#I feel like another name for moon flower should be nightshade

[dweeb-energy]

Mmm.. moonflower…

I really REALLY love this ship. An absolute comfort of mine that I wanted to share with the world! This batch is a little old- but art can’t go stale. Enjoy the gays. A fresh batch will hopefully be available soon!!!!

This is an au! (though we’ve been struggling with a name for months so.. Title TBD).

Collaborated with @eddwardharrison , he drew Astro and is the main creator of the au we’re making!!! <3 go follow him pretty please 🥺

Some of these were also in my tiktok! Same as my user here :]

[fawnandshadows]

After The Ceremony - Chapter 1

Hey Guys!

This is the first chapter of a mini Elriel fanfiction that I'm working on. You can also read it on AO3

Summary: Elain and Azriel after Nesta and Cassian's Mating Ceremony.

Words: 1,847

Nesta and Cassian’s mating ceremony has long since been over, but Elain couldn’t bring herself to go back to her room. No, Elain had too much restless energy to even attempt to fall asleep tonight, and instead of tossing and turning in her bed all night, she decided she may as well be useful and start to clean up. It took only ten minutes of laying in her bed, staring at the ceiling, before silently walking downstairs to the ballroom. Nuala and Cerridwen offered to help her, and Elain knew that they wouldn’t have minded staying up all night to clean with her, but she really just wanted to be alone. So, the twins like everyone else went to bed, and Elain stayed in the ballroom of Feyre and Rhysand’s River House putting herself to use.

There was something about being alone in the middle of the night that just seemed right to Elain, when everyone else was sleeping, she didn’t have to worry about putting on a face for everyone to see. She didn’t have to plaster a smile on her face while her heart was cracking in her chest. It was a test of her resolve today, Elain thought, as she pretended, yet again, that everything was alright. It took everything in Elain, every ounce of will power and restraint, to not break down and cry in the middle of the ballroom as she saw a familiar rose necklace around somebody else's neck.

Elain wanted to cry, scream, and cry some more whenever she looked at Gwyn, or Azriel, or even Mor. Especially Mor, when Elain saw her dancing and smiling with Azriel. It just felt so wrong. It should be Elain wearing his necklace, and it should be Elain in his arms as they spun around the room completely oblivious to everyone else.

After seeing Gwyn wearing her necklace, Elain immediately turned to leave the room because all she wanted was to be alone with her feelings and not worry about someone seeing through her fake smile, but as soon as she turned she caught a glimpse of the sun and a shadow dancing across the floor.

Elain had never seen Mor and Azriel dance together, and she never wanted to, especially when watching them smile at each other ruined whatever was left of her heart. They looked so incredibly beautiful together, and Azriel was smiling down at Mor with a warmth Elain hadn’t seen since the last solstice when she made him laugh. And Mor was smiling up at Azriel with an ease Elain had never noticed between them.

Confusion danced in her chest with every other emotion she was feeling.

Elain was only forced out of her staring from a heavy arm that fell across her shoulders. She blinked and a drunk Cassian appeared in front of her face, a stupid grin strectched across his face that was the result of unadulterated love and copious amounts of wine.

“Dance with me!” Cassian pulled her onto the dance floor, snapping her out of her imminent depression and into a crowded dance floor.

Elain let out a sign and continued sweeping the surprisingly messy floor. It seemed like most of the cake she and the twins had baked for the party ended up on the marble floor somehow, but she supposed that drunken fae couldn’t be expected to be tidy. The full moon illuminated most of the room, but there were still some faelights along the wall that added just enough light for her work. After sweeping, and picking up a surprising amount of glasses from the floor, Elain collected the bouquets from the tables.

It took her months to craft five bouquets for the ceremony, one for Nesta, and four for the women standing beside her. The core of Nesta’s bouquet were red carnations, pink roses, with bursting dahlias. Every bouquet held pink acacia’s - the flower of friendship. Feyre’s bouquet consisted of blooming magnolia’s and eye-catching violets. Her own was made from magnolias, nightshade, and a sprinkle of periwinkles. Emorie’s held vibrant hyacinths with white jasmine, and Gwyn’s bouquet was crafted from lavender, morning glories, oleanders. All the flowers were grown and cultivated by Elain herself, and she felt a shimmer of pride as she looked upon them.

Elain was getting ready to move the bouquets and their vases from the ballroom into the dining room, thinking they would look nice in a room where her family spends most of their time, when a familiar shiver floated down her spine. She didn’t look up as she said, “Hello, Azriel.” She knew he would reveal himself to her.

“It’s late. You should be sleeping.” His deep voice blended in with the night, causing her knees to weaken slightly and her eyelids to relax. What she wouldn’t give to fall asleep with that voice whispering in her ear while his fingers slid against her skin. What she wouldn’t give to stay awake all night with his voice in her ears and his fingers on her skin. Elain lost count of how many times she lost herself in thought as she tried to imagine what his lips would feel like against her throat.

“So should you,” Elain said, turning her body slightly to see him walk further into the room from where he leaned against the doorway. “I thought everyone was asleep. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

“Do you normally spend your nights cleaning up after drunken fae?” Azriel asked as he approached her. He stood maybe two feet away, but Elain could still feel the warmth radiating off his body. Another shiver made its way down her spine. Her skin felt so sensitive in his presence that it was hard to focus on anything besides him.

“Normally just Cassian,” Elain attempted to joke. Her chest felt slightly lighter as she noticed the twitch of his lips. It was a mistake looking at his lips. Her tongue brushed against her own that suddenly felt dry. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”

Azriel nodded. No words, no explanation, no attempt at conversation.

“You’re a lovely dancer.” Elain said, unable to stop herself, but she wanted him to know that she noticed him. She wanted him to know that she wished it was her in his arms dancing in front of everyone else.

“Thank you. You didn’t dance much at all.” Azriel noted and Elain felt the warmth of a blush on cheeks.

She gave a small shrug and said, “I was only asked by Cass, Rhys, and Lucien.”

Rhys was the first to offer her a dance, and she loved her brother-in-law too much to say no. Rhys was a lovely dancer, and she fought to keep a smile on her face under his prying eyes. Her dance with Cassian involved mostly her propping him up so that he didn’t collapse on the floor. Her dance was Lucien was non-existent.

“Why didn’t you dance with him?” Azriel asked softly. If it wasn’t the dead of night she wouldn’t have heard it.

“I don’t want to give him false hope,” Elain said, taking a fortifying breath before she continued, “It’s wretched to think you have a chance, a connection, to someone when you don’t.” She prayed to the Mother that Azriel didn’t notice her shaky breath, her racing heart, or how it took all of her bravery to say that.

In the soft glow of the faelights Elain saw a flinch run across Azriels face. It took him a moment longer than usual to school his features into their usual mask, but he couldn’t hide the pain that shimmered in his eyes.

The similarities weren’t lost on Elain. How this night resembled that of the solstice. Azriel and Elain being the only two people awake in the house. Her mate sleeping upstairs. The same crackling excitement rushing through her. The hope that maybe she would finally feel the brush of his lips against hers, and she wouldn’t have to speculate about what he tasted like anymore.

“Elain.” Azriel said her name as if it pained him.

“Why did you do it?” She whispered hotly. “Why did you give my necklace away? Why did you dance with Mor and look at her as if she were the only female in the room?” Before her bravery completely ran out she took a step forward, grabbed his hand, and placed it against her heart. “Did you feel this break tonight?”

His hand was hot against the thin cotton of her nightgown. She could just barely feel the traces of his scars. Elain wished there was nothing between them.

“Because it did,” Elain continued. “It broke every time I looked at you. It broke when I saw the necklace, and it broke when I saw how beautiful you and Mor looked.”

“Elain,” Azriel said, his voice harsh, his hand pressed further into her as if he too wished there was no nightgown separating them. “I want to, but I can’t.”

“I don’t understand,” Elain stared at his churning hazel eyes. She couldn’t help the lonesome tear that slid down her face. She was about to wipe it away when he beat her to it. His large, warm, wonderful hand brushed away her tear before cupping her cheek. Despite the pain that was growing in her chest, she would feel it all again if it meant his skin on hers. She would withstand any pain if it kept them together. “Make me understand.”

“I want to kiss you,” Azriel said. Elain felt each word as it brushed against her face. “I want to rip this nightgown from your body, lay you on the table, spread your legs open and feast until I’m drunk off the taste of you. I want to slide into you until I’m the only thing on your mind, and then I want to bring you so much pleasure you’ll never want to be away from me. And once you found your pleasure, I’d take you upstairs and do it all again. If I ever got a hold on myself I would make love to you the way you deserve.”

Elain, loving the warmth and wetness that flooded her core, felt as if she was about to combust. One tiny spark and she would erupt into flame.

“And why can’t we do that?” Elain asked quietly, as if she were afraid of ruining the moment. As if she were afraid he would slip away from her yet again.

“Rhy’s pulled rank on me.” Azriel replied. The only sign of tension was the muscle that contracted in his jaw. Elain ignored the urge to run her tongue over it.

“Huh?” Elains brain was too hazed with desire to form a proper sentence.

“He forbid it.” Azriel replied, tilting his head forward slightly, and brushing his nose against hers. The breath that floated across her face threatened to knock her over.

“Forbid what?” Elain managed to get out - too absorbed in him to think clearly.

“Us.”

Elain didn’t have time to think about what Azriel said as his lips descended on hers.

[tipsycad147]

Beginner Witch Tips That You Won't Want to Miss

By Penelope Hughes

What are the Different Types of Witches and Which One Are You

There are many forms of witchcraft, and each one suits a different kind of person. Knowing which type of witch you are is essential. You will learn quicker and have a higher success rate if you lean towards your strengths and passion.

Hereditary Witchcraft

This type of witchcraft is passed down from generation to generation. When you were young, your family would have already trained you in their path. You would have learned family recipes with magickal ingredients and have a family grimoire. You will most likely have access to a Book of Shadows, which will give you an extensive advantage in your studies compared to other witches.

Green Witchcraft

A practitioner of green witchcraft works primarily with nature as their teacher and instrument. You will live in alignment with Earth and understand that everything living has a spirit. Your main tools will be plants and herbs. If you have a green thumb and enjoy working with herbs and plants, green witchcraft may be your calling.

The Faery Faith

This type of witchcraft works closely with the faeries (faery or fey). These are magickal beings such as undines, nymphs, pixies, or sylphs believed to live in the astral realm. The astral realm is parallel to ours. Practitioners of this craft will learn to work with the thirteen lunar months of the Celtic Tree calendar, and they will access different energies that each of the thirteen months holds. Green witches who work with the fey will often overlap their craft.

WICCA

WICCA is a religion that is neo-pagan and nature-based. Their beliefs are similar to the ancient Celts' religious beliefs. Wiccans do not have one single holy book, but they do follow two laws. The first law is the Rule of Three, which means "three times what thou givest returns to thee." The other law is the Wiccan Rede, which means "an ye harm none, do what ye will." There are many different sects of Wicca, and they all have separate traditions.

Kitchen Witchcraft

This type of witchcraft incorporates cooking into their spellcraft. The process of cooking and eating becomes a form of ritual. Consuming the food infused with magick kitchen witches release the energies from their food into themselves and the Universe. Kitchen Witchcraft is a calling for those who are skilled at cooking and enjoy working with food.

Chaos Magick

This type of witchcraft prefers to work with sigils and charged symbols. Chaos witches will learn how to enter a state of unconscious intention called a "gnostic state." They use breathing techniques, muscle relaxation, or intense emotions to enter a gnostic state to think and enact magick unknowingly.

Eclectic Witchcraft

This type of witchcraft is a combination of different practices that is unique to the witch. An Eclectic witch creates their path by drawing on their heritage, passions, and various types of magick. This type of witchcraft does not follow one single track.

Books for the Beginner Witch

One of the first things I will recommend to a new witch who wants to get started is to read lots of books. Knowledge is power, and you will not gain that knowledge by sitting idle and waiting for others to teach you.

I am always reading books and learning new things. I usually purchase my books, but you do not have to. If your short on cash or don't want to buy your books, check what resources your local library has. You might be surprised by the amount of information they have available.

The Book of Shadows: by Brittany Nightshade. This book is excellent for the new witch. Just understand it is not a real Book of Shadows. The book covers different types of magick and goes over how to cast simple spells. She does cover love spells in the book, and I would say love spells are very popular, but please be cautious with them and never cast a love spell with a particular person in mind.

The Green Witch: by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. I just finished this book and cannot praise it enough, especially if you are interested in Green Witchcraft. Arin does a beautiful job covering herbs, flowers, essential oils, and so much more than I expected. She has a handy index for a new witch at the back of the book that you can quickly flip to if you need information about a specific herb or plant.

The Wiccan Book of Shadows: by Ambrosia Hawthorn. If you are interested in learning about Wicca and its fundamentals and practices, I highly suggest the Wiccan Book of Shadows. Some books meant for beginner witches can be very biased or, on the other end, they do not offer much of a foundation. This book met in the middle for the perfect mix of a good and robust foundation. Another thing I love about this book is how gorgeous it is on display. When I got this book I knew at first glance it was not going to go on the bookshelf.  This is a beautiful piece of art that needs to be displayed.

The Door to Witchcraft: by Tonya Brown. This book covers the history of witchcraft through the ages and how it has evolved over time. You will learn about fundamental techniques, traditions, rituals, and ceremonies that every new witch should know. Our history is significant to know, do not forget that it was not so long ago we were burned at stake.

What The Colours Mean in Candle Magick

New witches will usually start with magick that they find most straightforward and the least complicated. Because candle magick is not as difficult or complicated as other types of magick, it makes sense that new witches would start with candle magick.

One thing you should remember when preparing to use candle magick is your candles need to be dressed. Dressing the candle is accomplished in two steps. The first step is exercising the candle of any negative energy or previous magickal energy. The second step is charging your candle. Neither step is complicated, but it will require a great deal of concentration and visualization skills.

Witchcraft Tools That You Should You Get First

The basic tools of spellcraft include the athame, wand, sword, cords, cauldron, chalice, and altar bell.

If you're a new witch with a small budget ( I know the feeling, I started in middle school), skip these tools and focus on candles, incense, oils, and herbs.

I would recommend forgoing the tools in the very beginning and encourage you to study. Join a coven, get some books from the library, join beginner witchcraft groups on Facebook (be safe when talking to people online, and meeting people from online groups could be dangerous).

The Athame: This is a ritual dagger with a double-edged blade. It will have a black or white handle that witches will paint or engrave runic names or magickal symbols on it. It is used for casting the circle, storing or directing energy during rituals, and stirring potions.

The Wand: The wand is the emblem of power, and it symbolizes the ancient element of air (some traditions believe it represents fire). Its traditional uses are to cast the circle, draw magickal symbols, invoke spirits, and stir cauldron brews. Wands are usually carved from the wood of the hazel, ask, rowan, or willow tree. Modern witches have had wands carved from crystal, ivory, and metal. I recommend sticking to wood but that's just my preference.

The Sword: If you are starting and new to witchcraft, you should not need to get this basic tool. Covens usually use it, and if you join one, they will most likely already have a sword for their rituals. The sword is used the same way as the athame, but it is considered more authoritative.

The Cord: Cords are used to store magickal energy for later use. A witch will tie nine knots into the cord to hold the magickal energy. When they are ready to release the power that has been stored, they untie the knots in the same order in which they were tied. Depending on the intent, you might untie one knot every night for nine days.

The Cauldron: The cauldron is made of iron and possesses great mystical power. It symbolizes the four ancient elements of air, fire, water, and earth. Its three legs represent the three phases of the moon (waxing, full, and waning.) Cauldrons are used for rituals, brewing potions, burning incense, and holding charcoal blocks, candles, amulets, talismans, and herbs. Be careful if you intend to buy a cauldron offline. A lot of times, they are a lot smaller than what the pictures make them look like.

The Chalice: A sacred goblet is a tool that represents the element of water. It is used for ritual mixing of salt and water, blending potions, and pouring libations (a drink poured out as an offering to a deity).

The Altar Bell: If you are interested in WICCA, they use a small bell to keep at their altar. It is rung three times to signal the start or close of a ritual. Other magick practitioners use altar bells to summon or banish spirits, dispel negative energy, and drive away mischievous fairies.

https://www.mysticalstudies.com/post/beginner-witch-tips-that-you-won-t-want-to-miss

[doritopaw101]

Arc1, book 2: Chapter 12

Icefire always thought of Riverclan as as plump and sleek, well fed from the river. That was until Silverstream told him that the oil issue had gotten worse, and humans were scaring away the fish.

In spite of his pang of pity, Icefire knew he and Graystripe would have to work hard to convince Stormstar that they had really saved the kits.

The Clan leader was at least prepared to give them a chance to explain. "Tell us what happened," Stormstar ordered.

Icefire began at the point when he had heard the kits wailing and seen them stranded on the mat of debris in the river.

"Since when have Thunderclan cats risked their lives for us?" Blackclaw broke in contemptuously as Icefire how he pushed the kits through the torrent to the riverbank.

Icefire wanted to to bite back but couldn't "That's rich coming from the cat that murdered a queen and started countless fights for no good reason other then stupid clan 'glory'"

Blackclaw hissed and looked ready to pounce but Stormstar stopped him "Quiet, Blackclaw! Let him speak. If he's lying, we'll find out soon enough and he does speak truth on that and don't think I forgot what you've done"

While Blackclaw grumbled, Mistyfoot spoke "He's not lying" They were still nuzzling their kits. "Why should Thunderclan steal kits when everyone is struggling to feed everyone, leaf-bare isn't completely over and prey is still scare they don't need more mouths to feed"

"Icefire's story makes sense" Silverstream observed calmly "We had to abandon the camp and shelter in these bushes when the water started to rise again" he explained to Icefire, his voice never falling "When we came to move Mistyfoot's kits, we could only find Primrosekit. Pikekit and Perchkit were missing. The whole nursery had been washed away. They must've been swept along the river to where you found them"

Stormstar nodded slowly, and Icefire realized that the hostility of the Riverclan cats was fading-all except for Blackclaw, who turned his back on the Thunderclan warriors with a snort of disgust.

"In that case, we're grateful to you" Stormstar mewed though he sounded grudging, as if he could hardly bear to be in debt to a pair of Thunders.

"Yes" Mistyfoot mewed. They looked up again, their eyes glowing softly with gratitude. "Without you, my kits would have died"

Icefire dipped his head in acknowledgment. Impulsively, he asked "Is there anything we can do for you? If you can't go back to your camp, and if prey's scare because of the flood-"

"We need no help from Thunderclan" Stormstar growled "Riverclan can look after itself"

"Don't be such a fool" It was Graypool who spoke, with a glare at her leader. Icefire saw Graystripe crouch down at the sound of her voice. Graypool was Splashsong's mother, the guilt would never fade.

"You're too proud for your own good," the elder rasped "How can we feed ourselves, even with the thaw? there is no good fish to eat. The river's practically poisoned; Echomist, Cedarpelt, and Lakeshine are evidence of that"

"It's true Storm" Voleclaw mewed, Shellkit, Mosskit, and Hailkit sitting in between his legs.

"It's all the Twolegs fault" Condorpaw hissed, his tail lashing

"They dumped their trash into the river and we suffer" Tidepaw added

Icefire rolled his eyes at this problem. He knew all about pride but they we're going to die without help. He looked around the Riverclan cats. Most of them couldn't meet his eyes, as if they were ashamed that a cat of another clan should know about their troubles.

"Thunderclan probably already knows when you allowed the white Thunder-rat into our camp" Suneyes growled "I'm sure Bluestar would love that"

"Bluestar doesn't know shit..er..mouse-dung" Icefire retorted "or do you want her to know, cause with your attitude it's getting really temping"

Suneyes's narrowed but her mouth was covered by Grasswhisker, wrapping her tail around her mother's muzzle. It seemed the Riverclan cats took his words seriously.

"Let us help you" Icefire urged "We'll catch prey for you in our territory and bring it to you, until the floods have gone and the river is clean" Even as he made this offer, he knew that he was breaking the warrior code that demanded loyalty to his own clan alone. Bluestar would snap his neck if she found out he was willing to share Thunderclan prey with Riverclan. There was another little bonus to this though, if he helped them the cats of Riverclan could trust him more.

He always thought about becoming leader, more than he cared to admit. Working to bring down Tiger-roar and Nightshade made that take priority by working themself very well into Tiger-roar's good graces, like Nightshade and Miststrike levels. Making Darkstripe jealous was a highlight. He hoped he got a position of power because if Riverclan could trust him then it could work out in the long run. If he couldn't gain leadership, the role of medicine cat or Silverblood could work.

"Would you really help us?" Stormstar asked slowly, his blue and amber eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Yes" Icefire mewed

"And I'll help too" Graystripe promised

"Then the clan thanks you" Stormstar grunted "None of my cats will challenge you in our territory until the floods go down and we can return to our camp. But after that, we will fend for overselves again" He turned and led the way back to the bushes, His subdued cats followed him, casting glances back at Icefire and Graystripe as they went. He could feel their doubt in his offer to help.

Last to go was Mistyfoot, nudging their kits to their paws and guiding them up the slope where Leopardclaw and Skyeyes were. "Thank you both" she murmured "I won't forget this"

Icefire and Graystripe were left alone as the Riverclan cats disappeared into the bushes. As they picked their way down the slop again toward the river, Graystripe shook her head in disbelief "Hunting for another clan? We must be mad"

"What else could we do?" Icefire retorted as Graystripe licked his muzzle wound "Let them starve?"

"Of course not! But we'll have to be careful. We'll be crowfood if Bluestar finds out"

"If she finds out" Icefire stated

/

It was a cold morning, gray morning. Icefire dragged themself out reluctantly out of the warm embrace of Raveneye and Graystripe cuddled on top of them and kicked Graystripe out of the nest.

"Why?" Graystripe whined

Icefire lowered their head and butted the broad gray shoulder. "Come on, Graystripe" they whispered into their lover's ear "We've got to hunt for Riverclan Pigeon, don't tell me you forgot"

At that, Graystripe gripped his tom flower crown as he leveled himself upright and parted his jaws in an enormous yawn. Icefire felt just as tired as their lover; supplying Riverclan with fresh-kill as well as keeping up with their duties in Thunderclan was taking up all their time and energy. They had crossed the river with prey several times, and so far their luck had held. No Thunderclan cat had found out what they were doing.

