#Cetus Jupiter and Macatchthis

[talesofealdancynedom]

Raven King in human form. Who says magic can’t feel paternal love?

Tale 8: Cetus, Jupiter, and Makatchthis (chapter 1. Raven Children 1/5 ) part 2. Stories of Fey

gore

The Raven king collects many shinny pieces of garbage. He uses this trash to make ornaments and chimes for his nest. These random lustrous objects were enchanted with his song and strung in different ways to be hung all about the branches of a giant tangling tree. The leafless branches entirely covered with fragments that dangle like rain, glittered and frost. The Raven King’s large nest could fit the Raven king and his wife, Raven Queen Odette, and it was made of magical twigs, straw, shed fur, down, and lost thread. Like the other beast kings the nest was hidden in the shadow veil, and no one, not even other fey and kings were aloud near it.

The raven princes and princess needed three things aside from the warmth of Odette’s down; rotting flesh, shiny chimes above them, and a sibling to play with. Odette usually bore two, but sometimes three chicks, and when only one was born it didn’t grow up. The Raven king made his nest so sparkly, and took such good cares of his heirs, simply out of fear of losing just one. And thus, The Raven King had the most royal children of any of the beast kings. As birds the Raven Princes and Princesses had sexual dimorphism; the boys, Griminthropes, started black as crows and grew to magpies with skulled heads; while the girls became white opalescent four-winged ravens with golden eyes, talons and beaks. As royal fey they were half human; and could pull their neck ruffles over their heads to be birds, or back to appear in the same human forms as their mother and father.  Furthermore, these raven children could learn and make any noise they heard, and never grew out of eating trash, making a racket and being distracted by glistening nouns. Being half human, as Odette was a human mage once, they felt human emotions and spoke the language of humans. The daughters were personable, but the sons were…in need of special treatment.

Grimenthropes require the flesh of things that have died. And a lot of it. they could get up to eight feet when fully grown. They were strong, pitch black and ominous, they could chill the bones of the bravest man. If a griminthropes hunger was great enough he would hunt. The daughters were fine with garbage and compost the humans made, but that dainty fare was too little for the raven princes. They would hunt for anything, including men, livestock, and other fey. Wait for it to die and become putrid before feasting. When griminthropes fed they held down the rotting dead flesh with their talons, used their massive corvid beaks to pull and swallow whole chunks through their skull heads. If there were bones, the griminthropes would reach their hands out from their breast to pull it into their strong human mouths beneath their obsidian plumage. The growling and crunching of bones could be audible for miles. When the prince was finished, there was nothing left of a corpse; not even bones or the scent of rotting meat. This is why the Raven King decided his princes should never be in the day veil. If one was to get hungry among men, and tried to hunt their livestock or people, the humans would kill his beloved sons. Children only he could love. Not to mention if the griminthropes ran amok the shadow veil, they would do the same to their cousins. devouring the fey of the other beast kingdoms. In desperation the Raven king decided to catch his precious flies with honey; he asked the Tree king to make him a special tree for his sons to perch in.

       This was The Death Tree. And it sat in a clearing covered in bones. It was tall, ebony, sickly, and noticeable from every point in the shadow veil. The Tree fey were made to give, and the Tree king was proud of all of her children. This generous gift was to sooth the griminthropes. It would attract anything dead or dying to its trunk. With free food, lodging, their brethren’s company, and an occasional serenade from their mothers and father, they would be content and never leave the tree. No fey or mage went near the tree out of fear of being mistaken for food. The wolf children would bring them carrion on occasion just for the thrill of getting a closer look. The griminthropes had a hierarchy and rotation of who fed on the next wondering entrée. The Richen raven princesses where able to go anywhere; but out of distrust of her sons, Queen Odette asked one of her eldest princesses, Palladis, to control and bring back any griminthrope that wandered. Palladis was like a bounty hunter or parole officer. Her brother’s containment was a top magical priority. Palladis was given special strength, and wisdom of the day veil to proudly carry out her duty. Even if it seemed cruel to any who heard the tale, The Raven king and queen loved their princes, and the griminthropes were indeed happy in their tree.

