#I WANT ORDA

[jazzy-tzw]

And if I find out Seth put his hands on my Samoan it’s gonna be a problem.

Ain’t no way you hate a man that YOU betrayed and traumatized so damn much. ITS YOUR FAULT

[champagnemoon]

This is really how I act in most situations

[n30nwrites]

Fetch (Shifter! Tf141 x Male! Reader)

Chapter 4 of Good Doggy

Masterlist

Tw - Drunk Assholes (inspired by real stories from me :)), Slight blood warning, Language (its a COD fanfic??), OKAY SO LIKE I GUESS SLIGHT SUGGESTIVE STUFF?? I WANTED TO MAKE IT LONGER. A SMALL SCENE OF NSFW BUT NOTHING TOO DEEP BUT STILL PUTTING A WARNING, ITS IN BETWEEN THE NSFW GRAPHICS. Gaz has a praise kink.

Beta Reader/Editor - @letmelickyoureyeballs

Updated: 3/5/2024

The bar is filled. It’s a Friday night, of course it is but you hate it. You don’t like dealing with assholes. Not after the conversation with Maya.

“I cannot serve you anymore. If you don’t decide to leave I will call the cops.” The man in front of you shouts profanity after profanity, angered by the law. Humans were stupid that way. “Here’s a water.” You slam it down, annoyed.

Idiots. Drunken idiots.

Yeah by Usher starts playing. The club you worked at was loud, you have ear plugs in just so you wouldn’t be overstimulated by everything, but you could still hear enough.

“Why do you have a mask on?” He's irritated already which means that this conversation will not end well. You usually strive to give your coworkers the assholes, not caring that he'll have to deal with it. 

"It's to stay safe, I don't want to get sick-"

The man cuts you off and you debate on spitting in his drink, "That's not gonna keep you safe, the only way to stay safe is to build your immune system." He keeps yelling, and some spit leaves his mouth. You place down the menu in front of him as he keeps yelling, "That's the only way to stay safe, not a stupid mask!" 

You walk away, going to your coworker and telling him to get his order cause if you do you'll be fired. You instead went over to the list of music that was going to play and put on a favorite song of yours, not caring for some disgruntled noise from other patrons as you bobbed your head to the beat, distracting yourself from the day you had.

"Ye lik' this song mo gaol?" It's the familiar accent and the way the hairs on your arms stand makes you more irritated. It was roughly 1 a.m. and most people would be tired. You'd reckon it would start slowly down in 20 minutes, which meant you could get some work done.

You turned to face Soap.

"I'd hope so, I chose it." You tell him as you get closer to him. "You still stalking me?"

"Ah'ahmnot a stalker, juist wanted a drink." He smiles boyishly, as if he wasn't Sergeant John ``Soap" MacTavish with more confirmed kills than unconfirmed.

"At the bar I work at?"

"Juist a coincidence"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't lie to me." You told him while you mixed a drink. "You obviously have something for me."

"A'm in loue wi' ye"

"Not possible." You tell him, interrupting his "confession". You set the drink down in front of him. "$13" You tell him the price.

"I didnae orda a drink?" He looked cheeky, and you wished some part of you didn't find him attractive. But he looks up at you and you can't help but imagine other scenarios, particularly some where you're both naked.

"Well you can either pay for the drink and drink it, or pay for the drink and I'll drink it and talk with you some more." Soap immediately puts down two 20s.

"Th' rest can go to mah bartender." You slip the extra cash into your pocket, going to your POS system and breaking out for your thirty minute break that was required. You grabbed the drink on the counter and left your work area, Soap following behind like a puppy. You found a booth in the corner most people avoided. Sitting down at what could fit five others at most. Your mind goes back to Maya, who’s probably taking care of Icarus, your dog, and Marigold, her familiar. Maya worked as well, but it was an in-house job where she dealt with customers in need of assistance.

"You hurt our feelin`s earlier," He says first as you take a sip of the drink you made. "Hae we dane something tae offend ye?"

"Don't want to get your hopes up." You tell him, "I'm not one for soulmates."

"So ye know?"

"Of course I do. You reek of wolf." He starts to sniff himself and you want to laugh at how ridiculous it looks. "You wouldn't be able to smell it. And it's not a bad smell, just obnoxious cause there's four of you."

"So ye aren't human." 

"Nope, never was."

"What are ye?" You never felt shame in what you were. Didn't feel shame in general, it took Maya for you to start walking around in clothes. 

But you didn't want to tell him. 

"None of your business."

Gaz knows that Price is going to talk about the bloodshed in the morning. He knows that Price already knows but doesn't care to stop it tonight. Price is just too drunk, Ghost doesn’t care, and Soap is who knows where. It wasn’t like he killed humans tonight, just some animals that were definitely going to get the town's attention (He might’ve killed a bear) but not the hunters.

He's decorated in blood and he loves it. It soothes some messed-up part of him. His teeth still have specks of flesh in it, that he licks clean

He smells you. Heavenly you. You who smells like some plant burning. He didn't understand it, but he loved it.

You're next to Soap, and Soap has the biggest grin as you walk together. 

Though you probably don't see it as together. You probably see it as him stalking you, but you don't seem to have your usual air of distaste. You have sunglasses on, something he hates cause he can't stare at them. Your mask is black, and you also have a hood on. You look perfect, he just wishes you were in his bedroom.

Preferably naked and-

Nope.

He kind of hates it at the same time though. Soap getting so close to you, still determined to find a way to be with you. Soap didn't lose hope, not like Gaz did. But he'd be damned if he didn't do something. He lets out a growl, standing menacingly as he runs forward, towards both of you, knocking Soap down as he growls at him, his teeth snapping. If Gaz doesn't get to be happy, Soap shouldn't either.

He just wasn't expecting your reaction.

"Get off him." He followed your command, staring up at you and following your eyes when you bent down to be eye level with him. "God you are so..."

"Cute." Your voice gets higher as you gently rub behind his ears, the blood not bothering you at all. Gaz almost forgets how you looked at him earlier, your words that cut him melted away and he just thinks he has a chance.

You loved dogs, who wouldn't? Even if that dog was actually a grown (hot) man. 

"Look who's such a pretty boy." You kept rubbing his head as Soap just stared in shock. "Such a handsome boy, who did you eat?" You coo at Gaz, who leans into your touch and praise, enjoying everything about this moment. Gaz has to take a moment to remember himself, that the praise you give him is nothing.

But he can't help but imagine scenarios in a different setting.

NSFW Start

It's such a simple setting. In his room, the lights are low. He's flushed, shirtless and on the floor, while you sit above him.

"Can't you be a good boy for me?" You lick your lip before biting it, you stare at him, your eyes actually showing, looking at him with lust and love. A perfect combination, and your lips, god, you were perfect for him. "Come on, you know you want to." You lower your shorts and Gaz gulps, he stares at your cock, mesmerized.

"You're hungry for it, aren't you whore?"

NSFW End

"Arr ye fecken' kidding me?" Soap says, breaking the peaceful moment, and Gaz's daydream. "A' it took wis a wolf fur ye to lik' us?" 

"I still don't like you all, but dogs are always a great company." You keep petting him, Gaz's eyes closing slightly, and Soap sits up. 

"Ah can do that toh." His accent gets thicker as he rushes to grab your hand, forcing it away from Gaz and instead putting it in his hair. Which was mostly shaved on the sides.

"You aren't a cute puppy right now." You yank your hand away.

"He's fooken' bloody!"

Gaz licks your face, and you slightly smile.

----

NEXT

Listen, hating people is one thing but I could never hate a dog, let alone a wolf. Reader still doesn't feel comfortable around the boys, but he does like the dogs.

[neverchecking]

Awww… thank you for the nice comments about my drawing… I do really think that I could have done better ;-; but I’m glad that you liked it. And thank you for the banana, since you were nice to give me a gift, I shall return the favor!

Mature Content Warning.

{ A bit of context: Ok so I ship my oc (her name is D.A. as a nickname) with Link (BOTW/TOTK) a lot… for many different reasons but all you need to know that D.A. is a Tall Queen and Link is her Short King. But that will be another story for another time, so this will be about the Reader of any gender, and the Chain. }

The chain and the reader are just hanging around at a campsite, doing their own thing. Unfortunately it is very hot outside and Wild is not having it at all. So after lunch is over, he chills next to reader under a tree and tries to take a nap. While he sleeps, he began to have a bit of a fun dream. He sees himself at the bottom of the hill, (in the Barbarian Armor cuz I’m that type of person) and on the top of this hill, he sees his flower, but he has to climb to get to them. So he climbs and climbs and climbs, ironically enough, the higher he goes, the hotter the atmosphere is around him. Wild starts to sweat and sweat, but he doesn’t stop, he wants his lover so badly. It’s only at the top, he realizes that his sweetie is a giant now, and unfortunately they can’t hear him from way down there. So he gently climbs onto the hot smooth skin of this beautiful being in front of him. He continues to climb, up their body, all soft and warm, and Wild is starting to become crazy, just aching for relief from this mayor yet. Finally, he makes he way face to face with his lover, with him standing on their chest. And an reward for climbing all the way to the top, Wild is given a kiss from this beautiful beautiful being (kinda like how those huge fairies kiss him when he upgrades or something? I haven’t played the game .3.) When the kiss is done, suddenly there is this waterfall above Wild, giving him the cooling relief he craved so bad as he wails out in satisfaction. Once the ordeal is over, Wild opens his eyes and is meet with a bunch of eyes on him. The Reader and the chain just look at him.

Reader is confused and concerned.

Wind doesn’t even has a clue what is going on as his eyes are being covered by Legend, Hyrule was attempting to cover Wind’s eyes but failed miserably.

Twilight and Sky both have second had embarrassment.

Calamity refuses to acknowledge what the hell just happened for his own mental sanity.

Warriors just has a smirk on his face.

Sage is just disgusted….. DISGUSTING!

And any other Link that I missed, their just have the confusion of da highest orda.

As for Wild… he feels like he is on top of something… so he slowing looks down, face is totally painted the bright shade of red by the way, and below him is an unfortunate (chulu? I honestly don’t know, it’s the blue thing with the eyes) jelly. The jelly seems like it has seem better days, and it wants to be out of its memory. Luckily it’s wish is granted, Wild pulls out his sword and pops it instantly. Eventually everyone continues to go about their day, refusing to mention anything that happened… all but one person that is…

Sage: Y’all get mad at me for how I act, but HE gets a PASS!? …. F all of y’all, all of y’all can go suck a caterpillar di-

Then the Reader just pulls Sage away to give him a stern lectures on how to treat people, but he’ll never listen…

So yeah… I know I draw but I seriously need to start writing all my random ideas and put them on this app… I named myself “mrswritter” damnit!! I’ll work on this one day… but I hope you enjoyed this! Please take your time as you relax from the requests, you’ve feed us so well, now we shall pay the bill. This story was my payment, and as a tip, here’s an apple, a red one this time! 🍎

BRO THE MEAL YOU JUST FED ME I AM LICKING MY FINGERS

Legend is offended on your behalf. Like he is acting like a wounded mother who had someone swear in front of her kid. Hyrule is like, hand to the mouth, shocked.

Twilight is just defeated bc that was who he was mentoring and he doesn't know if he failed wild or Wild failed him. Sky doesn't know where the timeline went wrong.

Time is wondering if it's too late to go back and eradicate the timeline. Wars for sure is smirking because now he gets to hold this over Wild's head forever.

And Cal and Sage? They are by far the most insulted. Cal is downright disgusted since he's more duty bound than the other two, so he's a little more...sophisticated in a way. Sage is furious. He kisses you one time and they separate the two of you for two hours. But Wild can do this and just...get away with it?!

Fucking Double Standard. He is ranting and raving about this constantly. He even gets Cal on his side.

Reader has to prolly scold them both lmao.

I enjoyed it very much! Honestly, it was a struggle to start consistently writing for me lmao. I require no payment, but tidbits like this are always appreciated! Since you've switched it up, I shall too! 🍋 Have a lemon!

[natureismynature]

I knowwwww I've been talking about wanting Foolish to turn traitor, but is there really a world where cc!Foolish lean into it? Uh, hell fucking yeah?

One of the reasons I love Foolish is because of our similar mindsets, the man loves a good tragedy. He enjoys drama and angst like no one else.

His reaction to BBH's nightmare in character was "That sounds kinda awesome actually" instead of empathy like Bad wanted. Then his reaction to the clip itself ooc is "That was better than I expected". Hell, I'm pretty sure he planned his character in dsmp to have been evil in the past or be evil in the future (idk, he didn't get to do it, I think).

The moment Foolish asked Max if he would be upset if he went traitor, I could SEE the cogs in his brain turning. That smirk Foolish had? Could not be a good sign for the Orda Teoritas. He's planning. Let's just hope he doesn't get distracted HDBSKHS

[paisholotus]

Ezintathu

Jamaica

Stella's Pov

Walking into the foyer, holding Erik's hand, I called my grandkids, Lua, Yarri, and Aja to come downstairs. Erik looked up at me, and I smiled, rubbing the back of his head.

All three of them ran down the steps in pajamas and smiled, except for Yarri, who isn't the smiley type. "Mi wa yuh guys, tuh meet Erik; he'll be staying with you for a couple of days." I said. Bringing Erik towards the girls, introducing him to them. Lua and Aja smiled while Yarri folded her arms and said, "He's cute." Causing Erik to look away, blushing.

 

I gave Yarri a look and told the kids to show Erik around while I go call his dad, since he kept asking before we got here. He hesitantly followed them, and I blew him a kiss and waved them bye. I walked upstairs to my office. I sat down in my chair, holding my head in my hands, my head running with a million thoughts of how I was going to do this. I sat up with a determined mindset. T'chaka was going to, except for the fact that Erik was going to be there, and he was going to get to know his family, whether he liked it or not.

 

I picked up the kimoyo beads that Ramonda gave me last time I was there. I would have used my phone, but they sadly don't use those. Only when they have to come to America does it help them blend in. I pressed the bead to connect to T'chaka, waiting for him to answer. After a good while, he finally answers, and it appears he was lying down.

