#Indian Ladder Trail

[ruschtotheoutdoors]

3 Waterfalls Close to Schenectady/Capital District, New York

Looking for a #waterfall #hike or two in #Upstate New York? Check out these 3 waterfalls near Schenectady. #hikes #hiking #hikingadventures #falls #waterfalls #waterfallhike #NewYork #Schenectady #CapitalDistrict #daytrip #bestwaterfalls #topwaterfalls

[unchartedthelostlegacy]

Chloe grew up expecting everyone to have the same tenuous relationship with trust that she does. It's embarassing it took what, 40 years? To realize it's not like that?

Worse, she didn't notice the change. Like it was a big switch in a building that someone pushed and it changed everything about the place, but the idiots partying in the penthouse suite are none the wiser.

"Don't," she snaps at Nadine, who is on the deck chair by the pool putting on the one sunscreen that doesn't leave a white cast.

"What?...oh," Nadine says. "I pushed you in one body of water one time."

"Well...it..." Chloe trails off. Her feet are on the pool's edge, on top of the large letters warning them that it's 3 meters of depth and you still aren't allowed to dive in headfirst. "It left an impression."

"Just use the ladder."

"Only babies use the ladder, Nadine."

"Ja? Have you ever tried to teach a baby to climb a ladder?"

Chloe pushes back her hair behind her ears to stall for time. She sighs and steps forward.

The cold plunge is bracing. Every river and gross flooded pool and puddle and aqueduct they went splash into was at least warm in the Indian summer. It's early morning, September, and the Greek sun has yet to heat the hotel's pool. But it would be too crowded for them to enjoy later.

The bubbles, the blue floor of the pool, the eye-sting, and then she's buoyant on the surface again, catching her breath.

"C'mon in, china."

"No."

Nadine is lying on her side on the deck chair. Her eyes are languidly moving across the pages of her book. She lies this same way in her bed before she turns off the bedside light and goes to sleep.

"We have only a little while before everybody else wakes up, you know."

Chloe knows this is not persuasive. Maybe the woman is reading a chapter about trebuchets. Maybe she is so comfortable on her beloved towel on the deck chair and--oh, she's put the book aside and stood up.

"BABY," Chloe calls out, as Nadine heads over to the pool ladder. It's a moment later when it hits her that an old woman has come out to the pool area and given her a pointed look.

As Nadine climbs into the pool, Chloe fights the impulse to hide her face behind wet hands.

It's not that someone presuming they're together is embarrassing. Nadine's a catch. It's that baby is a garbage tier pet name and Chloe wouldn't be be caught dead using it in a world of better ones. That she already has better ones for Nadine and they're not even together!

The woman takes out an IPad and Chloe looks around for the ex-mercenary to distract herself. There are only ripples in the pool, and then Nadine surfaces like a submarine, looking at a brightly colored plastic ring she's holding.

"Did you already find some treasure, china? No fair."

Nadine shoots her a smile and Chloe about melts. "I stepped on it."

"Throw it over here into the deep end," Chloe says. "I'll get some diving practice."

"You'll die."

It's because they all were moments from drowning that Nadine is nervous. But Chloe swims over to the shallows. "It's only a few meters. Come on."

Nadine is turning the ring over in her hands. Scrutinizing it. Probably regretting she found it. Then she sighs and tosses it into the other end of the pool.

"There's no lifeguard on duty."

Definitely wasn't one in the Western Ghats either, Chloe thinks as she plunges for it, ignoring the eye-sting. She can see the dulled hue of the ring on the tile floor. But something happens and she comes up, sputtering, and feels hands on her ribs, scooping her up under her arms.

"Are you all right?" Nadine says.

Chloe stammers "Did that on purpose" between coughs.

"Ja, because you just love the taste of pool water that much."

"I'm waterproof," Chloe chokes out, but maybe. Maybe she's remembering that day too.

It's stupid. She's been through how many harrowing escapes. But maybe that one pulse-pounding moment where so much hinged on so little is catching up to her after the adrenaline passed.

They don't notice a distant splash and a shadow gracefully passing by and below them under the crystalline ripples. The old woman surfaces and hands them the ring.

"Hey, I--I mean--we could--"

"Thank you but we--we know how to--"

"--we aren't scared of the deep end--"

"--she just got it up her nose--"

"I taught swimming lessons for forty-seven years," The woman says. She is treading water with zero effort. "You lasted less than ten seconds."

"I didn't take a full breath--"

"I can swim just fine and taught all my cousins--"

"--throw me right under the bus why don't you--"

"--I'll drive the bus over you, Frazer--"

It's before they know it that they're telling the woman about Asav, the train, the bomb, everything. They have cold beers in front of them and it's one hundred percent clear that she believes none of it as she taps at the match-three puzzle game on her iPad, closing ads as they pop up. They are invited to dinner by her husband when he joins her.

[kanewilliamsonbcc]

Trek to Bhimashankar, Western Ghats, India

The trek to Bhimashankar, nestled in the heart of the Western Ghats in India, is a captivating journey that offers a blend of adventure, natural beauty, and spiritual solace. This trek is popular among outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, offering an escape into the lush greenery, dense forests, and breathtaking landscapes of one of India's most famous mountain ranges. Additionally, the region's proximity to other popular destinations like Lonavala, where activities such as Lonavala tent camping are popular, adds to the appeal of this trek.

The Starting Point

The Bhimashankar trek can be approached from multiple starting points, the most common being the village of Khandas. Easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune, Khandas serves as a gateway to the verdant trails that lead to Bhimashankar. Another starting point is the village of Bhorgiri, which offers a slightly longer but equally enchanting route. Both paths promise a rewarding trekking experience, with diverse flora and fauna, cascading waterfalls, and the serene ambiance of the Western Ghats.

The Trekking Experience

The trek to Bhimashankar can be divided into two main routes: the Ganesh Ghat route and the Shidi Ghat route.

Ganesh Ghat Route: This route is relatively easier and is recommended for beginners. It winds through the scenic beauty of the Western Ghats, with gradual ascents and descents, making it a pleasurable experience. The trail is well-marked and offers stunning views of the surrounding valleys and hills.

Shidi Ghat Route: Also known as the ladder route, this path is more challenging and is suited for experienced trekkers. It involves climbing steep rock patches with the help of iron ladders, adding an element of thrill to the journey. The route is shorter but steeper, demanding a good level of fitness and caution.

Flora and Fauna

Bhimashankar is part of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a rich biodiversity. Trekkers can encounter a variety of wildlife, including the Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru), which is the state animal of Maharashtra. The sanctuary is also a haven for birdwatchers, with numerous species of birds, butterflies, and other small wildlife inhabiting the region. The dense forest cover, with its towering trees and myriad plant species, adds to the trek's allure, making it a nature lover's paradise.

Spiritual Significance

At the summit of the trek lies the ancient Bhimashankar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India, making it a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus. The temple's architecture, coupled with its serene setting amidst the forest, provides a sense of peace and spiritual fulfillment. The temple's history and legends associated with Lord Shiva add a mystical charm to the trek, attracting devotees and history enthusiasts alike.

Best Time to Trek

The ideal time to undertake the Bhimashankar trek is during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, from June to February. The monsoon rains bring the forest to life, with lush greenery and vibrant flora, while the post-monsoon period offers clear skies and pleasant weather, enhancing the trekking experience.

Nearby Attractions: Lonavala Tent Camping

For those looking to extend their adventure, Lonavala, a nearby hill station, offers excellent opportunities for tent camping. Lonavala tent camping is a popular activity, providing a unique way to experience the natural beauty of the region. The campsites in Lonavala are well-equipped and offer stunning views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges, making it an ideal destination for a weekend getaway.

The trek to Bhimashankar in the Western Ghats is a remarkable journey that combines adventure, natural beauty, and spiritual enrichment. With its diverse trekking routes, rich biodiversity, and the serene Bhimashankar Temple, it promises an unforgettable experience for trekkers. Moreover, its proximity to Lonavala, where activities like Lonavala tent camping are popular, makes it an ideal adventure for those seeking a holistic outdoor experience.

[apkville1]

🤠 Unleash the Cowboy Within! 🤠 Get ready for an exciting journey in Westland Survival, a game set in the Wild West. Create your own story, build a strong home, and protect it from dangerous enemies. Are you prepared to explore the wild, take on challenges, and become a true cowboy legend? 🏜️ Discover a Huge Open World 🏜️ Each location provides unique resources but you will also meet deadly enemies there. Visit Native American Tribes to craft spiritual items and kill all enemies at the Bandits Outpost. 🤠Build a Wild West Ranch🤠 Build a shelter that will help you to survive in the Wild West. Gather resources, craft workbenches, get rare materials and build a perfect fortress. 🧨Craft Weapons & Armor for a Fight🧨 Collect rare blueprints and craft the strongest weapons and armor. Your shooting skills will also help you in the war on bandits. 🐺Wild Animals Hunting🐺 Hunt wild animals in the open world for precious furs to survive frost and hunger or tame them to fight on your side. 🐴Build a Stable & Ride a Horse🐴 A cowboy is nothing without his horse and a ranch. Build a stable and your loyal friend will help you to travel faster and carry extra items to western adventures. Ranch simulator allows you to craft a perfect shelter. 🏆Challenge Other Players in Ladders🏆 Complete daily quests for bounty hunts to earn precious rewards from the city sheriff and participate in the PVP ladder. Invite friends to play! 🔥Create an Alliance & join PVP mode🔥 Create an Alliance and build your own town. Become the strongest Alliance in the Wild West. Mine Gold, fight for treasure with other players with PVP mode. 🐊Raise your pet. Tame any animal you want🐊 Animals not only for hunting. Every pet can be your friend. Tame animals in the open world of the Wild West. Find a pet to fight with bandits and million players worldwide from Alliances 🎁Limited Events🎁 Don't miss out on the time-limited events in the Oregon Trail. Fight off a train raid and save survivors from bandits. Traveling traders will offer their goods for sale to a survivor. Open a New World of the Westland Survival Game! Tired of shooting dead zombies in the ‘last days of Earth-themed’ survival games? Discover the action games experience of the online western world video game simulator. In the red valleys of the Wild West’s Great Oregon Trails, outlaws and even sheriffs are ready to kill men in broad daylight for good redemption. The whole new undiscovered earth is in front of you, cowboy. Frontier pioneers, bounty hunters, dead spirits – all have made shelter in the prairies of Texas or New Mexico. Imagine you are riding in the desert – this desert is like a red dead island in the middle of the lively prairies. Your wagon convoy ran into a bandit ambush and left you behind as the only survivor, but certainly grim with anger to bring those gunslingers to the hangman! Or shoot them right off their horses! But before, there’s some crafting to do – a shelter for the night, logging some wood for a bow and arrows, maybe even mining some ore for trading with the Indians. Perhaps they can teach you how to hunt deer… There are no rules of fighting for survival, no last day of your adventures, continue to play as the shooter in PVE/PVP mode. Walking through an open world multiplayer RPG game is hard. You are the last left to survive: build a shelter, design military strategy, craft guns, shoot earth walking souls, slay monsters, loot other players to survive. Westland Survival © – is a free to play RPG online mobile video game with multiplayer features. More than 10 million players enjoy the craft survival and adventure game! Begin a real exploration survival game journey in the Wild West and invite friends to play! Follow our online social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/westlandgame Official website: www.heliogames.com

[aaliawrites]

WANDER DEEPER WITH ME

Rocks of ages split in two.

There is only what is down to earth with you.

A hike.

A northwest landcape I trust you know.

You lead me off the path and I follow.

Later when we find the trail and map and confess that knew were there -

You and your wicked blue eyes,

(" Well. That wouldn't have been fun. The other way was longer" ).