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[talesofealdancynedom]

Matcha hugging Palladis, both in human form. Looks like all he needed to grow up was dead deer and incompetent people!

Tale 8: Cetus, Jupiter, and Makatchthis (chapter 5. A Snack for the Road 5/5 ) part 2. Stories of Fey

gore

“I love magic, I can’t believe I gave it all up when dad died,” Cetus said, plopping several shopping bags on the floor. “what do you want for dinner? We don’t have to parent so I can cook something nice!” he said. Cetus’s cooking was, in fact, barely palatable.

“I think I need to become a magic user. I can’t do this.” Jupiter said falling onto the chair. Cetus began making tea.

“Our adventure it worked out in the end, Jupe. We do need to feed Matcha though, but I think Palladis has our back.” Cetus said with whimsy. Jupiter felt like she was about to cry or go dark. She let out a slow long breath like a deflating balloon. Upstairs Matcha was dancing music and making bracelets for everyone. Jupiter and Cetus were already wearing theirs. Jupiter’s had a planet charm on a string of pearls, and Cetus’s had a whale charm with a gimp band.  While lost in his craft, Matcha’s noticed his stomach rumbled.

“Palladis?” He chirped. Matcha listened a moment. Palladis usually came quickly. Perhaps she was already out on the roads looking for food. She had already gotten distracted in the mall; mother would have Palladis’s head if she abandoned Matcha again. Road kill was the only thing dead and big enough to satiate Matcha. And given his new morality, the only thing he would accept. He refused to eat pets, fey, and humans. For a griminthrope, he was a picky eater. Palladis was searching the north trail roads for scraps. She was hungry as well, and as a richen raven, she got first dibs. Matcha felt he couldn’t wait for tonight though. His day had been so exciting, he had worked up an appetite. Matcha could not fully fly yet, but had enough plumage to glide, and keep him warm in the winter air; when he was in beast form anyway. Matcha decided to leave while Cetus and Jupiter seemed busy in the kitchen. He went to the south road which was the main way into town. As night fell, Matcha found what he was looking for just off the road; two hunters trying to put a killed deer in their truck. When matcha walked up to the truck the men ran. He was not full grown and iridescent, but Matcha was still a person sized pitch-black raven with a corvid skulled head. He looked like he could have been summoned from an ancient ritual in the woods. Which was technically true.

Morgan and Regina were returning early that night; They were on the bus on the main road. The sun had just set. Everyone was half asleep. Regina was gazing out the windows into the snowing night. Then Regina spotted blood on a truck near the ditch. When she pointed it out, they pulled over.

“Stay calm, I’m calling 911.” Professor Hara said.

“it’s not human, and not fresh.” Morgan said. He was first to investigate. They had just entered the magic forest zone, and it was his magic forest. Regina summoned a camping flashlight. And everyone peered down the broken brush. There was a trail of blood on the snow. It led into the cold, dead, forest thicket. They heard grinding and crunching. Like chewing raw pasta, yet echoey like rocks in a tumbler. They could smell the blood and flesh wafting from the trail. Morgan began to follow it. He was curious in nature; which led him to be successful, and in many risky situations.

“Are you nuts!” Reggie whispered.  

“No. it just sounds familiar…” Morgan said. The group now following him for back up. They could hear the hunters on the road yelling and running back to the truck. The smell of cold winter air and metallic blood filled the air. The snaping, swallowing, ripping, chewing, and heavy breathing became louder as they stepped further from the bus. Morgen then stopped in a cleared-out area. There was Matcha, over a nearly completely disemboweled stag carcass. His hands coming out of his breast to pull in the long bones inside; which snaped and grinded beneath his feathers. Matcha was leaving nothing behind. Regina almost threw up. Yet, Morgan had no particular expression on his face.

“Matcha, you’re not supposed to leave the gate.” Morgan said.

“ee gwot hugry…awledy dead. Palmus.” Matcha responded in his boyish voice from under his black ruffle. The dissonance was remarkable. Reggie stood there, shivered, then blinked twice. She had the facial expression of her mother; blank, disgusted and disapproving. They stood there for five minutes while Matcha finished the deer, boarded the bus and went home.

“I mean, what luck! I found something dead and ran into you guys!” Matcha said yawning. He was settling into a thanksgiving torpor.