The clan was doing well this moons, Littlepaw, Sleetpaw, and Smokypaw passed their assessments as well as their duels and received their warrior names: Littlebreeze, Sleetpelt, and Smokyclaw. Chivekit, Stagkit, and Hawk-kit were apprenticed, Chivepaw had gotten Goldenflower, Stagpaw got Cranewing, and Hawkpaw was given to Larkwing. Seedspots had moved into the nursery, expecting Lionheart's kits. Only a bitch could love a basturd. Petalpaw's training had been given over to Robinwing. Thornkit and Brightkit were apprenticed to Nightshade and Tiger-roar.

Stretching, Icefire glanced cautiously around the den. Most of the warriors were curled among the loss, too sound asleep to ask awkward questions. Tiger-roar was just a mound of two-colored tabby fur in his nest, with white bush in the form of Leopardstorm.

Icefire slipped out between the branches of the den. At first he thought all the other cats were asleep; then he saw Brindleface appear at the entrance to the nursery and lifted their head to sniff the air. As if they didn't like the raw, damp wind that greeted them, they retreated almost at once.

Icefire looked back at Graystripe, who was shaking scraps of moss off his coat. "Okay" they mewed "We can go now"

The two cats bounded across the clearing toward the gorse tunnel. Just as they reached it, two familiar voices behind them called out, "Dad! Dad!"

Icefire froze and turned around, Sunnykitkit and Shrikekit scampering over, yowling at him.

"Why!" Graystripe whined once more

"Starclan knows" Icefire sighed "Let me deal with my kits"

"Where are you going?" Sunnykit panted excitedly as she skidded to a stop in front of the warriors "Can we come with you?"

"No" Graystripe mewed "Kits don't leave camp, only with warriors"

"I'll be an apprentice soon" Sunnykit whined

"Soon isn't now" Icefire reminded his daughter, struggling to keep calm. If they hung around much longer, the whole clan would be awake and wanting know where they were going.

"What's going on?" Cranewing said with a yawn

"Nothing" Graystripe quickly mewed to his sister "Just going for an busy hunt with Icefire"

Cranewing nodded her head in realization "Got ya, come on kits, you can watch me and Stagpaw train"

"You're never around as much" Sunnykit whined, her amber eyes tearful "We miss you"

"The rouges are still out there and who else knows what so none of you will be going anywhere without warriors with you, now go back to your nests" Icefire looked straight ahead so they couldn't see his kits sad faces "Let's go Graystripe"

Moments later they were racing up the ravine with Graystripe at their side.

"Let's hope they won't tell anyone" Graystripe puffed

"We can worry about that later" Icefire panted "I'm sure Cranewing can keep them busy" 'helps me feel less bad'

The two warriors headed for the stepping-stones. The fallen tree was still there to help them cross the river, and hunting close by meant they had less distance to carry the fresh-kill, and were less likely to be spotted.

By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the daylight had grown stronger, but the sunrise was hidden behind a mass of gray cloud. There was spatter of rain in the wind.

Icefire and Graystripe caught the scent of squirrel. Graystripe spotted it and didn't think and chased after it. Icefire facepawed then went after the gray tom. He saw Icefire saw Graystripe chase the squirrel into a log, Icefire went over to the other side. The squirrel hadn't been ready for that and Icefire killed it quickly.

"That's one" Icefire said through the prey.

"Uh..Icy"

"Yeah?"

"I'm stuck"

Icefire rolled his eyes "Of course"

It took a few moments to pull Graystripe out by the tail then just digging into his hind legs and pulling him out. The two warriors continued their hunt until they had killed a rabbit and a couple of mice. By then, although he gladly couldn't see the sun, Icefire knew it must be near sun-high. "We'd better take this to Riverclan" he mewed "They're bound to miss us back at the camp soon"

His was relived as they pasted the fallen tree, the water was no higher, and the crossing seemed easier now that he had done it several times. All the same, Icefire felt uneasy as he scrambled through the branches, knowing that he was in full view of Thunderclan cat who happened to be patrolling the forest's edge.

He and Graystripe swam the last couple of fox-lengths and pulled themselves out of the river on the Riverclan side. When they had shaken the water out of their fur they slunk quickly toward the bushes where Riverclan had made their temporary camp.

A cat must have been on watch, because as they approached, Leopardclaw emerged from the bushes. "Welcome," she mewed, sounding a lot friendlier than she had when she first came upon them with Pikekit and Perchkit.

Icefire followed her into the shelter of the hawthorn branches. The Riverclan cats had worked hard since the floods forced them out their camp, bringing moss for bedding and scraping out a place beside the roots of a large bush where fresh-kill could be stored. Today this was little more than pitiful collection of a few mice and couple of blackbirds, which made the Thunderclan warrior's contribution all the more necessary. Icefire dropped his prey onto the pile, and Graystripe did the same.

"Is that more fresh-kill?" Stonefur appeared with Silverstream and Minnowpool just behind him. "Great!"

"We have to feed Graypool and the royals first" Leopardclaw reminded the gray warrior

"I know Leopardclaw" Stonefur stated, his voice level

"We'll take something for Graypool" Silverstream mewed, stepping between the two calmly "Graystripe grab that rabbit will ya"

Graystripe grabbed the rabbit hesitantly.

"Graypool wants to talk with you Graystripe, don't worry I'll stay around" Silverstream added with a wink ignoring Leopardclaw's disapproving glare

Graystripe stepped lightly and followed Minnowpool and Silverstream out of the bushes.

"They've got the right idea" Stonefur mewed "Icefire, do you want to the nursing queens? Then they can thank you themselves"

Icefire agreed. Following Stonefur, they got curious about something.

"Is is weird being half-clan?"

"It's less about it being weird and more about loyalty with cats, the fact I look more Thunderclan than Riverclan doesn't help"

"Mistyfoot looks more like Bluestar than you do"

"She has Stormstar's figure, I act more like a Thunder from what others say about me being a stubborn as a bass"

"Sometimes you need to be stubborn for things to get done"

"That's what I say but trying saying that from calm and too relaxed cats of Riverclan"

"Leoaprdclaw and Blackclaw seem more stubborn than you"

Stonefur chuckled at that.

They neared the makeshift nursery, Icefire wondered one more thing though "How's it going with Blackclaw?"

"Tossed him like a fish into the river, literally" He pointed to a nick in his already cut ears "Can't stop me from seeing our kits and it's not like Skyeyes going to stop me, Seaweedpaw is a blessing for her help with them"

"How's she doing by the way, Marigoldpaw's been asking"

"Petalstream says she's doing well, she likes using her name sake to make necklaces and crowns for the other apprentices"

"Spottedleaf would be proud"

Stonefur smiled "Yeah, she would"

Icefire padded in and was pleased to see Mistyfoot again, stretched out to their side while their kits suckled contentedly. Swanlight greeted him with a lick on the head as did Dawnscale and Mallowtail, they let their kits come over to him as well. Sootwhisker and Greenflower nodded to him. Suneyes ignored him though her kits sure didn't. What he did notice was Mosspelt and Flameshell.

"Filou" he said curtly, letting Gullkit, Mink-kit, Garkit play with his tail

Flameshell ducked her head like a turtle "I'm sorry I didn't tell you"

Icefire hummed "Who?"

"Well me and Willowheart wanted kits and I offered to carry them"

Icefire turned to Mosspelt "And you?"

"I thought Silvertide told you"

Stonefur led him to a spot further along the ridge where Graypool was crouched on a bed of heather and bracken, tucking into the fresh-kill. He spotted Graystripe looking much calmer than he had been in a while.

They had left quickly, wanting to get back to camp as soon as possible. Icefire still weighed down with anxiety as they crossed the tree truck and went back into Thunderclan territory, though he tried hard to push the problem out of his mind. He had two ideas to use as an excuse, he did the first already.

"Now I want to sleep" Graystripe yawned, grooming his fur and avoiding sitting on his rump. Only a mousebrain would think Graystripe was the dominant one between the two them.

"I hate and love your stamina" he muttered, "We should hunt, at least-"

An excited mew from the edge of the forest interrupted him. "Papa! Dad!"

Icefire stared in disbelief as he saw Sunnykit, Shrikekit, and Rosekit crashed out of the bracken at the edge of the trees.

"Oh, mouse dung!" Graystripe muttered

Icefire padded across the grass, his heart sinking. "What are you three doing here?" he demanded "I told you to stay back at camp"

"I tracked you" Sunnykit announced proudly "All the way from camp"

As he looked at his nephew's shining blue eyes, Icefire felt sick with apprehension, Their chances of slipping back into camp with a story of early hunting had just vanished. They must have seen them crossing the river.

"Sunnykit followed your scent trail right up to the stepping-stones" Shrikekit mewed "Papa, what were you and Graystripe doing in Riverclan territory?

"Why do you smell weird?" Sunnykit asked

Before Icefire could think of a reply, another voice broke in-a low, menacing growl. "Yes, that's what I would like to know, too"

Icefire tried to stay calm as he looked up to see Tiger-roar shouldering his way through the crisp brown bracken.

"You screwed up this time Icefire"

Shit

/

When they reached the camp, Icefire saw Bluestar standing at the foot of the Highrock, Seedspots laying behind her, her plump white belly exposed. A patrol made up of Leopardstorm, Fogtail, Chestnutclaw, and Mousefur was reporting to Bluestar.

"The stream is flooded as far as the Thunderpath" Icefire heard Leopardstorm say. "If the water doesn't go down, we won't be able to make it to the next gathering"

"There's still time before-" Bluestar broke off when she saw Tiger-roar approach her. "Yes, what is is?"

"I've brought these cats to you" the deputy growled "Three disobedient kits, and two traitors"

"Traitors!" Fogtail echoed, Chestnutclaw smirked. Chestnutclaw's eyes met Icefire's with an unpleasant gleam "Just what I'd expect from a kittypet" the reddish-brown tom sneered, he stared at the kits "What were you three thinking?"

"We wanted to see where Papa was going" Sunnykit said

"I've taught you three better than to follow him around"

"Excuse me?" Icefire hissed

"Enough" Bluestar ordered, more like snarled. She nodded to the cats in the patrol "You may go" she glanced at Seedspots who wore an amused grin "all of you" She turned back to Tiger-roar as the cats moved away. "Tell me what happened"

/

"Well if it isn't our newest apprentices, Icepaw and Graypaw"

Icefire looked up from his vole to see Fogtail swaggering toward him, his long tail waving in the air. "Ready for a training session?"

Bluestar hadn't been as mad as he thought. She punished Shrikekit, Sunnykit, and Rosekit with elder duties while she made Icefire and Graystripe do apprentice duties. Shrikekit seemed to enjoy talking with the elders and taking care of them, especially White-eye. Better than Smallear's favoritism over Rosekit.

Chestnutclaw had tried to contest his custody of their kits, stating that he was a danger and trouble for them. Considering what they and Graystripe had been caught doing, good will wasn't exactly on his side. Icefire was allowed in the nursery when deemed needed or at night any other time the kits were to be watched by Chestnutclaw or another royal. It made his blood boil that he was denied his kits but Bluestar did remind him that he didn't help his case, he was mad he agreed with her. =

Icefire and Graystripe took their time to finish their meals, then they had to follow Fogtail out of camp.

"Now Icepaw-"

"I'mma stop you right there before I slice your other ear" Icefire snapped before Fogtail could even start "Let's get this over with"

The day was cold and gray, just how he liked it especially when rain had began to fall but prey was hard to find. It was hard to pinpoint any movement for him and Fogtail wasn't making it easier, when he sneered in his ringing ears. Even if he lost his sight he could still make a good shot for Fogtail's ear or muzzle.

He ended up smacking Fogtail when he made him lose a dove.

He regretted nothing.

/

Icefire had a bad feeling in his belly. He was already ticked cause his nest in the apprentices den made him uncomfortable. Goosefeather just told him to grin and bear it. The apprentices had stared at him with wide eye, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Swiftpaw sneered at him, probably encouraged by Fogtail.

The good was that Bluestar had thought he and Graystripe learned their lesson. He was glad.

He wasn't glad when he found out he was stuck on a flood patrol with Tiger-roar, Chestnutclaw, and Fogtail. A recipe for disaster, or he thought but they seemed peaceful, it weirded him out.

The sun rose higher, and the sky turned to a deep blue as the four cats journeyed through the forest toward Fourtrees.

As he padded after Tiger-roar, Icefire was distracted by tempting movements in the undergrowth as prey scurried to and fro. After a while the deputy let them stop and hunt for themselves. He wasn't going to let Tiger-roar's good mood go to waste. he quickly caught a vole with a swift pounce.

Then they went on, Icefire's stomach was warm and full from the vole he had eaten. Then they reached the top of a slope and looked down toward the stream that crossed Thunderclan territory, separating them from Fourtrees. Tiger-roar let out a long, soft hiss, Chestnutclaw lashed his tail, and Fogtail yowled in dismay.

Icefire shared their exasperation. Usually the stream was shallow enough for cats to cross easily, keeping their paws dry by leaping from rock to rock. Now the water had spread into a glistening sheet in either side, while the current churned swiftly along the original course of the stream.

"Fancy crossing that?" Fogtail spat "I don't"

Without a word, Tiger-roar began padding upstream, following the edge of the floodwater toward the Thunderpath. The land sloped gently upward, and before long, Icefire could see when he narrowed his eyes the shining surface was broken by tussocks of grass and clumps of bracken poking above the water.

"This isn't as deep as when Leopardstorm last reported" Tiger-roar mewed "We try to cross here"

Icefire had doubts but knew if he said a word, he would be mocked for his kittypet roots. He quietly followed Tiger-roar, who was already wading into the flood. He couldn't help noticing that Fogtail's ears twitched nervously as he splashed in beside him. Chestnutclaw just brought waves as he tried to get to land, Icefire wasn't helping him in the slightest.

In front of him, the current was brown where it stirred up mud from the streambed. It was much too wide for a cat to leap, and the stepping-stones were completely submerged.

"Those damn Rivers were right" Tiger-roar growled

Whiteclaw and Morningriver had come to Thunderclan to warn them about the water levels but the Thunderclan wanted to see it for themselves.

"Come here! Look at this!"

Icefire splashed toward him. The deputy, with Fogtail and Chestnutclaw beside him, was standing at the edge of the stream. A branch was lodged in front of them, swept into place by the current so that it stretched from one bank to the other.

"Just what we need" Tiger-roar grunted in satisfaction

Icefire felt a shove "Icefire, check that it's safe, will you?" Chestnutclaw mewed

Icefire saw Goosefeather floating above the muddy water, the gray speckled tom said nothing. It was foreboding and Icefire knew it.

"Scared, kittypet?" Chestnutclaw taunted him.

"Of drowning, yes" he snapped at the brutish warrior "I don't see you eager to do it, so shut your trap before I do it for you" He turned back to the murky water. Gritting his teeth, he stepped onto the end of the branch. He would not let them, least of them Chestnutclaw taunt him and have the pleasure of reporting him.

Immediately it sagged under his paws, and he dug his claws in hard, fighting for balance. He could see brown water racing a mouse-length below, and for a few heartbeats he thought he would plunge straight into it.

Then he steadied himself. He began to move forward cautiously, pacing his paws in a straight line one after the other. The slender branch bounced under weight with every step. Twigs caught in his fur, threatening his balance, 'We'll never get to the gathering like this', Icefire thought.

Gradually he drew closer to the middle of the stream, where the current was strongest. The branch tapered until it was barley as thick as his tail, making it harder to find a pawhold. Pausing, Icefire measured the distance left; was he close enough to leap safely yet?

Then the branch lurched under him. Instinctively he gripped tighter with his claw. He heard Tiger-roar yowl, "Icefire! Get back!"

Icefire tried to double back, he sway precariously. Then the branch lurched again and suddenly it was free, racing along with the surging water. Icefire slipped side ways, and thought he heard Tiger-roar yowl once more as the waves closed over his head.

[rueitae]

Roommates in Disguise - Chapter 9

My last chapter! @fallen-angel-nightshade has the final chapter tomorrow!

Thank you so much to @whyamistillhungry for beta and @mybluelionlancylance for the outstanding art. You guys both really motivated us and we can’t thank you enough!

Read the chapter on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19901668/chapters/47478652

~~~~~

“I think I’d like to go on a date.”

The words ran through his head when he woke, when he showered, during breakfast, and as he sat at work twirling a pencil; the word document open on his computer remaining untouched.

“Are you working on the Founder’s Day Parade article?”

Lance sighed, calm delight filling his mind. “Yeah,” he answered dreamily. 

“Coran wants that on his desk today, you know.”

“It’ll be there,” Lance replied in his haze. He tapped the eraser on his keyboard. K. A. T. --

“... the press is under attack from the Green Starling.”

Lance hummed. I. E. “That’s nice.”

“She’s got Katie hostage.”

Lance dropped his pencil. Blood rushed to his head as he stood in a flurry. He’d promised to keep her safe! 

A hand with familiar fingerless gloves nabbed him by the arm. Warmth returned to his gut, quelling his icy powers - for now. There was no attack.

“What is going on with you?” Keith asked. “You’re acting even weirder than normal.”

Lance clenched his teeth and licked his parched lips. There was so much to it between his near breakthrough with Pidge and his relationship with Katie - how life was going right for once. “You wouldn’t understand,” he settled with. 

He grabbed his thermos and walked past Keith to the drinking fountain, not caring that their shoulders collided. 

“What do you really want?” Lance asked with a growl when Keith doesn’t leave him alone to fill his mug.

“Is that Katie Holt you’re thinking about?”

Unprompted jealousy filled his chest as he spun to face his rival intern. “What do you know about Katie?” he demanded. He gasped before his peer could respond, memory returning to him. Pointing a finger at Keith, he said, “You like her! I saw you watching her at Cafe Altea that day!”

Keith grit his teeth. “I was making sure Lotor didn’t take advantage of you - protecting you.” He sighed, frustration leaving his posture. “She’s been in the school paper - the Green Starling taking over her house was big news. I wrote the article.”

Lance bristled, something about the casualness in which Keith spoke of the incident rubbed him the wrong way. “Katie and I are going on date, if you must know.”

He couldn’t always get a surprised reaction out of Keith, so Lance relished in this one, grinning smugly as Keith gaped. “Um... congratulations. You’re… you two are okay with that?”

“Of course we are!” Lance exclaimed. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Because…” Keith stops himself, steeling his gaze. “Nothing.” 

And he began to walk away.

Lance had the worst feeling that he was missing something very important. While he and Keith butted heads often, Lance begrudgingly acknowledged he wasn’t a bad person by any stretch of the imagination. “W-wait! What do you mean?”

“Forget it, Lance! Just…” Keith turns around, an odd look of... sympathy on his face. “Just be careful, okay? I’ve been doing some Galra Corp stories and there’s some weird stuff going on. Stay away from them if you don’t want to get burned.”

Keith disappeared into the break room, leaving Lance standing dumbstruck. “What the quiznak?”

“They have you all fooled!”

~~~~~

All thoughts of Keith and their mysterious conversation was out of Lance’s mind by the time he left work that day. His heart thumped swiftly and there was nothing that could wipe the giddy smile off his face or quell the flutter in his chest - there was so much to do before tonight! 

Dinner would be candle-lit with spaghetti, meatballs, and garlic knots. Then an evening full of Killbot Melee and he’d tap it off with the biggest surprise of all; stargazing. 

There’s a beautiful high-end telescope in the closet of his bedroom, covered up with a sheet with dust on top of it. Lance doesn’t know when it was last used, but from the wear it looks as if it was well-loved. For weeks he’d been thinking about cleaning it off and putting it to use. It stirred up childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut. Using his powers to go fast was fun, but there was a nostalgic beauty to spacecraft; to pilot a machine to its full potential above the atmosphere and take in the majesty of space. 

Lance loved space. Katie’s eyes would light up whenever the stars wove into conversation. They could look at the details of the moon, make up their own constellations - talk about the great deeds of the heroes who they represented. 

He’d talk about the crafts and the missions; Katie would talk about orbits and black holes and the latest theory.

The genuine smile on her face and the light in her eyes… Lance could listen to her talk forever. 

And maybe, just maybe, if this worked out - and continued to work out, he dared to think - he would. 

Groceries first, loverboy.

Basket in hand he made his way through the aisles. It was nice to see the place cleaned up so quickly after he and Pidge trashed it in their fight. 

He found the fresh oregano and garlic against the newly built wall. The scent of wood behind the mortar was still fresh. An unpleasant knot filled his stomach; he still hadn’t come to any definite conclusions over his newest power - it was almost if… as if he had a berserk mode. 

Lance placed the items in his basket and walked away as quickly as he could. Later. He could worry about his own problems later. Katie came first today. What kind of boyfriend would he be if he couldn’t do that?

Grabbing ripe tomatoes on his way out of the produce section - because surely making the sauce from scratch would impress her, he’d have to thank Hunk for the recipe later - he strode over to the pasta aisle. Pausing with his hand over the traditional noodles, he spots the package further down - angel hair pasta. 

Lance grinned. That was far more romantic - he could think of at least ten flirtatious lines with simply the name of the pasta as a jumping point. 

Neatly and lovingly arranged bouquets were on display at the floral section. Lance selected a small one featuring a beautiful mix of a variety of flowers. 