 

"What do you want?" He said it groggily. I glared at him through the hologram, and he chuckled, obviously thinking it was funny. As if I was supposed to forget everything that happened a day ago, fire grew in my belly as I got angry. But apparently, he thought that was funnier. I took a deep breath and smirked, leaning back in my chair. "I have the boy." I said, with all seriousness. He stopped laughing and glared at me, slowly getting out of bed, careful not to wake up Ramonda. He walked into the bathroom, closing the door and giving me the most vicious glare he could.

 

"YOU DARE DISOBEY MY ORDERS!" He yelled. I looked around the room, and before chuckling, I knew he wasn't talking to me. "Careful now, yuh, wake up, yuh, wife. And mi nuh memba eva taking ordas fron yuh." I said, laughing. He looked around the room before cussing under his breath in Xhosa. "And what do you plan on doing with them? Hmm, what will this solve? Don't you think he's going to hate you when he finds  out?"He chuckled darkly.

 

I turned hard as I leaned back forward. "Yuh, tink Intimidating and guilt-trippin, gon save yuh? Yuh murda dat boys fada in cold blood. As far as wah mi gon do, him gon get to know his family whether you like it or not." I said, dangerously low.

 

He put both hands on the bathroom counter, glaring at me, "over my dead body." He said, slowly. I smiled at him and said, "Well, mi guess mi gon have anotha body tuh turn into dust." I said, finally ending the call.

 

Even though I felt strong at that moment, I started to hyperventilate as tears ran down my face. I've never been so heartbroken for a child. But also for my friend. N'Jobu, T'chaka, and I grew up together; I was the oldest. I didn't really get along with T'chaka, but me and N'Jobu were the best of pairs; he was the kindest friend I could ever ask for. T'chaka had always had a temper and was spiteful when he wanted to be, never in public but behind closed doors. You'd think you were looking at another person. But never in my life did I think he could do something like this.

 

"Gamma! We're hungry." I quickly wiped my face and stood up, walking them back downstairs to get them something to eat.

[eruverse]

More headcanons on Mongol Empire-Post Mongol Empire era:

I LOVE depicting Mongolia as a father and grandpa of many offpsring, and he did have many. So there were Golden Horde/Jochid Ulus (which was actually a combined force of Blue Horde and White Horde given to Jochi’s sons Batu and Orda, because Jochi died before Golden Horde was consolidated), Chagatai Khanate (of Chagatayids), Ilkhanate (of Hulagu), and Yuan (of Kublai). Now, rather than going with ‘Mongolia = Yuan’ like I used to, I decided to give Yuan its own personification. Why tho? For one, while Yuan’s territory did comprise of Mongolia proper and Kublai as its founder presented his state as core Mongol Empire (or, simply Mongol Empire) with his grandfather Chinggis Khan as its founder, sketchy things surrounded Kublai’s ascension as a Khagan; he was enthroned during a quriltai that was held not in Karakorum but in his own city Kaiping (in China), and it was without the votes of all four Chinggisid branches who at the time supported Kublai’s youngest brother Ariq Boke as a Khagan. All of this made his ascension illegal. What’s more, Kublai who was pretty much an usurper proclaimed himself as a ruler in a distinctly Chinese style and Yuan dynasty was established with all the legitimacy of a Chinese dynasty. Yuan therefore looked more like a breakaway/successor state just like the other Khanates than simply a continuation of the Mongol Empire that Chinggis Khan built. It stands to reason for me that I should make a distinction between Yuan and Mongolia then, since Mongolia the dude in my head represents the core of Mongols so he should be purely Mongolian with pure Mongol/nomadic characteristics. For legitimacy with the Mongolian side, Yuan would latch onto Mongolia and they would rule both China and Mongolia together. The link below is an interesting read of which I based my theory off on the separation between personifications of Mongolia and Yuan dynasty:

Besides, I just want funny family moments between Mongolia and his kids and grandkids, and the more the merrier!!

Golden Horde is a Hater and he’s so valid for it. He hates people and nothing he likes more than going to his mancave (of wide steppe) and ignoring all other kinds of existence including his own siblings by Mongolia, though he of course is loyal to his princes and princesses and would do everything for them. His rivalry with Chagatai (Khanate) reflects Jochi’s with Chagatai. Also despises Ilkhanate bc they have feuds over territories and trades. Only slightly more okay with Yuan bc Yuan is really far away and cannot bother him much though he still doesn’t want to acknowledge him because why should he. Perpetual virgin until he met chaotic deranged dumbass Timurid. Anyway, he’s a child between Mongolia and Polovtsy/Qipchak. The Polovtsy were Turkic nomads whom the Jochids subjugated and entered into their ranks (or got scattered all over the area as they fled the Mongols). They had a confederate before the Mongols came.

Mongolia: “Horde, now be good and have dinner together with me and your brothers!”

Horde: “Fuck you all now let me go back to my mancave.”

Mongolia: *spanks Horde*

Maybe I should give Blue Horde and White Horde personifications too and they are the ones who do the actual ruling while the most Golden Horde does is frolicking around, bullying little hare Russia, or being fussed over by his princesses. Anyway, they love to braid his long hair like a maiden and put beads and rings on it.

Russia sometimes mistakes Horde as a Mongol Princess because of it and Horde is so NOT amused. Cue Horde chasing Russia around.

Russia and Horde coincidentally bond over not liking studying and reading, and as kids they were illiterate. Their princes/advisors were this 👌 close to giving up teaching them to read. Horde says he’s an all powerful warrior of the steppe and he already has everything he wants and needs so why should he even study?? Meh.

At some point Horde also tried to shoot Russia’s cat because he was curious if it tasted good and that was the first time Russia smacked him. Horde was secretly impressed because apparently little hare could pack up a good punch.

Chagatai is rivals with Horde and he’s salty because his desire to make daddy Mongolia happy by besting that fucker-with-his illegitimate-Khans Horde results in Mongolia disinheriting their respective khans from the throne of Khagan altogether through Chinggis Khan. Eventually, Chagatai becomes estranged much like Horde did. His personality is serious and ruthless to a fault. Chagatai is a child of Mongolia and Qara-Khitai, who was a Khitan-ruled state in Central Asia. Khitans were a nomadic group related to Mongols as they were all similarly descended from Xianbei. Qara-Khitai however wasn’t purely Khitan because most of its subjects were Central Asian Turco-Persian Muslims under Karakhanids who then became vassal to the Khitans. Therefore by characteristics Chagatai was very much Central Asian and not Khitan… maybe Karakhanid was his actual second dad? Only Mongolia knows.

Ilkhanate is the child of Mongolia and Khwarazmian Empire (another Turco-Persian state, also both Karakhanid and Khwarezmia were descendants of Gokturks). His relationship to Mongolia is second to best, but even in time he’s more concerned with his own gains than being a filial son to Mongolia. He’s an excitable dude who’s also a wildman.

Yuan (Monchu love(hate)child) is possibly Mongolia’s favorite kid because he’s best behaved to him (including paying homage to him unlike his other hopeless brats). Has an ultra high self esteem because he’s most favored by Mongolia and because he lords over the mighty China. Lots wholesome moments between daddy Mongolia and Yuan with China totally NOT having a good time.

Yuan: “I am Great Yuan, bow down to me and my Father!!”

Horde, Chagatai, Ilkhanate: *leave*

Yuan: “No, come back here!!!!”

Except for China, Mongolia obliterated his kids’ second dads they are no more 💔 maybe he tried to do that to China too (like with Song whom Kublai subjugated) but too bad for him, China is eternal.

Yes, basically the other dads of Mongolia’s brats were the countries he subjugated and took over. He killed their personifications and gave the territories to his own.

I decided to not make Timurid a direct descendant of Mongolia, however he kinda larps as Mongol Empire following Tamerlane’s massive ambition (lol good luck). He also got important territory off Chagatai and he did it by cannibalizing parts of him (!!!). Timurid is a simpleton brute with singleminded focus who’s also a poet of many vulgar poems depicting his lover Horde. Also, I guess by the time Moghulistan happened there would be another personification in place (which means Chagatai would be dead by then) but idk yet.

Initially Horde and Timurid had it SO good but Horde had to betray him following the orders of his prince Tokhtamysh, and it made Timurid so livid he got batshit insane as if possessed. He chased after Horde and burnt his important cities when he couldn’t find him, further weakening Horde when he was already weakened from civil war and conflicts. They met one last time shortly before Horde’s death, though Horde’s death wasn’t actually by Timurid’s hands.

Mongolia finds it quite tragic that he lives on while his kids and many descendants couldn’t, but such is fate. He wouldn’t actually want to switch places with them tho (for nationverses, only one’s own survival really matters), but it would be nice to have his large family around him. He would love having his dining table brimming full with his offspring and relatives during Tsagaan Sar. Mongolia misses them sometimes even though their relationship wasn’t always so good.

Mongolia himself isn’t always a good father, and while he’s pretty attentive to his kids (the ones he had in the past or the ones he has had pretty recently) he’s an emotionally independent person and likes to encourage his brats to be independent sooner. Therefore, sometimes he can be quite neglectful, and it is even more the case these days though part of it is because he himself cannot support them much in many ways. Not saying he’s a 100% chill parent though, because like any kind of patriarch he expects and could demand proper filial piety from his brats, but these days perhaps following the pattern of chill urbanized fathers who are more of good friends to their kids than just reigning patriarchs, Mongolia is much more chill (in an egalitarian sense) with his remaining kids and relatives. Spanking your kids is bad, so he no longer does it.

[paintedscales]

FFXIV Write 2023 :: Day 28

Prompt :: Blunt Characters :: Nomin tal Kheeriin, Chotan Sagahl Word Count :: 900

FFXIV Write 2023 Master List

Thunk!

…

Thunk!

…

Thunk!

Nomin, brow furrowed, hands wrapped, had been taking some of the training spears that were situated close by and throwing them as hard as she could at the wood targets that had been set up. At the very least, she was getting better at her throwing aim.

Walking toward her target, Nomin had pulled the spears free of it, collecting them and bringing them back. She was alone -- perhaps for the best. She had been in her own head lately, thinking about the punishment she had endured a fortnight ago at that point. Her bruises had faded for the most part. Only some minor discoloration was evident on some parts of her skin, but honestly, it had been hard to tell.

“This is what you’re deciding to do with your free time?” came a familiar voice, amusement evident within it. Nomin looked up and saw Chotan standing at the nearby weapons rack. She offered a small smile, holding back a giggle.

“You have any better plans or ideas for what I should do?” Nomin asked, apathetically tossing the spears onto the ground at her feet. She then leaned down and picked one of them up, taking aim and then throwing it forward. It sailed through the air before it hit the target with yet another thunk!

“I thought you’d be taking time to paint or something.”

“With what?” Nomin asked, mild indignation rising up. “I have nothing in terms of paints aside from greens, browns, and blacks…”

She picked up another spear, chucking it.

Thunk!

“You could still sketch, maybe?” Chotan suggested. “You spend so much time training… Checheyigen and I have been worried, you know? We don’t get to see you too often. Not outside of waking up…”

“I have to get myself trained up,” Nomin replied simply, picking up the third spear. “We aren’t getting out of this godsdamned orda, so I might as well--” thunk! “--train up… If they want a warrior to send out against the Kharlu for their stupid rivalry, then fine. I’ll become a warrior.”

‘And I’ll make them regret they ever wanted me in their numbers…’ Nomin bitterly thought to herself, going over and retrieving each of the spears once again. She had been ruminating deeply upon how she had been feeling since her first severe punishment. Though she had made a promise to herself the first night of their abduction, it was now that she had experienced an epiphany.

“Just…be mindful, Nomin…” Chotan said with a small sigh. “I’d rather you not blunt your body in your endeavor. You need to rest sometimes, too.”

Nomin paused, her lips pursing together as she looked down at the spears in her possession. She had been doing relatively well in regards to perfecting her aim -- whether it was the aim of her shooting her arrows, or the aim of throwing a spear. She had also been conscientious enough to take what she had overheard from other Jhungid trainees to heart: stretching in the morning and stretching at night made a world of difference.

“You really don’t need to worry overmuch about me, Chotan,” Nomin finally replied, efforting a smile as she looked up at her friend. “I’ll blunt steel before I blunt myself.”

Chotan’s lips curved into a deep frown. “See, you say that but you keep pushing yourself every day, Nomin. Not only that, but some nights you just return to us, battered and bro--”

“Don’t finish that sentence.” Nomin’s expression steeled as she barked her words. Her grip had tightened on the spear shaft before she tore her gaze away from Chotan. “Just…don’t…”

Even before Nomin had snapped at her, Chotan’s hands had flown to her mouth with a small gasp of realization.

“I-I’m sorry, Nomin…I didn’t mean-- You know I wouldn’t go out of my way to say something to offend--”

“I know…just…” Nomin sighed irritably. She thought to herself that Chotan must have known by now. Why Nomin had gone out of her way to train so tirelessly every day. At least in some respect. Be it some kind of surface level of even just the fact that Nomin also wanted to beat the shite out of other pureblood Jhungid trainees. “It’s fine. Sorry, Chotan…it’s a silly word to yell at you over, I know.”

“No it’s not…I…I should have known better than to mindlessly use it knowing what the others say…” Chotan replied, showing her level of maturity. It was clear to Nomin that Chotan exhibited more maturity and poise when it came to handling her emotions. In some way, Nomin had been a little envious of this fact.

“It’s a common word, it’s…again, it’s fine…” Nomin dug her feet in, trying to grab a hold of her own emotions. After all, most of her rage and anger should have been saved and directed at the Jhungid, not her fellow Sagahl. She collected the training spears and went to put them away. “I guess I have been training too much. We speak of blunting this or that, all I’ve done is blunt these blades more than they already are.”

“Ever consider you might also be a little hungry?” Chotan posited.

Placing the last spear away, Nomin felt her stomach grumble, causing her to scoff. Looking back over at Chotan, she then said, “now that you mention it, I guess I could get something to eat.”

[theashensilence]

Sky Over Saliana

Intrigue and subterfuge in the Ashen Silence

Robin V. Belle

Content Warning: Drug use (heavy), transphobia (mild), brief moment of violence, referenced harm and death (incl minors).

