climbing since he was seven. If there was anything Riley was good at, it was climbing.

This tree was more than just a tree to him. It was a refuge, a place where he could hide from the world—and from his dad. Riley’s dad wasn’t scary to most people, but to Riley, he was the scariest man alive. Sometimes, he thought his dad was living proof that nothing was innocent.

But he wasn’t sure. What if he was innocent? He wasn’t a bad kid, just a mistake. His dad never meant to get his mom pregnant, not like they meant to have Drew. They never meant to keep him, either, but his mom got depressed and had to go to the hospital, where they wouldn’t let her get an abortion. They said she wasn’t in the right state of mind, and by the time she was, it was too late.

Maybe his mom was innocent. Was it her fault she was in so much pain? She was unhappy, so she left. That’s how it works. That’s why Drew left, too.

In a way, Riley loved his dad the most because he stayed. Even if he was mean, at least he didn’t leave like everyone else. That made him better. Not a good, but _better _parent. Though, it wasn’t fair. His mom never got a chance.

“Kill something.” Riley whispered to himself, perched at the top of the tree. From up there, he could see the whole world, and it was ugly. The trees were leafless, the sky was a dirty gray, and the air was thick with smoke. But the sun, despite everything, was still shining brightly. It made him mad. No—it pissed him off.

What right did the sun have to shine so bright on such an ugly day? On his birthday? No. He had to do something about it.

He loaded a bullet into the chamber and aimed the rifle at the sun. Without thinking twice—without even thinking once—he pulled the trigger.

And he killed the sun.

For a moment, he couldn’t believe it. But then he saw the golden liquid oozing slowly from the sky, and with every blink, the world grew darker until there was no light. None at all.

Had he really done that? Could he go back to his dad, smile, and tell him that he’d killed something? Would his dad be proud of him, like he was of Drew? Probably not. You can’t cook the sun for dinner. So really, killing it was pointless.

But then again, maybe all killing was pointless**. **What had it proven? The sun was innocent, wasn’t it? Had he really killed something innocent?

The questions swirled in his mind, but he couldn’t seem to focus on them and they didn’t seem to matter.

In the end, the world went dark because a 13-year-old boy had gotten a rifle for his birthday and decided to make it everyone’s problem.

A great, metal, yellow submarine plunges into the darkness, falling like a penny in a well.

A submarine— an aimless, lumbering being, with little pale creatures inside it. It knew not how to take the currents at advantage, nor how to feel through the murk. It was foreign, and it was the exact opposite of a fish out of water.

Squids and fish and sharks hurry by, curious but protective of their lives— some are bio-luminescent, others are too blind for it to matter. While several, like the Greenland shark, utilize their giant size to keep themselves safe from predators, others harness a small physique to ensure safety from starvation.

The gangly creatures in the submarine point and stare as a pimpled red squid ambles by.

Strawberry squid; Histioteuthis heteropsis. One eye is large and yellow, catching the faint light that sometimes breaches the borders of the deep. The other is smaller, and faces the depths below.

They take out a dark wooden board, and scribble something down. The submarine rumbles under the massive water pressure.

The strawberry squid emits no light, but the next creature does— a siphonophore; it’s a long, tendriling worm-like animal, emitting a ghostly glow as it swims. However, it is not one animal, but many— an elaborate colony of tiny organisms, called zooids, all collaborating to create their own entity. The creatures in the submarine marvel again, and they scribble on their boards once more.

In their descent, the members of the meandering submarine see a great variety of specimens: see-through animals like the elegant peacock squid and glass octopus, fearsome predators like the angler fish and enormous magnapinna, and many creatures that look more like aliens than earth dwellers— some highlights being the telescope fish and barrel eye.

Finally, the adventuring researchers reach their intended destination; the bottom the sea. Without the lights of their submarine, the water here would be blacker than black.

The sea floor looks barren at first, but one of the researchers points— a whale carcass. The machine’s propellers take it forwards.

The carcass is nothing but a pile of bones, colored an aged murky-yellow and fully picked clean. However, despite the whale being long dead, its body is full of life.

