#Inland Alaska

[godallaswriter]

An Unknown Alaska

[druidicentropy]

A-Mi-Kuk

An fabled creature from Inuit mythology is called A-Mi-Kuk. The Bering Strait in Alaska is where this monster is known to exist. The A-Mi-Kuk is described as a massive, heavy, slimy, moist-skinned creature that has four human-like arms and hands in place of legs, which it uses to both walk on and seize its prey. It is also rumored to be able to emerge from underground burrows in inland lakes. It is said to feed primarily on fisherman and those who are stupid enough to take a sea bathe, but it also eats a lot of fish and saltwater birds.

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Great Blue Heron

Photo: Dan Roach

"Widespread and familiar (though often called 'crane'), the largest heron in North America. Often seen standing silently along inland rivers or lakeshores, or flying high overhead, with slow wingbeats, its head hunched back onto its shoulders. Highly adaptable, it thrives around all kinds of waters from subtropical mangrove swamps to desert rivers to the coastline of southern Alaska. With its variable diet it is able to spend the winter farther north than most herons, even in areas where most waters freeze. A form in southern Florida (called 'Great White Heron') is slightly larger and entirely white."

- Audubon Field Guide

[typhlonectes]

Salmon Run in Alaska

At Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska, salmon are the lifeblood of a fertile coastal ecosystem. At Brooks Falls, the salmon must run a gauntlet of hungry bears, wolves, birds and other fish-eaters before spawning further inland. Every summer, sockeye salmon return from the ocean, where they have spent two or three years, and travel up rivers, lakes and streams to return to the headwater gravel beds of their birth to deposit their young before dying. A sockeye salmon fresh from the sea in July contains around 4,500 calories, while a spawned-out salmon in September may only have half that many. Bears feast on them and turn into the chonky celebrities of #FatBearWeek! The last few documented salmon runs have shown high numbers — in 2019, they reached a record-breaking 62.3 million, and in 2021, they broke that record again with almost 65 million sockeye. The 2022 salmon run was strong and healthy, with approximately 50 million sockeye. Right now, there are enough salmon to go around, but scientists continue to monitor and collect data to understand what kind of impacts heat and weather patterns will have on future runs. Learn more about sockeye salmon in Katmai. Photographs by F. Jimenez, Russ Taylor, Anela Ramos and Lian Law / NPS

via: U.S. Department of the Interior 

[pleistocene-pride]

Vulpes lagopus also known as the arctic fox, white fox, polar fox, or snow fox is a small species of fox native to the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere where it dwells throughout Greenland, Findland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Alaska, and many Arctic islands. Being the only land mammal native to Iceland. Arctic foxes mostly inhabit tundra, taiga, and pack ice but can also be found in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. The color of the fox's coat also determines where they are most likely to be found. The white morph mainly lives inland and blends in with the snowy tundra, while the blue morph occupies the coasts because its dark color blends in with the cliffs and rocks. The arctic fox is a generalist omnivore which typically eats any small animal they can find, including lemmings, voles, other rodents, hares, birds, seal pups, fish, insects, and shellfish in addition to berries, flowers, seaweed, carrion, and bird eggs. Arctic foxes are themselves eaten by eagles, wolves, wolverines, red foxes, and bears. Arctic foxes survive winters and food scarcity by both hoarding food in buried caches and storing large amounts of body fat. Reaching around 18 to 27inches (46 to 68cms) in body length with typically 12inch (30cm) long tail, and 3.1 to 20.7lbs ( 1.4 to 9.4kgs) in weight, the arctic fox is a small canine with a generally compact body shape, long fluffy tail, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. It sports numerous adaptations to the extreme cold such as fur covered foot pads and dense multilayered pelage, which provides excellent insulation. To prevent heat loss, the Arctic fox curls up tightly tucking its legs and head under its body and behind its furry tail. There are two genetically distinct coat color morphs: the white morph has seasonal camouflage, white in winter and brown along the back with light grey around the abdomen in summer. The blue morph is often a dark blue, brown, or grey color year-round. Both morphs sport distinct summer and winter coats. Arctic foxes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season (from April to May) and they stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young, forming larger socially dynamic packs. These larger packs are particularly common in areas where the arctic fox overlaps with the red fox. After a 52 day pregnancy a mother arctic fox may give birth to up to 25 young. The young emerge from the den when 3 to 4 weeks old and are weaned by 9 weeks of age. Under ideal conditions an arctic fox may live up to 14 years.

[todaysfish]

Okay, mis petite amores, today’s fish is a little less flashy, but still - they glow. In this post you will learn about fish candles, overland grease trails, and a theory on the state of Oregon.

I would like to introduce you to Thaleichthyes pacificus, also known as the eulachon (you-luh-con, in the lower 48; hooligan in Alaska; oolighan in Chinook Jargon)Also known as the candlefish.

These are tiny smelt - but they are also extremely fatty fish.

With up to 15% of their body weigh being fat tissue, if you dry one out and string it on a wick, YOU CAN LITERALLY BURN IT LIKE A CANDLE.

They’re anadromous, like salmon, so they live in the ocean during most of their lives but spawn in freshwater rivers - though they’re rather less predictable.

Indigenous communities on North America’s Pacific coast included eulachon as part of their diet, and often processed them for oil - which is done by letting them rot in a hole in the ground for about a week before adding boiling water and skimming the oil off the top.

Eulachon oil was so widely traded between coastal tribes and inland tribes that the trade routes were called grease trails.

In fact, one archaeologist argued in a paper that the name of the state of Oregon was derived from the Chinook Jargon word - oolighan.

A few distinct population segments of eulachon are threatened or endangered, so at this point I would not in good conscience recommend setting any on fire.

[odinsblog]

Billionaire fossil fuel mogul David Koch died August 23, 2019. Though he will rightfully be remembered for his role in the destruction of the earth, David Koch’s influence went far beyond climate denial. Ronald Reagan may have uttered the famous words, “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem” back in 1981—but it was David Koch, along with his elder brother Charles and a cabal of other ultrarich individuals, who truly reframed the popular view of government. Once a democratic tool used to shape the country’s future, government became seen as something intrusive and inefficient—indeed, something to be feared.

“While Charles was the mastermind of the social reengineering of the America he envisioned,” said Lisa Graves, co-director of the corporate watchdog group Documented, “David was an enthusiastic lieutenant.”

David Koch was particularly instrumental in legitimizing anti-government ideology—one the GOP now holds as gospel. In 1980, the younger Koch ran as the vice-presidential nominee for the nascent Libertarian Party. And a newly unearthed document shows Koch personally donated more than $2 million to the party—an astounding amount for the time—to promote the Ed Clark–David Koch ticket.

“Few people realize that the anti-American government antecedent to the Tea Party was fomented in the late ’70s with money from Charles and David Koch,” Graves continued. “The Libertarian Party, fueled in part with David’s wealth, pushed hard on the idea that government was the problem and the free market was the solution to everything.”

In fact, according to Graves, “The Koch-funded Libertarian Party helped spur on Ronald Reagan’s anti-government, free-market-solves-all agenda as president.”

Even by contemporary standards, the 1980 Libertarian Party platform was extreme. It called for the abolition of a wide swath of federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the Federal Election Commission, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Federal Trade Commission, and “all government agencies concerned with transportation.” It railed against campaign finance and consumer protection laws, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, any regulations of the firearm industry (including tear gas), and government intervention in labor negotiations. And the platform demanded the repeal of all taxation, and sought amnesty for those convicted of tax “resistance.”

Koch and his libertarian allies moreover advocated for the repeal of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social programs. They wanted to abolish federally mandated speed limits. They opposed occupational licensure, antitrust laws, labor laws protecting women and children, and “all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.” And in true libertarian fashion, the platform urged the privatization of all schools (with an end to compulsory education laws), the railroad system, public roads and the national highway system, inland waterways, water distribution systems, public lands, and dam sites.

The Libertarian Party never made much of a splash in the election—though it did garner almost 12 percent of the vote in Alaska—but doing so was never the point. Rather, the Kochs were engaged in a long-term effort to normalize the aforementioned ideas and mainstream them into American politics.

(continue reading)

[english-lessons-bolzano]

CANADIAN ENGLISH

North American English is the most generalized variety of the English language as spoken in the United States and Canada. Because of their related histories and cultures, plus the similarities between the pronunciations (accents), vocabulary, and grammar of American English and Canadian English, the two spoken varieties are often grouped together under a single category.

Many times British, American and Canadian people cannot distinguish when someone is speaking if they are American or Canadian.

This is because Canada borders both the United States and Alaska.

Canadian Spelling

As in most matters, Canadian spelling is somewhere on that ill-defined continuum between British and American practices. Also as in most matters, Canadian spelling is a little more flexible than either British or American spelling. While, in general, it is closer to the British, the American variant is sometimes preferred, and often either would be considered acceptable (although the British is still usually considered “more correct”).

It can even be argued that there is a regional bias within Canada: in general terms, Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland are usually closer to the British usage, and Alberta and the Prairie provinces closer to the American.

Throughout part of the 20th century, some Canadian newspapers adopted American spellings,for example, color as opposed to the British-based colour. Some of the most substantial historical spelling data can be found in Dollinger (2010)and Grue (2013) The use of such spellings was the long-standing practice of the Canadian Press perhaps since that news agency's inception, but visibly the norm prior to World War II.The practice of dropping the letter u in such words was also considered a labour-saving technique during the early days of printing in which movable type was set manually.Canadian newspapers also received much of their international content from American press agencies, so it was much easier for editorial staff to leave the spellings from the wire services as provided.

