#Molly Huddle

[chemung-valley-curator]

One Foot in Front of the Other  by Susan Zehnder, Education Director

Runners in the Finger Lakes welcome the arrival of autumn—temperatures are cooler, the humidity is less oppressive, and the colors in the hills can be stunning. Although the Wine Glass Marathon (held since 1981) was virtual last year, this year it returned in person, attracting male and female competitors from more than 41 states. Today we take for granted that both women and men can participate in the event, but a look back at the history of long-distance running shows that women have had an uphill battle when it comes to marathons. The story of one local runner can be an inspiration to keep going. (READ MORE)

[thegardengrows-infrozenrain]

gamers it's so joever (<- has a tummy ache)

[ddejavvu]

Could you do something for cat animangus reader x Sirius where they're older like order of the phenix older during winter time and Molly makes a comment to Sirius about him having a sweet cat and when he turns to corner he finds reader cuddled up to Remus again do to his body heat and Sirius just reacts to a "really this again?"

Things between Molly and Sirius are still frosty, but the same stuff that chills between them glazes over the windows, and the winter air serves as a healing balm while everyone huddles around the fire for warmth.

The heating systems in Grimmauld Place are functional, but ancient, and it's much easier to stay by a roaring fire than to huddle by the floor vent on one of the upper levels. Sirius has insisted, as the owner of the house and as the man unwillingly cooped up inside of it for years, that he will make the cocoa, because if he goes any longer without making himself useful he will begin yearning to touch the fatally cursed objects his mother hoarded before her demise.

Molly relents, if only to keep his callused hands away from a music box that will kill him if the tune reaches his ears.

"Oh, that's lovely," The woman coos, peering at your feline form curled up on Remus's lap in front of the fire, "Remus, I didn't know you had a cat. I thought the only one we had was Hermione's, but he's orange."

"She's not mine," Remus hums, though he drags a palm flat over your head, letting you butt into it to your own liking, "She's Sirius's."

Molly's brows scrunch; surely Remus doesn't mean the dog man that stands eerily alert at the back door whenever he hears the pitter patter of little paws on the back fence-? But when the aforementioned animagus comes into the room with a tray of cocoa, she confirms Remus's words straight from the source.

"Sirius, your cat is lovely." She muses experimentally, watching the way the man's eye twitches slightly.

"Oh? And where is the little devil-?" Sirius peers around the room, and when his gaze lands on you lounging on Remus's legs, he shoves the tea tray haphazardly onto a side table with a scoff. It makes a cacophony of sounds; most of them unpleasant as glass-on-glass tends to be, "Oh, you're joking."

"Sirius, it's warm here," Remus attempts to calm the man, but it's no use as he steals a mug of cocoa and makes a break for the staircase. You're glad to see that prison never took his flair for dramatics, but he's being a tad ridiculous. Remus keeps explaining, "You're welcome to take her if you want to sit by the fire! She's just getting warm!"

"Keep her! Keep her," Sirius calls from the ledge of the second floor, "And Moony, why don't you just take the deed to the house, too! And my things, you can steal the clothes right off of my back next time."

With a huff and a flourish that are aided by his chin-length curls, Sirius turns to beeline for his room, and the slam of a door that rattles the paintings on the wall is your confirmation that your husband will be sulking until you pad upstairs and settle on his chest.

"Well, that was fun while it lasted." Remus drawls, scooping a hand beneath your belly and hoisting you out of his lap. He sets you on your feet, and you mourn the loss of the fire's warmth.

"Go humor him, love," Remus nudges you towards the stairs, and Molly watches bewildered as you begin your ascent.

"We've been having this fight for over a decade," Remus muses, sipping at his cocoa and skillfully avoiding a whipped cream mustache, "When your children aren't eavesdropping with that extendable ear, I'll tell you about the time he found her curled up in my bed instead of his."

[ravenclaws-stuff]

Birthday Wishes

Fred Weasley x Reader

Summary: Fred wants to know what your birthday wishes are

Tags: Goblet fo Fire, but you are in your sixth year, a kiss scene, fluff

A/n: So I know it's Fred's birthday but I didn't have time this week to write for it so here's a story from my AO3.

Laughter could be heard from outside the Burrow. The Weasley family & co were all huddled around the dining room table filled with all my favorite foods.

Mrs. Weasley, never one to miss someone's birthday, insisted I come over the night to celebrate with them. I looked around the table. All the Weasleys except for Charlie who was in Romania and Percy who could not get away from work, were present as well as Ron's best friends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. The Weasleys were some of the happiest people I know. I am glad to have been accepted into this family.

My eyes fell onto the red head seated next to me. Fred Weasley, my mischievous boyfriend. His eyes twinkled as he told the story of Ron asking Fleur Delacour to the Yule Ball. Everyone but Ron laughed.

"Y/n?" The eldest Weasley called across the table. I smile at him. "Any birthday wishes?" I smile at everyone, ending with Fred. "The most perfect one." Fred beams as he squeezes my thigh beneath the table.

"Go on. Tell us." Ron said with his mouth full. As Molly gets onto her youngest son, Ginny joins in. "She can't say it out loud Ronald. Then it won't come true." I wink at the third year.

Fred leans down. "Tell me love. I promise to make it come true." He whispers in my ear. His hair falling in his face. I giggle as I shake my head. "Can't Freddie. It's the rule." I whisper quietly. I kiss his cheek quickly while everyone was busy.

I say my goodbyes to all the Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley pulls me into tight hug. "I hope you had a good time dear." She patted my cheek. "Now don't be a stranger." I promise to be back before the winter holiday ended. "Well, you know where to find me when you finally get tired of this tosser." George joked with smirk. I chuckled as Fred pulled me into his side. "No thanks George. I don't think Fred could get rid of me even if he wanted to."

Standing by the fireplace, I sigh. I don't want to leave Fred. I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him to me. "I'm going to miss you Freddie." He placed a kiss on top of my head "I'll be over this weekend, doll." I nod into his chest smiling. He tilts my head up and leaves soft kisses across my face avoiding my lips.

"Tell me you wish?" He mumbled against my lips. I sigh knowing he won't kiss me until I tell him. I run my fingers through his long hair. I'm surprised to find no knots.

"You." He pulls back confused. "Me?"

I nod caressing his cheek. "You. I love you, Fred Weasley. I wished to grow old with you. I want to have a family with you. I want to spend eternity with you." Tears pool into his eyes. He swoops down kissing me, leaving me breathless when he pulls away.

"I want that too."

[runa-falls]

Omfg I just had an amazing idea (I hope this hasn’t been done before or I’ll look stupid LMAO)

In ATSV, there’s that scene where Miguel Molly rocks miles into that train or whatever, and says that he’s been left to clean up his mess yeah? And no one ever acknowledges how much he’s really doing to keep everything together :((

Reader who appreciates everything that Miguel does for the multiverse in more ways than one. Fluff/smut porn with a little bit of plot for the distinguished gentlemen/ladies/people (I also just like longer fics lol)

Plz I’ll literally drop to my knees and beg you’re my savior 🙏🙏🙏

GN reader plzz ❤️❤️ily

pairing: miguel o'hara x gn!reader

cw: explicit (18+), angst, nipple play, comfort head, face fucking, rough handling, choking, cum eating.

wc: 2.5k

a/n: thanks for sending this in nonnie! i love angst/comfort :)) wasn't sure if you were ok with a reader who has female genitalia so i just wrote non-penetrative stuff...

thank you @campingwiththecharmings for reading this over <3 LOVE YOU BAE

masterlist

--

sometimes miguel comes home in silence.

he won't announce himself as he enters the front door or walk into every room to find and greet you with a tired smile and kiss like he usually does.

you won't even realize he's home until large arms suddenly wrap around you to pull you close late at night. Until he's guiding you into bed, holding your body so tight that you can't get away. you can't leave him.

sometimes he doesn't come back at all.

sometimes you have to sleep alone, huddling your face into his pillow, reminding yourself how capable he is -- that he's going to be okay. that he'll be back soon.

miguel is sweet. too sweet for his own good.

he works hard to make his life with you as normal as possible. he does it for you, but also for that part of him that craves domesticity.

the part that remembers having a family, a house in the suburbs, and a regular routine of waking up, eating, working, and sleeping.

he tries to keep everything bad -- all his stress, frustrations, anger, and fears -- at work. he never wants to bring it home to you. never wants you to have to hold the weight of his struggles on your shoulders.

so when he starts to lose his grip, he hides away.

and when he can't hold on any longer, he doesn't come home at all.

---

today, miguel came back quiet but not silent.

he opened the front door swiftly, kicking it shut behind him before making a beeline to the kitchen and grabbing a drink.

even if you weren't already downstairs, you'd be able to hear him.

he immediately hid away to the back porch, still in his suit, sitting on a bench that he put together when you first bought the house. his glove-covered hands clutch a cool beer that's already sweating from the balmy summer air.

you watch from the living room, perched on the couch, as he sits there in silence, barely moving a muscle.

he completely missed you when he walked in, too distracted by the mound of thoughts rushing through his mind.

this must be where he goes when he doesn't want to worry you. when he wants to be home but not present.

his dull crimson eyes drift shut as he lets the stress of the day roll off of him in waves, releasing the tension from his shoulders and the pinch at the middle of his eyebrows.

he tilts his head back until it bumps against the back wall of the house, letting out a sigh as he's supported from falling back.

slowly shutting your laptop and setting it to the side, you choose to just stare out the window and observe him as he watches the world move around him.

ever since you've known him, the fate of the multiverse has weighed on his shoulders and no matter how much he tries, how much he's done, it just keeps going. it's a never-ending cycle of protecting, saving, and destroying.

it's not healthy, but where would you be without him? where would anyone be?

there's an unspoken rule in your relationship to never talk about these occasional scenes of silence because you both know that you'd risk breaking the illusion -- the faux life where he can hang up his suit at the front door and come home to dinner with his partner.

like how it was before. how it could've been.

your shared temporary happiness, or sporadic bouts of happiness, was never meant to last long in the first place.

so why ruin something that can only be yours for a few more moments?

by the time he gets up from the old bench, the sun is setting, and his beer is long drained, bottle dangling prettily from his long fingers.

you don't even realize the hours of silence you've shared with him through the glass window until you hear the back door squeak open.

you look up and meet his eyes as he stands there frozen. he wasn't expecting you to be there. to see what you saw.

"...have you been there the whole time?" the door clicks shut behind him, but he stays put. you nod sheepishly, feeling like you've been caught doing something illegal. "i-i'm sorry i didn't say hi...i was distracted."

"no, it's ok. i was just answering emails--" you look down at your laptop, the one you shut off a few hours ago, "--until i decided to rest my eyes."

you aren't a very good liar, but it doesn't seem to matter. miguel hums absently, lost in his thoughts, placing his empty beer bottle on a table nearby. his movements are slower than usual when he shuffles closer to the couch.

"are you okay, honey?" you put your computer on the coffee table and turn toward him.

his eyes shut and he takes a deep breath, one hand holding onto the back of the couch for support. that answers the question for you.

you should've known not to ask that question. it never leads anywhere good. he'll either lie with a flat 'fine' or --

"I'm...tired." he finally says, a mere whisper like he doesn't want to admit it. you tilt your head, finally taking in his slouched shoulders and exhausted eyes.

of course, he's tired. he should be tired.

"come 'ere," you stretch out your arms, gesturing him to sit next to you. he walks over, plopping himself right against you, nearly sitting on you, but you don't mind. you wrap your arms around his broad shoulder, feeling him melt at your comforting touch.

it feels so good to have him in your arms again, to feel his unnatural warmth permeate through his super-suit. though you wake up in each other's arms every morning, you still crave his touch and his tendency to lean his whole weight against you like a lazy housecat.

"you've been working so hard, miguel..." he nods silently against your shoulder, nuzzling his head further into your space.

"someone has to..." he mutters, body already less tense than it was a few seconds ago.

"you don't have to, but you do anyway. you put your life on the line, day in, day out, protecting those who don't even know the dangers you're keeping them from."

he snorts, "you're making me sound a lot more heroic than i actually am. i'm just doing what needs to be done."

"you are heroic! you're a hero -- my hero."

his head lifts from your shoulder, "...really?"

his burgundy eyes sparkle when they meet yours, the first glimmer of energy that you've seen in him today. you smile, but you can't decide if it's a happy smile or not. on one hand you're sad. sad that he can't see how amazing he is, or how much he's done for the universe -- the multiverse.

but you're also happy that you get these moments with him. that you are at the receiving end of those sparkling eyes and hopeful looks. that he cares about your opinion that much.

"yes, really."

"you're not tired of me yet? of dating the busiest man in nueva york?"

"never." you lean into him, gently pressing your lips against his. you're suddenly giddy when he kisses back, lips moving expertly against yours. then he's smiling against you.

before you could pull back, he tugged you closer by the collar of your shirt, deepening the kiss, tongue tangling with yours. you giggle lightly when his hand slowly drifts down, fingers running over your chest and squeezing at your waist.

"thought you were tired?" you tease when you pull away. miguel is barely listening, too focused on pulling your shirt off. "miguel!"

"not right now, cariño. wanna see you." the cool air of the living room quickly wraps around you, your nipples pebbling right under his stare.

his eyes darken to a deep cherry hue as he teases you with a flick of his thumb. you whimper at how sensitive you feel, especially with how the texture of his gloves contrast with the softness of your skin, the delicate point of your bud.