Everything was going perfectly. 

~~~~~

There was a note waiting for him on the counter when he arrived home. He unloaded the ground beef from his bag as he read:

In and out for a school project. I’ve got laundry going - food at seven? Call my cell if I’m not upstairs by then. - Katie

As if on cue, the washer beeps to signal it finished with the current load. 

Perfect. The only thing that could ruin this night would be a visit from Pidge. Worry passed quickly. He’d had pretty good luck with Pdge leaving the city alone when he and Katie did things together. As long as he didn’t say it out loud and jinx himself, he saw no reason why the trend wouldn’t continue.

He opened the linen closet and squatted, using a discriminant eye to look for the table cloths. Fingering through a stack of them, a white one colored with red flowers caught his eye. The petals are large and sweeping, as if someone took a paintbrush and simply took a few strokes. The flowers with thin green stems seem to float on the cloth, like they’re raining down on him - on Katie. 

This is the one. 

Lance unfurled the cloth and with a flourish he let it land delicately on the dining room table. He ran his hand along the surface quickly, doing his best to straighten out the creases. 

Maybe he should tell her tonight, about being Icebound. He really should. They were good friends, of that Lance was confident. She deserved him to be upfront with her and he trusted she would keep his secret. 

He paused mid-rub of a particularly infuriating fold. A sickening feeling began to churn in his stomach.

Yet… when the thought crossed his mind, when he imagined what she might say in response to his confession, he couldn’t help but see a more insidious smirk on her face. In his mind it's a good, reasonable idea - dating wasn’t a time to keep secrets - but his gut… his gut screamed not to say anything about it. 

But his heart was tickled with the idea of having someone to share his hero exploits with. He liked the idea of it being Katie. They already talked about everything else, why not this?

Really, it would be easier to coordinate the search for her family this way. 

He continued his preparations. Plates, silverware, candles, napkins - paper towels, but he folded them nicely - and then with great care, the small bouquet at the center, are all arranged neatly on the table. 

Lance stepped lightly; this was fun. The anticipation of seeing Katie’s face at his over-the-top display was just one more thing to look forward to. 

His heart pounded and his cheeks warmed as he worked. He was genuinely looking forward to tonight. 

The laundry beeped done again. Lance rolled his eyes. Katie must be really wrapped up in her project. He dug his phone out of his pocket and sent her a quick text:

Laundry’s done. You called it, you got it. (I promise the reward is worth it *wink emoji*)

There was no need to start cooking for another hour or so, the food would get cold otherwise. Lance set the phone down on the counter. He grabbed the saucepan from the cabinets and the boiling pot for the noodles, setting them both near the stove. 

With all the materials he needed for cooking set out and ready, Lance moved on to what he hoped would be the perfect cap to the evening. If Katie was working so hard, she’d probably enjoy a nice bath. He’d prepare one for her, then let her soak away her worries before bed. She wouldn’t be able to refuse the gesture if the tub was already full with hot water and bubbles and scented candles. 

He couldn’t count the times he pined for a hot shower to ease his sore muscles - he missed hot water so much. 

Lance scrubbed and rinsed and scrubbed again before declaring the tub clean. He plugged in an air freshener and a beachy smell began to fill the air. The pink bottle full of bath bubble liquid was set on the lip of the tub, ready for later use. 

The living room got the full treatment - vacuuming, dusting, air freshener. He even polished the wooden end tables, giving the area a fresh pine scent. 

Lance stretched, arching his aching back. Just cooking was left. 

His phone flashed red from its spot on the counter. “What the…” It had never done that before that he could remember. Eyebrow raised, he paused his date preparation to investigate. 

It wasn’t coming from the screen. He had no messages of any kind, not even an acknowledgement from Katie of the text he sent to her (that was no surprise). He turned it around in his hands, searching, until he found the flash coming from the battery case. 

He flipped it open.

Immediately, a microbot scurried out of it - itself blinking red. Lance gasped and dropped the phone to the floor. His heart trembled with fear as he backed as far away from it as he could, eventually stopped by the back of the couch. 

The nanobot disappeared but Lance continued to shake. He slid down the back of the couch, giving in to weak knees. 

That was one of Pidge’s bots. He’d recognize the difference between her and Katie’s anywhere. 

Pidge really had been keeping tabs on him this whole time. Through his phone. 

A small part of him worried she knew. Why hadn’t she acted on it? Up until now he had no idea about the phone and she’d told him explicitly about monitoring the house. Surely she’d have said something, gloated, held his identity hostage over his head. 

Muscles relax and breathing became easier. Maybe she doesn’t know.

Maybe she does and was toying with him.

He couldn’t let her know that he knew that she was tracking him. 

Lance buried his face in his knees, letting out a frustrated groan. If he was going to make that breakthrough with Pidge he needed to do it soon. He was running out of time. Pidge was always one step ahead of him and soon… he wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop her, couldn’t do anything to protect others. 

He’d be a prisoner in his own mind, held hostage by her threats.

A problem for tomorrow’s Lance. Today’s Lance was saving the evening for Katie. 

It was time to look the part. 

With renewed determination, he stalked to his bedroom and threw open the closet door. His wardrobe had grown over the time he’d been here - but this created a new problem.

What should he wear?

Work clothes were out of the question. He wanted to feel like he could have fun. Lance removed the hanger of his Gameflux t-shirt. He smiled as quickly as he frowned as he put it back on the rack; Katie loved this one, but he wanted something a little nicer, something dressy-casual. 

Lance growled, teeth grinding. “Fine,” he said with a huff. “Compromise time. Saturday we are doing some serious shopping.”

His dark jeans are worn, one of the few pieces of clothing left over from before the apartment fire. The collared blue sweater was almost too stark of a contrast, but Katie wouldn’t care what he wore. This was for him. 

Lance adjusted the collar, looking himself over in the body-length mirror. For the first time since his family passed away, he winked and flashed a flirtatious smile at himself. It felt good. It felt right. 

It felt like himself. 

“You’re going to kill it today, Lance,” he told mirror-him. “You finally found someone in town who can stand your dumb, gorgeous face.” 

He meant it, but deep down, something uncomfortable rested in his gut. Lance took a deep breath. The microbot had set him on edge. Everything was going to be fine. 

To top it off, he spotted himself with cheaper cologne than he liked. After he became a junior reporter the first thing he’d get for himself would be the brand he liked. 

The buzzer beeped on the washing machine. Hadn’t Katie taken her things out yet? Well, she had said she was in and out. 

Tonight was for her. The least he could do was take care of laundry. It wasn’t like loading the dryer was hard. 

He trudged down the stairs, steps not as light as earlier. The pit of worry that Pidge knew his identity continued to eat away at him. With each stair, a sense of foreboding grew, as if he was walking into a trap. 

He walked past Katie’s workshop - the one she’d taken back from Pidge all those months ago. The chair he’d once been captive in was still there, but the laser and other villainous machines are gone. A shiver wound its way up his arms. Lance doesn’t mind the cold, but crossed his arms and rubbed them regardless. This chill felt different. 

The dryer was empty, the wash long done. Katie must be out. 

Lance sifted through the load, mostly Katie’s stuff, and threw it in the dryer. The mundane chore let him breathe, at ease with the familiarity. 

Until he grabbed it. 

Long and twisted tightly around the dispenser, it wasn’t a towel. Thick and dark he lifted it out, curious. It was longer than a towel, like a coat. Why would Katie need a coat in summer?

Green accents around the collar and cuffs made him freeze. He couldn’t breathe. 

“I hate Galra Corp for taking my family from me.”

“Ms. Berry was right for yelling at you for those heroics.”

“I know what it's like to be alone and no one deserves that. Even heroes.”

“Well, say... hypothetically, if someone wanted to steal a bunch of chemicals, when would the best time this week to do it?”

“Genius doesn’t allow for plans!”

“I had a chance to find my brother today - you ruined it!”

“I… have something to tell you, Lance. I haven’t been honest with you and you deserve to know.”

Katie was washing Pidge’s coat. 

Katie’s coat. 

Dread filled him as he dropped to his knees, mind broken considering everything in a new light. Katie was never in danger.  

He… never really escaped that day. 

A door opened. Tears blurred his vision, but he knew there was no visible door there in the wall. It only made his heart shatter even more as Katie walked out of the hidden room wearing Pidge’s goggles on her forehead. 

Her eyes grow the size of saucers. “Lance! What are you doing down here? I told you I’d get the laundry and --” 

She cut herself off when Lance stood and raised the coat to where she could see it. 

“Why?” he choked out. There was so much he wanted to ask, wanted to scream. He doesn’t trust himself to say anything more. 

He could see it now. The fear in her eyes when he destroyed the flash drive - he felt sick, he destroyed the key to finding her brother - it’s the same. All he could see now was Pidge’s expressions on Katie’s face.

Because they were the same person.

“I… I can explain, Lance,” she started. “I was going to tell you tonight, I swear.”

But he didn’t give her a chance, anger rose to a boiling point. Lance doesn’t care that it comes at odds with his ice powers, making him even more queasy, he’s mad and terrified. He’s been living with his arch nemesis and falling in love with her. 

“Is that why you wondered if we could have a proper date? So you could gloat?” The accusations come faster than he could think. “Was that part of the plan too? Get me to lower my guard first?” 

“I like all of you, Lance.”

Because quiznak he had been ready to do that.

Katie - Pidge - swallowed thickly. “No - not anymore. I --”

Lance let the coat drop to the floor. It lands with a heavy flop, cutting her off. “I trusted you,” he said, voice trembling. 

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Pidge said hastily. 

She took a step forward and he found himself taking a step back, tense. “You - you destroyed my apartment so that I had to live here.” He took another step back, resting a shaky hand on a table;

“I didn’t know the lab was there. I just tried to... it wasn’t a meth lab, it was--” She took a deep breath. “Look, Lance, you’re not in danger here. I promise.”

Something in his brain snaps. “How do I know you’re not lying like you have been this entire time?” he exploded. He clenched his fists, unable to look her way. “Was anything about… us, real?”

“Of course it was!” she said quickly, stepping forward again. Lance couldn’t help it, despite her words he backpedels a few steps towards the stairs. “I like you a lot, Lance. I treasured every moment, from the day we went to the arcade to all the nights we just hang out and goof off. I’ve never felt more like myself since my family disappeared.”

A tinge of empathy twisted in his heart, but the hurt was too overwhelming. “Even though you’ve been hiding who you are?” Lance accused like a hypocrite. 

His heart stopped as her eyes turned hard, glinting with danger - a familiar Pidge expression. “And see where that got me,” she said, gesturing around them. Her face softened. “Please, Lance, I’m so sorry. I just need a chance to explain.”

“Explain what you want from me?” he hissed. “I’ve been the perfect captive for you.”

“You’re not,” she said firmly. 

Her words do nothing to calm him. “So you’d let me just walk out of here, take my things and go?”

Pidge sucked in a breath. Her eyes shone, as if his words actually hurt her. “That’s - that’s not the best idea,” she said. “You’re in legitimate danger - you’re a lot safer here.”

“Oh am I?” Lance spit. “With your death ray? What’s more dangerous than you threatening to kill me?”

“Haxus is after you! He’s been reporting to Galra Corp on your every movement!” 

Lance rolled his eyes. He couldn’t do this anymore. Looking at her, remembering all the good times they’ve had in this house - each one like a million painful pinpricks on his heart - he doesn’t want to remember. He took a few deep breaths before saying, “I’m leaving.”

Pidge jogged forward, arm out to reach for him. “Lance. I’m serious.” 

He turned and climbed the first few stairs.

“You promised you’d help me find my family!”

Lance stopped. He had promised.

But that was before he knew she was Pidge. He couldn’t help her anymore. 

I’m sorry, Mama, he thought. He’d tried to listen, but this knowledge of betrayal, her long term plan...

A hand wraps around his forearm. “Please.”

Cool mist formed around his skin, concentrated where Pidge held him until she removed her hand. In its place, icy armor that quickly ran up his whole arm. He squeezed the banister with his other hand; why not reveal himself? It wasn’t as if it mattered anymore. 

“I’m sorry I destroyed the flash drive,” he said quietly. He owed her that much.

“I forgive you,” she said quickly - a little too quickly, as if she’d already had time to think over it. “I should have done this a lot sooner. If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be this close and --”

A knot twists in his stomach as he turned to face her. A mournful tone escaped his lips. “How long have you known?”

“... Since after the supermarket fight,” she said. There’s no lie in her voice, he believed her despite all of this. “I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

“I…” Tears threatened to overwhelm him, his chest tight.

“Please don’t go,” she begged. “They’re looking for you - I think they know. They’re looking for everyone who survived the accident.”

“Then let them find me,” he blurted out angrily. “At least they haven’t lied to me.” His legs move him up the stairs. He doesn’t stop. 

“Lance, stop!” 

He doesn’t. 

“They are lying to you! They aren’t after you for your benefit! Lance!” 

He opened the door to the ground level. 

“House! Initiate Protocol Six!”

Lance ran. He just wanted to sit down and cry. Instead, he shot ice shards into small drones that launch sticky webbing at his feet and all over his body. He shattered the large mechanical arms that attempted to restrain him. So much for being free to go.

Even when he managed to exit the house he kept running. He’d lost a home before, but this hurt a thousand times more than losing the apartment. 

He’d lost a friend. He’d trusted her and she’d used him. How badly he wanted to believe her apology. That’s what he’d wanted from Pidge wasn’t it? An apology and understanding? To work with her instead of against her? To bring out the good heart beneath?

“No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”

But what she’d done to him hurt far more than any physical wound she’d ever inflicted upon him. He wasn’t ready to forgive yet. He wasn’t sure he could. 

Lance was unsure for how long he ran, or how far from the house he’d ended up. He only knew how tired he was as he collapsed into an alleyway. After regaining his strength he could go… somewhere… Ms. Berry had said he was welcome at her niece’s home. Perhaps he’d go there.

The air was the perfect temperature, which meant it was chilly for everyone else. A raindrop fell on his nose.

It was just one of those times the weather was going to reflect his mood. “Great, as if things couldn’t get any worse,” he groaned, sniffing deeply.

He wanted things to go back to the way they were; no powers, no super villains, his family still alive.

He missed his mom so much. 

Something pricked him in the back of the neck, perking his senses. It was too big to be a bug. Lance reached around to grab it - and came away with a dart in his hand.

His heart leapt into his throat and he swallowed deeply, closing his eyes in despair. Had Pidge followed him so quickly? He slumped against the wall of the alleyway. Maybe that wasn’t so bad; she’d find him no matter where he went. He only wished he had more time to compose himself. He wasn’t ready to face her again so soon.

Sleep suddenly seemed like an amazing idea. His body doesn’t protest.

~~~~~

Unfamiliar machinery hummed loudly, consistently, rousing Lance to wake. 

The floor he lay on was comfortably cool, but could stand to use some cushioning. His eyes fluttered open to a curved grey ceiling - glass in his peripheral vision. Mind groggy, he groaned and flipped over to lay on his side. He faced a large window, floor to ceiling. He expected to see Pidge, dressed as Katie - resigned in his fear she’d show her villainous hand despite her earlier apologies.

On the other side - was not Pidge’s lab. 

Lance scrambled to sit up, heart racing in panic. He was in some sort of containment, wide enough he could lay down and stretch his arms and legs. 

There was no discernible door.

Past the glass, a laboratory. Tables are full of scientific equipment he doesn’t recognize, but he knew the grey and magenta tinted walls - though he hadn’t seen them since…

Since the fateful day he was chosen to deliver lunch to an employee at Galra Corp. The day the lab exploded as he was just about to walk out the door. The day he got his powers. 

Why was he here?

The door to the lab opened. First to enter was Haxus, who threw him an evil grin before holding the door open respectfully for a scientist, followed by Sendak, the chief security officer. 

A sense of wrongness intensified in his gut. 

“Hey!” he yelled, standing and pounding a fist against the glass. “Let me out of here! I’m one of the good guys!”

The door slammed shut behind Sendak with a troubling sense of finality. 

The scientist approached, grabbing a tablet off a table and powering it up. “Mr. McClain, it’s good to finally meet you face to face. You’re a rather difficult man to find.”

She sounded more like a James Bond villain than the bright smiles and cheerful disposition Galra scientists were portrayed having on the television commercials. 

Confusion set in. “I don’t understand,” he said. “I’m not hiding --”

Bright lights turn on inside the chamber, glowing reds and oranges. The temperature rose and Lance dropped to the floor - they’re heat lamps. It became hotter by the second and he couldn’t breathe --

“Subject is severely weakened to heat. Eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit brings him to his knees, ninety causes difficulty of breath,” the scientist said calmly. “Reducing temperature to sixty degrees.”

Lance collapsed as the heat lamps clicked off and blessedly cool mist rushed over his body. 

“I am Honerva,” the scientist told him. “I will be leading the study of how the Oriande serum has affected your body.”

“I think they know!”

Lance rose to his hands and knees, mind still spinning from the expose to the heat - heat someone with his age and health should have been able to handle with no problem, but rendered him helpless. 

“I - I’ve done nothing but help you!” he cried. “I’ve tried to protect your buildings and employees!”

“And your help is very much appreciated,” Honerva told him coolly, not even bothering to look up from her tablet. 

Lance looked past her, where Haxus leaned against the door, a smug smile on his face - as if he were enjoying watching Lance suffer  - and he probably was - and as if there was more of a show to come.  

“We have been searching very hard for your civilian identity,” Honerva continued. “Takashi Shirogane was the only employee known to be in the vicinity at the time of explosion, however, there are three vigilantes running around the city with powers. You can imagine our perplexion.”

Flame Dude and Sky Guy, Lance realized quickly. PhoenixFire and Arashi, their actual hero names flashed across his memory. One of them was Shiro (no way he was Flame Dude, Shiro was too awesome to be annoying like that). This is why neither of them had helped him in defending the city. His stomach churned uncomfortably. They knew Galra Corp was after them - Shiro had known they were in danger.

Why hadn’t they ever told him?

“We will find the other two in time. For now, it gives me the opportunity to focus on you.”

Lance hadn’t felt truly cold in ages, but her tone sent a chill down his spine. 

“I’m - I’m not a lab rat!” he protested. If that first test was any indication, the rats probably received better care. 

He’d have been better off with Pidge. Pidge who had tried to warn him - tried to protect him - and he hadn’t been able to see past his broken heart and anger to consider the sincerity in her words. 

He’d screwed up big time and was paying the price.

Honerva smiled at him, unkindly. “Thanks to your convenient survival, I will eventually re-engineer the correct combination of chemicals that resulted in your reception of ice powers.” 

“Why are you doing this?” he asked desperately. None of this made sense! “I’ve never done anything to do guys!”

Haxus snorted gleefully from his spot by the wall. “Except for having a hero complex.”

“Silence,” Sendak growled, banging his gigantic metal arm against the wall. The sound reverberated throughout the room, the force making his prison wobble. Haxus stood at attention.

Honerva sighed, perturbed. “Your services in preventing Ms. Holt from discovering this place will be taken into account.” She stepped up to the glass wall, towering over Lance as his heart raced despite resting on the floor. She placed a palm gently on the glass. “Do not be afraid,” she told him. “Because of you, President Zarkon will soon have powers of his own.”

“Wait,” Lance said. He doesn’t like the picture this new information painted. He’s sick to his stomach. “Why does President Zarkon want superpowers? He’s already the richest person in the city.”

Honerva tched. “Not everyone can be bought with wealth, Mr. McClain. If President Zarkon is to rule the world, he must have the ability to act.”

Lance chuckled. This situation was far from funny, he knew that; he could very well die. 

Honerva frowned. “A curious response.” She keyed in the information to her tablet. “Hysteria may be a possible side effect of the current Oriande Serum.”

He snorted and doubled over in laughter. 

Sendak hit the chamber, sending it rocking. “What’s so funny, brat?”

Lance laughed, eyes full of tears. “You guys,” he said, “are hilarious.”

The way they looked at each other in confusion made it even funnier. 

“Here I thought you were the good guys,” Lance explained through his laughter. “And I thought Pidge was the bad guy, but it's the opposite,” he howled, crossing his arms pointing left with his right hand and right with his left. 

“I got totally duped,” he threw his hands in the air, “and now it’s like a legit superhero movie and I am in serious trouble.”

He couldn’t stop laughing. This kind of stuff only happened in fiction and here he was smack dab in the middle of a conspiracy and he was definitely going to die if he couldn’t escape. 

Honerva let loose a deep sigh. “Sendak, begin the extraction procedure. I want a sample to work with before I run more tests on the boy.”

“Of course.”

A split second later Lance was hit with a prick that felt an awful lot like the tranquilizer earlier. 

Tears of laughter turned into tears of sorrow. Pidge had been right; she’d changed without him realizing and he shut her out of his life because he let fear and anger consume him.

No one was coming for him. 

[pandoras-proxy]

I'm also obsessed with the whole Strahd/Tatyana dynamic (I have an Insta account dedicated to it - @barovia_bites) Looking forward to seeing more from you!! You are an awesome artist and story teller :)

Thanks so much! It’s definitely something I’ve been enjoying a lot in our campaign. :) I think I mentioned it in a previous post, but the whole Strahd/Iona arc started with a letter she wrote to the Lord himself. I really loved this exchange, so I figured I’d share! 

Iona’s 1st letter

I write this letter not knowing where to begin. How did we meet? What were we to each other? How did I hurt you? I have more questions than there are stars in the sky.

I suppose I’ll begin with a confession.

I said I didn’t know you, but in truth, there was a whisper of a memory… but only a whisper. It may as well have been obscured by the mists that brought me here. I sense I have a history here, but there are so many things I do not understand. Help me understand.

Maybe then, I could understand the love you say we had or this curse you say I brought… Maybe then, we could free you of this cycle of suffering you are trapped in, together.

I don’t know where I’ll be by the time this reaches you but something tells me that if you want me to receive a reply, I will. Given how contentious our first meeting was (with words of anger from you and bravado from myself), I ask that you remember the protection I am under.

[There is a large space between these words and the next, and a small drop of ink, as if Iona’s quill hovered for a long time in search of words.]

Was I musically inclined when you knew me? In this lifetime, I find solace in music so I’ll leave you with the beginnings of a song:

I know not if fate would have us live as one

Or if by love’s blind chance we’ve been bound

You flee my dream come the morning

Your heart, its passion displaced

By anger ever growing, hardening into stone

The wish I whispered, when it all began

Did it forge a love you might never have found?

[Beside the words are music notations]

Iona

Strahd’s 1st letter

My Dearest Iona,

There is so much I long to share. So much, that I too find it difficult to determine an adequate place to begin. We have had so many beginnings you and I, and each one has been lost in the darkness of the past. But perhaps I shall start with the first.

A long time ago, my father had called upon me to serve in his wars. He called upon my sense of honor. He called upon my sense of duty. And, finally, he called upon my years. I gave him victory, and for that he took my youth. Time is such a precious thing. You cannot own it. You cannot keep it. You can only spend it. And, once you have, it is forever lost.

Following the triumph of our kingdom, I sent for my family, long unseated from their ancient throne, to settle with me in Castle Ravenloft. They came with a younger brother of mine, Sergei. He was young and handsome, and I hated him for both. But mostly, I hated him for what he brought with him. You.

From the moment I first looked into your eyes the rest of the world vanished. In you I saw everything that I had yearned for and lost. Youth. Kindness. I longed for you to be mine. But, alas, your heart went to Sergei. “Brother,” you called me. Yet while that word spilled from your crimson lips, I knew its true meaning. “Elder,” “Old-one.”

What my father had taken from me, he had left to my brother.

Darkness overtook me. I would find a way to preserve what youth I had left, no matter the cost. Perhaps then, I could rightfully take what should have been mine. I made a pact with death, which I signed with blood. But in the end, it did not matter. You hated me for what I had done. For the sacrifices I made in your name!

You threw yourself from the waterfall, and thus our first beginning came to an end. But I could not let it be the last. I darkened the skies and shrouded the land to keep you here with me. I would endlessly traverse time itself to find you again. I stand at its harbor, scanning the horizon, and through its waves I can see moments as slow and transparent as glass. And you, forever on the other side, your hair blazing like the rising sun. I tremble in your radiance. All other desires, hopes, and aspirations have been banished by its rays, until there is you. Only you.