“Uncle Cetus, were home! We found Matcha, It’s ok!” Morgan yelled into the tower. It seemed to be empty. Palladis flew down and nestled on top her brother’s back. He sat on the large chair in his bird form, beginning to preen.

“He kill anything?” Palladis cawed. Morgan shoke his head.

“Nope. He found his first road kill. Well technically the hunter’s killed it; but it was on the side of the road! Raven children are the purest form of garbage disposals.” Morgan said calmly.

“Pestilent festering flesh goes in, magic and noise comes out.” Palladis cackled. She ruffled her feathers and settled to sleep with her brother. They had become perfect nest mates. Matcha had no more yearning for his terrifying brothers. Palladis had become just the sibling he needed. The day veil was so much better; so much colour, so many friends, and so much fun.

Cetus then ran down the stairs. “YOUR HOME. BLESS. NO MORE FIELD TRIPS. DON’T DISAPEAR. I BEG YOU, PLEASE.” Cetus whined hugging Reggie and Morgan. Jupiter looked undead holding a lamp in her sleeping robes and slippers. She looked defeated, tiered, and frustrated. She was.

“mom, dad, what happened?” Regina asked.

“I love Cetus and you Mother, Morgan. Which is why I agreed to this gig. It takes a lifetime to learn to parent. And by parent, I mean rear normal humans. Not fey. When I agreed to adopt you, I was thinking I would finally have another child; you and Reggie have always been like twins. But no. I got the parental horror of mystical teenagers going on quests into the magical dark ether of our realm. If I get dragged into one more adventure, Morgan; I’m going to quest so hard into magery, I will pop out the other end so mythical, I will be able to throat punch anything that even considers asking you to do a perils heroic journey.” Jupitar said without a single emotion in her voice. She was glaring at everyone, including Cetus.

“Oh, I see. Well, if it helps you cope, I would love to have you in the community? I’m going to bed now...” Morgan wheezed, pointing up the stairs.

“I’m going to sleep on the couch for a while, aren’t I? Why do I keep doing this?” Cetus said under his breath.

“mom? Are you ok? Can I like help or something…? I mean I can’t un-magic, but your being kind of scary…” Regina winced.

“no.” Jupiter said. Jupiter then turned around and walked back upstairs to bed. Matcha and Palladis asleep in the main hall. Snoring.

“Goodnight Reggie” Cetus said hugging his daughter. Cetus stood in the hall contemplating what to next, while everyone went upstairs. He couldn’t decide whether he should sleep with the ravens or his wife. He was now scared to make any more decisions. Cetus was not sure if anything was even his fault. He slowly began to realize no one was actually qualified to take care of Matcha in the first place. No one knew what they were doing; they were just grabbing straws moment to moment. Even the darn Raven king.

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<---PREVIOUS

[talesofealdancynedom]

Jupiter Minkmonk, in her fairy robes shortly after this story. When your children take a level in magic badass, you take a level in magical parenting badass.

Tale 8: Cetus, Jupiter, and Makatchthis (chapter 4. The Craft Supply Store 4/5 ) part 2. Stories of Fey

coarse language

Matcha had been on Tiberius gate for about a month. Palladis kept him on the gate, fed him, and played with him. Palladis took her task of controlling her brothers, the raven princes, seriously. She spent hundreds of years around humans and preferred their company; she knew the stakes. Palladia also remembered the last time a griminthrope was in the day veil. The day one of her brothers first devoured the flesh of men. Even if Matcha was presenting as a normal boy, the fact he was becoming a deadly beast was at the back of everyone’s minds. As for Palladis, she was one of the eldest royal fey, and she took the form of a small white girl with gold eyes and opal raven robes when approached by humans. Being admired as an iridescent white raven was a fun hobby for the younger princesses. Palladis had lived long enough to know that vanity means little, and is a childish pursuit. Matcha, having grown up a bit, was getting curious about the day veil. being stuck on the gate was like being stuck in the nest; stories were not enough satisfying his youthful mind. He had come to his senses now that he had put on some weight and plumage. He tried to fledge off the tower trellises but often fell on his face. Matcha wanted to fly, be with his brothers, and quench his deep hunger. And when there was nothing rotting on the gate, and Palladis could not bring him carrion, he lusted for the hunt. But Matcha had gotten attached to his new family. He was beginning to love humans as companions; thus, he had developed empathy for living things. Unlike other griminthropes, Matcha understood that the dead once lived. That he himself was half human. He would dare not hurt a human or fey, yet feared he would.