"you're always so responsive for me..." he coos, "so nice, jus' letting me touch you like this." you gasp when he pinches you, goosebumps raising over the expanse of your body. his touch drifts down to the top of your pants, tan hands fiddling with the waistband teasingly.

you take a hold of his wrist before he could pull them down and he immediately stops, looking up at your face, wondering if he overstepped. you bite your lip as you build the courage to say what you want.

"wait, i-i wanna do something for you."

"what d'you mean?" miguel's hand comes up to cup your cheek, "you always do something for me, just by being by my side."

you want to fawn over his words, melt against his body while he does whatever he wants to you, but you quickly remind yourself that sometimes he needs to let go. that you should do the work and let him relax.

"please, miguel, just... let me." your hands move over the large bulge that presses against his flexible suit. you hear him sigh as you squeeze him gently. his hips buck into your hold, eager for your touch. "c-can you take it off please?"

"you mean you weren't just going to mouth over my suit until i cum?"

an intense heat flushes throughout your face at the idea. how filthy and needy that would be! you could imagine how his cock would throb under the material, how his cum would soak over the front of his crotch...

"i-i could--"

"-- i'm kidding, sweetheart." he chuckles, clicking a few buttons on his watch. his suit disappears without a warning and his muscled torso flexes under you from the sudden coolness of the room. he's wearing tight briefs underneath his suit, contouring his desperate hardness underneath.

you experimentally smooth a hand over him, watching avidly as the veins in his forearm pulse as he attempts holds himself back. you carefully tug his underwear down to reveal the wet mess that his dripping cock has made for you.

you run a finger over his sensitive tip and spread the precum that spills every time he takes a breath. he shivers at the feeling, eyes glowering as he watches you tease him. "are you just gonna stare or actually do something about it?" he growls, tired of the delicate touches and shy looks.

you don't answer him, instead, you dip down, licking softly over his shaft before shallowly suckling his tip into your mouth. he groans deeply, fingers instinctively burrowing into your hair without pushing you down.

"you're so sweet to me, baby. sucking my cock into your throat just to make me feel better..." you close your eyes as you start to take him deeper, swallowing around him until you feel the head of his cock nudge the back of your throat. "you like this don't you?"

his grip on your head tightens when you moan around him, saliva dripping messily over his lap.

"fuck!" his hips buck and it shoves him further into your throat. not expecting the harsh intrusion, you choke around him, eyes watering as you struggle to breathe through your nose. "s-sorry, you're just so hot when you drool over me."

your legs tighten as his rough voice whispers soft apologies. he sounds so needy and desperate like he's barely holding himself back from fucking your throat.

you quickly recover with a hum, hand resting against his firm torso for support as you lift yourself off of him. he lightly holds onto your arm, staring lustfully at your flushed face and slick lips as you breathe heavily on top of him.

you're suddenly shy as you wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, despite sitting over him topless and cock-drunk.

"you know you can fuck my face if you want..." you offer, unable to meet his eyes. he doesn't let you look away though. his rough hand holds you by the jaw, making sure you can't escape the simmering heat in his eyes.

"don't say that baby...'cause i'll actually do it." his hips start to move as you stroke him again, fucking your fist harshly until your hand starts to tingle from the wet friction.

"...i want you to."

"really?"

"you work so hard, mig. you deserve some appreciation..."

"please, cariño..." he begs, breathlessly.

you lean over him and take him back into your mouth, bobbing your head as your tongue slicks against the underside of his shaft. he doesn't hesitate when he shoves your head down, forcing you to swallow all of him down.

he feels you gag a few times before he lets go. he almost didn't though. the feeling of your whine was euphoric as it vibrated up from your throat and against your lips. you're a mess on top of him, precum and drool coating your mouth, chin, and hands.

miguel lovingly brushes some stray hairs that have fallen in front of your face behind your ear as you continue to suck on him. he starts with soft thrusts into your mouth, dragging his cock slowly over the silk touch of your tongue. you open wide, round eyes staring politely up at him as he fucks your mouth from below.

he loves having control over you -- actually, he loves it when you give him control because it means you trust him, even after seeing all sides of him, good and bad, you're still with him.

he groans at how cute you look, his huge cock stuffing your pretty mouth. his hands move to hold both sides of your head, guiding you onto him until you can fully engulf him between your lips.

he can't hold back anymore; he needs to feel your throat tighten around him as you struggle to swallow him down your throat. he watches himself disappear down your throat, how eagerly you drink him in without a complaint.

his hips snap against your mouth, filling you over and over until your jaw aches. you whimper, heavy eyes watching as he falls apart for your mouth.

"i-i'm getting close--" he warns shakily, unable to stop his frantic movements when you look at him like that. it only takes a few more thrusts before he's spilling into your mouth. he finishes deep inside of you, cock prodding the back of your throat.

you drink him in, tasting his distinct salty sweetness, listening to his delicious groans as he comes down from his high. he jerks when your soft touches start to push him towards overstimulation, moans turning desperate.

"baby, enough, please."

you release him from your mouth, lips tingly and plump.

"feel better?" you sound raspy, even with how quietly you're speaking.

"i feel amazing, mi vida." he pulls you on top of him and holds you close (though it's insanely hot with your skin pressed against his like this). you cuddle him back, smiling as he pecks your tacky neck and shoulder lazily.

[sirius-blacks-eyeliner]

Hi! How about some George Weasley (post Wizard War) finally takes the courage to ask reader out (she would be some sort of assistant to one of the Professors from Hogwarts). Don't know if her house is relevant but she's a former Hufflepuff. Thanks!

My heart blooms

A/N: Hi love! I hope this is what you expected from me! As a fellow Hufflepuff I absolutely love this.

(Fred and George call you Petal to reference to you being a Hufflepuff and Sprouts assistant)

A little short, but I hope you still like it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although windows were broken, tables splintered and rubble filled the entire place, the great hall was lighter than it had been a few hours ago, when The Chosen One fought against Lord Voldemort himself.

Friends were lost, families were torn apart, and hearts were shattered to pieces. Many were broken, but the world was now on a path to start healing itself.

The Weasleys all sat huddled together. They had come so close to losing their son and brother, Fred, but you and Professor Sprout had managed to pull him back with your magic potions just in time.

Ginny Weasley sat underneath her older brother's arm, with her back to you, holding him tight around his waist, as if he would fall through the pale vale of death if she let go. George Weasley, one of your best friends and Fred's twin, sat on his other side. They spoke in soft voices, occasionally having to stifle laughter, trying to prevent waking a dozing Ginny.

Hermione Granger and Harry Potter sat close by the Weasleys, chatting happily with their youngest son Ron. Harry seemed so much lighter, his face glowing with the weight that was now off his back. He could finally rest, not having to worry about the looming threat that hung over him and his loved ones. He often glanced lovingly towards Ginny, as if unable to believe she was sitting across from him, within arms reach.

Then, as you approached, muddy shoes thudding softly against the ground, the twins turned towards you, in sync as always.

"Hello, Petal." Fred grinned while trying to move the least he could because of Ginny, who was well asleep already.

"Hi, boys," You grinned while stepping closer, "How're you feeling, Fred?"

"Well, you saved me, so couldn't be better." Fred fondly smiled.

"Hey, Petal, could we maybe speak for a minute?" George suddenly asked. His freckled cheeks and ears flushed a soft shade of red as he fiddled with his hands.

"You're gonna...?" Fred mysteriously asked, wiggling his eyebrows not so mysteriously.

"Shut up, Fred." George rolled his eyes while rising from his seat.

"Can we-?" He gestured towards a quieter corner in the great hall.

"Of course, Georgie." You grinned and let him lead you by the hand towards the other side. Behind you you could hear Bill Weasley let out a suggestive whistle followed by a scolding by both Molly and Fleur Weasley.

"What did you want to ask, Georgie?" You curiously asked as he stood before you, his chest close to yours.

"Thank you, Petal. You saved my brother. If it hadn't been for you he would've been dead." said George, unexpectedly engulfing you in a tight hug. His arms wrapped around your shoulders, his fingers flexing there as yours wrapped around his waist, pulling him as close as possible to you.

"I love you, Flower Petal. I've loved you for years ever since I saw you on the train at the beginning of fourth year. I have always been too scared to say anything, I didn't want to ruin our friendship. I was afraid that when you rejected me that we would seize being friends, but seeing how close Fred was to dying and how you saved him so effortlessly. Petal, I don't think I could ever even think of attempting to love someone else. This is it. You are it for me. You make my heart bloom like those amazing plants you love and care for. I have realized it long ago, but today it dawned to me. I love you."

He stared deeply into your eyes, barely pulling away to do so, even if he towered over you. His arms were still holding you locked in, unable to move even though you never wanted to.

"Oh, George," you whispered softly, "you have no idea how long I have waited for you to tell me that. I love you, too, I-"

But before you could finish the sentence, George had already pressed his lips down on yours, slow, soft and tentative.

His hand slid up to your cheek, caressing his thumb on your collarbone. His lips were so soft, like no one you had ever kissed before. His other hands busied itself on your waist, squeezing softly when he noticed you reciprocating eagerly.

You pulled him closer towards you, now standing chest-to-chest with no air between you. You felt his tongue slide over your bottom lip carefully, silently asking permission to enter.

You pulled back slightly, lips still ghosting over each other. When you spoke you could feel his lips bump into yours.

"You not even gonna let me finish my sentence?"

"Kissing you seemed funner."

[sevcasejay1chicago]

We chose you- Matt, Kelly, Jay

Summary: You hear Erin Lindsey bad mouthing you in the bathroom at Molly’s. She opens up old wounds that only your boys can heal.

Warnings: cursing, mentions vomiting, diabetic

Authors note: Here it is my loves. This is a request from an anonymous friend. I hope you enjoy!

——————

Molly’s was packed. Stella was hosting her monthly karaoke night. The night was young, the drinks were cold, and the people were packed in the bar. You were sat at a back table with Jay, Will, Matt, Kelly, and Natalie. The music wasn’t the worst your group had heard, but that was the last thing on your mind. You and Will Halstead were up next. You had lost a bet to him earlier that day, so now you were stuck singing We Are Never Getting Back Together by T-Swift. Will won the bet, which got you on stage. The catch was that you got to pick the song.

When Stella loudly announced your song and called you and Will up, you practically had to be dragged away. You couldn’t believe that you had been talked into this. Hopefully the liquid courage would be enough.

About half way through the song, you realized that a very drunk Erin Lindsey with flirting with Kelly and Jay. Their attention was solely on her and, from the looks of it, they were not pushing her away. You felt anger rise in your chest, but locked eyes with Will and kept singing.

Once the song was over, you handed your mic to Will and stormed off into the bathroom. Reaching a stall, you immediately went in and sat down, grabbing toilet paper to blot the tears away in hopes of Matt not noticing that you had been crying. You figured Kelly and Jay wouldn’t notice, given that they were entertaining Erin.

Suddenly, you heard giggling as the door swung open. You huddled up with your feet above the view from under the door, hoping that nobody knew you were there.

“They could do so much better than her.” Erin slurred, giggling as Hailey Upton handed her a wet paper towel.

“Erin.” Hailey sighed, crossing her arms as she watched her drunk companion dab the paper towel on the back of her neck.

“What? She’s not as pretty as me. She has WAY more issues than me. I mean, I could hide my feelings for the most part. She’s just so whiny. I even feel bad for Matt.” Erin slurred, slapping the paper towel onto the counter and scoffing loudly. “They just pity her. Why have her when they could have me?” Erin asked as she walked out of the bathroom.

Hailey muttered something under her breath before she gave her reply, which got drown out by the music and then the door shutting behind her. You, however, were completely horrified. Deep down, you knew she was just talking shit. Right?

Pulling yourself together, you made your way back to your table and practically sat yourself in Matt’s lap as you eyed Kelly, Jay, Erin, and Hailey. You laid your head on his shoulder as you took a sip of his water.

“You okay baby?” Matt asked, lifting your hair from the back of your neck as he felt the heat coming from you.

“I don’t feel good. Can we go home?” You whispered in his ear before laying your head back onto his shoulder.

Matt rubbed your back and nodded. “Absolutely. Let me go collect the guys.” He replied, starting to stand and hand you off to Will to keep you company.

“Just leave them. Will can fill them in and Upton can bring them home.” You said, pouting at Matt. “I really don’t feel good and I wanna go home.” You whined, giving him your best puppy dog look, though you were literally getting nauseous by seeing the way Erin was all over them.

Matt eyed you and finally gave in with a nod to Will. “Alright baby. Come on. Let’s get you home.” Matt said, standing with you braced against his chest, kissing the top of your head.

After a short goodbye to the people at your table, Matt guided you through the crowded bar and out of the side door. He kept his hands on your waist and almost laughed when you breathed in a lungful of the cool night air. From there, he picked you up, bridal style, and carried you to Jay’s truck, easily depositing you into the front seat and buckling you in.

“Just tell me if you need me to pull over, ‘kay?” Matt told you, cupping your burning face in his palms.

“Kay.” You hummed closing your eyes and enjoying the coolness of his hands. You had to hold back a whine when he moved back and closed the door, missing the coolness of his hands and the comfort he brought you.

Matt drove home with your hand in his, making sure to be easy on his stops and turns. When he parked the truck, he looked over to notice that you were asleep with your head leaned against the back of the seat, your face toward him. Instead of waking you up, Matt quietly took you out of the car and carried you inside. He tried to gently undress you, but you woke with a start when the cool air hit your chest.