Art by @sugarmountalns

Read on or get the full text and pdf here.

85 Summer 1011, St. Kathen’s Day Eve

The Cloudbreaker Ascension departed from a port in south-westside Saliana every day at 5pm. Heavy repulsor plates lifted it into the air, where several engines and rotating upper discs would keep it aloft. It would remain airborne until 3am the next morning. It had followed this pattern for all of its 10 years of operation, without variance. Today, it departed at 5:17pm. A slight difference noticed by almost no one but the most time conscious of passengers. Those few were shut up with complimentary drinks. The one who was still irate, Elise Peryz, was assured that the delay was merely to accommodate a VIP.

This did little to settle Elise’s rage. Wasn’t *she* a VIP? She’d spent hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions on her trips aboard the vessel. The Cloudbreaker Ascension never once delayed departure on her account. She looked out the window. They were still passing through the heavy layer of dark grey clouds that capped the city. Her drink shook in her hands.

Worse, her 5:15 appointment was late. She paced the private room that was costing her hundreds of demori a minute. She looked to her personal security, a Primas-ika named Orda. The bulky reptilian with off-white horns and greenish scales fixed one of their ornate braids of faux-hair. They looked out the door, looked back inside, and shrugged.

Elise’s face grew red. “Fucker better hope he shows up or we’re getting the money spent today back in teeth!” Orda stood there and listened to the tirade that followed. Several minutes, and an exhaustive list of expletives later, she finally calmed down. She collapsed into a plush rounded chair and took a sip of her drink, a Saint’s Moon. Too much creamer, not enough mint.

Some time later, there was a firm knock on the door. Orda peered out the view slit, and nodded to Elise. She stood up and she checked herself in a mirror. Her 30s had been kind to her, though she had some freckles added to the youthful appearance. Her age was betrayed by the look in her dark green eyes. The sort of look one gets when they’ve seen some things. She fixed her auburn hair, kept in a half bun. She gave Orda the go ahead.

The bodyguard opened the door just as The Cloudbreaker Ascension, true to its name, cleared the cloudline. The private lounge was flooded orange with natural sunlight. It blinded everyone inside for just a moment. All their eyes had grown adjusted to the relative darkness at ground level. When Elise’s vision returned to normal, she was confused.

The electronic message had mentioned a man, hadn’t it? In fact she was certain of it, several uses of “he” pronouns. The person that stood before her was the pinnacle of beauty. Men could be beautiful, sure. Yet what of the long, raven black hair? The fair, perfectly kept skin? The thick lashes above piercing blue eyes? The slight curves accentuated by an onyx and light blue bodysuit? He stunned her. She found her face growing hot, but tried to regain her composure, “Are you D-”

“Dorian, yes. Ms. Peryz?” He had a faint but distinct Astaelian accent.

Elise nodded and turned around, processing the new information. She forced sternness into her voice, “You’re late.”

“Am I?” Dorian glanced at a clock on the far wall. “Oh, I guess I am. Well I guess I’m lucky. I almost didn’t make it.”

“And where were you?”

“Talking to the pilots! It was pretty funny, I met one of them outside and we got to talking. I ended up meeting the whole crew. They almost forgot to launch the ship.” He laughed and smiled, and made his way to a matching chair across the coffee table

“You-” Elise stood on the edge of a rant, but she caught herself. This was business. Further, she wasn’t sure she wanted to end up on such a beautiful stranger’s bad side. She took a breath, and sat down.

“May I offer you a drink Mr…?” She nodded to Orda, who headed toward a minibar on the side closest to Elise.

Dorian shook his head and sat up. “You don’t need to know that. And none for me. Not when there’s business to discuss.”

Elise’s lip twitched, “You have me at a disadvantage. You appear to know my family name, and, well-” She picked up the glass on the coffee table. “Surely we can get you something.”

“No thanks.”

“Besides a drink then! Wizard’s Select, Charge, Vibe, the bar is fully stocked.” Elise smiled reassuringly. “No regulations this high up, we’re out of Saliana’s airspace.”

Dorian pursed his lips and looked up at an ornate modern chandelier between them. “A cigarette, polyspice.”

Elise waved a hand toward her bodyguard, “You heard the man, polyspice. Orda rolls their own, you’ll love it.”

Dorian folded his arms. “We’ll see. I didn’t come here to smoke, Elise. Are we going to talk business or should I go see what’s happening with the holiday prep out there?”

The host’s smile was pained, and her brow furrowed. “Yes, of course. The message that preceded… you were looking for medicine, yes?” She leaned over towards a secured briefcase on the table and began to unfasten it.

Orda handed them both hand-rolled cigarettes, already lit.

Dorian kept his bored expression and took a drag, “I represent an interested party looking to acquire a bulk amount of emarizyne. I’m led to believe you are a person who can deliver on such an order.”

Elise sat back, “On the ground, absolutely not. Up here? Let’s talk business. How bulk of a deal are we talking?” She took a puff and let the mild stimulant rush through her. Excellent as always.

“100 liters.”

Elise whistled, “Of a graft drug? What are you going to do with all that?”

“That feels like an inappropriate question from a professional.”

“I’m just trying to figure out what the odds are I’m supplying an army of supersoldiers.” Elise stood up and looked out the wide 3 panel windows of their private lounge. It was built into the rotating discs that kept the massive vessel aloft. The sun had slipped to the right side of the room, and was quickly disappearing from view.

“Would that alter the deal?” Dorian stayed seated. From over Elise’s shoulder she saw him looking at her. She appreciated it.

Elise turned around and leaned against the prominent windowsill. “Not necessarily, but I’d want in.”

Dorian raised a hand, “Clinical use only.”

“Aren’t there official channels for that?”

A dead stare.

“You’re right, not my issue…” Elise looked toward her reptilian bodyguard. “Orda, what’s 1,735 + 997 x 12 x 100?

Dorian and Orda answered at the same time. “1,198,135”

Elise laughed and pointed to the Primas-ika, “Ha, that’s why I keep them around, good with numbers.” A slight blush painted her cheeks. “You too, I see.”

Dorian was unphased. “Break that math down for me.”

“1,735 is my current service fee. Operations, admin, acquisition, delivery.” It felt to Elise as if reading off a script.

“And the 997?”

Elise started counting each factor on her fingers. “Current market rate for a liter of emarizyne. Multiplied by 12 because of the backchannels, anonymization, and everything else we’ll need to deal with to get it to you. Then 100 units of that.”

Dorian shook his head. “1.2 million demori is steep. We’d probably just save money finding a backchannel ourselves.”

“You’d spend more than 1.2 million on that kind of operation. Still, considering the bulk order and…” She looked him up and down, “...other factors… I’d be glad to cut it down to 1.1.”

“1 million.”

Elise choked on an inhale of her cigarette. “You’re fucking with me.” the host’s voice cracked, then she started coughing.

“Certainly not, and I don’t appreciate being spoken to like that in a business setting, Ms. Peryz.”

Elise sat back down and picked up her drink. “I don’t fucking care, that’s an unacceptable cut!” A little bit of milky green liquid splashed out of the tumbler. Someone would clean that up.

“Your price is unreasonable. I’m certain I can find an alternative.”

The stranger’s charms had worn thin. Elise clenched her jaw and fought back a yell. “I came all the way up here!”

“Don’t blame me, you chose to do that. 1 million.”

There was a chill silence in the air. Orda looked to Elise, and Elise was staring out the window. The disc had rotated their window out of direct sunlight, and towards the purple hues of the horizon. “Okay, 1 mil.”

“I’m glad you could see reason.”

“Whatever, so is this wire transfer or cash?” Elise’s cigarette was spent, and she put it out on a tray on the coffee table.

“Cash, but I have some more questions first.” Dorian repeated Elise’s motion.

“What could you possibly want to know? It’s emarizyne. Use it on recent implants.”

“I want to be sure I’m getting the best quality supply. I have my reputation to think of, and I know yours well.”

“What do you know?”

“Well, what I’ve heard at least, is that your supply isn’t pure.”

“Are you doubting me? Why even come up here if you think it’s bad?

A shrug. “Your price, outrageous as it is, is still the best available to me. I thought I’d be an adult and ask you myself.”

“My supply is fucking fine!” Elise slammed her free hand on the table in front of her.

“Interesting, I’ve heard of a strange amount of implant rejections. People losing new limbs, going blind, even a couple deaths.”

“Are you a fucking cop?” Was he? Were they compromised?

“No, and even if I was, what could I do? Nothing up here is bound to the laws down there, right?” A smile of feigned innocence.

“What do you want, Dorian?”

“Tell me why I should trust you. If you can do that, we have a deal.”

Elise set her drink down and rubbed her temples. This was turning into a problem. “You’re lucky you have your looks. Fine, but may I offer you another cigarette first?”

Dorian hummed for a second, looked away, then returned his gaze, “Sure.”

“Orda! Another. One for me too. Like the ones from the Korvun trip, those were perfect.”

The lizard had been fidgeting with one of their horns. They looked away and got back to the minibar. “Aye, ma’am.”

“They’re great. Best help I could buy… Before we proceed, Dorian, I have some questions for you too.”

“That doesn’t seem like how this is supposed to work.”

“Is it not? You seem fine asking me about the ins and outs of my operation, I should know more about yours.”

Orda handed them the cigarettes, Elise lit hers and reached out with the copper plated lighter. Dorian extended a hand to catch the flame, and then both sat back. They took intermittent drags between exchanges.

Dorian conceded, “Fine, we can talk about me. I’m fond of the subject.”

“Do you come from money, Dorian?”

“What makes you think that?”

Elise smiled like a viper revealing her fangs. “Well, for starters you’re here. What’s a basic ticket, 10k? The confidence too, that’s someone who never has to worry about where his next meal is coming from.”

A look of surprise on the beautiful man’s face. “I-”

Elise kept going. “The assurance that you have the world all figured out. Does anyone ever challenge you? Have you ever had to admit you’re wrong?”

“A few times. Rarely to a person I’m going to speak to again. Your point?”

Elise waved her cigarette around. “The way you come into my space and try to order me around. It’s so telling. Unlike you, I had to work my way to where I am. I grew up third layer down. Never even knew the color of the sky, the sun, or the environmental shield until I was 15. Your arrogance!”

“Is this about you now? I thought we were talking about me.”

The woman blew air through her nose like an old world bull, “Right, when were you born?”

Another shake of Dorian’s head. “I’m not going to tell you that.”

“Season, don’t worry about day or year. Temprologically speaking, I’m a Spring. We rise above.”

Dorian hesitated, then sighed, “Autumn.”

“A Fall, huh? Explains why you’re so reserved. Gods, stuck up, even.” she chuckled.

Dorian made a motion to stand, “Is this just going to be talking shit about me? I can just go.”

“Ah ah! Professional language, my dear Dorian.”

“Is it professional to kill kids who need medicine because you want to cut your supply?”

Elise nearly dropped her cigarette. “What?”

Dorian took another puff and blew a smoke ring into Elise’s face. She held her breath. “You had to have known your tainted medicine isn’t just being used by adults looking for a cheap option. One of the rejections was a 10 year old girl who had just received a spinal implant so she could walk again. The drug didn’t work, she rejected it and went septic. She died a few weeks before her 11th birthday.”

“You-”

“What’s wrong, speechless now?”

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t make the supply, we just connect it to buyers.”

“You connect people to a supply you know is unreliable. It’s not just the medicine either. How many people have OD’d on the drugs you move?” Dorian’s eyes had unfocused a bit, and were pointed in no particular direction.

“Are you telling me you’re singing the plight of junkies now?” For all the mystery and promise, some do-gooder. What, was he a journalist? She couldn’t figure out the angle.

“No, not particularly, I think they made their choice. Still, regardless of what you think of me and what I know about the world, I know a predator when I see one.”

“Yeah, what kind of monster am I, fucker?”

“A parasite. An overgrown leech with caked on makeup.”

“A parasite?” Elise roared. Orda stepped closer.

“You talk about being self made, but you’ve built your empire on the backs of graves. Adults who made a poorly informed choice? Whatever, such is life. Kids though… kids have died. Even *I* have a line.” Dorian’s breathing was growing ragged.

“So what? A few parents made a bad call. You want to know how many of my childhood friends are still breathing? The number is less than 1. Such is life! Minimising costs, maximising profits, that’s capitalism.”

Dorian groaned slowly, “Council’s mercy, spare me the soapbox. You’re not playing the system! You’re perverting it, and exploiting the needs of the poor. Desperate people who need their medication come to you, and you roll the dice… with… their… lives...” he started coughing intensely.

Elise grinned, the moment she had been waiting for. “So what’s one more? Yeah, I’ve got a body count. Who doesn’t, if they’ve lived a little? I knew the whole fucking time, I probably even heard about the girl you mentioned. Didn’t remember because honestly? I don’t fucking care. Morality is a weight around the neck of the foolish and decent. The doomed. And you? You wretched fucking genderfucked freak? Your cigarette was laced with mournroot.”

Dorian’s eyes went wide, he kept coughing, “That’s… murder… you… can’t…”

“So what? It’s a private room, good soundproofing, and a cremation capsule works quickly. My dear you’ll be a pile of ash on the floor in no time. Sent howling to the jaws of that great celestial hound.” She started laughing madly. “The best part is, it won’t even be a crime. Not one they can prosecute, at least.” she motioned to Orda who was holding an orange capsule for burning the dead.

Dorian coughed once more then stopped. Elise waited for him to drop with an open mouth smile. Orda shifted toward the door to check for bypassers.

Instead, Dorian collected his composure, and sat up with a smile. “Oh silly me, there must have been something caught in my throat.”

Elise’s jaw slacked open. “You… how?”

“Oh Elise, you talk so much when you think you’ve won. Saying so many damning things. Well I have a secret for you, too. I have some implants of my own. Mostly cosmetic, but I did get something else installed a few years ago. You don’t seem very bright, but tell me, have you heard of an N-Gland?”

Elise was speechless.

