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The full story of my NaNoWriMo novel. Complete with an epilogue/bonus chapter that helps further explain stuff. At the moment, I am just tired of talking/thinking about this thing, and I just want to be done with it. So, take it as it is. However, I will say this: It's clean. So no Naughty stuff from this one, but stop by next month or so for some holiday "Goodness".
1989 (song) © Skold
1989 (song) © Skold
Category Story / All
Species Exotic (Other)
Gender Male
Size 120 x 80px
Hey Bartan,
I followed your suggestion and read this story.
I thought this story was really nice and I enjoyed it a lot while reading it. The characters were fun and had some nice back story interwoven in it. The described battle scenes were again nicely detailed and were nice additions to the story. The whole situation Tanure magic was interesting and it seemed an interesting (need to find some synonyms for that word) world.
Mm Rixxix actions kept me wondering though, the impact of his actions were not entirely clear (at least to me). It seems he wanted to restore some fairness there, but still it seemed a bit distant to the rest of the story. I also thought he was a bit mean against Saessl :-P, although the taught lesson was clear.
And I liked how the ending added some extra thoughts to a bit of the moral of the story. I also worried a bit maybe the counter weight thing would maybe forgotten to be explained somewhere into the story: but there it was at the end
I wish you good luck with your writings, and I will be probably very slow with reading and commenting again. Now and in at the least the coming two weeks I have to study and find scientific literature which is always exhaustive to read.
- Silent Moonlight Dragon
I followed your suggestion and read this story.
I thought this story was really nice and I enjoyed it a lot while reading it. The characters were fun and had some nice back story interwoven in it. The described battle scenes were again nicely detailed and were nice additions to the story. The whole situation Tanure magic was interesting and it seemed an interesting (need to find some synonyms for that word) world.
Mm Rixxix actions kept me wondering though, the impact of his actions were not entirely clear (at least to me). It seems he wanted to restore some fairness there, but still it seemed a bit distant to the rest of the story. I also thought he was a bit mean against Saessl :-P, although the taught lesson was clear.
And I liked how the ending added some extra thoughts to a bit of the moral of the story. I also worried a bit maybe the counter weight thing would maybe forgotten to be explained somewhere into the story: but there it was at the end
I wish you good luck with your writings, and I will be probably very slow with reading and commenting again. Now and in at the least the coming two weeks I have to study and find scientific literature which is always exhaustive to read.
- Silent Moonlight Dragon
Hey Silent!
It's great to hear from you again, rather soon at that! I'm glad you went with this story, as well as enjoyed it considering it was only written in eighteen days and between two colds I personally didn't feel like it was too different from my usual tales (perhaps some of that was due to reusing some characters/fractions of a story), but maybe overall that's a good thing.
Yeah, Rixxix was a bit of an improvised add-in. I was struggling to think up an antagonist that would be rather fitting. One idea was that Larksus (the white Render that was a bit... Unadventurous.) was actually cloned or something, and overall was going to make another return. But I felt like that was too expected, let alone hard to deal with. Making the other characters, aside from Karmu and Naught, almost useless or a burden to them. So I scrapped that idea.
In the end, Rixxix had two reasons to be in this piece: one was a soapbox character :x The other was to actually be a feint on the Antagonist Idea itself. Making the reader think he was the villain, when really there wasn't one specifically. If anything, he took out the big threat (the rest of Horizon) and overall deceiving the reader... Which now sounds really really mean of me
Speaking of meanies, yes. Rixxy was very intolerant of Saessl, mostly because he doesn't like children. He probably gets that from me, honestly, along with the whole "Not being able to bake a cake" thing that Haytre went through in Jailbreak. I'm more like Wolfgang when it comes to children in real life: don't really like them, but won't do anything to put them down.
Speaking of the other characters, what did you think of them? I also like hearing your favorites as well. As for my writing, I'm only doing it off and on. Really trying to stick with that break that I meant to take back in October, so I probably won't be starting again until maybe March. So, hopefully that will give you plenty of time to read at your leisure or get rested up. Do you know which one you might try next? I know it's been a while since the last Fear/Weakness or Anthem, I can hardly remember what happened in Act 2 of Anthem myself. Still, I hope things are going well for you! Thank you again!
