#Lizard Breath / Chase Young

[maple-the-awesome]

The Chain Meets You, His Partner || 2/3

Part 1 || Part 3

Pairing: Hyrule, Sky, Wind x GN! Reader

Requested by @temporarilyablog: i see requests are open still so im coming to you with a thought i had recently:how about a Link from the Chain interacting with the reader, another Link's s/o from their original adventures, when *their* Link isn't around. i can see some teasing another Link with the reader that they've only known through little stories here and here, or others grilling the reader relentlessly because another Link was so shy about their relationship and partner, and wants to know how that Link is like around someone he allows himself to relax.its kinda like when the Chain met Malon for the first time and interacted with her for stories about old man Timeand as always stay awesome, i love your writing!

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Concerningly delighted or eerily eager - the Chain can’t quite agree on which descriptor best described their teammate the best once he realized they had all landed in his Hyrule. Bubbling with excitement ever since while maintaining a pace some of the other boys have to jog after, Link doesn’t waste breath saying where he’s leading them, although that giddy smile upon his face - as much as he tries to hide it - is plenty for the wiser heroes to get the hint…

Hyrule's time is 'rough around the edges', to put it easily, not that it can't be expected considering all the stories he's rather casually told the others about regarding both his world and adventures. Even the Kingdom's Castle - usually a centerpiece to the land - is beaten down and, in most aspects, less...impressive compared to what most of the heroes are accustomed to seeing, although for a simple traveler like Hyrule, it still holds quite a bit of significance.

"I just want to speak to the Sovereign before we move on - to let them know why I've been away," He rambles his explanation to the Chain, his outward emotions suddenly undergoing yet another change. His once untroubled smile becomes wary, his hands unstill as he fidgets with his sleeves. That prior excitement he had held when first suggesting they even go to the Castle has now turned into what the other heroes misjudge to be poorly hidden nerves, "I don't want them to be left assuming I'm dead in a ditch somewhere."

"Makes sense," Warrior nods, keeping a careful eye on Hyrule's behavior. Being a captain in charge of so many, he can spot a shift in confidence from a mile away, "You have been gone for a while."

"We're not going to be - I don't know - arrested on the spot or anything, right?" Legend asks, his focus more on the guards who maintain obvious glaring suspicions towards the group despite allowing them inside once confirming their famed hero's identity. 

"Why would we be arrested?"

"You mentioned how much of a hardass your Sovereign can be," The Vet clarifies with a casual shrug, "And a paranoid one, too, if these guards leave anything to the imagination. Leaders like that don't usually need much reason to throw someone in a dungeon. Nine random heroes showing up while claiming to be from different timelines, all chasing some shadow lizard through magic portals? We'll sound insane."

Hyrule frowns and maybe even takes some offense to Legend's observations which is why his rebuttal is so swift, "They -...They aren't like that! The previous King died suddenly. They were forced to take on the throne without much notice and at a young age, too! After everything Ganon put this kingdom through - Of course they're going to be paranoid, but they're reasonable and fair. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, we don't have to mention the exact reasoning for our meeting. I just...I would just like to see them while I can…"

The red on Hyrule's cheeks would've no doubt been noticed if not for the Chain's collective attention being stolen elsewhere, focused upon a pair of large doors that open into the Castle's throne room. Inside, a series of guards line the walls and at the opposite end sits the very subject of their conversation.

Your expression is stern and cold as you sit upon your claim dressed in expensive, colorful garments fitting for a proper monarch of your time. The golden crown upon your head shimmers in torch light, yet its glow is quickly outshined by your eyes which go wide with delight once you recognize your hero amongst this crowd of ragtag travelers. 

"Link…!" In an instant, you rise, your smile as grand as your divine beauty. Whether you gracefully walk or float down the stairs, there would be no visual difference. What is true is that you meet Hyrule at the bottom of those four measly steps, welcoming him with a strong embrace he's eager to return.

"...Your Majesty..." He doesn't realize just how quiet his voice is, whispered beside your ear as he forgets about the world while in your arms again. Oh, how he's missed this feeling!

The Chain is left in awe - No, it would be more accurate to say they're completely dumbfounded. Hyrule has always spoken favorably about the Royal Family of his time, tying especially pleasant compliments to the kingdom’s head. As stern as he admits you can appear, only good things have been attached to your name from your wise leadership to the love you hold towards your people, however not once - not a single murmur or breath - had ever dared mention your very apparent fondness for each other which certainly goes beyond the ordinary relationship of a monarch and their realm’s savior.

Even after your embrace, it's obvious that you hold nothing except the greatest of affections towards your hero. You look at him as if he's the sun that gives your kingdom life; the courage that keeps you going despite such challenging times. Hyrule's, of course, no better when it comes to you. It's not until now that his friend's realize they're previous mistake in assuming he was afraid to see you. No, that wasn't fear before, it was shyness. The thought of you had him feeling both delighted and sheepish. Now that he's here, though, his grin is uncontrollable. 

"Your Majesty, I'd like to meet the friends I've been traveling with -"

"- A Sovereign?! You're dating the freaking Sovereign and you didn't think to mention that small detail earlier?!" Legend suddenly shouts, demolishing the silence that had befallen the Chain.

He can’t help it! He feels utterly scammed! Hyrule had told everyone a great deal about his kingdom’s Sovereign, yet had only confessed to his predecessor during a late night heart-to-heart that he holds deep feelings towards a mysterious someone back home; someone he fears telling of his secret endearment. Not once - Not a single damn time - had he so much as let on that they’re the same person!

Legend isn’t sure what strikes his nerves more: the fact that Hyrule would be dumb enough not to add the important context that it’s royalty he’s in love with or that he’s dense enough to somehow believe you don’t love him back despite it being clear you’re totally whipped for him! Is he blind? Completely and utterly dull in the brain?!

Poor Hyrule's whole face explodes in red after Legend's outburst, and his condition is made no better when the others add in their own comments to this already awkward situation.

"Now it makes sense why you wanted to come here so badly," Wild nods in understanding, having previously been confused as to why Hyrule would care to go out of his way to let the royal family know of his whereabouts if he had no ties to them.

"To think our humble traveler could land a monarch. I mean, good for you and all," Warrior crosses his arms with a smirk, hoping to mask his slight jealousy.

The Traveler is left stammering for a response, finding himself suddenly overwhelmed.

"‘Dating’? Well, this is certainly news to me," You frown with a hand placed delicately above your heart. Turning to your hero, you can only look betrayed, "Link, I would've hoped you'd tell me. I could've cleared more of my schedule to be with you in that case."

"E-EH?!"

"And all those suitors the advisors have been arranging - I’ll have to tell them to abandon their efforts! Excellent, seeing as I didn’t truly care for their match-making attempts,” You huff, not giving Hyrule anytime to explain himself as you get right to business, waving your maid over to make a note, “But that should free up a considerable amount of my time…Will you and your friends be staying long? I can have the kitchen staff whip up a nice feast for later if you do.”

“Um -”

“- Can we?! My feet are aching!” Wind whines, practically deflating on the spot. The only thing holding him up is Warrior who scowls at his poor manners and forces him to stand upright.

Time is quick to step in front of the group and bow, hoping you dismiss their lack of grace, “If you don’t mind, Your Majesty. We wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

“Not at all. It isn't often that we receive guests. I’ll have word sent to the kitchen right away. In the meantime, Lady Impa here can show you to a room where you may rest,” You finish writing on the paper she holds, allowing her to take both the paper and quill before once again giving your full attention to the travelers, “I have a meeting with the Zora Queen in precisely ten minutes, but following that the rest of my afternoon should be clear.”

You then face Hyrule, smirking at his flustered state, “Once that meeting is over, my time is yours, Link, if you wish to fill me in on your recent endeavors. I must say, I’m particularly interested in learning just how long we’ve supposedly been dating for.”

“...R - Right…Of course…” The poor boy squeaks, unable to process many thoughts beyond the feeling of his face overheating when you press a quick kiss to his cheek before leaving the room with your guards. Even the weight of Legend’s arm over his shoulder is barely enough to break him from his trance when the past hero leans in with a smug whisper:

“You’re welcome, buddy.”

From the moment he first stepped through that last portal, Sky has been radiating with pure glee. Anyone could understand why. He’s finally returned to Skyloft, a place he’s been missing so dearly ever since the start of this adventure months ago. Of course, home isn’t the only thing he’s been dying to be apart from.

Most of the other Links have long taken notice to Sky’s heartache which has been poorly hidden behind dreary melodies played on his harp and heaps of carved projects to distract from lonesome silence; somebody’s been on his mind, their absences from his life slowly driving him insane despite his efforts to remain focused.

That said, it’s no wonder that Sky is excited to be home again, moving at a hasty pace some assumed he’d be incapable of. Even the jolly greetings and curious questions from locals don’t slow him down much, his steps swift in bringing him to the doorstep of a brightly colored home no different from the many others that surround it, but it’s still special for what it holds inside.

There’s a short internal debate to be seen on Sky’s face - one where he hesitates to open the door because wouldn’t that be rude to simply invite himself into someone else’s house unannounced? Then again, it’s not like proper manners have ever stopped him before, and they won’t start today. He decides to impatiently let himself in. Forgiveness can be sought after later.

Every ache of his travel-worn body and each gloomy thought surrounding his collective adventures melt away like magic by the mere sight of you. You must’ve just been about to leave - that or you recently arrived home, because you’re still in your knight’s uniform, caught mid-adjusting your belt when you look up at the man standing in your doorway.

Surprised for sure, yet it’s also a welcomed feeling when you rush to meet your lover half-way. There’s no words for the amount of joy you feel in holding him tight, possibly even shedding a few tears as he decorates your face in dozens of butterfly kisses, one for each second he’s thought of you while apart.

It takes some time and a loud clearing of someone’s throat for the Hero of Sky to remember his companions who all wait awkwardly around the doorway. Even when snapped out of his trance, he’s still grinning ear-to-ear like a lovestruck fool, his arm unmoving from where it remains wrapped around your waist as he introduces you.