Dorian giggled. “Finally learned to shut up? Good. It’s a bit of a two edged sword, the augment. On one hand, drugs, alcohol, none of that works on me. Mostly for the best. That’s why I had them installed after all. Perhaps more relevant, it filters out most other toxins…”

Orda began to reach for a sidearm strapped to their hip.

Dorian held out a hand. “You’re going to want to let me speak. You see Elise Peryz, and Orda Clanless… in my home country, they call me a Courier. What is that in Lieni, mesajair?” He didn’t wait for an answer. They all knew what a Courier was. “In truth, I do a bit of information work. Even some hits when I need to. Unfortunately, my client said I couldn’t kill you. Believe me, it would be my absolute pleasure to put you down like a dog. Instead, I’m going to turn you in.”

Elise was gripping the armrests of her chair, “You have to know that any evidence collected this high up isn’t admissible in court. Did Astaelians hear about Saliana Vs. Karden?”

“Yes, that was going to be an issue certainly. That’s actually what I was talking to the pilots about.” his head turned, “Orda, this seems like something you’d know, how high up is unaffiliated airspace?”

“15 kilometers.”

“Exactly, and the cloudline breaks at about 5 kilometers.

Elise was piecing it together. “You didn’t… the crew wouldn’t let you.”

“Believe me, Ms. Peryz, I can be very persuasive.” A sly smirk. “We’re 13 kilometers up. Though you wouldn’t have noticed, right?”

“Orda, kill this bastard!” Elise screamed.

“Ah ah! You might want to stop talking. My friends can hear.” Dorian tugged at his jumpsuit and revealed a black metal square with a couple of buttons and receiver for audio input. Less bulky than any wire Elise had seen before. It fit under Dorian’s tight bodysuit perfectly. “New kind of comm unit. It’s interesting tech! I’ll probably ask to keep it.”

A banging came from the door. A loud metallic voice demanded to be let in, claiming to be Lieni Drug and Augmentation Enforcement.

Dorian’s smiling teeth were perfectly white despite the smoking, “Oh those are my friends! Well, work acquaintances, really.”

“After all that you’re a fucking cop?” The look in her eyes was wild and desperate. “Orda, kill him!”

Dorian looked to the bodyguard. “Orda, my only target is Elise. Harm me and you go down too, this is your chance to walk away.”

“I serve Elise.”

Dorian gestured them to the door. “And you can serve someone else. Do you think that loyalty goes both ways? She’s a mad dog. How long until she makes you smoke a poisoned cigarette?”

Orda’s face went blank and they considered their options.

“Orda, please. You know I’d never hurt you.” Elise begged.

The Primas-ika did a heel-turn and knocked on the door, “I’m coming out.”

“Let them pass!” Dorian added and stood up.

Elise stood up too and charged Dorian. They fell over the coffee table and onto the floor. The two struggled. She clawed at his face, drawing blood from his cheeks. Dorian’s training kicked in and he punched her where the heart would be if she had one. It knocked the wind out of her and he sprung to his feet. The cops rushed in and tackled her.

“For what it’s worth, I do come from money. But I’ve made my own fortune ending careers.” Another smile, “Like yours. This is the end of our meeting, Ms. Peryz. If you’re lucky, they won’t go for capital punishment.”

He looked to the officers cuffing the prone Elise, “Make sure she’s unlucky.”

They led her out, and one officer lingered, seeing the claw marks on Dorian’s face. “Do you need medical attention, sir?”

“Just tell one of the bots to bring me a dose of Formula Y. I’ll fix it myself.” the officer nodded and left. Soon enough a crablike droid brought a vial of red liquid. Dorian applied it carefully to the wounds, staring in the mirror so he made sure he got the skin smoothed properly.

The scratches healed nicely, tingling a little as the redness that remained disappeared. He admired himself a little longer. Then he turned toward the room, his room now. It was spacious and quiet. Perfect really. He poured himself a club soda and relaxed on a couch, legs up. The disc had rotated toward the sun again, and he saw it turn a deep orange as it set over the horizon. He admired the heavenly light as it was consumed by the cloudline it hovered above.

It was a while longer before the airship’s 3am landing. Outside he could hear the festivities of the imminent holiday. Maybe he’d go out, meet some interesting people. Live a little. Though he wasn’t feeling particularly social, and the religious festivals had never been his thing. Maybe he’d just stay there and enjoy the alone time. He eyed a music player on the far wall. He wondered what selection a vessel like this might have. Unlike the woman he had just brought to ruin, he had all the time in the world.

[beenbettercomic]

"Spooky Trivia IX"

I really want to make sure that I get to Spooky Trivia X by the end of October. Just six more days.

Here are some links that I need to share.

Here's a bunch of links for The Paranormal Pixie!

Then there's Ronda Topp Orda-Bottom. An amazing burlesque performer with an Instagram that you should be following.

If you would like to be featured in a monthly strip, become a patron!

-Jimmy Purcell.

[aoawarfare]

Episode 34 Giants of Alash Orda: Alikhan Bukeikhanov and Akhmet Baitursynov

Alikhan Bokeikhanov and Akhmet Baitursynov are giants of the Alash Orda and fathers of the Kazakh state and nationalism. Recently, we’ve been discussing how the Alash Orda, as a government and political entity, negotiated with both the Bolsheviks and the White Movement for state autonomy. Today, I want to take a closer look at the leaders themselves.

Alikhan Bokeikhanov

Alikhan Bokeikhanov born on March 5th, 1866, and was the grandson of the last khan of the Bokey horde who lived mostly in the western part of modern-day Kazakhstan. In the 19th century it was common for Kazakh fathers to send their sons to Russian schools, especially if they were from wealthy families. Alikhan attended the Omsk Technical School and then studied economics at the Forestry Institute in St. Petersburg. Before entering politics, he was part of the Tobolsk Expedition which studied the farms of peasant migrants and seems to have left a lasting impression on him.

He entered politics by joining the Constitutional Democratic Party in 1905 and became an editor for several different newspapers including Irtysh and Qazaq (which we discussed in our episode: Russian Revolution and the Alash Orda). He would try to create a Kazakh Democratic party but failed. Instead, he was arrested and fled to Samara. He and other members of the Alash Orda created an uneasy alliance with the Russian party, the Kadets, and Alikhan was elected to the Duma in 1906, before the Tsar dissolved it.

Alikhan Bukeikhanov

[Image Description: A black and white oval photo of a man with short black hair and drooping black mustache and short goatee. He is staring into the camera. He is wearing a white, high collar shirt, a black tie, and a black suit.]

When he wasn’t involved in politics, Alikhan was dedicated to his newspapers, arguing for Kazakh land rights and greater acceptance of indigenous peoples within politics. A sticking point between Russian officials and the Kazakh people was land ownership and the Kazakh’s nomadic nature. The Russians needed the land for their own people who were migrating to the Steppe for better wages and quality of life, but also believed that nomadism was the root of most of the Kazakh’s problems. If only they would just settle on the land granted to them by the Russians then all their issues would be solved.

Alikhan, along with Akhmet, argued against the Russian’s push for Kazakh sedentarism and argued for a gradual transition instead. They blamed the Russians for their lack of understanding of how the Kazakh lifestyle was a response to the climate of the Steppe. Alikhan would argue in an article in the Qazap:

“If we ask what kind of economy is more suitable for Kazakhs-the nomadic or the sedentary-the question is incorrectly posed. A more correct question would be: what kind of economy can be practiced under the climatic conditions of the Kazakh steppe? The latter vary from area to area and mostly are not suitable for agricultural work. Only in some northern provinces do the climatic conditions make it possible to sow and reap. The Kazakhs continue wandering not because they do not want to settle down and farm or prefer nomadism as an easy form of economy. If the climatic conditions had allowed them to do so, they would have settled a long time ago.” - Gulnar Kendirbai, '"We are Children of Alash...", pg. 9

            He did not equate Kazakh identity with nomadism but recognized that a people could not change their culture or lifestyle overnight. Instead, he argued that the Kazakhs embraced nomadism for scientific reasons and if the Russians were truly interested in helping Kazakhs succeed, then they needed to provide the tools necessary to adapt to a changing world. He would write:

“One may compare it with the dressing some Kazakh in European fashion and sending him to London, where he would either die or, in the absence of any knowledge and relevant experience, work like a slave. If the government is ashamed of our nomadic way of life, it should give us good lands instead of bad as well as teach us science. Only after that can the government ask Kazakhs to live in cities. If the government is not ashamed of not carrying out all the above-mentioned measures, then the Kazakhs also need not be ashamed of their nomadic way of life. The Kazakhs are wandering not for fun, but in order to graze their animals.” - Gulnar Kendirbai, '"We are Children of Alash...", pg. 10

            Alikhan was also a talented historian who crafted a unified Kazakh history by collecting and publishing Kazakh folklore, the history of their cultures and traditions, and shared world history with other Kazakhs through their newspapers. He engaged in literary criticism and analysis while encouraging Kazakh writers to write down their poems and stories, fearful that they would be lost if Kazakhs stuck purely to an oral tradition. Alikhan even hosted a competition for the first Kazakh novel, believing that the Europeans and the rest of the world would not respect the Kazakhs until they had proof of their own literary and cultural tradition. He also believed that Kazakhs should know about the outside world and so he focused on translating Russian and European scientific and fiction into the Kazakh language.

            In 1915, Alikhan and Akhmet would travel to Petrograd to petition for the right for Kazakhs to fight alongside Russian forces in WWI and they would spend most of the 1916 rebellion trying to convince other Kazakhs to fight for Russia, believing it would grant them the respect needed for further rights down the road.

            As we’ve discussed in our other episodes, Alikhan would help create the Alash Autonomy and serve as its president. He was one of the lead negotiators with both the Bolsheviks and the White Movement, relying on his old relationship with the Kadets to earn White recognition of Kazakh autonomy. When Kolchak coup established General Kolchak as military commander of the Siberian White Movement, he dismantled all autonomous states (including the Alash Autonomy). The Alash Orda would turn to the Bolsheviks, but they were similarly rebuffed. We’ll discuss the Red conquest of the Steppe in other episodes, but by the time the Bolsheviks defeated the Whites, the members of Alash Orda were forced to accept Bolshevik rule. If they wanted to remain in politics, they had to accept jobs within the Soviet administration. Alikhan returned to scientific life instead, although he was now a member of the Bolshevik party. As the Soviets strengthened their grip on Central Asia, they grew suspicious of indigenous activists. Because of his past, Alikhan was arrested first in 1926 on the charge of counter-revolutionary activity and sent to the Butyrka Prison in Moscow. He was released only to be arrested again in 1928, banished to Moscow in 1930, and arrested for a final time in 1937. He was executed on September 27th, 1937, a victim of one of Stalin’s many purges. According to historian Sultan Khan Akkuly, his last words were, “I did not like the Soviet government, but acknowledged it.”

Akhmet Baitursynov

Akhmet Baitursynov is the father of Kazakh language and literature. Born on September 5th, 1872, in the Kostanay Region of Kazakhstan. When he was 13, his father and brothers were sent to Siberia for attacking a Russian colonel who attacked their village. He attended Russian-native schools before graduating from the Orenburg Teacher’s college in 1895. He became a teacher and taught in country schools for Kazakhs for about a decade and a half before getting involved in politics. Along with Alikhan (who he met in 1904 in Omsk), he joined the Constitutional Democrat Party in 1905 and founded several newspapers including the Qazap. Also, like Alikhan, he was arrested in 1909 and exiled to Orenberg.

He helped Alikhan write about land rights and highlighting how ill-equipped the Kazakhs were to settle down, but his main focus was on language. He wrote in 1914:

“…the nationality of people who spoke their own language and wrote in their own language will never disappear without creating a person. The most powerful thing that causes the preservation and loss of the nation is language” - Dina A. Amanzholova, Kazakh Autonomy and Russia: the History of the Alash Movement, pg. 36

            Kazakh intellectuals were considered about poor education opportunities available to Kazakh children and utilized the new teachings methods championed by Tatar reforms and the Jadids. Akhmet was particularly concerned about primary education and focused on resolving the lack of teaching materials available to primary schools, especially the lack of materials on the Kazakh language. When detractors picked on his paper, the Qazaq, for writing primarily in Kazakh, he replied:

“Finally, we would like to tell our brothers preferring the literary language: we are very sorry if you do not like the simple Kazakh language of our newspaper. Newspapers are published for the people and must be close to their readers.” - Gulnar Kendirbai, '"We are Children of Alash...", pg. 19

            The Kazakh intellectuals resisted the Tatar clergy’s attempts to subsume Kazakh language to the Tatar language, eventually arriving at a compromise. This pressure around language inspired Akhmet Baitursynov to reform the Kazakh language, creating spelling primers, and improving the Kazakh alphabet multiple times. He created the modern Kazakh language. His books were soon used in primary schools. He also published a textbook on the Kazakh language which studied the phonetics, morphology, and syntax of the Kazak language as well as a practical guide to the Kazakh language and a manual of Kazakh literature and literary criticism.

Akhmet Baitursynov

[Image Description: A colored painting of a man with short black hair and a drooping mustache. He is wear glasses that rest on the nose. He is wearing a white button down shirt, a black bowtie, and a black suit.]

Akhmet, like Alikhan, was involved in the creation of the Alash Orda party, believed Kazakhs should fight along Russians during WWI, and helped create the Alash Autonomy in 1917. After the Bolsheviks took over the Steppe, he joined the Bolshevik government and served as the Commissioner of Population of Kazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic from 1920-1921. He left the government and returned to teaching in 1922, serving in several positions such as Chairman of the Research Society for the Kazakh Region, member of the Academic Center at the Regional People’s Commissariat, and the Scientific and Literary Commission of the People’s Commissariat of Commerce. He lectured in Orenburg from 1921-1925 before transferring to the Kazakh State Pedagogical Institute in Almaty as a professor. He was arrested for the first time on June 2nd, 1929, and sent to Butyrskiy prison. He was released to be arrested again only for Maxim Gorky’s wife, E. Peshkova, to intervene and petition for his release. He would be arrested once more in 1937 and was executed on December 8th, 1937, another victim of Stalin’s purge.