You ask me if you have always been gifted with music? Yes. But to me your greatest work was simply your presence. It has been the symphony of my heart, and the dirge of my soul.

Strahd

Iona’s 2nd letter

I learned about Ireena today. She was one of our many lost beginnings, wasn’t she? I wonder how many times you’ve found me as you stood vigil over your oceans of time. It sounds… so lonely.

Has tragedy truly followed all of our meetings?

I don’t know how much of my life you’ve seen, if any, but I have not given my heart to another. The thought is terrifying. Love has only ever destroyed those around me and made them suffer. As it has made you suffer. All that you’ve gone through, the pain, the sacrifice, this cycle of torment, can you honestly say it’s been worth it?

And yet, even as I write this, I realize our paths aren’t so different. Rage and despair have lead me to a pact of my own, as you must know. I don’t care its price so long as the violence in my heart is reconciled.

Will you help me or will you hinder me in the end, I wonder?

I travel now, my destination unknown. This world of yours is a dark place and I sense its menace around me, like the eyes of a predator upon my skin. Tell me, what will I face? If I ever need aid, is it the Vistani I can trust? How can I show that you and I are connected?

As ever, I am full of questions but perhaps you understand my caution. Already this beginning of ours was nearly ended.

You’ve told me about yourself and about us and for that I thank you. Is it strange that I look forward to your next letter? That I’ll watch the night skies and think of you when I see the mists?

The first song isn’t ready for an end, so I will leave you with this one instead:

Sun sets, beloved one

Time to dream. Your mind journeys,

But I will hold you here.

Where will you go, beloved one,

Lost to me in time?

Seek truth in a forgotten land,

Deep within your heart.

Wherever you shall go, beloved one,

Follow my voice-

I will call you home.

I will call you home.

[Music notations are beside the words]

You’ve called me home again.

Iona

Strahd’s 2nd Letter

Dearest Iona,

Tatyana was the first, and Ireena the last. Until you. And through the years, there have been many more.When you threw yourself from the cataract, I knew I must keep you here with me. I drew upon the darkness and formed the ashen mists that envelope this land. They are a prison, which binds souls to this valley and keeps them here with me. Time and time again, you would be born. Time and time again you would choose death over my embrace.

When Ireena passed, I waited again - patiently like the tide. But you did not return. Despite all possibility, you had escaped. I scoured the world from my castle. Searching. Until there was a whisper… but only a whisper. And I followed, just as the moon follows the sun across the horizon.

No, Iona, I cannot say that love has been worth torment. It has never brought me happiness. The fires of hell could burn for all eternity and it would never equal what I feel for you in minute of the night. Yet appraising its value is futile. If only I could cast it into flame and sear it from my heart, I would. But, in my endless vigil, I have found the most horrifying truth: Love never dies.

Join me, here in Castle Ravenloft and bring an end to this curse you have placed upon me. Until then and always, I too shall watch the night sky and think of you.

Strahd

Iona’s 3rd letter

[Some context: This letter is sent after Iona leaves Ravenloft against Strahd’s wishes. She does it reluctantly but with the belief it must be done to pursue her goals.]

I know you will be angry. Maybe you will never forgive this perceived betrayal. But please know that I did not do it to spurn you or to hurt you. What I said before was the truth; when I have completed what I must do, when the connection between the Feywild and the Material Plane has been severed, I will stay with you. Whether you try to stop me or help me from now on, I will come back to you. I will walk to your castle gates and I will give you everything that I am.

Until then, I beg for your understanding and for your forgiveness.

I hope you will write back. Though I’ve only known you a short time, there’s already a hollow ache in my chest at the thought of your silence. If you write, will you tell me one of your happier memories? Before the curse. Before Tatyana. I want to you know you. Not the Lord. Not the Vampire. But the man. I want to open my heart to you.

I’ll share a memory of my own.

When I was a young girl, I was rather mischievous. I would escape my caretakers often and lose myself in the gardens of the Unseelie court. There I had such adventures. I would weave myself a crown of black hellebore and nightshade and carefully make dolls out of twigs and grass. In my halls of hedgerow, I presided over a kingdom of leaves and flowers.

In it, I would slay dragons and capture fell beasts, all of which were in truth the resident sprites of the garden. Whether it was the honey I used to entice them or simply the amusement at seeing a Fey Lord’s daughter prance about with flowers in her hair and dirt on her knees, they played along in a spectacular fashion.

I had death-defying duels with willow switches. I embarked on quests to find treasures of seed and stone hidden for me throughout the garden. I held court and danced beneath faerie light.

Despite its darkness and the pain it caused me, some of my happiest memories were in the Feywild. I hope I can be the light in your darkness.

I left you my lute in the gardens by the cliff. It’s the last thing I had of my mother. In its place, I will cherish the memory of your lips and the sliver of your heart I carry in my possession.

Now and always, I am yours.

Iona

[transvavsquad]

title: infinity times infinity pairing: freewood, jerevin, jeremwood, jerevinwood au: skyfactory warnings: temporary character death summary: The darkness was painful, some had said, and without a torch to guide you and to warm you, then you would surely be torn apart by it. Some thought it was victory‒ the god of Night had won in his battle, and in celebration was wiping out the weak. Others, like Jeremy, thought it was sadness, or anger. The night god had lost his love, and the people had lost their light. The sun was gone. The Solar one had been taken.

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chapter 8: the day

The next few days were slow, but a comfort to his health and his mindset.

Jeremy spent some time in Michael’s forest, glad to be beneath the trees while light filtered through their canopy. He’d known bits and pieces of botany and found it an easy task to point out the natural magic flowers that grew at the garden’s borders. In return, Michael showed him the portal he’d been lead to by the faeries, and explained their interest in his masks and cloth. Jeremy appreciated his company the most‒ it wasn’t that Jack and Geoff weren’t nice to be around, it was simply that conversations with them were so often about the state of his ascension, and his godhood, and the magic he didn’t seem to use.

Jack had caught him in the daytime, staring at the altar in the corner of the gardens.

“It scares us,” Jack had said, but gestured towards the knife at Jeremy’s belt. “Because we’re not meant for it. The way you look at it though? The way it calls? That’s yours, kid, all yours. Sometimes what we’re for is terrifying.”

Jeremy knew.

He knew the way the altar looked was threatening, and dark‒ because his magic was threatening and dark. To use the blood of another for the purpose of something selfish wasn’t a good thing, but Jeremy had been trained to do that. Had been raised to do that. Had lost his best friend to it. Had saved a god with it.

Behind him, Jack turned to where another dragon egg was cracking open violently.

“Turning mortals into gods is not an easy thing, I think.”

At night, he sat with ravens on the rooftop, and spoke to the moon while he drank orange nightshade tea, and watched the altar from the corner of his eye, how it shone unnaturally in the stars.

Hesitantly, he left blood in the basin before he went back to the cabin to sleep.

The next morning, the blood remained. A raven sat at the fencepost of the bridge to the altar, a pendant in it’s claws.

Geoff had built a house at the edge of his chicken coop, and Jack lived in a tent where the dragons were being raised. Michael had his treehouse in the forest, and quietly admitted to Jeremy one day that Lindsay was coming soon too. Jeremy had laughed, and looked out to the altar.

Behind it, there was just enough room for the entrance to a bunker.

Time passed, as it was meant to.

The amount of blood in the basin grew, and shrank, accordingly. If the others noticed, they said nothing, and Jeremy continued along, the runes in his staff stronger now, the dagger at his belt satisfied for once.

The bunker behind the altar had a bed and healing supplies, and a small stone with the initials M.B. engraved sitting next to a pendant with a red gem, still glowing despite the cracks. Someday, Jeremy thought, he’ll do it right.

He got bold enough to catch a few of the monsters that roam the untouched sections of Michael’s forest, and made a second part to the bunker that’s directly beneath the altar. It drained them of their energy, and Jeremy was only sorry for the people they used to be for a small time.

Geoff tended to his chickens, and offered Jeremy the iron and copper he needed‒ supplements, building supplies. He steered clear of the altar‒ they all did, of course‒ but he offered Jeremy his company anyways. The trips Geoff took are long, and Jeremy quietly understood the need to be in the world again.

Michael still asked for help with botany, especially when Lindsay finally came. She brought the strays, and a smile bright as a flame, and hair the same color, and a shine of magic that Jeremy recognized.

Michael grumbled about it goodnaturedly. His wife was, of course, a goddess of pure energy. Of chaos and of joy and the simplicity of fun.

Gavin and Lindsay really would get along well, Jeremy thought as he tied a shining flower to the fencepost nearest the cabin. Ryan and Michael might too.

But naturally, they weren’t here.

Jeremy thought about what it might be like if they were. What it must have been like in Etherium, right now, the two of them together and yet alone, as they always had been.

He drew blood for the altar and continued to work, and wondered if it was okay to wait for them to come back.

There was a stray Jeremy had taken a liking to, that had taken a liking to him as well.

His name was Booker, and he slept on the bed in the bunker, and sat far enough away from the altar to be affected by it when Jeremy was using its power. He was a smart kitten, if not lazy as all cats tended to be, appreciating the sunlight more than the rest of them at the doorstep of the old cabin.

Booker liked to curl on Jeremy’s chest where the pendant lay and purr in the night, kneading at the blankets and rubbing against his cheek. He was only affectionate with Jeremy, really, and that was fine with Geoff, who trusted neither the new strays nor the dragons near his chicken coops and was starting to make his trips longer than before, out to a little alcove away from the rest of them.

Jeremy had been working on spells- for Matt, and for other members of the academy that had fallen to long set plans of the magistrates there. And at some point, the day he finished his plans, he turned towards the cabin to get the gem and pendant, and saw someone sitting on the step, Booker curled happily in their lap.

“Oh my god,” he whispered. A second figure was knelt next to the first, and Jeremy felt his heart stop, wiping at his eyes. “You motherfuckers.”

Both of them looked to him with smiles, and Jeremy made an angry noise that had no real anger behind it.

“Hi again, love. I’m so sorry it’s been so long.”

Gavin’s tone was achingly sincere, and Jeremy felt everything drain from him, if only to be filled again with relief and hope, tangible at his fingertips‒ he felt like he was glowing, too. Ryan stood and took Jeremy’s hand in his with a small smile. “We wanted to visit before but... there are rules to this sort of thing, you know?”

“I guess,” he mumbled. He didn’t know, actually, but he didn’t mind not knowing. “I just thought you...”

There was a long silence after he trailed off, and then Gavin seemed to understand. “Oh, Jeremy...”

“Never,” Ryan swore. “You saved my life by saving his. We love you, Jeremy.”

Jeremy flushed a bright red and pushed forward to hide in Ryan’s chest‒ Gavin started laughing and stood, being careful with Booker as he set him down and pressed against Jeremy’s back. “From the day we met, you’ve done nothing but protect me despite barely knowing me‒ of course we love you.”

“We want you to come with us,” Ryan whispered, pushing Jeremy away to tilt his head up. “But I think you have something else to do, first?”

Jeremy sighed. “In a second,” he murmured. “Allow me this.”

“Always,” Gavin said quietly behind him. “For you, always.”

Michael lead them all past the altar, deeper into the forest, just beyond the barrier of the garden.

“What Jack’s done won’t allow you to do what you need there,” he explained, smiling grimly. “Be careful doing it, because whatever it summons won’t be contained by anything but you.”

“I know what I’m taking,” Jeremy said with a tight grimace. “He shouldn’t attack, but...”

“He won’t,” Gavin piped up beside him. “I know he won’t.”

In full glory, he looked radiant, as he should have been. His eyes were once again aglow, and his skin had returned to it’s warm tone, his hair made of pure gold and shining as bright as the rest of him. Instead of the robes Jeremy had met him in, he wore a loose white shirt with a green vest, and tan pants, all with golden highlights and adorations, runes written in thread in the cuffs and pockets. He looked calmer, and loose‒ a god of summer instead of sun, and it gave Jeremy a feeling of freedom and playful joy every time he looked over.

Ryan, on the other hand, looked relatively the same‒ his cape was now again a soft white-blue, untouched by the midnight, his hair a softer gold than Gavin’s, touched by moonlight to be a gentler, not as bright shade. His eyes were no longer storming, and he smiled often, hovering close to his lover’s side, like something would take him from him again in an instant.

Before they had left the cabin, Ryan had taken Gavin aside and pulled something from beneath his cloak‒ Gavin hadn’t said a word as his scarf was wrapped around him once more, just over the pale scar left on his neck. There was something about it that made Jeremy look away, with the feeling of intrusion on something incredibly private, but not before he saw Gavin reach up to Ryan’s face with a soft, sorry look.

As he had turned away, though, Gavin had tugged him back, smiling to him as well, before pulling away from Ryan and taking something from his pocket.

“Close your eyes,” he’d said, and when Jeremy had, he’d felt Gavin move closer and secure something around his neck.

Now, as Gavin smiled as him reassuringly, he reached up to his chest and touched the pendant, toying with the gold between his fingers. Michael gave his shoulder a hearty pat and a two fingered wave.

“Do what you gotta do,” he said, and the botanist disappeared into the trees again, little faeries following him as the flowers dimmed.

This part of the forest was emptied out of trees, a large flat circle of rocks and grass left alone. Jeremy picked up a few stones from the ground and laid them out in a small pattern‒ Gavin and Ryan watched from the side, smiling and leaning into each other. On each stone, Jeremy left a small amount of blood, a mix of his own and a vial he’d taken from the cellar at the mage school.

In the middle, he left a small ruby and an old skull.

“It may not work,” Ryan said quietly, but over the roar of his heartbeat, everything seemed silent and amplified all at once. “It usually never does, the first time‒ then again, though, it’s not exactly the first time, is it?”

Gavin hit Ryan’s chest and hissed, but Jeremy only gave a quiet laugh.

“If it doesn’t work,” he said, “I keep going. He deserves my best. He deserves a lot.”

No one answered him, but he took a deep breath and started the incantation anyways, letting his dagger blade draw across his palm. The ruby glowed as he continued, brighter and brighter by the second, by the word‒ the skull was lifted by the magic, and a form began to take shape, and Jeremy felt very, very tired, very quickly.

Before the soul was fully returned, Jeremy stumbled, and everything crashed to the ground again. He was caught by the gods, who looked down at him worriedly, but he only smiled.

“I can do it,” he whispered, and Ryan huffed when Gavin giggled. “I can do it‒ I need more time, and more energy, but I can. I can get him back.”

“I told you,” Ryan said, pulling him to his feet. “You’re going to be incredible.”

“And Matt would agree,” Gavin murmured, and Jeremy picked up the ruby and held it tight.

He took them to the peak of the mountain that night.

At the top, the garden was no longer visible unless one was to look straight down off the sheer edge of the cliff, but the view wasn’t lacking. The forest was spread across the hills like a blanket, and just beyond it laid the wasteland and grass fields, a silver sea-like horizon in the moonlight. Nestled among the trees was the trio of temples, glowing like a small beacon in the shaded leaves, but that wasn’t what he brought them to see.

Just on the cliff’s edge sat an overgrown weeping willow, it’s roots curled around the rocks and grass, deeply ingrained into the mountaintop, flowers blooming in the heavy branches, and when he parted the curtain of leaves, they saw. In the shadows, lit by the fireflies, they saw a small altar made of white stone, cracked and worn, overgrown with vines and flora, etchings and place in the world long forgotten.

Jeremy closed the branches again, and the gods looked at him in gentle confusion. He sat, resting against one of the larger roots, and gestured upwards, where the stars seemed to dissolve and multiply, streaks of faint color coating across them.

“I don’t know whose it is,” he said quietly, like speaking any louder would disturb the sky. “But I’d like to think it was theirs, once.”

Gavin sat to his right side and curled against him, humming his agreement. “They were known, once,” he murmured. “But the stars didn’t require any worship. Just for their stories to be heard was enough. Eternity was... always like that, even when I barely knew them. Everywhere and nowhere, and that was just fine.”

“Could you have been like that?”

“Oh, yes,” Gavin said, as Ryan sat to Jeremy’s left. “But I preferred to watch, and know that I was doing right by the world I was made for. In any case, I’ve ended up right where I need to be.”

“And the stars have quite the tale to tell now, I should think,” Ryan whispered, pressing a kiss to Jeremy’s head. “And we have plenty to show you‒ and the others‒ in the meantime.”

Jack’s dragons chitter from far below, and Jeremy feels both Ryan and Gavin curl closer to him as the three of them watch the stars put on their performance, writing the tale into infinity in the constellations.

end

[darkmccns]

( i haven’t even done his theme yet but i was just so excited to write joon’s intro that i had to do this before anything else !! )

hello ! i’m beeba, 19, in pst !! it’s lovely to be back, and i’ve brought with me a new, debatable-if-improved version of my baby boy yoojoon. things have gotten a bit darker and twistier with him this go-around but i can assure you that somewhere deep.....deep........deepdeepdeep down he’s still a soft boy. HENNYWAYS ! under the cut you will find a bio, headcanons, and wanted connections !! 

give this a like if you’re interested in plotting uwu. i’ll hit you up in the dm’s, or you can add me on discord @ namjoon’s “brrrrrrt” in cypher 4#2323

☾*✧･ﾟ:*「 kim seokjin. cismale. he/him. 」did you know that there’s a wizard in haneul known as moon yoojoon? they have been living here for the past  eleven years and is a strategist for the hyeon mu. they are currently twenty seven and was a student at crocus institute of higher magic in the house nightshade. i heard that they are known to be unyielding, but worry not ! i heard they are also very selfless too. remember to stay out of trouble, the ju jak are lurking around every corner !

( tw for familial death, alcoholism, abuse, violence, murder, and gang activity )

BIO: 

yoojoon was the youngest of four boys born ( accidentally ) to moon hojoon and moon jisoo, in the small town of punggi. 

his mother was a tarot card reader/fortune teller who worked out of their home and his father a retired duellist for the hyeon mu. they lived off of his mother’s meager income and his father’s military pension that the hyeon mu provided since he was honourably discharged after a combat incident that left him traumatized.

his birth was considered a hindrance to his father more than anything else. another mouth to feed with the little they had. 

hojoon was a very heavy drinker, using it as a coping mechanism to deal w/ his trauma. he often took his anger out on his sons and wife --- rarely laying a hand on them, but often yelling so loudly the house would shake.

yoojoon had a very close relationship with his mother and his eldest brother saejoon who was twelve years his senior. his two middle brothers mostly brushed him off out of fear of their father.

he didn’t begin showing signs of magic until he was five, and his mother was worried for the first few years that he was a squib, due to all his brothers showing signs of magic in infancy. 

the first thing yoojoon ever did magic-wise was make a bush of azaleas in their back garden bloom out of season. his entire family celebrated his feat that night, even his father.

as he grew older and began to attend school, he decided he wanted to be a duellist like his father was. he did well in all his classes in the hopes that when the time came he could move to seoul and attend crocus to receive proper training

was a very happy, bouncy little kid with a love for flowers. could most often be found out in the garden with his mother as she tended to the seasonal blooms. 

had a knack for potion making from an early age. his mother always told him that he should pursue a career in potion making but he adamantly refused because he wanted a manly job. 

when yoojoon was ten, saejoon left punggi for seoul, with plans of joining a vigilante resistance group disassociated from the hyeon mu. they considered themselves freedom fighters who sought to bring an end to the ongoing war between the magi and the ju jak through methods such as peaceful protests and attempts at reconciliation. 

their father was more than displeased. he told his eldest son that if he did leave he would never be welcomed back, but he left anyways with the promise of writing to yoojoon as often as he could about his “ adventures in the big city. ”

tensions in their household only rose after his brother left. his father drank more, his mother threw herself into her work. his two remaining brothers left for school, leaving him alone to handle his parents. 

saejoon never ended up writing him, and yoojoon began to resent him for leaving.

at fourteen, yoojoon received new that his brother had died at the hands of the ju jak --- “ another tragic casualty of war ” as the letter stated.

the two years in between his brother’s death and him starting at crocus are kind of a blur for him. lots of heated arguments with his father over the nature of saejoon’s death that would turn into physical altercations, nights spent sobbing silently in saejoon’s empty bedroom. he was a whole ass mess, with good reason, and acted accordingly.

when he was sixteen he finally moved to seoul, having come to terms as best he could with saejoon’s death. he realized he couldn’t put his life on hold to continue mourning, and that that was not what his brother would have wanted for him.

he was put in nightshade upon arriving at crocus, and despite words of encouragement from his professors to go into potion making he stayed firmly on track towards becoming a duelist. he was now more determined than ever --- hellbent on avenging his brother’s death and taking the ju jak down one by one.

a year into his education he was approached by a group of boys who were apart of the same vigilante group his brother had been in, called the faceless ones. wanting to follow in his footsteps and aide the war effort, yoojoon joined.

attending school falls second to attending group meetings in a grungy warehouse downtown. it seems innocent enough at first --- passing a bottle of soju around a fire, sharing stories of the ones lost to the ju jak. but as time goes on and tensions between magi and humans grow further, things become more serious.

the boys don masks with magi emblazoned on the front to cover their faces as they wreak havoc in the human-populated areas of the city. they lights cars on fire, vandalize businesses, and some go as far as attacking innocent people --- ju jak or not. it takes some impressive mental gymnastics on yoojoon’s part to justify the actions of his peers, but he manages when he’s got enough liquor in his system. 

his knack for potions makes him the ideal candidate for making simple weaponry --- pipe bombs, pouches full of noxious herbs, tinctures that when applied to the skin melt it clean off the bone. but working behind the scenes wasn’t what he joined to do. he joined to kill ju jak.

and so he does. indirectly at first --- more of a mastermind than an executioner --- but growing more bold as time goes on. the first time he takes a life with his own hands he’s just turned seventeen, and he hates the rush it gives him.

he attends school during the day and uses the skills he learns to kill by night. he is methodical, unlike the others, careful. he plans his attacks for days before carrying them out, and enacts his plans with professional ease. he becomes well known to ju jak and hyeon mu alike --- and both groups want him caught.

however, one poorly executed plan leads to him falling into the hands of the hyeon mu, and they give him a choice. he’s either to join them as a duelist --- because his talents, though being used poorly, cannot simply be thrown away --- or rot in prison for murder.

it’s an easy choice, and when he’s just shy of eighteen he’s officially a member of the hyeon mu.

as far as rookie duelists go, he’s considered one of the most talented. his prior experience ( though they don’t like to admit it ) gives him a leg up on the others his age, and he finds himself climbing through the ranks quickly. 

he figures if he can’t change the way the magi deal with ju jak as part of a rebel organization, he may as well work on it from the inside. 

he’s an accomplished duelist with a very high number of confirmed kills and arrests.

by twenty three he’s no longer a duelist --- they prefer to use his talents in careful planning over his manpower. he’s appointed to the committee of strategists that work closely with the leaders of the hyeon mu to gather information on the ju jak and plan out attacks accordingly. 

he’s frickin amazing at it. it’s truly what he was always meant to do, and he makes triple what he did as a duelist without needing to be in the field.

now, at twenty seven, he’s now the head strategist with a small committee working underneath him.

he rly out here tryna revolutionize the way the magi and the hyeon mu deal with the ju jak, because he feels as though he has more relevant field experience than many of the higher ups who have simply been observing this war rather than taking part in it.

truly believes that they could be doing more, but for whatever reason are not. in his eyes the hyeon mu is not functioning at it’s full capabilities, and their efforts are sitting stagnant as the ju jak grow in number. 

the most anti-government government employee you will ever meet. often accuses the president of sitting on their ass with their security detail to protect them while the common people are terrorized.

however, as much as he calls out and openly bashes the hyeon mu’s methods, they can’t afford to lose him because he rly has made a ton of progress and at this point with the amount he knows he’s irreplaceable, and too much of a liability to let go of.

so now he sits in his cushy office on the top floor of a gorgeous building, overlooking the city and planning various ways to absolutely pulverize the ju jak at whatever cost.

