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Do OC's Pass Away pt. 2
a year ago
“Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.”
- Samuel Johnson
- Samuel Johnson
♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ Well, I wanted to ask you guys something, not for any particular reason. I just wanted to see what you guys think and get your views about how you handle your characters. So, what I wanted to know was: do your characters die? I mean, do your main characters die? Not the villains or side characters, but the main characters that are the center of your stories, or that make impactful impressions on the story. Have you ever made the decision to write them out of your stories through having them die off, permanently? I know people will kill off a character, then later bring them back. Do you guys ever do that? I'm just curious. This is what happens when my mind wanders a bit.
I was thinking about this over the last week or so. I was thinking about Night and Mhina and the story I wrote a while back, "The Afterlife of Wolves and Lions". In the story, they discuss what happens when they die and the beliefs of their respective species. In the end, they make a promise to meet each other in the afterlife. Whichever one passes away first, the spirit of the other will faithfully wait for the one that is left behind. When the living partner eventually dies, the spirit that awaits for them in the world of the dead will hurry to them and guide them to the eternity of the living spirits where they will never be separated again.
Upon thinking about this, I came to the conclusion that Night would be the one to die first. Mhina is the one that would be left behind and forced to deal with living in a world without the physical presence of someone she has been so passionately in love with for nearly all of her life. I think he would die somewhat unexpectedly from an illness. She will be with him in the hospital the moment his time comes.
Shade, being acutely in touch with the spirits, would know the impending death of his brother, because the spirits of their parents would come to him and tell him that they are coming to bring their son home. He would go to join Mhina and Night at the hospital and tell Mhina that Night is going to slip away from them before the day is over. Obviously, Mhina is heartbroken, as is Shade, but it cannot be helped. Shade is there when his mother and father come for Night. He can see the moment when they reach out their hands to their firstborn child and he tells Mhina that they are here. Mhina begs for them to give her just one more moment to tell him one last thing. She presses her brow to his and weeps, painfully. But, she manages to say, "Do not forget our promise. You promised to wait for me, we promised we would wait for each other. So...please wait for me. Wait for me...and then never let me go, again."
She holds his hand to her cheek and sobs. With his lingering strength, she feels his fingers gently fondle her hair and caress her cheek. He barely manages a whisper of a smile, then sighs, and the hand she held against her furred skin goes limp...and he's gone. The monitors that had been steadily chiming with the beating of the wolf's heart suddenly become an alarm and Mhina knows she's no longer embracing the man that she loved so deeply. She is simply holding on to the shell that housed his beautiful soul.
Shade watches his brother's spirit rise from his body and into the welcoming embrace of their mother and father. He turns to his little brother and says something to him to which Shade tearfully replies, "How can you ask that of me, now?!" This draws Mhina's attention to her oldest child. She knows that he is not talking to himself, as the familiar aura that surrounds him when he engages a spirt has cloaked him in its warm glow. He's angry, but as she cannot hear the voices communicating with him, she does not know why.
By now, the doctors have rushed into the room at the sound of the alarm from the monitors registering Night's inactive vitals. They start the normal procedures to resuscitate their patient, but after a moment, Shade tells them that it's alright and that his brother is not coming back. The doctors look up to protest the obviously grieving wolf's statement, but they notice the ethereal glow around him and quickly realize the situation and who...or rather, what they are speaking to. "...you're a seer." one of the physicians say.
Shade doesn't answer, but there is no doubt about Shade's supernatural abilities. The doctor has seen it before, though it's very rare to see it. Still, he has never seen a medium with such overwhelming power as the possessed by the man he sees before him, now. He knows that magic still exists in this world and before his eyes, he's bearing witness to it. Quietly, he walks over to the machines and turns them off, silencing the disturbing screech of their distressing cries, ushering a mournful din of silence. He urges the other doctors to exit the room and allow the grieving family their needed privacy.