In the 1990s, Canadian newspapers began to adopt the British spelling variants such as -our endings, notably with The Globe and Mail changing its spelling policy in October 1990. Other Canadian newspapers adopted similar changes later that decade, such as the Southam newspaper chain's conversion in September 1998. The Toronto Star adopted this new spelling policy in September 1997 after that publication's ombudsman discounted the issue earlier in 1997. The Star had always avoided using recognized Canadian spelling, citing the Gage Canadian Dictionary in their defence. Controversy around this issue was frequent. When the Gage Dictionary finally adopted standard Canadian spelling, the Star followed suit. Some publishers, e.g. Maclean's, continue to prefer American spellings.

CANADIAN RAISING

Canadian raising (also sometimes known as English diphthong raising) is an allophonic rule of phonology in many varieties of North American English that changes the pronunciation of diphthongs with open-vowel starting points. Most commonly, the shift affects /aɪ/ ⓘ or /aʊ/ ⓘ, or both, when they are pronounced before voiceless consonants (therefore, in words like price and clout, respectively, but not in prize and cloud). In North American English, /aɪ/ and /aʊ/ usually begin in an open vowel [ä~a], but through raising they shift to [ɐ] ⓘ, [ʌ] ⓘ or [ə] ⓘ. Canadian English often has raising in words with both /aɪ/ (height, life, psych, type, etc.) and /aʊ/ (clout, house, south, scout, etc.), while a number of American English varieties (such as Inland North, Western New England, and increasingly more General American accents) have this feature in /aɪ/ but not /aʊ/. It is thought to have originated in Canada in the late 19th century.

As its name implies, Canadian raising is found throughout most of Canada, though the exact phonetic quality of Canadian raising may differ throughout the country. In raised /aʊ/, the first element tends to be farther back in Quebec and the Canadian Prairies and Maritimes (particularly in Alberta): thus, [ʌʊ]. The first element tends to be the farthest forward in eastern and southern Ontario: thus, [ɛʊ~ɜʊ]. Newfoundland English is the Canadian dialect that participates least in any conditioned Canadian raising, while Vancouver English may lack the raising of /aɪ/ in particular.

Canadian raising is not restricted to Canada. Raising of both /aɪ/ and /aʊ/ is common in eastern New England, for example in some Boston accents (the former more likely than the latter),as well as in the Upper Midwest. South Atlantic English, New Orleans English, and the accents of England's Fens feature it as well.

Raising of just /aɪ/ is found in a much greater number of dialects in the United States; some researchers have begun to refer to raising of /aɪ/ without raising of /aʊ/ as American Raising. This phenomenon is most consistently found in the Inland North, the Upper Midwest, New England, New York City, and the mid-Atlantic areas of Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia), Maryland, and Delaware, as well as in Virginia. It is somewhat less common in the lower Midwest, the West, and the South. However, there is considerable variation in the raising of /aɪ/, and it can be found inconsistently throughout the United States.

EH

Eh (informal, chiefly Canada, Upper Midwestern US, New Zealand, UK) Used as a tag question, to emphasize what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.

In North America, the word is stereotypically associated with Canada and can sometimes convey that the speaker is trying to sound (sarcastically) Canadian outside the country. However, it is in widespread use in many other parts of the English-speaking world, including the northern United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Malaysia, the Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa and Nigeria.

Silvio Pasqualini Bolzano inglese ripetizioni English

[americangeophysicalunion]

Hello from Utqiagvik, Alaska in late February of 2024! This picture was taking during my year-long biennial Arctic Geophysics undergraduate research class. The students in this class choose their own research area dealing with the sea ice, and then I work with them to build - to MacGyver! - their own microcontroller-based sensors to collect data to address their research question. Most students are there for one of two weeks, with half the class the first week and half the second. One or two of the students are there for both weeks, depending on their particular project. The trip is in late February/early March, when the sea ice is thickest.

This picture was taken one evening when the aurorae put on a particularly spectacular display. We were staying in a dormitory located off the northern end of the grounds of the former Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL), which is itself just north of Utqiagvik. This had fewer street lights than the main NARL grounds, and afforded amazing views of these celestial fireworks. This picture shows one of my students on top of a snow/ice pile just behind (inland side of) the building, caught up in the moment of seeing this phenomenon. He had no idea that I was behind him for this picture, and I was fortunate to capture him howling with his rock hammer in his "hammer of the gods" moment. His unbridled joy is apparent at viewing our sun's deadly particle stream being turned into these harmless and beautiful high-atmosphere light displays by a happy conspiracy of Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, and leaves an indelible impression. 

In addition to experiencing these bucket-list auroral marvels, my students get the chance to do research under difficult conditions in an extreme environment, so often surprising themselves at what they can accomplish. So many of them refer to this experience - both the research and living in that beautiful area - as "life-changing," and I can honestly say the same thing myself.

Dr. Rhett Herman, Professor of Physics, Radford University, Radford, VA, USA.

[mymiraclebox]

Miracle Boxes - The Mage Generation

These are the first iteration of the Miracle Boxes, created by the Mage himself thousands of years ago. These consisted of twelve Miracle Boxes, each with ten kwamis, which the Mage entrusted to people during his travels around the world. Thanks to the use of the Panda Miraculous, the Mage lived much longer than most humans, making his travels across the world last several hundred years.

The Mage Box - Wandering Panda Crow Unicorn Rabbit Beaver Dove Horse Owl Parrot Scorpion

The Mage Box was the Miracle Box that the Mage personally looked after. He kept the Miraculouses of great power with him, along with ones that helped him in his travels around the world. The Mage would stay in different lands for decades at a time, and choose a close companion from these areas to become a Guardian of one of the boxes he carried. These Guardians were assigned to care for these kwamis, and to watch over a vast region.

The Successor Box - South Asia and West Asia Ladybug Black Cat Qilin Frog Bee Butterfly Fox Peacock Swan Turtle

This Miracle Box was the first the Mage trusted in the hands of another, which was his apprentice. He and apprentice left their home land (in what is now modern Tibet). They both headed south, with the apprentice heading west when they parted ways, while the Mage went east as he began his travels around the world.

The Island Box - Oceania and Southeast Asia Wolf Platypus Pterosaur Tuatara Binturong Blackbuck Coral Kangaroo Komodo Dragon Thylacine

This Miracle Box's Guardian was originally from what is now modern India, who was a traveling companion with the Mage as they went east together. When they parted ways the Mage went north, while she promised to take the Miracle Box south. This Guardian spent much of her time in Southeast Asia, and eventually headed down towards Australia and into the Pacific Islands.

The Coastal Box - East Asia and North Asia Dragon Cobra Dog Goat Monkey Mouse Ox Pig Rooster Tiger

The Mage entrusted this Box to a family who lived along the coast. The range this Guardian and Miracle Box looked after was along the coast of eastern Asia, but did stretch inland as well. The Mage spent a long time with this Guardian and their family, before deciding to pursue stories about a land that laid across the ocean.

The Northern Box - North America Thunderbird Bear Cougar Deer Goose Otter Rattlesnake Raven Salmon Woodpecker

The Mage didn't know what he'd find across the ocean, but he stumbled into a land much bigger than he imagined. His journeys started up in what is now Alaska, down through what would become Canada and the United State. Like many Miracle Boxes before the new Guardian had a vast region with many different cultures for them and their kwamis to look after.

The Central Box - Central America Firefly Raccoon Feathered Serpent Spider Axolotl Bison Coyote Eagle Falcon Shark

Of all of the Mage's travels, it was in Central America where he stayed the longest. This was because ended up adopting a daughter, who he went on many adventures with. The Mage entrusted the last Miracle Box with an Alpha Duo to her, who he stayed with to watch over, along with his grandchildren in time. He continued south shortly after his great-grandson became Guardian, knowing that he couldn't stay there forever.

The Southern Box - South America Grim Snail Anglerfish Crocodile Dolphin Jaguar Jellyfish Llama Locust Moth

The Mage struggled to bond with others as he headed into South America, pained with his extended life and the lost of love ones that comes from it. In time he befriended a lone traveler who lived a similar lifestyle than him, who he entrusted to become a Guardian. They parted ways when the Mage headed south across the ocean, where he encountered the frozen wasteland of Antarctica.

The Jungle Box - Southern Africa Dinosaur Penguin Elephant Gorilla Jackal Okapi Ray Rhinoceros Squirrel Zebra

The Mage did not remain within Antarctica for long, with the inhospitable environment and lack of human life. He headed north up into Madagascar, where he spent a considerable amount of time before he traveled to the mainland of Africa, which turned out to be much bigger than he had excepted when first traveling to the continent.

The Desert Box - Northern Africa Griffin Dragonfly Camel Chameleon Cheetah Giraffe Hippopotamus Hyena Ostrich Secretarybird

He did not select a guardian for this box for a long time, not until his arrival in ancient Egypt. This was the first place the Mage had truly settled in for many years, but he did eventually head east across the Sahara. The Mage's travels in Africa ended in what is now in Morocco, where he then headed up into the Iberian Peninsula.

The Peninsula Box - Europe Kelpie Aurochs Ant Crab Gecko Hedgehog Ibex Lion Mouflon Seahorse

Europe was yet another region that took the Mage a long time to select a Guardian for, and often retraced his paths in locations he had been in before during this search. In the end he trained up several potential Guardians, but only entrusted the box to one, leading to conflict for the box after he left.

The Arctic Box - Northern Europe and Northern Asia Phoenix Lynx Moose Narwhal Octopus Polar Bear Seal Sheep Weasel Wolverine

The Mage settled a lot more often as he journeyed northward, still very nomadic in where he would travel, but would often stay in settlements for long periods of time, especially during harsh winter months. The Mage loved the world and his travels, but he was tired, especially after living for so long. He entrusted this Miracle Box to a woman the kwamis loved to become their Guardian.