For a long weekend Morgan, Regina, and their friends were taken on a field trip to a fey convention. By their  professor, Hara Fyrstan, who was head of fey studies at their magic academy. They took a bus, and packed for up to three days away from home. Cetus and Jupiter began to sweat. Would Morgan sleep walk back such a distance? What if people found out Regina and Morgan were mages and try to persecute them? What if Matcha or another fey wreaked havoc on the village without Morgan’s guidance?

“Honey.” Cetus said tensely, glazed over as he stared at their precious children walk to the bus.

“yes dear” Jupitar responded. Her body clenched. The Ivory skinned, hazel eyed Franc in her was being tested. North Central people had a low bullshit tolerance, iron will’s, and true grit. which is what made her steady in the face of life’s trials. Jupiter and Cetus held hands as they watched their children walk off to catch the bus. They felt each other squeezing the circulation out of their forelimbs, mutually.

“Morgan needs new clothes. Something in this forest’s water is making him grow like a tree. In spite of his trouble eating….” Cetus quivered.

“I hate malls. He is at that age though,” Jupiter said in monotone. “Wait, he still has trouble eating? I thought we got him on anti-anxiety meds and therapy so he didn’t develop an eating disorder. You need to catch them young. After what His father did, he’s mentally unwell.” She grimaced.

“Oh, yeah. I mean he’s better than he was. Give the kid a break. Man I still can’t believe it,“ Cetus grumbled. “wait. Jupe, Where’s Matcha? Shouldn’t we be watching him?” he gasped.

“Damn it, Cetus. Let’s just take the bloody bird with us.”

“he looks more like a boy. He doesn’t birb very often… For someone so eager to be a birb”

“you mean bird? Which isn’t a verb...”

“he he, that rhymed.”

“I’ll get him” Jupiter sighed. She clicked the keys to make the car beep, which was audible from where they parked it just outside the gate. “I love you!” Cetus yelled walking to the car. “Love you too dear” Jupitar exclaimed back, fetching Matcha and her wallet.

Matcha was thrilled to leave the gate, he chattered the whole drive into town. Palladis tailed behind in flight. Raven children were as swift as any train or car.

“look ornaments! Can I eat one? I’m hungry!” Matcha said when they were in the mall. Cetus had strapped him into a shopping cart with winter twine. A type of thin yet sturdy magical rope. They ddidn’t want matcha running around, even with Palladis at their tail. However, the winter displays and decor were overwhelming and bewitching to the young griminthrope. Even Palladis had gotten distracted from watching her brother. Matcha snatched a ornament off a display as they carted by, and tried to eat the trinket, but then threw it up. He swallowed it whole like a pelican, and popped it right back out in perfect condition. He felt and looked very disappointed. Jupiter took and put it back on the next mall display while they kept walking. Cetus was busy looking for the next store, and without looking handed Matcha a toy. Jupiter had the grimace of someone who was reading internet memes; the distasteful kind. She was like that the entire time they were in mall. The sight was something to behold, the two of them were like veteran parents going to a mall with a toddler. But instead of a toddler it was an ominous black fey in a shopping cart. That was nearly the size of the shopping cart. A few people gave them scared looks, even here this was a bit odd. Cetus assured the staff that a wizard wasn’t necessary; they were just ‘babysitting for their nephew’. Which made even less sense. After over an hour picking out clothes and things they needed while they were there, Cetus and Jupiter found a table in the food court. they sat down with their orders looking exhausted.

“Suppose we should feed Matcha too eh? There is no shortage of trash around here, Jupiter.” Cetus said. Jupitar had gone space cadet eating tatter tots. Cetus rolled his eyes and turned to the shopping cart. It had three bags of clothes and a neatly wrapped cord of winter twine in it. “OH SHIT.” Cetus exclaimed. Jupiter perked up like new mother hearing a baby cry in the next room at 2am. She looked at the cart. She looked at Cetus. Jupiter cursed five times in francish, and grabbed the loot from their cart, her husband’s arm, and then walked out of that mall like a soldier into battle. She didn’t even finish the tater tots.