Deep-sea worms have tunneled through the skeleton, and although there is no more flesh, the bones hold valuable nutrients. Small sea-floor scavengers huddle close, including a variety of crustaceans, some small octopi, shellfish, and giant isopods— which look like mutant roly polies.

The researchers watch this feeding ground with great interest, and again rattle off their notes. A giant claw reaches forth from their submarine, and secures itself around a small rib. This rib will be studied, and it will provide more information to the researchers on the biodiversity present.

The researchers have now gotten what they wanted, and have taken many notes. This undersea world is no place for machinery and its strange human beings— it is dangerous and unknown.

They press a button, and fresh air pumps into the tanks controlling the submarine’s buoyancy. The great machine heaves itself off the floor, and begins its long journey back to the surface.

— — — —

My original idea for this prompt was that the sun had been blocked out by clouds and the power lines destroyed by some natural disaster, and the protagonist was a blind guy who was the only one who could navigate properly because he was used to not being able to see— but the way I was writing it felt really bland so I swapped course. If anybody thinks that idea is interesting feel free to use it!

Does anybody else think it would be cool to just hang out at the bottom of the sea? Like, no societal pressures, no commitments, no stuff going on… just the strange creatures that live in the deep, and darkness.

Blood. Screams. Terror. While the darkening forces invaded the world, seeping through soul to soul as if a sickening disease was spreading. Nightmares of which only existed in the mind dripped violently down our skulls. Drip. Drip. Drip. As the dark storm brews around us, the roaring wind harshly slapping the faces of innocents, the bullets rapidly pummeling towards others, the sick hands invading what doesn’t belong to them.

Trembling, shivering as an all too familiar feeling creeped it’s way through our frozen minds. The thunder crackling throughout the night, the lighting striking children, bodies found. In a world rapidly descendeding into a hallow abyss it’s difficult to find a way out, a safe place. Perhaps there is none.

Perhaps the light has dimmed, reduced to a faded memory or what was once alive. Where music hummed to the rhythm of life, the beaming warmth of an embrace didn’t feel so lifeless, hearts never stopped beating.

But what can one do when one can no longer see? What else is left once the light dies? One becomes blind, left to wander aimlessly navigating their way through a nightmare of which was the new reality.

In their world of almost complete darkness, the creatures know not in the power of true light energy. For none of those who dwell here have seen anything brighter than the brilliant glow of bitter mushrooms that trive in the dark. Knowledge of the light has long been lost to the small folk that call this place home. The teachers now speak only in tales of old, speaking unknown truths in the form of childling stories.

  “What is it?” Gemma asks. Crouching down to sit on her heels. Not daring to wonder any closer.

“Don’t touch it! It could be dangerous!” Obie is quick to react, grasping hold of Hasta by his dirt-crusted elbow. Pulling him back and down into a crouch beside Gemma. Obie’s arms wrapped around the squirming childling.   “No, stop!” Hasta fusses against Obie's arms but quickly realizes he’s being ignored, and his attention turns towards Izzy, who stands the closest.   “I’ve never seen a mushroom so bright before,” Izzy holds out her hands. Using her palms as shields against its brightness. Watching her backlit fingers wiggle in the light.   “That’s no mushroom glow, Izzy. I… I’m not sure what that thing is.” Frog is further behind them. Squinting at its vibrancy through small, weary slits. “I don’t trust it.” He adjusts his weight, itching to leave this place. “WE shouldn’t trust it.” He pleads with Obie. But he’s seen that look before, and he shifts his weight again, dropping his head to ease the sting in his watering eyes.   “It hurts!” Hasta wines and rubs his small fists into his eyes.   “Don’t look directly at it.” Izzy says, rushing to his aid. She crouches down in front of him and Obie, blocking the light from Hasta’s eyes. “Hasta, look. Peep through your fingers, like me, okay?” She shows him how, and he tries it. Then he laughs, proud of himself.   “We must speak of it to the council.” Gemma looks to Obie, the eldest and therefore the one in charge.   “No. We know what will happen if we do Gemma.” Obie speaks his mind aloud before thinking on it. Now unsure if he even agrees with these thoughts. He knows it is wrong to hide such a finding from the council. And yet, something deep within him wonders at the oddity. Wanting to seek answers for himself before sharing.    “They—” Gemma starts in protest, but Obie stands, handing the wiggling Hasta to her.   “No, your right. This is my responsibility. I will speak to the council first thing tomorrow.” He smiles reassuringly towards her, and she nods in approval. “Izzy, Frog... know now not to speak of this place; we will not return here. The council would forbid this of us.” Frog nods, as does Izzy. Then Hasta escapes Gemmas grasp and makes a run for the tunnel they came from, squealing as he goes.    The five of them crawl back out the way they came. Sealing the tunnel off with large stones, clay-heavy soil, and a promise to never return. They collect their gathering bags, fill them with nightshade berries, and head back to the village.   Obie walks, holding Hasta's hand and carrying their bags slung over his shoulder. They all move together back across a wooden bridge. Izzy, Frog, and Gimma are walking up ahead, debating the best nightshade soup they’ve ever had. Though Obie lags behind, his thoughts lingering on the tunnel. On the light within. He could still feel the odd, cool air that seemed to radiate from it. Smelled the damp, fresh scent that drifted around it. He had never seen anything like it before, and he wanted to know more.