The Mountain Box - Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau Yeti Red Panda Bat Elk Pangolin Quail Scarab Snow Leopard Tortoise Vulture

At the end of his centuries long journey, the Mage found himself rapidly approaching his homeland. When heading across the mountains he found a Guardian for the last Miracle Box with him. He did not spend long here as he did in other regions of the world, being so close to home. And after such a long journey the Mage for ready to rest.

---

The Mage's apprentice was long dead by the time he returned to his homeland, but he was able to meet those who were protecting the Successor Box in his apprentice's place. Satisfied with the system he had in place and the kwamis that lived across the world, the Mage decided that he was ready to rest after living for so many years.

Still he knew the greed of humanity, and decided that the two Soul Gems along with the Miraculouses of the Panda, Crow, and Unicorn should be hidden away. They were to be hidden away in the Mage Box, so the other seven kwamis he had once looked after he decided to spread across the world, to unite with other Miracle Boxes out there.

After this he hid away the powerful Miraculouses and the Soul Gems, before officially retiring to his homeland under the care of the Guardians of the Successor Box. While he never told a soul where his Miracle Box was hidden, he did entrust the current Guardians with the knowledge of the location of one Soul Gem, before he passed away of old age.

---

The True Generation of Miracle Boxes

The Order Generation of Miracle Boxes

[rebeccathenaturalist]

How to Identify Buffleheads

Click here to learn more about the How to Identify article series. Originally posted on my website at https://rebeccalexa.com/how-to-identify-buffleheads/

Name: Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Range and typical habitat(s): Breeding range primarily in boreal and taiga habitats in western Canada and south-central Alaska with smaller breeding populations in surrounding areas; winters along both the Pacific coastline all the way from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico, and inland in the southern half of the United States plus parts of the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, and northern Mexico. Migratory routes may additionally take them through other areas of United States and Canada not mentioned above.

You’re most likely to find them around water, whether quiet coastal areas or inland freshwater lakes, bays, and other waterways. Like other waterfowl they prefer places with plenty of vegetation around the water’s edge for shelter. Lakes are their preference during breeding season.

Two adult male buffleheads

Distinguishing physical characteristics (size, colors, overall shapes, detail shapes) and behaviors: The short version is: the bufflehead is a small duck with a big head. To be more detailed about it, they are generally about 12-16 inches in length, smaller than most other duck species in the same range, with a wingspan a little less than two feet across. The dark-colored bill is comparatively small, making up less than half the total length of the head, and the pointed tail is similarly compact. The upper bill has a concave curve down from the forehead to the tip. In flight the wings have distinctly pointed ends and the tail is spread into a wedge shape, with a quick, constant wingbeat.

It is the coloration that sets these birds apart, though. Males in breeding plumage are quite stunning, with an iridescent green-purple head that has a large white patch just behind the dark eye. The back is black, and the sides and belly are bright white, with a dark gray tail. The wing, when open, is dark with a prominent white band across the upper wing. The feet are bright pinkish-orange.

Females have a very dark gray to black head with a much smaller white patch behind the eye, a dark back and wing with gray sides, tail, and belly. Rather than a full white band, her gray to black wings have one smaller white patch apiece on the upper side, and dark underneath. Female buffleheads’ feet are dark gray to black. Immature males are similarly colored. Young ducklings, when still in down, are black with white patches on their cheeks.

Adult female bufflehead

Buffleheads are diving ducks, and make many short dives in search of aquatic invertebrates, fish eggs, and plants. In fact, they’re very rarely ever seen on dry land, and spend most of their time on the water eating, resting, or preening. They tend to live in small groups during non-breeding months rather than the large flocks of some other waterfowl. They may linger in their breeding grounds later than many other ducks before heading south or to the coast for winter.

During breeding season buffleheads are generally monogamous with their partners from previous years, and they are cavity nesters, dependent on holes in dead trees made by woodpeckers. These small ducks especially prize holes made by northern flickers (Colaptes auratus) as they are too small for larger ducks to fit into but are perfectly bufflehead-sized. They may also make use of similarly-sized nest boxes. Larger ducks may aggressively force buffleheads out of prime nesting sites, and goldeneyes (Bucephala spp.) may even injure or kill the smaller buffleheads in fights over nests.

Courtship displays include the male soaring over the female, then coming to a spectacular sliding landing on the water’s surface, followed by some energetic head bobs. Once mates have established a territory, they defend it aggressively from other buffleheads.

The female bufflehead will lay anywhere from  four to seventeen eggs with plain, cream-colored shells. These hatch after thirty days of incubation, and once the youngest duckling has spent a day in the nest the female and all the ducklings jump out of the box and head straight for the water. Meanwhile, females that were unsuccessful in breeding spend time looking for potential nesting sites for next year.

Other organisms it could be confused with and how to tell the difference: Buffleheads are most commonly mistaken for their larger Bucephala cousins, the common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala islandica). Both species of goldeneyes, as their name suggests, have yellow eyes instead of the dark eyes of the buffleheads, and are larger overall. Male common goldeneyes lack the white head patch and instead have a smaller white patch in front of the eye, while females lack any white facial markings at all. When folded, the male common goldeneye’s wing has small white patches divided by thin black lines. The female common goldeneye has an orange tip on her beak, and her head is a lighter, ruddier brown than that of the female bufflehead. Both common goldeneye sexes have orange legs.

A pair of common goldeneyes, female (L) and male (R)

The Barrow’s goldeneye is similar to the common, but the male Barrow’s white face patch is larger and more oval in shape compared to the common’s round patch. The white wing patches on the Barrow’s male are smaller, and there is a small black hook shape at the shoulder. Female Barrow’s have an entirely orange beak except for a tiny bit of black at the tip.

A pair of Barrow’s goldeneyes, female (L) and male (R).

The hooded merganser also looks somewhat similar to the bufflehead, but is much larger, reaching over nineteen inches in length. The male hooded merganser in breeding colors does have a black head, but the white patch on the large crest behind the eye is much larger than in the bufflehead, and the black lacks the purple-green iridescence. His sides are reddish-brown and he has prominent white stripes on his black wings. The female hooded merganser lacks white markings on her face and has a yellow beak. Her head is a lighter grayish brown with a larger crest, and her body is also a lighter gray than that of the female bufflehead. Both merganser sexes have yellow rather than dark eyes.

A pair of hooded mergansers, female (L) and male (R)

Another species that is markedly larger than the bufflehead is the harlequin duck. The male does have a black head, but he has a large white patch in front of his eye and two small ones behind it, with a white stripe on top of his head. His body is gray and he has prominent rust patches on top of his head and on his sides, and a white stripe on his back. The female harlequin duck is a plain brownish-gray with a large white patch in front of the eye and a much smaller one behind, and her underside is light gray with darker gray spots.

A pair of harlequin ducks, male (L) and female (R)

Further Reading:

All About Birds: Bufflehead

Audubon Field Guide: Bufflehead

Ducks Unlimited: Bufflehead

eBird: Bufflehead

Aquarium of the Pacific: Bufflehead

Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes or hiring me for a guided nature tour, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!

[eurekavalley]

It's tough to watch Northern Exposure in 2024 (thanks Amazon Prime!) without questioning the indigenous representation to some degree, so the results of some googling under the cut.

Back in the 90's, the show was received probably not so differently than it would be today. The large number of Alaska native characters was viewed positively - Marilyn the receptionist and Ed the film buff being the most prominent, with several other recurring and side characters. However, the casting treated native groups as interchangeable, and sometimes so did the onscreen representation, like when they had Elaine Miles wear her own regalia from the 'lower 48' as Marilyn's. In this great 2020 interview with Nerds of Color, Elaine Miles also talks about some of the strange expectations from the producers, like how they wanted her to enunciate in a very unnatural way in the first season, and how she originally tried to stay out of the fray when it came to the writing but eventually felt like she had to take all the feedback and hate mail she was receiving to the producers.

Another issue was that the culture was portrayed in a very vague way early on in the series, and once it was specified that it was Tlingit and not one of the other native groups in Alaska, it didn't fit the location of the town, which is reachable by bus and car on the road system, and on a river and not the ocean. It does seem possible that the writers planned some details before realizing the town would need to be on the road system, as the Juneau area feels much more like Maurice's supposed "Alaskan riviera" than inland Alaska does.

The show uses a lot of surrealist storytelling and it's hard to know how much license is being taken when that lens is put on the native culture, with ghosts, spirits, shamans, etc., as other cultures do get some of the same treatment by the show. The raven iconography and mythology that figure so largely in the town pageant at Christmas are in fact an important part of Tlingit culture.

There were some criticisms about characterization, especially how Marilyn's stoicism fit stereotypes about native Americans. It is also pointed out that the surreal and fantastical approach did not show the more difficult sides of life for native people, or their more complicated and difficult relationships with white people.

[rabbitcruiser]

Teslin Lake, YT (No. 4)

George Johnston (trapper) (1884–1972), trapper and photographer, founder of "Teslin Taxi." He captured the life of the inland Tlingit people of Teslin and Atlin in numerous photos taken between 1910 and 1940. Johnston also brought the first car to Teslin; it was a 1928 Chevrolet. He built a 3 to 5 mi (4.8 to 8.0 km) road for his "Teslin taxi" since the Alaska Highway had not been built yet. In winter, he put chains on the car, painted it white, and drove it on frozen Teslin Lake. The '28 Chevy has been restored and is now on permanent display at the George Johnston Museum in Teslin.

In 1995 the Teslin Inland Tlingit negotiated and signed a land claims agreement with the federal government, under which they re-established their own government and became self-sustaining. The Teslin Inland Tlingit now enact their own legal and political framework for government-to-government relations with Canada and the Yukon.