Cetus and Jupiter sat in the car for thirty minutes in silence brainstorming where Matcha would have gone. He was either in a dumpster behind the steak house or somewhere there is music and shiny things. Clubs were not open this time of day. It was noon. Cetus sighed and looked out the side window to see a large store by the professional building. “oh look, a Gabriel’s. Jupe, that place plays top 40 radio and has sparkly stuff everywhere. Matcha might be in there! I also need more yarn and stationery.” Cetus prompted. Jupiter rolled her eyes and they both exited the car. She should have never of joined that couples knitting group.

Matcha had never been somewhere so wonderful in his life. It almost reminded him of the nest. The music, the beads, the glitter, charms, thread, fake flora, bird houses, and gift wrap. It smelled of cloves, plastic, dust and popery. The lights shone brightly like flickering stadium lights, yet it still felt dark. The soft soulless catchy music played in a soft and tinny voice filling every crevice of the open, sparsely populated, glorified warehouse. Matcha had stars in his eyes, and he grabbed a basket like the other customers. He B-lined to the jeweler section and began tossing things in his basket. He began singing the songs on the PA perfectly, and had starting dancing to make every instruments sound. He was a one-man band. Matcha had also 152 dollars of merchandise ripped open and strung together into friendship bracelets. Matcha had decided to sit cross legged and bead like his father on the top of the cake decorating isle. He was on high profile mission of friendship bracelets.

“customers please stay calm. A wizard has been called, and will arrive shortly. Thank you for shopping at Gabriel’s.” an announcement said. This is when Jupiter and Cetus walked into the store. Cetus excused himself to the yarn section. Jupiter saw and heard Matcha a mile away and walked over to the isle he was perched in. She saw an employee and a wizard looking at the top of isle ten. Matcha was like a child that had eaten too many five cent candies. Jupiter looked both ways down the isle, and then walked forward and looked directly into the wizard’s eyes. Her gaze nearly defenestrating his soul from them.

“a North Central lady. Perfect. Last thing we need is a damn franc. Do we have improper posture? Or are you here to mock us well we deal with this…whatever it is…” The wizard said. Jupiter had been made fun of for her ethnic background since she moved to the grand West. It had made her strong. Jupiter punched the wizard before pulling him into a knee to the groin and tossing him aside like laundry. He lay on the floor whimpering. Jupiter then put one heel into his shoulder and the employee slowly walked backward out of the isle. She was not payed enough for this.

“get down here right now, young man.” Jupiter said with an intense thunder in her voice. Matcha froze cold and looked down at Jupiter’s unblinking stare. He wasn’t sure what he had done wrong. Matcha looked at his half-completed work and then stuffed it into a pouch on his side. Matcha held up a charm bracelet.

“look Jupiter! I made a shiny for you! I’m super crafty now! Just like dad!” Matcha Exclaimed. He was so genuinely proud of himself. He flew down and Jupiter grabbed Matcha by the hand, and escorted him to the till to meet her husband. Cetus payed for his yarn at the till, and apologize for the griminthrope. Jupiter stood behind him holding Matcha to prevent him from wondering off.

“sorry about that, were not trained in magic. Just have to watch him for the weekend. We can pay for the damages.” Cetus said. The manager stared silently in fear behind Cetus, at Matcha, well scanning the wool. Macha began to impatiently wiggle and hum.

“So, you’re taking that thing away then? And it’s not coming back?” The manager asked handing over the card reader.

“nope. Staying with us. Can’t apologize enough…Hope he didn’t scare off any business.”

“in that case, you don’t have to pay us for damages. we’ll pay you in place of the wizard, who is still indisposed by the frosting nozzles. Do you want a beading kit for the road? You know… so that thing is satisfied and DEFINITELY does not come back to my store?”

“thank you kindly. I think that is an excellent idea ma’am.” Cetus smiled charmingly.