I’n the sealed-off tunnel; a horrific groan rumbles the earth. A loud crash follows, and the light is snuffed out in the next instant. A balance momentarily restored, and their world once again sealed away in peace.

In a world perpetually cloaked in darkness, life had adapted to the omnipresent shadow. This world, called Tenebrae, knew light only as a fleeting memory, a legend whispered among the elders. The skies were a thick, inky black, and the sun was but a dim ghost, barely illuminating the ground. The moon and stars were long forgotten myths.

In the heart of Tenebrae stood the city of Lumora, a bastion of civilization where the last remnants of light were fiercely protected. The city's center was dominated by the Luminary Tower, a grand structure that housed the Lumina Crystal, the sole source of light in Tenebrae. The crystal's radiant glow was powerful enough to cast a soft, ethereal light across the entire city, making Lumora a sanctuary in the darkness.

The citizens of Lumora revered the crystal, and its guardians, the Luminants, were tasked with ensuring its protection. These guardians were a select group, trained from a young age in the arts of defense and the delicate rituals required to sustain the crystal's light. They were led by Elyra, a wise and courageous woman who had devoted her life to the crystal's safeguarding.

One fateful night, a dark force descended upon Lumora. The Shadow King, ruler of the dark lands beyond the city, sought to claim the Lumina Crystal for himself. His minions, twisted creatures born of the darkness, swarmed the city's defenses. The Luminants fought valiantly, but the Shadow King's power was overwhelming.

Elyra knew that they could not withstand the assault indefinitely. In a desperate bid to save the crystal, she summoned Alaric, the most skilled of the young Luminants. "You must take the crystal and flee," she commanded. "Find the Ancient Light, the source of all light, and rekindle its flame. It is the only way to save Tenebrae."

With a heavy heart, Alaric took the Lumina Crystal and set out into the darkness. Guided by the faint glow of the crystal, he journeyed through treacherous terrain, facing dangers at every turn. The creatures of the darklands, drawn to the light, pursued him relentlessly. Yet, Alaric's resolve never wavered. He remembered Elyra's words and the hope of his people.

After many perilous days, Alaric reached the Ruins of Solara, an ancient place said to be the last known location of the Ancient Light. The ruins were desolate, the air thick with an oppressive gloom. Alaric ventured deep into the heart of the ruins, where he found a forgotten chamber. In the center of the chamber lay a dormant, colossal crystal, dark and lifeless.

With trembling hands, Alaric placed the Lumina Crystal beside the Ancient Light and began the ritual Elyra had taught him. He chanted the sacred words, and as he did, the Lumina Crystal's light intensified, merging with the dormant crystal. A blinding flash filled the chamber, and Alaric shielded his eyes.