Source: Wikipedia

[mountrainiernps]

Sooty grouse used to be called blue grouse. After DNA testing, blue grouse were split into two groups; dusky grouse inland and sooty grouse in the coastal mountain ranges. Found from California to Alaska, the sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus, is a chicken-like bird with short legs and a medium length tail. Both male and female birds are camouflaged in brown, black, gray and white, but the males are a bit more gray and have yellow eye combs and yellow air sacs on their necks.

In the summer, you might see and more often hear these birds in the subalpine areas of the park. They take advantage of the leaves, flowers and berries that are available in these environments for summer feasting while the young feed more on insects. But come winter, it’s time for change. The sooty grouse move into the deeper, denser forests. Throughout the colder months, these grouse feed on the needles of the douglas-firs, as well as other conifers like fir, pine and hemlock.

In winter, for sooty grouse, it pays to follow the food. Have you seen or heard the calls of sooty grouse in the park? Where have you seen or heard them? ~ams

More information on birds in the national park can be found here https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/nature/birds.htm

These photographs are from years past and do not reflect current conditions. NPS/C. Roundtree Photo. Sooty grouse male on snow near Narada Falls area. Yellow air sac and eye comb visible. May, 2018. NPS/S. Redman Photo. Female sooty grouse on ground amidst fall foliage in Paradise area. September, 2015.

[emperordinozenmon]

Keep planting flowers despite the antibloom

Severed forever

I sat up jolted awake, gasping for air, my body drenched in cold sweat. The room spun as I sat up too fast, a pounding headache intensifying the riot of emotions and fragmented memories clawing at the edges of my mind. Each breath felt like dragging air through a broken lung, sharp and stuttering. My arms flailed instinctively, reaching for something—anything—solid.

Then, firm but gentle hands cupped my face, stopping my movements.

“Oh, you’re awake,” a soothing voice said. Her tone was soft, almost too calm like she was talking me down from a ledge. The hands holding my face didn’t waver, cradling me like I was glass that might shatter at any moment.

My breathing slowed, her touch grounding me, even as everything inside screamed not to trust her. “I’ve got you,” she murmured, her lips curling into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her striking blue eyes. Eyes like frozen tundra—beautiful, chilling, and unyielding.

The sight of them unlocked something, a dam breaking in my mind. Memories flooded back.

Three days. Three days since the sky fell. Three days since America had been torn apart by The Outsiders, their alien ships darkened the sky like an endless storm. They ripped through the land with terrifying efficiency, leaving cities in ruins and millions dead before anyone even realized what was happening. Then, two days after their invasion began, the first of us changed.

Evos, they called us. Ordinary people are suddenly gifted—or cursed—with extraordinary powers. The ability to fly, to wield fire, to move mountains. At first, the world didn’t know what to make of us. I didn’t know what to make of myself. Somehow, I had survived the destruction and come out the other side… changed.

America wasn’t so lucky.

The Outsiders broke us, and the scavengers came soon after. Russia swept through Alaska and parts of Canada like a tidal wave. The Japan-Korea Alliance moved fast, claiming the entire West Coast and cutting a path inland. Spain carved out the Southeast, turning states like Louisiana and Florida into colonies. The Northeast barely held on, a fragile coalition scrambling to reclaim what little remained.

But the land wasn’t the only thing taken.

Evos—people like me—became currency in this new world. Bargaining chips. Human leverage. We were ripped from our homes and families, and traded between nations under the guise of ���diplomacy.” Some called it collaboration. I called it trafficking.

And that’s how I ended up here, in South Korea, under the watchful eye of Momo Hirai.

Momo. The name alone twisted something in my gut. Once a globally adored K-pop idol, she’d been touring America when the Outsiders struck. She became an Evo, like me, and her fame only amplified her importance in the eyes of the Japan-Korea Alliance. She had powers now—ones I didn’t fully understand, but they made her dangerous. I should’ve left her to the rubble, but my stupid, heroic instincts kicked in, and I saved her life.

It was a mistake.

When the dust settled, she ensured the Alliance found me. They called it a rescue. I called it a prison sentence. My powers were shackled, my movements monitored, and my attempts to escape met with druggings and tighter surveillance. And always, always, Momo was there. Watching.

“You’re safe now,” Momo said, her voice lilting, almost like a lullaby. But there was steel beneath the sweetness, a note of authority that cut through the gentleness.

Safe? I wanted to laugh. Safe didn’t exist anymore—not for me.

I pulled back from her hands, glaring. “Safe? You’re joking, right? After everything I’ve been through, you think I feel safe?”

Her eyes flickered with something—hurt, maybe—but she masked it quickly. “Adam,” she said softly as if my name alone could calm me. “The Shattered Republic isn’t safe. There are spies everywhere, people who’d hurt you at every turn.”

“I fought alien invaders, Momo,” I shot back, my voice laced with sarcasm. “A couple of spies don’t scare me.”

Her shoulders sagged, and she sighed, the weight of my defiance clearly wearing on her. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Gee, I don’t know,” I snapped, crossing my arms. “Maybe it’s the whole trapped in a penthouse, cut off from my family thing.”

“You’d have more freedom if you’d stop trying to escape,” she said, her tone losing some of its softness.

“Freedom?” I laughed bitterly. “You mean I’d be allowed outside under armed guard? How generous.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t rise to the bait. “You know the Alliance is doing everything they can to maintain order. Your family—”

“Don’t,” I interrupted sharply. “Don’t talk about my family. I’ve asked them a hundred times to at least confirm if they’re alive, and all I get is silence. How am I supposed to trust you—or anyone—when you can’t even lie to me about looking for them?”

Momo hesitated, something unspoken hanging in the air between us. For a moment, I thought she might actually say something meaningful. Instead, she stepped closer, her hands reaching for me again.

“Adam,” she whispered, her blue eyes locking onto mine. They began to change, swirling with a mesmerizing light that made my head swim.

“No,” I managed to say, but it was too late. The world blurred around me as her powers took hold. My legs gave out, and everything faded to black.

When I woke up, I found my head resting on Momo's lap. She was idly running her fingers through my hair, her gaze distant yet serene. The moment I stirred, she tilted her head down, smirking playfully.

“You drool when you sleep,” she teased. Her tone was light, almost affectionate, and for the briefest moment, I caught a glimpse of the girl I used to admire—the bright, bubbly idol who once seemed so untouchable. It was a bittersweet moment, cracking through the icy walls of my resentment. But as quickly as it appeared, that warmth faded, and my guard slammed back into place. I sat up, wiping the corner of my mouth with my sleeve, determined not to let her see my momentary weakness.

Momo’s smile lingered as she leaned back, her voice gleeful. “So, I’ve got some good news!”

I squinted at her skeptically, crossing my arms. “Let me guess… I’m free to go home and help rebuild my country?”

Momo laughed, the sound rich and genuine before she sighed and shook her head. “Not that good, sadly. But your family and friends are safe. I got confirmation from my superior officer this morning.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, clearly proud to deliver this news.

I froze for a moment, processing her words. A weight I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying loosened just a fraction. “They’re safe?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. Momo nodded enthusiastically.

I exhaled sharply, the relief crashing over me like a wave, but I refused to let her see me crack further. Rising to my feet, I walked toward the balcony, pushing open the glass doors to let the cool air hit my face. Behind me, I heard Momo’s hesitant footsteps as she followed, lingering awkwardly near the doorframe.

“Is… everything okay?” she asked tentatively.

I leaned on the railing, staring out at the city skyline. “It’s a lot to process,” I admitted. “But I’ll be fine.” A pause stretched between us before I added, “What’s the catch?”

Momo frowned. “Catch?”

I turned to face her, my gaze sharp. “Yeah. What’s the demand? You don’t get something for nothing in this setup. Every bit of information comes with strings attached, so what’s the price for this little morsel of good news?”

She flinched slightly at my tone, then sighed. “They want the schematics for your Harmonizer.”

I stared at her blankly for a moment. “Of course, they do.”

Momo shifted uneasily under my gaze, but I could tell she was trying to gauge my reaction. Finally, I spoke. “Look, I’d love to give you something useful, but it’s not really a ‘machine,’ per se. Think of it more as a magical construct—a physical manifestation of my powers filtered through my perception of technology.”

Her brow furrowed, confusion flickering across her face. “What does that even mean?” she asked.

I groaned softly, running a hand through my hair as I tried to simplify the explanation. “Okay, think of it like this.” I summoned a new Harmonizer in my hand, the device materializing with a faint hum of energy. “Here’s another Harmonizer.”

Momo’s eyes widened as she looked it over. “Wait, why does this one look different from yours?”

“Because it’s not a blueprint or a fixed design,” I said, holding it up for her to inspect. “It’s… conceptual. My powers shape it based on what I think I need at the moment. Sure, it might work for you, but I have no way of knowing how or why. It’s like handing someone a dream and asking them to reverse-engineer it.”

Momo blinked at me, her confusion deepening. “So… it’s like… magic-tech?” she ventured.

“Sure,” I said with a shrug, “if that helps you sleep at night.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Look, just call your superior officer. Bring them here. And while you’re at it, grab your best engineer. Maybe they’ll get it.”

To her credit, Momo didn’t argue. She nodded, her expression shifting into something more serious as she stepped back inside to make the call.

Fifteen minutes later, I found myself standing in the same room, going over the exact same explanation for Momo’s superior officer and their lead engineer. The officer’s expression was unreadable, but the engineer seemed intrigued, taking meticulous notes as I demonstrated how the Harmonizer functioned—or didn’t, depending on how you looked at it.

“Fascinating,” the engineer muttered, examining the summoned device with reverence. “It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. We’ll need to run some tests, but… thank you for your cooperation.”

“Yeah, sure,” I muttered, waving them off as they packed up their findings and left.

Once the door clicked shut, Momo plopped down on the couch beside me, cuddling up to my side with a self-satisfied grin. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

I turned to her, deadpan. “They were here for three and a half hours. That was needlessly hard.”