Needless to say, it’s nice to finally be able to put a face to the name sighed so often. You’re sociable and polite, yet if that sword upon your back is any indication, you must be a strong fighter to have secured yourself a position amongst the knights of Skyloft.

To the Chain’s luck, it turns out you had just arrived home which grants them plenty of time to bend your ear. They have lots of questions, their curiosity only being natural since your place on the timeline is so different from their own. They ask about your life in the clouds, job as a knight, and most importantly, your relationship with Sky who’s thrilled to expand upon such a wonderful topic himself by sharing his own honored memories.

“‘seems our Skylofian here is truly whipped,” Twilight chuckles at the end of Sky’s latest story, although truthfully he’s starting to have trouble hiding his boredom. 

At this point, Sky’s been rambling about his affections towards you for well over an hour, sparing no detail from your first meeting as children to practically each and every date you’ve shared since becoming more than friends. As happy as the boys are for him - truly, they are - they do have their limits for how much lovey-dovey they can take in one day. Legend in particular looks like he’s seconds away from banging his head against the table.

“I am~” Sky exhales lovingly while staring at you with hearts in his eyes. You find his attention endearing and give his hand a squeeze as it sits intertwined with yours on your lap.

“So, when’s the wedding?” Time queries, half-teasing and half-genuine.

“Oh, I don’t know…” You scratch the back of your head bashfully, but when your attention falls back to Sky, you find him still staring at you, this time with a pout no different from a baby remlit’s. Rolling your eyes, you lean into him with a dramatized sigh, “He’d have to ask me first, but I’m hoping being around you eight will give him the courage to do so soon. We’re only getting older, after all.”

“Why drag your feet? You’re clearly in love.”

“You’ve got a willin’ partner right here. No need to hesitate.”

“You know, we’ve passed a few merchants who sell rings during our journey.”

“Yeah, cheaply made ones. If you want something fancy, Castle Town is the place to go.”

“Not too fancy. A simple yet well-thought out gesture can go a long way.”

“A strong protection spell wouldn’t hurt, though.”

“I know a Gerudo who handcrafts the most beautiful jewelry. If we end up in my Hyrule, I could introduce you.”

“Oh, or Tetra’s crew has a TON of jewelry! Maybe you can find a nice ring in their stash?”

Sky laughs awkwardly as the other heroes suddenly bombard him with their ‘helpful’ suggestions, chattering away as they begin putting together the pieces for a proper proposal. When he glances your way, you’re not-so-subtly hiding your amused smile behind your hand, clearly looking forward to whatever plan they end up holding him to later. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait long to find out.

Wind’s destination isn’t too far from the last portal opened which is good because the others have a hard time keeping up with the younger boy who effortlessly dashes across the deep sand-covered beach, heading directly to one of the few huts on this small island they’ve found themselves on.

He doesn’t wait for his companions to catch up. He might not have even noticed they fell behind. His focus is primarily on reaching home, practically overboiling with excitement at the prospect of seeing his family again. It’s always a relief for his dear grandmother to see him safe, shedding many tears as she hugs her grandson with a grip unthought of for a little old woman. 

Wind’s grandmother has a list of questions she asks at the speed of light which must not be unusual seeing as he answers each just as skillfully, telling her where he’s been, who he’s been with, and confirming that yes, he’s well fed. Of course, it’s only natural that the same questions are also asked of each and every hero who steps through her front door, after all, curiosity is second only to her naturally nurturing spirit. Who cares how old some of them are? No matter the age, they’re no different than her grandson in her eyes!

A sudden shrill of jubilation scares the group half to death mere milliseconds before a small girl comes racing through the front door, leaping into her older brother’s arms with similar cries about how much she’s missed him. She’s followed by another adult who’s much calmer in their approach, yet nevertheless gleefully smiling as they eagerly accept their turn in hugging the teen while welcoming him home.

You attend to Wind tenderly, quickly pulling away from the hug to check over his face and account for any new scars. Your hand then lingers on his cheek as you sigh at his smiled reassurances, looking down upon him with an amount of love and care not too far off from how his own grandmother had.

It’s only after ensuring his well-being that you address his traveling companions. You’re barely fazed by the large group when you introduce yourself, having become accustomed to Wind’s strange ability to make friends with almost anyone during his adventures. They seem to be a bunch of respectable young men, anyway, judging on their politeness, and as you tell them, friends of Wind’s are always welcomed.

After introductions - which are short seeing as most in this room share the same name - Wind’s grandmother suggests a tour be given to your visitors. Being such a small community on a more lonesome edge of the map, newcomers are rare, so Wind and Aryall immediately leap at the chance to show their new friends around the island that they love. Who would you be to deny their adorable puppy-dog eyes?

Realistically, there isn’t that much to see aside from a few landmarks, interesting locals, and a population of chubby pigs, however if there’s any benefit to being surrounded by an ocean, it’s that there’s lots of good places to swim and seeing as most of the Links are long overdue for some quality time spent as normal teenagers, they’re happy for the break. 

Most of the boys partake in jumping from the rocks to see who can create the biggest splash, although Legend and Sky favor staying on land to help Aryall build a sandcastle for her seagull friends. You, meanwhile, relax in the sun, keeping a careful eye on all activities which has simply become second nature to you at this point. While Wind may be a fourteen-year-old who has sailed across the entire ocean, you don’t think you’ll ever stop worrying for his safety.

“Those kids seem rather fond of you.”

You glance up to the oldest Link of the group - you believe you heard the other’s refer to him as ‘Time’ - as he invites himself to sit next to you in the sand. Despite several pleas for the other boys, he had turned down their attempts at getting him in the water. Maybe for the best, since they’re now starting to toss each other off the rocks.

“I would hope so. I’ve known them both since before they could walk.”

“I take it you’re their guardian?”

Humming at his observation, you turn back to watch the younger kids and teens, “...People on our island have always kept an eye out for each other, but…Well, when Link and Aryall’s parents passed, I guess you could say I felt extra inclined to help. 

“I don’t have any family of my own here and there’s only so much their poor grandma can do at her age. Unfortunately, keeping up with two lively kids can be a struggle for her, so I’ve done what I can to remove some of that stress from her shoulders. With no kids of my own, I have the time and quite frankly, I enjoy the opportunity to feel…-”

“- To feel like a parent?”

“...Yeah…” You frown, pulling your knees to your chest with a sigh, “Of course, I don’t go around calling myself that. I wouldn’t want to overstep any boundaries, you know? Especially not for Link. Aryall - She was so young when they lost their parents, so I think it’s always been easier for her to see me as fitting the role, but Link…He was five. He still remembers them, so I doubt he’ll ever exactly see me as any kind of replacement.” 

“I wouldn’t say that,” Time objects kindly, following your gaze out to where Wind fights to wiggle himself out of Warrior’s grip. Seconds before he can be pushed off the rock, Wild and Twilight come up behind the two, shoving Warrior overboard just as Wind slips away, “I suppose I can’t speak directly for him, but I can say he refers to you as his parent quite frequently around us.”

“...Does he?” You blink in surprise. Wind’s never said anything in particular that would make you think he sees you in that light, but now that you think about it, when you first met Tetra, she referred to you as Wind’s parent, too. Did she say it out of mistaken observation like you assumed then or because Wind told her?

“From the sounds of it, you’ve made quite the impact on his life, one he admires greatly.”

You once again look back to the group, catching Wind’s eyes. He perks up, immediately waving as he shouts for you ‘Watch this!’ before running and leaping into the water with a giant cannonball and nearly on top of Warrior’s head much to the older boy’s annoyance. Once resurfacing, he searches for your attention and beams when he finds your proud smile reflecting back at him.

You’re thankful that he becomes distracted by the other boys jumping in, because as soon as he looks away, you can feel yourself becoming teary eyed. Perhaps you’ve been overthinking things this entire time. You were so focused on giving him space and not forcing a relationship that you failed to pick up on the little signs that he’s already accepted you. Wind has always been close to you, never shying away from hugs after his adventures while always seeking both your attention and approval; something he only does with his family.

[gritsandbrits]

Hi Grits! I've literally never watched Xiaolin Showdown in my life, but because I'm bored and curious, could you pls explain how Chase was ruined in Chronicles?

Where do I even start?

Okay, anyone who's been on my blog recently have seen me talk shit about Xiaolin Chronicles. Well tonight Im going to talk even more shit! 😁 this time about a character that ive had developed a fictoromantic interest in: Chase young. But this isnt about my selfship, this is about how this pathetic excuse of a reboot wrecked him!

So sit back and crack a cold one as I tear Lizard Breath a new one!

Chase was one of the most complicated characters in the show. He was evil, unashamedly so, but he also had a sense of honor. He was calm and calculating. You never really knew what his next move was. From his first appearance in the s2 episods "Master Monk Guan" you could tell he was going to be a formidable threat in future episodes. And formidable he was, he did NOT step off their necks after that first meeting!

Perhaps his most intriguing aspect of his character is his relationship with omi, a sort of palpatine and anakin dynamic that wasn't as creepy and pedophilic as his relationship with Shadow/Willow/whatever the fuck her name is. He saw potential in Omi and wanted to train him and even after the whole "brainwashing omi to get him on the side of evil" plan didnt go as planned they still kept an amicable relationship.

Chase is by no means a saint but he keeps his word and treats his opponents with respect. Even when training Jermaine, he had no hard feelings towards him after he quit because it was simply another part of a larger scheme. While he wasnt as bombastic as jack and wuya, he had a couple of quirks like reading Evil Housekeeping during dinner and his reactions to Jack's antics! He was essentially the Comically Serious of the show.

Then Chronicles had to screw everything up!!

In showdown, he became evil after hannibal bean exploited his desire to be the best by tricking him into drinking the Lao Mang Lone Soup. Chronicles retconned this to be Chase acting like a jealous incel because a mary sue dragon lady dumped him for his never before seen brother Eon. Seriously Eon? Where was Master Monk Guan? He was in Chase's eyes a rival and a big reason why he went bad, not because he got rejected by a girl!

Character designs in Showdown have simple and distinct silhouttes so they'll be easier to remember. Chase resembled a tough yet elegant warrior. The new design loses a lot of its elements making it too complex and boring at the same time

See how strong Showdown silhoutte is compared to Chronic Pain?

