Familiar Grief

Habilon

do we know who that is or where he is? could be at the tavern and this is a random stranger?

Argonwolf

My personal headcanon is that thousands of years ago humanity constructed a magical weapon of sorts to destroy the Keidran, that at the time lived human-like lifespans and were poised to obliterate humanity in an immense genocidal crusade. I even have a character, similar to (evil) Trace except having no innate magical talent but whose family was brutally murdered and eaten in front of him by psychotic Keidran soldiers trying to inflict fear in the remaining human resistance. And so, after years of isolation seething with hate, he was discovered by the few remaining mages of those that constructed the original weapon (most of them having died of old age by now) and placed in the device, where he spoke strange words in unknown tongues as his internal organs boiled into a thick black liquid that foamed out of his mouth, burst through his skin and dissolved the bricks he was standing on like acid. And as he released his final incantation, his flesh melted from his charred, blackened bones completely, which then disintegrated into ash. And immediately every keidran in existence felt the force of his hateful curse, as if a terrible plague had taken over them. Within days, any keidran more than 30 years old died, their bodies decomposing within hours of death. Younger ones were spared but aged considerably. No keidran would since go on to live more than 30 years, and their societies crumbled as many of the knowledgeable people had perished to the curse, and no young ones could interpret the knowledge they left behind. Their grasp of magic, technology, and civilization was gone, and they broke into in-fighting as panic took hold and they blamed each other for creating the plague, believing it to be sabotage or the fault of keidran magicians becoming twisted in their pursuit of power. Human society recovered slowly due to their elongated lifecycle, and would become the dominant species as the keidran never recovered their ancient power. Great keidran cities were stripped and demolished for resources to fight the other tribes, leaving little evidence of their past. And the last mages died, never passing on the knowledge of the horrible action they'd taken which they were sure would result in their own eternal damnation, as the weapon was reclaimed by nature. Maybe some day it'll be found again, next to an ashy, human-like shadow on the ground on which no plant dares to grow. So yeah basically I have my own cheesy fanfiction in my head about how Keidran aren't naturally short-lived, but basically that their genome was (semi(?))-permanently altered by the curse of death. I don't know why I felt the need to share that, but there it is. So hey, in my headcanon maybe somebody will discover the ancient magics used to devastate the keidran race and learn how to repair the damage they did!

JaronKitsune

Nnooo! This is TOO sad! T~T

Dabyatta

guy lost Alaric, Laura, his Mom, his Dad, and almost Natani twice. feels bad man

Argonwolf

Welcome oblivion with open arms, Keith. Drink so much even your body can't take it, and let the peaceful void embrace you for eternity.

ChampionOfBagels

but would it really be?

Smallmoon

Old age will get Zen first, though.

Sylvrwolflol

Twokinds: Days of Future Past here lol

564ugtg54645

That must be after Maeve has passed away also.

Reseen Dalls

Then become a patron. You pay, you can vote. That's how it works. If not, you're just a beggar, and beggars can't be choosers. Also Tom's work isn't all sunshine and rainbows, dark stuff has always been part of it, even if it isn't predominant. (I'm not even a patron myself.) PS: If you are feeling that low at the moment you may be getting through some shit more serious than just being depressed by a drawing. Take a moment to find if there's something bothering you, try to take the coming days easier, do soothing stuff, or talk about it to your relatives or friends if it's really serious. I went through stuff like that, it's not to be taken lightly, especially when the first signs start appearing.

Witherd57

Little does he know that Laura has been having fun with Willow this whole time, so Natani would probably do the same

Torbjörn Larsson

Beer there, drank that. / (No further comment.)

Torbjörn Larsson

Be nice to Nat, especially since he's dead (even if his body is female).

Jordan Dean Ezekude

Nothing, you say? Three words, Keith: look behind you.

poijn23

i love how everyone here is like, dont you dare to do this to keith, this is inevitable because keidrans live less than bastians..... like tom didn't implay years ago that this comic would end with the war between species, where the mask would learn that devide the tribus was a mistake, allowing kedrans to live as long as bastian/humans.... everyone know that is what is going to happen right?

AetherSprite224

Ugh. I've never criticized peoples' sketch suggestions before (that I can recall), but I have to say, I can't help but take this sketch in really bad taste. The last thing any of us need at a time like this is depressive interpretations of beloved characters. Please, Tom, voters, those with the tier to suggest, dramatic tragedy can be great, but we're all living in a crisis--the real world already makes many of feel already like the walls are closing in and everything is terrible. I can't be the only one who *really* doesn't want to see more stuff like this. Far be it from me to try and stifle creativity from people, so if I'm just being a big baby about this, I'll take my licks. I just... I really hate this sketch. It makes me feel cold inside, and I like Tom's work for the opposite effect it usually imparts.

VinFurr

so sad...

Natani Wolf

Man, ice-cold of you

Majyxs

Same future goes for Maren. Given her outlook on life, she's gonna take it hard, too.

Golden Gears

Nat will die from old age in her early twenties. Keith will still be alive in his late thirties though.

Golden Gears

Nat died from old age. In this image Keith is definitely in his late thirties.

Don't comment often but... this one hurt. Damn.

Muddypaws

No! Nononono!! Not Natani. That and the 5-O’Clock fur of scruffiness. 😢

csstats

It's an unfortunate and inevitable end to Keith's current relationship. Natani will be taken by old age long before Keith will be, the only way to avoid it would be if by some dark magic Keith could trade years of his life for more years in Natani's but I don't think it would work out like that. The saddest part is that Keith would still blame himself for the passing of his loved ones in situations that he couldn't have changed like Natani (likely) dying of old age.

Boonedog

Yes, this is good. I think about this often.