Momo giggled, clearly unbothered. “Well, if it’s any consolation,” she said, her tone turning mischievous, “I got permission to take you to Twice’s next performance.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”

She smiled brightly, tilting her head. “Yep! A live concert. Just you and me. Doesn’t that ease the pain a little?”

Despite myself, I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “It’s a start,” I admitted.

“Well then, I guess I can tell you this as well,” Momo said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Perfect World and Hello will be in the setlist.”

I tried hard to suppress my grin, but it was a losing battle. Those were my two favorite TWICE songs.

The next day, I found myself blending into the crowd at a small venue where TWICE was performing. It wasn’t one of their grand stadium tours but an intimate mini-concert, meant to showcase the group’s resilience after their last show was abruptly cut short by the Outsider invasion. The stage shimmered under the lights, and as the opening notes began to play, the atmosphere transformed.

The performance was electric. Even in my current circumstances, with resentment like thick chains wrapped around my heart, those emotions loosened and melted away as the music washed over me. For the first time in what felt like years, I found peace. For a moment, I wasn’t a man grappling with captivity, heartbreak, or an alien invasion—I was just me, a fan lost in the brilliance of TWICE’s harmonies.

Their songs pulled me back four years, to a simpler time when the biggest challenge in my life was figuring out how to graduate college, not figuring out how to save the world. And then, as I watched Momo perform, my heart betrayed me. It raced with the same fervor it used to when she was my ultimate bias, the K-pop crush who lit up my playlists and late-night fanboy rants.

She was radiant. The stage seemed like it existed solely for her as she twirled, smiled, and sang her heart out. For a brief, bittersweet moment, I allowed myself to forget the roles we now played in each other’s lives. On that stage, Momo wasn’t my captor—she was simply the woman who had stolen my heart years ago, shining brighter than the stars.

After the concert, Momo didn’t just leave me to my thoughts. She took me backstage. It was surreal, stepping into the private world of idols I’d admired from afar for so long. As I met the rest of TWICE, I realized they were just as charming in person as they were on stage—or on screen.

“Hey, guys! This is Adam,” Momo said cheerfully, introducing me like I was a close friend. “He’s one of the people who saved us during the Sofi concert.”

I instantly felt my cheeks burn. The room erupted with cheers and applause.

“It was nothing,” I said quickly, trying to wave it off, but Jihyo, TWICE’s bold and charismatic leader, stepped forward with a sharp shake of her head.

“Nothing?” she repeated, her voice firm but warm. “You risked your life to help us. That’s more than ‘nothing.’” Before I could react, she wrapped me in a hug.

My heart pounded furiously. It wasn’t every day that Jihyo herself hugged me—or at all. As she pulled away, the other members took their turns thanking me.

Then Dahyun stepped forward. Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, her head tilting slightly in curiosity. Suddenly, her eyes widened in recognition.

“Wait a minute,” she said, her voice rising with excitement. “You’re the Evo Hero: Mask Change!”

The room quieted, and I instinctively tensed, my guard shooting up like a reflex. My eyes narrowed as I studied her.

But Dahyun wasn’t accusing me of anything. She was beaming. “You were one of the vanguards during the Outsider invasion! You pierced their electromagnetic rail cannons, didn’t you? And—you’re a Once? Best. Day. Ever!”

Her excitement caught me off guard, and my defenses wavered.

“Uh, yeah. That’s me,” I said, scratching the back of my neck.

Before I could say more, Dahyun closed the distance between us and hugged me. Her voice dropped to a whisper, soft enough that only I could hear. “I know you’re probably here against your will, but… thank you. For everything you’ve done.”

She broke the hug and stepped back, her bright smile back in place. “Fighting!” she added cutely, with a little fist pump.

My heart, which I’d thought was locked away behind those same old pillars of resentment, softened just a little more. In that moment, surrounded by people I had once idolized, I didn’t feel like a captive or a pawn.

After the introductions, the energy in the room remained light. The Twice members crowded around me, their chatter overlapping as they peppered me with questions. Momo stayed close by, observing, her expression unreadable. I caught her glancing at me once or twice, but she didn’t interrupt.

“So, Adam,” Chaeyoung began, perched on the armrest of the couch. “What’s it like being an Evo? You know, Mask Change and all.”

The nickname hung in the air, drawing a mix of awe and curiosity from the others.

“It’s…” I paused, unsure how much to share. “Complicated. I didn’t ask for any of this, and honestly, it feels like I’m still figuring out who I am now. Especially since my powers don’t work the same as other evos.”

Sana leaned in, her head tilted playfully. “Don’t worry, we’re all still figuring ourselves out too.” Her bright tone softened her words, but something in her eyes lingered a second too long. It felt… knowing.

Dahyun, sitting cross-legged on the carpet, nodded. “Yeah, no one hands you a manual for powers. Believe me.”

I blinked at her. “What do you mean?”

Dahyun’s lips pressed together, and for a moment, she hesitated. The room grew quieter, and the Twice members exchanged subtle glances. It wasn’t the kind of silence born from awkwardness—it felt deliberate, like an unspoken agreement had just been tested.

“We mean,” Jihyo finally said, stepping in with the same measured authority she carried on stage, “that we understand. Maybe more than you think.”

My eyes darted between them. “Wait… you’re all Evos?”

Jeongyeon gave a low whistle, shaking her head. “Guess the secret’s out.”

“Secret?” I echoed, leaning forward. My mind raced, connecting dots I hadn’t even known existed. “You’re… but why didn’t anyone say anything?”

Tzuyu, who had been quietly observing from the corner, spoke up. “Because it’s not something we can advertise. Being Evos doesn’t give us freedom—it’s the opposite.” Her voice was calm but carried a weight that surprised me.

Nayeon added with a wry smile, “The Japan-Korea Alliance didn’t exactly rescue us out of the kindness of their hearts.”

“So you’re prisoners too,” I said, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut.

Momo finally spoke, her voice low and tinged with guilt. “Not all of us fought aliens like you, but when the Outsiders attacked… we had no choice but to use our powers to survive. And when the Alliance found out what we could do…”

“They kept us close,” Mina finished quietly.

I looked at them—these women who had been a beacon of light and joy for millions, including me—and saw the cracks beneath their polished exteriors. Their smiles, their teasing… all of it now felt like armor, a way to maintain some semblance of normalcy in a life that was anything but.

“But they let you perform,” I said, the confusion evident in my voice. “Why would they allow that?”

“Public relations,” Jihyo said bitterly. “We’re their shining example of ‘cooperation.’ The Alliance uses us to prove that Evos and non-Evos can coexist, that everything is under control. Meanwhile, we’re monitored constantly, just like you.”

Chaeyoung added with a shrug, “They need us to be Twice first, Evos second. Keeps people distracted from the fact that we’re stuck in the same gilded cage.”

I exhaled, leaning back against the couch. It was almost too much to process. “So all of this… the concert, meeting me, even this hangout… it’s all just…”

Momo shook her head, stepping closer. “It’s not fake. At least, not for us. The Alliance might use us, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care. About performing, about meeting you…” Her voice softened. “About helping you feel less alone.”

Her words hit deeper than I wanted to admit. I looked around the room again, and this time I saw them differently—not just idols, not just prisoners, but people who were fighting their own battles in ways I hadn’t understood until now.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.

Jihyo smiled, a faint but genuine curve of her lips. “Because you’re one of us, Adam. And maybe, together, we can figure out how to break free.”

I looked at the idols in silence and sighed. I searched their faces for some semblance of happiness but all I found were masks like I wore. They looked to me for guidance and I had nothing for them, sadly.

The days following Twice revealing their secrets passed in a blur, on one of these days Tzuyu found me on the balcony overlooking the city. The air was crisp, the horizon painted with the soft hues of dawn.

“You like mornings too?” she asked, her voice almost startling in the quiet.

I nodded, keeping my gaze on the skyline. “Mornings are peaceful. Less noise, fewer expectations.”

She leaned against the railing, her expression calm but reflective. “I get that. Sometimes, being quiet is the only way I feel like myself.”

I chuckled and she looked at me nervously, “Why are you laughing?” She asked

“I’m sorry little miss Sass machine, I have a hard time believing that,” Tzuyu smirked then said,

“You really are a once,” she smiled as we shared a tender moment.

We didn’t say much after that, but we didn’t need to. In those still moments, I felt a strange sense of ease around her—a mutual understanding that didn’t require words.

A while later I was eating lunch with Momo in her penthouse with Nayeon.

“So Adam how exactly do your Evo powers work?” She asked curious.

I shrugged to which Nayeon looked at me angrily, "What do you mean (she copied my shrug)

"I mean I legit don't know how they work. At first, it was I could make masks with a power that evolved after fighting the outsiders for a full day then after I was captured and experimented on again my powers changed a third time, so all I know currently is that I can make two Harmonizers to funnel whatever my current powers are through." Nayeon looked at me with a surprised gaze,

"Wait so you were taken by the Outsiders?" she asked. I nodded in response.

Nayeon's eyes widened then she said, "I am sorry. I didn't know," I nod and respond,

"it's not your fault for not knowing." the rest of the dinner was silent and calm which lasted until the next day when Sana showed up completely changing the energy and atmosphere. The bubbly and flirty Idol insisted I cook breakfast for her and Momo. Not really sure why I did so. It was simple French toast, veggie omelets, and chorizo. After we all sat down and Sana took the first bite she said,

"Oh, this is really yummy!" Sana says gleefully

"thanks" I responded,

"You know Momo if you don't want him I'll certainly take him off your hands," Sana said happily as she ate. Momo and I both cough before Sana begins giggling. We ate in mostly silence after that until Sana grabbed Momo and me dragging us through the apartment complex to "something fun" as Sana called it.