~Bartan
It's great to hear from you again, rather soon at that! I'm glad you went with this story, as well as enjoyed it considering it was only written in eighteen days and between two colds I personally didn't feel like it was too different from my usual tales (perhaps some of that was due to reusing some characters/fractions of a story), but maybe overall that's a good thing.
Yeah, Rixxix was a bit of an improvised add-in. I was struggling to think up an antagonist that would be rather fitting. One idea was that Larksus (the white Render that was a bit... Unadventurous.) was actually cloned or something, and overall was going to make another return. But I felt like that was too expected, let alone hard to deal with. Making the other characters, aside from Karmu and Naught, almost useless or a burden to them. So I scrapped that idea.
In the end, Rixxix had two reasons to be in this piece: one was a soapbox character :x The other was to actually be a feint on the Antagonist Idea itself. Making the reader think he was the villain, when really there wasn't one specifically. If anything, he took out the big threat (the rest of Horizon) and overall deceiving the reader... Which now sounds really really mean of me
Speaking of meanies, yes. Rixxy was very intolerant of Saessl, mostly because he doesn't like children. He probably gets that from me, honestly, along with the whole "Not being able to bake a cake" thing that Haytre went through in Jailbreak. I'm more like Wolfgang when it comes to children in real life: don't really like them, but won't do anything to put them down.
Speaking of the other characters, what did you think of them? I also like hearing your favorites as well. As for my writing, I'm only doing it off and on. Really trying to stick with that break that I meant to take back in October, so I probably won't be starting again until maybe March. So, hopefully that will give you plenty of time to read at your leisure or get rested up. Do you know which one you might try next? I know it's been a while since the last Fear/Weakness or Anthem, I can hardly remember what happened in Act 2 of Anthem myself. Still, I hope things are going well for you! Thank you again!
~Bartan
Hey Bartan,
Mmm, I think when using an entirely different setting/environment makes the story quite different. True that some things are similar, but still I think it was quite different (I know I am repeating myself)!
Always great to hear your other ideas for the story, that sounded like a very different direction. But I am glad it turned out as it is.
Haha yeah you did succeed on letting me think bad about Rixxix, but do not feel bad about deceiving the reader. It makes things all the less predictable. & Yeah I already thought Rixxix did not really like children and I can understand that, I myself am also not really a fan of them, but also do not really dislike them.
I did like almost all characters :-P, some standing out are Saessl, especially following Karmu's lessons, Naught as I thought you did a great job making him observe the world very differently than any one else and Karmu as he was unique and had a nice backstory as well. Wolfgang and Rivo were also fun, but still those stood out to me . Albeit Rixxix had also some charm, but a bit less in my opinion this time.
Have fun in your writing break (if you succeed ), and take your time! Set no hard deadlines or anything, I will just wait some bit more.
As for reading, I will probably go catch up on chronically order for now, starting with Fear for the Weakness and so on. And thank you, all is going well and I wish you all the best!
- Silent Moonlight Dragon
Mmm, I think when using an entirely different setting/environment makes the story quite different. True that some things are similar, but still I think it was quite different (I know I am repeating myself)!
Always great to hear your other ideas for the story, that sounded like a very different direction. But I am glad it turned out as it is.
Haha yeah you did succeed on letting me think bad about Rixxix, but do not feel bad about deceiving the reader. It makes things all the less predictable. & Yeah I already thought Rixxix did not really like children and I can understand that, I myself am also not really a fan of them, but also do not really dislike them.
I did like almost all characters :-P, some standing out are Saessl, especially following Karmu's lessons, Naught as I thought you did a great job making him observe the world very differently than any one else and Karmu as he was unique and had a nice backstory as well. Wolfgang and Rivo were also fun, but still those stood out to me . Albeit Rixxix had also some charm, but a bit less in my opinion this time.
Have fun in your writing break (if you succeed ), and take your time! Set no hard deadlines or anything, I will just wait some bit more.