“Shhhh. I’m just changing your clothes baby.” Matt soothed, leaning over you to make eye contact. He could see the fear in your eyes until you recognized him. An old PD casing coming back to haunt you if Matt had to guess.

You breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, laying back again. “I’m good. I’m ‘Kay.” You slurred, still pretty drunk and very much half asleep.

Matt nodded. “Okay baby. I’m almost done and then we can go to bed.” Matt whispered, quickly changing you into one of his shirts before laying you against your pillow. “Need anything?” Matt asked sweetly, tucking the blankets around your shoulders.

You thought back to Erin’s comment and quickly shook your head, almost regretting how much it hurt to do so. “‘M good. Go back n have fun.” You whispered, starting to turn over and go to sleep.

Matt chuckled and started taking off his clothes. “No ma’am. I’m staying here with you.” Matt said, tossing his clothes in the hamper, along with yours. “Let’s remove your makeup so that your eyes aren’t irritated in the morning.” Matt proposed, walking toward the bathroom for your makeup wipes.

You wiped silent tears from your face as the feeling of being a burden almost immediately tried to swallow you whole. You weren’t completely sure if he was doing this out of habit or obligation after hearing Erin’s comments. “You don’t have to.” You said, trying to make your voice sound strong.

Matt came back in the room, wipes in hand. “Baby.” Matt cooed, immediately coming to your side. “Shhh. It’s alright.” Matt shushed, taking you into his arms as you shook with a sob. “Baby. What’s wrong? You feel sick?” Matt asked, knowing throwing up was a major fear of yours. You did, so when you nodded, you weren’t exactly lying. “Need to go to the bathroom?” Matt asked with a hum, staying calm to hopefully promote the same feeling within you.

You shook your head. “Sleep.” You whispered, sniffing and pulling yourself together.

Matt nodded. “Okay hunny. Hang on.”

Your loving boyfriend then proceeded to wipe your face clean of makeup and tears. Holding the wipe to your nose to blow after the crying made you sniffly. Then he tucked you back into bed and kissed your forehead.

“I’ll be right back to cuddle sweetheart.” Matt promised. He was only gone for a few minutes before he returned with some water, meds for your hangover tomorrow morning, and a trash can. “Trash can will be on the nightstand if you wake up feeling sick.” Matt said, placing it on his side of the bed, which meant you would end up waking him if you got sick in the night.

Matt finally slid into bed, plugged in your phones and turned out the lights. You weren’t going to object when Matt immediately pulled you into his arms since he initiated the contact. Instead, you got comfortable and fell into a fitful sleep.

You barely stirred when Jay and Kelly stumbled in at 5 am, but you were immediately hit with the smell of alcohol when you woke a few hours later. Luckily, Matt was already up and cooking in the kitchen, so he didn’t hear when you made a mad dash for the bathroom and threw up everything you consumed the night before. Afterwards, you brushed your teeth and showered, needing to make sure that the smell of vomit didn’t linger and to calm your racing heart. You brushed again before going out to join Matt in the kitchen.

For the next several days, you dodged Kelly and Jay. Constantly making an excuse to not be in the same room as them. You even went to bed early every night and slept on Matt’s side of the bed to ensure that the other two wouldn’t touch you at night. Every time you saw the boys do something for the other or heard them talking to each other in a loving way, your heart twisted in sadness. They sound and look so happy when you aren’t bothering them. The thought made you physically sick, which led to more vomiting and skipping meals, claiming that you had a big lunch or ate a snack.

However, you failed to notice that the boys were in fact taking notice of your presence, or lack thereof. It was bothering them, but they weren’t going to push you. They knew that you had your moments when you needed to be left alone, so they did just that until they couldn’t anymore.

A week after the incident at Molly’s, the boys were setting up their Friday night date night. They figured, since you haven’t wanted to be around them, that you wouldn’t want to be around other people. They were just finishing setting up when you walked through the door. Everyone stopped and looked at you. You were frozen in place, pale as a ghost and trembling as you breathed erratically. Everyone stayed frozen for a moment until you threw your stuff on the counter and ran for the bathroom.

All three boys were hot on your heels. Matt got there first, pressing you against his side with one hand and keeping your ponytail back with the other as you bent at the waist over the toilet. You were still hyperventilating and shaking.

“Shhhhh. It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here.” Matt shushed, lightly rubbing your right side. It seemed odd that he could feel your ribs after only a week of barely touching you.

Jay and Kelly were moving about the master bathroom, both getting things you normally liked when you were sick. Jay eventually came over with a wet wash cloth and laid it over the back of your neck while taking your temp with the forehead thermometer.

“No fever.” Jay announced, reaching up to rub your back. He startled slightly when you flinched. You have never flinched when any of the boys touched you, when your sober anyway. Jay and Matt made eye contact when it happened, but were quickly drawn back to you as you heaved loudly.

“I-hmmm. Just l-leave, Pl-hukk.” You tried to plead, being cut off by a gag.

“No way.” Kelly said, taking you by the hips. You were swaying slightly now, the hyperventilating, plus the heaving and you locking your legs was clearly causing you to lose your balance. “Kneel down baby.” Kelly coached, pushing your hips slightly down to lead you onto your knees.

“Mm-m.” You shook your head, moving closer to Matt. “G-go. Ju-out!” You tried to exclaim, but it ended in a whisper as you sagged into Matt’s arms.

“Woah!” Matt said, catching you and lowering you to the ground.

Kelly immediately took a towel down and pillowed your head with it. Jay knelt down to check your pulse as Matt helped Kelly pull you into the recovery position.

“Pulse is strong but tacky.” Jay announced, keeping a hold of your wrist.

“Y/n? Open your eyes.” Matt called, tilting your face upwards to open your airways more.

You didn’t respond. Kelly took out the blood pressure machine and handed Jay the glucose monitor. The exchange was done silently and the devices were used immediately. Jay gasped as your blood sugar came up on the small device.

“Holy shit. It’s 45!” Jay exclaimed, immediately diving for the bag and pulling out the glucagon and spraying it into your nose.

“BP is pretty high for her, which makes since with a blood sugar that low.” Kelly commented, standing to run to the kitchen and grab you some orange juice.

“Let’s take her to the living room. Can you grab the trash can just in case?” Matt asked Jay, shifting you into his arms as you began to stir. “Shhhhh. We gotcha.” Matt murmured as Jay nodded and grabbed the first aid kit and trash can, following Matt out into the living room.

Matt barely had you laid down when you woke up. Immediately, you attempted to get up, still feeling nauseous and kinda flighty. You felt like a caged animal needing to escape.

“Hey hey hey. No baby.” Matt exclaimed, pushing you back down. “You just passed out from low blood sugar. Kelly is getting you some juice I think.” Matt soothed, sitting down next to you.

“M fine.” You said, trying to push yourself up again.

“Bullshit.” Kelly said, walking into the room with Jay behind him.

“Fine my ass.” Jay muttered, ripping open one of your zofrans and giving it to you.

You took the Zofran and sipped on the orange juice that Kelly brought in. Everyone was staring at you, but you averted your gaze as you began to connect the dots on what just happened. You knew what was coming next.

“Alright. Spill. What’s been going on with you lately?” Jay asked, sitting on the coffee table and trying his best not to seem intimidating.

You shook your head. “Nothin.” You said, trying to sound normal.

“No. That’s not an answer.” Kelly said, coming to kneel next to you. “You’ve been avoiding us, mostly me and Jay, for a week now. What did we do?” Kelly asked, pleading with his eyes.

“You really wanna know??” You exclaimed, hands trembling from more than low blood sugar. “I’m just surprised you haven’t gone back to Erin. I’m sure she’s still in town.” You scoffed.

“What?” Kelly and Jay both said.

“At Molly’s, she was flirting with you and you were flirting back. Then you didn’t come home until 5 am.” You had tears streaming down your face. “Erin didn’t know I was crying in the bathroom when she told Hailey how much better she is than me and how sorry she feels for you guys for having a needy girlfriend.” You explained, hastily wiping the tears from your face.

“Baby, we-“ Jay started, but you shoved the orange juice into his hand and reached for the trash can instead.

Matt pulled your pony tail back again as Kelly reached over to steady the trash can. You were just panting heavily, but saliva was dripping into the trash can along with your tears. Luckily, the Zofran was completely dissolved under your tongue.

“Shhhhhh. Breathe baby. Slow down.” Matt soothed, rubbing your back. “Let it pass baby. Just breathe and let it pass. You’ve gotten yourself all worked up.” Matt whispered, letting you keep the trash can as long as you needed to, but hoping that this was just nausea from anxiety.

You nodded, spitting and letting Kelly take the trash can. You immediately turned into Matt and hid your face in his neck. You let yourself sob, having been pent up for too long. You missed this. You missed your boys.

“Baby. We chose you.” Jay said, placing a hand on your back. “She did try, but we chose you and Matt.”

“We would never chose her.” Kelly said, sitting down next to Matt. “We had our fun, but that was the past. You and Matt are our future.” Kelly explained, placing a hand on Matt’s thigh.

“And we love taking care of you. We love that you love us enough to trust us with anything.” Matt said, planting a kiss on the side of your head. “I knew they wouldn’t leave us because I know how much they love us. How much they love you.” Matt whispered.

Tag list:

@treehouse-mouse

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[mediocrecowboyhat]

Bullets & Claws - Chapter 1

Prologue - Next chapter

Word count: 3.8k

Tags: graphic depictions of violence, she/her pronouns, animal death, shape-shifter!reader, alcohol consumption

-Your POV-

A strong wind is howling outside, rattling at the old wooden planks of the flimsy cabin, you all are huddled together in. At least the snow isn't making it inside, except through the front door that is occasionally opened whenever someone enters or leaves. The floor there is covered in that white powder and you pull your coat tighter around your body.

Even with the lit fireplace, the cold cuts through each layer of your fabric and right into your skin. At this point it has nestled itself within your bones and you don't believe that even the hottest bath could drive it away. Everyone is trembling, their teeth clattering, you included although not as much. This is one of the moments where you're thankful for being a shape-shifter.

Your body temperature runs warmer than of an average human, but the fur of your wolf form would do a much better job at keeping you cozy. Though it's not like you can shift now infront of everybody. It's still a secret that you keep close, only rarely allowing yourself to change forms. Back when you joined the gang and they all wondered what had happened to you that horrible night, you lied.

You told them that you angered the wrong crowd and almost had to pay with your life for it. If it hadn't been for Javier, who stumbled upon your bleeding and beaten form in the woods, you definitely would have met your end. Either from the injuries of the arrow and the fall or from being captured by those godforsaken hunters. They haven't tracked you down since then and you're left hoping that they might have given up.

Joining Dutch's side has kept you safe from old dangers, but it's also coming with new ones. Having escaped the hunters, you're now being chased down by the law, the Pinkertons. You weren't there during the job on the boat, being busy guarding the camp outside Blackwater, but you've heard from the others that it must have been botched. Apparently the law showed up surprisingly fast, surrounding the gang from all sides.

That's how you ended up stuck on this damned mountain, waiting for the weather to warm up a little bit to get going again. It's been two days now, two days of nothing but sitting and trying not to freeze your ass off. Most of the gang is in here, aside from the people standing guard, Pearson and Charles who prefers to busy himself with the horses than to shiver inside one of the cabins. You can't blame him.

Dutch and Molly aren't here either, most likely keeping themselves warm in their own house Grimshaw had assigned them. Heavy footsteps are to be heard from outside, coming closer until the front door is being swung open. Arthur's broad frame enters and he's rubbing his gloved hands together as he steps closer to the flames. The others didn't hear his approach, but they also don't have your senses.

Something stirs in the corner of your eyes and you watch Abigail join the outlaw's side. Judging by the worried crease on her forehead, you can already guess what she wants from him. Dutch has sent John ahead to scout the area and he hasn't returned yet. For days he has been missing and it's driving Abigail pretty nuts, although she attempts to hide it under a tirade of curses directed at the man.

'Idiot' she would call him or 'fool' and she's not wrong with that.

"How you doin', Arthur?", she asks, breaking the tense silence and he shoots her a quick glance.

By the look of his expression, he seems to know as well what's about to come. Though it also worries you that Marston has been gone for so long and it's strange that Dutch hasn't ordered anyone to go look for him. Chances are slim that he's going to hold on for long in this cold, but maybe he was smart enough to camp somewhere dry and somewhat warm.

In that storm out there, it's nearly impossible to set one foot infront of the other. Then Hosea steps forward, ripping you out of your thoughts and you realize that you didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation.

"We're all worried about him, Arthur.", the older man says and you watch the outlaw's resistance come crumbling down like a house of cards. He has always had difficulties denying Hosea. "Why don't you and Javier go out looking for him?"

Javier, who's sitting on a bench infront of a window, looks up with widened eyes. A lit cigarette is tugged between his fingers and he pulls his dark eyebrows together in skepticism. Of course he's not too fond to go out. No one would.

"Me?", he repeats as he tosses the cigarette bud aside.

"You two are the best fit men we got for this."

Arthur's face is a frozen mask, his lips tightly pressed together to a thin line, but then he stirs again when Javier hands him a sawed off shotgun.

"I know you'd do the same for me.", he tells him, which deals the last blow to the outlaw's unwillingness to leave.