Shade continues to talk to, who Mhina assumes is the ghost of her beloved. It's an uncertainty to her, as she still cannot hear the voices that her son can. She notices pings, or flares of light emanating from various places on his person. It's a telltale sign that he has come into "physical" contact with a spirt. The light shines on either side of his face, then his brow, and he is unable to hold back the tears from flowing from his eyes. Mhina knows for sure that it's Night that he's speaking to, now. Shade has seen the spirits of his parents many times and his reaction was not this mournful. In fact, it was usually jovial, or comforting. But, now, there was only pain. She finds herself gripped with anguish and chokes on her misery. She buries her face in Night's still warm chest, and cries, painfully. Even though he had been ill for quite a while, the idea of him leaving her was not a manifestation of thought that she had permitted to take root in her mind. ...and now, here she was with that thought no longer a possibility, but instead, it was her reality. All she could do in this moment, was weep.
She feels her son touch her shoulder, then wrap her in his comforting embrace. However, she cannot tear herself from Night's slowly cooling body. Even the nearness of her child is not enough to pull her from her grief. In her mind, she knows that she needs to comfort him, too, but the weight of losing her soulmate is a weight that's pulling her down like a stone shackled to her feet, pulling her down into a sea of unfathomable darkness. Shade, at least, can still see his brother, a precious gift that she had not been blessed with. Though, she was not envious of her child. She was glad that the process of healing would be facilitated for him, even if just a little bit. But, for her and the rest of her children, there would only be the memories...and sorrow.
"I'm sorry." Shade whispered. "It feels that it is far too soon, and yet, it is also my time. Even so, I never wanted to leave you. By your side is where I always want to be. For now, though, we must be apart, but only in this way. We are one, so we could never truly be parted."
Mhina gasped. Though she was hearing the voice of her son, they were the words of her beloved. She looked up at Shade who was still shining like the pale moon light and knew that he was relaying a message that was meant for her. "Until we can be together again," Shade continued, "you must let me go. You must live. Our boys will need you now more than ever. Beyond that, there is so much more life in you and so much more life that you have to see. So, please live and know that I have never forgotten the promise we made so many years ago. I promise to be there. I promise that I will be waiting to hear your song."
It was a moment of peace and closure that was denied to very nearly everyone in her position. Only those blessed with the gifts that Shade had, or that had been gifted with the presence of a person like him in their lives, could ever hear the imparting words of a cherished loved one that had already left their mortal form. She was fortunate beyond words, and that was why words had failed her. All she could do was nod meekly through a veil of her own tears. She had heard the translation of her lover's vow, and though his declaration was comforting, it could not alleviate the emptiness she felt in the moment.
She wrapped an arm around her child and patiently rubbed his back, just as she did when he was just her little boy. The small gesture of affection reaffirmed their bond and reminded him of the day his parents were laid to rest. It was the day that she told him that they were a family and that she and Night would always be there for him and Blaze. Though their family was smaller now, they were still a family. Death would not change that. It didn't change it then, and it would not be broken, now.
Slowly, he reached out his hand and the tangible glow shone in his palm. Gently, he pressed his hand onto his mother's dampened cheek and watched her expression quickly switch from turmoil to surprise. For a fleeting moment, through her miracle child, she could feel her love's warm hand upon her. For the briefest of moments, she was able to feel the unmistakable feel of his touch. Then, it was gone and all that was left in its departure was a sad, sweet smile adorning the still mournful face of his beloved mate. She would be alright. They would be alright. That was the unspoken promise she made to him and the silent permission he needed for his spirit to move on. Not fated to be a lingering apparition, Night had gone to join his parents to patiently wait for the day that he could touch his beloved, again. Not for a moment, but for a lifetime. He would be waiting.
I was thinking about this over the last week or so. I was thinking about Night and Mhina and the story I wrote a while back, "The Afterlife of Wolves and Lions". In the story, they discuss what happens when they die and the beliefs of their respective species. In the end, they make a promise to meet each other in the afterlife. Whichever one passes away first, the spirit of the other will faithfully wait for the one that is left behind. When the living partner eventually dies, the spirit that awaits for them in the world of the dead will hurry to them and guide them to the eternity of the living spirits where they will never be separated again.
Upon thinking about this, I came to the conclusion that Night would be the one to die first. Mhina is the one that would be left behind and forced to deal with living in a world without the physical presence of someone she has been so passionately in love with for nearly all of her life. I think he would die somewhat unexpectedly from an illness. She will be with him in the hospital the moment his time comes.