His lizard form was a total mess too! He rarely used his form but when he did you KNOW shit was about to hit the fan. He even managed to give Giant!Dojo a hard time! He looked like a dragon because he eats them and a lot of thought was put into making him look as badass as possible.

CHRONIC HEADACHE turned him into an overgrown iguana! He and Lute must be goin' to the same salon because what the hell is that haircut?? 😂

Dont even get me started on his CGI model that bitch is HIDEOUS. Even Beast Wars looks better and that show came out in the 90s! Also why are his spikes green shouldn't they be gold?

His personality also took a nosedive, from a Machiavellian schemer with larger designs to a generic villain who does bad things as the plot demands.

Chase rarely used shen gong wu because he had no need for then, even calling them magical toys. The only time he did use them was if he needed them for a larger goal. Chronic chase is obsessed with collecting them for no reason other than EEEEEVIL!

In Chronic's timeline Chase was always evil from the very beginning instead of having been a genuinely good person whose insecurities were preyed on by a shitstirrer vegetable. Even his voice doesnt do it for me. Usually I love David Kaye, but Chase is supposed to sound like he's in his early 20s because his entire function is around preserving his youth. By making him sound old it completely misses the whole point.

At one point, he interrupts a showdown to wager his good looks, and somehow doesnt lose them. First of all since when the did chase ever give a shit about his looks and number 2, he would never wager something so petty? He lost the showdown and didnt even lose his face? Well I guess you cant lose something you never had in the first place! 😂

Now we get to the really gross part.

SWEEEEET HOME ALABAMAH!

Now the idea of a regular sidekick and evil apprentice sounds good on paper. In the show he gets an ugly Mary Sue called Shadow that he created using his own rib in a hamfisted attempt to shove a parallel with Adam and Eve. But whereas the First Parents of The Bible were explicitly designed to be spouses by a higher power, he created shadow to be little more than a servant (and she had a baby form) which makes their power dynamic completely imbalanced! The scenes where they hit on each other and hiss flirtatiously is so out of place, like dude THAT'S YOUR KID???HELLO??? ARE YOU EVIL OR ALABAMAN?

Shadow lacks none of the entertaining qualities that the other bad girls like wuya and katnappe had. She went to the same barber her husband-father and Lute goes to. The most frustrating part about it is she acts more like the original chase than the actual chase! Ugh! No wonder he acts more goofy in Chronic Pain, she stole his personality!

He also abuses her. Like, she was nothing but loyal to him yet he attacks her for making one snarky comment - the og chase did threatened people but never outwardly attacked them over something so petty - and with all this im mind they come off less as student and mentor and more like a domestic abuser and his victim. The Real chase ain't no saint but he wasnt a creepy old man either! Eeeeeeeeeew!

The worse moment had to be the one episode where he lays an egg and he CRIES OVER it!

Un-freaking-BELIEVABLE!!!

At the end comes the most nonsense revelation - he and omi are related! And its never revisited again. I guess even the wrirers knew the convoluted this twist is since nowhere in showdown suggested chase and omi were family. If they were then they would be distantly related at best.

Can you just imagine making a show that is so boring, so atrocious, and so mind numbingly stupid, the only thing people remember it for is one episode and only because of how BAD it is?

The worst part is I can't recall a single significant thing Chase had done in Chronic Headache. In the original he had awesome moments like his duel with Master guan, the soccer match against the monks for omi's freedom, the three way battle between kimiko-disgused-as-jack hannibal bean, his partnership with wuya, getting between jermaine and omi's friendship, TAKING OKVER THE WORLD. What did he even do in Chronic Headache besides being a bigger dork than Doofenshmirtz and being the type of guy the latter would vaporize?

NOTHING! HE DID JACK SPICER SHIT IN CHRONICLES DESPITE HAVING MORE APPEARANCES THAN IN THE ORIGINAL!!

Hufff...huff....

Alright I think I got most of it out of my system. They say its better to vent now than holding it all in for it to explode later. I dont know why this show went the direction it did with Chase but as far as I am concerned he is not real, he is not a good version of a character and even on his own he is a terrible villain. He's an absolute insult to the chad Heylin Prince of Darkness and a reason why cartoon reboots get the unfortunate reputation they have.

And the sad part is since this is the only major Showdown media this may be the last time I'll ever see Chase in animated form, so until Christy Hui makes more content, we're pretty much stuck with this guy.

Hoo-friggin-yay! -_-

[fandomnerd9602]

New Friends

Bambi!Wanda x Reader

Life was slowly adjusting for you, your lovey doe-human mate Wanda and of course the twins Billy and Tommy.

Your wolf pal Natasha had noticed how the boys were only playing with each other. Which was all fine and dandy for brothers but they needed socializing too. They needed friends their own age too.

The boys weren’t old enough for kindergarten yet so they spent each day with you and Wanda at the Sanctuary. They spent it with either you and Wanda or with aunt Natasha and uncle Pietro. And they wasn’t any hybrids around the boys’ age. Moreover the other hybrids were more amazed that there even were hybrid children.

You and Wanda could tell that the boys were starting to feel it too. There was a certain level of loneliness that the two felt and as their parents, you and Wanda could feel it too.

That all changed when one day, an old friend of yours pulled up to the Sanctuary. A hybrid Doctor by the name of Stephen Strange.

“(Y/N), Wanda,” he gently motioned for you and your mate to join him at his car. “This hybrid came to my office, she had nowhere to go and she couldn’t find the Sanctuary.”

He opened his passenger door and there sitting curled up in a tight ball was a young wolf hybrid girl around three or four. She was scared, her eyes red from crying.

“Oh,” Wanda’s heart went out to the little hybrid, she knelt down to meet the wolfling at eye level. “Hi there. I’m Wanda. And this is my mate, (Y/N)”

“Hey there kiddo,” you gave the little hybrid a smile as you joined Wanda in kneeling before the little girl. Her tail unfurled a little, your presence was calming to her.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Wanda asked.

The little wolfling spoke up, uncertain, “America. America Chavez”

“Welcome to the Sanctuary” you whispered, “would you like a tour?”

America nodded softly. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, giving Strange a quick hug before joining you and Wanda.

Wanda’s motherly instincts kicked in as she took the young wolf into her arms, carrying her as you and your mate showed America around the sanctuary.

The young wolfling relaxed, her ears perked up and her tail began swishing as you showed her around. She was beginning to feel safe and relaxed in your mate’s arms.

And then the boys came running down the hallways. They could only see your backs.

“Momma! Poppa!” The boys yelled out as they charged down the halls towards you.

You quickly intercepted your boys and gestured for them to lower their voices. They quickly obeyed as Wanda turned around and showed America to the boys.

Billy and Tommy’s whole demeanor changed, they became more gentle and docile.

“Hi there” Billy smiled at America. “I’m Billy and that’s my brother Tommy.”

“Howdy!” Tommy answered with a smile. America offered them a shy little wave.

Billy walked up and handed his stuffie to her, “this is Lizard Wizard. He helped me when I first arrived.”

America gently took the stuffie and held it to her chest.

“Wanna come play with us?” Tommy asked excitedly.

America tenderly looked to Wanda and you. “C-can I?”

Wanda smiled and set the little wolf cub down. The next thing you knew that little girl was off, chasing after Billy and Tommy as they ran towards the courtyard.

Wanda breathed a sigh of relief as she hugged you tight. It appeared like the boys finally had a friend like them.

You and Wanda went back to work. Wanda went about helping to counsel the other hybrids as you went back to filing the paperwork and setting up the charities.

As the day turned to evening, the boys and little America came running over to you and Wanda.

“Momma? Poppa?” The boys inquired, “can America stay the night with us?”

Wanda gave it some thought, putting on a rather funny little face, earning a giggle from the three hybrid kids, “oh alright”

America giggles before jumping into Wanda’s arms. You picked up Tommy as Billy jumped onto your back.

Natasha watched the whole thing from a distance, smiling as she joined Pietro in her den for the evening.

“What do you feel about adopting, Piet?” The reddish wolf asked her boyfriend.

“Adopting what?” He asked inquisitively. He really didn’t know what she was talking about.

Tags: @lifespectator @olsenmyolsen @aloneodi @holiday-house-of-m @family-house-of-m @russianredassassin @revanshand @iiconicsfan25 @iamnicodemus @dudesweet17 @deafeningsharkslimeempath @scarletquake-n7 @supercorpdanbeau

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

https://www.tumblr.com/haveyouseenthisskeleton/752192652944048128/so-brought-skeleton-to-a-pride-parade?source=share

Can we please have this with the UT cast?

Sans and Papyrus are on the original ask!

Undertale Toriel - She's not too sure how she ended there, but now she is kinda stuck in the middle of the crowd so she guesses she's a part of it now? She's more concerned about all these young people walking in the street topless. Don't you know it's still cold outside? You're all going to be sick! What if it rains? She learns a lot of things about nonbinary people though and keeps taking notes to report to Frisk as soon as she gets home :')

Undertale Asgore - He just had a bunch of rainbow flowers in front of his shop and somehow now his shop is invaded by young people who kept congratulating him for some reason and he has no flowers anymore after an hour. He's a bit in shock and confused, but, eh, at least his business is working! He's still not sure what happened though.

Undertale Undyne - She's having fun, both proudly representing lesbians and scaring the shit out of any queerphobe guy too close to her. She has Alphys on her shoulders the whole time and even takes breaks to get out of the crowd when her lizard wife is too overwhelmed.

Undertale Alphys - So many people... She's holding for dear life to Undyne, but slowly relaxes as the day goes on, as Undyne makes sure to let her breathe from time to time when she's too overwhelmed. Eventually, Alphys even starts talking to some people and finds another lesbian scientist and they end the day talking excitingly about nerd things while their girlfriends sympathize.

Undertale Frisk - They're both here to represent genderless people and queer monsters! Frisk has to do a lot of speeches during the day. They're the one everyone sends when journalists ask too many questions as Frisk is trained to answer most of them. Frisk is excited they can help their way and make things move because they're a little bit of a celebrity now.