As for reading, I will probably go catch up on chronically order for now, starting with Fear for the Weakness and so on. And thank you, all is going well and I wish you all the best!
- Silent Moonlight Dragon
My main nit pic about this story was with rixxix And him not reaching his full potential. Like we start off with him annihilating a city and sadisticly killing everyone in it then by the end of it he spatters a life lesson all over the price and when he meets the others he asks for a phone call home to come pick him up. He's literally the only real threat to karmu and nought. Horizons is about as effective as if a tad more so than team rocket karmu would just be like "hold my beer"
In a fight or more like rixxix wanting to see how strong the render was im sure rixxix would mock Karmu for he's fear of unleashing his full power and or to even care for the pests of this world. Of course nought woundnt fight him directly more like point out weakness in the vipers or directions and dodging vipers like the MC Hammer . But in the end they'd get over whelmed and the vipers pinning down all but nought. But by then rixxix wouldn't had his fun and satisfied his curiously and let them go in return for a call home.
Or karmu pushes himself to world breaker hulk levels of ass pounding. Or he pulls a vegeta and blowing him and rixxix to ash. But cant help but wonder just what saessl parent were up to >:]
About that Crazy wolf:
I'd like describe him as if Discord and Lord sheogorath made a baby and that baby had a dog and that dog found out he could wear the new pants he just made for the ball if he walked on two legs. He is fun and his methods entertaining. all an all of say he's a fitting mentor.
Yeah, I definitely know what you mean about Rixxix and his involvement/end towards the story. But it's not like those first two scenes with him were pointless; he was actually 'Feeding' himself. It's never really stated in the novel, but he survives off of Failing/Fading Will. Still, it doesn't make up for the ending there, and I still half stick with my answer towards this on discord:
"The issue I ran into was: the protagonists could not defeat him. Maybe Naught could, if he was really willing to, but as you can probably tell by now, the dino respects life a little too much. Don't get me wrong, that would've been a rather harsh character moment for him: to chose between his friends, and someone his 'idol' (Vytir) treasured. But every ending I could think of just felt like a downer.
Towards the end, I more or less used Rixxix as almost a satire on the idea of an Antagonist. Again: the idea you had (and the many others I thought of) were great story ideas, but they were also rather predictable (as in, it's been done many times over to the point of cliche). And I detest being predictable. To see that Rixxix wasn't really the Antagonist that every reader thought he would be almost makes him more Humane, I suppose. That you're closer to his train of thoughts, his instincts, and personality than you may think you are. And that's something that kinda defines him overall: the idea that everyone is a 'Monster' in some way."
In the end, I admit that I kinda wanted it to 'leave a bad taste in your mouth', but more towards the idea that Rixxy did these horrible things and never got punished for doing them. Granted, you seem more disappointed in the fact that they didn't actually fight x3 Which is something rather understandable, really. Having a real fight between Karmu and Rixxy would be very difficult to determine who would win. Really, I still think it would only turn out to be Rixxix, whereas he doesn't even need to survive for those serpents to function. Karmu's only real win is a Double K.O. and even then, it's hardly a victory. Though your suggestion does actually have a good structure to it (one I actually do like), I'm a little worried that it would be more towards a TV/Video Game style of storyboard. I still find it difficult to write long action scenes that are made clear for the readers. You even need to admit that the ones in this story are not long in the slightest. Really, the fights are done in 30 seconds.
However: if I ever do go back and attempt to fix this up, I'll likely use your idea if you don't mind. Keep in mind that I did write 1989 in 18 days, and took the same head cold 3 times during those weeks. If I had more time to complete the novel, then perhaps I could've come up with something similar to this. And as for Saessl's parents, it was likely something more selfish based (like staying younger, healthy crops for their lands, etc.).
