Crucible - The Untamed - Wei Wuxian

[aroberuka]

Title: Crucible
Fandom: The Untamed
Challenge/Prompt: chenqing_100 - Five elements
AO3 Link: here

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The river has always been his favourite playground: everywhere he looks, there is a memory.

He watches it turn red with the blood of childhood.

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The pain traces lines of fire across his back; every move a firework.

He shifts his shoulders, idly, every time his body thinks to sleep.

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wind thunder-howls past his ears no air in his lungs everything so loud ground coming up too fast can't breathe can't breathe can't even clo

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The taste of iron never leaves his mouth anymore.

Better than nothing, he thinks, better than hunger: then the hunger gives way to something worse.

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The wood smells rotten, but so does everything else. Even he stinks of decay.

It will serve him well, if it can withstand the carving.

***