An initiative to spend time together.

I fake acting shocked but am actually pleased.

I know by now. Meeting every 2 years as we do. This high school version of flirtation that gets me.

You fake tackling me and call me cute.

I swerve the advance in pleasure.

I tell you I want to glue plastic toy trolls and gems to all the green rocks and formations.

A village surprise to find in the forest.

Cute it is.

You know all the land of this island after 4 decades - the changing of seasons, the Indian reservation, the hidden Arbutus beaches, the hidden caves of Maxwell.

Deeper down we go into the land itself. Descending ropes and metal ladders, cave upon cave.

I yell off the scared parts of me.

Death meditation as messenger

Laughter as medicine.

In the cool damp feel held and safe.

A quiet I resonate with monks.

We fall into meditation.

Then we fall into shop talk, contact.

Your old days in the States.

Blindfold performances with curtains and audience interactive sexuality. Living for weeks in canyons.

Down there in the dark, you ask me how that blindfold dance was for me.

The one from the festival with the other man.

That I shared vulnerably I thought was you.

"Creative. Fluid. Caring."

I realize I just described my sensuality.

We pause in silence.

I get cold.

You tell me to sit in your lap.

I want to do more than that.

I give you may hands instead.

You tuck them into your armpit.

As you have before walking me to my car.

Oh, Canada - I wouldn't survive another winter here again.

I dance with the rocks in the dark as you speak.

Open eyes in the pitch.

Nothing to see, only to feel.

We crawl back up the ladder towards light.

Metal ascending into another kind of blindness. Disoriented by day light.

Lush landscapes as scaffolding.

I stop to lock eyes with a stag. A moment together, a pause across the green planet.

He bounds on.

(I fed a tame deer blueberries by hand earlier this morning at a meditation center.)

Sweet licks. Doe eyes. Soft heart.

Becoming kind to their kind.

This whole month on the island fyll of visual deja vu. The kind I remember as if it happened in the past, only its occuring now. I've met you before and many of the other characters too.

We've already had this hike.

We've already fallen together.

I've known long ago.

As if a dream, by day.

I look down at my feet and find a large brown feather.

Twice in Bali, my best friend who has visions, told me she saw a feather in my body, the size of my torso, while floating me in water dance.

I had no idea what she meant.

I picked it up - this is the feather.

I tell him about her. I can't hide anything.

I put in down my shirt and keep walking.

I imagine it as a quill for all my untold stories I can now begin to write.

I balance it on my hand and follow you.

Navigator, paraglider.

I think of my parents passed, and all their gifts of flight.

My hanggliding dad. My kite-making mom.

We make our way from the smallest of spaces into the vast expanse of the ocean.

I can't quite absorb the contrast.

We sit and you tell me you thought you saw someone in the field across from us flying a kite, then they disappeared. Signs from them.

You dive naked in the ocean.

(What former lovers do. God I love an outdoorsman who doesn't give a fuck).

I don't join.

I sit with my feet in the water and contemplate the sun.

I sit with my feet in the water and contemplate your existing partnership.

Morality, integrity, loyalty.

The values I value.

Karma as capital

For future incarnations.

I sit and feel like I'm shrinking.

I stare into the sun to burn out my thoughts.

You get out and contemplate the tidepool.

How they used to be filled with creatures as a kid. Now they're empty.

You say you need to get home to feed your kid dinner, the 15 year old.

You pull on your shirt, a safety pin tucked in the back neck "for splinters, for..."

(you rattle off the uses.)

I stare. "God, and he's handy too."

I laugh the laugh I cannot help.

Fake falling on my blanket.

As I hit on you.

My heart unfurling.

"Goodbye S."

5 years ago, when we first met, you were just out of a long relationship.

I was 29. I knew you had a kid.

This year now there's a new woman.

A good woman

As a good man.

I met her at the opening circle of the contact festival this year

And thought vividly 'she looks cool, amazing'.

And seconds later you introduced her as "my amazing partner'.

I don't know what to make of the preminitions.

I sit alone with my nuance and gray and all the timing that constitutes our lives and living and creating and loving and family and responsibility and twinkles in eyes and seeing what's unseen and feeling what's there in the air, and what's unspoken, what's unseen.

What's light as a feather.

That languages we share.

I sit by the ocean alone after you leave and voice note the friend with the feather about you. Pick blackberries by my car for dinner. Drive off to ecstatic dance to burn off the energy.

To continue the dance of life.

I share a present contact dance with someone new.

He mentions your name.

Says you're a good man.

I agree.

Me on my way slowly to becoming a great woman.

One whose body holds the same origins of contact programming, from the same studio, our dance lineage.

One who will follow you down ladders into the unknown recesses of the great silent holding earth.

Who would stop wandering

And become still

In your mountain.

If only to become real

With you.

Thank you for searching for the light and dark together.

Thank you for seeing (and feeling) me.

~ A

[ncdayhiker]

#11 - Pilot Mountain State Park - 5/31/2023

Surry County / 1721 Pilot Knob Park Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043 / GPS: 36.3408, -80.461 ..... PARK MAP

Fast Facts: 20 miles northwest of Winston Salem, Pilot Mountain and its infamous quartzite plug is the definitive monadnock in the state, if not the country. It is an outlier of the Sauratown Mountains that also includes Hanging Rock. The Saura Indians called it Jomeokee which translates to "great guide" or "pilot". Visitors can drive to the summit area beside Little Pinnacle, but hikers can no longer reach the peak, called Big Pinnacle (2,420 ft). When it was established as the 14th state park in our arsenal in 1968, hikers could climb stairs and a ladder to the top of this commercial attraction; however this ended in an effort to preserve the habitat and nesting sites of the many ravens, raptors, hawks (and the occasional bald eagle). The Pilot Knob trail, formerly Jomeokee trail does still circle the base and affords close up views.

Trail(s): Grindstone Trail, Ledge Spring Trail and Pilot Knob Trail - 2.77 miles / 1:15:27 - AllTrails + Strava

Hike Buddies: Mike Butz

Hike Conditions: foggy, high 60s at the start quickly replaced with sun and low 70s.

Comments: It took us about 1 hour 25 min to get there. I picked Mike up shortly after 10:30a and we arrived just after noon. We had a slight scare a few minutes upon arrival as the skies let out a quick shower and the fog rolled in. When we parked at the summit, visibility was pretty much zero. As such, we took our time getting ready for the start. After 10 minutes, we got down to business, heading west from the parking lot to the Grindstone trail. It wasn't long before the sun peaked through and the fog lifted. And it wasn't long before an easy/moderate hike turned more difficult. The downhill we enjoyed on the first part of the hike was replaced with a strenuous uphill ascent on Ledge Spring Trail which included a handful of significant climbs up natural stairs adjoining the crags of the mountain. Lets just say that I'm glad I've been at his for a bit and that this was not my first rodeo, else ... It was awesome to finally see and admire the crown jewel - Pilot Mountain/Big Pinnacle. We made our way down and around the base and enjoyed views of nearby Hanging Rock State Park. For our hard work, we enjoyed a Maine Beer - Lunch at the conclusion of this hike, probably the smallest one in distance and time to date, but one of the tougher ones. Lastly, we stopped at the Morgan Ridge Brewery in Salisbury on our way home to refuel with some provisions (quesadilla and beer for me).

[mossangel]

[nobodysfalls]

Minelot Falls, Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, New York

[oattoast]

I stopped posting my daily or nigh-daily mental health birdwalk field notes, but I feel like it's REALLY IMPORTANT to acknowledge that I saw not one but TWO (2) California quails this weekend on a local hiking trail. I also heard a bunch of them calling quite a bit all morning. I love them so much.

I don't have pictures of any birds I saw that day but I'm over the moon at them all.

Lots of scrub to hide in!! I did see a few new birds.

Here are my chaotic field notes, which I edited to add details or IDs:

- California scrub jays (yelling a bunch)

- quails, 2 (female or immature males, ran across path and into a bush. Flushed when people passed and they flew by me)

- Turkey vultures (soaring)

- male quail (yelling, didn't see)

- acorn woodpeckers (?? Maybe nuttals, hairy, or downy? Heard drum "calls" very cool)

- rufous crowned sparrows (big! caught his song and then saw him through the binoculars. I've seen these before at a city park but this is my first this year)

- cassin's kingbird (dark top black brow yellow belly)

- yellow belly black hat terrible bowl cut (lesser goldfinch. I had to quickly note defining features because I couldn't remember the bird's name but had seen it in a guide.... Bowl cut lmao....)

- lots of house finches, mourning doves, ravens

- red tail hawk (soaring)

- blue-gray gnatcatcher. I don't have pics but they look like this and he had an Incredible Eyebrow:

Photo of a breeding male in Maryland in April Copyright: Kojo Baidoo.

I saw this bird for the first time this year in a mountainous area. Very chatty and has a lovely buzzy call

- many birds overhead I couldn't stop to id. Swallows, swifts, and various small birds!! Migrating!!

- tiny woodpecker with fluffy red head climbing all over a sycamore tree like a tree creeper. I thought it was a nuttal's because I glimpsed a ladder pattern on its back but didn't check closer because I wasn't aware that there are also downy and hairy woodpeckers in the area 😫😩 doubt my ID

- heard California towhee but didn't see or log it because I wanna see them first with my eyeballs.

- heard house wren (??) and yellow warbler (???). I think I spotted the wren but am not sure

- heard lots of Indian peafowl. On the drive back was forced to stop to allow a feral male peacock slowly and regally cross the road. He had a big-ass train of feathers and did not care one bit that he was impeding traffic and could have been squished. He was beautiful and I hope he's okay

All in all it was a good birding day (despite feeling like I didn't see many at the time), and I met my goal of 1) hiking for the first time since developing asthma in 2019-2020, and 2) challenging the anxiety and depression (compounded by very real pandemic terror) that's kept me indoors and isolated for several years now.

I did see huge crowds of people and very few masks. I wore my N95 most of the time which helped with my allergic asthma and hopefully kept me safe from anything folks exhaled (quite a lot) in my presence. My anxiety levels were completely manageable, though I became irritable a few times because I went to a nature spot to hear birds and instead heard a lot of annoying chatter and people with speakers.

It was also quite warm. I have a possible case of POTS and some other physical stuff going on, but knowing how to manage things to accommodate my physical symptoms makes a world of difference.

I'm getting stronger every day. Taking care of my body (washing it, feeding it, getting it sun and seeing birds as much as possible). Weighing risks to do what I need to take care of my brain too. This is going well and I am going to heal and get strong.

I'm only 31. I have so much to learn about the earth (I didn't even stop to consider the rest of the ecosystem I visited; what were the plants? The water, the air, the rocks and soil? What other fauna did I miss? My dad hikes here weekly and says he has seen deer, and coyotes).

Being outside my room is very different. I never feel like I belong anywhere, never feel at home. But I'm here. I belong here. I am going to keep working at being outside as much as possible, hiking weekly, so that when I slip into a depressive episode, I can come back easier. It's time to be kind to this body and mind.

[tamorasky]

Mistress Anna Chapter 29

Rating: M

Summary: It wasn’t uncommon for the women to be eventually cast aside, Anna was just naive enough to believe it would never happen to her.

Relationships: Anna/Kristoff

Words: 4,371

Canadian Frontier Au.

AO3

Masterlist

WARNING: Use of outdated language, mentions of infertility and forced abortion (it doesn't happen it's a threat used)

Anna's foot nearly misses the second rung of the ladder, causing her to slip against the wood. She clutches the ladder with her shaking hands, her heart hammering in her chest as she slowly makes her way down the floor.