With a sigh he takes the gun and they both make their way outside. Clearing your throat, you jump up from your own seat and follow them out of the cabin. They're just about to mount their horses when you arrive next to Boaz and place a hand on the saddle. Javier meets your gaze and you raise your chin.

"Take me with you.", you say, voice filled with resolve.

The man has saved your life, so you owe him and you've decided to pay back his unexpected generosity with loyalty. It's not something you have ever voiced out loud to him, but he sees it in your actions and words each time. You've become good friends over time, occasional drinking buddies, but mostly just having each other's backs when it gets serious.

"We got it covered.", he reassures you and you pull your hand away to pinch the bridge of your nose.

"You know that I'm an ace at tracking things down.", you insist, locking eyes with him once again.

"I can read tracks too, you know?"

"I do know.", you argue, growing slightly frustrated with his refusal to budge. "But it will be harder to see them in this weather."

It's still snowing like crazy, has been ever since you set up camp here. Javier opens his mouth to say something, most likely another argument against you joining them, but Arthur beats him to it.

"Enough chattin'. We ain't got the time for that now.", he drawls, deep voice rumbling in your ears.

Knowing that you won't be able to change either of their minds, your shoulders slump down and you watch in defeat as they ride off. The falling snow quickly swallows their silhouettes and you ball your hands into fists. Damn these two fools for believing they could push through this cold and damn this Marston for getting lost in it in the first place.

A short glance around tells you that no one is looking and so you sneak to the edge of the abandoned settlement. Lenny is standing guard with his back turned to you and you vanish further into the woods. With every building being occupied, you can't use any of them to do your thing. But there is a tree with a rather large and hollow tree trunk.

Your entire body trembles and shivers the more clothes you unshed, but if you transform while wearing them, you would tear most of it. You're not too keen on shredding your only pair of gloves to pieces with your claws. So you quickly and clumsily fold them before shoving them inside the tree hole. That way they will stay dry.

Closing your eyes, you focus and reach deep inside yourself. What follows isn't anything new to you. Popping of bones, a pull in your muscles. Whenever you try to put it into words it sounds awful, sounds like it should hurt, but the most you feel from it is mild discomfort. It's like the day after you did heavy manual labour, leaving all your limbs sore.

That sensation stays for another minute or two when you take on your new form and so you stretch a bit to get used to it. Now with your senses sharpened and a newfound strength coursing through your veins, you lift your head to sniff the air. Pretty much all the gang members' scent are familiar to you, allowing you to find their location with ease.

You follow Javier and Arthur at a safe distance, not wanting to draw any attention. If they so much as even hear you, they could end up on high alert and you wouldn't be surprised if they'd grab their weapons. Much to contrary beliefs, shape-shifters like you don't have any special healing abilities. You hurt, suffer and bleed like any other normal human and animal.

So a bullet between your eyes will most definitely kill you. To your surprise, John actually has left prints and tracks in the snow. The one's around the makeshift camp seem fresh too and you watch as they take the two men up a mountain. With there not being too many hiding options, you're forced to fall back some more, but now you can trust that they will find him.

Content with that information, you're ready to turn back and snuggle up into a blanket at the fire. If it weren't for that other scent, not from a person you know, not even human. An animal for sure, but which one? Wait, it isn't even one, but a whole bunch of them. Involuntarily, you feel a low growl build up in your throat and you bare your teeth.

Wolves. A whole pack.

-Javier's POV-

The whisky burns while it runs down his throat, but at least it's providing him with a little warmth. A flash of blue appears in the corner of his eyes and he looks over at Arthur, who's rubbing his own arms. The skin on his nose and cheeks is reddened and judging be his expression, he's ready to turn around any moment.

"How you feeling?", Javier asks, voice raised over the howling wind.

"I'm miserable.", the other man grumbles into his beard, almost too quiet for him to hear.

"Take this."

With those two words, he throws the bottle in his direction and Arthur skillfully catches it with one hand before greedily taking a sip. Javier clenches his own hands into fists every now and then to get his blood flowing. His fingers have become awfully stiff ever since they stepped foot onto this mountain.

Although John's tracks have vanished in the heavy snowfall, he's convinced that he must be somewhere up here. The state they have found his horse in, worries him though. It didn't look like it had collapsed by itself and then been ravished by vultures or anything of that sort. A shiver runs down his spine when he tries to imagine what wild animal could have left such a carnage.

Better not to dwell on it, but leave it as a problem for later if it even will be a problem. They find themselves out in the open again and they yell his name from the top of their lungs. No response. So he fishes his revolver out of the holster and points it up at the sky. Firing a shot will give away their position to anyone and anything that might linger out here, but he has no other choice.

Javier pulls the trigger and waits. One second, then another and there it is. A voice of a man, a voice that he easily recognizes.

"Over here!", someone, most definitely John, faintly shouts.

"Goddammit.", Arthur murmurs while stomping through the knee high snow. "We're comin!"

They both keep on yelling his name and run towards the direction where his voice is coming from. The closer they get, the better he can make out a ledge and they come to a sliding halt right at the edge. As expected or more so hoped, John Marston is looking up at them, face torn open and bleeding.

"That's quite a scratch you got there.", Arthur comments and Javier nods along.

Quite a scratch indeed.

"I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I'm glad to see ya, Morgan.", John replies with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

Well, he's surely in no condition to walk, perhaps even stand. With some grunting and combined forces, the two men manage to hoist John up and Arthur lifts him to carry him over his shoulder.

"Come on, compadre."

Javier takes in that sight and glances back to where they've originally came from. There have been quite a few spots where they had to climb up and down and he can't imagine that will be possible now. As strong as Arthur is, that is going to be a challenge even for him.

"We can't go back from where we came from.", he tells them and begins to walk a path that at least looks like it goes around the mountain. "Hopefully this will lead us out."

Behind him, the two other men are bickering with each other, but it's difficult to understand a single word over this wind. What he does manage to make out is a sudden pained groan.

"You alright?", Javier then asks, the question sounding ridiculous in his own ears.

Of course he's not alright. Shaking his head, mostly at himself, he continues to push on and in the distance he spots their two horses. Just as he begins to think that it's their lucky day, the air around him shifts in a strange way. It's like an intuition that one gets when things are about to become real ugly.

Though he isn't being given the time to contemplate it, because a howl cuts through the air. With the hair on the back of his neck standing straight up, he exchanges wary looks with Arthur. The outlaw hands John over to him, but Javier knows better than to attempt carrying him the same way. He watches Arthur fish out the shotgun he has given him back in Colter, before they took off to find John.

"You get to the horses. I'll take care of John's friends."

A nod is all he gets for an answer and Javier hurries towards the horses, his injured friend clinging onto him by his side. The snow is already making it difficult to move forward, but John is also dragging his feet, unable to take proper steps. Shots are being fired behind him, but he doesn't dare look back. Arthur is more than capable of handling those wolves. It's only three of them after all.

Just as he reaches Boaz and goes to help John onto horseback, a growl fills his ears. It's coming from his right and without hesitation, Javier fidgets with the revolver at his belt. The wolf is sprinting straight at him and it's only a matter of moments until he will get mauled by the animal. Without a weapon like Arthur's, he needs to make this shot count.

Though it doesn't seem like he needs to concern himself with that. Yet another wolf appears, but instead of going for his throat as well, it collides with the first one mid-air. They wrestle on the ground for a while, growling and tearing into each other's flesh. Unable to look away, he just stands there and stares at them with wide eyes.

Then the first wolf goes limb after weakly kicking around and the second one turns it's head in his direction. The fur looks different from the others, unlike any he has seen on these mountains. What draws him in the most are the eyes, those strange eyes that seem to not only look at him, but actually see him. Not just as a threat or as a meal, but as a person.

Immediately, Javier banishes the thought and breaks free from his daze to mount Boaz. Clearly this weird wolf won't harm them, but there is no guarantee that it won't change it's mind. Something flashes in the corner of his vision and he sees that Arthur is pointing the barrel of his shotgun at it. Not knowing what's possessing him, Javier extends his arm to block the line of fire, before he can shoot.

"It won't hurt us.", he tells the outlaw and as if it understood him, the wolf disappears into the distance.

"Well, now I've seen everythin'.", the other man remarks before climbing into his own saddle.

-Your POV-

The image of Arthur aiming at you with his gun won't leave your mind, as you run back to the hollow tree. Javier had saved you once again, because you don't doubt for a second that the outlaw would have shot you right then and there. It's not like you can blame him though. After getting attacked by a pack like that, you too would most likely shoot at everything that enters your line of sight.

Your initial plan was to take those wolves down before they could even reach the men, but they had found John earlier than expected. Arthur had taken care of them just fine, getting scratched only once, but there was that fourth wolf they had missed. Maybe Javier could have landed a good shot and killed it, but you didn't want to risk it.

That intense stare he had pierced you with had you freeze on the spot. It almost seemed like he had recognized you, but you don't believe that was the case. How would he? Panting and chest heaving, you finally reach the hollow tree and transform back into a human. With how cold it is, you don't take the moment to stretch and get used to the body.

Instead you throw on your, thankfully still dry, clothes and jog back to the camp. That's also when the three men make it back and you fix your appearance in the reflection of a window. You don't want anyone to question what you were doing, just because you look like you had run a marathon. In a way you kind of did do that.

It has gotten darker now, but there's still enough daytime to see. Once they reach the middle of the settlement, Abigail storms out from one of the cabins, her entire face beaming. More people join her side and they all work together to get John off the horse.

"Ay, careful idiotas! It's his leg!", Javier scolds them harshly, as the man grunts from the not so careful treatment.

While they bring him inside, Hosea and Strauss show up to thank them for bringing him back. Javier waves it off and looks like he's going to retreat into the cabin that was assigned to him and some of the other men, but then he catches you staring. He takes in your appearance and you fear that you didn't do a good enough job to conceal your messy state.

Then his dark eyes fall on something on your face and he motions with his chin towards your forehead.

"What happened?", he asks and you reach up with your hand.

That's when you notice that you have forgotten your gloves inside the tree and you curse yourself out internally. The tips of your bare fingers touch something wet and warm and upon closer inspection, you recognize that it's blood. Seems like you scratched or cut yourself out in the woods and didn't see it in the window. Your reflection had been quite blurry after all.

"I was out, stretching my legs a bit.", you lie and shrug to seem unbothered. "Think a branch hit me or something."

"Sure?", he questions and furrows his eyebrows in disbelief. "That looks pretty deep for a branch."

Quickly you wave it off and open your mouth to protest, but then he signals for you to follow him inside one of the cabins. Silently you walk with him and let him sit you down on a chair. Next thing you know, a clean cloth is being pressed against the skin over your eyebrow and he pulls away when you go to hold it in place by yourself.

There is something flickering behind his eyes as he watches you, but you can't pinpoint what it is. Clearly he doesn't quite believe your story with the branch, but he's also not asking you about it further. Maybe he thinks that you fell and that you're either too proud or embarrassed to admit it. Wouldn't be the first time that you're playing down an injury.

Then his gaze falls on your naked and trembling hands and he gestures towards them.

"Where are your gloves?"

"Must have lost them when I was on that walk.", you lie again, knowing they're still in that tree.

That or they had fallen out when you grabbed your clothes. Either way, they must still be at least around that spot and you will go look for them first thing in the morning. It's almost nighttime and even with your incredible vision, you don't want to go stumbling outside by yourself. Suddenly Javier begins to take off his own gloves and your free hand shoots forward to stop him.

"What are you doing?", you yell and clear your throat to get your voice under control again.

"You can't just be without gloves.", he argues in a matter of fact way, but you harshly shake your head.

Granted, it will be a pain in the ass, but the cold still affects you way less than him. If anyone would suffer from this than it's him.

"I'm fine! I'll go look for them tomorrow.", you insist, your tone not leaving any room for protest and he sighs.

While shaking his head, he mumbles on Spanish about how stubborn you are, but thankfully drops the topic. You notice the dark rings under his eyes and so you usher him to leave and go get some well deserved rest. After climbing that mountain to get John and barely surviving a wolf attack, it's a miracle that he hasn't fallen over yet.

Once he's gone, you move to sit closer to the fire and smile when Tilly beckons you to lean on her. The wound has stopped bleeding by now and she says that it doesn't look like it needs any stitching. With all the adrenaline from running through the woods as a wolf, you hadn't noticed it one bit. Though now the dull pain is pulsating in your head in uncomfortable waves.

You're tempted to request something for it from Strauss, but then decide against it. Depending how long you all will be stuck up here, someone else might need it more than you. John for example. Sighing, your eyes flutter shut and you relax against your friend's shoulder.

Taglist: @zizizi-blogs

[cure-orchid]

Part 3 of Mollytober Prompts

Next few are done!

Day 16 Prompt-Death Day: Todd/Scratch was not so good at hanggliding apparently. He and Adia found that out in a shocking way.

Day 17 Prompt-Frightmares: ‘We’ve never met, but I carry on your legacy. Sometimes I fear, what you were could one day be me’

Day 18 Prompt-Movie Night: Molly and Ollie were huddled up watching a movie, Scratch sat across the room complaining. (Scratch) ‘You cute couples are your need to cuddle.’ (Ollie) ‘You can come in here too.’ (Molly) ‘Join the hugfest, Scratch!’… soon Scratch plops himself in between them and enjoys the movie.

Day 19 Prompt-Memory: The memories are gradually coming back to Todd. Suddenly he recalls a moment where his soul ruined his lunch and pants for his shell.