Now, as for that crazy old wolf: You're kinda in luck. Though he was toned down in this novel, I have used this character several times in other series:
-The Wrong Side Of Heaven act 3 & 4
-Destruction Preventer (all 3 acts, though mostly in 2 and 3)
-Fear Is The Weakness act 4
-Holiday part 1
Though he's rarely in that wolf form (that's explained in Fear/Weakness), he can be found in those specific stories if you want to see more of him. And yes, that description of him is quite accurate x3 Still, thanks for reading this novel Cross. It means a lot to me
"The issue I ran into was: the protagonists could not defeat him. Maybe Naught could, if he was really willing to, but as you can probably tell by now, the dino respects life a little too much. Don't get me wrong, that would've been a rather harsh character moment for him: to chose between his friends, and someone his 'idol' (Vytir) treasured. But every ending I could think of just felt like a downer.
Towards the end, I more or less used Rixxix as almost a satire on the idea of an Antagonist. Again: the idea you had (and the many others I thought of) were great story ideas, but they were also rather predictable (as in, it's been done many times over to the point of cliche). And I detest being predictable. To see that Rixxix wasn't really the Antagonist that every reader thought he would be almost makes him more Humane, I suppose. That you're closer to his train of thoughts, his instincts, and personality than you may think you are. And that's something that kinda defines him overall: the idea that everyone is a 'Monster' in some way."
In the end, I admit that I kinda wanted it to 'leave a bad taste in your mouth', but more towards the idea that Rixxy did these horrible things and never got punished for doing them. Granted, you seem more disappointed in the fact that they didn't actually fight x3 Which is something rather understandable, really. Having a real fight between Karmu and Rixxy would be very difficult to determine who would win. Really, I still think it would only turn out to be Rixxix, whereas he doesn't even need to survive for those serpents to function. Karmu's only real win is a Double K.O. and even then, it's hardly a victory. Though your suggestion does actually have a good structure to it (one I actually do like), I'm a little worried that it would be more towards a TV/Video Game style of storyboard. I still find it difficult to write long action scenes that are made clear for the readers. You even need to admit that the ones in this story are not long in the slightest. Really, the fights are done in 30 seconds.
However: if I ever do go back and attempt to fix this up, I'll likely use your idea if you don't mind. Keep in mind that I did write 1989 in 18 days, and took the same head cold 3 times during those weeks. If I had more time to complete the novel, then perhaps I could've come up with something similar to this. And as for Saessl's parents, it was likely something more selfish based (like staying younger, healthy crops for their lands, etc.).
Now, as for that crazy old wolf: You're kinda in luck. Though he was toned down in this novel, I have used this character several times in other series:
-The Wrong Side Of Heaven act 3 & 4
-Destruction Preventer (all 3 acts, though mostly in 2 and 3)
-Fear Is The Weakness act 4
-Holiday part 1
Though he's rarely in that wolf form (that's explained in Fear/Weakness), he can be found in those specific stories if you want to see more of him. And yes, that description of him is quite accurate x3 Still, thanks for reading this novel Cross. It means a lot to me
[A few years later]
I'm not sure why, but I felt like this all stuck in my head and I just have the need to talk about it. Not specifically what You (Cross) said, but what I replied with/did not mention. I re-read 1989 a few times over the past couple of years and... Well, I mentioned before that I wrote this novel in 18 days and during 3 head colds. Looking back on a few points, I wondered specifically "Why did I write this bit?" "What's the meaning of this here? What does it symbolize?" I know I wrote these things on purpose, and I barely changed anything aside some spelling and grammar. I kinda wanted to just... Write them here for anyone looking through this conversation for some answers.
The first, about Rixxix and his encounter with the main group/Karmu+Naught. Yes, there is some deception when it comes to reading all of Rixxy's scenes up to that point and thinking he was the Big Bad Evil Guy. I kinda stand by the idea of it being a play on predictable antagonists, but... Did anything he say within those scenes sound... "Wrong?" Immoral, perhaps, and you may not agree with any of it yourself, but... You do have to admit that he's never really been incorrect. He's smart, he knows what he wants (be it "Hunting for food" or life goals) and knows how to get it. Not to mention, for how anti-climatic the 'final encounter' is, it does show just how much he knows about Naught's species and how to persuade them to get what he wants (which, yes, turns out to be bus ticket home).