HEADCANONS & RANDOM FACTS:

still very close with his mom !! she often comes and stays in the city with him, and he spoils the hell out of her :’)))

he has a familiar: a fat, orange cat named calcifer whom he adores endlessly.

is a hobby potion maker. it relaxes him.

loves a good vodka soda w/ lime.

while he isn’t very social, he loves to attend high society parties because it gives him an excuse to wear one of his many fancy suits.

quite a snarky asshole, will give you shit regardless of your position or status.

enjoys eating sticky rice.

public speaking is like.....a weird talent of his ? he absolutely loathes it, but he’s read in newspapers that he inspires the common folk with his passion so he just kinda rolls with it.

is rly just out here trying to make life better for the average magi. he doesn’t do what he does because he’s endlessly loyal to the hyeon mu --- he does it for the people.

basically lives in his office because he’s Always Working. he has like, a kettle and a hotplate and a mini fridge, blankets, a bed for calcifer ( who he often brings to work with him ) and all sorts of random crap that he’s accumulated to make the space as homey as he can.

keeps fresh bouquets of azalea’s in both his office and his apartment because they remind him of home and of his mom uwu

very messy, misplaces things within seconds of picking them up i swear to god. has defs lost important paperwork and spent hours scrambling to find it, just to see he placed it on top of a cupboard by accident when he got up for a snack.

has ptsd from his time in the faceless ones as well as his time as a duelist in the field. he frequently has nightmares because of this.

WANTED CONNECTIONS:

literally anything bc im a thirsty thot

other ex-members of the faceless ones: 

the relationship between members was a very familial one, and it’s very likely that other members were apprehended and given the same ultimatum as joonie. whether they’re now in prison or decided to join the hyeon mu, it’s very likely joonie tried to stay in contact.

current members of the faceless ones:

this connection would be a bit more messy. they would probably consider joonie a traitor or a sell-out and feel very betrayed by his actions.

his assistant:

idk why he’d have one.....but i want him to !!! we would obvs flesh out the actual aspects of it but i just think it’d be cute lol. playin mini-office-basketball ? gorging on donuts ? arguing over the filing system ? yes please !!!

committee members:

other strategists who work with joonie !! they could be chummy coworkers, rivals, u name it !!

other members of the hyeon mu:

MORE COWORKERS !!!!!!!!! someone pls gimme an angst plot where joonie slept w/ someone from a diff department and now they make awkward eye contact when they pass one another in the halls thank u

AND ON THAT NOTE !! ex-hookups:

he would have been much to involved in his work to ever have an actual relationship, but he defs enjoys a good fling every now and then and probs got down and dirty with a lot of people

current hookups:

he still gettin down and dirty with a lot of people...........lmao

friends:

even this tragic annoying man gotta have friends ig. someone to play billiards with and force him to go out once in a while.

enemies? rivals? anything angsty?

IDC WHAT IT IS !!!! JUST GIVE IT TO ME !!!!

anyways that concludes this mess of an intro. it’s 6:17am so please excuse any errors or inconsistencies, i’ll fix them once i’ve rested lmao. can’t wait to write with you all !!! if u read all of that bless your heart. peace n love xoxo, can’t wait to see u  in my dms.

[signs-of-the-moon]

Moon Rise: Chapter 34

Throbbing pain greeted Swiftcloud when consciousness return to her. Her ears were ringing so loud she could barely hear the thoughts circling within her own mind. With effort, the white and black patched she-cat peeled open her eyes. She blinked, adjusting to the harsh light that managed to sneak in behind the ivy tendrils blocking the den's entrance.

Goldensong and Mistypaw were sitting a tail-length in front of her, talking about who knows what. Herbs, maybe. Swiftcloud couldn't tell; their words sounded muffled and distant in her ears. Clearly she hadn't fully woken up yet. When she blinked, the medicine cats were talking. When she blinked again they had turned, landing their focus onto her.

"...ear me?" Swiftcloud barely managed to catch the last couple of words Goldensong spoke. The warrior flicked her ears, straining them to focus.

"Swiftcloud." She heard Mistypaw's mew, which grew clearer with every word. "Can you hear us?"

"Y..yes," she managed to respond, head pounding. "Ngh...where am I...?"

"You're in the medicine den," responded Mistypaw. Goldensong gently nudged her aside to sit directly in front of Swiftcloud.

"Follow my movements with your eyes," the golden molly instructed, lifting her tail. She slowly moved it in the air to the right, then back towards her left side with the same speed. Swiftcloud watched closely, wondering what this was about. "Good. Now flex your claws for me, please. One paw at a time, then all four if you can." Swiftcloud followed the directions. "Very good." Goldensong extended her paw, placing it on the pad of Swiftcloud's.

"Now squeeze my paw, squeeze as hard as you can. Don't worry about your claws for the moment, I won't mind if I get pricked by them a little."

Though she was hesitant, Swiftcloud flexed her toes. She felt the fuzziness of the golden molly's fur on her pawpad as she tensed her muscles to grip as tight as she could manage. Goldensong nodded, pulling back after a couple of heartbeats.

"Do you know what your name is?" She asked.

The patched warrior blinked, utterly perplexed. "My name is Swiftcloud," she responded surely.

"What clan do you hail from?"

"I'm from Grassclan," Swiftcloud answered without even having to think.

"What is your rank?"

"I'm a young warrior. A Hunter, and Spy. And a mentor."

Goldensong nodded once more. "Excellent. It seems that there is no serious damage to your brain. Though I wonder, how does your head feel?"

"It hurts. There's a drumming in the top of my skull like thunder. And... the light, it's killing my eyes."

"Sounds like a concussion," Mistypaw concluded, poking her claw against the base of Swiftcloud's neck. Swiftcloud jolted, yelping in surprise. Her legs kicked out in response, her warrior instincts making her poised for a battle that wouldn't happen. Mistyleaf let out a tiny giggle, mewing an apology. "Seems like she isn't paralyzed either. That's a huge relief."

"Indeed. But, unfortunately, she isn't fit enough for her warrior duties."

"Why? What's going on?" Swiftcloud was desperate to know. What was with all these questions and tests?

"You hit your head against our den and fell unconscious," Goldensong answered simply.

"I...I was battling against Nightshade. And then Thornberry came out of nowhere.. and he threw me," Swiftcloud remembered.

"Sounds about right with what Tigerfang said," Mistypaw mused, whiskers twitching.

"Your neck and shoulder have been torn quite severely on top of that concussion of yours," Goldensong meowed. "You'll have to stay within the confines of camp until you've healed."

"But what about hunting? Leafbare is just around the corner, I..I have to be able to hold my keep!"

"Settle down," Mistypaw soothed, placing herself by her friend's side. She purred deeply in an attempt to calm Swiftcloud's nerves. "I'm sure there's plenty you can do in camp. You like spending time with the queens, right? I'm sure they'd appreciate the extra help around the nursery. Meanwhile, the apprentices can do the hunting for you."

"The apprentices...oh no, Tulippaw! What's going to happen to Tulippaw while I'm stuck here?"

"You can have one of the other mentors handle her training for the time being," Goldensong replied.

"But she's my apprentice. I promised Ambereye I would take care of her..." Swiftcloud rested her chin on her paws, ears lowering with disappointment.

"Then maybe she could still teach her when Tulippaw is in camp? And then outside the camp another warrior can keep an eye on her," Mistypaw suggested. "Would that work?"

"Hm, well, I don't see why not," Goldensong mewed. "As long as Swiftcloud does not overexert herself or open her wounds, it should be fine."

Swiftcloud perked up at the idea, her eyes glittering with hope and gratitude.

"But you should worry about Tulippaw's training later. For today, at least, you should rest." Goldensong turned her attention onto Swiftcloud for a few heartbeats before turning back to her apprentice. "Mistyleaf, will you take care of Swiftcloud's treatment while I speak to Whitestar about her condition?"

"Of course, Goldensong," Mistyleaf replied, standing with a stretch. As the golden she-cat turned and walked away, Mistyleaf nudged Swiftcloud to her paws. She assisted her with walking, setting her down in a nest deep in the den. It was dark here, no sunlight seemed to be able to reach this far back. Relief came to Swiftcloud's eyes in the shade, and the drumming in her head seemed to dull, if only slightly. As the patched warrior made herself more comfortable, Mistyleaf turned, returning a few moments later with a pair of poppy seeds and few flowers which looked like tiny daisies. The fragrance from them could only be described as sharp and tangy.

"Eat these, they'll help with your head and give you good rest."

Swiftcloud nodded, licking up the herbs without a second thought. She shivered in disgust as the plants slithered down her throat, bitter on her taste buds. A wad of soaked moss was provided to her to wash out the taste. She lapped up the water greedily, receiving a pat on the head by Mistyleaf's tail. The medicine cat apprentice turned once more, leaving Swiftcloud alone in the peace and quiet. Drowsiness claimed her before she could even realize the poppy seeds had taken effect. Her head drooped and eyes closed as sleep welcomed her into its realm, blanketing her with comfort and entertaining her with sweet dreams.

***

"Are we really going to let those fox-hearts take advantage of us again?" An outcry came from beyond the medicine den, pulling Swiftcloud from her slumber. Swiftcloud rose to her paws with a painful stretch, hobbling to the den's entrance. Outside she spotted Ashwhisker speaking, his ear torn and flanks still bloody. "They busted into our camp, attacked our injured warriors, and nearly fought an innocent kit. We have to make them pay!"

Yowls of agreement came from clanmates all around camp. It would appear that Whitestar called a meeting. But no cat seemed happy with how she was treating the invasion. The clan wanted revenge, to go after the cats that had woken them in the middle of the night for a needless battle. But Whitestar forbade it.

"Isn't their defeat enough?" Cloverpetal piped meekly in defense of the clan leader's choice. A few cats around her hissed, making her shrink back.

"You are correct, Cloverpetal," Whitestar responded calmly, "but it won't be enough to stop them for good. We will give it a few days, so that we may have time to recover and plan, and then we will strike back once again."

"But what if Treeclan comes back?" Heatherwing queried.

"I highly doubt they'll be so quick to invade Grassclan's camp again after the beating we gave them. Besides, they know we'll be expecting their return," Tigerfang commented.

"Regardless, I will ask that more guards keep watch over camp. Just in case some Treeclan warriors are still feeling bold. For now though, everyone should get some rest."

Whitestar dipped her head to her warriors. Then she jumped down from Tall Stone, marking the end of the meeting. Swiftcloud watched as Whitestar mewed a little bit by the entrance of her den, summoning her son out from inside. Swiftcloud could no longer hear what the leader was saying, but she guessed she was telling Thornkit to get himself examined by the medicine cats. Snowfrost gave the little tom a quick look over, padding to her den to undoubtedly gather supplies. Swiftcloud stepped aside to allow her to enter. She watched the lynx point molly as she sorted through her herb supply, a sour look on her face.

"Stars, did no one think to check the medicine den?" Snowfrost yowled as she rudely pushed past her guest to reemerge into the clearing. "Our herb stores have been raided. Half of our supplies are gone or destroyed!"

"Do we still have enough marigolds and cobweb?" Goldensong quiered as she walked over to investigate.

"Thankfully, yes. But we'll have to fetch more later today."

Goldensong nodded in understanding, following her former mentor back into the hollow tree. Swiftcloud sat in place and observed the medicine cats as they worked. Were their herbs really taken? And if so, how did Goldensong and Mistyleaf not notice earlier?

"Swiftcloud." The warrior turned in response to the cat who called her. Mistyleaf had come to stand in front of her, a soft smile on her face. Her eyes twinkled and fur glittered in the light of the day. She looked stunning. She seemed so much more grown up than before. Swiftcloud walked forward to emerge fully into camp.

"Hello Mistyleaf," Swiftcloud purred her friend's new name, adoring the sound of it. "How are you? Did your ceremony go well?"

"I'm well, thank you. And yes. It was lovely. I'm afraid I can't share much of the details though."

"That's alright. I wish I could've been there to see it. But I'm glad you were given such a beautiful name. Not..not that any other name you might have gotten wouldn't have as pretty! I just mean-"

Swiftcloud was cut off by Mistyleaf's giggling, followed by a lick to her cheek. "I know."

Swiftcloud's fur felt like it had caught fire, her skin hot with emotion. Flustered, she bowed her head, unable to meet the other molly's gaze. This only caused Mistyleaf to giggle more. She flicked her tail under Swiftcloud's chin, prompting her to lift if.

"How are you feeling by the way? How is your head?"

"It doesn't hurt as much anymore. But I'm still pretty sore," Swiftcloud confessed.

"I thought you'd say that. Well, make sure you take it easy, alright? I have to go check on some other cats. We'll catch up more later." With a nose touch and a wave of her tail, Mistyleaf walked away. After a heartbeat, Swiftcloud did the same.

By the warrior's den she saw the shape of Shadowfang sitting as his wounds were being checked. Ashwhisker studied the black tom carefully.

"You need to stay off you paws for a while, bunny," he chided, touching his nose to Shadowfang's leg. "You've been injured too greatly and too often to keep joining battles. If you don't give yourself time to heal you'll wind up having to retire early. You don't want that do you?"

Shadowfang hunched over self consciously. He looked a little guilty, although Swiftcloud could still notice a small twinkle of mischief in his green eyes. "No, no of course not."

"Then you'll stay in camp. If I have to move you to my den just to make sure you don't go volunteering to join any more raids, I will." Ashwhisker turned. "Swiftcloud, make sure this tom of yours heeds my words. This is serious business."

"Dad, this is embarrassing. I'm not a kit anymore! I can take care of myself."

"Oh I'll keep my eye on him, you don't need to worry about that," Swiftcloud assured, licking Shadowfang's ear as she came to sit beside him. With her tongue she could feel the flustered heat that the tom must be feeling beneath his pelt. It was adorable. Ashwhisker gave a satisfied grunt, rising to his paws and taking off to go check on some other clanmates.

Across the way, Swiftcloud spotted Dewstone. She was alone, and seemed to be observing the activity of the clan. Though Swiftcloud wanted to be with her mate, there was something more important to attend to right now. This might be the perfect opportunity to tell her my theory.

"Hey, I have to go talk with Dewstone for a little while," Swiftcloud meowed as she stood up. "I'll catch up with you later." Shadowfang let out a grunt of acknowledgement, turning to clean himself as Swiftcloud marched forward on her mission.

"Dewstone, may I have a word?"

The white and silver patched molly perked up when she heard her own name. Her eyes flashed with interest at the sound of importance in the younger cat's mew. "Of course. What's on your mind, Swiftcloud?"

"I've been having some suspicious thoughts lately. About the deaths of some of our warriors. I think there may be a connection. A specific cat might be responsible, but I'm not sure who." Swiftcloud explained all of the overlapping evidence she had come up with in relation to the deaths of Waspwing, Butterflytail, and Ambereye. The way all three cats were positioned, the berry juice she'd found on two of the cats, and the connection to Treeclan.

"At first, I thought it might've been a Treeclan warrior who's killing our cats. But I know Butterflytail and Ambereye both came back and died in camp. So I started to think maybe...someone in Grassclan could be responsible. But now that Treeclan knows where our camp is, I'm not so sure anymore. However, I'm completely sure that something is going on. There's too much in common for it all to be coincidence."

Dewstone was quiet for a little while, her eyes flickering in contemplation. Her tail swished as she lifted her chin at last to address the warrior in front of her.

"You have brought forth some interesting information. Though it sounds more like a conspiracy than something credible. However, I will help you with this investigation, if only to see if your theories are correct. If someone is targeting our cats, then we will bring them to justice."

[qcatter]

The Cow Jumped over the Moon

(so Remember the Mib AU, DInner and i have been talking about it daily for over... two months now. And we *might have gotten side tracked and done another AU and then a Story trade and this is THEIR FAULT I SWEAR)

(the * ~~ and such are from discord formating, if you copy and past into it, the italic and strikethros are that.  i wrote this in a doc and pasted it over and that is why i left them in) Fae AU Totally a Ritsu/Shou fic 2288 words

Might be a little short on context out of the chat, because this is from the third (magic number) day, so feel free to ask me or @psychicdinneranon​

The sun has set a few hours back, but Ritsu hadn’t bothered to change into this pajamas yet, and most likely wouldn’t for a few more hours.  Not when the moon rose in sync with the setting sun and he could feel the power prickling under his skin at the touch of moonlight.  Plus he knew that any minute now Shou would be appearing in his window and this time *he’s bringing shoes.*  

In almost no time at all there was a tapping at his window and Ritsu gave the figure silhouetted by the full moon a pointed look and turned and headed downstairs to the front door. It was only after he closed the door behind him that Shou dropped from his perch gracefully as a cat to greet him.

“You know what a door is Shou. Why do you always wait up there, you know i’m *not* going to climb out a second story window with you right?” Shou gave a pout before grinning as he always did. “Aww you take all the fun out it, dont you know I’m supposed to lead you out the window like Peter Pan?  I’d catch you if you slipped” “You got a thing you want to show me?” “*Always*~”

Time always moves funny when the sun is down.  Ten minutes pass in one and one minute is an hour.  Even though the clouds the weather man said would obscure the stars and night finally arrived Ritsu could still feel the ghost of it lingering. In a blink of eternity Shou lead Ritsu through the trees of Nightshade Orchard farther and farther away from the paths people could safely walk till they reached the clearing Shou had showed him last time.  Flowers that looked like miniature lilies that shimmered in the moonlight of every shade of white swayed gently as they passed in a breeze that didn’t exist.  SIiver fireflys glowed and swam through the air slowly sifting colours.  ~~Ritsu knew better than to try to catch them now, they burn at the touch, stars dont like being caged~~ The glade was ever frozen outside of time and unchanging.    It was just a still as it was last time.  Shou was everything but.  He bounded through the field displacing lights that chattered like wind like a deer, tail straight and held high as his bare feet came close to stepping on ~~someone~~ a plant here and there only for his foot to land in a bare patch instead. “Hold on a sec Ritsu i got to find it again”

Ritsu watched in amusement as Shou circled the clearing by zig zagging across it as he peered between bushes and at rabbit trails only turn and dart off again with a shake of his tail.  Carefully Ritsu made his way towards the middle of the meadow ~~never in the center~~ stepping around flowers and tall patches and grass and rocks that would turn and look at him before wandering off slowly, as rocks tend to do.  Shou was backing out of a bush whose thorns seemed reluctant to let him out of its embrace.   “Ritsu! *This way.*” and with a glance back to check if Ritsu was still following and a merry shake of his tail Shou disappeared between the brier bushes.  Ritsu shimmed through the branches as the thorns slid harmlessly across his jacket for several steps until snaring him up and forcing him to stop and untangle himself from them in a way that was reminiscent of the way Shou would cling at times.  Shou suddenly popped up in front of him with an affectionate chuckle as he pinched at the leaves and helped him pull of a few branches before turning and getting swallowed up by the forest once more. Ritsu followed the rustling of leaves, the quivering of a russet tail and the flash of Shou’s feet and jacket when the moon peeked out between the clouds and trees.  As he pushed aside one last branch Ritsu blinked at the sudden appearance of a perfectly round pool next to where Shou was bouncing on his toes and crouching by the waters’ edge. “See Ritsu! Isn’t it *cool*. Come on.” That was not a question, it was a statement.  The moon shone perfectly reflected in the center of the pond.. The water was completely still.  There were no clouds reflected in the water.

Ritsu refused to look up and check because he *knew* it wasn’t midnight yet and the moon shouldn’t be in that spot.