[luke-hughes43]

i'm a dad? | dad!will and molly

this is how will finds out that he's a dad. a single one at that too.

~

August 24, 2023

will moves into BC next week so he's getting the last of his stuff packed up while his parents are at work. grace is helping him. will is grabbing lunch from the kitchen while grace keeps packing stuff for him. the doorbell rings and grace yells, "will, can you get that?"

"yea." he yells back.

he walks over to the front door and opens it. he sees a girl he used to sleep with in high school before the program. she's holding what looks to be a newborn baby. he says, "hey lauren (random name), what's up?"

she just says to him, "so when we hooked up in december while you were home, turns out i got pregnant and my parents wouldn't let me get an abortion. so, you have a daughter. i'm literally leaving tomorrow for college, i'm going to ucla, so here's your kid. and the papers signing my parental rights away. i want nothing to do with her, you got me pregnant so you can raise her. i didn't name her so that's up to you. there's more details in the packet. good luck will."

she hands him the baby and walks away. will is in shock. he looks down at the little baby in his arms and is hooked. she looks so much like him with the biggest blue eyes. he walks back in the house, closes the door, and yells for his sister. he says, "hey grace?"

"yea?"

"grace." he says and she comes down the stairs to will holding a baby. she cautiously asks, "will, who's baby is that?"

"um, i guess it's mine." he says unsure of himself.

her eyes bug out of her head. she looks at the baby and sees her younger brother without a doubt in this little girl. he hands grace the packet of papers and says, "can you read this? i don't really know what to do grace."

"ok. ok. we'll figure this out." she says calmly.

will can tell that grace is trying not to freak out for his sake. he hasn't really processed it yet, just holding this little baby in his arms because he doesn't know what else to do. grace finally exhales and says, "definitely your kid. i mean you can tell by looking at her. will, what do you wanna do?"

"i don't know. can you call mom?"

she nods and immediately calls her mom. she says to her mom, "you need to come home now. it's kinda an emergency. no one is dead or dying but you need to come home mom."

she hangs up and sits next to her brother. she lays her head on will's shoulder looking at the little baby in his arms, "she's adorable. are you ok?"

"i'm in shock. i don't know what to feel. mom is gonna kill me. coach is gonna kill me. fuck, i move in next week, no way gabe is gonna be cool with me having a baby in our dorm. no way the school is gonna be ok with that."

"one step at a time will." grace calmly reassures.

15 minutes later, colleen walks in the front door of her house to find her two kids huddled together on the couch. she says, "ok what happened that i had to come home quick? everything ok?"

will takes a deep breath and stands facing his mom, "um, i fucked up mom."

colleen stands frozen unsure of what to say. will has tears streaming down his face, and grace is trying to stay calm for the sake of her younger brother who just had his world flipped upside down.

[seriouslysam8]

Can you give us a snippet of Selcouth? I promise to send you some inspiration!

Ask and you shall receive…

Having successfully made it to their box without any issues, Harry foolishly believed that leaving would be just as easy. He swung James up in his arms, the little boy bouncing and yelling at the top of his lungs about winning the game. Harry only smiled as he waited for everyone to gather their things to leave. He couldn’t wait to go down to the locker rooms and wait outside for Ginny to appear. Ron told him he had plenty of time to make it there to meet her. Harry and James needed to be the first people to congratulate her. It only seemed right.

But all of that shattered upon leaving the box. Camera flashed. Reporters screamed out questions. James buried his face into the crook of Harry’s neck, his arms tightening into a death hold. There were so many flashing lights that Harry felt disoriented, his hand pressing steadily against James’ head so he wasn’t subjected to the assault of light.

“Move!” Sirius roared, shouldering his way through the Weasleys to stand in front of Harry. “Get the fuck back!”

Nobody listened to him. Nobody cared to. The cameras kept flashing without any break. Despite the shouts of questions rapid firing in Harry’s direction, he could still hear James sobbing in his arms. It was unbearable, his chest constricting as he squinted through the assault of flashes.

Someone threw a blanket over James, hiding him completely from view, but Harry couldn’t even see who it was. All he could see was phosphenes overtaking his vision.

His heart quickened, his body stiffening as he only tightened his grip around James. Never had he experienced such a media frenzy before. It was ludicrous to think that anyone cared so much about him of all people. But hadn’t this been what Sirius had warned him of? Merlin, he had assumed Sirius was being his normal paranoid self. It made Harry sick to realize that he wasn’t exaggerating.

Fingers wrapped around his arm. Harry jerked away from the contact, sharp nails dragging across his skin. Someone screamed. A moment later, Sirius’ woodsy smell invaded his senses as he wrapped an arm around him. Harry kept his head down, pressing against the soft fabric of the blanket around James. He looked at his feet as the Aurors huddled around them, ordering the reporters to move.

There were plenty of times over the years that Harry wished he had grown up in England. He had imagined the childhood he would have had with Dora and spending tons of his time with the Tonks family. Sometimes, he imagined finding his dad’s and Sirius’ initials carved into the wood of sixth year boys’ dormitory beds. Recently, he thought about being friends with Ron since he was eleven and meeting Ginny a lot earlier. For the first time he could remember, he was glad Sirius had taken him out of England. He couldn’t imagine his entire childhood splashed across the front pages of the papers and having his picture taken without his consent constantly.

Somehow, someway, Harry had to ensure that James wasn’t subjected to this attention again. He’d definitely have to take some plays out of Sirius’ rulebook, because he had avoided this for Harry’s entire life.

Though disappointed, Harry didn’t wait for Ginny outside of the locker room. He made his way to the first apparition point he could find and went home. Ron stayed at the stadium so he could tell Ginny what happened. Molly and Arthur headed back to Harry’s houses with him, Sirius, and James.

Sighing, Harry collapsed on his sofa, cuddling James on his lap. The kid wasn’t crying anymore, but he still seemed quite shaken by the experience. Harry only felt miserable.

“Say it,” Harry said, looking up at a pacing Sirius.

Sirius stilled, his attention turning towards Harry. “Say what?”

“I told you so,” Harry replied.

“I find no joy in being right about this, kid,” Sirius told him flatly, his hands pressing against his hips. “You have no idea how badly I wanted you to be right that I was being a paranoid git.”

“It’d have to die down eventually, wouldn’t it?” Molly asked, fiddling with her necklace.

“There’s twenty-two years of information they want to know about,” Sirius replied bitterly.

“What if I give it to them?” Harry asked, running his fingers through James’ soft hair. “I could sit down and give an interview and tell them everything they want to know. I could use that platform to take down Reynolds and Genevieve Hospital.”

Sirius sucked in a breath.

“What? I may as well use this for some good,” Harry argued, his jaw feathering. “I can focus a lot on my work and bring awareness to my research on blood maledictions and dragon pox too.”

“No offense, Harry, but that’s not what the masses want to know about you,” Sirius replied, his eyes dropping down to a very still James.

Harry let out a huff of air, his head shaking.

[emeritusemeritus]

One for George and y/n: Easter egg hunting at the Burrow with all the Weasleys (George's siblings and their children)

Such a cute idea! 🖤

Warnings: Minor swearing, mentions of pregnancy, cute Weasley fun and fluff.

Words: 1.3k

Easter Bunny's gift.

Easter at the Burrow was always one of the things you looked forward to the most, especially now you had children of your own with George.

Ever since the first grandchild had arrived, Molly and Arthur had started a wonderful tradition of a magical Easter egg hunt on the land surrounding the house.

Your daughters were 5 and 3, both now at the age that they took the egg hunt very seriously, especially as they were essentially competing against their cousins. George had given them tips before hand, because of course he had, and you'd arrived at the Burrow with two very excited children. And a very excited husband, who had been to set up the race with Arthur earlier that morning, no doubt putting his own mischievous twist on the egg hunt.

The wonderful thing about Molly and Arthur having seven children was that as you all grew up, the number of family members inevitably doubled and then tripled, at least. Siblings, spouses, children, cousins; everyone packed in to the space you'd always loved, the heart of the family- the Burrow.

You were immediately greeted by most of the Weasley siblings and their partners, the kids all chasing each other and giggling in glee with squeals of delight echoing through the open fields. Bill and Fleur, Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny, all of them stood around tables of food and drink that you knew Molly would have agonised over all morning. You couldn't see Percy or Audrey but you could see little Molly and Lucy running around with Victoire, Rose and Lily and so assumed that they were around somewhere. It was always funny to see the entire family gathered together, the sea of Red hair only broken up by a few blonde and brunette children running around.

"Rory! Poppy!" Dominique squeals in excitement, spotting your daughters and immediately falling into an excited conversation that was almost too high for adults to hear, their excited squeals and giggles so loud it almost made you wince. She pauses briefly to flash you a smile, missing her two front teeth. "Hi aunt y/n, hi unky George! Come on, Granny's got toffee!"

Now child free, George smiles at you as he takes your hand and leads you down the path towards the Burrow, greeting his family with warmth. You mingle through the crowd until you make your way inside, offering Molly some help in the kitchen.

"Oh y/n dear, you just get prettier!" She says with a wide and motherly smile, approaching you with hands outstretched as she pulls you in for a tight hug. She's all dressed up in her most vibrant colours, a glittery beret clip in her hair with the signature apron tied around her waist.

"Right, almost time!" Molly says with delight as she steps outside, giving Arthur a little nod who claps his hands together and smiles, walking off towards the back lawn.

You shoot George a little smile as you look over at your daughters, huddled together with the other cousins almost bouncing with excitement. Molly had made a ridiculous number of little eggs for the children, some with chocolate, marshmallow, toffee, everything that would keep your girls up way past their bedtime if they ate too much.

"Right Weasleys," Arthur says, taking lead of the gaggle of excitable children. "Two rules only. Number 1, share and be mindful of your cousins, we want everyone to have fun. Number 2, grab as much as you can! Ready... set.... Go!"

Just as Arthur said the words, a little firework shot up into the sky which transformed into the shape of a bunny in the sky, the words 'this way' scrawled out next to it as it moved towards the start line that Arthur had made. Your mouth opened in disbelief and turned towards your husband who was putting his wand back in his pocket with a mischievous grin. He turned to you and gave you a little wink, little butterflies erupting in your tummy at the look even after all these years.

With a resounding squeal of excitement, the children ran off, following the rabbit, each of them clutching their little baskets ready to swoop on the eggs that had been meticulously placed by their grandad. You watched and laughed as they giggled, all of them picking up little eggs and slinging them into their baskets.

Some were suspended in the air by magic, others tucked into trees and the ground as normal. George had jinxed the tree near the border to rain eggs when the kids ran under it. You laughed as you watched Hugo and Albus scream in sheer delight when they stepped under the tree and hundreds of little eggs rained down on them, dropping into their baskets. They immediately called the girls over to look at what had just happened, all fo the adults watching beginning to laugh when the girls also squealed out in delight as the eggs rained down on them.

"Y/n, can you please watch Louis whilst I go to the loo?" Fleur said from beside you, her French accept as strong at ever, holding out baby Louis, his little blanket covered body making him look like a beautiful little bundle.

"Of course I can," you say with a smile, readily accepting your youngest nephew into your arms, he was crying a little, whimpering and trying to break free from the blanket. Fleur thanked you profusely as she handed over her youngest before walking quickly back to the house.

"Ssssh, it's okay sweetheart, your mummy will be back soon," you coo, assuring little Louis as you rocked him in your arms. He was beautiful, a little patch of striking blonde hair beginning to grow on his head. You adjusted his blankets just slightly to keep his fingers in and swayed with him in your arms as you watched your daughters giggling from higher up the field. The enchanted bunny firework had started dancing around the kids, dodging them and attempting to steal their eggs making them all giggle.

When you looked down at Louis, he was asleep, his eyes closed and looking the definition of comfy, all snuggled in his warm and soft blanket.

"I'll never get over how much that suits you," you hear your husband say, appearing behind you, looking down at the baby in your arms.

"Oh yeah?" You smile, looking up at him as his arm slips onto your shoulder, his lips descending upon your hair to press a gentle kiss just above your ear.

"I think it's your best look," he pauses, "though I do like you pregnant too."

"Well... I'd say you're in luck Mr Weasley," you say with a glint in your eye, watching as his eyes light up even more than the kids collecting their chocolate once he realises what you were telling him.

"What do you think? I think a little boy would be a nice addition," you say, looking down at the sleeping little boy in your arms, imagining one of your own.

"I'll have a word with the Easter bunny," George says with a smirk, leaning down to capture your lips in a sweet kiss, both of you sharing a little moment.

"No way Hermione," you hear from the side, Ron's dead set voice drawing your attention away from George.

"Oh come on Ron!" Hermione says, getting frustrated with him. "For Hugo and Rose."

"You're not transfiguring me into a bloody rabbit!"

[maraudersmrz]

NOT MY BATTLE , NOT YOUR BATTLE

Fred Weasley x Reader

Angst, fluff ig?

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I was listening to Phoebe Bridgers and randomly thought of Fred in the battle of Hogwarts so I’m writing about it so I can sleep peacefully tonight x

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W/A: sad asf.

Summary: the battle of Hogwarts has approached, lives are taken left right and center you’re just hoping Fred’s isn’t one of them.

-

Smoke swept over the courtyard, death is upon you all.