AFrickinDwarf

NO, DON'T HURT MY SON OR HIS HUSBAND, TOM! I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU DO

Vicroc4

Ugh. Given the disparity in lifespan, it's almost guaranteed to happen, but ouch.

Elvenhunter84

Bruh.

JohnnyDSL

DON'T DO THAT TO KEITH! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

DarthKeidran

Perhaps an adventurous Basitin Maiden can ease his grief and prevent that.

DarthKeidran

…under the table.

Reseen Dalls

Twokinds rule number 1 : No happiness for Keith. EVER!!!

DarthKeidran

<b>STORY-COMMENT™</b> Madelyn: (thoughts) There you are, I’ve been running all over town worried. *Walks over and sits next to Keith, putting her arm around him* I can’t say I know what you’re going through, because I don’t know. I can tell, however, that you loved Natani very much. Not only as a friend, but as a companion and lover. Keith: Not now Maddie. I don’t feel like talking, no, I don’t feel anything. Another please! Barkeep: *slides Keith another beer* Madelyn: *slams her hand on top of the mug* No, Keith, you are feeling something. You’re blaming yourself for losing those who get close to you and it needs to stop! Keith: Maddie, leave me alone. Madelyn: I will not leave you alone. You and Natani did great things together. You traveled the world, you helped put an end to the war on the mainland, I’ve been inspired by you. For mask’s sake you both reunited the Basitin Nations! Keith: None of that matters. Natani’s gone the way of all my family members. Madelyn: It Does Matter Keith! You… Matter Keith. Natani may have passed on, but will always be with you, regardless of what you think, Natani, like your parents, like the first love of your life, Laura, is now a part of you. You, and your memories, are the thing keeping all of them alive, and you’re drinking that away. Because Flora’s getting older, Trace will soon need your companionship as much as you need his now. He’s here with Flora and their children for her last few weeks, she wanted to pass on while able to smell the fresh SubtleFlowers, and he’s taken time away from his children and his dying wife to help find you because he knows that you are in pain and need your friends now. Keith: Thank you Maddie, but that won’t change that I’m lonely. I have no one left. Maddie: We love you Dammit! Can’t you see that! Trace Loves you! I… Love you! We are your family! *starts tearing up* And if you can’t see that, I’m not sure if Natani or Laura ever truly knew you. Keith: Family… Nobody gets left behind… *turns and cries into Madelyn’s chest* Madelyn: *uncomfortably hugs Keith, patting his head for a couple awkward moments* Keith: …Or forgotten. I’m such a sappy idiot. Please forgive me Maddie. Madelyn: I’m here by your side, and I’ll stay here as long as you want me to. *rests her head on his, as if about to plant a caring kiss on his head* Keith: *dries his eyes on his arm* Let’s find Trace so I can go see Flora again. Madelyn: Come on. Let’s go.

Reseen Dalls

Her mommy's DNA finally kicking in.

Sharpshooter

No, not natani

JAB the Tab

"it is unknown what will happen if one of the brothers die." - natani and zen's character pages

Kubulai

The future hasn't been written yet. Natani is still with you in the Oasis room. Fight and stay alive together!

This makes me remember painful memories.

Major Matt Mason

Someone's in dire need of a hug.

Alvarin_IL

Disparate lifespan is tragic.

Fuchsjunge42

the first is inevitable if they stay together, i just hope the second doesnt come to pass

Kinipshun

I totally ship it

SCD

Stan: Oh my god, they killed Natani! Kyle: You bastards!

What? No Nat? She's to hot to die! Also, poor Keith keeps falling in love with keidran.

SCD

Keith: Soy un perdedor! I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me? Madelyn: Double barrel buckshot!

Customaera

Oh no, he drank Natani!

Robert Uthoff

Ow...

TrichterNET

I was having an ok day today. Now I'm not. Still feels nice to feel.

Markius Fox

Maybe

Wild Space Saga

Dayum, d00d. It's like the bad ending to a video game!

AstroChaos

Adagio for Stings all up on repeat

CrimsonQuill086

As his father before him, wracked by grief and self-doubt, he seeks solace in the bottle...but it brings no comfort, and does little to numb his suffering. Let's hope that this dark future does not come to pass...

deffinitelynobody

Hello darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you again....

Nekomimiranger

PLEASE tell me this is not going to happen in the normal timeline xD

Saberbeam

Glad you got this one Elvenhunter, that persistency paid off! 😁👍

ThirdKind

Its fun to write dark stuff. This is gonna be an interesting one to do a fanfic of when I can. Time to pull out the sad violin playlist.

ThirdKind

Will it?

ThirdKind

I'm busy at the moment but as soon as I can this is getting a story. But I'll wait for the sequel as well.

It says "in a dark future" but I feel there's something missing ... I know, it's " THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!!"

Roughlandin

Please stop being mean to my #RealProtagonist son. *Hugs the Keith.*

The Sexy Beast

Looks like Maddie hit a growth spurt later in life.

Go give im one then :p

Terra The Wizard

noooo, my poor boy ;_;

Wolf guy

Don’t beat yourself up. That wouldn’t want that.

Shockblaster

This... Hits too close to myself Even more solidification of my connection with Keith

It's,not spoiler?

The_Unpopular

Noooooo! I dont wanna cry today!

Shodow

age expectancy is a b...

Dragon-Wolf-490

Poor poor Keith...

Elvenhunter84

I'd like to ask Roughlandin and DarthKeidran to refrain from posting your story comment until the sequel comes out

Natani Wolf

That boy really needs a hug :c

Mediawatcher

Elvenhunter has no chill, looks like Madelyn is now comforting Keith after what happened

ChampionOfBagels

KeithxMaddie for the win