References

Central Asia: a New History from the Imperial Conquests to the Present by Adeeb Khalid

Kazakh Autonomy and Russia: the History of the Alash Movement by Dina A. Amanzholova

'"We are Children of Alash..." The Kazakh Intelligentsia at the beginning of the 20th century in search of national identity and prospects of the cultural survival of the Kazakh people' by Gulnar Kendirbai, Central Asian Survey, 1999, Vol 18 No 1

The Geography of Civilization: a Spatial Analysis of the Kazakh Intelligentsia's Activities, from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century by Tomohiko Uyama

150th Anniversary of the Birth of the Leader of the Nation Akhmet Baitursynov by Zhumakhan Arynov and Smagulova Aigeri

[gwenivere]

       *    💘 — what and/or who do you consider near and dear to you? ✈️ — ever traveled anywhere interesting? 🎮— favorite video game(s)? 🖊— any tattoos? 🍰 — favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s)? 🐶 — any pets? 📕 — favorite book/series? 😗 — what are some of your favorite things to do when you have some time to yourself? 💯 — share three random facts about yourself that your mutuals may not know about you. !!          ›          @manaborn      ,   prompt   [ … ]   accepting

💘 — what and / or who do you consider near and dear to you? obviously , at the top of my list , there's my family , composed of my mother , father and younger sibling .   also high up there is my girlfriend , carmen , who was also one of my first partners on here funnily enough .   these four , alongside my best friend , are the people i consider the closest and dearest to me .   in terms of objects , i'd have to answer books and tea , if only because i love both and they play an instrumental part in my daily life .   i would also consider my job to be something near and dear to me , if only because i'm lucky enough that i get to do something everyday that makes me happy .

✈️ — ever traveled anywhere interesting ? there are two places i consider to be the most interesting .   the first is sidney by the sea , a small town on the island of vancouver in western canada .   sidney by the sea is the country's sole booktown , and i had the privilege to spend an afternoon roaming through all of the various bookstores before watching the sun set in the sea at the nearby beach .   it's a wonderful place , if you can afford to go .   the other interesting place i've traveled to is lebanon .   i might be biased since i'm lebanese on my father's side , but i genuinely think the entire country is gorgeous and worth visiting , and i miss going there , although it's harder to visit now that my grandparents have both passed away .   i also sometimes joke with my family that lebanon is the only place in the world where you can choose to go ski in the morning and go to the beach in the evening .

🎮 — favorite video game(s) ? bloodborne is my favorite game ever , but other games i enjoy include the soulsborne series , identity v , the dishonored series , celeste and the house in fata morgana .   i also want to try splatoon , in spite of being bad at shooters , lol .   

🖊 — any tattoos ? unfortunately , no , since i'm scared of needles .   i was toying with the idea of getting the scarlet wing's flower or the red butterfly from mia goodwin's tomboy down the line , but since i'm approaching my thirties , i'm debating on whether or not i should since i am starting to consider myself too old for tattoos .   

🍰 — favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s) ? i'm fond of french pastries , mostly st. honoré cakes and religieuses , as well as more traditional lebanese sweets like qatayef and kadaif .   i also like strawberry shortcakes and mochis , as well as most gummies , peach rings especially .

🐶 — any pets ? none unfortunately , although i'd like to have one in the future once my girlfriend and i move in together .   i'd like to have a cat , but my sibling's allergic , so maybe a dog .

📕 — favorite book/series ? there are too many to enumerate , but some of my favorites include paradise rot by jenny hval , my sister the serial killer by oyinkan braithwaite , drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk , her body and other parts by carmen maria machado , all's well by mona awad and nous , anastasia r. by patrice ordas and patrick cothias  ( which is available in french only )  .   in terms of series , i'm quite fond of the radiant emperor series by shelley parker-chan , the burning kingdom series by tasha suri and the magic of the lost series by c.l. clark .   books i'm looking forward to are silver nitrate by silvia moreno-garcia  ( which will include lebanese-mexican rep !! )  and a study in drowning by ava reid  ( my latest hyperfixation ) .

😗 — what are some of your favorite things to do when you have some time to yourself ? read and drink tea .   i also enjoy listening to music on my phone , although i am lucky enough to own a couple of cds by some of my favorite artists .   walking and exploring the nearby city is also something i enjoy doing by myself , alongside visiting bookstores or the national library .

😗 — what are some of your favorite things to do when you have some time to yourself ? read and drink tea .   i also enjoy listening to music on my phone , although i am lucky enough to own a couple of cds by some of my favorite artists .   walking and exploring the nearby city is also something i enjoy doing by myself , alongside visiting bookstores or the national library .

💯 — share three random facts about yourself that your mutuals may not know about you. 1. my favorite flowers are lilac , hortensia and lavender .   2. i work as a teacher specialized in teaching immigrant kids and teens .   3 . my copy of a river through time  ( the first guinevere jones book by random house australia )   is signed by tamara hope , who played gwen in the show .

[dailyopulence]

SEARCH FOR MISSING WEREWOLF UNSUCCESFUL

Locals are dismayed after search efforts to rescue werewolf, Zack Fowler of the Sumerki Orda pack were unsuccessful. Fowler had been taken by a monster in a tragic attack at the Town Center weeks prior. No body was found but within the tunnels underground the town, one of his shoes was discovered and identified along with muddy pools of blood which were sent to the forensic department. We received confirmation the blood collected at the scene belonged to Zack Fowler and officials have declared him to be deceased. Our thoughts go out to Fowler's family and the pack for their loss. We at The Daily Opulence urge everyone in town to be careful during these trying times.

Discord event log under the cut...

“I think we’re mostly gathered, rite?” Ryden glanced about, counting heads and feeling glad to see that most who’d been asked had answered his call and there didn’t seem to be any last minute cancellations. “Guess we best git this shit o’er with, eh? Try not to separate from the group and wander alone, duck yer heads and watch where yer goin’. Everyone got good shoes, flashlights, a snack or two and their water on ‘um, yea?” He glanced over the group of people he spoke to, some five pack members standing at the tunnel entrance, two of which were in their wolf shape as due to the magic triggered on Founder’s Day this was the only time they got any benefits of sensitive smell, hearing and eyesight of the animal they turned into.

The entrance to the tunnels was first found in a winery cellar, among shelves and racks of bottled up and barrelled wine, a huge hutch cabinet now moved out of the way to reveal a brick-framed, three-men wide hole in the wall, opening up to a gaping, dark passage whose end could not be seen or winding direction predicted. Everyone was handed over a copy of the map that had the so far discovered passageways drawn down but there were many unknown areas which they might be finding out about for the first time tonight. The tunnel itself can let thee people pass through shoulder-to-shoulder but not more, and it was obvious that they would have to move in a line.

Some part of Roman wondered what he was doing there, he was not part of the pack and not particularly well liked amongst the group, but when Alpha asks for help Roman could hardly say no.

"So we're stayin' as one big group and not splitting up?" He questioned curiously. 

“That’s what Ryden said didn’t he?” Cass snapped back at Roman. He was clearly on edge, tension emanating from his body and the way he stood upright, forgoing his usual slouch for these signs of anxiety, as if he felt he needed to be ready to fight at any given moment. Maybe he did, he didn’t really know what he was signing up for - only that he’d do whatever Ry instructed. And precisely none of what anyone else suggested.

He too wasn't part of the pack, however he felt involved due to the person who was missing being a werewolf to. That, and he thought Ryden might want the backup of an older wolf in case in got hairy - this is what Rafael used to to, after all. This was nothing compared to shuffling through a corridor barely wide enough to fit yourself in, the plan to ambush an enemy. 

Of course, he stood with his arms crossed, face contorted into only a half shift, eyed yellow and features the sharp ones of a wolf. "Splitting up might work but we have to consider the more experienced of us versus those that aren't," he noted.

"I meant t'say to not wander off all alone. Get a buddy t'tag along with ya, so ya can git lost t'gether." Ry clarified for Roman, lips pressing into a tight line at seeing Cass snap back nervously.

Looking back at Raf, he nodded, the older werewolf always spoke reason. "We can delegate that."

"Fuck me," he mumbled under his breath hearing the screeching sounds of Cass's voice and already regretting his decision to join. Especially when Cass's face was just begging to be punched.

"Tell me where ya want me."

"Wanna make sure one of the gal's got a proper company?" Ry pointed at Elora and Mia, knowing very well that Roman would probably rather walk away than team up with Cass. So maybe ask him to take care of things where he might also be more inclined to stay calm.

A smirk formed looking over at the two ladies and he nodded. Ryden knew him well enough that if he was paired with Cass, one of them wouldn't make it out of there.

"Sure, I could do that." He simply stated.

The outburst from one of the younger wolves towards Roman smelt of something else, looking at him and then Ryden to not so subtly suggested maybe an alpha's guiding hand would be more useful in this situation than anybody else's. Rafael was happy to be paired with anyone though, he had a need to make sure Elora would be safe. That's what mattered to him, the safety of others. "We should still check in. If a situation proves too dangerous, a howl might be useful to rouse backup,"

Ry gave Raf a little shrug, Cass is as Cass does, there was very little he could do about it and likewise for Roman. But he got the message well enough, and will probably make sure the young werewolf is not all on his lonesome on this adventure. "Unfortunately, there hadn't been many conditions or opportunity t'set up sum sort of TTE, so I guess a good holler would hafta do, yea. But jus' keep in mind. We dunno if them beasts're lurkin' about. Don't howl and make too much noise 'nless ya absolutely gotta."

Not saying anything else, Roman stood there quietly. Back in the military, he had several co-op missions to save people. But that was over twenty years ago. He just waited for direction one which way Ryden wanted his group to go

"Oh yea, also. I got this... paint for ya'll. It's fluorescent. Shed sum flashlight on it and, like, it glows. Once we git beyond the tunnels marked on the maps we all got, ya can mark the walls on yer way and find yer way back easier f'ya notice yerself lost." He motioned for one of the five packmates with the group, one that wasn't in the wolf form, to hand them around.

At Ryden's instruction, he took the containers of paint and proceeded to pass them out to the groups and returned close to Ryden's side once completed.

Once everyone got their little cans of paint, Ry nodded, feeling pretty much as ready as he could be. "Last chance to go tinkle er sumtin'. I think it's gunna take us a few hours to move about. So mebbe we're good t'go. 'Nless anyone got any more suggestions of course?"

He was silent thereafter, arms simply crossed over his chest in waiting with a container of paint now dangling off his wrist. Rafael had no other suggestions, ready to track a missing innocent and rip and tear if needed.

Preoccupied trying to draw a penis on the wall nearly as soon as he was given the paint, Cass was shocked into submission by Ryden’s next statement, pausing to shrug. “I have nothing to add.”

With the paint in hand, he started to head out with his group in search of the missing werewolf. For the most part he stayed quiet not wanting to say what he was thinking which was this was a lost cause.

"A'ight then." Ry let the two packmates who were in wolf form  go first and ahead of everyone, so they could sniff out the ground and see if they could pick up a trail to follow. People would have to line up with most of three walking side by side, maybe four if they didn't mind their shoulders touching.

First thing to notice upon entering was a considerable temperature difference. Even the cellar itself, which hid the entrance to the tunnel, was considerably colder in comparison to the above-ground. The dampness was palpable, the air near the entrance less thick with it but the deeper they would go in, the more the smell of rotting earth and mold would invade, no draught or a breeze of fresh air to move it. The walls and ground around them were nothing but bare earth and rock, dug out raw to create this narrow tube that lead deeper into the bowels of the earth, under the town. Above hung sparse thick roots like veins, dripping sticky water and soaking up the earthy ground, making soles of footwear sink into the mud they treaded over. Flashlights illuminated far enough ahead to make sure steps are kept careful, but not far ahead enough to know what exactly awaits them.

Abraham's broad shoulders were brushing up against another's and so he ended up falling a bit behind the others, allowing them in their pairs and groups to walk in front of him, making sure no one was lingering too far behind. "I don't like this," he grumbled under his breath to no one in particular. Werewolves underground. Bah. They weren't dwarves.

“What do you like, Abe?” Cass muttered, although his sarcasm and grumpy demeanour was mostly just his covering for his nerves and rampant anxiety, and there was little bite to the statement. “It’s fucking freezing in here,” he added, pulling his jacket closer around himself. “And I can’t see shit.”

Abe tapped his flashlight against Cass' head, "I like beaches. I don't like caves. Use your flashlight, genius."

"It's a tunnel, not a cave. Of course it's cold and dark. And ya can all go back if you'd like. This is volunteer work." Ry tossed that over his shoulder at the two men with a sharp grin.

"Shouldn't have asked numnuts over here to volunteer." Roman murmured annoyed by the younger werewolf and hoping the groups would eventually splinter off soon.

“My name’s Cass,” he offered under his breath, “but I don’t expect a dementia patient to remember.” Still, he shut up, deferring to Ryden’s authority and making the effort to try and curb his urge for more rude remarks. “Alright, Abe, well I’m terribly sorry there’s a werewolf who might be in the tunnels instead of sunbathing on a beach. I’ll be sure to let all the dark forces of Opulence know that we’d prefer a sunny location next time.”

"And the contest on who's the biggest numnuts begins..." Ry rolled his eyes and muttered to himself. "Should win that one, give you all some grief for a change."

"Good on you for not forgetting your name, Cass," Abraham responded blandly, his gaze now turned down to a map in his hands to check on their current location.

With a heavy sigh of already feeling tired although it hadn't been more than fifteen minutes since the group had entered the tunnel, Ryden continued on, moving behind the two wolves taking the lead at the front, their snouts low over the earthen ground so they could try and pick up any scent whatsoever. They advanced ahead rather smoothly, yet things may not go quite as easy for those on two legs. Ryden could feel his steps slowing down, the disgusting feeling of wading through mud getting harder to ignore. With the next step, he had to actually jerk his legs out of the almost tar-like wet earth to continue. And then, he suddenly stumbled, feeling himself sink a few inches. "The fuck..." He cursed softly, knees jerking to try and release his combat boots from the muddy hold but all he was doing was disrupting his balance without budging an inch. "Watch it! Got sum serious mud 'ere! Shit... M'stuck..." He warned those behind him.