You stood still, wand clutched in your grubby hands as your eyes scanned the scene around you. Lavander brown lays just feet away from you, lifeless and cold and another student lay atop of her with harsh bite marks adorning his skin. You knew that was the work of Fenir Greyback. Voldemort had invaded the castle just hours ago before swiftly disaperating like the coward he was, leaving mere students to fight his battle. Their blood covering his hands. A yell from nearby caught your attention as you caught sight of George, screaming and staggering through an open corridor. As you ran over you saw the deatheater he was up against, their wand poised, a hex on the tip of their tongue.

“Crucio !!”

The spell was harsh, the deatheaters body wracked with agony. You had never cast a curse in your life let alone a forbidden one but desperate times called for desperate measures. You knew it was George or them and of course you chose George.

“Fuck y/n… thank you” George panted, hands braced on his knees as he looked at you through his lashes. He looked exhausted, stressed and afflicted. Dirt stretched across his face, a slight gash sitting on his cheek bone. As you looked at him you thought of Fred. Your Freddie somewhere around this castle.

“Where’s Freddie?” You inquired though you assumed if George knew the whereabouts of his brother he’d most likely be with him.

“I don’t know, he ran off to find you. I haven’t seen him since, I’m worried for him” Fred had not found you clearly, the last you saw of him was when Harry Potter laid limp in Hagrids arms only to roll onto the rocks beneath and reveal he was very much still alive. In the commotion of it all you lost sight of Fred. Now George had too.

“I’m going to look for him, be safe please George”

As you left George behind you couldn’t help feeling guilty. Running off from a life you barely saved to hopefully save another. You knew George would understand. You loved his brother after all. You searched the open corridors leading to the courtyard, looking at every lifeless body that lay around. Every flicker of red sent your heart into panic only to realise it’s the fire that’s engulfing the castle. Many of your former friends were slumped against walls and smothered into the gravel you tip toed over. Their hands reaching for your ankles, a desperate attempt at survival. You couldn’t halt, you had to carry on. Their lives were unsalvageable, Fred’s was not.

Finally, the Great Hall was in sight, mops of ginger hair huddled up. Molly Weasley and Ginny Weasley surrounded Bellatrix, harsh spells bursting from their wands and hitting her directly. She was surely to die. It seemed there was a patch of barely living at the very end of the great hall. White stretchers on the floor, families gathered round and Madam Pomfrey doing what she did best. Her hands ghosting over every child in attempt at healing them. Screams could be heard as a family realised their child was too far gone and a cry from another family, their son had just become conscious. None of them were Fred though. The search continued.

You left the great hall, legs going as fast as they could towards another classroom. This one was blown up, bricks and mortar scattered like a dot to dot. Desks were flipped on their back and sides, holes in the middle and fire gracing the edges. Before you could leave, a groan sounded out from behind one of the desks. A groan you knew all the well.

Behind the desk was Freddie, hands clutching his heart, head slumped against the wood and his wand 10 feet away. Someone had got him good. He groaned again, you couldn’t decipher if he was groaning at the sight of you or the blood tricking down his pretty complexion.

“Freddie…what did they do to you”

You dropped to your knees, hands braced on either side of his face as he relaxed into your touch. The only comfort he’d felt in the 2 hours he’d been fighting for his life, for Harry’s life and the life of Hogwarts. He didn’t speak, he only groaned and mumbled incoherent words. You offered to move him, take him to Pomfrey but he refused.

“I’m not leaving this room…I’m too tired and much too weak sweetheart. I’ve done many things for Harry Potter but Merlin I didn’t think giving up my life would be one” the poor attempt at a joke flew over your head, in one ear and out the other. Fred didn’t think he was going to get out alive. Your Freddie thought he wasn’t going to get out alive.

“That’s silly talk Fred, don’t be silly please. You’re absolutely fine okay? Little gash on your head and that’s all” your voice came out weaker than you’d hoped.

Fred smiled weakly and removed his hand from his heart, revealing a black mark spreading across his chest. It engulfed his left side, conquering the middle of his chest and slowly seeping onto his stomach. You knew of no curse that could cause such a thing. Your mouth hung open, no words escaping. Before you could say anything Hermione rushed by, only pausing when she saw you leant behind the desk.

“Y/n?” She crept into the room, rounding the desk and gasping when her eyes found Fred. Her eyes scanned him over before darting to you and back to Fred

“Hermione, help him please. He won’t go to Pomfrey, I don’t think he can go to Pomfrey. Help him Hermione please”. You and Hermione were never the closest, you somewhat envied her that she trumped you in every single class. She knew everything you didn’t. She was in every dark corner of your mind but this time you were thankful she knew everything as she leant down to help Fred. Her wand revealed itself from her back pocket and she pointed it at your lovers chest. She mumbled some spell you didn’t know, some words you couldn’t quite reach and the black began to retract into her wand.

Fred shifted, opening his mouth to thank her before he fell limp, slipping further onto the floor as only his head was touching the desk. The Gryffindor girl flew back, a worried look in her eyes.

What the fuck has she done.

[georgeweasleyslostearhq]

BUTTERFLIES

Pairings: George Weasley x Fem!reader Summary: George gets flashbacks of your relationship as he watches you walk down the aisle to marry him Warnings: mention of tears, i think that's it

George's eyes met yours as he stood at the end of the aisle, waiting there for you to reach him as you walked to the music

the butterflies made their appearance in his stomach as he stared at you with pure love and longing

he had waited years for this, and it was finally happening

George couldn't help but remember all the times the butterflies invaded him stomach throughout knowing you before this moment

-

"Fred! George! hurry up, we're late!" Molly yelled at the twins

"we're right behind you mum, and the train doesn't leave for another 3 minutes!" Fred spoke in defense, trailing after Molly.

Molly rushed all of her kids through the wall of the train station.

Fred and George ran through it for the first time with their trolleys, which held their luggage for their first year at Hogwarts

George went through the wall and came out on the other side, slightly losing control of his trolley and bumping into somebody, making them fall

George panicked as he heard them wince in pain

he let go of his trolley and looked down at you on the ground

"I'm really sorry" he apologised, holding his hand out to help you

"it's fine" you huffed, taking the boys hand

"I'm Y/n" you introduced yourself

George felt a flutter inside his heart when you smiled at him sweetly

"George, are you alright?" he asked after telling you his name

"I'll be just fine"

-

"we're so going to make the team, Georgie" Fred smiled as a large group of Gryffindors huddled up for tryouts for Quidditch

"we'll be the best beaters on the team" Fred smirked

Oliver wood started talking about the rules and taking down what positions people wanted to play

"Y/L/N, what are you trying out for?" Wood called, seeing you in amongst the people

"Chaser" you replied

George turned around to see you with the newest broomstick in your hands, standing with Angelina Johnson

"you play quidditch?" George questioned as you caught his stare

"yeah, i do. is that a problem?" you frowned, teasing him

"n- no" he stuttered, feeling the nervous butterflies rise up in his stomach as you glared at him

"i'm just surprised, you didn't strike me as a quidditch type of girl" he went on

"I bet I'm better than you" you laughed, looking him up and down

George only blinked nervously

-

Fred and George rushed through hogsmeade to finally get to the store they've heard all about from their brothers

the twins excitedly walked through the door of Zonko's to look at all the things they dream they could have

George explored the shop, going in a completely different direction from his older twin to find you looking hiccough sweets

"never thought i'd see you in here" George spoke up with a smile

you turned to him and rolled your eyes with a grin

"what can I say, i like the common sweet prank" you grabbed a few and walked closer to him

"although i know you and Fred are the kings of pranks here so, any suggestions on what's good? I need teach a douchebag a lesson for burning my homework" you smirked

George raised his eyebrows "Tristen?" he asked

you nodded your head in reply

"I've always been interesting in tricking somebody but never really acted upon it, this just gives me a reason" you shrugged mischievously

George's 13 year old heart pumped faster in his chest as the butterflies swarmed in his stomach

you couldn't've gotten any better

"well...you could always try some dungbombs, they always do the trick or..."

he went on to have a ramble for about 10 minutes that day, telling you the best way to get Tristen back, and even offered to do it with you

-

George sat on the couch, head in his hands as he thought about Ginny, worrying about her

you had walked in after a long study session for potions when you found him in the common room, looking stressed

"you ok there, George?" you wondered, not knowing what to do

"I'm fine, don't worry" he sighed

Fred had gone to bed, also worrying while George decided to stay up a bit longer

you had heard about what happened to his sister, so you knew he wasn't entirely 'fine'

so you stayed with him, you slowly walked up to the couch and sat next to him

"I'm really sorry about your sister...it'll be ok though, I'm sure she can handle whatever's happening" you started, hoping it would help, even it was a lie. you didn't know it would be ok

George sat frozen, if it were anyone else next to him, he probably wouldn't yelled at them, saying that they had no idea. but he knew you were trying to help

"she'll be ok, George" you placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a sad smile even though he wasn't looking at you

"she's lucky to have a brother like you...caring as much as you are" you sighed

that made George finally look up at you

you moved your hand from his shoulder to around his torso, giving him a comforting hug

the way your hands wrapped around him made the butterflies make another appearance, George had been used to them by now, he welcomed them in with a smile as he hugged you back

-

George had grown closer to you, becoming good- if not best friends

you would help with his school work and with his and Fred's pranks

the one problem was that you had a boyfriend that year, but not for long

you came rushing through the common room, tears in your eyes as you ran for the dorms

"hey, Y/n, what's wrong!?" George came to your aid as soon as he saw you

he got up from the couch and pulled you into his arms before you got to the stairs

you cried in his arms "he cheated on me" you murmured

your words made George's blood boil, He never liked that guy, and deep down he knew he would do something to hurt you

he brought you over to the couch and made you tell him what fully happened

"why do the nice ones always turn out to be the assholes?" you wept

"well if they're assholes then they were never the good ones, the good ones are the good ones and the assholes are the assholes" George shrugged, he didn't know what to say

he had never been in a relationship before, mostly because of the way you had always made him feel

"well why can't they all be like you? you're good, great" you sobbed

George cleared his throat, caught off guard by your statement

he let the butterflies fill his stomach as you cried into his chest, telling him how he would be a good boyfriend

-

George stood beside you as the professor told the class about the potion

you, along with many other girls took a step closer, entranced by the smell of the potion.

Amortentia.

George laughed at you when you smiled lazily, your eyes almost almost having pink hearts in them as you breathed the scnet in

what George hadn't expected was to get the very strong scent of you as he finally breathed through his nose

George took a step beck and cleared his throat, looking at you in the corner of his eye as he let the smell fill his nose

the butterflies rose to his stomach and made him feel faint, feeling overwhelmed

you had noticed his faint figure beside you and leaned closer to him

"you alright Georgie?" you whispered

"I'll be just fine, Love"

-

George wandered the halls, trying to find you, to ask you to the Yule Ball, after smelling you in the Amortentia last week, he realised that he needs to ask you out

the feeling he gets when he's around you is too good to lose

he heard your voice behind him and turned around

"george! there you are!" you beamed

"hey! I've been looking for you" he asked, meeting you in the middle of the hallway

"me too, I need to ask you something" you said

"oh, you go first" George spoke quickly, really wanting to ask you, or he'll start to overthink and chicken out

"do you have something to tell me too?" she wondered

"yeah but you go first" George smiled

"well I was just thinking...Justin Thornhill asked me to the ball at breakfast this morning, I don't know why I told you that- right, um. well I said no, obviously. b- because I want to go with you. do you want to go to the ball with me?" you rambled, getting to the question that has been on your tongue for a week

George's eyes went wide and the butterflies piled into his stomach as soon as the question came from your mouth.

you had said what he'd been dying to say

George's heart pumped inside his chest rapidly, he almost thought you could hear it

"yes, t- that's what I was going to ask you!" George grinned happily

it was safe to say the butterflies never left after that, every time he'd see you after that, they would pop in and say hello

the whole night of the ball they stayed there

-

George fiddled with his fingers as he told you his plan on leaving with Fred early to start the shop

you had been dating since the day after the yule ball and he was nervous you wouldn't support it, just like his mum

"that's..great! I'm really proud of you, I know you'll do great" you said, kissing his cheek

"really?" he raised his eyebrows

"of course...the shop will be amazing, I just know it" you nodded, full heartedly supporting him

you had no idea how much that meant for him to hear, that you thought he'd do good, that you supported him

it made the butterflies flutter in his stomach, knowing that you approved of what he's doing

-

George felt the tears coming when you finally reached him, taking his hand and smiling up at him, happy that you would be marrying him

and all these years, he still gets butterflies when you look at him

--------------------------------------------

[theanoninyourinbox]

New Longstar AU - The Final Countdown or Four Once More

-Prologue-

  Thunderclan is in mourning – Hollywish is presumed dead, and the traitorous Sol hasn’t stopped his wheezing laugh at every waking moment.  Purdy is horrified that the cat he once considered to be a friend has done such a terrible thing, but begs Longstar to not kill Sol on the spot – he can’t eat, and seems to have gone mad.  Swiftpool, as the mother of the victim, is given the final word.  She demands that Sol be left where the Twolegs will find him – let them decide his final fate, she sobs into Crowfeather’s fur.

  Flamewish and Longstar mourn for days with their grandkits, leaving Brightheart to govern for nearly a week, with Mousefur backing her up.  Eventually Mousefur drags the leader and his family out of their mourning – Sol wanted to break you, don’t you DARE let him win!

(The Twolegs bring the injured and babbling Sol to a vet, who sends him to a cat rescue.  The poor thing has some kind of brain injury, and his poor tongue is nearly gone.  Sol spends his final days as the thing he hated most – a pampered Kittypet – but his mind is too far gone to feel anything.)