Undertale Chara - They're following Frisk around, being the second prince(ss) of Monsterkind but Chara refuses all interactions with other humans. They clearly stated they're here to support monsters during pride month, not the others. They're hissing at every journalist or giving death glare, letting Frisk handle everything.

Undertale Mettaton - He's an official guest of the pride and he's performing all day to support his fellow queer people. He's having fun, everyone is calling him a trans icon and he could never get bored of all the attention.

Undertale Gaster - What... What's going on? He wanted to go to the grocery stores. And now he's in the middle of a crowd. With his groceries. And people are drawing random flags on his bones? And somehow he's too confused to say no? Gaster is completely lost. Can he go home now?

Undertale Grillby - He's making sure everyone stays hydrated and well-fed. He cooked a lot for the pride and he has his own Grillby's float where everyone can come and buy food during the walk. He's also watching his niece, walking with the lesbians like 10 meters in front of him. He's multitasking!

Undertale Muffet - She's mad because Grillby has a float and hers got refused. So she's selling her pastries at the foot of Grillby's float, trying to steal his clients lol. Sure, all that she sells technically goes to the same association Grillby's sales are going, but still! She will sell more than him! Her ego can't take it!

Undertale Burgerpants - He's hiding from Mettaton in Grillby's float, making himself busy by helping the fireman because he can't stand the idea of staying an entire day next to Mettaton. It's not that bad though. He keeps flirting with gay people so he's having fun! At least until he flirted too much with a guy already married and got chased by the husband across the entire parade.

Undertale Flowey - Well he can't really participate since, you know, he has no legs. So he's insulting homophobes from the window. He even throws himself from the balcony after he saw someone insult Chara and then he bit their ankles like an enraged chihuahua.

Undertale Gerson - He's only there to show all these stupid Karen that old boomers understand what being queer means and that they have no excuse to be queerphobic. He painted his shell with flags so he's visible from far away!

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 19: Taken (Makeup Day)

Taken: Remove (someone or something) from a particular place.

TW: Violence, War, Blood mentions, general Sad Vibes

The day Brotiðgrein fell had started the same as any other. The sun rays split through the thick canopy and the wings of bugs shimmered as they passed through them. Birds and buzzing insects filled the spaces that quiet laughter and chatter did not. Young kits ran amongst the branches and foliage that scattered their village clearing, chasing small lizards and mammals and playing little games amongst themselves. The adults took their turns patroling or keeping a watchful eye on the rowdy kits, ensuring no one ventured too far into the treeline. It was normal. Comfortable. Until everything fell apart. 

A distant boom was the first indication. All ears swiveled to listen. It was foreign and unnatural sounding. Mothers and sisters began calling the young back to them, to which the frightened kits happily obliged. The women armed themselves, their confidence in the Warders not keeping them from being prepared to protect their homes. The kits were herded into one of the huts and kept under watch by one village member while the rest scurried about to prepare. The sounds of whirring and crashing trees in the jungle grew louder, as did the voices of men speaking in a language unfamiliar to most here. 

One kit, at the time a particularly brave one named Kari, tried their best to peek over and around the woman standing in the doorway. She continued to shoo them back, scolding and warning them to stay low and quiet. Despite the noises and warning, Kari was barely 5 summers old. Not old enough to fully understand the danger nearing their secluded little home. With a little stomp and a pout, they stopped and stared. “I want my mama.” “Your mama is busy, little one. She is helping your sisters keep the village safe. Now go and sit with everyone else.” That wasn’t good enough, but they were too small to get passed the fully grown Viera woman in the doorway. Kari stomped again, but marched over and sat on the ground, arms crossed and ears laid back. 

This small rage didn’t last long as a sudden very loud, very close explosion reverberated through the hut. All of the young kits cried out and grabbed their ears, falling into a little pile together. The guardian at the door grabbed her head, leaning against the doorway for support. She stood straight up in mere moments, a terrified expression on her face. She held her lance in shaking hands, standing her ground in the doorway as the whirring of foreign metal monsters was coming from just outside. Shouting could be heard from kin and unknown alike, as could the clashing of steel weapons. Whistling of arrows launched towards their targets followed but exhales of pained breath and shouts of fear. The kits were frozen in place, huddled together and holding onto each other for safety. 

The brave little kit named Kari was not so brave anymore. Big tears ran down their cheeks as they shook and hid their face against the others. They were the youngest here, after all. No danger in the forest had shook them quite like this. 

The huddle only lasted a short while before the guardian at the door was accosted by one of the unknown men. He charged at her with a blade, swinging wildly as desperately fought to keep him out of the building. A shout from him caused one of the metal monsters to approach, a horrible buzzing noise emanating as it charged up and launched an explosive. An earth shatter noise and shake caused the kits to cry out again as the side of the hut blew apart– debris flying in all directions. The guardian at the door collapsed, unmoving. The man’s blade stuck in her abdomen. Chunks of debris flew into the little pile of kits, causing some to scatter and try to run, and causing others to fall to the ground. As still as their guardian. 

Kari had been one to scatter. Their tiny frame leaping from the hole in the wall and frantically looking around. Mama. Where was their mama. Or their sisters. Someone. Their eyes found someone familiar. Her green robes catching their eyes as they ran to her. 

“Miðja!” His tiny, shaking voice called. No answer. She didn’t even move. Even amidst the chaos. “Miðja, it’s me! It’s Kari!! Where’s mama!!” 

They approached and nearly jumped on her. She still didn’t move. Their little hands reached out to pat her face and felt something wet. Blood. Fearfully, they pushed her blood-soaked hair from her face to see her staring ahead, eyes unblinking and glassy. They were so young. They couldn’t understand. She had to be alright. She was too strong! All of their sisters were! They shook her shoulders, a little sob escaping. 

“Miðja…please answer me….we gotta find mama…..” 

She still did not answer. Little hands, amidst the chaos and fighting, moved her hair out of her face so gently. They ran their little fingers over the braids they always found so pretty. Leaning in, they pressed their little forehead to hers. 

“I…I gotta find mama Miðja. I love you.” 

Reluctantly, tears flowing down their little face, they turned and ran in a different direction. The lifeless face of their sister burned in their mind as they desperately searched through the chaos. Weapons clashed, arrows stuck into the armor and chests of these foreign fighters as they collapsed to the ground in loud metallic heaps. Different movements caught Kari’s eyes as figures dropped from the trees above. 

The Warders!

Fewer than they had been told were with them, but they were here! Maybe if they found mama, they’d find dada too! Their little feet tapped along the now damaged wooden walkways that connected their huts, scanning for her. A flash of yellow caught their eye and they turned, spotting the familiar robes. With a little jump, they called out, “Mama!! Mama I’m here!!” Her ears spun quickly, the arrow in her bow armed and ready. She whipped around in fear, seeing her tiny kit standing in the midst of the fighting. A metal machine inched closer to them from behind, the kit completely unaware as their focus was on her. She ran, pulling her bow up and launching her arrow directly at the controller of the wretched thing with a guttural yell. Kari froze, ears folding back as they cowered down and away when they finally saw the beast. But mama’s aim was true, and she struck the driver from their seat with one arrow. She swooped over and grabbed her kit into her arms, making a run for the treeline as quickly as she could. Kari clung to her, face buried in her shoulder. 

A loud cracking sound followed by Kari’s mother stumbling made them cry out and cling harder. She recovered, but slowed down significantly. As they reached the treeline, she quickly set her baby down in the bushes, staring into their beautiful violet eyes. Blood had begun to soak through her robes, but she knelt down to her kit and smiled warmly. “My darling baby. My sweet little Kari. I love you so much. Always remember that I love you with all of my heart.” “I–I love you too mama. We have to keep going! It’s dangerous in there, mama! We gotta find da–” She shushed them, gently petting their head. “My darling can you do your mama a favor? You have be very very brave for me, okay?” Kari nodded, eyes shining with tears. “Mama needs you to run, okay? Run very fast. Don’t stop running until you find your dada, okay? He’ll keep you safe.” “But mama why can’t we go toge–” The sounds of men approaching met her ears and she froze, looking over her shoulder and back at Kari. “Kari. Go. There’s no time. I love you. Mama loves you so much. Now go!!”

She pushed them into the treeline and after a moment of hesitation, Kari sprinted into the trees. Not looking back when they heard their mother yell fiercely. Not looking back when they heard the same loud cracks they’d heard before she shooed them into the forest. But she had given them a task. Find his father.

Little legs ran as fast as they could through the thick jungle. The air was heavy and felt thick as bugs flew passed Kari’s ears. The sun was unable to cut through here, and Kari was alone. Afraid. They ran as fast as they could, blood pumping and little heart racing as they crawled over logs and through vines. The jungle was dangerous. Mama had always told them that. Their sisters had too. But no one was here to guide them now. In their little haze, they failed to hear the danger they were running directly into. A “cleanup” squadron marching through the jungle. Kari charged over a log and straight into the legs of one of these soldiers, knocking him to the ground in a tangle of legs and viera kit. 

The men drew their weapons and swore, unaware of what had assaulted them. A higher ranking soldier held up his hand when he saw the kit laying on the ground, frantically trying to untangle themself from the man they’d knocked over. With one hand, the soldier picked Kari up by the scruff and held them up, sneering into the child’s face and poking at them. “Well, would you look at that. It’s one of those freak’s kid.” 

Kari didn’t understand the words the man spoke. The man made noises and threatening motions towards the kit, and Kari did what mama and sisters had taught– fight back. 

With a little screech, the kit kicked the man as hard as they could in the face, clamping teeth down into the arm poking their direction. They bit hard enough to draw blood, and the kick crunched in a way that indicated either a broken nose or broken teeth. The soldier swore, shaking his arm violently and attempting to throw the kit to the ground. 

“Kill this fuckin’ thing, would ya?!”