Her barefoot brushes against the wooden floor, still clutching the ladder as she steadies herself on the ground. The young woman lets go, reluctantly turning to look into the same space Kristoff was taken from only moments ago. Anna quietly pads across the room, taking in her house, nothing missing or destroyed. The men were only interested in retrieving Kristoff, nothing else.

As she stands in the middle of her home, Anna begins to ponder who could have taken him? It might be company men, it would be the most likely outcome. It could be possible that it could be hired men. But it is definite, the Hudson's Bay Company had taken him.

Glancing towards the window where Kristoff sat watching the men, Anna notices his gun is nowhere to be seen. She spins on her heel, racing towards the bedroom, their sheets scattered on the ground. Anna drops to her knees, painfully sitting at the bed's side, reaching under the frame until her fingers brush against a narrow chest. She slides the wooden object towards her, opening the lid to reveal two more rifles and bullets.

Anna grabs Kristoff's Mississippi rifle with shaking hands, sighing in relief as she notices a few paper cartridges in a small tin box in the corner. God, she loved this man. She grabs two of them, pushing one into the barrel with some force, detaching the ramrod from the barrel, Anna makes the cartridge go further down, ensuring the powder and bullet are at the bottom.

She grabs the percussion cap, placing it over the cone with shaking fingers. The auburn-haired woman stands with the rifle in her hands, placing the other paper cartridge in her skirt, confident it will not stay, but it is her only option.

Anna steps forward with a deep breath, striding out of the bedroom and then through the open front door. Stepping onto the porch, Anna looks towards the road, her forehead creased as she looks for any indication of the men. She steps off the veranda, turning away from the road, racing through the golden wheat fields with the rifle in her hands.

She runs towards Elsa's property, disappearing into the woods to remain out of sight. Dry pine needles stab into the bottoms of her feet as she stalks through the trees. Her eyes carefully take in her surroundings as she nibbles her lower lip.

She isn't sure where the men would have taken him; they had said something about 'the sight' where their camp is evades Anna. The forest nearly covers the land after passing Ahtohallan, sleeping in the woods has never been a comfortable thing to do. Any flat land belonged to farming families or Metis land. It could be possible they took him to one of the properties but thinks it improbable; there would be no point in arresting him and not immediately removing him from the community. Unless….

A branch snaps behind her, alerting Anna to the presence of someone. She spins on her heel, raising her gun to have a barrel of a rifle pointed in her face. Her mouth is pressed into a thin line, her forehead creased as she does not relent. Aiming the Mississippi rifle up the stranger behind her.

The man in front of her is just a boy, not much older than Ryder. The chestnut-haired boy's stance shakes with his raised gun, his eyes wide in fear as Anna does not relent. The clicking mechanism next to her pulls Anna's attention away from the boy, another rifle pointed at her.

Her eyes widen at the sight of the tall brunette man, his mutton chops that merge into a moustache unmistakable. A feature Anna will always remember, thinking it ridiculous when she first met him. Mr. Erik Lewis

"Mistress, Anna." He curtly greets, "Lower your weapon."

Anna stares at him, reluctantly lowering the rifle, gritting her teeth as she finally knows who is behind all of this. The young man steps forward, grabbing the firearm from her with shaking hands. Mr. Lewis steps forward, roughly taking Anna's bicep. She hisses in pain as his grip tightens on her, shoving her along through the forest.

"Where is Kristoff?" She questions, walking forward. The young woman had always found Mr. Lewis to be more reasonable between Weselton and Hans' men. He may share similar views to that of Mr. Klausen, Weselton and Hans had towards Metis and Indians, but was always less outspoken about it.

"We've taken him back to the site." The young man responds. Anna gasps as Mr. Lewis' grip tightens on her arm as his underling answers the question.

"You do not respond to her." The brunette male snaps. Anna nearly expects him to order her to no more extended speak, but he doesn't. She can't help but wonder why he doesn't; perhaps he knows that despite her being a "half breed," her community status is higher than his. The daughter of the former Chief Factor of Arendelle and granddaughter of one of a retired Elder of Red River, the former lover of the current Chief Factor of Arendelle and mother to his biological child. He had no power here.

As they walk through the forest, Anna waits for them to meander back towards the road to wherever their camp is. But Mr. Lewis doesn't; instead, they continue their way through the trees. She ponders if he is doing this to torture her, the pine needles and cones still digging into her feet.

She grows increasingly uneasy as they stalk further into the wood, closer to her family's river lot, where Elsa and Eliza are. It is one thing for her being in potential danger, but an entirely different one to place her daughter and sister in harm's way. If anything is going to happen to her, Elsa needed to care for Eliza.

Her free hand rests over her abdomen, thinking about her and Kristoff's baby, worried that there may not be any future for either of them. Just the other day, everything had been perfect between them. Now she's certain nothing will be the same again. She stares up at the sky, trying to stop tears from welling in her eyes as the future of living in the cottage with Kristoff and raising their children together slowly fades.

The blood drains from Anna's face, her fingertips numb as Mr. Lewis pushes her through the trees onto her family's property. Her jaw clenches and fists ball as she sees those unfamiliar men congregating on the land her people have possessed for generations.

Her heart stops as she notices Kristoff standing amongst the Company men, his hands still bound in front of him. Nearly snarling, she rolls her shoulder harshly, making Mr. Lewis' grip on her falter for a moment, allowing her to race from the British man's side.

Kristoff's eyes widen as he notices Anna running towards him, his forehead creased in confusion as to why his lover is not in their home. The young woman stumbles on the earth, catching herself as the men around her begin to yell.

Two men rush forward, grabbing Anna by the arms, their grip tighter than Mr. Lewis' had been. Despite the pain pressing into her biceps' flesh, she ignores the sensation, her eyes searching Kristoff's, looking for any indication that her lover might be hurt. Relief floods over her as she can see no evidence of bruising on his face.

"Let her go, she's harmless." Mr. Lewis commands, approaching her from behind. The two men reluctantly let go of the Metis woman. As their hands leave her body, Anna bursts forward from the men's side. She moves towards Kristoff, her heart hammering in her chest as her anxiety courses through her body.

"Kristoff," She breaths, reaching out to grasp his arm. The fabric of his sweater scratching against the palms of her hands as she peers up at him. His gaze meets hers, his brows knit together in concern at her presence.

"Anna, you should be back at the house? W-why?" He asks, his voice cracking as his eyes dart across her body, ensuring no harm has come to his beloved. At that moment, Kristoff wishes his hands were unbound; he wouldn't fight, he just wanted to cup her cheeks, he only wanted to touch her.

"I'm sorry." She glances down at the earth.

"Are you alright?" He inquires quietly, trying to catch her gaze once more. She peers up at him, nodding in response to his question. The young woman freezes as she hears boots hitting against the wood of the front porch. They had gone in. Anna spins on her heel, looking towards the cottage she grew up in.

Anna's worry and concern shifts as her forehead creases as she watches the company men. She is furious, watching Mr. Francis Klausen stand on the porch of the house where her family has lived for years, encroaching on their land. Her eyes dart towards the woman trailing after the British man, her heart-stopping in her chest at the sight of her sister.

Elsa's eyes widen as she observes Anna standing next to Kristoff. The brunette woman shoves forward, past a company man emerging from her house towards her sister. Anna takes her hands off of Kristoff, taking her sister's hands into her own as they stand together.

"Where is Eliza?" Anna whispers, not wanting to let any of the company men inquire after her daughter.

"In the house," Elsa responds, squeezing her younger sister's hands as the auburn-haired woman begins to panic at the thought of Eliza being with those men in the house. "Don't worry. She's hiding under the bed; it's a game. She isn't to emerge or make a noise until she hears Bulda or one of us."

Anna's heart drops at the notion that Eliza may emerge from under that bed into an entirely different world, one without her, Kristoff or Elsa. Anna squeezes her eyes shut, trying to stop the tears threatening to form in her eyes as she nods.

A hand comes to rest on Elsa's shoulder, pulling her away harshly from her sister. The brunette woman cries out in pain as the company man roughly grabs her wrists.

"You can't do this, you have no authority!" Anna exclaims as she watches her sister being bound. Her gaze darts to where Mr. Klausen stands, his hands looped in the belt as he watches everything unfold around him.

"But, we do." He begins, withdrawing from Mr. Lewis as he meanders towards Anna, Elsa and Kristoff. "Kristoff Bjorgman is wanted for the murder of Mr. Caron. And your sister is wanted for illicit trading to American traders."

"What?" Both Elsa and Anna exclaim at once, their expressions mirroring one another as they stare at the company man incredulously.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Elsa huffs, struggling against the rough rope around her wrists. "I do not trade illicitly."

"You trade independently outside of a company; you buy furs from the Cree at lower rates than the Company gets and then sell them to Americans at a higher price. Explain to me how that does not constitute illicit trading?"

"The Sayer trail," Anna begins, her brows knitted together. "The judge ruled in favour of him, we have the right to trade in any way we wish without company involvement. You may recognize a line on a map, but we will not. We have rights."

"You really think the Fort cares about that? Your infringing on our trading territory."

"You're infringing on our land," Anna states, her fists balled at her sides. Francis scowls, his jaw clenched as he stares at the young woman who once denied him.

"It's such a pity. Everything Mr. Westergaard did for you to make you a proper lady only for you to regress back into your savagery."

Anna tries her best not to feel intimidated as he comes to stand only inches from her, trying to make her submit willingly to everything going on around her.

"Mr. Klausen, that's enough." Another voice calls. A voice that makes Anna's heart stop, one which makes her blood go cold and sends a chill through her spine. She tears her gaze from Francis to the voice approaching from the road.

Her sky-blue eyes catching those emerald coloured ones, staring back at her with tenderness, but even at this moment, Anna can recall the cruelness in those eyes the night she ran away from him. The red-haired man's mouth curves into a smile as he approaches the trio, removing his gloves slowly before placing them into his jacket's pocket.

"Anna, my pet." Hans begins, pushing past Mr. Klausen to stand in front of Anna. She remains frozen, unable to move in any capacity as shock settles into her chest. He stalks closer to her; Anna does her best to suppress the shutter rolling up her spine as Hans places a hand on her shoulder. He presses a light kiss to her cheek, lingering over the skin as he whispers, "How I've missed you."

She watches him closely as Hans withdraws from her, his emerald eyes glancing toward Kristoff briefly before coming to rest on Elsa. The older Arneson sister's eyes remain fixated on the earth, not meeting the gaze of the Chief Factor of Arendelle. Hans clears his throat loudly, catching the attention of the brunette before him. Elsa gazes up at him with narrowed eyes, not shy in showing her disdain for the man before her.

"This must be your sister." Hans sighs, glancing back towards Anna before carefully looking over Elsa once again. Elsa stands uncomfortably as the man scrutinizes her but remains firm in her resolve not to show weakness. "Agnarr was right that you are the more beautiful sister. What a pity your affections lie with the company of women instead of men."

Elsa opens her mouth to retort, but Anna speaks instead. "What are you doing here, Hans?"

Hans shifts his attention from the older Arneson sister to the younger, stalking back towards her, tenderly staring down at the auburn-haired woman. Anna stiffens as Hans brushes her hair away from her face.

"Of course, to arrest that criminal and come back for what is mine."

Anna's gaze follows Hans as he carefully examines the property, his nose scrunching up at the sight of the small folksy cabin and primitiveness of it all, but clearly looking for something.

"I do believe Anna," He begins, his eyes coming to rest on her once more. "That you left Arendelle with my child. Where is she?"

Her blue eyes flutter at the mention of Eliza; she glances to the ground for a moment, trying to think of what to say. She looks back up, clearing her throat. "S-she didn't make it past our first winter here."