What I'm getting at here is, Rixxix was never the antagonist to begin with. He seems that way, but everything he's done is nothing more than his nature. Sure, he does tend to toy with his food slightly, but it's all to get what he wants: Food via the fall of Will:
~~~~~
(Rixxix) "I don't like children." He bluntly said, overlooking them again. --> "It was just a statement." The black panther said, looking back at her struggle against the pain a bit. Then back at the two younger sons. "They're... Almost too fresh. Sour. Undeveloped, I suppose. It's almost too easy to get it out of them, making it have this bland taste." The creature then turned about and walked towards her. "But you... Your kind is probably the best. Strong willed, and hard to crack, but when that shell of yours gets broken... Mmm, so delicious." Leaning in to almost lick at her chest, he took a deep inhale. Almost enjoying it like it was satisfying before placing a paw on her midsection.
~~~~~
It's not an easy thing to get, but it's not a terribly important detail regardless. However, that's what he's doing; feeding himself. No matter who or what suffers in the process, he feeds until he's satisfied. Sometimes, yes, it takes entire colonies of creatures to do such a thing, but that's just how he is built. This starts to become a little bit more apparent when he talks with Sessel:
~~~~~
(Rixxix) "Little one, you'll eventually realize that Morality is nothing more than Opinion. Something that is perfectly fine to change. Opinions do not make you who you are."
(Sessel) "But they make you..." A faint whimper.
"They make you, what? Wish to hurt people?" Another whimper. "Let me ask you something, Prince. Why spend your entire life denying that you're a monster when everyone around you claims that you are? Isn't it better to embrace the fact that you are a monster, when deep down that is what you desire to be?" The dragon didn't answer for a moment. "You're too young to understand just yet."
"But that's no reason to hurt people-"
"No, you're getting it backwards. That's the perfect reason to hurt people. As Royalty, you haven't needed to do things that make you a monstrosity in order to survive. But often enough, outside the comfort of walls, where every creature is seen as either prey or enemy... How far would you go to survive?"
"...It's Either You Or Them." The dragon quoted Karmu in a mumble.
"Exactly. Now, does that make you a monster?" He didn't respond. "Never keep your opinions too close, cub. Same goes for the opinions of others. If they think you are an abomination, there's no reason to bend over backwards to change that. Embrace the sheer fact that you enjoy hearing them cry out in pain, even if it isn't physically, and feed off of their despair."
~~~~~
Though the panther does tend to put his own twist on things, it's here where he kinda establishes his role in Sessel's life/upbringing: Nature. It's hinted that most dragons can grow up to be threats/cause to people somewhere in the novel, and it is their instinct to hunt whatever they please. Often enough, it may label them as 'Monsters' to many, especially those lower on the food chain. But that doesn't specifically mean that they're evil; look at the dire bear that Naught saved from the arena. All she wanted to do was get out and see her children again. Even Karmu has been victim to this very thing most of his existence, and he refuses to give into those instincts until severely pushed into anger.
But it is something that the young dragon will have to decide for himself which path he is going to need to take:
-Rixxix does not seem to struggle with his identity as he gives into his nature. Though, some part of his arrogance is the sheer fact he knows he cannot be stopped. Yet, that is at the cost of "morality". Being labelled as evil to those around him and having a rather solitary life. Possibly even a lonely one for the dragon.
-While Karmu's has him battling with himself and others around him who fear his power. Constantly being accused of any possible disaster that the 'Lower Links' (of the food chain) are victim to. Questioning if denying one's instincts for the sake of others is really 'Good' or not. Sure, kindness does lead to friendships, but those things create crater-sized wounds that last a lifetime when those friendships end. And, due to the dragon's long lifespan, they Will end.
So, the question does lie then: who is the antagonist? It honestly bothered me for a while, until I found one part:
~~~~~
(Naught) "...The prince said you were telling them a story, about you learning how to fish." A faint nod. "I didn't think you'd ever tell that story again."
(Karmu) "...I was planning to leave out the ending."
"Why?" Those black eyes stared into space. "I understand that it's painful, but... Maybe they should know."
"What difference would it make if the world knew or not? That's not going to change what happened, or what will."
"You don't know that." The raptor nudged him playfully. "It makes things easier on you-"
"By re-opening an old wound?"