The lower rank soldiers prepared to do as they were told, holding blades up before a booming laugh caught their attention. The laugh was not joyous. It was humorless and cold. “Well, well. Now that is a fighter. Perhaps we can use that fiery spirit instead of wasting it, yeah? Get a collar. I’m sure there are some uses for the little rat.” A soldier approached, black band in his hands as he clamped it around the neck of the kit still latched onto the man’s arm. A shock was sent through it and Kari released their hold with a squeal. The soldier who collared him carried him to one of the bigger machines, tossing them into a small barred box. A little cage. A click and a latch was the final seal of Kari’s fate. With this, the Garlean soldiers had taken them from their home and family. All Kari could do was sit and cry.

—-------------------------

These tears were very real as E’mal sat up in bed, a raw sob clawing it’s way from his throat as he reached forward towards…nothing. This dream–no, nightmare– had been the most vivid one yet. His hands and body trembled as he frantically looked around the room. Foliage through bars gave way to darkened wood and stone illuminated by flickering firelight. The feeling of cold steel under his hands replaced by warm sheets and soft furs as he breathed, eye darting around the dark before a large hand on his back made him jump. A low rumble met his ears and he looked to the side to see a familiar face. 

The pale gaze of Ezekiel, filled with concern, met his own. Pale hands reached towards his face and wiped tears away as E’mal melted into the touch. He sniffled, reaching out to wrap them around the larger man’s frame. Another rumble as he was pressed against Ezekiel's chest. A fur-lined blanket was wrapped around the pair as Ezekiel held E’mal to him. They didn’t exchange any words. They didn’t need to. E’mal knew he was safe now. Come morning, they would talk and check in. But for now, all that mattered was the ever-present thrum of his partner’s heartbeat. 

------------------ Ezekiel belongs to @bloodredhands :)

[just-your-average-cryptid]

On Dragons

One of the things I enjoy about writing is creature design - I mainly go for fantasy, so whimsical beasts and strange creatures is pretty much a given. However, I have some... thoughts about typical dragon design and ecology, because yes I will make an ecosystem for the dragon why wouldn't you?

Essentially, my problem with typical dragons is that they don't feel real in the context of the setting. Yeah, yeah, big scary fire-breathing beast, but where does it live? What does it eat? How do those tiny wings lift up its massive body? Most authors I've read just kinda... handwave those questions with "it's fiction chill out look at this epic magic fight" but I'm a worldbuilding fanatic and dammit I want answers. And if I can't get those answers, I might as well make my own, eh?

So you've got your classic reptilian dragons: scales, horns, claws, the works. Iconic, recognizable, but not very realistic in the basic body type of "big lizard but with wings" or "dinosaur but with wings." That's not to say that reptilian dragons can never be used, they just need to be adapted - what if, somewhere deep in the desert, a massive serpentine dragon waits under the sand, snapping up anything that treks over its waiting jaws? Afterwards, it'll settle down in the sand and distribute heat through its wings, keeping the main body cool enough while it sinks back into the sands.

I do have a soft spot for avian dragons, mainly because they're less common and avoid some of the logistical issues with reptilian dragons. Granted, they can also be "lizard with wings but we gave it feathers this time," but for the most part they pay more attention to, yknow, making a creature that can conceivably fly and not just plummet to the ground immediately. But unless you're making their bones very hollow, a large avian isn't likely to have much flight capabilities. Gliding, though? Sort of like a flying squirrel or those weird spiraling snakes? That could work. Maybe it lives in forests and jungles, where it can swoop down on prey from above and clamber back into the trees for safety.

What do I see as the best base for dragons? Simple: bats. Think about it, their body layout is pretty easy to adapt into a dragon. Maybe tone down the ears unless you're keeping the echolocation, but the wing-to-body ratio and wing shape are perfect. Scale up the size a little and you've got a decent-sized, plausible dragon ready to be dropped into whatever habitat suits it.

Now, that doesn't mean big dragons can't exist; they just need a bit more room. Migratory dragons! Maybe they head to warm places like islands or volcanoes to breed and lay eggs, where their young can chase smaller prey and learn to fly before joining the flock (heh) in more temperate places the rest of the year. Or, if they're a cold-loving dragon, they hatch when the snow melts so they've got their warm feather/fur coat grown in once the frost hits. Dragons as a terraforming agent, bringing seeds and maybe even the eggs of certain species where they travel, like ducks bringing undigested fish eggs to new ponds and lakes. Dragons as apex predators keeping the local or even continental ecosystem in balance by picking off sick and weakened animals and keeping prey populations in check.

Dragon ecology!

[sinvulkt]

Pre-OT - Cursed Noodle Vaderkin

Summary: After another reckless stunt, the Force is tired of Vader's antics and transforms him into a small dragon. It then put him on Ahsoka's path.

Era: At some point after RotS and Twilight of the Apprentice  

Characters: Darth Vader, Ahsoka Tano

Main tropes: Non consensual animal transformation (listen, i love that one), Kidnapping your fallen jedi master, Force shenanigans

---

Snippet:

Vader blinked. Or tried to. His current form did not seem to possess eyelids.

It did possess a passable set of lungs as well as six working limbs, which most people would have called an improvement. Vader did not. The sudden assault of smells, colors and heat confused his senses. Every few seconds he had to remind himself to breathe, the habit long lost in profit of going along the suit ventilator.

He had been walking in circles trying to get back to Coruscant after his last mission, only for the universe to try to stop him. First, his life support had broken under his opponent’s lightsaber blow. Then, the Jedi he had been chasing had escaped, helped by some rebels Vader had made sure would not come back. To top it all, as Vader wondered if he would die, the ventilator unable to provide crucial oxygen to his lungs, the Force had bent and twisted until it made him into this.

His reflection in water had not been much help determining his species. A porg-sized lizard of some kind, although it seemed to have wings. Vader barely attempted to move them. The additional limbs felt foreign in his mind.

Vader made another step, snarling at the branch who tripped him.

This place was filled with nothing but rats and porgs and banthas. That, and the ship he had seen landing in the distance. Vader was certain he could slither in and steal it. His current form may not have a thumb, but it would not be the first time he used the Force to pilote.

A convor dove at him, its claws scratching at Vader’s armor-scales. His wings raised by instinct as he hissed. The bird should have known better than to challenge a Sith Lord. Vader threw the Dark at it, intending to crush the impudent bird, only for his control to slip and the blow to overshoot. As it happened, all the convor felt was a breeze slightly disturbing its flight. It dove again.

Vader cursed as he slipped under a crevice. Something was wrong with the Force. He could feel it just fine, but his control was barely better than a youngling. It was as if all the midichlorians in his body had shifted. Which, looking at the paws clawing at the sandy earth of the crevice, wasn’t that far away from the truth.

“Morai?” a humanoid called.

Vader perked up. He knew that voice.

“Is anyone here?”

Memories of a young togruta laughing flashed in his mind.

Could it be…?

The convor dove again as soon as it saw Vader muzzle out of his hidhole. Vader scrambled back. That person was dead. It must have been his imagination.

Vader focused on the arrogant creature that dared make him his prey. It felt rather weird for a convor, the Light bending too unnaturally around the bird’s presence for it to not be Force Sensitive. Whenever Vader Force-pushed it, the blow dissipated before it ever reached the convor. His low control wasn’t enough to explain it.

Several seconds passed without the bird diving back at Vader’s crevice. Perhaps the accursed being had finally given up and chosen an easier meal. Tentatively, Vader dared one paw out. Boots blocked his way.

“Morai. What did you find?”

Vader scrambled back, only for fiery skin to descend on him. He definitely did not yelp as warm fingers slid beneath his belly to lift him up in the air. He bit the offending arm, but the stranger's hands held him strong.

“Ouch. You are quite a wild little one, aren’t you?” Ahsoka chuckled.

Vader stilled. His scales flattened as he bared his teeth against the truth. This sight should not be possible.

 Anakin Skywalker’s Apprentice was dead.

And yet, the buzzing bond between them whispered another true as two tattered threads reached for each other to mend. He hurried to pull back his side of the bond, but it slipped away from his grasp. Worse, their skin touching only strengthens the bond’s mending. Vader felt the moment they connected. A shiver ran down his skin as Light burned his inside. Simultaneously, Ahsoka’s eyes widened in recognition.

She held him up to her face level, lekkus twitching as she stared into what he knew must be golden eyes.

“Anakin?”

---

Plot Description:

The Force did not wish for its Son to suffer. It waited and waited, but Anakin stayed miserable under the Emperor’s thumb, barely attempting to escape. After Vader brushes with death, borderline voluntarily, the Force has enough. It calls to the rather Eldritch part within Anakin to transform him. Dragon-Vader is on the rather small side. He can be easily lifted and put on shoulders. As a Force-being, Vaderkin is very young, almost a baby. The dragon’s shape reflects that. Would it have been billions of years later, he would have been huge enough to wrap around a planet.

As per the Force terms, Vader cannot go back into human shape until he touches the light side or learns to balance properly the multiple facets of the Force. Dark and Light. Even then, he will never fully be human again, keeping draconic traits such as scales and wings. This might be of great interest to various pirates and slavers, or even to Palpatine whose apprentice suddenly became quite a bit more useful. 

Ahsoka is all too happy to see the crucial blow to the Empire through Vader’s disappearance, as well as to maybe, maybe get her Jedi-Master-turned-Sith-turned-small-dragon back. Now if only she can coax him onto the road of balance.

[vulnonapix1234]

Not me cooking up a new au!

Dragon Ace for the win!

I say as I post a picture of his parents being disgustingly in love.

Basically, Rouge and Ace are the survivors of a once great race:

The dragon-skins, a nomadic race of mostly human looking people. Their bodies possed crystal like scales and horns, with the ability to turn into fire breathing Dragons.

They were hunted down by the celestial Dragons, till only a handful of them walked the land as free people.

Because of this, those survivors learned to hide their true nature until they were nearly indistinguishable to humans.

Now. Whilst the Whitebeard Pirates knew Rouge and her relationship with Roger, Whitebeard also knew that the man was infertile due to his sickness.

It was a shame, considering how much the man loved his wife and how much he fantasised spawning a little devil that would raise hell with her.

After his friend died and he tried to find Rouge, but when he found her remains, he believed that she died from depression, not knowing about the infant that was dropped off by some bandits.

When Thatch brought that little lizard to the ship, he didn't even make that connection.