She will never allow Hans to lay a hand on her and Kristoff's child again. Hans' face falls at the revelation, resting a hand on her shoulder to comfort the young woman.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I know you were quite enamoured of her." He glances to the earth, his eyebrows knit together. For a moment, Anna almost feels horrible about lying to him about Eliza, wondering if he perhaps had changed. Those haunting eyes snap up to meet hers once again. "Well, no matter. When you return to Arendelle, I have no doubt there will be more children."

"I don't think your wife would appreciate you having a Mistress." Anna comments. "Nor do I have any inclination to be under your control again."

Hans' eyes flicker to her neck, his forehead creasing as he takes a step forward. He roughly takes Anna by the jaw, turning her head to the side to inspect her body. Anna's gaze meets Kristoff’s, he watches her intently, his eyes widen as he watches helplessly. She knows what Hans is examining, and so does Kristoff. Hans scoffs at the sight of the dark marks spread down the side of her neck to her shoulder.

"Let her go." Kristoff finally speaks, his voice firm as he clenches his jaw. Hans' grip on Anna loosens, allowing her to look forward. Hans glances towards Kristoff briefly, ignoring the blonde prisoner's insubordination to smirk at Anna.  

"How pathetic." Hans scoffs. "I mean, it's unsurprising you've always been desperate for attention and love from any man in your life that you'd stoop so low to have a criminal warm your bed."

"Papa!"

Anna's heart stops at Eliza, calling for Kristoff. Hans raises a brow, releasing her from his grasp. Desperately Anna tries to grab Hans' shoulders, arms or wrists to stop him from turning to see Eliza standing on the front porch.

Hans easily brushes her off as he faces the house, staring at the child Anna had borne him over a year ago. "She died the first winter, huh?"

"Hans, please." Anna finally pleads, it being no longer worth it to seem strong. Not when her daughter is involved. "Leave her out of this." She clutches his jacket, trying to stop him from moving forward, but it does nothing.

He meanders forward as Eliza climbs down from the porch, toddling through the men towards her father and mother. Her red brows knitted together in concern at all of the strangers surrounding her home. The toddler doesn't make it to her father; instead, the strange red-haired man picks her up.

Eliza stares at her mother as Hans situates her in his arms, leaning away from the strange man. Hans' chuckle resounds through Anna's bones as she watches him holding her daughter, panic coursing through her body as Hans regards her daughter.

"Put her down." Kristoff orders as he steps forward next to Anna. Eliza reaches out to Kristoff with a cry.

"Papa! I want Papa!" Hans notices the way Eliza reaches towards Kristoff and how she calls out to him.

He shakes his head, disapproving. "Honestly, Anna, it really is pathetic. You run away with my child, climb into bed with scum, and pose him as her father. You people are really sick. Hopefully, when we return to Arendelle, she'll forget this whole twisted affair."

"They are not going back to Arendelle with you," Elsa states, glaring at the man who had stolen her sister away from her.

"We'll see about that," Hans responds, increasingly getting frustrated with Eliza's wiggling in his arms. "If Anna disagrees with it, I will take Eliza. She is, by all means, my daughter and my property. I have a barren wife who will gladly take her in when I tell her that this girl's mother was found dead by the side of the road and an arrested criminal for a father."  

"You son of a bitch!" Elsa snarls at him. Hans hums, finally setting Eliza on the ground, watching intently as the toddler runs towards her mother. Anna bends over, picking her up by the armpits. She perches Eliza on her hip closest to Kristoff, allowing her to reach out and touch him.

Eliza won't look at Hans, whining as he steps closer to them. Anna wonders if perhaps Eliza remembers those green eyes staring at them as glass shattered around them. If her daughter can recall the fear she felt as she buried her face into her mother's body to hide from Hans on the night they left.

Staring at her former lover, Anna watches as he begins to give his men orders to start their journey back to Arendelle for the trials of both Kristoff and Elsa. Where she would be kept as a prisoner for the rest of her life to continue to give him children and be further removed from her culture and the people she loved. In the corner of her eye, she notices their guns piled on the ground.

The two company men standing behind Kristoff roughly grab him by the shoulders, pushing him forward towards the road as Anna watches. Their gazes remained locked on one another as he is marched to the road. Francis and Erik take Elsa next by the arms, trailing after her brother-in-law.

Anna stands alone on her property with Eliza still in her arms, only an unfamiliar man and Hans stand near her. Hans extends his hand out to her, trying to be cordial to the young woman.

Anna places Eliza on the ground, grabbing her daughter’s hand to move the toddler behind her body to protect her. Her sky-blue eyes narrow at him, squaring her shoulders and holding her head up high. "Neither of us will be going back to Arendelle with you."

"Oh Anna," Hans sighs, glancing down, "You will be returning to Arendelle with me. Whether you like it or not. We will return to the house, you will play the part of my perfect mistress, have my children, and I will cut that bastard out of you."

Her brows furrow at the last statement, glancing down at herself. She hadn't realized her free hand is resting on her abdomen. Hans turns away from her, careening to the other man standing near the house, giving him orders which pertain to her.

She glances at Kristoff and Elsa, the company men waiting for further orders before loading the criminals to the carts. Her eyes dart to Hans once more, watching his back as she lets go of Eliza's hand.

The Mississippi rifle lying only a few meters away from her, only a step away, knows it's still loaded. Without another thought, Anna steps to the side, swiftly grabbing the firearm and cocking the gun. As she turns, none of the men have noticed her; she stalks forward as if she is hunting.

She presses the gun's barrel to the back of Hans' head, the young company man alarmed at her sudden threat. He reaches for his rifle, getting ready to defend his Chief Factor.

"Throw your rifles down, or I will shoot him," Anna commands. The man glances at Hans, lowering his rifle.

"What are you doing? She won't shoot." Hans scoffs. Anna pulls the hammer of the gun back, preparing to shoot.

"I wouldn't be so sure. I've gotten to be a pretty good shot or, so I have been told." She's gritting her teeth. Feeling pride as he nods, much to her relief, the man lowers his weapon, sliding the firearm away from his reach. Her ears perk up as she hears shouts, the men guarding Elsa and Kristoff running towards the commotion.

Anna smiles as she hears Hans curse. "Don't do anything. Put down your weapons."

"I want Kristoff and Elsa unbound," Anna adds, knowing she had complete control over this situation. Hans would never do anything that might put himself in danger. She hears the clattering of guns falling to the ground.

"Do it." Hans sighs. In her peripheral, she sees Erik Lewis move away from the other men towards Kristoff and Elsa. Anna glances to her side to see Mr. Lewis unbind Elsa's wrists; the brunette woman rushes forward, untying Kristoff's wrists.

Elsa races from his side down to her sister, gathering the rifles away from the company men to ensure they would not try anything. The brunette grabs one of the discarded rifles from the ground, forcing them to gather into one crowd.

"Papa!" Anna glances over her shoulder at Eliza’s shrieking, to see Kristoff gather his daughter into his arms. She sighs in relief; they could work this out.

Hans turns on his heel as he feels the barrel against the back of his head waver, indicating her guard is down. He grabs the gun's barrel, re-positioning it over his shoulder and pulling Anna flush to him.

"Anna!" Kristoff cries out as she stumbles against Hans' chest.

"Listen here," Hans snarls, that familiar cruelness twinkling in those emerald eyes. "You and that brat will be returning to Arendelle. I will string Kristoff Bjorgman up by the neck and throw your sapphic sister to the whorehouse in the far north and you will learn to live with it."

Anna glares up at him, her nose scrunching as if she is snarling like an animal. She tries to jerk away from him, but he holds her tightly. Closing her eyes, Anna flinches away as she squeezes the trigger.

The gun fires next to Hans' ear, the noise causing the man to let go of Anna, cursing loudly as his hand flies to cover his ear. Anna stumbles backward, regaining her composure as she aims the gun at him once more, ready to shoot again if needed.

"Get off our land," Anna states, her voice firm as she stares defiantly at the man who had tried to take everything from her. Hans glowers at her before pushing past her, his men following after him to the road.

Elsa stands ready with her rifle prepared in her hand, observing as the company men mount their horses. Anna doesn't linger, racing towards Kristoff and Eliza. She cups her daughter's chubby cheeks, ensuring no harm has come to her.

"Mama!" Eliza reaches out to her; Anna takes the toddler's hands to press a kiss on the back of her small hand. The young woman glances up at Kristoff, resting a hand on his forearm.

"Are you alright?" His voice nearly breaks at the question, concerned for both of his girls.

"I am." She rubs her thumb against the fabric of his sweater. Kristoff sighs, wrapping his free arm around her shoulder, holding her close to him. Anna buries her face into his chest, taking in the hint of cedarwood still lingering to him. Wanting to remain in this moment for as long as possible, knowing that it isn't going to be like this forever.

This is a moment in their lives Anna never questions, this is the day Astrid acquired her fighting spirit.

[mischiefapprentice]

My Neighbor is a Ballerina (Daniel Henney x OC)

It was already the start of lock-downs in USA, and Daniel Henney cannot help but be bored as the eighth day of quarantine passed. Surely, he is enjoying the company of his fluffy golden retriever Roscoe, but still, he missed going out for shooting different commercials and series he signed in for. There was no one to talk to inside his small home, either. He can only talk to his parents and friends through video calls, and no one is allowed to step out of their homes unless needed.

What to do now? He asks himself as he looked outside. He already have gone for a swim with his dog, he finished his exercise routine, and it strains his eyes to look on the screen for too long. He sighs as he got out, looking for something to tinker on for the rest of the day. His well carved face frown as he sat nearby his own pool, waiting for the brightest idea to pop in his mind. He weakly smiles as he sees Roscoe waddle his way to him, begging to be carried.

"What do we do now, bud? Wow, is this what you feel whenever I am not around?" he jokes. The golden retriever lays its head on Daniel's stomach, relishing in the presence of his good father who he would miss terribly whenever he isn't around. Just then, some sweet classical music filled the area, making his brows raise in curiosity. He walks close to the fence that separated his house to the rest of the neighborhood, finding out who owned the music. He finds on the other side a young woman who is half his age, dancing to the music that played with a gentle grace that can be seen in a pen, a female swan. She had black hair like him, and skin tanned from the rays of the sun. He haven't seen her before. Afraid to interrupt her peace, he became content with watching her by the sidelines, enjoying her small performance by the sun.

It has come to an end when his doorbell rang. Sighing in reluctance to leave, he took a deep breath and headed to the gates of his house, his loyal liege Roscoe trailing from behind. His friend Matthew Gubler greeted him with a smile, even though it was covered with a black N-95 mask. "Got you some groceries!" Matthew smiles as he placed them right on Daniel's feet. "Dude, you didn't have to!" Daniel laughs as he took them in. "But still, thank you for the thought!" "Well, I'd better go now, enjoy your day! And, go get that girl!" Matthew jokes as he hopped on his car and drove away.

Daniel chuckles as he closed the gate with his foot, Roscoe jumping up and down as they went in the house. Matthew is right; he needs to know more about that woman next door.

      "Girl, really. That guy next door is checking you out."

Charleine is busy eating her tossed salad when her friend Carina Chandran gave her a call, and she raised the thing about some guy next door checking her out whilst she danced her way to fantasy world. The young raven haired girl laughs as she hears Carina prattle her worries for her, how she wanted to be there to give the man a piece of her own mind.

"Girl, no need to make a big deal about it." Charleine tells as she swallowed down the water. "But still! You know what, I'm packing up. I am going there." Carina says as Charleine hears her shuffles on her side. "Girl no need, I can handle myself." Charleine insists. "I have a background in Martial Arts, remember?" "Okay, if that's what makes you at ease. Just make sure to be careful, okay?"