“Shou I can feel the magic from *here* I’m not getting any closer.” and that was true.  The air was so thick and heavy with it he could barely breathe. ~~and that wasn’t, it was pure and crisp and calm and his head never felt this clear and it sang against his skin and-~~ “Come on it’s safe” Ritsu didn’t even need any of his fae magic to hear those words fall flat in the air as soon as Shou said them. “...she only owns the water and the shore really i swear” “then why are you standing on it if it’s not safe?” “To talk to her *duh*.   With a sigh Risu glanced at the moon in the water and made his way out of the leaves and stopped where the grass lead into rocks. “Shou what did you do?” “Nothing i just asked her to jump over the moon for a trick and she said to bring a friend. Say hi Ritsu” Ritsu blinked at that, before looking between Shou, the moon, the water that Shou was pointing to, and the silver koi under the surface completely still except for her fins gracefully treading water.   “You said to bring a friend and i did” The fish simply stared back. Shou pouted at the fish before turning to back to Ritsu. “She says she wont do it and the cost for both of us is two” “Hmm, you said that she told you to bring a friend right? Anything else?” “*No* and she’s asking for two now!” Ritsu grabbed Shou’s sleeve and tugged him back so he wasn’t leaning over the water as Shou’s checks rose and made his scales shimmer on his face while he bared his fangs in frustration. “Ask her if the moon is still full enough for tomorrow.” Shou’s face softened as he turned back to the fish in the water. “She says she’ll be here tomorrow so long as we bring the payment. *But i did-”* “Tell I’ll bring two.”

```-``` Ritsu carefully zipped up his backpack and checked to see if the contents would shift if he would put it on and set it on his back as he waited for Shou to finally appear.  It didn’t take long.  Shou’s face popped up in the window long enough to make eye contact before dropping back down. He was already waiting by the door when Ritsu opened it and Shou leaped off the steps as he closed it behind him.  Shou eyed the bag in obvious curiosity. “So what’s in the b-” “It’s not for you and if you couldn’t guess then i dont think i should tell you, she might not accept.  I know you guys get pissy about each other touching their things” Shou grumbled and headbutted him in the shoulder, careful to not to catch him with his horns nubs and practically dragged him towards the woods.  Ritsu could feel the space shifting behind him as he followed in Shou’s footsteps.  Shou parting the plants and leaves only for them to close up behind Ritsu as they went. Every step felt like a mile and suddenly they were at the pond again.   It looked exactly the same as the night before, only the moon’s edges would shimmer a bit in a breeze that ghosted over the water. Ritsu shrugged the backpack off and knelt down by the water and ignored the way Shou was nearly sitting on his back and trying to peer over his sholders into the bag as he unzipped it.  He slid out a five gallon bag half filled with water and air where two small koi swam lazily.  Holding the bottom so the rocks wouldn’t cut it, they looked smooth but he didn’t want to risk it, Ritsu presented to bag to the silver koi that sat right at the shallows.   “This is So” he pointed to the larger one, a patchwork of gold orange and yellow with a few streaks of white. “and This is Mo” then smaller white one with a collection of black patches. The silver koi nosed at the surface, the ripples did not disturb the center of the pool. Ritsu carefully set the bag in the water and made sure not to touch it.  He had no intention of getting wet and nor causing offense. She nosed at the plastic bag and the two inside nosed back.

“Arnt you gonna open it? She says it’s a fitting gift” “You have to wait until the water acclimates Shou, last thing i want is for them to go into shock” “Oh” “Niisan helped me name them, but they are still fish Shou” It wasn’t a long wait, the silver koi swam circles around the bag as it floated in the shallows.  Shou shifted antsully and would flick his tail each time he moved before settling half draped across Ritsu, tail wagging against the side of his leg pocket.  Ritsu untied the bag and paused. “Oh um, there’s probably some chemicals in here, for infections and oil for scales, tap water has things in it that the store treats. Is that ok?”

The Fish stared at him. Ritsu started to tip the bag out and grabbed the bottom corners to flip it over so the koi could swim out and touched the water as he did so. The sound of Shou’s sudden snarl by his ear startled him and Ritsu found himself holding an empty and dry bag as the fish swam out of sight.  Ritsu started to open his mouth and ask Shou what that was about, but the sound of blooping made him stare at the water.  It was the first sound he’s ever heard the pond make. There was a ripple out in the water and the silver koi broke through the surface in a glitter of water drops and smacking down with the loudest slap in the center of the moon as Shou cheered and whooped.  Then the gold koi flashed over the reflection ~~it did not change as he did, only shone brighter~~ and landing with a arcing spray.  Finally the little black and white one leaped into the air with a twist and flip and dove into the water with barely a drop displaced. Shou laughed and nudged Ritsu pointing over the water. Gasping for air on each breath “Ritsu, RITSU RITSU. *the cow jumped over the moon*. It’s, heh  *it’s true*” Risu wasn’t watching the water anymore.  He was watching the way the freckles on Shou’s face glittered as he laughed and the way the scales tossed the moonlight around.  Ritsu curled his fingers into the fur hair on the back of Shou’s neck and got to see them close up and out of focus like sunspots as he pulled Shou in closer and Shou’s laughter became a purr against his lips. Then Ritsu tilted his head to press in closer and caught his lip against one of Shou’s fangs and pulled back for air.  Shou was staring back at him hazily with fur disheveled and he licked at the bead of blood Ritsu had left against his mouth before suddenly focusing on Ritsu’s face and jolting back with a sudden hitch in his breath and eyes widening in horror. “SHit, I didn’t,” another lick, “i *didn’t mean to do that*” Ritsu almost managed to ask what he meant when Shou wiggled off his lap and slipped out of his hands And ..and he was staring at the ceiling of his bedroom.  There was an interesting water mark in the corner by the window that almost looked like a rabbit leaping in the air.  Shou said it looked more like it was laying on it’s side and that he should know.  Ritsu could still feel the echo of Shou’s energy that said he wasn’t too far away and hadn’t made it back to the woods yet, so Ritsu gathered his energy and *pulled* “Shou” The distant feeling of ‘Shou’ flinched, surprisingly closer to the woods than Ritsu had immediately thought and braced itself. Ritsu was struck by the image of a dog planting all four legs and pulling against a leash, and took a breath to pull harder with annoyance and confusion and *still determined*, but no anger. “*Shou*” This time it pulled back, guilt and longing and sorry, *sorrysorrysorry* and a hint of slinking back in trepidation for a visit at a later time. And ~~questioning and.. Happy? *giddy*? ~~

Ritsu let him go with a sigh, the clock on his stand flipped over to 12:01. He rubbed at his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment debating chasing Shou down before pulling the blankets over him. He was exhausted and well, Shou would come back and Ritsu  would just have to make a point to pin him down until he got some answers.  Between him and Teruki they should be able to trap a greater fae. Even if he would have to trade a few tricks and things his brother liked.  Hmm, that one spot by the creek were the sunlight danced they found as kids might work, if not.. Then.. maybe.. That one icecream place... that Shigeo liked...

The little Dog laughed to see such a sight, 

 And the Dish ran away with the Spoon.

[phynxrizng]

DEVILS BREATH, A TRICK OF THE NIGHTSHADE

Devil’s Breath: A Trick of the Nightshades AUGUST 24, 2017 Source, BY COBY MICHAEL WARD The Nightshade Alkaloids The plants traditionally associated with witchcraft have shared infamous reputations and prominent places in myth since antiquity. They have been used in politics, medicine, and magic by diverse groups throughout history. There are four plants within the same group that are quintessential to the lore of the witch. Belladonna, Henbane, Mandrake, and Thorn Apple; are the most commonly mentioned in myth and medicine. They belong to the genus Solanaceae and the family Solanum; commonly known as Nightshades. These plants contain substances that have a powerful reaction on our physiology. These naturally occurring chemicals, which often serve no purpose for the plant are known as tropane alkaloids. Tropanes including Atropine, Scopolamine, and Hyoscyamine are characteristic of these plants and are used today in modern medicines. Historically, Belladonna and Henbane have been used in ointments and liniments applied topically for pain. Mandrake was combined with Opium to create a powerful anesthetic used by medieval physicians. Relatives of European Thorn Apple or Datura were used in South America and Central America to create an amnesic effect that was utilized during childbirth to dull the pain and cause the patient to forget being in pain. These herbs have held the chemical components for many modern medications still used today. Their practical use and growing prominence in modern witchcraft continue the ancient connection with these powerful botanical allies. The lore surrounding these plants continues to grow and transform as we gain new insight through direct communion with these plant spirits. However, modern advances in the synthetic reproduction of these chemicals has created a dangerous tool in the wrong hands. These powerful alkaloids in their natural state have resulted in many negative experiences and sickness in those seeking recreational highs by exploiting these sacred herbs. Scopolamine is one of the alkaloids of the Solanaceae genus. It is used today in medication for motion sickness, and is generally applied in the form of a patch. Oftentimes these patches are worn by tourists traveling abroad, leading to increased intoxication and amnesia when consumed with alcohol. Scopolamine powder is accessed by certain individuals who have used it as a means of committing a number of crimes. Scopolamine poisoning allegedly results in a “zombie like” state during which the victim is easily manipulated. Afterwards the poison causes amnesia leaving no memory of the previous events. These qualities would make Scopolamine a perfect tool for thieves and predators of crime.. Devil’s Breath Devil’s Breath, as it is appropriately called is a powdered synthetic scopolamine allegedly used in Europe and South America to conduct robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assault. The powder is either slipped in a drink or blown in the face. This is where it get’s its name Devil’s Breath. Coincidently all of the plants within the Nightshade family have associations with the Devil. This substance was allegedly studied in WWII for its use as a truth serum. Scopolamine is very concentrated in its pure synthetic form. It can take less than a gram of the substance to kill a person. This alkaloid is present in all of the plants within the Solanaceae genus, however it is most infamously known as the active alkaloid in the Daturas. Devil’s Trumpet whose white flowers point up towards the heavens from below are also called Thorn Apple or Jimsonweed. While these varieties contain the same alkaloids, Devil’s Trumpet is more commonly known to the witch with a European background. Sacred Datura, Datura stramonium and Datura inoxia were used in Europe and more commonly in South and Central America. Another relative of the solanaceae family is Brugmansia, or Angel’s Trumpet. Simillar to Devil’s Trumpet, these large white flowers point down from the heavens towards the Underworld. This genus is native to South and Central America. It has many similarities to other varieties within this group, and is of particular ceremonial use to South American shamans. Brugmansia suaveolens, one of seven Brugmansia varieties, is used as an ingredient in sacred Ayahuasca ceremonies and supplies the scopolamine necessary for criminal poisoning. Alleged cases of scopolamine poisoning have been reported in Europe and South America. Nature’s Poisons Resource The Scopolamine Patch Nightmare Found in Patheos Pagan.com TAGGED WITH:ATROPINEAYAHUASCABANEFUL HERBS...MORE August 15, 2017 The Peculiar Powers of Poison  Sponsored Links You May Like Simply Enter Your Email & You Could Win $250 Today! Winloot Las Vegas, Nevada: This Brilliant Company Is Disrupting a $200 Billion Industry EverQuote Insurance Quotes The Last Wallet You'll Ever Use. RidgeWallet.com by Taboola RECENT COMMENTS 0 COMMENTS "I believe the "movement" you refered to in the 'Traditional Witchcraft' paragraph already has a ..." JEUX999 MATERIALISM, IMPERMANENCE, AND ORIGINALITY IN MODERN ..." "Thank you for this Coby. I have long thought that it is wise to keep ..." PURPLEBROOM MATERIALISM, IMPERMANENCE, AND ORIGINALITY IN MODERN ..." "First thing is first; Happy Birthday. I enjoyed your article. I too feel safest in ..." JODIE ZAMMIT THE GREEN HARVEST OF LAMMASTIDE-POISONER’S APOTHECARY "Thank You! 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[autumn-flick]

202 Things ABOUT ME

Quiz here; http://autumnflick.deviantart.com/art/2-202-things-about-yourself-15472843

Your real name: Piper (false) Age: Twelve - Eighteen Height: 5′2″ Natural hair colour: Dark brown Eye colour: Blue with central heterochromia (yellow) Skin color: So white could be Snow White Glasses/contacts?: Glasses, blind AF without them Piercings: I had my ears pierced once, until there was a blood clot in my ear. Tattoos: Not yet, I plan on getting a few Braces: Yes. T-T - bottom and top, they’ve really improved my face, tho. Mannerisms: According to my mom, I mumble. I have a deepish voice? It sounds different in my head. Other distinctive markings: Two birthmarks, a mole on my left temple (hidden by hair, thank gosh), and various scars on my arms and legs FAVOURITE Colour: Red or purple, I can never decide. Band: Who has just one favorite band??? Hidden Citizens or Skillet Video game: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, yo! Movie: Assassin’s Creed OR Captain America; the Winter Soldier OR Star Wars; The Force Awakens! Book: The Bible Food: ... Cheezits, apples, pretzels or... chocolate Game on a cell phone: Pocket Frogs CD: N/A Flower: NIGHTSHADE Scent: Man cologne. Animal: Arabian horse... or... wolf Comic book: N/A Cereal: Chex Website: dA Cartoon: Rick and Morty DO YOU Play an instrument?: I can play a couple of notes on the ukulele Watch TV more than 60 hours a week?: Probably Like to sing?: Love to sing Have a job?: Sorta? Have a cell phone?: No, don’t need or want one Like to play sports?: Ehhh, no Have a boyfriend/girlfriend?: NO [forever crying] Have a crush on someone?: Yes, but he’s fictional and would kill me Live somewhere NOT in the united states?: No. Have more than 5 TVs in your house?: NO Have any special talents/skills?: Probs, not, I’m a lameo. However, I can sign language Exercise daily?: I jiggle my foot a lot. Like school?: Hate it, yo. CAN YOU Sing the alphabet backwards?: NO Stand on your tip toes without wearing shoes?: Yes? Is this even important? Speak any other languages?: I am almost fluent in SIGN LANGUAGE, know a bit of spanish, german and french Go a day without food?: Probably not, I’m fat AF Remember your dreams: ALL THE TIME Read music, not just tabs?: Errr, no Roll your tongue?: Yeppers Eat a whole pizza?: Probably. HAVE YOU EVER Won something in the lottery?: No [so sad] Snuck out of the house?: No Lied to get out of trouble?: YEs [oops] Had a computer crash?: YES, who hasn’t? Gotten lost in your city?: Err, no, I am great with directions Seen a shooting star?: NO [so alone] Been to any other countries?: NO [so stuck], however, I hope to go to England next year Had a serious surgery?: Tonsils? Stolen something important to someone else?: NO [I’m so nice] Solved a rubiks cube?: Nah Gone out in public in your pajamas?: Yes, I am a lazy mofo Cried over a girl?: Yes, my best friend. Cried over a boy?: All the boys who reject me Kissed a random stranger?: Heh, no, I could get hepatitis c Hugged a random stranger?: NO Been in a fist fight?: Not yet, I’m waiting for it to happen Been arrested?: No Done drugs?: NO Had alcohol?: YEAH BOI Laughed and had milk come out of your nose?: Yeppers Pushed all the buttons on an elevator?: It sounds fun, but also tiresome, so, no. Sneaked into the opposite sex's bathroom?: Nah, I bet it’s gross Gone to school only to find you had the day off because of a holiday/etc?: NO Swore at your parents?: Kinda... Kicked a guy where it hurts?: I want to. Been to a casino?: Yep. Ran over an animal and killed it?: Yes [poor sweet creature] Broken a bone?: NO, I’m careful Gotten stitches?: No... I don’t believe so

Had a water balloon fight in winter?: Hell nah. Made homemade muffins?: NO Bitten someone?: YES Been to disneyland/disneyworld?: NEVER GOING THERE Burped in someone’s face?: OF COURSE WHENS THE LAST TIME YOU Brushed your teeth: A couple days ago, I know, I’m horrible. Cried: Five days ago, I believed, I was rejected Went to the bathroom: Not too long ago Saw a movie in a theatre: Errr, when I saw beauty and the Beast, a week or two after it came out Read a book: Lol, in a very long time Had a snow day: Wot? You have those? Had a party: NEVER Went to a doctor: When I had bronchitis... like, a month or so ago. Tripped in front of someone: Can’t recall Went to the grocery store: A week ago. Got sick: A few months ago, yo Got cursed: IDK Called someone: I don’t, people call me. DO YOU PREFER Fruit/vegetables: Fruit Black/white: White Lights on/lights off: With what?? Lights on? TV/movie: TV Body spray/lotion: Lotion Cash/cheque: Cash Pillows/blankets: Oi... blankets Headache/stomach ache: Headache Paint/charcoal: Paint Chinese food/Mexican food: Mexican Food Summer/winter: Summer Snow/rain: Rain Fog/misty: Misty Rock/rap: Rock Meat/vegetarian: MEAT ALL THE WAY Chocolate/vanilla: Either or Sprinkles/icing: Icing Cake/pie: Cake Strawberries/blueberries: Strawberries Ocean/swimming pool: Swimming pool Cookies/muffins: COOKIES, I am the cookie monster Wallet/pocket: Wallet Window/door: Errr... WINDOW Charles Chaplin/Chespirito: WHO? Pink/purple: Purple Cat/dog: Dog, of course. Tho I would be a cat if I was an animal Long sleeve/short sleeve: Short sleeve boi. Pants/shorts: SHORTS Winter break/spring break: WINTER Spring/autumn: AUTUMN Clouds/clear sky: CLOUDS Moon/mars: Moon Questions/Answers: Questions, so I can answer them War/Peace: WAR BITCH (lol, no) LOVE AND ALL THAT CRAP Do you believe in love?: Duh?? Love is a choice? What's the most important kind of love for you?: Huh... puppy love, lol. No, the kind of love you have for your best friend Have you ever been in love?: Not really. Been close to love?: Yes If you have, with who?: My crush, Sam Ever confessed your feelings to the one you loved?: Yep. AFTER he pointed it out Really badly so that it actually hurts and you cry at night?: Yes? Are you in a relationship?: NO If so, for how long?: NO Do you believe there is someone for everyone?: Of course, but it might not always be romantic love What is your idea of the best date?: Ugh, going to dinner at a fancy place and then going to the beach at night where we sing together and dance with one another in the waves What was your first kiss like?: It was a dare and I was like.. eight or something. Very bland How old were you when you got your first kiss?: Six through eight (mind you, I was dared to kiss my neighbor boy, Dylan.) Do you think love is worth nothing?: Wait, what? Best experience you’ve ever had with the opposite sex: Ugh... I dunno If you are single, have you had any boyfriends/girlfriends before?: NO. [sad, cry] Have you ever been dumped?: Yeah, sorta Have you ever dumped someone?: NO, I’m too wimpy. I... Am: Fat Want: to be skinny Need: to find a mate Love: writing? Evil dudes. MUSIC Hate: politics and people Feel: dull Did: eat? Miss: Sam Am annoyed by: Humans, people, barking Would rather: die Am tired of: humans Will always: love music MISCELLANEOUS What is your favourite genre of music?: Who has just one favorite? What time is it now?: 9:02 AM as I typed this How much money do you have right now?: IDK, sixty dollas Are you hungry right now?: Yes, but I don’t need to eat What are you doing right now?: Writing this/finishing up a character Do you like parades?: NO, too man humans Do you like the moon?: Yes What are you going to do when you're done with this?: Finish my character If you could have any magical power what would it be?: The gift of flight. Or to control my own mind. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE Funny?: I do Cool?: No Pretty?: NO Sarcastic?: Yes, everyone knows this Lazy?: Yep Hyper?: NO Friendly?: Ehh, sorta Evil?: Of course Unforgettable?: NO Smart?: NO Strong?: NO Talented?: NO Dorky?: YeAh BOI WHAT COMES TO MIND WITH THE WORD High: low Lonely: alone Pen: pencil Flower: petal Window: door Psycho: me Brain freeze: wot Strange: Doctor Sassy: Lauren Suffering: dogs Art: mine WOULD YOU EVER Sky dive?: MAYBE Run away?: I debated it, but probably not Curse at a teacher?: NO [I’m very nice and evil] Not take a shower for a week?: GROSSS NO Ask someone out?: Hell no Unscrew your cellphone too see what's inside?: Yeah Lie to someone to make them think better of you?: I think I would Visit a foreign country for more than a month?: Yeah! Sounds like fun, so long as I am not alone. Go scuba diving?: Ehhh... I dunno Write a book?: I already have, and it sucks. Assemble a computer?: No, not smart enough for that. Become a rock star?: Hell no [horrible stage fright] Have a long-distance relationship?: Yes Marry someone you don't know?: To save the world, yeah LAST QUESTIONS ( FINALLY ) - ARRGHHHH... What kind of computer do you have?: acer... What grade/level of studies are you in? (if applicable): IDK Do you like to throw popcorn at people in the movies?: Family only How many posters do you have in your room?: zoro Who else should take this quiz?: Anyone who wants

[nofomoartworld]

Thinks: Elena Ailes

Hello dearest reader. Welcome to another installment of Wednesday THINKS. This week, we bring you a text from Elena Ailes, an artist, writer, educator, and in my opinion, a true citizen of the world. As you might intuit from the text below, Elena is at home in sensorial-anyplaces. In my view, she writes from deep within the consciousness of our dreamed-out-nation-state that may or not awake from its slumber. Here’s Elena. Enjoy.

Yours,

Meg Santisi

  On January 20th of this year, the inauguration for the President of the United States included prayers by two American televangelists, both self-described ‘prosperity preachers’. Religious leaders of the prosperity gospel preach that financial wealth and physical wellbeing are gifts from God, a mark of his blessing and preference given in exchange for unyielding faith, prayer and donations to the Church.

In this worldview, the accumulation of capital is clear evidence of moral certitude and blessedness, while words, actions and ideas are wrapped up in the confusing, arbitrary and seemingly masturbatory nature of ‘God’s will’.

The wealthy are merely God’s willing subjects, and this ‘willingness’ is never connected, spiritually or otherwise, to the systems used to concentrate material wealth or to how these systems jeopardize the wellbeing of others.

The verticality of this God – Blessing – Chosen Subject ecclesiastical model is not unfamiliar, though one hardly expects to find the production of capital so disturbingly tethered to the swooping curve of the divine right of kings. Humans, by and large, live on the ground, even as we yearn for atmospheric flux. So far, very few have been interred up, in the air. Most of us will go down, in earth or sea, or away, in fire. Some do make it up, in death. Elysium Space, Ascending Memories or Orbital Memorials, all private companies, can bury you in space.

What orientation should beings (and non-beings) be ordered? Ordained? Can we now agree that  +  is actually a delightfully astute, if somewhat cryptic, symbol for the spiral, minus time? Is the spiral a pitch towards progress? Or just another spin on the vertical/horizontal wheel of fortune? What on earth do we do with all this?

  Opt out and become uncontained. Err away from the horizon of the will toward the curve of deviance. Swerve toward still.

  Herr Jakob Johann Baron von Uexküll,

When you say “clamp a snail”

(YA-KUB VON OOKSGULL,

I would never recognize your name off the page)

when you say “clamp a snail” and put

it on a rubber ball in water

when you say hit the snail repeatedly

with a

stick

when do you recognize that in an effort to articulate another’s world

you have fundamentally altered your own?

  Jakob von Uexküll, the early 20th century German biologist and biosemiotician, fine-tuned the study of animal behavior right into a worlding, right into umwelten. For Uexküll, each species is a performed fullness contained within a spatial and temporal boundary; each sensorial frame of reference an articulation of subjecthood, of being.

He told us that if you hit a snail repeatedly, three times per second, it will turn away. But if you manage more than three blows in the allotted time and hit the snail four or five times in a second, the snail will perceive the stick as not moving at all, and will continue forward to crawl onto the stick. The snail would fully understand the faster moving stick to be a stick at rest because the movement of the stick was functioning outside the register of snailperception, snail umwelt.

Clearly, consciousness, whether that of the snail or of the scientist, is a limited ability, taking hold only in the most certain of situations. The uncertain situation calls upon something else.

  You came to show me the ingenuity and boldness of your sandwich making while I was in the shower.

  Potatoes. Eggplants or aubergines. Neither term seems particularly accurate, though accuracy in titles was never required, nor possible.