The little thing, Jalapeño as his son called it, was quite the adorable thing. At least when it wasn't biting them.

It would often nap on his lap or in the sun, or chase after his children like a little kitten wanting to play or cuddle.

Their new pet was also extremely smart, being able to differentiate between the different family members, fetch them things when asked, and being as much as a help as a menace on the ship.

(He is pretty sure that his beloved daughter weaponized it to make him take his medicine and rest. Having a small animal give him sad eyes and pushing the alcohol out of his hand was a lot more effective than he would have liked. Not that he could ever prove it)

Everyone was heartbroken when it went missing after an altercation with the marines.

No matter where they searched, they couldn't find it.

They only learned what really happened when Thatch was attacked by Teach, when everyone was awoke by an loud crash and growl that seeminglt shook the entire ship.

Now. The all knew that Ace was Rouges kid from the moment he tried to take Whitebeards head.

Not only because of their surname and how much they looked alike, but because they had the same intensity when fighting.

(Some of the older members nearly fainted because they thought that he was the second coming of Rouge)

They also knew that he was Rogers rumoured son that somehow survived the infanticide.

(Their laughter and smiles are so alike that Whitebeard still gets that pang longing whenever he sees and hears it)

Anyway. This knowledge about his heritage didn't translate to them realizing that Ace could turn into a dragon like Rouge.

Only when they saw that big monster looming over their brother, a dagger buried in its shoulders, the curtain fell before their eyes.

Thatch, the person most affected by the loss of his first pet, recognized his little jalapeño despite the shock of nearly getting back stabbed by a brother.

After they got Ace patched up and realized what Teach tried to do (he was still able to flee with the devil fruit), the young man had to explain himself.

Apparently, he never mentioned his dragon-skin nature because he was afraid.

Celestial Dragons believed themselves to be the owners of his race and he knew that they would come for him.

Sure, they were the strongest crew in the world, but those bastards were on a different level.

He still remembers the fire made to please them, burning away so many lives.

There is also the fact that he grew up believing that they just forgot about him after garp brought him home.

It was also this feeling of abandonment, which made him want to hurt their dad.

It also made it harder for him to connect to his treasure, pushing people away from him despite his instincts telling him otherwise.

Only when Luffy, his brother by proxy, was hurt because of his loyalty to him, did he understand his mistake.

[lovedabishiga]

TouTen Vigilantes

Being a vigilante is a thankless job.

Most of the time, he patrols the streets and keeps suspicious individuals away only to get a lackluster thank you and lukewarm soba from the old grannies at the neighborhood. Other times, he chases after pickpockets and thieves and sometimes unfair loan sharks only to get chased away by a mob who thinks he’s the one who stole from them, even when he ends up hauling all the stolen stuff back. Efforts to properly recognize his valiant and selfless efforts come far and few. As is typical; gratitude only comes when you’re a shiny hero and not some washout copy of the No. 2.

Being a vigilante, after all, is an unrewarding job.

Because despite all the good you do to a neighborhood, community, or some stranger who needs a little help, a single mistake automatically marks you as a villain.

A villain.

A brawl with an armed robber of a convenience store turned to a fire emergency and the robber being rushed to the hospital. On the news, the robber was called a civilian. The firemaker, however, was hailed as the villain.

“Unbelievable pricks,” Touya mutters under his breath, sitting down at a fire escape with his box of first-aid supplies and a radio the fizzles every three seconds. “Next time, I’ll let you get robbed, yeah?”

‘Thank goodness for Manual, Hosu’s own water boy!’ the newscaster says, while her partner chuckles. ‘And don’t forget our delightful No. 2, Endeavor – ’

“What the – he has a fire quirk! He didn’t even do anything,” Touya exclaims, as if arguing against a beat-up radio would stop the reporters from laughing, or change the news story, or even refrain them from mentioning ever again his Fa – no, Endeavor. And it hurts, knowing that he did so much than the man who arrived 10 minutes later at the scene. “Stupid, gullible pieces of trash,” Flammable trash, all of them, all of them!

“Um, excuse me?”

If Touya was less injured from the burns, he’d launch a fire first right then and there. Instead, Touya whips around, legs ready to sprint or to fight, both his palms balled to a fists, as a he regards a young man at the stairs of the fire escape. He is small and hooded, with a thick parka over his frame and battered cargo pants, donned all in the color black, except for the rabbit mask that’s skewed over to the side, his bright red shoes and even brighter red eyes.

“You’re the ‘Touya,’” the man smiles, ominous. “Right?”

Touya squints. “And you’re the Rabbit,” Every vigilante knows that mask anywhere. “Right?”  

The Rabbit – or at least that is what Touya remembers of him, the vigilante with a nasty quirk and fearsome prowess that even Stain acknowledges him – drops his smile and sighs exasperatedly. “Ah, no, it’s actually Hare, not rabbit. Those two are very different species.”

Touya frowns. Huh. “Then why do you have a bunny mask then?” This isn’t what Touya had in mind when he first heard of the vigilante, Rabbit – or Hare.

Short, skittish, soft-spoken with a rasp in his voice. There’s a stupid mole next to his lip and for some reason, Touya’s lizard brain chose to fixate on that and not on the ungloved hands that many people in the circles of the underground warn incessantly against.

Touya notices a thimble on each of the Hare’s middle fingers though.  “T-this isn’t a bunny mask, it’s a /hare/ mask, this time I made sure – ” Then, as if remembering what he came here for, Hare quickly composes himself. “I came here because…I saw the news.”

Touya tenses. “It isn’t hard to,” For reasons Touya /knows/, there’s a bounty on the villain that burned down the convenience store. A whooping 1 million yen, to be paid by Endeavor’s Hero agency, for the said villain’s capture. Alive. Touya takes a step forward. “So what of it?”

“Well, you see – ” Burned fingers or no, a fall is still a fall if Touya pushed hard and right enough. “– I saw what you did and – ” Touya just needs to be careful of those fingers, because if he gets touched by all of them, he’s gone – “ – thought you were still miles better than all the heroes who responded, despite what everyone else says.”

Touya balks. “What – ”

“I know Manual and Idaten patrol that area, but still, you were the first to arrive, the first act at the scene, and sure, some collateral damage happened, but you still ended up saving that man’s life. If you waited for the heroes, I’m sure that robber wouldn’t gotten away and that convenience store will have to be closed down,” the Hare says, nodding to himself. So, please don’t get disheartened by what people say. Taking down properties is just part of the job. I’ve taken a few myself! If heroes are allowed to do so, then why can’t we? It’s such a double standard really. And,” Then the Hare chuckles, looking less than the violent executioner that he was said to be and more of a teenage boy just a few years younger than Touya. “You were amazing.”

“Oh.” Touya feels his cheeks heat up. He doesn’t even know where to begin.

“But next time you really might want to be more careful. We don’t want to attract the attention of heroes when they’re supposed to be turning a blind eye on us,” the Hare continues on, rummaging something in the pockets of his parka before taking out a small convenience store, onigiri. “Here. For a job well done,” the smaller man places it on the ground between them. “Thank you for your good work. Let’s do our best to make this hero society a better place!"

Then without any preamble, he leaps off the staircase, hops all the way down to the ground, before dashing off. Touya stares at where the younger vigilante was, mouth agape, left with the company of a sole onigiri and a radio long-forgotten.

Touya rubs his hands against his face, keening. “What the fuck was that…?”

If this is what it feels like to be rewarded for his efforts, then maybe, maybe, he’d like to remain thankless (he doesn’t), unknown (not anymore).

And most of all, he doesn’t want to be patronized like that ever again!

(He’ll burn more buildings if that means seeing that cute, red-eyed bunny again)

[sketchyonlooker]

The Case of Akazawa Shiho (working title):

A maw filled with teeth larger than her snaps up a schoolgirl running beside her, her scream quickly silenced by the crunch of bone. Other creatures - familiar creatures she'd only seen in Duel Monsters - continue their slaughter within the Domino City Subway Station.

A young child screams for his mother as the raptors tore him limb from limb.

An old man is trampled over by the crowd - and then shredded apart by a worm-like creature with concentric teeth from below. Like watching a sink garbage disposal in action.

The brutal scenes multiplied as the monsters continued flooding in from the tunnels and entrance.

She's gonna die.

She's gonna die.

There's no way she's surviving this.

No matter how much she runs with the crowd. Sooner or later, safety in numbers was not going to be enough, not with everyone here betting on it.

Where can she run to? The subway tunnels - where there was already so much blood pooling it could fill a lake? The entrances - where the monsters are coming from? The trains - that proved effortless for the monsters to break into? Does it even matter now? She doesn't have the luxury of choi-

Something latches onto her wrist. And then she feels something catch across her ankle. The moment she realized she'd been tripped was the moment she fell face first onto the ground. As she looked up, she could see a middle-aged man in a suit running with the crowd but continued to face her with a grin-

!@#$

Before she could curse him out in her final moments.

riiing...

...That sound. Like a tuning fork.

She's heard it before.

A in C minor.

The man's triumphant gaze becomes confused and unfocused - as if he were staring through her - but then quickly shifts into panic. She doesn't see his fate as the monsters that were chasing the crowd suddenly leapt over he-

Craaccck.

-SHit.

Her foot. Just got stepped on by a two-headed dinosaur - Two-Headed King Rex, the Duel Monster - You fucker.

She's going to be a Rex anti-fan from now on.

...At least she still had enough of her mind to make shitty jokes, not that this was the appropriate occasion. Or maybe it was the perfect occasion now that she was so thoroughly fucked.

A likely broken foot she can't feel cause of the adrenaline. Surrounded by a hoard of man-eating monsters.

A lizard-like monster - Masked Chameleon - darts its tongue towards one of the runners in the crowd; its barbed tongue pierces through the man's leg - and retracts backwards with such force that it tears the leg off. The moment he stumbles down is the moment he is chomped apart by the chasing monsters.

The Masked Chameleon's eyes turns its beady eye towards her, and her breath catches her in throat as she forces herself to be very still.