“Let’s go!” she said, dragging me into a game room the Alliance had somehow provided. She grinned, holding up a pair of controllers. “We’re playing Mario Kart. No mercy.”

“I don’t think that’s—” I started, but she had already shoved a controller into my hands.

The next hour was a blur of bright colors, banana peels, and Sana’s infectious laughter. I wasn’t bad at the game, but Sana was ruthless, giggling every time she knocked me off the track.

“Are you even trying?” she teased, leaning close with a mock-serious expression.

“Hey, I’m just warming up!” I shot back, laughing despite myself.

By the end, I realized she wasn’t just trying to have fun—she was trying to pull me out of the shell I’d built around myself. And, somehow, it worked.

Jihyo surprised me that evening by inviting me to join her for a workout.

“Come on, Mask Change,” she said, smirking as she handed me a set of weights. “Let’s see what those Evo muscles can really do.”

It started as a challenge, but as the session went on, her genuine encouragement made it feel less like a competition and more like a shared effort. She wasn't able to spot me for some of the larger weights I could throw around but she did her best. Despite her smaller stature, she was quite strong for her size. It caught me off guard at first until she said,

"Surprised?" I nodded at Jihyo's question. She smiled and then said, "Well don't be one of my Evo powers is strength…Obviously not as much as yours but still more than enough,"

"Hey don't feel smaller because you can't lift a tank. When I escaped there was another guy who was destroying the ship full on Wolverine weapon x style,"

"Huh?" Jihyo said confused.

I sigh and then reply, "Comic book things sorry,"

Jihyo nodded and then we continued the workout in silence before Jihyo had to spot me. I quickly recovered though making sure to rerack the weight properly.

“You’ve been through a lot,” she said during a water break. “It’s okay to lean on people sometimes, you know.”

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. But her steady gaze made it clear she wasn’t just offering empty words—she meant it.

Two days later, Dahyun managed to catch me in a rare moment of boredom and proposed we bake cookies in the kitchen.

“You bake?” I asked skeptically as she tied an apron around her waist.

“Obviously,” she said, her tone mock-indignant. “Now grab that whisk.”

The kitchen quickly turned chaotic. Flour ended up everywhere, and more chocolate chips ended up in Dahyun’s mouth than in the dough. But her laughter was contagious, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself relax.

“See?” she said, holding up a tray of misshapen but delicious-smelling cookies. “We make a great team.”

I smiled, realizing she was right.

Momo caught us as we had finished, sensing the tension Dahyun left and whispered in my ear "Good luck," before taking a few cookies with her. Momo sat and took a cookie. She munched on it quietly I noticed these past few days she had been quieter than usual, hanging back as I spent time with the others. But that night, she found me on the couch, flipping through old photos on my tablet.

“That your family?” she asked, sitting beside me.

I nod solemnly

She didn’t say anything for a while, just looked at the screen. Then, softly, she said, “You’ll see them again. I promise.”

Her words caught me off guard. For a moment, the walls I’d built between us cracked just slightly.

Late that night, I found Momo on the balcony, staring up at the stars.

“You okay?” I asked, stepping out into the cool night air.

She glanced at me, her usual smirk absent. “I just… I don’t want you to hate me forever, Adam.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. For the first time, I saw her not as the woman who had captured me, but as someone struggling with her own guilt and uncertainty.

“I don’t hate you,” I said quietly.

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. “Then maybe we can start over.”

I didn’t respond right away, but I nodded. It wasn’t forgiveness—not yet—but it was a step forward.

By the end of the week, the Twice members felt less like strangers and more like friends. Tzuyu, Sana, Jihyo, and Dahyun had chipped away at my defenses.

And Momo… Momo was finding her way back into my heart, not through grand gestures, but through the little moments that reminded me of why I had fallen for her in the first place.

As we all sat around the living room that evening, laughing over a ridiculous movie Dahyun had insisted on watching, I realized something. Maybe this is where I am meant to be.

It was mid-morning when the call came. Momo and I were lounging in the common room, still recovering from a grueling training session Jihyo had orchestrated the day before. Dahyun was sprawled on the floor, half-asleep, and Sana was flipping through a magazine while Tzuyu idly braided her hair.

The sudden buzz of Momo’s communication device shattered the calm. She glanced at the screen, her face instantly losing its relaxed expression.

“We’re being summoned,” she said, looking at me with a mix of apprehension and resignation.

“For what?” I asked, my guard instantly up.

“They want to talk about reports of a new Evo in California,” she replied, her tone cautious. “Someone with powers… similar to yours.”

The room fell silent. The others exchanged uneasy glances, and I felt their unspoken concern hanging in the air.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said, standing and stretching, though my mind was already racing.

The briefing room in the Alliance facility was as sterile and oppressive as ever. A long table dominated the center, surrounded by monitors that displayed grainy footage of a figure enveloped in shimmering energy, tearing through Outsider drones with what looked like weapons constructed from light.

A middle-aged woman in a crisp military uniform stood at the head of the table, her presence radiating authority. Behind her was a younger man, likely her aide, who typed furiously into a tablet.

“Adam. Momo,” the officer said, her tone sharp as her gaze shifted between us. “Thank you for coming.”

I crossed my arms. “Not like we had a choice.”

The officer’s lips twitched into the faintest semblance of a smile. “True. Let’s get straight to it.” She gestured to the screen behind her.

“This footage was captured three days ago near the La Brea Tar Pits. The Evo displayed here has exhibited abilities remarkably similar to yours, Adam. Titanic strength and durability, Outsider-based armor, energy constructs and weapons, along with resistance to Outsider weaponry. Sound familiar?”

I leaned forward, studying the footage on the screen. The grainy quality didn’t obscure the raw, feral power on display. Whoever this Evo was, their powers did bear a resemblance to mine—enough to make me uneasy. But the differences in how we wielded those abilities stood out starkly, almost glaringly.

Watching him fight was like watching a raging storm—unpredictable, primal, and devastating. He tore through the Outsider drones with sheer brute force, his energy constructs manifesting as jagged, glowing weapons that seemed to pulse with unrefined power. He wielded them with reckless abandon, shattering his targets without a second thought. Every swing of his energy blade carved deep trenches in the earth, and every blast of kinetic energy left craters in his wake.

I couldn’t help but flinch at his lack of precision. I fought like a martial artist—calculated, methodical, and deliberate. My movements flowed, each one building on the last as if I were weaving a tapestry of controlled destruction. I could conserve energy, strike with surgical precision, and anticipate my opponent’s next move. Every punch and swing was purposeful, designed to maximize impact while minimizing waste.

This new Evo, though—he was a street fighter in the truest sense. He relied on raw instinct and overwhelming power, like someone who had been forced to learn the brutal language of survival on the fly. His attacks were chaotic but undeniably effective, every action screaming that he would rather overwhelm than outmaneuver, but the scariest part was his accuracy in his strikes.

Beneath the chaos, there was a glimmer of something more—wisdom, maybe. He might not have my finesse, but he wasn’t ignorant of what he was doing. The way he moved suggested an intimate understanding of his own power, even if he lacked the discipline to refine it. It was like he’d skipped the training arc entirely and thrown himself straight into the final boss fight.

“Do we know who they are?” I asked.

“Not yet,” the officer admitted. “They’ve been keeping a low profile, but their actions against Outsiders have drawn attention. We’re concerned about their intentions—and whether their abilities are truly aligned with ours.”

“Aligned with yours?” I repeated, my voice tinged with disbelief. “He hasn’t come after anyone. Isn’t that enough?”

“Intentions matter,” she said curtly. “We’ve seen what happens when Evos go rogue. If this individual is anything like you, their potential for destruction is… considerable.”

Her words triggered something in me—a memory, dark and vivid.

Flashback: The Outsiders’ Ship

I was strapped to a chair, my arms restrained by cuffs that hummed with a strange, suppressive energy. My head throbbed from whatever drug they’d used to sedate me, but the sharp voices of the Outsiders pierced through the fog.

“This one is unique,” one of them hissed, their tone almost reverent. “The way his abilities evolved… it’s as if he reshaped his genetic code to fit the energy signature of our technology.”

Another voice chimed in, colder and more clinical. “We’ve replicated the process. The new subject shows greater potential, though their construct lacks stability. This one, however, could still be useful for further experimentation.”

I struggled against the restraints, rage boiling in my chest. “You think you can just copy me?” I spat, my voice hoarse.

The taller figure leaned closer, their alien features distorted by the dim light. “We have already succeeded. Your abilities are an anomaly, but anomalies can be studied, replicated, and… improved.”

Their words sent a chill down my spine. A new subject. Greater potential. Even now, I could still see the flicker of energy constructs forming in a containment pod, shaped by a shadowy figure whose movements mirrored my own.

Back to the Present

I blinked rapidly, the briefing room snapping back into focus. Momo was glancing at me with concern, but I waved her off.

“They made another one,” I said quietly, the realization hitting me like a sledgehammer.

Momo’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“The Outsiders,” I said, my voice steadier now. “When they had me… they were trying to replicate my powers. They said they succeeded, and that the new version had greater potential.” I gestured to the screen. “That’s him.”

Momo’s eyes widened, and she turned back to the footage. The officer, still standing at the head of the table, was watching me intently.

“Is there something you’d like to share with us, Adam?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

I met her gaze evenly. “Just that you’re playing with fire if you think you can handle him the same way you handle me. If he’s what I think he is, you’re not dealing with an Evo. You’re dealing with something… designed.”

The officer frowned but said nothing, clearly weighing her next move.

As we left the room, Momo’s hand brushed against mine, a quiet gesture of solidarity.

“You okay?” she asked softly.

I let out a shaky breath. “Not really."

Skin and bones

I woke up on the ground to being kicked in the sternum. I looked around for the source of the inconvenience until I locked eyes with the person doing it. It was a young woman staring at me intently.