When he opened them, the Ancient Light was rekindled, blazing with an intense, pure brilliance. The darkness retreated, unable to withstand the power of the light. Alaric knew he had succeeded, but his journey was not yet over. He had to return to Lumora and restore hope to his people.

With the Ancient Light in his possession, Alaric made his way back to Lumora. The city's defenders were on the brink of defeat, but as Alaric approached, the light began to spread. The Shadow King's forces recoiled, unable to bear its radiance. The Luminants, reinvigorated by the returning light, rallied and drove back the darkness.

The Ancient Light was placed in the Luminary Tower, its glow banishing the darkness that had plagued Tenebrae for so long. Under its warmth, the world began to heal. Plants that had withered in the perpetual night started to bloom, and the people of Tenebrae emerged from the shadows, rejoicing in the light's return.

Elyra, though wounded from the battle, smiled as she saw Alaric return. "You have done well," she said, her voice filled with pride. "The light has returned, and with it, hope."

From that day forward, the people of Tenebrae no longer lived in fear of the darkness. The Ancient Light stood as a beacon of hope and a reminder that even in the deepest darkness, a single light could shine brightly enough to change the world.

The world was dark full of dust like a old picture left hanging, forgoten. With the world in darkness crime was also through the roof, threatening everyone who made the wrong move. There were people still in power. Other then the government and mob, there were still BulbRed. ————————————-Pupper POV———————— The lights are still counteracting each other, but the smells of fear were growing. The sounds of humans were much quieter then they were before. If I could understand what they are saying and speak the way they speak, I would ask not why are things different. I would ask for a treat for the smallest amount of comfort.

(LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!! This little number not only includes two beloved characters of mine but it is also inspired by two of you!)

————————— (Tess)

Life has its own problems.

Its own numbers of distress, and darkness.

I am an Athiest.

Nothings been good for me.

I've been in a hole since 6.

A dark one that covers me whole.

Everything negative falls down the hole.

Making it darker and darker like a painter's night sky canvas.

No white paint falls down. It paints over the hole.

The outside is very different than the inside.

No cracks appear in the black paint.

Well, usually.

Those small little cracks appear from… a girl.

Excuse me, a woman.

A woman covered in white paint, and maybe some pink.

A woman who's hole doesn't exist.

She has no black paint… well I cant assume so maybe she has some.

She says “Black is always needed in a rainbow”

I guess she doesn't mean the ones after it rains.

She's bright, and cracks and cracks the black leading out the hole.

She makes me see light, hope, society outside my dark hole.

But it doesn't last forever.

She leaves and the black gets darker again…

And I sit, thinking of her… again.

————————— HA HA! I almost made me cry. Am I that inspirational? (Jk)

Should I reveal my face? I feel like I should.

I hope y'all find out who this is inspired by, well its based on my characters experience of course.

HAVE A NICE DAYYYY!!!!

I saw it once you know, the light. It was quite a while ago. I was sitting writing, of what I don't remember. when I saw it, the light. it was like a light stream of water but it was untouchable. I tried to take it and keep it, but it was no use, after all, you can't claim light. Yet it was one of the most beautiful things I would ever see. Now all light is gone, and you won't find it anymore. I wish someone would try to find a way to bring it back, but nobody will. They are either to scared, or like me don't think it will ever be found.

For years, ever since the Wolf Kingdom had taken over, four of the seven kingdoms had liven in darkness. They feared that the evil would find them, so they locked themselves up, and hid away from the world. The kingdoms needed heroes, and thankfully for them, those heroes would come.

“Snowlili… it’s time… wake up!” Meowed a ginger tomcat, peeking his head into a blue and white, beautiufllly decorated room. A small white she-cat slowly sat up, grooming her silky fur as she did so. 