Amber || Roman, Thad, Santi — 05/29/2023 7:58 AM

The older werewolf could feel the pain radiating through his bodes everything he took a step forward through the mud. Exhausted would be an understatement, but the man had his pride and wanted to prove he could keep up with the young bucks. "You okay Alpha?" He questioned from near the back, not seeing Ryden getting stuck from the people in the front of him. "Fuck," he grumbled hearing Ryden about the mud.

They bickered and talked amongst themselves though Rafael responded and said very little in return, focused completely at the task at hand. The sudden humidity of the place was stifling, eyes looking around for any hint of movement, on high alert the entire time. Hearing that Ryden was stuck up ahead in the mud, tuning out how uncomfortable the bog through it was. "Don't wiggle," he responded. "Can you get out or d'you want me to drag you?"

"Uh..." Ryden hummed as he was asked whether everything was alright, still processing the fact that now he could be stopped in his tracks by a bit of mud. Except it wasn't a bit, it was soft underground earth that soaked in the days of rain they had in the past couple of weeks, a force to be reckoned with. Ryden froze at Rafael's advice, trying not to wiggle too much. "I mean, if I can't wiggle, what am I supposed t'do then?" Fact was that the werewolf was heavy, and he was now feeling himself sink, mud reaching almost past his shins. "I think it's sum sort of a sinkhole pocket where I stepped in..."

"Wiggling only makes you sink faster," There was a certainty to his words, as if Rafael had somehow come across a sinkhole before, even though he was just parroting what he'd heard before. "Relax. Hold out your arms, we'll pull you out,"

"M'relaxed, m'relaxed." Though by his elevated voice, more shouting than takling, Ry's annoyance at this was pretty darn obvious. He tried to turn a little, reach out his arms so whoever could would be able to give him a pull, while at the same time he tried not to move around too much. His sinking slowed down a bit but if they prolonged moving away from here, the mud would reach up to his knees.

“You want a hand?” Cass was fidgeting, evidently uncomfortable with the whole situation, though his tone of voice remained casual, uncaring. “I don’t like this,” he added, which was an understatement, more the comment you’d make with regards to a colour or song, versus the overall eery atmosphere they found themselves in.

"Yea yea and it's spa day for me, this is what I wanted, a mud bath." Ry gave Cass a look, then waved a hand at him. "Take this one and Raf will take another one and pull."

Roman just remained near the back with the women figuring Rafael had it handled with Ryden and not so secretly hoping the mud would take Cass.

"Got it," Rafael confirmed as Ry agreed with his idea, not sparing the other wolves a look as he waded more towards the front of their cobbled together pack of wolves, grabbing one of Ryden's strong arms with his own and looking at Cass. "On 3, ready?"

“Ready,” he said slowly, arm reaching out to take Ryden’s free arm, stepping a little closer to provide more traction as he did so, glancing at Rafael to confirm when to begin tugging.

"Uh, be gentle. I need all my limbs." Ry looked from one man to the other, preparing for their joined forces to give him a pull he needed to be freed.

"One, Two, Three," And with that, Rafael began to slowly pull at Ryden's free arm, face set in concentration, jaw clenched. Ryden was heavy - all that muscle.

He did his best to bend his knee up, first one leg to try and pull it a little loose and then eventually out and then the other, helped along by the two men pulling on his arms. He cursed not having his werewolf strength at the moment. But it was working, he felt the earth give in and one leg and then the other were finally released, making Ryden lurch forward and he would've kissed the ground face first if it weren't for Cass and Raf holding him up. "Fuck... I ain't doin' that ever again. Guess we should go around this, stick to the wall until we pass the sinkhole by."

"Watch your step, mind the mud," Abraham warned to the group of werewolves, making sure all of them knew to bypass it and then helping some of the less coordinated ones around it, "Tuck in against the wall," offering the occasional words of guidance to help move them along safely and then marking off on the map with a smudge of dirt around the location he figured they were at right now to indicate where it was so on their way back out it didn't catch them by surprise... just in case they were needing to leave quickly.

Having walked around what seemed to be a naturally created mud trap on their way with no larger consequences of having stumbled upon it besides one werewolf getting his feet unconfortably wet and not being a happy camper about it, the company continued on, walking for a while longer in relative silence and focusing on their steps with more care, until the two wolves ahead seem to quicken up, having picked up on something. "Seems like they caught a scent." Ryden announced, feeling something akin to a little flicker of hope. "Where are we at accordin' to the map? Is it close t'where he'd been dragged under by the creature?" He inquired at no one in particular, more thinking outloud than anything else.

“You missed the mud, then?” Cass observed to Elora, noticing the lack of muck on her as she approached, a little behind the others. “Ry got stuck. We had to pull him out, it was fucking awful.” Complaints stated more as a way for him to make her smile, distract from the tension of the situation, he turned back. “I’m not good with maps. Sorry.”

Ryden had called the pack together and Elora had had every intention of getting to the search early, but she'd slept over at Fionn's, completely distracted by him and the brunch he'd made for them both. She felt guilty, but she was here now, casting a quick grin and a nod in Cass' direction. "Stuck? God, is he okay? Ryden?" she asked, stepping forward towards her pack leader, concern on her features.

"Yea yea, jus' need new boots after all dis shoite." Ry grumbled back at Elora's question, the whole situation just making him crankier than usual. "It wasn't that much of a big deal Cassidy, Raf pulled more than you did." He snorted at the other young wolf, his attempt at breaking the tension that was surely building up in the group. "Chin up, everyone. We seem to have a trail."

Roman not much paying attention, given he was several people behind looked over at Elora and smirked. "Been awhile, doll face."

“Hey, I helped. What gave you the strength to come out from the Pit of Despair if not my beautiful face peering down at you?” Cass suggested with a grin, before rolling his eyes with conviction at Roman. “Grandpa’s at it again. Maybe we should stay on track? Before some pretty girl smiles at him and gives him a stroke?”

Abraham looked down at his version of the map then looked up, pointing his flashlight up at a gaping hole in the dirt and rock ceiling above them where it looked like something had burrowed up, large claw marks indented into the facing of the wall but the depth enough that there was no visible sky above head, only indication it possibly led upwards to fresh air and surface was a slight hint of fresher air coming from the hole. "Keep your eyes open everyone."

"Fuck off dipshit, before I hurt you again."

"Ya did, kiddo, ya did. I jus' thought for a second ya might've stopped eatin' meat again." Ry snort-chuckled, turning to check what Cass was talking about. "Pfft. Elora can say no when she wants to. I ain't fussed." He had all the confidence in El that she would be able to handle Roman in any way she saw fit. He merely rolled his eyes when Roman bit back poisonously. "Charmin', old man. Lookit all o'us swoonin'." He then focused on Abe, who was the only one being useful at the moment, following his gaze up to the gaping hole overhead. "Yeap, dis is the spot." He lead the way further, his flashlight targeting the road ahead and the two wolves following the scent.

Abraham noticed Elora was without one of the cans of paint which he had passed out earlier that would glow in the dark, meant to be used to identify their path like breadcrumbs so he passed his own to her, "In case we get separated. Don't get lost."

What had happened between Roman and herself was not something Elora wanted to think about, and them sleeping together was not something she'd divulged to anyone else, not even Jean-Claude. She cast a half-smile in Roman's directon before scarpering up to Rafael's familiar form, looking up at him with a much more genuine grin. "Hey," she hummed, turning as a can of paint was thrust in front of her. She took it and nodded gratefully, looking over at the wolf who had given it to her. "Smart. thank you."

He kept quiet, not wanting to sustain much small talk when two of their gang seemed to be overly volatile and enjoying in winding eachother up. Rafael didn't like the element of unpredictability the younger and older seemed to bring with them, simply staying alert for anything amiss. Ready to rip and tear. 

Though - Elora soon caught up to him, yellow eyes looking over at her and he grinned, mouth full of teeth. Sharp teeth to. "El," he greeted her.

"Looks like a fork in the road up ahead," Abe announced, looking from his map and then to the dark path ahead of them illuminated solely by the meandering stream of numerous flashlights. "Which way?"

He’d been wandering ahead for no apparent reason, and now Cass found himself separated from the group, barely noticing the fork in the path as he entered on the right side, presuming everyone was going that way. Attempting to spray a paint circle to show himself the way back, he realised he was out of paint - his own fault, and he didn’t think too much of it. He’d probably find his way back.

Ry simply looked to the packmates in wolf form, one of them giving Ry a look back before he just trotted to the left, his companion soon following. "Everybody left! That's where the scent we got goes!" He announced to the people behind, not yet realizing that one person in the company was no longer able to hear him.

Just following the bodies, Roman moved forward through the tunnels. As he came to the fork, he went left but had an errie feeling that something was off.

Wandering along, certain that at some point the path would lead him to the others, Cass swore the tunnel was getting narrower and narrower, and with it his heart felt like it was squeezing in just as much, beating harder in his chest. His flashlight was barely providing much, only a couple feet in front of him of visibility, only adding to the feeling of being boxed in - and when he tried to look back, his view of the twisting path behind him wasn’t much better, and he realised he must have gotten himself lost away from Ryden and the rest of the pack. There was little choice but to keep going, although he felt uneasy even walking a step further.

Something felt off, Roman couldn't explain it. Perhaps it was cause there wasn't an annoying voice that sent shivers down his spine rambling on. Who knows? "Do we have everyone? Seems a bit quiet."

Ryden paused as Roman voiced a concern that perhaps not everyone was accounted for. Flashing his light back at the group to make sure he recognized faces, he began counting, muttering names under his breath. "Uh... Cass? Where is Cass?" That was the only face he was missing. "Cass, speak up! Shit... When was the last time anyone'd seen Cass?"

Roman rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. Of course it was dipshit that was missing. No wonder it felt somewhat peaceful the last few minutes. "Fuck," he grumbled. "Dipshit, you better not be fucking around." He said in a serious tone, just in case Cass was being a dumbass per usual.

Glancing around as best she could in the dark, El's eyes widened, searching for the familiar figure of her friend. "He wouldn't. Not in this situation. I think he's- I think he's gone.

Roman didn't believe Elora, he figured Cass would do something idiotic. However, given the situation he decided to keep that to himself as not to upset anyone.

Thankfully, Roman had experience with extraction and figured everyone should keep going with the mission and he would go back. After all, you never leave a man behind...no matter how annoying he can be.

"I'm gonna go back and retace the steps. Y'all keep going."

"Ugh..." Ryden reached up to rub the bridge of his nose, not believing his crappy luck - they were barely in and already had so much trouble. "Hey, Martin, go keep Roman company." He said to one of the packmates in wolf form ahead of them. "He can track Cass scent for ya, if needed. Alicia will stay with us." Alicia being the other werewolf currently in wolf form. Martin trotted over to Roman, tail wagging, looking up at the older man and ready to follow.

Elora was reluctant to let Roman head back after Cass, especially when he so clearly didn't like the younger wolf, but there wasn't much she could do. "You want me to stick with you or go with them?" El asked, looking up at Ryden for his instruction.

"Whachoo gut instinct tell ya you should do, El?" He asked, knowing that despite all his faults, Elora would be safe with Roman if she wanted to go.

"Alright Martin, let's head out." Roman looked over towards Elora. "You coming sweet cheeks or staying wit' the group?"

"I think- I think it might be good if I went with them-" she managed, tilting her head in Roman and Martin's direction. As easy as it was to seek Ryden's instructions, she appreciated that he was putting the ball back in her court, teaching her that she could in fact trust herself. "I just think that- yeah. He might need calming down," she murmured, nodding slowly. "It's Elora old man, watch your tounge," she chuckled softly, punching his shoulder lightly as she moved towards him.

Ry nodded approvingly at Elora's decision. "Abe and me will be markin' our way with the paint so ya guys can catch up later. El, permission to slap whoever misbehaves." He tossed a wink at her, this more of a joke than being serious.

"Slap...spank.  I'm good with both," he winked teasingly. "Yeah yeah, hot stuff." He called her when she told him her name. Anyone who knew Roman knew he didn't use names of everyone.

"Alright, let's go fall back." With that he allowed Martin to go ahead of them and started walking next to Elora.

The two groups separated, one continuing on down the left path while Elora, Roman and Martin retraced their steps to go into the right side of the split in the tunnel under Martin's guidance. It didn't exactly make Ryden happy to have this happen but this was exactly why he'd invited multiple people to do this with him. At least they could all cover unexpected situations. Falling in line with silent Rafael, he spoke to the man in a low voice. "What do ya think? What are the actual chances of findin'... anyone here, really. Ya heard what sort of a beast attacked, rite? Ya think... the person we're lookin' for has any chance of survival?" He asked, having his doubts, considering Rafael the best person to really share them with. Best be realistic. He was aware from the start that finding anyone alive down here would be nothing short of a miracle. But miracles did sometimes happen.

Some went to look for Cass, the young wolf who'd somehow gotten lost and Rafael couldn't understand how. Still, he glanced over at Ryden as he spoke in a low tone, inquiring about chances of survival. The wolf had mulled the situation over, of course, eventually responding with an honest; "I think we're just doing body retrieval," he said back with a shrug. "Which is important, in its own right, for families to grieve. Our best case scenario is he hasn't been horribly mutilated. Our worst is no body at all or only a few scraps of one. Either way, we need to put the beast down. I think that's a bigger priority, saving more people from the same fate,"

Ryden nodded somberly, knowing that Rafael, as always, spoke reason in the most pragmatic, down-to-earth sort of way. "I don't think we'd be able t'do that - not exactly loike we brought any weapons. But at least we'd be able t'give the ERT some more info 'bout the tunnels." He sighed, reminding himself to keep the flashlight directed ahead properly, so he wouldn't lose sight of Alicia tracking in front of them. "Shit... I barely even knew the guy, and he was pack. Seen 'um around but never bothered t'even remember his name proper. Guess I gotta now, at least for his funeral..." He trailed off, mouth hanging open to almost ask something more of Rafael but instead he just huffed out a chuckle. "Thanks for always helpin' me, mate. Ya would've been so much better at this than me. Wish I had yer head on me shoulders."