Charleine laughs as she put the phone call down. She can imagine how worried her Indian friend was, since there were a lot of men who'd catcall herback before this whole world craze happened. She used to stay in New York City since her job as a dance instructor demanded it. She also joined numerous ballets like Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty, and she always gets the lead. Carina Chandran is her childhood friend and neighbor here in Los Angeles, so no wonder why she can see him checking on her.

The next day, she went out to her backyard for another dance for nature, a series she makes for her Instagram account. She will try to catch the guy who Carina was talking about during the phone call. Setting her Bluetooth speaker and camera to where she wanted it to be, she started doing her dance routine she learned for The Nutcracker's dance of the sugar plum princess.

       Daniel immediately ran to the fence where he heard the music that captured his whole being. The same girl was there, unaware of his presence as she danced her heart away to the music that played in the background, which he recognized as a part from The Nutcracker. If he only knew how to dance ballet, he could have jumped over the fence and joined her. He was enchanted with her; he cannot help but stare at her beauty that can be compared to Aphrodite, and marvel at her skills that are as graceful as Odette in Swan Lake. It was a magical enchantment that this young lady uses to men who lays their eyes on her. However, his daydreams were cut off when the young raven haired woman called his attention. "Yoohoo! Sir, are you alright there?" she asks, which makes him tumble down. Loud gasps can be heard from her as she placed a ladder on the fence where she saw him. "Are you okay?" He chuckles as he stood up, thanking the heavens above for not staining his sweatpants and hoodie. "Um, yeah. Thanks for checking." God, why is he being a nervous charmer? He asks himself. He cannot be like this, since he has swooned millions of ladies from around the world, yet this girl's got him smitten to the core. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Charleine Mercado, and you are?" she introduced herself. "I'm Daniel. So, you're new here?" He asks, trying to hide his anxious self as he starts to know more about this girl. "Not exactly. I used to stay here whenever I am on my break in the theater, and this one's a total break." She replies as she shrugged her shoulders. "You work in a theater?" He asks as he grabbed a small chair and stood on it, just to be able to talk to her a little close, observing the one-meter distance. She nods her head yes as she waited for him to settle himself, asking him if he's comfy enough with standing, which he assures her he's fine with it.

They had a long conversation, and it was already noon when they decided to just exchange social media accounts and talk there whenever they are free. Reluctant that he won't see her for the rest of the day, he sighs as he walked back to his house, waiting patiently as he can for her to talk to him soonest. Roscoe senses Daniel's remorse as the golden retriever lays its head on his lean legs.

       It was already evening when she decided to open up her social media and search for the man she once talked to earlier. She was having a gut feeling that she already saw him in some commercial or television series. Shrugging that thought away, she punched in his username, and the revelation made her eyes widen. "OH. MY. GOD." She decides to call her friend away, who quickly picked up the call.

"Girl, you won't believe who I just talked to this morning," Charleine yells on the phone, her adrenaline rush picking up the fast pace. Her friend gawked at her when she mentioned the name. "WHAT? IT WAS DANIEL HENNEY?" "Yes. We exchanged social media accounts, and it really was him." "Send me a picture of him tomorrow morning! I need enough proof that it's really him." "How about a screenshot video of a 60-second conversation via Skype? We planned to talk tonight."

It was on cue when her Skype account rang loudly in the background, showing Daniel's caller id on her laptop screen. She immediately tells Carina she'll talk to her later, and ran to her seat in front of her laptop. Breathing deeply, she clicked the green button, revealing Daniel and his dog on the other side. His bed hair still looked good on him, and she cannot help but swoon at him. "Hey, Charlie." Daniel groggily greets, groaning as Roscoe hopped on his lap, making her giggle as he cheekily grins back. "Dogs really are a handful, aren't day?" Charleine asks as she eagerly looked at the furry friend. "I'll agree with you on that." Daniel laughs as he puts down Roscoe. He shuffles in his bed as he held on the laptop, walking towards his kitchen island. "So, I suppose you already found the accounts?"

She nods as she looked down at her own Golden Retriever puppy Neve, who begs to be carried. "Yes, and no wonder why you look so familiar. Nice work in Criminal Minds and Big Hero 6, by the way."  She replies as she picks Neve and places the dog on her lap. Daniel's eyes widen as he saw Charleine's little puppy, smiling as he asked her where she got Neve, which Charleine eagerly answers. Daniel smiles as he realizes they had share a lot of common interests, the only difference was their occupations.

"Your name also rang bells in my mind, then I remembered a co-star telling me about your works in ballet. I must say, you did a wonderful job in your performances," Daniel tells her as he settled his laptop down as he started preparing his dinner for tonight. "May I know who told you about me long before this call?" Charleine asks as she grabbed a Shawarma from her side. "Do you by chance know Kirsten Vangsness?" Daniel asks as he grabbed some vegetables from his refrigerator and started chopping them down. Charleine's eyes lit up as he mentioned her friend and mother figure. "Yes I do! She became my mother figure whenever I am not with my parents back in Manila," she smiles as thoughts of Kirsten and her spending time together filled her mind.

They spent hours talking about their work and interests, not noticing the time anymore that they were surprised it's already past midnight when they stopped for a while. "Let's stay up together, I really love talking to you." Daniel pleads as Charleine settles in her bed, letting her bed engulf her in its softness and warmth. "I love to, but I need to get up for my routines later," she tells him, letting out a yawn that Daniel finds cute. "You'll get to talk to me after." "I look forward to that, Charlie. Good morning!"

What a dork, she thought as she waves good night and shut down her computer, her mind filled with thoughts about the new celebrity friend she made.

       Daniel finds himself in a place where music and dance are everywhere. Kids wearing flower crowns and tossing flower petals greet him as he entered the gates of the magical kingdom. He finds himself wearing a cream pirate shirt that showed parts of his chest and leather pants that showed his lean legs well. He feels powerful as he took every step while wearing leather boots that reached his knees. Women swoon as he passed by while looking for a certain woman who he wanted to meet. He soon finds himself at the presence of the king, and was surprised that he introduced himself as a prince from some place far from this kingdom. The king led him to the gardens, where he saw the familiar face of Charleine laughing as she danced with her maids. Her face lit up as she saw him, hearing her father tell everyone to leave them for now. As soon as the maids and the ensemble left, he slowly strode towards her, taking in how beautiful she is as a princess.

"M'lady," he greets her, taking her hand and places a kiss on the back of her hand.

"I shall leave you two to yourselves. Please guard her," the king bade as he took his leave, his footsteps resonating on the tiles. They silently enjoyed the company of each other as he told her of his adventures, from defeating rebels to every mishap he got himself into. Her laughter is already music to his ears. He feels himself falling into her trance, his eyes taking in the view of her wondrous beauty.

       His eyes squint at the feel of his dog licking the sleep off his eyes. He immediately looked around, checking if he wore the same clothes as he had in that dream of his with Charleine. It felt so real that he thought he would awake to ivory pillars and servants roaming around him. Did it really happen? He asks to himself as he got off his bed and prepared Roscoe's breakfast, his mind still stuck to that dream he had today.

It was the same dream Charleine had. She saw herself dancing with her maids in the pavilions, laughing as merriment and joy filled their surroundings. Her eyes lit as she saw Daniel in a pirate-like clothing, but can be easily identified as a prince. Charleine filled her friend Carina about this weird dream, but she was told that it is her subconscious thinking about the actor, and people tend to see their thoughts in their dreams when they think deeply about it and fell asleep.  She let's it pass for now, but she knew that there was something behind it.

They both smile at each other as Charleine got out to her backyard, while Daniel stood at the fence that separated them, eager to watch her do her morning routine. "What's with that wide smile, Henney?" Charleine asks as she stood in front of him, hands at her hips in a sassy fashion. He chuckles. "Nothing, I am just happy that I get to see a new friend here. It really gets lonely whenever I am not with other people physically." "Well, I cannot blame you for that." Charleine tells as she started playing the music, this time from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

       "Wait, so you had the same dream as mine?"

They both talked over Skype again, making sure to be reminded of the time now. She almost had problems getting up earlier, and good thing she still managed to set her body clock. Daniel told Charleine about this dream he had earlier, and it is coincidental that they both were in there. They had exact details as the other, making them wonder how come they had the same dream. "I don't know, it was just... Coincidental. Maybe my friend Carina is right, it must be a work of our subconscious and the deep thoughts." Charleine shrugs as she took a bite of her homemade shawarma wrap. "I suppose so." Daniel agrees. "How's quarantine so far?" She asks. "Well, still hanging here. Gosh, this drives me crazy as hell." He sighs, making her chuckle. "You're not alone."

That was the last time they talked.

Daniel had to fly to Korea to attend to some important matters his management has raised. He didn't get to talk to her for the last time before he headed to the airport, which made him feel miserable during his stay here. Well, he tried to play his favorite sport and get his mind on the things he have to do here before he gets back to Los Angeles. He still tried to reach out to Charleine, but she never responded. Worrying that something happened to her, he tried to call Kirsten, who fortunately picked up the call. "Daniel! So good to hear from you!" the ever cheery actress beams, making the half Korean laugh. "Yeah, I missed you all! How are you?" he queries as he mentally planned how to get Charleine in the conversation. "Feeling bored, since there was no one to talk to except my cat here," Kirsten sighs. "So, I heard that you met my ballerina friend already?" Daniel smiles when she mentioned the woman who got his whole being. "Yes, and I was about to ask you about her. She wasn't responding to any of my calls and emails." "Oh, she told me she's going to have a week off in using social media. She actually asked me to tell you about it, and she says sorry in advance if ever this happens." Kirsten chuckles, making Daniel smile weakly. He cannot wait to talk to her again.

       It was a week when Charleine took a break off the social media. She wanted to take a break off the world's madness since this year started. Her eyes widen as she opened up her chats, revealing lots of missed calls and 'how are you' texts from her new friend Daniel Henney. He sent a voice mail that says:

Hey Charlie...

I don't know when you'd be back in social media, but if you ever receive this, I am probably in Seoul already, since I had to attend to some matters here, just like what I said during our last talks. Charlie, if I ever get back there in LA, I want to... Ugh. Never mind. I just want to let you know that I already miss you and those small talks we had whenever I watch you dance. If I could rush things over, I would have done it in a heartbeat. I would do everything if it means to see you again. It's already late here, and I should get some sleep. I am in the 14 day quarantine period, and I got a negative result.

"I made him wait, Neve." she tells her golden retriever puppy, who in return looked at her with its doe eyes as it sensed her bereft. She sighs as she looked at other messages he dropped:

Hey Charlie! I am missing you so much already!

How are you?

Did you eat already?

When are you going to post another dance in your Instagram?

Are you alright?

You know you can talk to me whenever you got something bothering your mind, right?

"That's it, I'm waiting for the right time to call him." She says to herself as she typed in her reply to all those messages and voicemails he sent her during the week off the media.

Hi Dan!

Kirsten probably told you already that I took a week off the media, since I got stressed with what is happening with the world right now. My godmother also nearly got my nerves, so I decided to do so. I'm sorry if I got you worried for me 24/7, but now you can talk to me anytime again. Just note the time, one of us might miss the complete sleep we need to be energetic the next day. Hope to talk to you soon!