"get up I need your help," she said haughty. I tried to recall what I was doing or how I got here. The last thing I remember was falling from the sky and fire, fire everywhere. I jolted up and said

"you know it's not nice to kick people you just met," the young woman smirks as she responds,

"Well if you woke up earlier I wouldn't have had to hero,"

I look at her confused, "Hero? I am no Hero."

"Really because you saved me from the Outsiders ship, and helped Mask change destroy the whole thing," she said as the smoldering mess around us covered the landscape. Black metallic had warped the landscape making the tar pits somehow even more blackened and volatile. I cracked my knuckles and my back before facing the young woman.

"Okay, What's your name? I am gonna need to call you something,"

The girl's cat-like ears perked up and she smiled at me, "Tsuki and you are?"

"Dynazenon but you can call me Dino or Dinozen for short since I know it's a mouthful," I answer.

Tsuki smiles then says, "Okay Dino. Can you help me get back to South Korea so I can get home?"

I shrugged confused, "I can try."

Tsuki smiled, "I'll take it." I give her a thumbs up and then follow her. We started walking outside of the crater of the ship and I decided to get to know Tsuki better.

"So before the end of the world, what did you do?" I ask Tsuki. She turns to me with a smile, as if remembering something joyous,

"I was a singer," she says,

mindlessly I blurt out, "And a pretty one at that geez you are stunning,"

Tsuki blushes as she smiles, "Thank you" she says shyly, as we walk. As we walk she leans into me and something in my brain wakes up and suddenly I feel something weird in the pit of my chest that I haven't felt before. It's aberrant and I don't really like it, but I don't want the feeling to go away.

Tsuki and I manage to to the exit of the tar pit's new crater where were are met with a few rough-looking gentlemen. They have scars on their faces and malignant looks.

"Look boss I am just escorting the pretty lady behind me. Let us pass and we will be out of your hair." the men look at us displeased, and I say.

"You got a nice piece of tail behind you. Tell you what, we won't kill you too painfully if you give us her." a familiar feeling of anger and that peculiar feeling from earlier filled my chest and I tried to ignore it because they clearly didn't know what their doing.

"Please I don't want to hurt anyone," I plead, and the leader of the men laughs before saying,

"Too bad we do!" with that the group descends on us. I sigh

"Well, I tried to resolve this the right way," I say to myself saddened. I turn to Tsuki whose big eyes look terrified and the anger and that strange feeling from earlier intensify. I took out my Sword Song, put in the first core song, and transformed. The men laughed and one of them said,

"What are you supposed to be?"

"Extinction" was my answer, as The first one came I slashed at his chest. The ambient energy from the blade caused the sword to ignite the air around me as I slashed at the men one caught on fire and ran away while the other smarter ones kept their distance. I leaped towards the next one and grabbed him before throwing him into the other. After that, I made a mad swing with my blade leaving a wall of fire between Tsuki and me. I resheathed my sword song and gestured for Tsuki to follow as we continued moving.

She was awestruck, "that was so cool," she said with a bright smile, I smiled back as the anger was fully replaced by that weird feeling. I gesture for her to follow me as we continue walking.

"You're just like The Evo hero: Mask Change," she said happily. I sighed and responded,

"Nah he is too good,"

Tsuki looked at me confused and concerned, "How so you saved me from those guys,"

"while that is true it was not coming from a place of nobility, my power is evil it'…it's fueled by anger and hate."

Tsuki looked at me and said, "No it's not. You protected me for no reason you are noble. Besides you also tried to give those guys an out, and they didn't take it. You are a hero. Just because you are "angrier" than most doesn't make it any less Hero." I smiled weakly at her assertion as we continued walking,

"let's see if we can find a car to get us where we need to go," I said. Tsuki smiled nodding as we walked.

Eventually, we found a car and I managed to start it. Thankfully it has a full tank. I turn to Tsuki who's passed out as she's gotten inside of the car. As I start the car Tsuki's words about being a hero mix in with my memory of being a test subject of the Outsiders. I remembered one Researcher in particular. She had white skin grey hair and sharp deep blue eyes. Impossibly tall and had a voice that dripped with ambient apathy at the disruptions she would make.

"Subject One’s power surpasses expectations,” the Outsider researcher said, her voice clinical, almost bored. “But it mutates unpredictably. Even extinct DNA is revived to overcome stimuli. Unacceptable.”

She leaned closer, her ice-blue eyes locking onto mine. “Why do you resist? You were designed for a purpose: to prove humanity’s worth. To be a weapon. Yet you squander it.”

Her hand cupped my face, cold as frost. “You have so much potential,” she whispered, like a mother scolding a wayward child. I spat in her face.

She didn’t even flinch. “Send Subject One to disposal,” she said over her shoulder. “Prepare Subject Two.”

As I drove I felt something soft touch me and break me out of my recollection. I turned my head to see Tsuki. She had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I smiled as I shuffled a bit to make her more comfortable after we arrived at the airport.

"hey Tsuki, we arrived," I say as I gently shake her awake. She looks at me scared, but as her eyes focus on me her terrified look turns into a cheerful smile. As we walk in she takes the lead saying how she's a Korean/Japanese citizen trying to go home, and she is given the expedited process after showing her Japanese and Korean passports. She smiles as she is sent on by. Next, I am up.

"ID please," The clerk says, I pause and clam up. I don't have ID. I can't even remember my name before the outsiders took me. The clerk begins to eye me suspiciously until Tsuki comes back and says,

"Oh, he's with me. He is my bodyguard. He protected me from all the bad guys to get here." she says smiling. The Clerk nods and then lets me through. as I follow Tsuki I notice how effortlessly she falls into the "princess" role and readily accepts the princess treatment as we are rushed to board a plane leaving in the next hour.

"We've almost made it," she says elated as she sits next to me. I smile and that strange feeling wells in my chest again She smiles and says, "Thank you Dynazenon," I laughed and responded.

"Wow the full name jeez you must be serious," Tsuki nods happily and cuddles next to me. Her warmth oozes out. She feels safe with me…surprisingly. My mind races worrying as to how long it will take for me to let her down until she says, "Stop shaking, I am not trying to have a stiff neck when we arrive," I laugh and calm down yet my heart still races. I don't really know what to do with any of these feelings I have, but I let her lie next to me, as I drift into sleep.

"We've almost made it," she says elated as she sits next to me. I smile, and that strange feeling wells in my chest again. She beams at me, "Thank you, Dynazenon."

I laugh and respond, "Wow, the full name? Jeez, you must be serious."

Tsuki nods happily and cuddles into me. Her warmth oozes out. She feels safe with me… surprisingly. My mind races, worrying how long it will take for me to let her down until she murmurs, "Stop shaking. I’m not trying to have a stiff neck when we arrive."

I laugh and calm down, though my heart still races. I don’t know what to do with these feelings, but I let her lie next to me as I drift into sleep.

The flight is calm—surprisingly so—but my dreams are less kind. Every time I close my eyes, I feel the drills and injections of the Outsider researcher boring into my flesh, rearranging me to suit their purposes. But then I wake up, and Tsuki is smiling at me or happily eating. That girl has an appetite, but I can’t blame her. There’s no way to tell how long she went without food.

In one of these cycles of being awake, Tsuki asks, "What did you do before the Outsiders invaded?"

"Uh, my memory is kinda hazy," I explain. "I remember office cubicles, and my family's faces, but none of their names or anything stood out."

Tsuki looks at me with sadness before saying, "Well, until you remember who you are, you are my family, and I am yours, Dino."

I smile, and then she says, "Dino and Bunny. No, Brachio and Bunny. Yeah, I like that."

I look at her, confused, but Tsuki says, "You’re strong, noble, unwavering, like the mighty Brachiosaurus. And I’m tiny and strong, like the bunny."

I chuckle and let her have this little moment before she leans into me again and falls asleep. I eventually fall asleep, too, relaxed in her presence.

In my next dream, it’s different. I’m with Tsuki, and we’re watching an action movie together. She’s super into it, eyes wide, gasping at every explosion and punch. But instead of watching the movie, I watch her.

The warmth in my chest keeps growing—balanced and resolute. For the first time, it doesn’t hurt. I feel comfortable in this warmth, and I hope we can keep this… whatever it is. Even after I drop her off.

When I wake up, Tsuki is staring at me, smiling.

"That was the first time you’ve seemed happy this entire plane ride," she says.

At ease, I respond, "Well, it’s pretty easy to be happy with someone like you around."

Her face scrunches up as she giggles cutely, and I feel the confidence to ask, "What do we do after I drop you off?"

Tsuki’s smile falters. "Well, I thought you liked spending time with me?" she asks, confused.

"I love spending time with you. It’s just—what do we do now that you don’t need me anymore?"

Her smile returns as she says, "Well, I still have people who’d want to hurt me, and I’d need a bodyguard, of course."

I think for a moment before saying, "I just don’t want to be your protector in that sense. I have this feeling inside my chest. I’m not sure what it means, but when I’m around you, I feel better. I feel less alone. I want to stick with you as more than… I don’t know."

Tsuki’s smile grows as I ramble. She says, "Okay, Brachio, let’s figure it out together."

I nod happily. "Okay."

As the plane taxied to a stop, Tsuki practically bounced in her seat. “We’re here!” she squealed, her excitement infectious and put me even more at ease. I was worried about where I would stay for a bit, but being with Tsuki made those worries drop a bit.

The airport was overwhelming. The bright lights, the throngs of people moving in choreographed chaos, the announcements blaring overhead—it all pressed down on me like a heavy weight.

Tsuki grabbed my hand, grounding me. “Stick with me, Brachio. I promise this will be fun.”