All of the groundcherries, including goji, boxthorns, gooseberries, wolfberries and tomatillos. The difference between naming things in the north and naming things in the south is a difference that you can feel in your body, though it is impossible to locate where. It moves, and it is none of your business, as it is not business at all.

Tomatoes, familiar to you. Hopi tomatoes, probably less so.

All of the chili peppers: ancho, arbol, habanero, ancho (which is just another, drier, name for poblano), Anaheim, which is just another name for home, which is nowhere near Anaheim.

Bell peppers, whose chemical taste is the result of the volatile compound methoxypyrazine, also found in wine grapes when they’ve been picked before full ripeness or when they’ve been treated with sulfur to prevent the spread of phylloxera.

Your average lover of Chilean wine has been hoodwinked, though the average Chilean potato grower has not.

Tobacco. A sacred gift and the subject of a $206 billion dollar lawsuit settlement.

Jimson weed, Devil’s snare, thornapple, moon flower, hell’s bells, tolguacha, prickle burr, devil’s cucumber, Datura stramonium.

Petunias. Yeah, petunias.

Atropa belladonna, divale, banewort, death cherries.

Henbane and Mandrake, particularly beloved by the witchier crowd.

  These are my nightshades.

  And, of course, Solandra maxima, Solandra grandiflora, campaña, cup of gold vine, golden chalice, cutaquatzitiziqui. The orange trumpet flowers of the Solandra maxima plant can be as wide as the diameter of a dinner plate. The massive blooms perfume the air with coconut, honey, and a little something else, something warmer. When a flowering plant fills the air with scent it is a summons for the external and autonomous apparatus that is so necessary to the plant’s ability to reproduce: the pollinator. Moth as foreplay.

The flowers of Solandra maxima vines also release another sort of summons: a chemical pheromone identical in structure to human pheromones normally associated with the reproductive activities of sex and love. Pheromones that human bodies also produce.

This overlap, this biological and chemical repetition of form, is a parallel summons emitting forth from the plant-being carrying coconuts, and from the human-being carrying salts. A scent-based call-and-response to amorous action, pushing and pulling on one another.

  Particulation is an atomization of perception, a collapse of a unified and fluid whole into the smallest units of perceptible information possible, a necessary slowing down of time. Particulation is what happens right before exhaustion, and what is exhaustion but a moment of saturation, a final ‘no more thank you’. If we are exhausted subjects, we are also saturated subjects.

  From petunia to goji berry, the Solanaceae family is taxonomically massive, a plant family comprised of 102 genera and over 2800 distinct species, which is so many sisters in one room.

A potato shares 92 percent of its genetic material with a tomato, that last 8 percent a blueprint for the secret architecture of the tuber, a devotional to the swollen root vegetable as opposed to the fruiting body.

Modern pharmacology owes at least one finger to the nightshade family, the genera being host to a chemical gold mine of alkaloids, painkillers and mood-enhancers, psychotropic and otherwise, the properties of which become a mind-numbingly large maze of toxicological data.

It is through the gifts of a nightshade that we have dilating eye drops, local anesthetic, hormone replacement therapy. People often eat nightshades, but in some cases, that shit will turn you into a vegetable.

  Pick a flower and place it by your bedside. Turn it towards you, a trumpet blasting a coconut invitation right in your hole-filled face.

  The term vegetative state has long been used by the medical profession as a diagnosis for patients who exist in a wakeful yet unconscious state. Patients are described as being in a state of partial arousal, rather than true awareness. Their eyes are open but they are unresponsive to external stimuli. The European Task Force on Disorders of Consciousness recently recommended that the term be abandoned in favor of a more neutral label: unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. Vegetative state, it is argued, has a “pejorative connotation, and seems to inappropriately refer to these patients as being vegetable-like.”

I am certainly not interested in the dehumanization of anyone who has suffered a brain injury and is thus limited in function or responsiveness, nor in speaking on their behalf while they themselves exist in silence. If I could share the agony of someone in a vegetative state, I wouldn’t try to speak about it. I would stay silent for my plant person. (1)

I would like to note, however, the language for language swap that is occurring here: vegetableness for an immobile wakefulness.

We are most plant-like in the one third of our life that is unaccounted for, in our sleep. It is in sleep that we enter the temporal register closest to plant beings. Our attention turns inward towards the void, towards rest. Exhausted, we put our feet at the bottom of the pool of our thinking minds and let go.

  You have many mouths, and many hands.

  Here we neglect to experience time in any measurable sense. We absorb the world through muted scrim without the benefits or hindrances of having to perform language. We lie dormant, in darkness, our perceptive senses limited to simply absorbing light, heat, sound and touch. We are, for the most part, sessile, immobile.

The most familiar apocalypse scenarios involve visions of “the end” as a natural disaster: a massive meteor slamming into earth, a switching of the magnetic poles, floods of biblical proportion. In short, the end is generally depicted as a display of nature’s power over culture. With global climate change as arguably the most important and unifying fact of human life on this planet, the irony of culture swarming over nature as the usher of the end of the world would be funny if there were anything left to laugh about.

The binary separation between the human and non-human world into distinct categories of “culture” and “nature” clearly does not convey the complexity of the interrelated spheres of influence that these worlds possess over each other. The fact still remains that human beings are subjects that are also objects, who both live with other objects and in another object.

  Try to imagine your imagination functioning multiply.

  The difficulty of truly grasping the concept of the possibility of a subjectless planet is in part due to the inability of finding easy ground with this continual subject-object switcheroo. Any argument for the radical reorientation of the human subject in a world of objects can be recognized as a symptom of the current position of the human subject, which, I would argue, is that of the exhausted subject.

I see potential in this altered subjectivity, a state of possibility, openness.

  Imagine that your sex is multiply located, experiencing both direct sun and partial shade.

  A human woman sits on the bus for too long—three stops past her regular stop—making eyes at you while you hold a shopping bag and pretend to eye smile into the screen of your phone. The woman hopes that she is flooding the air with pheromones, fully knowing that your vomeronasal receptor, located at the back of your throat, is likely useless. Unsure if you share this chemical grammar, she silently marvels at the antiquity of her system of desire, at the bold dysfunction of her direct inquiry

  The sea sponge uses mimicry and chemical seduction to find food and to manage successful reproduction.

A sea cucumber, when it receives the right stimulation, dumps a third of its own body weight in semen into the ocean waters. Another sea cucumber, receiving a separate but appropriately timed signal, releases a cloud of eggs, a chancy ejaculate.

Stimulation, in this case, is moonlight and the temperature of the surrounding waters.

Fungi, such as molds and mushrooms, are capable of being any number of the possible 36,000 sexes.

We are all worlding here.

  –

  Much of this text was recently published as a small chapbook, NIGHTSHADES by Kastle Editions (Chicago, IL) The images depict examples of biological ‘sexual conflict’ and are held in the Wikipedia Commons.

  Elena Ailes is an artist, writer and educator who is interested in what makes her a better or worse person, especially in theory. In reality, she lives and works in Chicago, IL. You can find her work here and here.

  Other Spaces: Shifter launch at MANA Contemporary

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[doritopaw101]

Arc1, book 3: Chapter 3

-Dream sequence-

Icefire was standing in a grassy field. The stars shimmered all around him. He saw Redtail sitting in front of him, a furious look on his face.

"Just what did you think you were doing?" Redtail growled.

Icefire rolled his eyes. Redtail hadn't talked to him since the accident, and now this was the first thing he says. At least Goosefeather wanted to be kind, he thought. "Saving an apprentice from being killed."

"Yes, Tiger-roar's son," he remarked, his voice edged with a snarl. "Of all the cats to save you pick-"

"Yes, I know what you're thinking, but Swiftpaw is not his father," Icefire growled, cutting him off.

"Maybe not now, but Swiftpaw can become exactly like his father later. Being trained by Fogtail certainly doesn't help."

"Fogtail chose Thunderclan over Tiger-roar!" Icefire closed his eyes in frustration. "Darkstripe's the one I'm more worried about."

"As you should." Icefire had never been more thankful for Goosefeather than he was at this moment.

"Goosefeather! It's been a while since I've seen you," Icebelly mewed.

"Thank this one." he pointed his muzzle at Redtail before turning back to Icefire. "Walk with me"

Icefire followed Goosefeather. He expected Redtail to pad after him or tell him not to leave, but Redtail made no move to stop him. Instead, the former deputy walked the other way towards the rotten forest.

"What nonsense did Redtail say?"

"He was yelling at me for saving Swiftpaw..."

"Ah, Pinestar's great-great-grandson." Goosefeather padded into long grass with Icefire close behind him.

"You know Pine?"

"I was mates with them, in life and in death," Goosefeather rasped.

"They did mention a gray speckled cat when they came to see me as a kit."

Another voice, different from Goosefeather's, but still familiar to Icefire's ears, sounded a few fox-lengths away from them. "Glad you remember me, Splinter." Icefire looked ahead and saw the same reddish-brown tabby tom, those same warm green eyes…

"Of course I do," Icefire mewed, feeling a strange swelling of emotion deep within him. "You stopped Nutmeg from trying to toss me in a dumpster. You scratched up her ears real good too; thought you fought pretty well, for a kittypet."

Pinestar chuckled. "I would have done worse if you and your littermates weren't there to see it."

"Yeah," Icefire agreed. "I've heard things about you Pinestar… about how you left the clan to become a kittypet."

Pinestar looked away at his words. "I didn't know what my decisions would cause."

"It caused my death," Redtail snarled as he bursted from the grass. "You should've killed Tiger-roar when you had the chance!" the tortie swung his head towards Goosefeather. "You should've killed him. You had the duty to Thunderclan as a medicine cat."

"I couldn't kill my own son! How'd you feel if you had to kill Sandstorm for the good of the clans?"

"It would save a lot of death," Redtail retorted.

"Easier said than done, kit," Goosefeather mewed curtly. "It's why Bluestar didn't have Tiger-roar and Nightshade killed."

"That's what I've been saying," Icefire added.

Redtail let out a yowl of fury, turned, and disappeared into the grass.

Goosefeather sighed as Redtail raced away. His voice took on a more ominous tone as he turned to Icefire and murmured grimly, "Danger approaches."

"What danger? Tiger-roar? Nightshade?" Icefire asked.

"A danger that seems to sleep and a danger that seems to be light," Goosefeather drawled vaguely.

Before he could ask any more questions, Pinestar and Goosefeather began to fade as the world quickly melted all around him.

-Dream sequence ends-

Icefire groaned as he came to. They now knew how Cinderfreeze felt. His vision was blurred but his ears didn't ring. He tried to stand but a voice made him freeze.

"Icefire! You're awake."

Icefire didn't need to see to know who was addressing him. He landed back in his nest with a thump. "How long have you been here, Swiftpaw?"

"For a while," Swiftpaw replied, still in shock. "I hoped you'd wake soon."

"I bounce right back, " he laughed dryly. "Can I have some water?"

"Oh, yes," Swiftpaw mewed quickly. "Hold on."

Swiftpaw hastily ripped some moss that was growing in the corner of the den, dipped it in the small stream that trickled through the cavern walls and into the den, and rushed back to him. "Here."

Icefire greedily started lapping at the soaked moss.

"I should thank you," Swiftpaw mewed. "You saved me when you could have left me."

"I would never leave a cat when I know I could save them," he replied.

"But you chose to save me- Tiger-roar's son."

Icefire stared at Swiftpaw even though his eyes were blurred and his head bobbed slightly "Your blood had nothing to do with it, Swiftpaw." he tried to stand once more. "Any cat who says differently will deal with me and Goldenflower."

Swiftpaw chuckled. "True, though you really shouldn't stand."

"I do want you to have your warrior name, though."

Swiftpaw perked up "Really?" he shifted slightly. "I have a shoulder injury right now, again."

"I want to talk with Bluestar, anyway; you and Lynxpaw should be warriors."

Swiftpaw's fur fluffed up in excitement. "I'll go get Yellowfang and Thymeroot!"

/

It took him two more days before Thymeroot let him leave the medicine den, but he was still prohibited from leaving the camp. The first thing that Icefire did with his newfound but somewhat limited freedom was head directly to Bluestar's den. It still held the strong scent of blood and forget-me-nots. Goldenflower's been here, he realized.

"Bluestar?" he called.

"And he lives," the blue-gray molly drawled. "With a limp, though."

"Could've been worse," he mewed.

Bluestar looked very different than ever before. Though her fur appeared to be freshly groomed, it was already becoming frizzy yet again. She was slightly cutting one of her ears anxiously with her claws, and her tail-tip kept flicking back and forth. Her flower necklace was still nowhere in sight.

He remembered his first gathering as deputy, when she hadn't worn her flower necklace:

-Flashback-

The night was young, and there wasn't a single cloud in sight. Icefire followed the ThunderClan patrol as Bluestar herded them towards Fourtrees for the monthly gatherings, where all of the cats gathered in peace. Normally warriors and apprentices would look forward to such an event, but Icefire only felt a pit of dread in his stomach at the thought of it.

They couldn't deny that he was more anxious than a mouse in a cat's claws. It was his very first gathering as deputy, and he knew that the other clans would judge ThunderClan for promoting such a young cat. He sighed. Graystripe's fur was comforting as he walked in sync alongside Graystripe and Raveneye.

Raveneye sided up next to him with a cheeky but comforting look in their eyes. "Maybe Bluestar will let me sit with you on the deputy rock to help you calm down."

"I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to try," Icefire replied. Raveneye purred at that remark.

The other clans were already present when they arrived, waiting rather impatiently for ThunderClan so that they could start the gathering. Icefire wanted to shrink as they all turned to stare at the ThunderClan patrol as they spread out into the clearing and began mingling with other clans. Although they didn't know that he was a deputy yet, he was already getting self-conscious by their stares alone.

Bluestar leaped on the Great Rock, exchanged a kind greeting, and sat close to Stormstar. The gray tabby blinked at her in acknowledgement for a moment before he struck up a conversation with her. Meanwhile, Duskstar looked shocked and almost disgusted at her lack of a flower necklace, while Marshstar didn't seem to care at all.

With a sigh, Icefire bunched his muscles and leaped onto the deputy rock, finding a comfortable spot between Deadfoot and Blazefang. Despite the recent tension between ThunderClan and ShadowClan, he'd much rather deal with Blazefang than talk to Leopardclaw. It was typical that heirs have the same spot as deputies do, so he could imagine the spotted molly's annoyed look at having to share the spot with Willowheart.

Deadfoot and Blazefang both gave him a formal nod of greeting. He could sense confusion amidst the act, but Icefire felt too dizzy to explain. He closed his eyes and struggled to breathe. He felt calm for a moment as he instinctively buried his face in Deadfoot's fur. The black tom looked shocked at the contact, but he didn't object.

"Sorry, it just-"

"Helps?" Deadfoot replied, his eyes softening. "Don't worry about it. Flycloud and Whitetail are the same way."

"How is Whitetail by the way? and Icepaw and Lionpaw?"

"She's well, Icepaw and Lionpaw are showing good progress from Webfoot and Darkfoot's words"

"Are Windclan well this moon, Deadfoot?" Icefire asked, feeling much calmer now that he could see the deputy's quick acceptance to his new position.

"We are. The rabbits are plentiful," the black tom replied. "Blazefang, I hope Shadowclan is doing well, as well as sticking to their side of the border."

Blazefang's eyes narrowed slightly. Though it was dark, Icefire could see Blazefang's ribs sticking from beneath her pelt. She looked too thin, even for ShadowClan's standards, where you could see many of their warriors' ribs jut out of their pelts on more than just occasions. "We're doing well, thank you. My clan is sticking to the border just fine, but I can't say the same for some of the others."

Icefire winced. He knew that retort was directed towards ThunderClan. He opened his jaws to deliver a stinging reply, but Willowheart interrupted, putting a halt on the tension. "Icefire, I hope that ThunderClan is well."

Icebelly hummed. "We're also doing well. How's Flameshell?"

"Great" Willowheart purred "Pondkit is growing well"

"Tiger-roar is ill, I assume," Leopardclaw drawled.

Icefire's ear twitched. If Tiger-roar being ill was enough to keep a cat as ruthless as Tiger-roar at bay, then Icefire hoped that bouts of greencough would follow him no matter where he went. "No, Tiger-roar isn't sick."

"I truly can't see a cat like Tiger-roar getting so injured that he can't attend a gathering, much less let a dizzy kittypet be his replacement," Leopardclaw sneered.

Icefire released a low growl. Deadfoot and Willowheart looked equally as ticked at Leopardclaw's usual antics.

"Well, aren't you rude tonight, cousin," Deadfoot sneered back.

Cousins? He could barely see a resemblance between the two, so it came as a mighty shock to Icefire. Why would Deadfoot defend him, a stranger, against his own cousin? What was even more shocking, though, was that even Lichenfang was jumping to his defense.

"Icefire is a warrior, Leopardclaw," Blazefang stated plainly, flicking her long fangs with her tongue. "Something that you seem to forget."

"Yes. He became a warrior the same time that I did," Willowheart added.

"Only because Bluestar took pity," Leopardclaw sneered. "She's losing it in my eyes/"

"And Stormstar seemed to take pity on you when he was foolish enough to let you stand in for Voleclaw," he answered. Deadfoot and Blazefang both snickered while Leopardclaw only looked stunned. She unsheathed her claws and bared her teeth, looking ready to spring.

Before she could do anything else to hurt him, Icefire turned away. He swivelled his ears, acting as though he were listening to a juicy piece of gossip, but he really wanted to pounce and rip into the RiverClan deputy's pelt. But he couldn't break the truce, and if he continued this argument any further, he was convinced Leopardclaw might.

"Now, if we may all begin," Marshstar grunted, her long claws flexed. "Duskstar, you speak first."

"WindClan has been doing well this moon, and there is nothing more to say about it. On chilly nights like these, an elderly cat such as myself only wants to curl up in the warmth of his nest. I see no need to waste our time with other trivial news. Stormstar, what do you have to say about your clan tonight?"

"Riverclan is thriving this leaf-fall. We have several new apprentices: Dogpaw, who is mentored by Vixentail; Coalpaw, who is mentored by Reedtail; Blackpaw, who is mentored by Dawnscale; Pikepaw, who is mentored by Shadepelt; Gullpaw, who is mentored by Suneyes; Minkpaw, who is mentored by Mudbelly, and Garpaw, who is mentored by Blackclaw"

A chorus of cheers echoed across the fourtrees as everyone chanted the new apprentices' names. Vixentail was sitting next to Dogpaw, giving the young apprentice an affectionate nudge. Dogpaw looked shy, dipping her head to avoid every cat looking at her, while all of the other apprentices next to her seemed to be congratulating each other.

Now, as it was Marshstar's turn, Icefire couldn't help but cower. He had a sneaking suspicion that Marshstar would mention the unfair dispute at the thunderpath, and that they would swear revenge. But instead, Marshstar opened their mouth and calmly announced, "Muddypaw has earned the name Muddytail. I had a litter while two were born still one survived whom I've named Silverkit, Blossomhaze has given birth to two healthy kits: Strikekit and Blossomkit and Goldenmint has given birth to a healthy kit named Mintkit" she seemed so calm " Other than that, ShadowClan has no news to share other than the sighting of a fox. It has strayed into your territory, Bluestar, so your clanmates had better keep a long look."

"Must all of ShadowClan's foxes be made into ThunderClan's problems?" Bluestar asked, though it was very clearly rhetorical.

"Apologies, Bluestar," Marshstar replied with an insincere sneer.

Bluestar narrowed her eyes at the shadow cat's words, but she didn't return the same snarky tone. Instead, she calmly announced to the other clans, "I bring awful news to the clans tonight, but thankfully it needs only to be repeated once; Tiger-roar and Nightshade have been exiled from ThunderClan for treason."

The crowd of cats gasped in shock, immediately turning to each other to murmur hushed speculations amongst each other. The ThunderClan cats only stood looking awkward or angry at the sound of the traitors' names.

"How high of treason?" Leopardclaw asked.

"The highest degree, with the charge of trying to kill their own leader. When they were exiled, they were sent off with injuries. If you find them on your territory, you may treat them the same as any other rogue and kill them," Bluestar mrwoed.

"Why didn't you kill them?" Duskstar growled.

"Would you kill cats you raised as your own?" Bluestar asked plainly. "Cats you loved as your own kits?"

Duskstar looked away.

-Flashback ends-

Taking his attention away from Bluestar's lack of a flower necklace, he quickly remembered what he was here for. "I wanted to ask about Swiftpaw and Lynxpaw's warrior ceremony."

Bluestar's eyes narrowed. "Ah... Yes, Traitor-roar's kits."

"Swiftpaw and Lynxpaw deserves to be warriors!" Icefire replied. "Fogtail and Willowpelt says they're doing very well."

Bluestar huffed. "Ah, Fogtail... a Tiger-roar supporter."

"Fogtail stood against Tiger-roar and Nightshade, and he…" Icefire trailed off as the outline of Redtail caught his vision. Redtail laid next to Bluestar, his red fluffy tail draped over Bluestar's back. One would think this was sweet, but Icefire knew better, especially after all he's dealt with from the likes of Dewflare, Robinwing, and Nightshade.

"What happened to Seedspots?"

Bluestar chuckled dryly. "You'll see soon enough" she stood up, shaking lavender petals from her fur.

/

So much had changed these past few days, and naturally, he sought comfort in the nursery. It would always be a calming place for him. For everything that's happened to be honest. He let Snowkit and Mistlekit nuzzle into his belly. Waspkit and Hornetkit were staring intently into his blood red eyes. Milk-kit was playing with his tail.

He felt very satisfied that Seedspots had been given apprentice duties, but personally he thought her exile should've been longer. It was even better when Seedspots had to serve him personally. He took full advantage of the tortie waiting on him, paw and tail. It made it even better when Seedspots's kits flocked to him rather than their mother or father.

He'd recently taken to decorating his fur with gladiolus since he woke, it had been Thymeroot's idea. Raveneye wore bird feathers behind his ear such as crow, raven, dove, pigeon, and surprisingly robin feathers. Robinwing wore the same thing. He could never forget Graystripe's flower crowns they wore for the gender they were feeling. He was grateful that there had been enough downtime for him and his clanmates to have a bit of fun.

Icefire saw a lot of ghosts in the camp and all over the territories. It left him slightly unnerved, but he was beginning to grow used to it. He thought they were lost spirits or cats from StarClan, but something in his mind told him that the clans had a version of Hell. They've been trying to talk to Redtail, Spottedleaf, and Goosefeather for answers but it was always vague.

He saw Lynxpaw enter with a concerned look on her face. Her golden and black spotted face was twisted with fear and confusion.

"Uhh...er..Icefire?" she said.

"Yes?"

"There's something you should go see, since I don't see Bluestar..."

Icefire slowly rested Snowkit and Mistlekit into their nest and rushed out of the nursery. He caught the scent of ShadowClan and immediately went on the defensive, fearing that the worst might've happened.

Mews of alarm rang around the clearing, but there was no big threat in sight. Seedspots' head appeared through the wall of leaves, her green eyes gleaming with excitement.

"We've captured two Shadowclan warriors trying to invade!"

Icefire saw the two warriors, it was Littlecloud and Whitethroat. As much as he was pissed at Whitethroat, he was more pissed at Seedspots. "I doubt they were invading. Where did your patrol find them?"

"By the Owl Tree," Sleetpelt explained. "They were sleeping, the nerve."

"Has Bluestar been told?" Icefire asked. "She'll want to know."

"Dustpelt's telling her now," Cherrycloud replied. "Don't know if she'll come out of her den, though."