****
You don't have to read the rest. It's just something that I wrote on the spot as I was typing this journal entry. It's how I think this moment would take place. It's a death scene, so you may not be in a particular mood to read it.Shade, being acutely in touch with the spirits, would know the impending death of his brother, because the spirits of their parents would come to him and tell him that they are coming to bring their son home. He would go to join Mhina and Night at the hospital and tell Mhina that Night is going to slip away from them before the day is over. Obviously, Mhina is heartbroken, as is Shade, but it cannot be helped. Shade is there when his mother and father come for Night. He can see the moment when they reach out their hands to their firstborn child and he tells Mhina that they are here. Mhina begs for them to give her just one more moment to tell him one last thing. She presses her brow to his and weeps, painfully. But, she manages to say, "Do not forget our promise. You promised to wait for me, we promised we would wait for each other. So...please wait for me. Wait for me...and then never let me go, again."
She holds his hand to her cheek and sobs. With his lingering strength, she feels his fingers gently fondle her hair and caress her cheek. He barely manages a whisper of a smile, then sighs, and the hand she held against her furred skin goes limp...and he's gone. The monitors that had been steadily chiming with the beating of the wolf's heart suddenly become an alarm and Mhina knows she's no longer embracing the man that she loved so deeply. She is simply holding on to the shell that housed his beautiful soul.
Shade watches his brother's spirit rise from his body and into the welcoming embrace of their mother and father. He turns to his little brother and says something to him to which Shade tearfully replies, "How can you ask that of me, now?!" This draws Mhina's attention to her oldest child. She knows that he is not talking to himself, as the familiar aura that surrounds him when he engages a spirt has cloaked him in its warm glow. He's angry, but as she cannot hear the voices communicating with him, she does not know why.
By now, the doctors have rushed into the room at the sound of the alarm from the monitors registering Night's inactive vitals. They start the normal procedures to resuscitate their patient, but after a moment, Shade tells them that it's alright and that his brother is not coming back. The doctors look up to protest the obviously grieving wolf's statement, but they notice the ethereal glow around him and quickly realize the situation and who...or rather, what they are speaking to. "...you're a seer." one of the physicians say.
Shade doesn't answer, but there is no doubt about Shade's supernatural abilities. The doctor has seen it before, though it's very rare to see it. Still, he has never seen a medium with such overwhelming power as the possessed by the man he sees before him, now. He knows that magic still exists in this world and before his eyes, he's bearing witness to it. Quietly, he walks over to the machines and turns them off, silencing the disturbing screech of their distressing cries, ushering a mournful din of silence. He urges the other doctors to exit the room and allow the grieving family their needed privacy.
Shade continues to talk to, who Mhina assumes is the ghost of her beloved. It's an uncertainty to her, as she still cannot hear the voices that her son can. She notices pings, or flares of light emanating from various places on his person. It's a telltale sign that he has come into "physical" contact with a spirt. The light shines on either side of his face, then his brow, and he is unable to hold back the tears from flowing from his eyes. Mhina knows for sure that it's Night that he's speaking to, now. Shade has seen the spirits of his parents many times and his reaction was not this mournful. In fact, it was usually jovial, or comforting. But, now, there was only pain. She finds herself gripped with anguish and chokes on her misery. She buries her face in Night's still warm chest, and cries, painfully. Even though he had been ill for quite a while, the idea of him leaving her was not a manifestation of thought that she had permitted to take root in her mind. ...and now, here she was with that thought no longer a possibility, but instead, it was her reality. All she could do in this moment, was weep.
She feels her son touch her shoulder, then wrap her in his comforting embrace. However, she cannot tear herself from Night's slowly cooling body. Even the nearness of her child is not enough to pull her from her grief. In her mind, she knows that she needs to comfort him, too, but the weight of losing her soulmate is a weight that's pulling her down like a stone shackled to her feet, pulling her down into a sea of unfathomable darkness. Shade, at least, can still see his brother, a precious gift that she had not been blessed with. Though, she was not envious of her child. She was glad that the process of healing would be facilitated for him, even if just a little bit. But, for her and the rest of her children, there would only be the memories...and sorrow.
"I'm sorry." Shade whispered. "It feels that it is far too soon, and yet, it is also my time. Even so, I never wanted to leave you. By your side is where I always want to be. For now, though, we must be apart, but only in this way. We are one, so we could never truly be parted."