It flicks its tongue slowly - was it like a snake? Did it sense body heat? It approaches slowly at its slow crawl, and she feels her heart thump harder and harder as it closes in.

But it then walks past her without fanfare. As soon as it was a good distance, she released her breath, the lightheadedness she'd been ignoring making her woozy.

How?

Why?

----

∞:

They didn't notice her. The monsters - the dragons - the lizards. They ignored her completely just like the dwindling people still alive ignored her.

Why? Among all of the people who died here, why was she still alive?

...She had a feeling she knew why.

That sound. A in C minor.

She's heard it before.

Back when Sketchy barged into that white-haired guy Bakura - she remembered his name from the Battle City Final's - and the creepy zombie-looking guy's duel. And of course, the horrible outcome of watching zombie-guy's flesh disintegrate into black goop in high-definition. Thanks for the nightmares, Sketchy. BEBD really should stop giving advi-

"Woof!"

Her head turned towards the broken escalator, only to find a dog. Its matted long fur was so dirtied that she couldn't see what breed it was, but it was a small dog. A dog that none of the monsters seem to have noticed despite its hyperactive hopping.

"Woof!"

And it was walking towards her when nothing else here could see her. It probably should've raised more alarm bells, but at this point, as long as it wasn't scaly, she was willing to trust it.

The smelly dog sniffed at her carefully.

"Woof!"

It then tugged on her sleeve.

"...Do you want me to follow you?" She wasn't scared of talking. Not after accidentally screaming in front of a Raptor that lunged a little too close trying to eat the man that ran close to her.

"Arf!"

She doesn't hesitate as the dog begins running towards the broken escalator. Pain sears through her foot as she limps her way forward. She knows she can't stay here anyway. Whatever providence is happening right now might not last.

Her hands briefly pat against her trusty blue mage's hat. It fills her with a bit of comfort and courage.

She has to get somewhere safe.

If that meant taking a chance by following a dog that seemed to know what it's doing, well, it's not like she hasn't been cheating death all this time.

[captainswaglord500]

Aurungo-Pundapi (artwork by Yuujinner)

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class/Clade: Reptilia (Sauropsida) Clade: Diapsida Clade: Archosauria Clade: Dinosauria

Order: Ornithischia 

Clade: Marginocephalia

Suborder: Ceratopsia

Family: Ceratopsidae

Subfamily: Centrosaurinae 

Clade: Eucentrosaura

Tribe: Centrosaurini

Genus: Deinoceratops

Species: D. susoides (”pig-like terrible horned face”)

Ancestral species: Centrosaurus apertus

Time period: Pleistocene to modern day (1.5 million years to present).

Information:

In the eastern swamps of the Isle of Perils, we encounter a most bizarre species: Deinoceratops susoides (“pig-like terrible horned face”), better known by its Xenogaean name, the aurungo-pundapi, “the one whose face is adorned with scars”.

A centrosaurine ceratopsid, the aurungo-pundapi is unusual not only in its semiaquatic habits, not unlike those of a hippopotamus, but also its diet: an omnivore, this creature eats mostly aquatic vegetation like reeds and lilies, but it also eats, among other things, carrion, fish, and the young of other dinosaurs, and it may even go after small crocodylomorphs in its habitat. Of course, as an animal which shared its habitat with other large meat-eaters, including rhizodonts and theropods many times larger than it, the aurungo-pundapi is quite territorial: this animal will usually rush at attackers first and ask questions later, and it is so widely-feared for its ferocious temper, that early European explorers in the region dubbed it the “lizard-hippo” in reference to its similar size, niche, and temperament to its namesake. However, unlike the hippopotamus of Africa, the aurungo-pundapi’s aggression frequently extends to its own species to the point where no two animals will ever congregate within the same stretch of water outside of the mating season. During late June and throughout early July, the males are at their most aggressive: during this time, they enter a state similar to musth in male elephants wherein their hormones spike, causing them to become highly aggressive towards other animals. It was during one such mating season in 1938 that a bull aurungo-pundapi went on a rampage in a village in the marshlands, killing many livestock and people alike before it was finally shot and killed by the villagers. As this animal’s bulk (which is actually comprised mostly of lean muscle instead of fat) makes it difficult for this animal to move efficiently on land, mating usually occurs in the water, which is made possible thanks to the animal’s ability to hold its breath for nearly 2 hours at a time. After the pair have mated, they go separate ways and in a few weeks time, the female will lay her clutch of around 4-8 eggs in a small nest on land which she will visit regularly, removing and adding dirt regularly as needed. In another month, the young will hatch, and for the first few years of their life, they will be dependent on her for protection until they are big enough to fend for themselves, after which she will chase them off. By age 10, they will have reached full size and by age 14, they will have reached sexual maturity, and by this point in their life, few predators will ever dare to harm them. Thus, a healthy aurungo-pundapi can expect to live to a ripe old age of 60-70 years. 

This is a revamped version of an old, old creature!

[bloomlips]

BLITZ ENTERTAINMENT'S ACTRESS AND PRODUCER

colorful nails tapping and head bobbing to interwoven beats, all-seeing eyes piercing through camera lenses, the moon behind the sun

min "jjaelly" jada 믽앋아 ("쨀뤼") — 20 — famous actress and blitz' producer

JADA moves in quiet spaces, the kind of presence that lingers like the last note of a song, delicate but impossible to ignore. she is the moon in a sky too full of suns, a silver light slipping through the cracks, illuminating everything and nothing at all. her name carries weight, whispered in boardrooms and on neon-lit sets, but she does not demand the stage—she lets it come to her, slow and inevitable, like the tide drawn to shore. producer, actress, chameleon. the girl who wears a hundred faces but never quite reveals her own.

she was never meant to be here, they once said. too young, too naive, too different. but they don’t know what it takes to survive in an industry that swallows girls whole. they don’t know the hours spent hunched over mixing boards, chasing perfection in the static, the sleepless nights rewriting a melody until it bleeds. they don’t know the fire that burns beneath the surface, the quiet rage of a girl who refuses to be a footnote in someone else’s story.

jjaelly, they call her, the producer with a touch like magic, who turns sound into something more, something alive.

she does not fight for attention, does not crave the spotlight the way gabi does, burning bright and untamed. she watches instead, eyes deep and knowing, seeing the world in ways no one else does. shy in the way that makes people mistake her for fragile, polite in the way that lets her slip through the cracks unnoticed. but there is steel beneath the softness, a sharp wit hidden in quiet smiles, a mind that never stops, never rests. the world is too loud, too fast, and yet she moves through it like she has already seen its ending.

bleach-blonde and beautiful in a way that feels untouchable, hair chopped close in rebellion or maybe just reinvention / a moth in silk, all transformative lines and soft edges, a mystery waiting to be unravelled by the right people / her heart beats in film reels and drum patterns, in the silence between notes, in the unspoken words caught behind her teeth / jada, who disappears into every role, who becomes whoever the script tells her to be, yet somehow remains undeniably herself

she is not the storm, she is the stillness before it, the quiet hum of the city at dawn, the last breath before the curtain rises / and when the lights go out, when the music fades, she remains—steady, constant, waiting for the next scene to begin

AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5'5 BIRTHDAY: 10th december, 1994 ZODIAC: sagittarius APPEARANCE: slim, fine-boned, long-legged, willowy shape, short bleach-blonde hair, large round almond-color eyes, straight nose, full lips, full cheeks, heart-shaped face, sharp jaw and chin POS TRAITS: intelligent, hard-working, sincere, honest, kind NEG TRAITS: quiet, prone to melancholy, reserved, outside from the world INSTAGRAM: @/jjaelly SIGNIFICANT OTHER: n/a MISC — min taehoon's niece, joined blitz when she was 15 (after she'd been acting two years) because her original management company was trying to persuade her into signing a contract that'd give them more control over her image and she did not like that — became a producer under blitz in 2010 when she was only 15 and helped make some mock-ups for KIZZY's debut album! she met eunbi that year. some months later, nakyoung and yeonseo joined, plus a few other female trainees that later left, and jada started realizing that she couldn't go around getting too attached until they debuted. but then gabi appeared and it was instant friendship—two best friends, found sisters, against the world — loves the colors purple and blue, absolutely adores cats and "obscure" animals like lizards and bearded dragons. her aesthetic is a mix of femine, basic, and whimsy—skirts, soft browns and beiges, yet uniquely painted nails and brightly-colored accessories. she loves butterflies but finds herself most similar to moths.

[gizmo4metwo]

Learning curve.

In the heart of the savanna, where golden grass swayed under the warm sun, a mother leopard lay curled in the safety of her hidden den. Her two tiny cubs, just a few weeks old, huddled close to her belly for warmth, their spotted fur barely visible against her own. She watched them with deep, golden eyes, a quiet pride flickering in her gaze.

“I did that,” she seemed to say as she nudged them gently with her nose. These cubs were her legacy, her greatest challenge, and her greatest joy.

The days passed, and the cubs grew stronger. Their small bodies, once fragile and unsteady, now wobbled on uncertain legs. They tumbled over each other, play-fighting, their tiny claws swiping at the air. But they were still too young to leave the den, too young to face the dangers of the outside world.

The mother knew that soon, she would have to hunt.

One evening, after the sun dipped below the horizon, she waited for her cubs to fall asleep. Only when their small bodies rose and fell in peaceful rhythm did she slip silently into the night.

The cubs, a boy and a girl, stirred as the warmth of their mother faded. Shia stretched first, her sleek little body arching as she blinked her bright eyes open. Sambo yawned lazily beside her. They looked around, sniffing the air, but their mother was gone.

Out in the vast savanna, the mother leopard moved through her territory, her senses sharp. She needed food—not just for her cubs, but for herself. Hunger gnawed at her, but she did not rush. She had seen gazelle in this area before, and their scent was still fresh.

Spotting a large acacia tree near the grazing herd, she climbed up, her powerful limbs carrying her high into the branches. She crouched low, waiting, her muscles coiled like a spring.

Time passed. The gazelle moved closer.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, she leaped.

The herd scattered, but she had already locked onto her target. Claws unsheathed, teeth bared—one swift, precise strike, and the hunt was over.