Icefire sighed and tried to relax. "Did they put up a fight?"

"No," Leopardstorm admitted, flicking his bushy gray tail. "When we woke them up, they begged us to bring them here."

Icefire was confused now. "Begged?" he centered his gaze on Whitethroat.

"Where are they?" Bluestar yowled, shoving her way through the crowd of cats, her face filled with rage. "Is this an attack? Seedspots, did you do something?"

Seedspots let out a shocked gasp. "I haven't done fox-dung!"

"This time you didn't," Raveneye sneered.

"Leopardtorm's patrol found them sleeping on our territory," Icefire mewed to his leader.

"Sleeping?" Bluestar snarled, her ears flat against her head. "Are we being invaded or not? Because if this is an invasion then Marshstar needs to try harder than that."

"No invasion, Bluestar," Whitethroat mewed weakly. "I promise."

"Then why have you come here?" Bluestar growled, claws unsheathing and tail lashing. "I expected an attack because of my foolish warrior's mistake. if you're not here for that what are you here for?"

"She has a great point. Littlecloud, why are you two here?" Icefire said, still with a cold tone, but not as harsh as his leader.

The brown tabby stared at Icefire with round, frightened eyes, and Icefire felt a stab of sympathy. "W..Whitethroat and I came here h..hoping you'd give us food and healing herbs."

Hisses and growls of disbelief rose from the Thunderclan cats, and Littlecloud shrank back, pressing his scrawny body against the earth.

"Stop it, all of you!" Thymeroot's voice sounded softly in Icefire's ear. She seemed to study the two ShadowClan cats with narrowed eyes. "These cats are no threat to us. They are sick." she padded forward and touched Littlecloud's forepaw gently with her nose. "His pad is warm," she mewed. "He has a fever."

Thymeroot was about to sniff Whitethroat's paw when Yellowfang forced their way through the throng of cats. "No, Thymeroot!" they screeched. "Get away from them!"

Thymeroot leaped around. "Why? These cats are sick. We must help them!" She twisted her head, looking pleadingly first at Icefire, then at Bluestar.

Every cat turned expectantly to Bluestar, but the Thunderclan leader just stared huge-eyed at the captives. Icefire could see the old blue-gray molly struggling with anger and fear, her blue eyes clouded in confusion. He realized he had to distract the clan. He could see the hostility of his clanmates, and he feared a fight would break out if he didn't interrupt.

As much as he shouldn't, he couldn't stop himself from letting out a snort. "Why us? What made you come to our territory?" he asked.

Whitethroat heaved himself up. "Why not you? WindClan would hardly give us the time of day, and RiverClan is too far. It was difficult to get to your side of the territory... no way were we going to try to get to RiverClan!"

Despite the somewhat solid explanation, the clan hostility didn't seem to die down much at all, and Bluestar still was silent.

"And?" Icefire mewed with a roll of his eyes. "WindClan has more herb knowledge than Thunderclan does, Riverclan has more ways of physical healing then this clan. Just swallow your pride and ask them for help." he heard his clanmates snicker, which made him feel strong.

Whitethroat stared at Icefire in horror. "Are you insane, Icebelly? You know our history. Duskstar may seem peaceful, but I know he wouldn't help us. Marshstar is sick. The camp is in chaos with most cats ill. There are not enough herbs or fresh-kill to go around."

Icefire hissed. "It's Icefire, shadow cat." he took a swipe at Whitethroat to which the black tom barely managed to duck

"What's Palecloud and Blossomhaze doing? They're your healers. It's up to them to tend to you all!" Yellowfang spat.

Icefire was surprised by her tone but he didn't let it show. He was surprised by the lack of compassion toward her former clanmates, especially her own grandson in Whitethroat.

"Marshstar seemed right as rain at the last gathering," Darkstripe growled.

"Calm and collected when telling us about foxes they drove onto our territory," Bluestar agreed, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"She got worse… so much worse, when she returned to our camp. Palecloud was with her all throughout the night. He dragged Blossomhaze into it, and they let one of Crowcloud's kits die without even a poppy seed to ease its suffering journey to StarClan! Barkface came over against Duskstar's orders and got ill as well. Blossomhaze has gone to Windclan to finish Tawnypaw's training and as repayment for Barkface's condition! Dawncloud's son, Ratkit, got injured and almost died from another infection. We are afraid that they'll let us die, too. Please, help us!"

He hadn't talked to Dawncloud much but he knew damn well she had suffered enough under Brokenstar; she didn't deserve to almost lose another one of her kits. But as much as his heart ached for ShadowClan, his duty was to ThunderClan, as was Yellowfang's duty.

"They must leave," Yellowfang insisted in a low growl.

"Why?" Thymeroot retorted. "They're no threat to us in this state!"

"They carry a disease I've seen before in ShadowClan, called carrion disease." Yellowfang began to circle the Shadowclan cats, studying them, but keeping her distance. "It killed many cats last time."

"How did this happen?" Willowpelt asked.

"Rats from carrionplace." Yellowfang glared at Littlecloud. "You are all taught not to hunt them."

"We don't have a choice," Whitethroat replied. "We've had to make sure no foxes or badgers take the little prey, rats were the only thing that we could get."

"Bluestar? What should we do?" Icefire asked his leader. "We are at your command."

"It has not been long since greencough ravaged the camp. Kits died, and you lost a life, Bluestar" The Silverblood narrowed her eyes. "They must leave."

Bluestar nodded. "You are right, Yellowfang," she mewed. "These cats must leave. Icefire, send them away! If they come back, rip them to shreds." Her voice was flat and expressionless as she turned back to her den.

[tipsycad147]

Baneful Herbs

Baneful herbs are herbs that can cause death or severe illness in the hands of one with malicious intentions, and also simply by accident. Some of these are so dangerous that they should be handled with gloves as the toxin can enter your system through your skin while others require you to ingest an often horrible tasting herb and still others are only dangerous if certain parts are ingested under certain conditions. Yet despite all of this, these herbs have a rich history in witchcraft.

Many of these herbs are beautiful or useful in magic and healing or even have delicious edible parts and these have earned them a place in our gardens and homes. Some embrace the baneful herb and keep a Baneful Herb garden out of interest or simply to keep all of the dangerous plants together to make it easier to protect them from children or pets. However you feel about baneful herbs, it’s a good idea to make sure you know what they are, just in case they’re in your yard, so you can protect your family and also best enjoy these fascinating plants.

The information provided here should not be taken as a substitute for medical guidance. If you suspect poisoning or have questions about poisonous plants, call the Poison Control Helpline at 1-800-222-1222. It is free, it is confidential, it is always available and they are experts. (I am not an expert.)

Baneful Plants in the Traditional Witches Garden

The herbs in this list have historical or folkloric mention and traditional use somewhere. Many modern witches grow these herbs merely for historical interest, and many still put them to use.

Hellebore, Helleborus spp Hellebore is a beautiful flower in the buttercup family that blooms in early spring in the shade. It was used by the ancients to heal a variety of ills, including insanity. But Hellebore is toxic causing symptoms including vertigo, ringing in the ears, excessive thirst, stupor, panic, a feeling of suffocation, swelling of the tongue and throat, vomiting, slowing of the heart rate, collapse and death. Luckily, hellebore tastes horrible and burns going down, so poisoning events are rare. Some believe that Alexander the Great died of Hellebore poisoning. Hellebore is used in invisibility spells and preparing talismans.

Hemlock Hemlock is the common name given to a number of plants in the carrot family including the aptly named Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum, the water hemlocks Cicuta spp and the water dropworts Oenanthe spp. They are mentioned in folklore, but aren’t very useful beyond poisoning and are really unattractive plants, so I actually hesitate to suggest that many witches purposefully grew them historically. They’re easy enough to wildcraft if you really need them. Poison hemlock is best known for being the instrument of execution of Socrates. Water hemlock is notable for its quick action, often producing symptoms within 15 minutes including severe seizures. Accidental poisonings occur because these plants strongly resemble edible species within the carrot family, like parsnip, celery and carrots.

Belladonna Atropa belladonna Also known as Deadly Nightshade or simply Nightshade, this plant has a lot of very interesting history which we will continue to explore on its dedicated page. Belladonna has many medical and folkloric uses, but it is a highly toxic plant. It is especially dangerous because the berries are attractive and sweet and yet just five could kill and adult. Symptoms include dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, very fast heart rate, difficulty walking, loss of balance, headache, flushing of skin and the appearance of a rash or hives, dry mouth, slurred speech, inability to urinate or defecate, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, convulsions and general disruption of the parasympathetic nervous system. Recovery is possible if medical treatment is received in time. Traditionally, Belladonna is said to be another ingredient in flying ointment and is used in magick to enhance beauty.

Datura, Datura spp Daturas are striking garden flowers with some species (Moonflower) blooming only at night, making them a popular addition to the a Moon Garden. All species of Datura are very poisonous. The seeds and flowers are the most toxic parts of the plant. However, they have been used for centuries as medicine and are, unfortunately, occasionally purposely ingested to experience their hallucinogenic effects. Symptoms of datura poisoning include delirium, elevated body temperature, increased heart rate, abnormal behaviour, dilated pupils, painful sensitivity to light. Those who survive often report amnesia of the event, or that it was a horrible experience. Datura is said to allow one to see spirits and to induce psychic dreams as well as to aid in hex-breaking work. It is also mentioned in recipes for flying ointment.

Foxglove Digitalis spp Foxglove is a staple of cottage and witches gardens, a star in shady places and is also used to create medicine for heart disease and an appetite suppressant. The poison in foxglove is a cardiotoxin, which is why it’s so popular as a murder weapon in TV shows for making it look like a heart attack. But that is fiction. Foxglove poisoning causes visual disturbances including halos and abnormal colour vision (seeing yellow), wild hallucinations, delirium, drooling, weakness, dilated pupils, tremors, severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, and seizures as well as heart arrhythmia and abnormal heart rate. It’s very unpleasant. The poison remains potent in the plant regardless of heat or drying. People have been poisoned by mistaking foxglove for Comfrey. Foxglove is a popular faerie plant.

Henbane Although every single part of henbane is toxic, it does have some healing properties and is an ingredient in some of your more classic magickal brews so it is a staple in many a witch’s garden. It is used to communicate with the dead and other spirits and for binding spells. Henbane is said to be another favourite of the faeries. Symptoms of henbane toxicity include hallucinations (particularly the sensation of flight), restlessness, dilated pupils and a flushed appearance.

Aconite Aconitum spp Also related to the buttercups family, monkshood and wolfsbane have a fast-acting poison that can have you puking in the morning and dead by lunchtime. The really scary thing about this plant is that you don’t have to eat it. It can be absorbed through the skin, and, according to the lore, was used in flying ointment. Witches gathering monkshood are encouraged to wear gloves and know the signs of toxicity. It begins with nausea and diarrhoea and progresses to a tingling sensation and numbness in the mouth and throat and a burning sensation of the abdomen. The numbness and tingling would then spread through the body accompanied by weakness of the limbs. This may all be accompanied by sweating, dizziness, headache, confusion and difficulty breathing. Finally, the cardiac symptoms kick in, arrhythmia, a drop in blood pressure and finally paralysis of the heart and respiratory system. Survival is possible with supportive care, particularly if charcoal is administered within the first hour.

Elder Sambucus spp sp Elders give us medicine and tasty berries for wine and jelly, but the entire plant is poisonous, though not usually deadly. The unripe berries are toxic and in some species, the ripe berries are only slightly less so. Cooking the berries renders them edible, but the leaves, wood, and seeds of the elder remain toxic. Elder twigs should never be used to make cooking stakes or touch food. The plant can cause a build-up of cyanide in the body over time, even if it doesn’t make you sick right away. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, dizziness, numbness, and stupor. One incident isn’t likely to kill an otherwise healthy adult, but children and animals are especially at risk.

Mandrake Mandrake is an herb heavy with lore that has earned its place in the witch’s garden or herb chest. It is used in an impressive variety of spells, from love spells to the treatment and prevention of demonic possession. It also has an impressive number of toxic alkaloids that result in a number of unpleasant symptoms if ingested including hallucinations, hyperactivity, dilated pupils, blurred vision, dry mouth, difficulty urinating, flushed appearance, dizziness, nausea, and rapid heart rate.

Mistletoe From what I understand of Mistletoe, it’s either in your garden or not and you have no choice in the matter. But even if it’s not, many witches will buy some as it’s full of magickal uses. Only eight of the 43 species of mistletoe are toxic, including the two most commonly seen Phoradendoron flavescens and Viscum album. All parts of these mistletoes is toxic with the leaves carrying the highest concentration of toxins. You have to eat quite a bit of it to get sick, but children and pets will get sicker sooner. The most severe sickness occurs among women attempting to use mistletoe tea to bring on an abortion. Symptoms include abdominal distress, severe vomiting and diarrhoea, blurred vision, weakness and drowsiness. It is important that the patient receive supportive medical care if recovery is to occur.

Wormwood Wormwood is the notorious thujone-containing herb blamed for the purported narcotic effects of absinthe. In small quantities, wormwood is said to stimulate the appetite and the mind, but in larger quantities, which vary by individual tolerance, wormwood can cause anything from headaches and nervousness to insomnia, to convulsions. Wormwood is used primarily for banishing and protection spells.

Yew Taxus baccata Yews are popular landscaping plants and witches love them too as they link us to the Underworld and are considered sacred to several traditions. But yews are highly toxic with the interesting exception of the juicy red aril that surrounds the (highly toxic) seed. I am told it is delicious. The leaves/needles are also toxic and actually increase in potency when dried. Symptoms of yew poisoning may appear mild or not present until it is very advanced. Symptoms include accelerated heart rate, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, poor circulation, (blue lips, cold limbs) fainting and heart failure.

More Baneful Garden Plants

These herbs don’t have as common mention in the folkloric record of witchcraft as others, but they are oft seen in gardens. Many do have some magickal or healing use and so are of interest to modern witches and cunning folk. Many of these plants are simply not native to Europe and so, while they were likely used in their native lands, witches didn’t start using them until more recently. Some are simply more popular for their ornamental value than they are for their magickal and healing ones. They are also toxic.

Larkspur, Consolida spp. Larkspur is a member of the buttercup family and, like the rest of them, it contains highly toxic compounds. It is also palatable when in flower. The danger is greatest to grazing livestock. Symptoms include nervousness, weakness, staggering, rapid pulse and bloat. It is important to keep the victim calm to avoid exacerbating symptoms and to keep the head raised, lay an animal facing uphill.

Delphinium Delphinium spp. Delphinium is also called Larkspur and they are very similar plants with similar toxic effects. The poison in Delphinium is most potent in the young plant where the flowers are not yet visible and so the plant has not been identified. It causes muscular issues and affects the heart. Again, most poisonings affect livestock, particularly cattle. The plants also cause significant skin irritation.

Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens Also called woodbine and evening trumpet, Jessamine is not to be confused with Jasmine, which is generally considered harmless. Every part of this plant contains neurotoxins which cause weakness, paralysis, difficultly swallowing, slowed respiration and vision issues. There are reports that Jessamine is even toxic to bees.

Oleander Nerium Oleander The toxicity of oleander has inspired song. It is considered one of the most toxic of commonly grown garden plants. However, cases of poisoning are rare as it does us the favour of having irritating sap, although the leaves are sweet. Death in these cases is also rare as symptoms present quickly allowing for quick treatment. Signs of Oleander poisoning include abdominal pain, salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea that may contain blood, irregular heartbeat, pale, cold limbs, drowsiness, tremors, seizures, collapse and coma. Treatments includes inducing vomiting and swallowing charcoal to prevent the further absorption of toxins and close medical supervision is required to treat any cardiac symptoms that may come up. All parts of the plant are toxic and retain toxic effects after heating and drying. Sticks used to spear food can transfer toxins to the food.

Castor Bean Ricinus communis Some of what you learned on Breaking Bad is true. Castor bean, a plant that makes an impressive impact in a tropical garden, is very toxic. According to the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records, it is the most poisonous plant in the world. The entire plant is toxic, but the seeds hold the most concentrated poison, ricin. Ricin is water-soluble, so castor oil can be produced from castor beans with the ricin completely absent. But ricin’s water solubility allows it to absorb readily into the digestive system. Symptoms appear anywhere from 2 to 24 hours later and include loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, weakness, burning of the mouth and throat, muscle twitching, vision disturbances, decreased reflexes, convulsions, paralysis, and coma. Symptoms can carry on for up to a week before death finally occurs due to the paralysis of the respiratory system. A full recovery can sometimes be made with supportive care.

Gloriosa, Gloriosa superba This impressive-looking garden plant is also called Flame Lily. It has been used for medicine in many cultures and has naturalised worldwide where conditions are suitable. The entire plant is poisonous and their tubers have been mistaken for edible species, like sweet potatoes. The symptoms of Gloriosa poisoning are pretty impressive and begin within a few hours. It begins with nausea and vomiting, numbness and tingling around the mouth and throat, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea, muscle pain, confusion, respiratory depression, kidney failure, lowered blood pressure, abnormal bleeding, blood in the urine, hair loss, neuropathy and peeling skin. While mild poisonings are survivable with treatment, when death occurs it’s likely to be due to multiple organ failure.

Angel’s Trumpet, Brugmansia spp Angel’s trumpet is a really impressive plant. The flowers are beautiful and they smell amazing. They’re closely related to Datura and equally deadly poison. The entire plant is poisonous, but the seeds and the leaves are the most toxic. Symptoms of Angel’s Trumpet poisoning include migraine-like headaches, visual and auditory hallucinations, dry mouth, diarrhoea, confusion, dilated pupils and paralysis of the smooth muscles. Many poisonings occur when people consume the plant on purpose to experience its hallucinatory effects, though survivors often report either complete amnesia of the event or that it was horrific.

Mayapple Mayapple, also called American Mandrake is one of my favourite spring plants. Although the entire plant is toxic, the ripe fruit’s toxicity is so low as to not be an issue unless you’re gorging yourself on them. Eating any part of the rest of the plant, however, can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, confusion, dizziness, hallucination, lowered reflexes, weakness, seizures, stupor, numbness, and tingling of the extremities, rapid pulse, respiratory issues, organ damage, and coma. Just allowing some of the sap to get onto open skin can produce symptoms.

Nicotiana, aka Tobacco Nicotiana species contain nicotine and other toxins in their leaves as a defence against predators, particularly caterpillars and insects that chew on leaves. The most popular garden versions release amazing fragrance at night, attracting their moth pollinators and so are used in moon gardens. The Nicotiana species of interest to a witch do not tend to be as attractive, but have higher levels of toxins. Humans and animals who have ingested nicotiana species may present with drooling, sweating, dizziness, nausea, loss of coordination, confusion, racing heart, constricted pupils, loss of consciousness and paralysis. Death can result. These symptoms can be caused by eating nicotiana species and by inhaling a large concentration of the toxins.

Pokeweed Phytolacca americana Pokeweed is a lovely plant that grows wild throughout the US. The entire plant is toxic though the ripe berries are slightly less toxic than the rest of the plant. Very young shoots are gathered by some brave souls and specially prepared and eaten under the name poke salet. Symptoms of poisoning include burning sensation in the mouth, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea, anemia, changes in heart rate, respiratory distress and convulsions. A full recovery can be made with medical support, assuming you were healthy to begin with.

Maybe Not Baneful but Worth Mentioning

Narcissus, Narcissus spp Daffodils are hugely popular spring garden flowers with a bit of lore behind them. They are often chosen to brighten up a spot where other plants have been browsed by deer or woodchucks since they are not attractive to them. Human poisonings are rare and usually occur when daffodil bulbs are confused with onions or Jerusalem artichokes. Cats also tend to chew on the leaves. Narcissus poisoning is usually mild, but unpleasant with the usual vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive salivation, changes to heart rate and breathing. A full recovery can be expected with proper supportive care. Yea, not exactly baneful, just don’t plant them in your vegetable patch.

Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley is a popular woodland garden plant for its hardy nature, it’s dainty appearance and it’s sweet fragrance. It is a plant steeped in lore and popular in wedding bouquets. It is also another plant whose toxins can easily be absorbed through the skin and I know of several gardeners who have done this. Symptoms include dizziness, confusion, lethargy, nausea and headaches, visual disturbances and dilated pupils, flushing of the skin and the appearance of hives or a rash, hot flashes, excessive urination, cardiac arrhythmia, collapse, coma and death. Of course, eating Lily of the Valley is even more dangerous as is drinking the water the plants have been in. Survival by otherwise healthy adults is very likely with good supportive care.

Less Magical, but Toxic

False Hellebore Veratrum viride False hellebore is not likely to be in your garden except as a weed. I mention it only because it shares the name hellebore so it’s of some interest. Although it has some historic Native American use, it’s not used for much by anyone today. And it’s pretty unattractive too. This is an American native plant that is detested by farmers as a livestock killer. It can also cause pregnant livestock to bear deformed offspring. This highly toxic plant causes nausea and vomiting, vertigo, cold sweats, lowered blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia and slowed respiration.

Autumn Crocus Colchicum autumnale Autumn crocus is not a true crocus although it resembles one. Eating a true crocus will make you sick, but once you’ve had a good purge, you’ll be fine. Eating an autumn crocus can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, respiratory distress, and seizures. Autumn crocus does have therapeutic uses. Most poisonings occur when autumn crocus is mistaken for wild garlic by foragers. Survival does not seem to be likely with this one.

Learn More

If you suspect poisoning or have any questions about poisoning prevention, call the National Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222. This is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a non-emergency number. Do not wait for symptoms or attempt home care without calling them first. If symptoms have appeared, call 911 or transport the victim to the nearest emergency room immediately.

ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants The Pet Poison Helpline

Note to add calamus, broom, deer tongue, High John the Conqueror, pennyroyal, tonka.

https://witchipedia.com/glossary/baneful-herbs/