(Brambleclaw looks for the spirit of Hollywish, wanting to keep her from Starclan, but is blocked from the tunnels by winding vines and sharp leaves.  A cat ghost, all drenched and freezing, drags the injured molly deeper into the tunnels – he will protect her from the stabbing claws that pry at his safe haven.)

  Windclan is in mourning with Crowfeather – Hollywish was a beloved ally!  Breezepelt and Heathertail reminisce about her, while their mate Antfur nods along, but his mind is elsewhere…

  Shadowclan is in mourning – Hollywish helped save Blackstar from Sol’s manipulations, only to lose her to those same powers?  What a tragedy.  Goldenheart, Dawnpelt, and Embertail make her a little shrine deep in the marshy territory, where no one will disturb it.

  Riverclan is in mourning – Hawkfrost and Mothwing are near inconsolable.  And to top it off, Leopardstar has been getting sicker and sicker lately…and the otters have been getting restless – the lake water has been slowly dropping…

  (The Miretrees celebrate a victory – one Prophecy cat is dead!  They are one step closer to victory!  The disgraced clan cats are joined by the collared Kittypet dead and a few loner gheists, each and all reveling in their depravity. But in the shadows, several figures huddle quietly.  They know that the Visitor will be back tonight, and one by one they slink away.  At a secluded hollow - the sight of a quiet and unassuming death of a long ago murderous Healer, name now long forgotten – several Dark Forest cats meet with a group of regretful kittypets spirits…and the Visitor descends like a Star from the sky…)

  (In Starclan, Yellowfang and Bluestar have a spat – Bluestar forbids Yellowfang from interfering with her living kin, and Yellowfang is having none of that.  My great-grandkit is missing, the Dark Forest is trying to devour us all, and you want us to BACK OFF?!  ARE YOU INSANE!? It takes the combined strength of Nightstar and Runningnose to keep Yellowfang from physically fighting the former Thunderclan leader, but they convince her to guard her family closely – and they will help her…)

  (In the city, the Hope’s Rest Clowder is preparing for war.  The Stars have spoken of a battle coming for the Clans, and that the Clowder will be needed to defend them.  Pieces of discarded Twoleg trash are crafted into armor with clever paws.  Battle plans are discussed, discarded, and reworked over and over.  Darkstripe and Sasha are training with a group of younger cats when a clamor rises at the entrance to their settlement.  The Healer Twoleg sits outside, closer than they’ve ever ventured before, with a sack of some kind.  Sasha peers out, and the Healer Twoleg reaches into the sack…and deposits more of the armor pieces that the Armorers desire, but already trimmed of sharp edges that would catch and cut the wearer, and with bristles attached to make attacking the wearer difficult.  Sasha makes eye contact with the Twoleg – and sees a cat spirit wrapped around the Twoleg’s shouders, batting their head against the Healer’s ear.  The Twoleg and Sasha exchange blinks of trust, and the Clowder cats marvel.  Darkstripe begins dragging the armor in – it seems the Stars have given them one more ally.)  

(At the Barn, Ravenpaw and Barley see a Ghost wind around the legs of the Farmer, who bends down and holds them like a Queen holding a kitten.  The voice of Redtail echoes from behind the pair of Barn Cats – the Dark is rising, and All must fight; for if the Dark wins, All souls will be lost, not just cats…)

-Apprentice Tales-

Moons have passed, and the nursery kits are ready to become apprentices.  Ivykit and Dovekit are being groomed by Birchfall and Whitewing, and the kittens joke about poor Wormkit being groomed by both his parents Ashfur and Flyshadow.  The kittens are summoned by Longstar, and he ceremonially asks them what Roles they have chosen (even though he asked them earlier, it’s important to the Clan to announce it like this – Ivykit thinks it’s silly but obliges anyway).

Ivykit chooses to be a Hunter, and Ivypaw is apprenticed to a surprised and delighted Charheart.  The pair touch noses, and Ivypaw promises to not let her down.  Charheart quietly insists that Ivypaw will make mistakes, but so will she, and they’ll learn together.

Dovekit, with her partial hearing loss, is apprenticed to Jaywhisker to be a Tracker, with Snowthorn there to provide support.  Dovepaw bounces on her feet, and nearly headbutts Jaywhisker.

Wormkit wants to be a Crafter AND an Herbalist too, so is apprenticed to Goldenflower, with Fireheart providing Herbalist teaching.  Goldenflower bestows a woven legband for Wormpaw to wear, which he immediately starts fidgeting with.

Their first task?  To bring water to the Clan, as a drought has been ravaging the territories.  Dovepaw swears that she can hear Riverclan arguing about the otters taking all the fish, but Wormpaw jokes about her “selective hearing” and Ivypaw bats at his ears until Jaywhisker separates them.  Dovepaw looks over the slowly draining lake, and hears faint chewing noises in the distance…

Spiderleg and Berrynose get stuck in the mud on their own water patrol, and Thornfur leverages them out with a large stick.  Wormpaw pokes at a dead fish, and gets jumpscared by Rainstorm…who then ALSO gets stuck, and feels humiliated that Thunderclan had to save him.

Later, after a long day of training, Dovepaw lays quietly, and does not hear the ghostly pawsteps that trod closer.  She only sees a flicker out of the corner of her eye, and assumes it’s Ivypaw.  She tells “Ivypaw” that her hearing isn’t working right now, so can she just sit by her for a while?  When the cat leaves, and actual Ivypaw walks in, Dovepaw is confused, but the sisters sit in peace, and Ivypaw watches her sister’s back.

(Bluestar grumbles at not being heard, but is distracted by Yellowfang pointing out her hypocrisy – oh so YOU can visit the living but I CAN’T?  Eventually Bluestar admits to feeling useless, and Yellowfang comforts her – if we don’t help them together, we all fall.)

Some time later, Dovepaw confides in Jaywhisker that she’s been hearing some strange noises upriver, and swears that sometimes she SEES brown animals blocking the river with trees.  Jaywhisker has Issues with this, and with the help of Lionblossom, talks to her about the Prophecy – and that she’s probably part of it now.  This sends Dovepaw into a panic attack, and she flees to Ivypaw, who threatens to slap the answers out of Jaywhisker, respected clanmate or not.  She gets read into the Prophecy, and vows to protect her sister.  Dovepaw tearily tells her that Ivypaw is her favorite sister, and Ivypaw ruffles her fur, I’m your ONLY sister dummy!  Unless we count Wormpaw as our bonus boy-sister.  The two laugh and embrace – and Jaywhisker and Lionblossom have a bittersweet moment of memory with the fragile image of Hollywish…

(In the tunnels, Hollywish crouches by the underground stream.  She fishes out a juicy lost fish, and the soggy form next to her congratulates her.)

Lionblossom feigns having a vision, and Hawkfrost confirms that the brown creatures must be Beavers – he’ll get the otters involved in helping.  A patrol with members  of each clan heads out – Jaywhisker and Lionblossom, Ivypaw (strictly to help Lionblossom) and Dovepaw from Thunderclan; Hawkfrost, his otter friends Weed and Log, Rippletail and Petalfur of Riverclan; Sedgewhisker and Whitetail of Windclan; and Smokefoot and Goldenheart of Shadowclan.  Jaywhisker, Lionblossom, and Goldenheart chat about their apprentice days, Rippletail boasts about how he’ll kill a Beaver, and Petalfur scolds him for his arrogance, and Ivypaw and Dovepaw learn some Otterspeak from Hawkfrost.

Unfortunately, Rippletail is lost in the fight against the Beavers – Ivypaw tried to stop him, but he shoved her aside and leapt basically into the mouth of one of the creatures. Weed, Log, and Sedgewhisker avenged him, and the dam was broken, but Ivypaw still felt useless.  She couldn’t save him – and Hawkfrost breaks through her thoughts.  He chose to do that – Rippletail was a good fighter but he made a poor decision, and that’s not on you!  Sedgewhisker chimes in, you did what you could, but in the end it was his time – I only hope that his spirit is at peace…and if he shows up here I’m boxing his ears for idiocy, Petalfur scowls tearily.  This does cheer Ivypaw up a bit, but she still saw violence, and her heart aches…but she curls up with a shaken Dovepaw and they share their fears together.

The Patrol returns to the lake refilling, and split off to their respective Clans.  The four Thunderclanners are welcomed back with open arms, and Ivypaw is treated to her mentor’s reassurances after hearing the story.  Being back on Thunderclan land brings Ivypaw’s confidence back up, and eventually she’s back to her old self, if a bit more thoughtful.

-Dark Forest Rising-

A few nights after the group returns, a heavily pregnant Poppyfrost, acting as a surrogate for Berrynose and Honeyfern, asks Lionblossom to escort her to the Moonpool – she’s been having nightmares about losing her kits.  He obliges, but once they’re within sight of the pool, a cat attacks them.  The molly, eyes heavily scarred over and mouth dripping, slashes at Poppyfrost’s side, but hits Lionblossom’s shoulder instead.  He strikes at the stranger’s throat, and his paw comes back coated in black and foam, but she backs off.  Poppyfrost makes it to the Moonpool, but Lionblossom calls out a warning – another cat is leaping at her!  But this cat is thwarted by the timely appearance of Berrynose and Honeyfern, who saw Poppyfrost wasn’t in the Nursery and were concerned. The mates charge at the attacker and strike as one, and the coward flees into the evening, leaving behind bits of feather and shreds of heather.  Only then does Lionblossom realize that his shoulder is torn open, and that the gunk coating his paw has vanished.  At camp, Poppyfrost comfortable in the Nursery, he talks to Jaywhisker, who remembers the old stories of Brokentail…something horrible is happening…the Dark Forest cats are escaping the Mire…but their conversation is interrupted by Poppyfrost going into labor!

(In Windclan, Antpelt returns to camp injured, telling everyone to watch out for a very angry Hare.  Heathertail puts new heather in his fur, and Breezepelt finds him a new feather to wear.)

(In the Dark Forest, Brambleclaw gathers beautiful flowers from the scene of a long-ago crime, and plots on how to bring his next trainee in…a jealous sibling should be no problem to him…)

Some time later, Dovepaw tells a dozing Lionblossom that someone is going to the Moonpool.  He takes a look, and sees Mothwing and Mistyfoot.  He sighs, and goes to Longstar – I think Leopardstar died Gramps.  The next morning it is confirmed by a visiting Hawkfrost – Mistystar has risen to power.

After a series of failed hunts and trainings that left her despondent, Ivypaw throws herself into sleep, and wakes in a strangely bright meadow – no sun in the sky, and odd depressions in the tall grasses.  But she is distracted by the appearance of a large and well decorated tomcat, who asks if she needs some help.  Thinking it’s just a weird dream, she asks for help training, and the stranger obliges.  The next morning, she tries one of the moves on Charheart, who asks where she saw such a move?  That’s very advanced but seriously, who taught you that?

Ivypaw, freaking out, tells her about the tomcat and the meadow – Charheart freaks out, and the pair head straight to the Healer’s den.  Darkmoon sees their distress and calls for Longstar and Fireheart, who were chatting with Mousefur.  The situation is explained, and explained again to Dovepaw and Jaywhisker and a very confused Wormpaw.  After hearing everyone trying to figure out the Dark Forest’s next move, Ivypaw surprises herself by offering to be a spy.  There is arguing, but after vowing to call on Yellowfang for help if she needs it, Ivypaw becomes a Dark Forest Trainee…

A huge storm sweeps through camp, and to the horror of all, a tree falls onto some fleeing cats!  Mousefur is gone in an instant, and Briarpaw’s back is broken by a branch – not to mention Ashfur’s bruises and Coldlight’s crushed tail tip!  Millie is distraught, but is reminded of Feathertail, and of how she survived a broken spine!  Graystripe vows to help his daughter in any way he can, and Longstar decides to promote her – and her siblings – for their bravery evacuating the camp.  Briarlight, who had already been training to be a Camp Guard, breaks into tears at her ceremony.

Dovepaw is awoken one night by a brown cat, claiming to be Onewhisker.  He says Shadowclan is planning an attack on the borders, and Dovepaw relays this to Longstar the moment the spirit leaves.  A battle patrol quite literally runs into a patrol on Thunderclan territory, and a fight ensues.  Someone shoves Jaywhisker from behind, and his claws catch on the tender throat of Russetfur.  Everyone breaks apart, and Jaywhisker wails in horror when he realizes what happened.  Back at camp, Dovepaw describes Tiger”star” to a horrified Longstar.  But it’s far too late to stop what’s happened… (Starclan is in crisis – how did Tiger”star” sneak through to Dovepaw!?  Bluestar finds a crack in their defenses, that makes her suspect more…)

-Plans Coming Together-

(In the city, the Twoleg Vet Tech gathers bandages, stitches, anything she might need to treat mass wounds.  The ghost of her childhood cat Nanigans perches on her desk, purring softly.  She had talked to her grandfather, who had his beloved Barn cat Sweet Pea show up, and he’s been preparing to help as well.  When you start seeing cat ghosts, ghosts that the suspiciously smart neighborhood cats see too, it’s time to start worrying…)

At camp, Lionblossom treats the wounds of the patrol, while Darkmoon and Fireheart try to calm Jaywhisker.  He’s retreated into a ball in the corner of camp, and it takes his mother to pry him out.  He yowls in grief and horror, and Swiftpool takes him to a quiet place in the territory, to let him grieve.  Dovepaw covers her ears – her hearing is now flinging from nonexistant to too much too loud with little warning and no time to adjust.

