anonymous asked:

Adoh – a dash of hope? Maybe?

Welp, I think you go down as the person who guessed a story title the fastest!

A Dash of Hope is set as a prequel to the three-part Brothers Apart special, and is a sister tale to Out of the Frying Pan. It follows the rest of Garen’s family, Risa and their two children, as they strike out on a scary and dangerous journey out into the world after being chased from their home and losing a father and husband to the humans that caused the disaster in the first place.

On this trip, they will run into new allies and new dangers, it’s a big world out there!

When this story posts, it will be under @neonthebright‘s account, as the story is going to delve into more of her worldbuilding and lore 😉

Risa, Autumn and Garret by @mogadeer!

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A crack of lightning lit up the dark forest, illuminating the eerie, unfamiliar world around them.

Risa pulled her children closer to her, huddling together for warmth in the night. Rain pounded down, hitting the ground forcefully. If any of them went out of the small alcove into the open air, the force of the water would be enough to knock them from their feet. It was one of the most devastating storms they’d ever seen, and they were stranded with no shelter past the arched covering of a tree root Autumn had found right as the storm hit.

Risa sucked in a gasp as the thunder boomed overhead. It was one thing to listen to a storm, snug and safe under the floorboards of the motel they’d called ‘home’ for so long. It was another thing entirely to be forced out into the wilderness without warning or preparation, driven there by the humans fear of ‘pests’ living in the walls.

She tried to stay strong for her children, Autumn and Garret, but it was getting harder every hour. Ever since smelling the poison waft down the walls, Garret had acquired a hacking cough, his entire body shaking in her arms with every breath. He’d only recently turned two, happily tearing around the house while Risa tried to keep him under control, keep him from attracting notice from the occupants of the rooms above.

After all, humans were dangerous.

Autumn, her ten year old daughter, huddled on her other side. “Mom, where’s Dad?” she asked worriedly. “He said he’d catch up to us as soon as he could. How come he’s been gone so long?”

Risa kissed her head. Autumn’s silver eyes watered up at her, those beautiful eyes she’d inherited from her father bleak and running out of hope. “Don’t worry, baby. He’ll find us. Everything’s going to be alright. We just need to stay strong for Dad and give him time.” She ruffled her daughter’s long brown hair, mussing up the wet strands. Even the blue ribbon Autumn used to tie her hair back with was sodden and bedraggled.

She pulled her children closer one more time, trying to hide them better underneath the thick root. Past the sounds of the terrifying storm above them, animals could be heard moving around in the dark forest. Even the insects crawling over and under the fallen leaves scattered over the ground could harm her and her children. She could only hope there were no spiders lurking in the underbrush nearby.

“We’ll be okay,” Risa promised them, praying she wasn’t lying.

Garret coughed, his tiny hacking voice breaking up the silence that surrounded them between the rolling thunderclaps.