With craft supplies in had Jupiter dragged Matcha into the backseat of the car and strapped him in. Cetus, about to get behind the wheel, noticed Palladis was on the car hood.

“YOU” Cetus growled.

“don’t tell my dad. We just went past that chandelier and I just… so sparkly…” Palladis said. Jupiter and Cetus both gave Palladis a nasty glare as they entered the car, slamming their doors. Cetus then started the car and turned on the windshield wipers. Palladis slid off the hood, her pleas barely audible through the glass. When Palladis got up and flew away to follow them home, Cetus began to drive. Jupiter looked into the art supply bag from the passenger’s side seat; “That colour? Sweety, we’ve talked out this. “

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<---PREVIOUS

[talesofealdancynedom]

Cetus in his fancy fairy robes. he’s usually in a comfy sweater; But alas, this I.T. guy moved back to a childhood magical forest, and adopted a OP nephew.

Tale 8: Cetus, Jupiter, and Makatchthis (chapter 3. No Manual Included 3/5 ) part 2. Stories of Fey

none

Morgan had no time to care for Makatcthis, now given the pet came ‘Matcha.’ Though Morgan was keen on studying an unknown fey, and adding research about griminthropes in his journals. He didn’t want anyone else to caught off guard. Cetus protested having Matcha around when Morgan told him what a griminthrope was. Cetus did not want his family eaten by a ‘giant creepy bird prince’.

“Morgan. You are a high school kid with an education and magical forest to worry about. You are a kid. And you have no time to take care of that thing.” Cetus moaned. “this isn’t babysitting for twenty bucks for your neighbors, that thing is dangerous and we know nothing about how to care for it.” Cetus went on.

“’It’ has a name uncle Cetus. His name is Matcha. And I’m sure we can all work together! I can do some extracurricular research since the forest is becoming stronger. Will we know what to do in no time! Besides, were doing Raven dad a solid. Do you want to anger a beast king? That is his precious child, and we’ve been tasked with doing a task of compassion.” Morgan said trying to persuade his uncle. Morgan was correct, the Raven king was not asking, and the Raven king could easily sick any bird fey on them. Cetus was forced to agree and help out. And Cetus never worked alone; Jupiter was along for the ride.

Matcha was two-year-old with the maturity of a seven-year-old, in a twelve-year old’s boy’s body. His sister Palladis always present. While Matcha lay limp in a nest of blankets and chimes, on the second floor, Palladis brought him garbage and dead animals to eat. Palladis gave some insight and information about her brothers, and was generally approachable. However, Palladis was abrasive in nature and took some getting used too. She acted like spicy grackle; compact, reactive, distractable and not morally opposed to biting people.  Palladis’s help wasn’t always appreciated, Jupiter and Cetus didn’t want road kill brought into the house. When Matcha began to perk up, even though he was weak, they gave in. Matcha was so cheerful, innocent and friendly in personality it was easy to forget he would ever grow into a lethal beast. Matcha was becoming charming even. Cetus and Jupiter even gave him a radio to help him sleep and sing. Soon Matcha could fly again; and the sooner he could fly, the sooner he could go home.

Cetus’s main motivation was not just that he was easily buttered because he was a soft, optimistic idiot; but because he would do anything for Morgan. Cetus went to great lengths to adopt Morgan, his little sister’s one and only child. He ventured through legal hoops and selling belongings just to afford caring for Morgan. Cetus knew how precious Morgan was to Icthya who thought she couldn’t have kids, and then had a miracle. Cetus and Jupiter’s daughter Regina, only three months older, was the same. Cetus had made a decision that seemed like a good idea at the time; famous last words. Satisfied by having a child, he decided to get a solidarity vasectomy. Cetus loved Reggie, so to him it was fine. IT WAS NOT FINE. Jupiter wanted five kids, like they had agreed. This gave Cetus occasional regret. To ice the cake, Cetus didn’t talk to Jupiter about it first. When Morgan and then Matcha showed up it was like it was happening all over again. Cetus couldn’t stop making warm hearted terrible choices and not telling Jupiter about them. He didn’t say anything about Morgan, and now he brought her on board with raising a fey out of a horror movie. Jupiter was often frustrated and angered by Cetus’s ‘oh by the way…’ mentality. But he was so sweet and had a certain joviality to him, that he was Jupiter’s favourite part of the day. She kicked herself in the butt for backing him up him every time. Jupitar tried to convince herself that all this year’s adoptions were making up for the fact they didn’t end up with a hearty brood like they had planned. Jupiter tucked the half grown griminthrope into his sparkly basket. She had a calm yet stern face, she stood there, resolute, saying to herself: “oh god. Not like this.”