       His eyes immediately land on the message she just sent him, making him smile in victory as he read it multiple times. He immediately opened his Skype and gave Charleine a call, having high hopes that she'd answer it in a flash. He quickly checked himself on the mirror app on his phone, but stopped when he heard giggles from the other side of the line. "Hey, you don't need to check your self on your mirror, Vanity Boy." she quirks, making him smirk. "Liked that new nickname, Ms. Ballerina." he comments back, making the girl smirk back at him. "So, how's the week off social media?" She weakly smiles as she looked down, taking Neve in her arms. "It's relaxing, since I got to connect with myself once again after all this madness happened. How about you? You said you are in Korea, right?" "Oh yeah. I got a negative test result, and I can go to all the places where my manager told me to go to." Daniel cheekily grins at her, making her shake her head in annoyance, but a smile still plastered on her lips. "I already saw that dance you uploaded, and I must say, it's still different if I saw it live." "You little stalker," she laughs as he chuckles. Daniel finds himself falling for her even more as the days pass.

       After a few weeks of fixing up things in Korea, he immediately took a flight back to Los Angeles, eager to see Charleine again. His mother teases him on his little crush on the well-known ballerina, making him groan in feign dismay. His father, unfortunately, helps his mom with teasing him about it. But deep in his mind, he is glad that his parents are supportive with whoever he wants. He isn't pressured with what kind of girl he should date and marry, as long she is kind and understanding, he's willing to keep up with her.

It was another spring morning, and he is patiently waiting for her music to play. The small ladder he climbs on is already set, and he just needs to hear her music. Just as some random music played, he scrambles to the ladder, just in time for her to start dancing. She laughs as she saw how messed up his hair was, making her stop dancing. "Why did you run all the way?" She chuckles as she stood on her toes, messing his now messy hair as she laughs. "I just didn't want to miss my friend dancing," Daniel chuckles. "I missed you!" "I missed you too, dummy." She says. "Um about that voicemail you sent..." "Oh yes about that, I actually wanted to ask you on a date out, but there's quarantine, so..." "You know we can just hang out in the backyards, right?" "Oh. Yeah. HOW COME I FORGOT ABOUT IT?" "Stop overthinking, Tadashi Hamada." "How can I not, if I am standing in front of Juliet Capulet?"

 After a few days of Daniel planning their first date, now is the day they finally get to be together up close, since they both got their negative swab test results. He made sure that the house is well disinfected, there is no mess around, and lastly, he'd make her smile with his charms and quirks. It is only a few hours before night falls beautifully, just like in La La Land. Clad in just his button up shirt and black fitting slacks, he casually waited by his gate, hoping she'd show up. He immediately opened the gate, revealing Charleine in a simple pink dress and some sandals. She shyly waved as Daniel let her in. 

"Hey... Looking good tonight, I see?" Charleine smiles as Daniel guides her inside his home, her eyes widening at how simple and elegant it is. "You've got a nice house here." "Well, thank you. I'd reckon yours is better than this," Daniel replies as he eyed the package Charleine brought in. "Oh no, no,  no. Did you make food as well?" "I did, it would be rude on my part if I didn't bring something, right?" the girl asks, looking down on the floor. Daniel sighs as he held her hands in his. "You didn't have to, Charlie... But, it's okay, as long it's from the thought. I'd wager this is the best pasta I'll ever taste." Daniel tells her as he leads her to the pool area, the feeling of romance can be felt in the air as the candle-lit table stood nearby the very fence where they both met. She cannot help but smile as he pulled a chair for her, a dinner for two already filling the air as the aromatic scent fills her nostrils. "I'll serve your Bolognese spaghetti later after this," Daniel tell her as they started to eat under the moonlight that coincidentally shone above them along with the stars. They talked about various things, ranging from his stay in Korea to random jokes they saw in the net. It was already late in the night when they finished eating. Her eyes widen as she heard one of her favorite songs from La La Land playing in the background, and Daniel offers his hand as he pulls her into his arms for a dance.

Silence enveloped the two of them as the song ends, the two enjoying the warmth of the other as the time passes. Her eyes widen when her watch shows it's already a quarter to midnight. "Daniel, I need to get back already." she tells as she reluctantly pulls away from their little waltz. "You can sleep here. I'll take the couch, it's actually past curfew." Daniel tells her as he held her hand tightly but gently. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a nuisance to you, Daniel." Charleine asks, worrying that she might be interrupting any important matters. "I am sure, so don't chicken out. I actually can borrow one of my shirts and sweatpants for you to sleep on."

She silently watched him pick one white shirt and gray sweatpants from his closet. She cannot help but swoon at how fit this man is. He already changed into a black sleeveless shirt and a pair of white pajamas, leaving his bathroom for her use. "This one would do," Daniel tells as he placed them beside her. He cannot help but look at her wounded feet that were barely covered by the slippers a hotel gave him before. "Change into those, I'll just find the ointment for those bruises on your feet."

"Is it still aching?"

She winces in pain as he massaged some parts of her foot, rubbing in the ointment his mother once used on him when he suffered the same bruises as hers. She cannot help but yelp in pain, tears starting to spill on her eyes. Daniel immediately sat beside her, pulling her into a hug as she started to cry. "I'm sorry , I'm sorry." He whispers to her as he kissed the top of her head.

"I'm alright, Dan. It's just I cannot fight the pain," She whimpers. "I'll be here always, okay?" Daniel whispers. "I love you."

Her eyes widen as she heard those three words that can alter her life in an instant. A famous celebrity has fallen for her. "Hear me out, Charlie. I started falling for you since the day Kirsten started talking about you during Criminal Minds shooting and script readings. She is right about you being so strong, soft-hearted, smart, wise and beautiful. It's okay if you don't share the same feelings as-"

She gave him a peck on the cheek that made him stop rambling. He grins widely as he pulled her into a heartwarming hug and kissed her head many times. "You also got me from the start, Dan. It was when Kirsten told me about you whenever we meet up in New York City, and she told me that I would be able to meet you soon. So, here we are." She chuckles as he pressed his lips on her forehead, making her giggle. "Let's get you to sleep now. You might call me a knucklehead when you wake up late," he jokes as he pulls her down beside him on the softest bed Charleine has imagined.

       "Well, your boyfriend is here."

It was a year after the pandemic, and everything went back to normal. Carina and Charleine got their new assignments in Los Angeles, making it easy for the new lovers to meet up anytime they want. Daniel would pass by the American Contemporary Ballet, where she worked and performed. Carina would tease her about it, making her chuckle and playfully slap her. Some of their closest friends would drop by to see her, since some of their kids are under her class. It touched her that all of them really look at her like their second mom, and she dreams of having a family soon.

"My Prima Ballerina," Daniel mumbles as he buries his face on her hair, making her chuckle as she pulled away. "Danny, I sweat." Charleine tells as she wiped the sweat off her brow. "So what? You don't complain when I smell like Roscoe!" Daniel laughs. "Um, Charlie? Can I ask you something?"

She nods her head, but her eyes widen when she watched Daniel kneel on one knee, revealing a diamond ring on a red velvet box. Tears prick her eyes as he started rambling the most affectionate speech she has ever heard from him. Kirsten, AJ, Joe and the others are there, smiling at the most awaited moment.

Charleine Mercado. The moment I heard your name from Kirsty, I knew there was something with you that made me fall for you. Even though we haven't met long before that madness happened, I started longing for you. You were everything Kirs told me about you: you are smart, gay, loving, gentle, caring and among other things I wanted in a woman. Last year has been a blessing in disguise for me. If it weren't for it, maybe I wouldn't realize that I am just right beside this woman I have been seeking for god knows how long. That moment you told me your name, I said to myself: you are the one. Charlie, I know it has been a year since we started dating and become something more, and I want to be promoted to another position in your life. Will you do the honor of becoming my wife and marry me?

Charlie started tearing up tears of joy as she nodded her head yes, tackling Daniel in the tightest but gentle hug. He slips the ring on her right ring finger, and kissed it.

[amarilloinfo]

Top Six Attractions In The Amarillo Area

Amarillo is located on the south coast of Texas, right beside San Antonio. It is a vibrant community with a very interesting history. Before the US Army Corps of Engineers even occupied the area, there was already a rich history in the area. Some of the famous people that came to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the warm hospitality are Spanish pioneers, Chinese immigrants, Indian pioneers, gold miners, and a variety of cowboys.

A quick trip to downtown Amarillo will reveal a whole spectrum of colorful visitors. You will see the Mexican flag proudly fluttering atop a grand old landmark, the Bank Of America Building, which was destroyed during the OK Corral burning. If you love the western movies, this is where John Wayne came from. If you love rodeo, you can find old western saloons like the Old Stagecoach, Old Town Square, and the Corral Bluegrass Club. The City of Sun City offers tourists a variety of entertainment venues, including the famous Amado's restaurant and the world-famous Amado Tractor Co.

If you are a cowgirl at heart, you will love to rub shoulders with the great rodeo celebrities of the Southwestern part of the state. Among the most notable are former First Lady Hillary Clinton and her rodeo enthusiast daughter, Chelsea. Riding along the famous Yellowstone Way is a must for any cowgirl. Not far from the town of Amarillo, you can go horseback riding on The Arizona Trail. The famous Weminuche Wilderness Center allows visitors to tour the old world mining areas of the past. Visitors may even get a chance to ride the legendary Halter Mountain Copper Roller.

For an old-fashioned taste of southern Californian culture, you should tour the Old Pueblo Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. In the center, you will find the only surviving camp of the Pueblo Indians, which still operates today. This historical museum allows visitors to learn about the daily life of the Pueblo Indians, including their culture, music and dance. The museum also features the only hotel in Pueblo history, The Pueblo Winery and Ranch, which tours and educates visitors about the Spanish-American West and the lifestyle of the Pueblo Indians.

Driving around the heart of the city, you will come across several other spectacular stops. One of the stops that you should not miss is the National Trust Museum. Built as a national park, the museum showcases American Indian artifacts, such as ladders, drums and pottery. Another interesting stop is the historic Hotelito de San Carlos, which serves as the headquarters of the International Ranch Association. In addition to the hotel and museum, the I-40 Trail runs through the heart of Amarillo. The trail covers six miles of the beautiful Pueblo National Forest and provides spectacular views of the majestic mesas and canyon walls.

A few miles east of the town of Amarillo, you will encounter two interesting sights. Hidden within the pine brush Mesa are the ruins of what was, for many years, the U.S. Military Academy. Although the academy no longer exists, you can still take advantage of its location. To the southwest are the ruins of the old Chiricahua Indian ranches, which contain hundreds of ancient pine trees.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of the Amarillo area, you should drive or bike to the Pine Street Inn & Spa, which are nestled in the heart of the pine brush Mesa. You will find a cozy, authentic atmosphere as well as a relaxing, nature-based treatment. The Inn offers a complimentary breakfast each morning and a delicious menu of warm & spicy breakfast, sandwiches, freshly made juice, and vegetarian cuisine. It's also a great place to visit with your family, as it offers many walking paths around the grounds.

Other attractions in the Amarillo area include the Bobcat Herd, which can only be reached by driving one way. This herd of cattle follows a natural path through the tall grasses of the Amarillo area, which includes ancient cedars and cypress trees. The Herd travels all around the town of Amarillo, which is also the location of the Bobcat Herd Home, which offers visitors the chance to learn more about the history of the cowboy culture that dominated the state of Texas. While in the Amarillo area, you can also check out the Museum of Contemporary Art, which features modern and traditional paintings, photographic images, and other art forms.

[bookonqueror618]

Beautiful boi at Indian Ladder Trail, Thatcher Park

[sunsetagain]

I’m Not Part of His Army: Battle of the Plains of Abraham (script only)

中文版剧本

Only a draft of the first page. Click keep reading to view this boring script.

Many thanks to @anqiwaira @sidusphy for French translation.