With practiced strength, she dragged the gazelle back toward the den, her breath heavy but her heart steady.

When she returned, Shia and Sambo rushed to her side, their small noses twitching at the scent of fresh meat. They dug in eagerly, their tiny teeth tearing at the flesh. The mother watched them, knowing that soon, they would need to learn to hunt for themselves.

As the days turned into weeks, the cubs grew bolder. They followed their mother on her hunts, watching closely as she stalked her prey. Shia, the girl cub, was always watching, always learning. She mimicked her mother’s movements, crouching low, stepping carefully, her eyes locked on the prize.

Sambo, on the other hand, was more interested in play. He pounced on his sister’s tail, rolled in the grass, and chased insects instead of prey.

“He will learn in time,” the mother thought.

She began letting them practice—small prey at first, a lizard, a bird. Shia was quick to understand, her instincts sharp. Sambo, while playful, was strong and fast when he focused.

One evening, as the sun dipped into a sea of orange and red, the mother led them to a hunting ground and stopped. She stepped back, her golden eyes watching.

It was their turn now.

The cubs moved forward, side by side. Shia took the lead, her body low, her steps silent. Sambo followed, his muscles tense. They spotted a young gazelle, grazing alone.

With a sudden burst of energy, they pounced. The hunt was clumsy, their timing off, but their instincts carried them through. Shia bit down first, then Sambo, their combined strength bringing the gazelle down.

The mother purred softly, a rare show of approval.

Seasons passed. The cubs, once small and helpless, had grown into strong, independent leopards. Their mother had done all she could. She had fed them, taught them, protected them. Now, it was time for them to find their own place in the world.

One evening, as the wind whispered through the grass, the mother walked away, leaving them behind.

Shia and Sambo watched her go, instinct telling them this was the way of things. They were ready. They would survive.

Shia turned to Sambo, nudging him playfully before bounding forward into the wild. Sambo grinned, following close behind.

Their journey had just begun.

If you like what see live a comment.

#endangered animals

#animalstories

[eorzean-xaela]

Remnants and their reactions to Lumerian Dragons.

-Kadaj-

You mean to tell him that there are giant, flying lizards that can breath fire and everyone just treats them like regular citizens? The lizards can also turn into normal looking people/normal looking people can turn into the lizards...

He doesn't have Souba and it makes him uneasy. On top of that, everyone is just so nice. What are they planning? He glared at a lady and she just chuckled and said, "Aren't you precious?" then gave him some candy.

Galvin: "You look young, they think you are a child... And technically you are, people here aren't considered adults until about 23. You're a baby in their eyes."

Kadaj: "Bullshit! I'm supposed to believe that they aren't planning to kill and eat me? I know their games..."

Galvin: "... Eat you?"

-Yazoo-

The magic is fascinating in this realm. And the dragons are so diverse. The little Forest dragons make sense but how do the big ones function? How do they fly? How do they even go around and not get crushed by their own weight? So many questions to find answers to. So much knowledge to horde.

The dragon he has managed to accost is smiling politely and just backing away slowly. Oh wouldn't you know? They left their oven on and really have to go. Best of luck with everything! Yazoo will have to find another one to question, and thankfully there are a lot around.

Yazoo: "So sea dragons can hold their breath for a max of three hours... Now does this apply for every sea dragon? I'm assuming the younger ones can't and have to work their way up to it. Also-"

Leviathan: *Shoving a book into his hands.* "Read this medical treatise. Good gods I've never met someone who asked so many questions..."

Yazoo: "So the vemon spitting dragons, how can they alternate between saliva and venom? Is there a gland or...?"

Leviathan: "Galvin!!! Come get your new boy!!"

-Loz-

People can turn into dragons? Normal people? Like that old lady over there or that baby? Could he turn into a dragon? He wants to turn into a dragon. How cool would it be to be able to fly? And their playing looks so fun! He likes to watch them chase each other in the sky, and gets sad when he tries to wrestle with some of the larger ones and they won't let him. They keep saying they don't want to "hurt him" but that's nonsense. He could definitely fight a dragon and win.

He doesn't get why Kadaj seems so anxious around them, or why Yazoo keeps pestering them with questions. He just needs to convince one to play with him and he'll be happy.

Loz: "Brooke! They're all being mean..."

Brooke: *Being woken up from napping* "What? Who? I'll bite them!"

Loz: "They are diving and won't let me join."

Brooke: "Loz... Dear... They are falling out of the sky at near terminal velocity and at the last moment pull out of a spiral so they don't splat against the ground and die. You don't have wings..."

Loz: "But you do! Come on, you can catch me."

Brooke: "I- Fine... Just make sure Kadaj isn't around. He'll lose his damn mind."

[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Greenwood Empire - Roles and Positions

Part 1 - General | Part 3 - Other Roles

GUARD POSITIONS

The role of the guard varies from faction to faction, it’s importance leaning heavily on what dangers a faction faces. An exception to this is the Galespun - the responsibility and duties of the guard-role have been mostly placed on the shoulder of the escort rank, with the more sporadic, small duties being picked up by their faction-mates. Another exception are the Shorerisen moggi, whose guard role became merged with their rank, divers who are the ones who most commonly stumble across large predators and are thus, taught more advanced combat moves.

Slayers - Because the Stormborn ‘s territory borders the Vastweld, they are the ones forced to face the worst of the predators the Greenwood usually sees. With a fairly humid general climate the thickest brush and tree-cover, black bears, major boars and enormous stranglers are known to lurk among the borders or even cross over with the intent of targeting young cadets during the winter when prey is harder to come by. This is on top of the story of the Unresting Souls that are said to lurk within this forest. Slayers are taught about the various forms of predators and easily provoked prey, learning to chase off the more easily intimidated creatures and are looked upon by all factions with a degree of marvel for their more impressive acts.

HUNTER POSITIONS

The hunting role is easily the most variable rank within the Empire given that each faction’s territory differs enough to require different hunting styles. As members of each faction adapted to their new territory, they rapidly became specialists that struggle to hunt properly outside of their own land.

Heath and Deepstalkers - Within the Gales, the role of a hunter is divided into two roles: those who hunt above-ground and those who hunt underground, often working in pairs. Deepstalkers enter the burrows created by tunneling creatures to drive them from their dens above ground where their Heathstalker partners can take over and chase it down - it’s not uncommon for Heaths and Deeps to form bonds with those who they work with the most often. On their own, Heathstalkers are the ones who target flying birds and lizards while Deepstalkers will dig out buried nests of lizard eggs or ground squirrels.

Divers - Originally just a hunter’s rank, divers specialize in providing their faction with all of the aquatic prey that the Shorerisen are known to favor. They’re capable of holding their breaths longer than other members and long lines of them typically have the sleekest, longest sail-fins,  for diving to the bottom of the river retrieving shells, crayfish and various water-minnows. They also target the eggs of water-birds and some, small aquatic mammals.

Murkers - With so much brackish, slightly acidic water the Fenns have developed a role specifically made to catch prey in the depths. Murkers have learned to unearth shrimp and mud lobsters that bury themselves in the mucky silt alongside shelled creatures that attempt to stick themselves to the roots, careful to avoid the occasional barracuda, whiptail-rays and surprisingly aggressive catfish while in pursuit of the few, stubborn fish that swim through the branches.

[askthehills]

Denzien had always wondered what a kiss felt like, ever since he'd first saw one as a young child. It was pathetic really, taking such an interest in human endeavors, but he couldn't help himself, it'd looked so nice.. So affectionate.. So free. He remembered receiving forehead kisses from his mother before the cruel men had stolen him away from her, but of course, as expected, the feeling of closeness with his mother dearest was nothing like this. This was different... Almost surreal.

Denzien’s heart pounded in his chest, each thump echoing through him as his fingers twitched with the same nervous energy they’d had earlier. What was this feeling? Anticipation? Excitement? Adrenaline? It was unlike anything he’d ever experienced—so strange, so unfamiliar. And yet, it felt good. In a way that made his blood rush and his skin tingle, like he was alive in a way he hadn’t been before. This was different, something new, and it stirred something deep inside him, something he didn’t want to let go of.

The softness of the second kiss, wet and unrefined, sent a jolt of something electric through him, ripping a growl from deep within, he tried his best to tilt his head so they slotted together easier, though it really didn't do much for them, in all reality all it did was make it sloppy. Despite all of this, he couldn’t help but smile into the kiss. For the first time in a long time, Denzien felt safe—like he had finally found something real.

Reluctantly, Denzien pulled away, even though every fiber of his being screamed to stay connected. His breath came in shallow, rapid bursts, and he could still feel the warmth of Lizard’s lips lingering against his own. He didn't want the moment to end, but he needed a second to gather himself, to steady the rush of emotions coursing through him.

His hair hung over his face and his hands lingered on Lizard’s cheeks, thumbs still brushing his cheeks, as if to keep the connection alive even after the kiss had broken. When their eyes met again, his chest tightened, the intensity of what they had just shared hanging in the air, he leaned his forehead against Lizard’s, breathing in deeply, trying to ground himself in the closeness, savoring the feeling of vulnerability and the strange comfort he had found in the other.

“fuck.. Sorry,” Denzien rasped softly, his voice rough but tinged with warmth “You’ve got me all... worked up.”

He let out a quiet laugh, the corners of his lips twitching upward, though he still couldn’t bring himself to pull away completely. "Didn’t know it’d feel like this."

- 🐥

Lizard was zoned out..focused solely on the kiss he just recieved..shakily huffing and nearly chasing his lips as he eventually parted the kiss..though he stopped himself

He shuddered, his lips moist from a few seconds ago.

He lifted a bony hand n gently grasped his wrist, his thumb gently rubbing his wristbone. His eyes were darting over his face

Their noses had brushed, lizard letting his lashes flutter as he shut his eyes, he had..butterflies. nervousness.

His body was all rigid and jittery..but he still kept close. As if he was a lifeline. His body pressed against his.

"..sorry?" He repeated "...why would you be sorry for being worked up?' He slurred...bliss-sent.

He gently pulled him closer. He couldn't help himself..diving into another desperate wet kiss. His lips lazily pressed into Denziens.