Cetus worked I.T. at the hospital where Jupitar was a unit clerk. They weren’t even wizards, never mind mages. When they adopted Morgan, and sent Reggie to school with him, they did not sign up to live in a magical forest. But Morgan couldn’t leave the gate at that time. Morgan had bonded to it and would keep sleep walking back every night, so they decided to move in. Cetus loved magic, but Jupiter had no opinions about fey at first. She was the most put together, responsible person in the group. Unlike Cetus and Reggie who were constantly a goofy disorganized mess. Cetus accepted he was responsible for their fate and rose to the challenges of life with Jupiter by his side. The couple completed each other perfectly; making each other smile, and married for nearly twenty years, yet still have that original spark. Cetus and Jupiter still went on dates like they were sixteen. But not anymore. Now they had two fifteen-year old kids and a lot of mythical drama to cope with. While Jupiter pretended the mystical things around her didn’t exist most days, Cetus was more than happy to interact with fey like they were people. Eventually Jupiter would have to face it: she needed to take a level in magic if she was to protect her children, and relate to them. Matcha was the last straw. Jupiter would crawl through the shadow veil’s high-pitched terrifying shiver through the bones just to save Regina, and was not opposed to going full mage if she had too. Their daughter was dating a rock princess. Her nephew was in her guardianship and a king mage living in an ominous tower. She was losing it. But then she saw Cetus. Cetus was oblivious and bewildered by the gate like a peaceful idiot. Jupiter loved that; it gave her hope. Morgan was one thing; she was fine with that. Human boys can be coaxed to eat their vegetables. But Matcha was a bit too far. Feeding science experiments from the fridge was revolting. Jupiter decided to confront her husband about their lives. Cetus admitted it made him uncomfortable. Which was impressive because it meant Cetus actually comprehended what was going on for once. Cetus, was also starting to lose it.

“Jupiter, why can’t our mid-life crisis be like other peoples? What are we going to do? I’m about to jump into fountain nymph water to wash away years of my life to start over and return to the safety of childhood. Lend me your Franc iron will Jupe…” Cetus said.

“Lend me your incomprehensible ignorant bliss and we’ll call it a deal.” She retorted.

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<---PREVIOUS

[talesofealdancynedom]

Griminthropes in the Death Tree and their sisters, the Richen Raven, holding the banner of the rune ‘daig’ in red, for the raven kingdom.

Tale 8: Cetus, Jupiter, and Makatchthis (chapter 2. Special Delivery 2/5 ) part 2. Stories of Fey

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One Fall, Queen Odette gave birth to only one child, a Raven prince named Makatchthis. Single born infants do not thrive as they do not have siblings to play with. The Raven king and queen were worried for Makatchthis’s survival. No matter how many ornaments the Raven King hung, lullaby’s Odette sang, carrion he was brought, or warmth he was given; the boy grew so slow they feared he would not fledge by next fall. The royal ravens normally grew fast, and were able to fly with full plumage in about two years’ time. The flight feathers where iridescent at full age; and in human form where around their gloves, boots and necks; and thus, they could turn into full beast formed birds. But Makatchthis had only half his feathers by his second autumn. And none of them where the iridescent magpie ones his older brothers wore. Regardless, the Raven King was fair to all his children; Makatchthis would have to leave the nest and make his way to the death tree the best he could. Makatchthis was actually excited. His mother told him how big, strong, and beautiful his brothers were, and having no company in the nest, the idea of joining his siblings in a magical tree where food just came to him was enthralling. Truth be told, Makatchthis desperately wanted friends, which made him easily groomed by his parents. To Makatchthis everything was a wonderful opportunity and experience. He was the most like his father in personality. Not grumpy like the other raven princes and princesses. Instead he was bouncy, curious, and friendly.