"Oh, I came for a fight," There was trace amounts of humour in Rafael's tone if you knew where to look, as he really had just come to be extra muscle. It felt good to punch, to rip and tear in moments like this, to completely give into the animal. He listened to Ryden talk, sensing something else was amiss and reaching out to carefully pat the alpha's shoulder. "Hindsight. Means going forwards you can try to know your pack better," he said back with a nod and not a trace of judgement in his voice. Sumerki was a large pack, quieter members were bound to just be there. "Nah. I wouldn't. They respect you, they'd disobey me. Too much of an old man," he joked in response. "Thats what I'm here for, to help,"

They took off back the way they had come, Elora trailing behind Roman and Martin - and then, she caught a whiff. The scent of Cass, familiar to her. "He's definitely this way." Her feet sped up, overtaking the two men as she trotted ahead, following her nose back down the dark path.

Ryden grinned sharply at Rafael, the man speaking his language with the determination to fight, even though it was said jokingly. "Well, plan is, those with the scent catch anythin', we shift and outrun it. S'why I asked for wolves only. But I shift slow, so I'll lag behind. Want a good fight? Lag behind with me, we can take it on." Because honestly, there wouldn't be a greater honor then getting in the line of fight with a man like Rafael. He nodded more seriously at Raf's next words, mistakes and oversights meant that he'd just have to work harder in the future. "Well I don't know, I've been hearin' some pretty darn good feedback from those patrols ya did. People rely on ya, even if yer not pack. Ya ever been in one b'fore?"

Ryden had it all figured out, the fight to come and a grin stretched out upon those wolfish features - that's why he'd prioritised a half shift so it wouldn't take as long. Rafael wasn't used to the praise given, especially by the alpha, and considering he wasn't a pack mwmber. "Must be my charm," That dryness was back. "Hm. A long time ago, yes. I was a second in command," Perhaps that's why he was good at advising.

"Yeah, he does have a particular smell to him." Roman mumbled as he walked with Martin and Elora. Although, there was some concern from the older wolf he refused to show it. "Slow down sweets, we don't need another missing wolf."

Ah, things now made sense, Ryden always trusted his own gut instinct and that same instinct was also a very good judge of character. He always knew there was something about Rafael, not just the seriousness and maturity of an older man, but experience which Ryden never had too. He snorted at Rafael, grin stretching wider, prominent canines always present eerily white in the dark of the tunnel. "Charm's needed for any position of command. Ya ever thought ya could do it again? Bein' an advisor to a pack?"

The offer was there, Ryden asking without explicitly asking what he wanted - Rafael as an advisor. The elder hummed, could he do it again? It had been nearly 20 years since he was last in a pack, and it had ended...well. Terribly.

Was he ready to be that open again? With young wolves who needed guidance, and an alpha who needed support? Ryden wasn't Conor. Would never be. 

"I don't know," at least it was an honest answer. "Maybe. I'd need to think about it. Got bags I haven't unpacked,"

"Sure." Ryden gave that response a non-committal shrug, in no rush for a final reply or any reply really. "Was jus' puttin them cards on the table. Ya already help me out a bunch. Might as well git proper credit for it too. Might not help unpack any bags but hey, those are yers alone t'rummage through anyway. And while they sit unpacked, perhaps it'd do good to jus'... focus on other shit when ya feel up for it. Like so much shit, mate. I mean." Ryden waved a hand the way they came from, apparently pointing out the trouble the pack regularly put him in. Like getting lost in a place where it's of utmost importance not to get lost in.

By this point he’d found his way into some sort of dead end he couldn’t quite figure out where to come out from, and the walls seemed to be closing in on him, space getting smaller and smaller, his ears ringing to the point where he didn’t even hear Roman’s voice as the pack members drew nearer, didn’t register their scents or presence as he sank down onto the floor, distressed. 

"Slow down," he insisted once more with Elora not wanting more people to get lost. What was with kids today? Always in a damn hurry.

With the flashlight in hand, Roman noticed a figure on the floor and sighed. "Let me check him," he insisted not sure if something happened to Cass and he didn't want Elora to see just in case. As he eased down, his bones creaked and he felt a slight pop in his knee causing him to wince. "Cass is that you? Are you okay?" He questioned softly, telling the other two to take a few steps back so Cass could breathe.

He might ordinarily have made some comment about the audible pop of Roman’s knee, but Cass barely even heard it and instead settled for a defeated nod, not yet looking up at the older man though. “I’m fine,” he lied, voice shaking and betraying his dishonesty. “Just… I don’t know. Being a dipshit, right?”

There was an inkling that Cass was not okay, but Roman was trying to be nice and didn't want to point it out "well when aren't you being a dipshit?" He commented jokingly in hopes of lightening the situation. "Are you able to breathe? Can you stand up? Do you need help?"

“I’m fine,” he hissed, immediately regretting the tone of his voice as if concerned for once that he might have angered Roman and really not prepared to deal with those consequences. “I’m not hurt, I don’t need help,” he continued. “I just … I’m not big on small spaces,” Cass admitted, an understatement. “Just give me a second.”

Roman sighed heavily and rolled his eyes as he used the wall next to them to try and stand up, his knee now throbbing. "Yeah," he murmured already annoyed and wondering why he even gave a shit.

Relieved that they had managed to find Cass pretty easily, Elora stayed back to allow Roman to inspect the younger wolf, listening anxiously to their exchange. She could hear in Cass' voice that he was not okay, and as Roman stood she stepped forward, kneeling down beside Cass. She didn't speak, instead just slipping her hand into his, the gesture secret from the others, covered by the dark of the night around them.

After giving Raf a pat on the back, grateful for the talk they've just had, Ryden suggested for the group to take a 10-minute break where they were at, just to catch a breather and make sure they stay hydrated in this humid, stifling air and to also give the other group that split apart to look for Cass a better chance at catching up. Ry moved to stand where Abe was, studying the map the other man had in his hands, noting that they will soon reach a part of the tunnel maze that was not yet explored. "Think we'll have t'start seriously markin' our way after we reach the end o'the map." He commented, bulky arms folded over his chest.

He'd keep it in mind, the offer of life again in a pack. It wasn't that Rafael hadn't enjoyed his old one - god, the dog soldiers had been like family. It was the loss that made them fall apart, his failure as a second in command, the need to run away to escape his grief. Could he handle it again, loss like that? The boy who'd been taken was not kin to him but, he knew he would treat them as such. For someone so stone-faced, Rafael had a large heart. 

He leaned against a wall of the tunnels, glancing back as the others caught up. The air seemed to grow more stagnant, humidity causing sweat to bead on his brow. 

"Agreed," He said in response. "I wonder if there are any other exits in these tunnels,"

Abe responded with a soft grunt of agreement that they'd need to mark the tunnels and also the map soon. "Probably better if we don't split off. Too dangerous when we won't know what to expect ahead." Then to Rafaeal, "These beasts have to be using more than one exit to get out of here," referring back to the hole in the dirt ceiling a while back which wasn't where they had entered and presumably they were capable of making a new exit for themselves at any time. They on the other hand... might not be so lucky.

Ry glanced back at Raf who raised a good question an then Abe, who answered it very realistically. "The first attack at that bar was in the evenin'. Was it the same for the second one?" He asked, having not caught that particular detail when he heard about it all. "If both were, mebbe it's safe t'assume the monsters're more active at night? We started pretty early in the mornin'. Should make sure we're out well b'fore evenin' t'day."

After the pop in his knee and standing back up to put some distance between Cass and himself, Roman could feel the radiating pain as he tried to breathe through it as he used the tunnel wall for support. "C'mon, get off your ass dipshit. We have to catch up to the group."

"Yeah, good idea," nodding as he glanced at his watch to determine in his head how much longer before sunset they would have to explore the tunnels.

"Yanno, usually also, creatures like these may be pretty sensitive to light... And fire." It was a shot in the dark for sure but hey, when you had zero info, you had to get inventive and just cross your fingers for the best. Ryden shrugged off the full backpack he'd been carrying all along, unzipping it wide open to show a plethora of road flares, firecrackers and fireworks. He grinned wickedly, like a kid showing off the goodies his parents told him he should absolutely not play with. "I didn't share these yet cause, well, we got peeps who'd soon blow their fingers clean off than use this proper but might help, eh? If it got eyes, they can't be fire-proof either way."

“You’re so kind,” Cass said sarcastically in response to Roman, although he got up obediently, staying close to the older man and to Elora, still uneasy despite their efforts to reassure him so his distaste for Roman became outweighed by sheer panic and fear forcing him to use Roman as a protector. “Which way they go?” He turned to shine his flashlight and was immediately startled by an odd shadow appearing despite it being simply a trick of the dim light, causing him to bolt as close as Roman as he could, seeking protection.

For a moment, Roman tried to be nice to Cass when the younger wolf was on the ground. However, the moment Cass opened his mouth it caused him to remember why he didn't like Cass in the first place.

Once Cass stood up, Roman huffed as Cass stood near him as they headed down the tunnel to catch up with the others. "The correct way," he mumbled through the pain with each step. Roman continued to use one hand against the wall to sturdy himself as they made their way towards the others. 

"For fuck's sake, why are you getting so close?" He questioned Cass beyond annoyed with the kid.

Abe peered over at the firecrackers Ryden displayed wickedly and let out a booming sort of chuckle. "Knew you had something up your sleeve."

“Just stay near?” Cass asked quietly, his tone carrying no malice or snark this time as he remained close to Roman, even offering his own hand to steady the older man. “Please?”

Usually, Roman would have pushed Cass away or hell even punch him in that punchable face of his. However, he knew he needed to set his personal feelings for the guy to the side for Ryden's sake. For whatever reason Ryden has a soft spot for the dipshit that Roman still couldn't wrap his head around. And there was the fact Cass clearly had some trauma dealing with dark closed in areas and needed some comfort.

"Ain't like I got any place to go," he responded. Roman sighed heavily and didn't take Cass's hand because of his own pride. "I'm right here, don't worry."

“Alright,” he said, voice a little shaky as he followed Roman’s lead no matter how slow the other was going, unwilling to go in the lead. “I’m not worrying,” he denied despite the evidence clearly pointing to the contrary.

For the most part, Roman remained silent as Martin led the group back to the main group. Occasionally, he looked over his shoulder to check in on Cass. Despite a lot of anger towards the kid, he didn't actually want the kid to be traumatized. He had seen firsthand how some people respond to trauma.

"I mean, sure, I can try punchin' the shit outta anythin' that may come at us but will it work now? I'm outta woof juice. Back to bein' all human again. Can't rely on jus' that." Ry explained to Abe with a slanted grin, then zipped the backpack up, turning around. "Damn, where are those four? How far did Cass wander off?" But then in the beam of the flashlight, Ry could see Martin slowly padding over on his silent paws, and soon after the other three following behind. "Was thinkin' I had to send a search party for the search party.  Everyone a'ight?" He asked, though some annoyance could still be noticed in his tone.

First thing Roman wanted to say was what a dumbass Cass was and how he should have just stayed home. However, he kept his mouth shut on that front. "C'mon Alpha, you send Martin and me out. You know we'll find our way back." He simply stated. After all, this search was about finding one of Ryden's packmembers and ultimately that was what mattered. "Have y'all seen any signs of anything? Something to indicate where he is at or if he is still alive?"

"No doubt there, jus' felt like ya were takin' yer sweet time. Must be this place. Feels like everythin's standin' still, even time." If Ryden said that being underground wasn't unnerving even to him, he would be lying. "Nothin' so far, but if we continue on, mebbe we'll get sumwhere. Fingers crossed. Everyone good to continue on?" As he asked, he also gave Cass a good, hard look. The young wolf will get Ryden's piece of mind about this later, out of everyone's earshot. For now, seeing him back and alright would do.

Abraham offered Ryden a nod that he was good to keep going, the map ready in his hands to mark up their path as they ventured on from here.

He could feel Ryden’s eyes on him, not to mention Roman’s, varying tones in the two but both gazes Cass wasn’t in any hurry to meet, staring down at the ground and fidgeting awkwardly, evidently ashamed at his little outburst and hoping to put it behind him. “Yeah let’s just keep going.”

Roman remained silent about the comment on taking their time to return to the main group and followed suit as they headed further into the tunnels, his knee still throbbing from earlier but he tried to block it out.

"Well alright then, try not t'look so excited ya'll..." Ryden grumbled at all the gloom that had now befallen the group, turning around to follow the two wolves ahead who would be continuing their tracking for as far as it would lead them.

Unfortunately, soon after, any scent or trail which had been used for guidance would be almost impossible to distinguish due to the intense scent of rot and decay, so acrid and palpable it felt like it was leaving a film over their tongues as they inhaled. The more they continued, the grotesque scent only grows worse until it reaches a thickening point, even the air is clouded and filled with spores that suspend in the air when the lights from their flashlights hit them, appearing as if they had walked into a fog.

Continuing down this tunnel would reveal that the one three-man wide space was incrementally growing smaller, barely noticeable at first until those on the edges began to scrunch their shoulders in to avoid contact with the walls. Soon it would be necessary to fall into an even thinner line, two-men wide, then finally only one could lead the way.

The walls felt like they were squeezing in again. Cass dropped behind the rest of the group as the tunnel began to narrow, eyes wide and glancing from side to side as if he anticipated being jumped at any moment, to the point where the slightest shadow was enough to make him flinch. “Are we sure this is the right way?”

It felt as if the walls were coming in on them as the passage way got narrower. Hearing Cass, he let out a sigh. "Yeah kid," he commented. "You okay?" Roman was a lot of things, but he wasn't going to make things more difficult for Alpha or add onto any trauma that Cass was having.

"If we ain't, we'll find out eventually." Rydeb said, mostly focusing on leading the way ahead, having also pulled the collar of his shirt over his nose. Silver lining, at least he did not have his sensitive sense of smell while he was still human-shaped.

Abraham was all but holding his breath to minimize the amount of disgusting air he was inhaling, even without any werewolf enhanced senses it was horrible just on a human level. "What is this smell?" He asked but part of him didn't want to actually find out. He had to keep his arms tucked in close in front of him and even still his broad shoulders were rubbing against the dirt walls now.