I followed her and smiled, despite my legs on autopilot as she navigated the crowds like she’d done this a million times before. Her shoes squeaked awkwardly over the tiles. It was endearing seeing her so at ease, and happy.

At customs, the officer raised an eyebrow at my towering frame and foreign passport. “You’re traveling together?” he asked, switching to English.

Tsuki answered cheerfully in Korean, waving off his concerns with her trademark charm. The officer smiled, letting me through without any other problems

I exhaled, realizing I’d been holding my breath. Tsuki nudged me. “See? Easy. You’re with me now. Let’s go meet my family.”

“Family?”

“You’ll see."

The van ride to their dorm was a blur, with Tsuki talking a mile a minute about her favorite restaurants and all the things she wanted to show me. I nodded along, her enthusiasm washing over me like a warm tide. it continued to wash away any worries or fears I had.

When we arrived, the dorm door swung open before Tsuki could knock. A young lady was walking out and her eyes almost popped out of her head seeing Tsuki.

“TSUKI!!!” the young woman almost screamed before a chorus of voices erupted. A whirlwind of girls descended on her, pulling her into a tight group hug.

I stood awkwardly in the doorway because there wasn't much else I could do as they smothered the girl with love and affection. It was cute seeing people care for Tsuki and made her joy a lot more sensical. As they told her how scared they were when she was taken and how much they were glad she was back one of the girls looked at me.

“Who’s the giant?” one of them asked, poking her head out from the huddle. She had sharp eyes and a mischievous grin that reminded me of a fox.

Tsuki popped free from the hug, grabbing my arm and dragging me inside. “Everyone, this is Dynazenon, call him Dino though. He’s me (she hesitated as the gears turned over in her brain almost frying with excitement) … friend.”

“Friend?” another girl asked, raising an eyebrow. She was taller, more reserved, and gave off an air of quiet authority.

“Yes, My Friend. I call him Brachio…and only me.” Tsuki corrected with a wink, making me groan internally.

The fox-like girl circled me, looking me up and down. “Are you a bodyguard or something?”

“Um I am not sure, but for now friend works,” I said as I tried to think of a good explanation for how we met that didn't make Tsuki look like a maniac.

“He’s more than that!” Tsuki interjected, standing between us. “Dino’s… he’s special to me.”

The room went silent for a beat before one of the younger-looking girls squealed, “Oooooh, Tsuki’s got a crush!”

Tsuki flushed bright red, waving her arms. “It’s not like that!”

I doubled over in laughter as Tsuki turned beet red, but then the tall, quiet girl stepped forward, extending a hand. “I’m Sua. Welcome.”

Her handshake was firm but not unfriendly. I gave her a polite smile and repeated my introduction as well. The others followed suit, each introducing themselves with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

“You’re really tall,” said one of the quieter members, staring up at me in awe.

“And built,” added Sua, flexing her arm in mock comparison.

“Okay, enough!” Tsuki huffed, shooing them away. “He’s tired, and we have stuff to do.”

I caught her eye, grateful for the rescue. She smiled back. She led me to her room where she had a laptop.

"Okay Dino first we are going to have to get you set up, and as much as I'd like to live with you I have commitments to my band first. So we will need to get you a job and a place." I nod understanding the concept, and the first thing she finds is a refuge home, that has openings. It was a bit far but it would do for our purposes for now. Then after getting registered for that, we looked for jobs and when that didn't work Tsuki made some calls and made me one of her personal guards. I chuckled at the terror people lived in by this little lady.

After that, Tsuki called in Sua and said some words in a language I didn’t recognize, but I did recognize Tsuki pointing at me and giving mischievous glances. After a few minutes, Tsuki approached me with a grin that promised chaos.

“We are taking you for a makeover. Because of these Outsider clothes? Not cool. Let’s get you back to dressing human.”

I chuckled as Tsuki and Sua drove me to a thrift shop at the edge of town. The shop smelled of old leather and lavender, the kind of place where every item seemed to hold a memory. The owner, an older gentleman with a calm demeanor and a darker complexion like mine, greeted us warmly.

“Welcome,” he said, his voice peaceful.

I nodded, waving back, and followed Tsuki and Sua as they began rifling through racks of clothes.

The thrift shop was a treasure trove of colors and textures, most of which seemed to baffle Tsuki. She held up a pair of lime-green pants and squinted. “What do you think, Brachio? Bold enough for you?”

I turned to Sua, and we exchanged a silent look of agreement.

“I think I’d rather fight another Outsider,” I said with a smirk.

Tsuki gasped in mock offense, shoving the pants back onto the rack. “No taste,” she muttered before dragging me toward the jackets.

She held up a sequined jacket with flashing LED lights embedded in the sleeves. “What about this one?”

Sua raised an eyebrow. “Do you want him to look like a walking disco ball?”

I laughed quietly, appreciating Sua’s sharp tone. Tsuki pouted, tossing the jacket back on the rack. “You two are no fun.”

Eventually, she found a black denim jacket with an intricate design on the back—a girl wearing a horned mask. Tsuki practically shoved it into my hands. “Try it on.”

As I slipped it on, the image on the back caught my eye. The masked girl stared out, bold and unyielding. I couldn’t explain it, but something about it resonated with me.

“Perfect,” Tsuki declared, spinning me around. “Bold yet understated, just like you.”

I smiled, letting her enthusiasm fill the silence as we searched for the final touches. When she spotted a pair of worn white basketball high-tops, she nearly squealed.

“These are so you,” she said, holding them up triumphantly.

I raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Old and scuffed?”

She shook her head. “No! Not at all. These are classic and dependable. Like you’ll always come through, even if the world falls apart.”

The shop owner chuckled, overhearing her comment, as we walked to the counter to pay. Amidst all of this, an intense wave of satisfaction and gratitude swept over me, blending with that unshakable warmth Tsuki always seemed to bring.

As we walked out of the thrift shop, I stopped and turned to Tsuki, pulling her into a massive hug. She squeaked in surprise but quickly melted into it, her arms wrapping around me without hesitation.

“Thanks, Bunny,” I said softly.

“Anytime, Brachio,” she replied, grinning up at me.

Sua’s laugh cut through the moment like a needle popping a balloon. “Now kiss.”

Tsuki and I both turned to glare at her, and she held her hands up in mock surrender, her expression smug. The moment was ruined, but the warmth stayed.

Over the next few weeks, I began to work and slowly my mind began to heal as memories began to return. Along with the constant warmth and encouragement of Tsuki, I thrived but this feeling of restlessness soon began to follow. Like I could be doing more with my time. Two years later.

I rubbed my eyes as I woke up. I stretched as I looked to my right where Tsuki lay down resting comfortably. I smiled before kissing her forehead. Her eyes fluttered as she looked up at me. "Hey Brachio," she said sleepy.

"Hey Bunny," I said smiling. "I am gonna get your coffee be back in a few,"

Tsuki smiled then I went to the coffee shop nearby. I got Tsuki's favorite order before going back to my apartment. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw on the other side.

"Hello Subject one." a cold voice said. On instinct, I locked the door and set Tsuki's coffee gently down before taking out my sword song.

"Good you're reflexes are still impeccable as ever," The voice said as I finally watched as The researcher walked in. Her features have been unchanged since she sent me to the disposal. Our eyes locked and she said,

"you have made quite the life for yourself. A pilot. You also are living proudly under the name I gave you,”

“Well by the time my memory healed it was kinda late to go by anything else,” I said sighing.

The researcher smiled and then said, “Good. My biggest regret was damaging that brilliant mind of yours,”

I nodded then asked, “Why are you here?”

The researcher paused for a moment then said, “The leaders are coming to finish what we started,” I nodded then said,

“Why are you here then?”

“Because I want to help you grow,"

"I don't need your help. Nor do I want it."

"well you will if you want to protect the little one in the other room," I tensed.

"is that a threat?"

"Not from me but the leaders will raze this planet if they arrive despite all of your power,"

"Oh really? Why should I trust you?"

The researcher's eyes narrow as she looks at me she narrows in on my collarbone and she notices the bunny tattoo that matches her Brachio tattoo.

"you deeply care for the little one. For her to stake her brand so intimately on your skin."

My eyes narrow. "you aren't answering my question," I warn. The researchers groan before leaving.

[wolfclans-story]

I offer to yall: LORE!!!

So! Wolfclan is one of three clans living on an island in an unspecified alaska-ish sort of area. When the tide is low, theres also a narrow path to the mainland. The island has a variety of terrain, from open field, to rocky, to wooded. At the center of the island, there’s a large pond. On one side of the pond, there’s a small, sheltered hollow that the three clans hold monthly gatherings at . On the other side there’s a weeping willow that leans towards the water on a small outcropping.

They call the willow “The Star Tree” both because of how the leaves look silvery like starlight at night under the moonlight, and because of the fireflies that constantly surround it that they believe to be the souls of their ancestors.

Wolfclan’s territory is rocky and full of cliffs and crevices, though they have a number of tidepools along the shore that they can typically find fish and seafood in, even in the winter when other prey is scarce. They started off in a camp near the shore, but eventually moved inland when the clan grew too large to live in the original camp. With the recent earthquake, the clan has moved back into their original camp.

Mooseclan, of of the other two clans is sort of an open tundra grassland once they leave the shoreline. They largely hunt birds and small rodents in the grass, though they too will turn to fishing as needed. They tend to be the most aggressive of the three clans about their resources. Their camp is an old fox den that was found abandoned, and has since been expanded by tunnelers.

Owlclan lives in a more wooded area, mostly pines and other evergreens. They tend to have the best herb supplies, and are largely nocturnal like the owls their clan is named for, hunting rodents and even larger mustelids under the cover of darkness. Their camp is a large sheltered hollow surrounded by raspberry bushes that hav been carefully cultivated over the years from just a few, to surrounding the whole camp.