Makatchthis would not make it to the death tree. In fact, he fell out of the nest rather then fly out of it. Macatchthis was keen on flying. Like his mother before she was raven queen. But he lacked the plumage to do it. As the tree children began to sleep as winter drew near, he began to starve and freeze. He was becoming disheartened. Eventually he was found in the thickets of the rat kingdom, barely holding on. He was bleeding from snares, weakened by the elements, and broken by his failure. Makatchthis had been so excited to leave the nest, and now he just wanted to go home. His black feathers began molting and he was unable to take beast form to keep warm. He looked like a deathly ill boy no older than twelve. When Queen Odette went to the death tree a week after Makatchthis fledged, to see if he made it, she counted her sons. Makatchthis was not among them. In a frenzy she went on a search across the shadow veil to find her baby. Queen Odette was ambivalent to both the worlds of fey and men; The only thing that would stir her heart was her children. And Odette was so shocked to see her little boy in such a condition she was brought to tears.

Odette returned to the nest and began berating her husband to change his mind and let Makatchthis stay until he was fully grown. She held makatchthis, fully limp, close to her breast. But the Raven king feared his other children would grow jealous if Makatchthis was given more time in the nest to grow. Even if the Raven king was made of neutral magic, he was not above being a good father; he knew he had to do something to help his son. Then the Raven king had an epiphany: “He is still young and half human. Human enough to learn human ways. Young enough to appeal to magically inclined men. I have recently brothered the new king mage. Maybe if my fragile son is guarded by his older sister Palladis, to keep him out of trouble, Makatchthis may do well in the hands of mages.” The Raven king said to his wife. He then wrapped Makatchthis in a blanket of woven thread and down, put him in a sled he adorned with his ornaments, and pulled him through the raven door and onto Tiberius gate. Usually he was quirky, flamboyant, noisy and obnoxious. Today however, the Raven king walked in human form in a dark somber and slow pace. Unlike the shadow veil, winter was cold here. The sun set early giving way to foggy crisp evening air. At the end of the path the merry laughter of the king mage and his family resonated in the main tower, barely audible. One could see the golden light of lamps within the tower’s windows. Even in cold winter, while the tree children slept, the magical forest was warm like it’s hearth. For after many year mages were now upon it. The Raven king arrived like a radiating shadow devouring all joy and sound. When he arrived at the tower’s door, the Raven king opened it without knocking, letting in the silent icy air. The king mage, Morgan Cynedom, looked over while his family’s faces went grey. “you look so serious and sad? You’re so plucky whenever we meet. What happened?” Morgan asked the Raven king.

“I beg a favour of you brother. My youngest heir will not survive the winter. I am trusting you and one of my elder princesses, Palladis, to raise and protect my son. So that he may return to see his brothers in the death tree by next fall.” The Raven King whimpered before disappearing into the shadow veil, in a mist of golden glitter. Everyone looked and Morgan who’s face went pale. “The Raven King said ‘son’, right?” Morgan squeaked. Everyone nodded yes. Morgan’s heart stopped cold. Royal fey of the Raven kingdom were only thought to be Richen ravens. No one knew they were only the girls. Richen ravens were admired for their white opal feathers and beauty. The reason no human knew of the princes was because griminthropes stayed in the death tree in the shadow veil. They were even avoided by mages. A raven prince hadn’t been recorded or seen by a human in centuries. Even Morgan, who collected countless ancient journals only read about them once or twice. It was in one of his oldest books; and it depicted a giant skull headed pitch black raven with hands devouring the corpse of a man. There was small blurb on the page about them eating the dead, and strong enough to murder fey. In that moment in time, Morgan was the only human who knew what a raven prince was. With almost no knowledge for once, Morgan cautiously approached the only fey he feared. And it was laying only a few feet away from his loved ones. “What is it Morgan?” Uncle Cetus asked. Cetus had never seen Morgan so scared before a fey. Morgan looked down at makatchthis, both of them perfectly still. As usual, Morgan felt empathetic towards a fey in need. To see one dead or suffer pained his heart. “well?” Aunt Jupiter said.

“It’s a Griminthrope.” Morgan responded coldly.

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