It was quickly becoming too small to sustain the pack, eventually being forced into a single line as the air became thick with rot and decay. The scent was enough to cause Rafael's eyes to water, to gag slightly- he was glad that nobody saw him. Though shorter than many of the present wolves, he still found his shoulder scraping against the stone walls, taking bits of his shirt with it. "Death" he responded to the question, mostly keeping quiet as he soldiered on.

Hearing Rafeal made Jeremy's shoulders hunch up close to his ears. He gripped his flashlight so tightly that his knuckles turned white and despite the coolness of the underground tunnel, sweat had collected over his brow and upper lip and dripped down the back of his neck and made his hands slippery so he had to keep wiping them against his jeans and over his shirt. He tried to grip his flashlight again after doing so but it still slipped from his fingers and landed with a dull squelch into mud. He huffed out a breath, paused walking to pick it up, anxiety rising because now they were forced to walk in a line he was holding up those behind him to pick up his flashlight so he tried to do it quickly so no one would scold him, hurriedly scooping it up despite the mud on the handle and carried on walking, discovering a few paces forward that the mud was dark red.

“I’m fine,” Cass practically hissed at Roman, the lie obvious before he had even let it leave his lips, his entire body so tense that it was a wonder he didn’t just tip over like a corpse, albeit one with a heart thumping so loud it was hard to even hear what the other wolves said. “Let’s just live quickly.”

He'd rather not, but something told Ryden that maybe Rafael was right. The distinct stench didn't seem to only be undeground stale air full of mold, spores and moisture. There was something else there and even a human sense of smell could not miss it. Ry let out a low whistle, alerting the two wolves ahead of the rest of the group, who also had to walk one behind another to accommodate the change in tunnel size, to slow down and be careful. It didn't seem needed - they had already done so, not looking too well, their senses overwhelmed. Ryden therefore squeezed through so he was the one walking ahead of everyone now, flashlight pointed forward, neck of his shirt covering the lower part of his face.

Finally, the tunnel seemed to widen again but it did not encourage fresher air nor an escape from the deep rot which had settled into the very earth. Now two dark paths would become visible ahead. The left tunnel narrow like this one and the same rotten stench wafts from it. The right tunnel appears to be wider and it may open up further, the smell of rot is lesser there.

Abraham inspects his map but isn't sure which way to go down. "I don't think we should separate," he commented, not mentioning that this opinion was in part due to Cass but also in part to the intense scent of decay. It would be best to remain together from now on.

The older werewolf remained silent, annoyed by Cass being so flippant with him when he was trying to be nice. The stench that filled his nostrils made Roman somewhat sick to his stomach, his mind going back to when he smelled the similar scent when he came across trenches of murdered families from his time in the military. "We cannot search every tunnel unless we split up." Roman commented. He do whatever Alpha wanted, but if they split up they would cover more ground.

"Sumtin's... not right." Ryden muttered to himself at first, peering at the two dark paths ahead separating the tunnel, trying to see past the meager patch of light his torch cast ahead, then raised his voice a little so everyone could hear him. "Martin and Alicia can't track no more. Can't anyone smell this? Sum kinna undertone to it, smells like... rottin' meat and... stale blood..." He really didn't want to say it because now that he did, he could smell it even more, even through the fabric of his shirt.

Jeremy felt a pit in his stomach churn. He smelled it and when Ryden announced it, it only made it worse. The tunnels didn't feel like a typical underground passage anymore. It felt like a tomb filled with dead bodies they couldn't see. He looked grim, expression difficult to discern in the darkness of the tunnel, shadowed starkly by the harsh lights of the flashlights but it told them all his thoughts. There was not going to be anyone alive down here.

The idea of splitting up seemed to be a contentious one, the group stuck between a literal rock and a hard place. Rafael kept that stone face, just glancing ahead to barely see the two tunnels, the smell taking him back to a place of death and rot. The left tunnel was smaller, tighter, and claustrophobia wasn't one of his issues. "I'll take the left," Rafael was confident that he could handle himself, and the scene that might be there. He didn't wish any of the younger wolves present to see something that would most likely scar them. "I don't mind going alone. Spare you all whatever's in there,"

"I'd rather no one went alone." Ryden was on board with what Abe suggested, not liking the idea of anyone facing anything that waited ahead on their own, even if they were as reliable and hardcore as Raf. "We take the narrower tunnel. Who thinks they ain't got the stomach for it, they can wait for us t'git back here. That's the only splittin' up I'll agree to. If we can't agree, we all move back and git the hell outta this hellhole."

For the moment, Jeremy waited to see if anyone would volunteer to stay. He did not want to go down that tunnel but he also didn't want to be the only one staying behind and would ultimately go wherever the pack went. Not really seeing anyone who said they wanted to stay, so far, he sucked in a breath and readied himself for whatever would await them down the tunnel.

With the group having agreed to take the left tunnel, they proceed onward with the stench of decay growing in intensity until it coats their throats. Continuing on down the narrow tunnel reveals a dead end. Rock walls had crumbled and formed a collapse that is impossible to pass through.

One of them tried to move a rock to bypass the collapse but the earth audibly groans. A large rock rolls to the side and a lone battered shoe is discovered. One of the shifted werewolves sniffs at the shoe and indicates with a lowering of their head and flattening of their ears against their head that this was the source of the scent they were following, it must have belonged to the missing werewolf. Another werewolf in their human form tried to move another rock but the walls shuddered again and fearing another collapse of the tunnel, it was decided not to proceed any further but the fate of the missing werewolf seemed to be decided and hope of recovering even their body was lost. 

It was with a melancholic and defeated air that the group began to leave the tunnel, leaving behind the dirt and blood in favor of fresh air and open land.

[findopulencerp]

                                               𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖘 𝖊𝖛𝖆𝖓𝖘

he was born twenty-three years ago, he is a werewolf who lives in descray as a mechanic at bolt’s auto, and is in sumerki orda. he looks an awful lot like fionn whitehead..

“I’d love you. But I need another year alone.”

T/Ws: Drugs, neglect, death, abandonment 

Cass was born in England, the only son of a single mother and absent father. His early childhood was pretty much defined by his mother’s immaturity and various addictions - she was a teenager when she gave birth to him, and an alcoholic, although by the time Cass was five she had graduated to heroin. As a result, he was shuffled back and forth between the care system and family home, eventually being permanently removed from her care at the age of ten. Since Cass’s birth father was not known, he ended up in the first of a series of foster homes - unfortunately, since he has a misguided amount of adoration and idolisation for his mother, none of these lasted long as Cass began to raise hell and act out in an attempt to force them to send him back to his mother.

After being passed back and forth for a few years, much to Cass’s dismay he ended up in the care of his now adopted parents, with no amount of acting out seemingly enabling him get rid of them the way he had so many others in the past. They seemed (the audacity) to actually want him around and want to give him a chance at life, formally adopting him despite his displeasure at it and moving the family to his adopted mother’s birthplace of New York when Cass was sixteen to give him a “fresh start.” And at first, even if he didn’t want it to, it seemed to work. And for once, he started to allow himself to feel attached to them, like he could finally settle down. 

Except that didn’t end up lasting long, either. In his senior year of high school, Cass fell hard and fast for a girl. So hard and fast that it didn’t even cross his mind that she seemed off, vanishing every month, or that there were certain red flags surrounding her that his eyes just couldn’t pick up on. The night of his eighteenth birthday was a full moon, and all he wanted was to ask her out. So he followed her into the woods, intending to be a romantic. When he got bitten by what he presumed was a wild animal and showed up in the emergency room for a rabies shot, he presumed it was just going to be an amusing anecdote to tell her when he saw her again. He didn’t know that everything in his life was about to change. When he saw her again and went on about his bravery and how he’d injured himself in her pursuit, she told him if he had any sense he’d get the fuck out and run away, that Opulence would be a better place for him and that she was sorry. He chalked it up to her being crazy and went back to his everyday life, until the next month. 

His first time changing into a wolf happened, of all times, in the middle of his adopted parents wedding anniversary dinner party, at a restaurant outside. And if he’d thought he wanted them to leave, the moment they actually looked at him in fear and told him to get the fuck out, he realised he was wrong. But by that point, he was too late, and all he could do was pick up a few of his things and run away, keeping in mind what his crush had told him a month prior. He was stuck in a country which wasn’t his, with no idea what to do, no friends to call, and the only thing he could think to do was show up at Opulence with his minimal savings and put his teenage hobby of carjacking to use in a more wholesome way. Having been abandoned by everyone else in his life, he grew to value the pack he joined beyond anything else - but he never quite learned to let anyone else in.

“what power did he attain when settling in opulence?”

None.

this character is…taken

[tehshelaroxx]

**LONGLEGS SPOILER AHEAD** But I was thinking...

And I may not orda say this but next Halloween, I think someone like Poison Props or Tekky Toys or something like that should put out a Longlegs animatronic of Dale that you can sit in a chair at a table and when activated, he'll start "smashing" his head against the table. That scene set the perfect tone for a Halloween prop of him! Just think, you can keep him out all year if you want and he can head smash while you're having Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner with your family! Someone pass this along to the appropriate sources! I'll be waiting...

[reigningqueenofwords]

Adopted

Word count: 1,077

Read on AO3

“Mom, I need to do this!” You told your loving mother. “I’m not saying that I’m going to run off and forget you guys. YOU are my parents, you raised me, and I love you. You’re stuck with me.” You gave her a smile. “I…I just want to see who I get my eyes from. I want to see who I look like. I want to hear about my family history.”

Your parents looked at each other, but it was your father who smiled, and nodded. “I support you, princess.” He told you as he got up, moving around the table you were sitting at and kissing your forehead. “I know being a teenager is hard enough, but it has to be even harder wondering where you come from.”

Your eyes went to your mother, hopeful. You didn’t want to disappoint her by continuing this search. Yet, you didn’t plan to give it up, either. “You’ve been our baby for 16 beautiful years.” She teared up, making you worry. “I know nothing can change that.” She gave you that smile mom’s gave- the one full of pride, love, and that told you she was about to go on some long speech about how much you meant to her. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “You have my blessing. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

When you face lit up, she chuckled lightly, as she always said you looked so childlike in those moments. “Thank you, Mom! Thanks, Dad!” You got up, giving your father a hug, and then your mother. “Do you guys have anything I could start with, or am I starting from square one?” You looked between them, trying not to get your hopes up.

“We have a name.” Your father told you.

Benny was on his break when the owner came over to him, holding out the phone. “Call for you, LaFitte.” She said, raising an eyebrow. He never, ever got calls. “Sounds…young.”

That confused the Cajun further. “Hello?” He answered, not sure what this would be about.

There was a moment of silence, and as he opened his mouth to speak again, you finally answered him. “Uh, do you remember about 16 years ago, giving up a baby girl for adoption?” You stammered out.

He felt his heart race. “Yeah…I do. Why?” He asked, his tone harsher than he had intended.

“I’m her.” You breathed. “I-I’m your daughter.” You told him, and he could hear your fear. When he didn’t say anything, you felt your stomach drop. “I’m sorry I bothered you, Mr. LaFitte.” You muttered, figuring he would wind up hanging up.

“Wait.” He surprised you. “Where ya live, cher?” He asked, much gentler this time.

Chewing on your lip, you sat in a booth at a little diner halfway between your house, and Benny’s. You were surprised to find that he lived only 10 miles away. Your parents were far, of course, but wanted to give you a chance to meet him alone at first. “Y/N?” Came the accent you’d come to know from talking to Benny on the phone from time to time.

You looked over and smiled as you stood. “Benny?” You held out your hand awkwardly.

He chuckled and opened his arms with a slightly awkward smile, asking for a hug. “It’s so good to meet ya.” He told you when you wrapped your arms around him. “My you got big.” He chuckled.

The two of you slid back into the booth moments before the waitress came over to take your order. “Hey, Benny, long time no see.” She smirked at him, making you look away. “Ain’t she a bit…young?” She whispered, motioning to you.

Benny rolled his eyes. “She’s my daughta’.” He told her, bored. “Can we orda our drinks?” She looked taken aback, but nodded. “Coffee. Black.” He ordered.

“Sweet tea, thank you.” You ordered before she hurried off.

“Sorry, cher.” He shrugged. “Went on a couple dates a few months back. Nothin’ serious.”

You shook your head quickly. “No need to explain.” You waved it off. It wasn’t like he had to tell you why she was flirting with him or why it felt awkward. This wasn’t some typical father-daughter date, after all. “So, uh, I couldn’t find any contact information for mom these past few weeks. Thought I’d ask about her.”

He gave you a sad smile. “Cher, your momma died havin’ ya.” He explained, watching your face fall. “I put ya up for adoption cuz I was young, stupid, and wanted the best for ya.” He sighed. “Looks like ya got it.” He motioned to your parents.

That was a lot to take in, but it answered some of your questions. “What was she like?” You asked.

Benny got this nostalgic far off look in his eyes, a soft smile on his face. “She was the sweetest.” He told you. “But had a hellov’a wild streak.” You chuckled at that, trying to picture it. “I got some pictures back home. Maybe…next time I can bring some?” He asked, hopeful. “I mean, if you want to see me again?”

You nodded. “You’re stuck with me.” You teased. “I mean, if you don’t mind.” You played with your fingers on the table.

Nodding, Benny grinned. “I’d love ta get ta know ya!”

Coming down the stairs, you smiled when you saw your prom date. Then giggled when you saw Benny, your father, and your mother. Benny made a threatening gesture with an exaggerated face while motioning at your date, which you father found amusing. Your mother simply rolled her eyes. “Ya look just like ya momma.” Benny told you as you neared.

“Really?” You asked, your heart swelling at that. You’d seen pictures, and she had been gorgeous. It had been a year and a half since you’d made that call to Benny, and it had been the best year and half of your life. “That means a lot to me.”

“Anytime, cher.” He hugged you. “And you.” He turned to your date. “Make this the best night of her life.” He pointed to him. “And no funny business. I used to box.”

Your date swallowed, and looked to your father, who nodded. “I won’t stop him.” He shrugged.

“Oh, men.” Your mother sighed. “Let’s get some pictures so our girl can get to her prom.” She ushered everyone into the living room, moving your night along.