Happy birthday to my dearest angel Shay Cormac, and remember this is the 259th anniversary of Battle of the Plains of Abraham, during the Siege of Quebec 1759, an event happened between Shay's assassinations of Adewale and Hope Jensen.

This story first came to my mind right after I beat the game almost 4 years ago. Now Shay's birthday made this historic event much more special. I spent months on this comic, searching history, writing script, making storyboard and cover art... But I can’t continue with it, or with Shay anymore. I have to move on.

Thank you for your 4 year companion. I still love you.

I’m Not Part of His Army Battle of the Plains of Abraham

Goreham's Post, Saint Lawrence River Late August, 1759

James Cook is checking a map of Québec. Gist, Haytham, Shay and an officer approach.

Shay: Nice to see you again, Captain Cook. How is it going?

Cook: Exhausted. (Looking at the officer)

Shay: Major Robert Stobo. Captain James Cook of HMS Pembroke. So what happens now?

Cook: Several battles lost, and General Wolfe is suffering from consumption. Winter is coming so we can't last for long. We need to find a weak point, to end this war.

Stobo (Observing the other side of the river): Gentlemen, you are looking for Québec's Achilles' Heel, and it's right in front us. Months ago I escaped from jail, ran away from Québec, descended the Plains of Abraham right at L'Anse-au-Foulon. Under the cliff there is a bank for troops landing.

(Looking at Shay) Then along the river, I headed Louisburg to join General Wolfe's army. It was Captain Cormac who saved me from a French schooner's cannons at Chaleur Bay.

(Shay smiles back)

Cook (using his spyglass): Indeed, the French set pickets along the cliff. But it's not heavily defended. The bank itself is suitable for landing. But how could our troops ascend a cliff like that? It's...at least 170 feet high as I estimate.

Shay: The cliff is not a problem. I can carry a rope ladder and scale that height to blaze a trail.

Haytham: I'll go with you.

(Looking at Haytham, Shay recalls Gist's words "His father was an Assassin" but says nothing)

Haytham: Master Stobo, it was you who found the weak point of Québec, so it would be your mission to report that to General Wolfe. But please do keep it secret, tell him and tell him alone. His strategies were incompatible with those brigadiers recently. The less people know, the more chances we have.

Stobo (nods): Any other intelligence needs me to report to the general?

Shay (takes out a letter from his pocket and hands over): I intercepted this letter days ago, from a French outpost upriver. It was surposed to be delivered to Québec, inform them the convoy fleet of provisions from Batiscan has been canceled.

Stobo (takes the letter): Cross my heart, with all my life I will secure this precious letter to General Wolfe.

(Stobo leaves)

(Since 7th September, General Wolfe launches multiple diversionary attacks around Québec, drawing the French army's attention away from L'Anse-au-Foulon.)

Saint Nicolas, Night of 12th September, 1759

(Shay is looking at the troops on riverbank through Morrigan's window. Stobo steps in the cabin)

Stobo: Captain Cormac, I'm here to bid you farewell. General Wolfe asked me to send an urgent letter to General Amherst at Lake Champlain. I have to go now. It's a shame I can't fight by your side or witness Québec being conquered. But I'm willing to go anywhere they need me... Thank you for everything. Adieu!

(They shake hands before Stobo leaves. Gist comes in with a box when Shay is tying the ropes around his chest)

Gist: Captain, according to reliable sources, tonight under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel William Howe, we will hinder Bougainville's troops at Cape Rouge, then land at L'Anse-au-Foulon by the ebb. Captain Cook will attend a feint to Beauport.

Shay: All right, Gist. I'll be ready soon.

Gist: It's a special day today, Captain Cormac.

Shay: Indeed, Gist. All our efforts were made for this day, to end this damned war and soothe Colonel Monro's soul.

Gist: Aye, Captain...But I mean, it's also YOUR special day.

Shay (stands in a daze for seconds then turns around and smiles): Ah yes, thank you Gist. I forgot about it...It's truly a meaningful birthday, if you say so.

Gist (places the box on the desk): This is my gift for you. But I think he would love to present it to you as well.

(Shay opens the box and finds Colonel Monro's uniform in it. Without a word, he picks it up and touches those holes burnt by fire, recalls that day he rescued him out of the house, watching his life vanishing, but nothing he could do.)

(Monro: A man needs purpose.)

Shay (with a bitter smile): Many thanks, Gist. It's surely a significant gift.

(Shay takes off the ropes, puts on the uniform and picks up the flag of 35th Regiment of Foot from the bottom of the box, walks out of the cabin towards the riverbank)

Soldiers of 35th Regiment of Foot: Colonel Monro?! No...He...He is Master Cormac! Look! He saved us from Fort William Henry, then from Fort Frederick!

Shay (walks among soldiers): 35th Regiment of Foot, warriors of Colonel Monro! It was fate that assembled all of us here; It is our destiny to face the old enemies. But we hold the result of this battle in our own hands! That General Montcalm who defeated us at Fort William Henry, is now waiting for us behind those walls of Québec. Don't make him disappointed! Keep the Colonel and martyrs in our hearts, and end this war!

Soldiers of 35th Regiment of Foot: Hear! Hear! For Colonel Monro!

Early morning of 13rd September, 1759

(William Howe and James Wolfe lead British army, they board small boats and reach L'Anse-au-Foulon)

French patrol (dicovers the approaching boats): D’où venez-vous ? (where are you from? )

Shay: De France ! (France!)

French patrol: Quel régiment ? (From which regiment? )

Shay: La Marine ! (Marine!)

French patrol: Et pour aller où ? (To where?)

Shay: À Québec, avec des vivres et des munitions ! (To Quebec with provisions!)

Haytham: Silence, un navire anglais approche. (Quiet, an English warship is nearby.)

(No more response)

Haytham: Je suis impressionné, Maître Cormac. (I'm impressed, Master Cormac.)

Shay: Moi de même, Maître Kenway. (As am I, Master Kenway.)

(They begin to scale the cliff and leave hooks on rocks for soldiers along the way. Then the French troops fire from above)

Patrols: Alarm! Enemies came up!

(Shay takes a bullet on his shoulder but he still manages to drag the patrol off the cliff with his rope dart. Haytham fires his gun upward then reloads)

Haytham: Keep moving, Shay! Don't let them call reinforcements! I'll cover you.

(Trying to ignore his pain, Shay climbs up the cliff, binds the rope ladder to a stone and throws the other end off the cliff, before he fights those French soldiers and kills many of them. Captain Louis Du Pont Duchambon de Vergor has been shot on his leg and hand then captured. When Haytham and the others arrive, Shay is bathing in blood, pointing Vergor with his gun)

Plains of Abraham 10 AM, 13rd September, 1759

(The battle begins. Like a ghost of Colonel Monro, riding a horse with the flag of 35th Regiment of Foot, Shay dashes toward Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, pushes him off his own horse. They roll in dust then Shay pins Montcalm on the ground at last, with his gun propping the other's forehead.)

Montcalm: You... You are not George Monro!

Shay: No, I'm just his avenger.

Montcalm: I didn't kill him. He surrendered, and I set him free with his men, his arms and colors. But I can't stop those Indians!

Shay: No you didn't. You just defeated him. So I will let you live, to remember your defeat of this battle. Remember, you've been defeated by 35th Regiment of Foot.

Montcalm: Such loyal subordinate.

Shay: No, I'm not part of his army. As for my loyalty, I do owe him. He saved my life, gave me a second chance...But he lost his own.

(The sadness on Shay's face makes Montcalm laugh, then a gunshot from Haytham makes his laughs into groans. Shay looks back at Haytham with a surprise.)

Haytham: Leave him alone. The battle is won.

13th September 1759, General Wolfe died in the Battle of Plains of Abraham.

14th September, mortally wounded General Montcalm died in Québec city.

18th September, the British army took over Québec.

But the war is not over yet.

(Shay sticks the flag of 35th Regiment of Foot above the wall of Québec, the Templar ring shining on his finger.)

- FIN -

[iinsatiablezus]

Staunton District Traffic Alert: Week of July 15-19 : Augusta Free Press

The following is an inventory of freeway work which will affect visitors in the Staunton District in the course of the coming weeks. The Staunton District consists of 11 counties from the Alleghany Highlands to the northern Shenandoah Valley: Alleghany, Tub, Rockbridge, Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Web page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren.

Credit score: carterdayne

Scheduled work is topic to vary resulting from inclement climate and material supplies. Motorists are advised to observe for slow-moving tractors throughout mowing operations. When touring by means of a work zone, be alert to periodic modifications in visitors patterns and lane closures.

(NEW) or (UPDATE) signifies a new entry or a revised entry since final week’s report.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

INTERSTATE 64 (NEW) Mile marker 23 to 29, eastbound and westbound – Temporary slow-roll visitors delay for utility line installation. Sunday, July 21, between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Climate date is July 28.

PRIMARY ROADS Numerous roads – Flagger visitors management for brush slicing and pipe replacements. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SECONDARY ROADS (NEW) Route 616 (Wealthy Patch Street) – Closed for sinkhole repair between Route 620 (Watahala Lane) and Route 621 (Roaring Run Street), eight a.m. July 16 to five p.m. July 18. (NEW) Route 701 (Earnest Avenue) – Alternating lane closures for line painting between Route 220 (Market Avenue) and Botetourt County line, weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by way of July 31. Route 3605 (South Durant Street/West Jackson Road), Covington – Flagger visitors control as needed for roadway and utility enhancements between Thacker Avenue and South Byrd Avenue. Weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. by means of August three. Numerous roads – Flagger visitors management for pipe replacements and ditching at numerous places. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BATH COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS No lane closures reported.

SECONDARY ROADS (UPDATE) Numerous roads – Flagger visitors control for ditch work, pavement patching and brush slicing. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to three p.m.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

INTERSTATE 64 (NEW) Mile marker 53 to 54, eastbound – Left lane closed for guardrail restore, July 15 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

INTERSTATE 81 (NEW) Mile marker 181 to 174, southbound – In a single day left lane closures for guardrail repairs at numerous places, eight p.m. July 15 to 7 a.m. July 16. (NEW) Mile marker 202 to 203, northbound – Overnight left lane closure for spill cleanup, 9 p.m. July 16 to 4 a.m. July 17.

PRIMARY ROADS (NEW) Route 11 (Lee Freeway) – Alternating lane closures for milling and paving between Route 606 (Raphine Street) and Route 706 (Borden Grant Trail), July 15-19 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (NEW) Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Flagger visitors control for utility line installation between Route 701 (Jacobs Ladder) and Route 833 (Pine Forest Street), July 18 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (NEW) Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Northbound proper lane closure for utility work between Lexington city limits and Concord Drive, July 15-19 from 7 a.m. to eight p.m. (NEW) Route 39 (Maury River Street) – Flagger visitors control for utility work between Route 732 (Rick Mast Loop) and Route 668 (Bethesda Street), July 16-17 from 8 a.m. to four:30 p.m. (NEW) Route 39 (Maury River Street) – Flagger and pilot-truck visitors management for slope work between Route 622 (Alone Mill Street) and Route 750 (Alphin Lane), July 15-19 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Numerous roads – Flagger visitors control for pipe alternative, ditch work, tree removing, shoulder repairs and brush slicing. Mowing with cellular visitors control. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SECONDARY ROADS Numerous roads – Flagger visitors management for pothole patching, pipe alternative, ditch work, tree removing, shoulder repairs and brush slicing. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to three p.m.

HIGHLAND COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS (UPDATE) Route 250 (Mountain Turnpike) – Flagger visitors management for upkeep of Again Creek bridge between Route 640 (Blue Grass Valley Street) and Route 600 (Upper Again Creek Street), 7 a.m. to five p.m. by means of July 19. Numerous roads – Brush chopping to improve signal visibility. Mowing with cellular visitors control. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SECONDARY ROADS Numerous roads – Flagger visitors management for ditching. Mowing with cellular visitors management. Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to three p.m.