"Only so it can be treated again." The beast just sighed. "I won't force you, but think about it."
"...They're all dead. Everyone that was there to witness, everyone who could possibly re-tell the truth, they're all gone. There's no point in remembering a catastrophe."
"And you?"
"...I'm close enough to dead, just walking." Naught gently caught that red muzzle and pulled it to his own chest. Holding onto it without a struggle.
"You don't have to be. I know it's something you've fought against for so long, but you are still alive. Regardless if you still feel like the antagonist in this tale, you're not." A deep breath from both of them, and Karmu felt that amulet move a bit. "You're not like them. You don't deserve to be leashed like this to satisfy those around you." The large one didn't respond, but curled his tail around the theropod's back half.
~~~~~
1989 has Karmu, the protagonist, against himself. The novel itself is about many things and many people, but one of the main focuses is about an impossible 'Monster' from outer space. One created with a different set of instincts than the others, one not hell bent on destroying everything that moves. Looking for some... Thing, some reason to be alive and go on. When I first wrote 1989, I was actually planning to use Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt for the title, buuuuut Logan (movie) beat me to it >>; Skold's 1989 isn't a bad fit though, it's more universal towards the cast and can be used for nearly any one of them. However... If you read the novel (recently), go back and listen to Hurt while thinking of Karmu. You might be able to see what I mean by Antagonist.
I'm not sure why, but I felt like this all stuck in my head and I just have the need to talk about it. Not specifically what You (Cross) said, but what I replied with/did not mention. I re-read 1989 a few times over the past couple of years and... Well, I mentioned before that I wrote this novel in 18 days and during 3 head colds. Looking back on a few points, I wondered specifically "Why did I write this bit?" "What's the meaning of this here? What does it symbolize?" I know I wrote these things on purpose, and I barely changed anything aside some spelling and grammar. I kinda wanted to just... Write them here for anyone looking through this conversation for some answers.
The first, about Rixxix and his encounter with the main group/Karmu+Naught. Yes, there is some deception when it comes to reading all of Rixxy's scenes up to that point and thinking he was the Big Bad Evil Guy. I kinda stand by the idea of it being a play on predictable antagonists, but... Did anything he say within those scenes sound... "Wrong?" Immoral, perhaps, and you may not agree with any of it yourself, but... You do have to admit that he's never really been incorrect. He's smart, he knows what he wants (be it "Hunting for food" or life goals) and knows how to get it. Not to mention, for how anti-climatic the 'final encounter' is, it does show just how much he knows about Naught's species and how to persuade them to get what he wants (which, yes, turns out to be bus ticket home).
What I'm getting at here is, Rixxix was never the antagonist to begin with. He seems that way, but everything he's done is nothing more than his nature. Sure, he does tend to toy with his food slightly, but it's all to get what he wants: Food via the fall of Will:
~~~~~
(Rixxix) "I don't like children." He bluntly said, overlooking them again. --> "It was just a statement." The black panther said, looking back at her struggle against the pain a bit. Then back at the two younger sons. "They're... Almost too fresh. Sour. Undeveloped, I suppose. It's almost too easy to get it out of them, making it have this bland taste." The creature then turned about and walked towards her. "But you... Your kind is probably the best. Strong willed, and hard to crack, but when that shell of yours gets broken... Mmm, so delicious." Leaning in to almost lick at her chest, he took a deep inhale. Almost enjoying it like it was satisfying before placing a paw on her midsection.
~~~~~
It's not an easy thing to get, but it's not a terribly important detail regardless. However, that's what he's doing; feeding himself. No matter who or what suffers in the process, he feeds until he's satisfied. Sometimes, yes, it takes entire colonies of creatures to do such a thing, but that's just how he is built. This starts to become a little bit more apparent when he talks with Sessel:
~~~~~
(Rixxix) "Little one, you'll eventually realize that Morality is nothing more than Opinion. Something that is perfectly fine to change. Opinions do not make you who you are."
(Sessel) "But they make you..." A faint whimper.