“It’s time to get ready for your coronation!” The tomcat exclaimed happily, grabbing a sapphire colored ribbon and tying it around the she-cat’s tail. Snowlili sighed, flicking her ears with disgust. She didn’t want to be a princess, she just wanted to be a normal cat… The tomcat finished tying the bow, and then suddenly remembered something. “I’ll be right back, I forgot to grab your special diamond collar!” With that the tomcat sped out of the room. Snowlili chuckled, thinking his frantic attitude and stressed out personality was quite humorous, and walked over to look out of her windowsill. The sky, as usual, was dark. Of course this wasn’t the natural color of the sky, sadly, smoke and rain always blanket over it. The rain is natural; God’s own work to craft every droplet. But the smoke?; Well, it’s from the wolves always burning villages. Snowlili was lost in thought when suddenly she saw three figures slinking into the castle, all holding some sort of stick in there mouths. She leaped from the windowsill to see what was happening, when screams of horror rang in the air. The ginger tomcat ran into her room, fear in his eyes. “Snowlili, we need to get out! Now!” He hissed. Flames began to eat up the stairs and move towards them. The tomcat pried open the window and grabbed Snowlili’s paw. Snowlili took one last look around, and then, they jumped.

TW: Christian stuff will be in this :) (personally I don’t think Christian stuff needs a TW but oh well, you never know) This is from a series I’ve been working on. I know I have several of these already started, but I’m sadly quitting "ΨΩUR ΠΣШ HΩMΣ", or at least for now, along with the Hunters of Luira.

Anyways, I’m opening another Character sheet. Here’s an example;

Name: Snowlili (female) Personality: stubborn, kind, adventurous Species/Kingdom: Cat Kingdom Description: a short haired white shecat with sapphire blue eyes. Status in kingdom: Princess Extra: Future mate will be a wolf :0 Backstory: (not required) Snowlili was born into the bloodline of Claw, the great adventurer who first discovered this island of all animals. The family sorta made themselves the rulers of the cat forest. Snowlili’s parents let the power get to their head and are trying to force her to do stuff she doesn’t want (like marry one of the suitor, blech)

Oki now it’s your turn!!! (Just copy and paste if you want)

Name: Personality: Species/Kingdom: Description: Status in Kingdom: Extra: Backstory:

Here are the kingdoms: Fox Woods (or just fox kingdom) Kingdom of the Fire Foxes (aka red pandas) Kingdom of the Sea (aka otters) Kingdom of the Tunnels (aka Mice) The Rebels (a group of powerful dogs who have powers and use their powers to stop evil wolves) Wolf Kingdom

OKI I HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!

It was you Or at least it should have been I’ve been floating in darkness everyday And then I see you Or I did Now you’re gone Not entirely but I feel you leaving I try to connect with the world around me To move on But it’s been a year And you’re still the thought of my future My life, maybe even my heart

I guess what I’m saying is I’ve changed I’m not the shy, boring, terrible girl I’m not pathetic Not anymore Yes I’m still in the darkness But maybe for now that’s okay I’d rather be alone in the dark Then blinded by the white light I see you with I still want you I’m just not so sure you want me

And that’s okay It’s better than okay ‘Cause I’m working I’m trying and I’m finally getting somewhere I wonder if you know what it’s like To cry over someone To wonder why nothing you ever did was enough To wish that you didn’t have to keep going Because you knew that nothing you did would ever change the way they saw you

But I’m telling you With words With truth That I’m not the same I’m ready to live Ready to start life I’ve been so held up on you Wondering why the light wouldn’t come to the darkness Why you ignored me And still I keep trying to make you see You’re strong, you’re probably perfect Just like light But one thing I know about light is It breaks the darkness

Just like you broke me Not with words But with actions You made me wonder what the future holds But what future will I have if I’m stuck on you You’re my life

You always will be But people die They escape life Right? I might want to know you But that means nothing to me if you don’t want to know me It might be selfish I don’t know

But all I’m saying Is I’m not the same I want you to see me I want you to realize That I’m not who you think I am

I’m worth more than what you see I’m worth everything I have And I’ve never been so sad To think that you’ll never see me again

Because . . . You’re the light And you’re blinded by it You can’t see me You can’t see black

And that’s okay Because you’d be right I’m not pretty I’m not worth looking at My face is a mess I belong on the street

But I want you to know That in my world Where darkness comes and never goes You were the first sign of light

You had the power And it was you It was you That made me realize It’s okay to be in the dark When the only light that’s shining Is the light that blinded me from what I could have become