AUGUSTA COUNTY

INTERSTATE 64 No lane closures reported.

INTERSTATE 81 (UPDATE) Mile marker 220 to 225, northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for bridge maintenance at numerous places, July 15-26 from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

PRIMARY ROADS Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Alternating lane closures for paving between Route 626 (Seawright Springs Street) and just north of Route 750 (Keezletown Street), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. by means of July 21. (NEW) Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) – Overnight alternating lane closures for maintenance of bridge over I-81 at exit 220 interchange, July 15-26 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

SECONDARY ROADS Route 608 (Cold Springs Street) – Temporary street closures for utility work between Route 662 (Greenville Faculty Street) and Route 658 (Avis Street), 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. by way of August 16. (NEW) Route 626 (Berry Farm Street) – Flagger visitors management for paving between Route 613 (Spring Hill Street) and Route 612 (Quicks Mill Street), July 15-19 from 7 a.m. to three:30 p.m. (NEW) Route 657 (Indian Ridge Street) – Shoulder closures for utility work between Route 652 (Wilda Street) and Route 658 (Avis Street), July 15-18 from 9 a.m. to three p.m. (NEW) Route 739 (Moffett Department Street) – Shoulder closures for utility work between Route 741 (Previous Quarry Street) and Route 733 (Moffett Department Street), July 15-16 from 9 a.m. to three p.m. (UPDATE) Route 742 (Willow Spout Street) – Alternating lane closures for Rural Rustic Street venture between Route 11 (Lee Freeway) and Route 744 (Leaport Street), 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. by means of July 19. Route 753 (Nash Street) – Alternating lane closures for Rural Rustic enhancements between Route 42 (Scenic Highway) and Route 910 (Wampler Lane), 7 a.m. to three:30 p.m. via July 31. Route 762 (Grindstone Street) – Bridge at Thorny Department Creek closed for upkeep. Street closed between Route 727 (Wolf Ridge Street) and Route 731 (Emmanuel Church Street), Weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. by way of July 19. Route 910 (Wampler Lane) – Alternating lane closures for Rural Rustic Street challenge between Route 753 (Nash Street) and lifeless finish, 7 a.m. to three:30 p.m. by means of July 24. (NEW) Numerous roads – Flagger visitors management for grading and applying stone on unpaved roads in Fishersville and Mint Spring areas, 7:30 a.m. to three p.m. by way of July 19. (UPDATE) Numerous roads – Cellular work zones for mowing in Fishersville, Mint Spring, Verona and Swoope areas, 7:30 a.m. to three p.m. by means of July 19.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

INTERSTATE 81 (NEW) Exit 251, southbound – Off-ramp to Route 11 closed for pavement work from 10 p.m. July 15 to 5 a.m. July 16. Drivers detour through the use of exit 257 and following Route 11 south. Mile marker 258 to 264, northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for southbound paving operations and northbound drainage work, Sunday by means of Thursday nights, eight p.m. to 7 a.m. via August 30. (NEW) Mile marker 264, southbound – Overnight right lane closures for pavement work, July 17-18 from 10 p.m. to five a.m.

PRIMARY ROADS (NEW) Route 33 (Spotswood Trail) – Eastbound right lane closures for development of flip lane between Harrisonburg city limits and Route 280 (Stone Spring Street), July 15-19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SECONDARY ROADS (UPDATE) Route 637 (Florist Street) – Street closed by way of July 26 for bridge reconstruction over Quail Run between Route 602 (East Level Street) and Route 33 Enterprise (Previous Spotswood Path). Comply with posted detours. Route 701 (Silver Lake Street/School Road) – Street closed between Route 732 (Eberly Street) and Route 732 (Bowman Street) for Cooks Creek bridge alternative at Dayton. Comply with posted detours. Estimated completion August 9. Route 921 (Lairs Run Street) – Westbound shoulder closure for alternative of bridge over the North Fork Shenandoah River, just west of Route 259 (Brocks Gap Street). Estimated undertaking completion September 2020.

PAGE COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS (NEW) Route 211 – Alternating lane closures for sign installations between Route 340 and Shenandoah County line, July 16-18 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (NEW) Route 211 – Eastbound alternating lane closures just east of Luray city limits for inspection of bridge over railroad, July 19 from 8 a.m. to five p.m. (NEW) Route 340 – Alternating lane closures just south of Route 658 (Cross Run Street/Kimball Street) for inspection of Cross Run bridge, July 17 from eight a.m. to five p.m. (NEW) Route 340 – Alternating lane closures just south of Route 718 (Hinton Street) for inspection of Dry Run bridge, July 18 from 8 a.m. to five p.m. (NEW) Route 340 – Alternating lane closures simply north of Route 663 (Island Ford Street) for inspection of bridge over railroad, July 19 from eight a.m. to five p.m.

SECONDARY ROADS (NEW) Route 647 – Street closed throughout daylight for intersection work at Route 652 (Airport Street), July 15-19 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SHENANDOAH COUNTY

INTERSTATE 81 Mile marker 283 to 264, southbound – In a single day alternating lane closures Monday by way of Friday nights for pavement resurfacing, eight p.m. to 7 a.m. by way of July 26. Mile marker 292 to 295, northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for maintenance of bridges over Route 601 (Battlefield Street), 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. via August 9. (NEW) Exit 296, northbound – On-ramp from Route 55 closed throughout in a single day hours for ramp extension undertaking, 9 p.m. July 17 to 5 a.m. July 18. Comply with posted detour.

PRIMARY ROADS (NEW) Route 11 (Previous Valley Pike) – Overnight cellular lane closures for pavement marking between Edinburg city limits and Route 730 (Caverns Street), 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. by way of August 8.

SECONDARY ROADS Route 758 (Woodstock Tower Street) – Street closed via late summer time 2019 for slope and roadway repairs between Stagecoach Street and Woodstock Tower. Motorists can entry mountain from east strategy (Fort Valley). Numerous roads – Flagger visitors control for utility tree trimming. Monday-Friday from eight a.m. to five p.m.

FREDERICK COUNTY

INTERSTATE 81 (UPDATE) Mile marker 311 to 313, northbound and southbound – Overnight northbound left lane closures for gear entry to median, July 15-19 from eight p.m. to 7 a.m. Shoulders closed 24/7. Velocity limit by means of work zone is 60 mph. (NEW) Exit 315, northbound – Off-ramp to Route 7 closed during in a single day hours for deceleration lane extension undertaking, July 15-16 from 8 p.m. to six a.m. Mile marker 323 to 324, northbound and southbound – 24/7 right shoulder closures with concrete barrier for ramp extension venture. Estimated challenge completion August 2019.

PRIMARY ROADS Route 50 (Millwood Pike) – Left lane closures for signal work at Route 1092 (Independence Drive), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by means of September 27. Route 277 (Fairfax Pike, Stephens Metropolis) – Intermittent flagging and lane closures for utility work at Double Church Street intersection, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. via October 1. (NEW) Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement resurfacing and line marking between Winchester metropolis limits and Route 608 (Bethel Church Street), 9 p.m. to six a.m. by means of July 31. Route 522 (Front Royal Pike) – Right lane and shoulder closures as wanted for utility work between Route 644 (Papermill Street) and Route 644 (Parkins Mill Street), 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. via August 1. Route 522 (Front Royal Pike) – Occasional lane closures for utility work from Route 645 (Airport Street) to Route 776 (Bufflick Street), 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. by means of September four.

SECONDARY ROADS (UPDATE) Route 608 (Dicks Hollow Street) – Flagger visitors control for surface remedy between Route 600 (Again Mountain Street) and Route 612 (Fishel Street). Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. via July 29. (UPDATE) Route 610 (Parishville Street) – Flagger visitors control for floor remedy between Route 50 (Northwestern Pike) and Route 707 (Hollow Street). Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. by way of July 19. (NEW) Route 641 (Double Church Street) – Overnight flagger visitors control for floor remedy between Route 277 (Fairfax Pike) and Route 647 (Aylor Street). Monday to Friday from 8 p.m. to six a.m. Estimated Completion date is July 29. (UPDATE) Route 654 (Cedar Grove Street) – Flagger visitors control for floor remedy between Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) and Route 715 (Little Mountain Church Street). Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. by means of July 29. Route 655 (Sulphur Springs Street) – Flagger managed visitors as needed for roadway reconstruction between Route 50 (Millwood Pike) and Route 656 (Greenwood Street). Flagging may happen on Route 656 near the intersection with Route 655. Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Estimated challenge completion July 2020. (UPDATE) Route 661 (Welltown Street) – Flagger visitors management for surface remedy between Route 686 (Russell Street) and Route 671 (Cedar Hill Street). Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. by way of July 29. (UPDATE) Route 680 (Newlins Hill Street) – Flagger visitors control for floor remedy between Route 50 (Northwestern Pike) and Finish of state maintenance. Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. by means of July 29. (UPDATE) Route 688 (Stony Hill Street) – Flagger visitors management for surface remedy between Route 50 (Northwestern Pike) and Route 684 (Gainesboro Street). Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. via July 19. Route 723 (Carpers Valley Street/Previous Winchester Street) – Street closed by way of November 2019 for alternative of bridge over Opequon Creek at Clarke County line. Comply with posted detour. (UPDATE) Route 799 (Shane Lane) – Flagger visitors control for floor remedy between Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) and End of state upkeep. Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. via July 19. Numerous roads – Flagger visitors control for utility tree trimming. Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CLARKE COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS No lane closures reported.

SECONDARY ROADS (NEW) Route 601 (Blue Ridge Mountain Street) – Cellular lane closures for pavement marking between Paris Heights Lane and Route 605 (Morgans Mill Street) 9 a.m. to three p.m. by way of July 31. Route 723 (Carpers Valley Street/Previous Winchester Street) – Street closed by means of November 2019 for alternative of bridge over Opequon Creek at Frederick County line. Comply with posted detour. Numerous roads – Flagger visitors management for utility tree trimming. Monday-Friday from eight a.m. to 5 p.m.

WARREN COUNTY

INTERSTATE 66 (NEW) Mile marker 1 to 0 – Shoulder closures on ramp from I-66 westbound to I-81 southbound for bridge inspection, July 15 from 6 a.m. to three p.m.

INTERSTATE 81 No lane closures reported.

PRIMARY ROADS (NEW) Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Freeway) – Alternating lane closures simply south of Route 605 (Poor House Street) for inspection of Gooney Run bridge, July 16 from eight a.m. to five p.m. (NEW) Route 340/522 (Winchester Street) – Overnight alternating lane closures between Route 637 (Riverton Street/Guard Hill Street) and Route 639 (Ashby Station Street) for pavement resurfacing, July 14-31 from 9 p.m. to six a.m.

SECONDARY ROADS (NEW) Route 613 (Bentonville Street) – Flagger visitors management for signal installations between Route 738 (Jennings Lane) and Route 672 (Quail Hole Street), July 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Numerous roads – Flagger visitors control for utility tree trimming. Monday-Friday from eight a.m. to five p.m.

Vegetation administration might happen district large on numerous routes. Motorists are reminded to make use of excessive warning when traveling by means of work zones.

Traffic alerts and traveler info could be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler info also can be found at http://www.511Virginia.org.

The VDOT Buyer Service Middle can help with reporting street hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting info associated to Virginia’s roads. Name 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its cellular pleasant website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents can be found 24 hours-a-day, seven days every week.

The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT might be adopted on Fb, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are additionally out there for statewide info. The VDOT Net web page is situated at http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.

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