"They make you, what? Wish to hurt people?" Another whimper. "Let me ask you something, Prince. Why spend your entire life denying that you're a monster when everyone around you claims that you are? Isn't it better to embrace the fact that you are a monster, when deep down that is what you desire to be?" The dragon didn't answer for a moment. "You're too young to understand just yet."
"But that's no reason to hurt people-"
"No, you're getting it backwards. That's the perfect reason to hurt people. As Royalty, you haven't needed to do things that make you a monstrosity in order to survive. But often enough, outside the comfort of walls, where every creature is seen as either prey or enemy... How far would you go to survive?"
"...It's Either You Or Them." The dragon quoted Karmu in a mumble.
"Exactly. Now, does that make you a monster?" He didn't respond. "Never keep your opinions too close, cub. Same goes for the opinions of others. If they think you are an abomination, there's no reason to bend over backwards to change that. Embrace the sheer fact that you enjoy hearing them cry out in pain, even if it isn't physically, and feed off of their despair."
~~~~~
Though the panther does tend to put his own twist on things, it's here where he kinda establishes his role in Sessel's life/upbringing: Nature. It's hinted that most dragons can grow up to be threats/cause to people somewhere in the novel, and it is their instinct to hunt whatever they please. Often enough, it may label them as 'Monsters' to many, especially those lower on the food chain. But that doesn't specifically mean that they're evil; look at the dire bear that Naught saved from the arena. All she wanted to do was get out and see her children again. Even Karmu has been victim to this very thing most of his existence, and he refuses to give into those instincts until severely pushed into anger.
But it is something that the young dragon will have to decide for himself which path he is going to need to take:
-Rixxix does not seem to struggle with his identity as he gives into his nature. Though, some part of his arrogance is the sheer fact he knows he cannot be stopped. Yet, that is at the cost of "morality". Being labelled as evil to those around him and having a rather solitary life. Possibly even a lonely one for the dragon.
-While Karmu's has him battling with himself and others around him who fear his power. Constantly being accused of any possible disaster that the 'Lower Links' (of the food chain) are victim to. Questioning if denying one's instincts for the sake of others is really 'Good' or not. Sure, kindness does lead to friendships, but those things create crater-sized wounds that last a lifetime when those friendships end. And, due to the dragon's long lifespan, they Will end.
So, the question does lie then: who is the antagonist? It honestly bothered me for a while, until I found one part:
~~~~~
(Naught) "...The prince said you were telling them a story, about you learning how to fish." A faint nod. "I didn't think you'd ever tell that story again."
(Karmu) "...I was planning to leave out the ending."
"Why?" Those black eyes stared into space. "I understand that it's painful, but... Maybe they should know."
"What difference would it make if the world knew or not? That's not going to change what happened, or what will."
"You don't know that." The raptor nudged him playfully. "It makes things easier on you-"
"By re-opening an old wound?"
"Only so it can be treated again." The beast just sighed. "I won't force you, but think about it."
"...They're all dead. Everyone that was there to witness, everyone who could possibly re-tell the truth, they're all gone. There's no point in remembering a catastrophe."
"And you?"
"...I'm close enough to dead, just walking." Naught gently caught that red muzzle and pulled it to his own chest. Holding onto it without a struggle.
"You don't have to be. I know it's something you've fought against for so long, but you are still alive. Regardless if you still feel like the antagonist in this tale, you're not." A deep breath from both of them, and Karmu felt that amulet move a bit. "You're not like them. You don't deserve to be leashed like this to satisfy those around you." The large one didn't respond, but curled his tail around the theropod's back half.
~~~~~
1989 has Karmu, the protagonist, against himself. The novel itself is about many things and many people, but one of the main focuses is about an impossible 'Monster' from outer space. One created with a different set of instincts than the others, one not hell bent on destroying everything that moves. Looking for some... Thing, some reason to be alive and go on. When I first wrote 1989, I was actually planning to use Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt for the title, buuuuut Logan (movie) beat me to it >>; Skold's 1989 isn't a bad fit though, it's more universal towards the cast and can be used for nearly any one of them. However... If you read the novel (recently), go back and listen to Hurt while thinking of Karmu. You might be able to see what I mean by Antagonist.
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