Mhina gasped. Though she was hearing the voice of her son, they were the words of her beloved. She looked up at Shade who was still shining like the pale moon light and knew that he was relaying a message that was meant for her. "Until we can be together again," Shade continued, "you must let me go. You must live. Our boys will need you now more than ever. Beyond that, there is so much more life in you and so much more life that you have to see. So, please live and know that I have never forgotten the promise we made so many years ago. I promise to be there. I promise that I will be waiting to hear your song."
It was a moment of peace and closure that was denied to very nearly everyone in her position. Only those blessed with the gifts that Shade had, or that had been gifted with the presence of a person like him in their lives, could ever hear the imparting words of a cherished loved one that had already left their mortal form. She was fortunate beyond words, and that was why words had failed her. All she could do was nod meekly through a veil of her own tears. She had heard the translation of her lover's vow, and though his declaration was comforting, it could not alleviate the emptiness she felt in the moment.
She wrapped an arm around her child and patiently rubbed his back, just as she did when he was just her little boy. The small gesture of affection reaffirmed their bond and reminded him of the day his parents were laid to rest. It was the day that she told him that they were a family and that she and Night would always be there for him and Blaze. Though their family was smaller now, they were still a family. Death would not change that. It didn't change it then, and it would not be broken, now.
Slowly, he reached out his hand and the tangible glow shone in his palm. Gently, he pressed his hand onto his mother's dampened cheek and watched her expression quickly switch from turmoil to surprise. For a fleeting moment, through her miracle child, she could feel her love's warm hand upon her. For the briefest of moments, she was able to feel the unmistakable feel of his touch. Then, it was gone and all that was left in its departure was a sad, sweet smile adorning the still mournful face of his beloved mate. She would be alright. They would be alright. That was the unspoken promise she made to him and the silent permission he needed for his spirit to move on. Not fated to be a lingering apparition, Night had gone to join his parents to patiently wait for the day that he could touch his beloved, again. Not for a moment, but for a lifetime. He would be waiting.
It's an issue I've put a lot of thought into, however, as said daughter possesses a necklace infused with protective and healing spells that grow stronger the longer the necklace is worn. This will, eventually, enhance her lifespan far beyond the normal scope of things, meaning she will necessarily have to outlive everyone she knows and loves. I haven't written anything definite down, and I have so many other projects I want to work on ahead of it, I don't know when, or if, I ever will. But I have thought about what might eventually happen, and how it would affect her.
And in the comics I draw on FA, characters do die. It can be a lot to deal with.
I'm a believer in "World As Myth". So, my characters actually exist somewhere in some alternity...
So, yeah. I may have characters who've had a special someone in their life, be it family or otherwise, that has died (main example being my mousie mechanic Missy whom I'm writing a silly-ass huge novel about who lost both her parents shortly after one another and had a visitation from her deceased mother at one point in the story), I will not, ever, kill off any of my main characters, simply because I do not want to and I cannot bring myself to do it.
Anthro characters must use their evolutionary traits to fight monsters hunting them in the mountains.
Other than that the only characters I've written about were in the book I wrote. None of the main characters died (one got badly hurt, the enemy aliens all died, and they talked about others in the past who had been killed) and I really don't have any serious plans for a sequel. As I imagined and wrote those characters (the anthro alien species the main character is with), while they can be killed they don't die due to age. With their biology they reach adult maturity and then pretty much stay that way without aging. Those who live careful lives could make it centuries, even millennia, before some unfortunate circumstance takes their life. But since I don't have a sequel planned, where they left off at the end of the book is just where they're at.
I also understand the biology of your other characters. That's how immortality works in my universe, too. It comes along with longevity, so once you reach your prime, you don't age beyond that. However, you can be killed. It's actually some of those characters that have died in my series, but it's complicated.
Others have the connections to need an actual lifespan, complete with birth and death. Not that their world begins or ends with them, but their death is a part of their existence even if it isn't part of their story. (It doesn't keep me from using them again, but either their a new iteration or the events are from within their existing life.)
I expect my characters will reach their end eventually, though I likely won't be around to chronicle the passing of the younger ones. For some reason, I've always seen Krista as the first to go, but not before extracting a promise from Dan and Alex to marry in her absence. I haven't decided how their parents will go yet.