Jaywhisker, resting fitfully in camp, is woken by Charheart.  You don’t look too good, and something big flew over camp – maybe you need a walk?  He agrees, and the pair scare off a small owl.  They walk in silence for a time, but then they are interrupted by a call – Embertail.  He looks devastated, but asks Jaywhisker what happened to Russetfur – some of the Brawlers are saying you did it on purpose, but…I don’t believe them.  Please, what happened?  Jaywhisker, supported by Charheart, lays out the events, and Embertail sighs – that sounds like a total accident! Oh Jaywhisker I’m so sorry – I’ll talk to Blackstar about it.  With that, Embertail wishes the pair farewell, and heads off.  Jaywhisker leans on Charheart and thanks her for the help.  Of course, silly, what are friends for?

(In Shadowclan, Redwillow seethes.  How DARE Embertail step in like that – Russetfur’s murder was all planned out, another wedge between clans, and then this?!  Redwillow seethes, and in the Stars, Russetfur thinks hard.)

Ivypaw and Dovepaw have their first real fight a few days later, Dovepaw insisting that Ivypaw stop her spying Right Now – look what they did to me, think of what they’ll do to you!!  Ivypaw snaps back, well maybe if you’d thought to double check who you were talking to, MAYBE your mentor wouldn’t be traumatized, and someone wouldn’t be dead!!! They stalk off away from each other, but at Wormpaw’s insistence, talk over their issues a few days later.  Wormpaw asks Goldenflower if there’s a role for helping cats get along, and Wormpaw starts even more training with Darkmoon, to see if he wants to also be a Therapist.

(Dovepaw keeps running into Goldenheart on her patrols – not on purpose, but it just. Keeps. Happening!  After a while, it becomes less annoying and more funny, but still…Starclan why?)

(Bluestar chuckles, not seeing Yellowfang behind her with a scowl.)

In Shadowclan, Blackstar, Embertail, and a sickly Littlecloud go to the Moonpool.  The spirit of Raggedstar advises that the clans stay apart, but Embertail argues that if the clans were closer, maybe Russetfur would still be alive!  He then crouches in shame for speaking Like That to a Starclan Spirit, but the laughter of Yellowfang gives him confidence.  Russetfur herself appears, and tells Blackstar that she will wait for him, her chosen brother, but to also stop being a pompous idiot and be social.

(Nearby, Juniperclaw watches silently.  Perhaps it’s time someone visits this interfering Seer…)

Ivypaw wakes in the Dark Forest, and on her way to train, she stumbles through a new place – the edge of a raging river in a storm.  She sees paws in the water for a moment, too small and horrible to think about, when she’s startled by a massive tortie molly, all flapping throat and rippling fur, emerging from the waves.  The molly advances on her, blurbling words just out of hearing, and Ivypaw backs up – right into Brambleclaw and his thorns.  Brambleclaw tells the molly, Mapleshade, to back off, but his voice is unsteady.  Mapleshade laughs like a drowning bird, and vanishes out of the stormy clearing. 

Ivypaw, seeing an opening in Brambleclaw’s armor, starts praising him.  Obviously tricking her sister was HIS idea, because it was so good!  He eats it up, and brings her to training.  As she trains, she sees a white cat, half coated in ice, weeping sleet.  They make eye contact, and Ivypaw sees pain in his eyes, but also regret…that’s new.  Eventually, she sees Tiger”star” talking to Goldenheart, and when she wakes, Longstar is Very interested in the regretful cat, and asks her to keep an eye on him.  Lionblossom and Jaywhisker are horrified at Goldenheart’s appearance.

It's Leafbare, and Jaywhisker has been cultivating his friendship with Embertail.  They’re sliding rocks on the frozen lake, when Jaywhisker hears an ominous THUNK beneath them, followed by cracking.  Embertail falls into the water, but is quickly hoisted out by Jaywhisker and Dawnpelt.  But even after he’s treated, even after he’s warmed, Embertail won’t wake up…

(Mapleshade drags the blank-faced spirit of Embertail to the Miretrees, something like a smile on what remains on her face…)

Ivypaw is greeted that night by Mapleshade, who drags her along with her sodden tail, and shows Ivypaw the drowsy spirit of Embertail. K I L L, says the monstrous molly, but even as Ivypaw reluctantly lifts a paw, Goldenheart charges into the scene and bowls her over.  They argue, and Mapleshade just laughs, until she sees that Embertail is just gone!  The trainees scramble away from the furious tortie, and Ivypaw hisses that she would never hurt Embertail.  Goldenheart thanks her, and the two part ways.

(A silvery tom with biting beaks in his neck helps a faceless, gurgling tom guide Embertail away.  The white frozen cat is waiting at a hollow tree, and the Visitor ushers Embertail to his body.  The Seer awakens, dazed and confused, with no memory of anything after the ice.)

Then Icecloud falls into the tunnels.  Jaywhisker and Charheart both huddle together, experiencing some very nasty emotions, but Icecloud is freed and the tunnel opened.  Lionblossom does NOT find his sister within, but instead a tuft of fur, and crushed holly leaves…maybe, just maybe…Hollywish is alive?

(In the background, Icecloud lifts the apprentices spirits by placing a betting pool on when Charheart and Jaywhisker will start dating.  Ivypaw confides that Charheart thinks that they are, but Dove giggles and says that Jaywhisker has no idea.  Wormpaw suggests maybe a betting pool on when Jaywhisker figures it out, and a deal is made.)

-Times Are Changing-

None of the apprentices expect what comes next – Longstar calls them to receive their adult names!  Ivyleaf is named for her rapid growth and sheltering nature, Dovewing is named for her adventurous spirit and kind nature, and Wormwood for his steady and dependable nature.  Their vigil is calm, and their sleep sweet…except for Ivyleaf…

(That night, she fights Antpelt, and when he tries to help her up, Broken”star” attacks him.  That night, Heathertail wakes to something sticky in their shared nest, and her horrified screams wake Breezepelt, whose yowls join hers quickly.  Antpelt lays between them, so bloody he looks like a different cat altogether.  Kestrelflight rushes to treat him, but it’s far too late…)

At the next Gathering, Goldenheart tries to flirt with Dovewing, which is a surprise, but Bumblestripe steps in and Brightheart has to break it up before a fight starts.  Wormwood is asked about Briarlight by Grasspelt, who promises to come for a visit, I mean if that’s okay?  Ivyleaf thinks it’s sweet.  She finds it less sweet and more annoying when Goldenheart tries to get time with Dovewing and Ivyleaf has to distract Bumblestripe.

Lionblossom begins to experience strange dreams, of being a cat named Lion’s Roar, and hearing the voices of cats from said dreams coming from the mountains.  Knowing that this is important, Lionblossom asks for Longstar to assign him a patrol to go check it out – he asks for Graystripe and his family – including Briarlight - and Foxflight and Shrewleg.  Frostfoot asks to go as well, and the patrol prepares to go.

On the morning of the patrol’s departure, Jaywhisker and Charheart are on one of their morning patrols, and are discussing the Prophecy and the Dark Forest.  Charheart admits to feeling insecure sometimes, courting a cat chosen by the Stars, and Jaywhisker nearly runs into a tree.  WAIT HANG ON WHAT cough cough what do you MEAN we’re COURT - oooooooonnnnnoooooo I’m a moron…Jaywhisker puts his head in his paws, I’m supposed to be the smart one HOW DID I NOT NOTICE!?!?!? Charheart please stop laughing at meeeee!  Charheart, at this point out of breath from laughing, wheezes out, it’s been moons, and Jaywhisker starts cackling like a loon.  The two lay there laughing for a while, but eventually DO have a relationship conversation.

(Wormwood wins the bet, and Ivyleaf, Dovewing, and Icecloud all pay up with tasty mice)

Up at the Tribe territory, Stormfur and Feathertail greet their father and siblings and stepmother, and figure out quickly that there are no problems in the Tribe!  This is Great! Lionblossom offers to teach some healing techniques, and Briarlight and Feathertail bond. The mobile patrollers do have to fight off an eagle that tries to steal Swoop, but she escapes with a broken leg.  However, every night they stay, Lionblossom has dreams of another time, and of a beautiful cat named Half Moon.  She promises to wait for him, and when the patrol leaves the Tribe, Lionblossom sees another shadow following him.  They return triumphant, with tales of eagles and a few new hunting and healing techniques.

In the Miretrees, Ivyleaf sees her father and Blossomfall training and is a little Concerned, but refuses to blow her cover.  In camp, Dovewing begs Whitewing to get Bumblestripe off her back.  I gave him one compliment and now he thinks we’re in love!? Mom PLEASE I’m going to slap him if he keeps this up!!  Whitewing pats her daughter, and whispers she saw a molly looking at Bumblestripe like he hung the Moon, and to leave it to her…

(Whitewing sets up a little shrine in the woods, just a few stones and berry pawprints, and tells all the single mollies and toms except Bumblestripe (and warns her kits about it) that it’s a Love Shrine.  That if they bring a piece of prey there at Sunhigh and ask Starclan for their blessing, that the mate they seek will appear to them soon after.  Rosepetal leaves a frog on the offering stone and begs the Stars for Bumblestripe.  He’s the sweetest tom she’s ever known!  He brings prey to the Elders, and helps his sister exercise, and lets kits crawl all over him, and he’s so beautiful she wants to cry sometimes!  He’s brave and his fur looks so soft and she wants to cover him in Courting flowers and I just want someone that devoted but aimed at me!  Is that so much so ask!?  She stares at the sky, sighs tearily, grabs her frog, and turns to head for camp-

                                          -And nearly runs into a wide eyed Bumblestripe.  Whitewing told him that she wanted some flowers from the meadow nearby, and he saw Rosepetal with a frog, his secret favorite prey and then she just-

                                                                              -he smiles tearily, you think I’m pretty?  I mean, I’m not even that attractive- And Rosepetal tackles him into the meadow with an indignant yowl, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!  They roll down the little hill as she sputters out how his stripes are so pleasantly Shaped and his little hair tuft is so Cute and how DARE he talk about himself like that!!!  They end up side by side, panting, and Bumblestripe gently turns to her – well, you’re pretty great yourself y’know.  She stammers, and shoves some flowers in his face.  He laughs, and she laughs, and right there, for a little while, everything is beautiful.)

(Dovewing hugs her mother tightly, I don’t know what you did but THANK YOU, he even apologized?! Mom you’re a miracle worker)

-And Now What You Were All Waiting For-

Cherypaw and Molepaw get lost in the tunnels, but are led to safety by “a shadow and a wet thing ma stop licking me I’m fINE” and Swiftpool wonders…but refuses to get her hopes up.  But Dovewing hears “Somethings” down there, so she, Ivyleaf, and Wormwood go to investigate.  And get lost.  The three start to panic but then the Somethings Dovewing heard show up – a cat ghost, all drenched and sopping wet, and a barely there shadow with green eyes.  They lead the trio to the exit, but the watery ghost has a soft conversation with the shadowy cat, who presses their head to the ghost, washing away the mud covering their face, revealing tortie spots.  If it’s alright, I’ll come with you, they say, and Wormwood agrees for the stunned sisters.  They know who she MUST be, but Wormwood can be a little dense sometimes…

As they approach camp, Swiftpool calls out – oh thank Starclan, we were looking everywhere for…you…

Hollywish?

HOLLYWISH!  MY BABY!

Swiftpool nearly tackles the dusty molly off of her feet, wailing in joy and relief – Jaywhisker screams WHAT and charges out of camp, Charheart and Lionblossom in hot pursuit – Mistlenose running circles around her family - Foxflight screeching YOU’RE HOME and flinging herself forward, Shrewleg cheering – Longstar and Flamewish and Fireheart breaking through a crowd of gathering cats and falling into the pile – Hollywish sobbing out I’m Sorry I’m Sorry I’m So Sorry – Darkmoon yells from the edge of the mess to get Crowfeather – Snowthorn jumps in to brush against her then bolts for Windclan - in a moment or maybe an hour Crowfeather crashes in MY KIT MY KIT MY KIT - it’s chaos but the most welcome kind of chaos

Hollywish is home!

She explains what happened – the friendly Gheist, named Fallen Leaves, had saved her, but to do so had to bind her to the tunnels until her injuries would have naturally recovered.  Longstar swears to build a shrine for him, so he can gather his strength again.  The news spreads through the Clans like lightning – and not just the Clans…

(The Dark Forest yowls in rage – there are four Prophecy cats again!  Brambleclaw is thrown about by Tiger”star”, cats are thrashing in rage – some of the oldest fading in an instant of fury.  But some cats quietly celebrate – they have a better chance now.)

(Starclan cheers wildly – there are four Prophecy cats again!  This makes things SO much easier!  Yellowfang is crying – no I AM NOT – and somewhere, a cat quietly slips into the Miretrees again – just another Visitor…)

In a rage, Brambleclaw commands Ivyleaf to fight the remnants of Antpelt – a twisted façade of someone that she knew – someone who was loved – this isn’t him anymore.  Ivyleaf destroys the not-Antpelt, the was-Antpelt, and watches it crumble like dry sand and ashes.  She struts past Sunstrike and Furzepelt, refuses to make eye contact with Goldenheart, and

                            As soon as she’s out of their view

                             She                             B R E A K S

Ivyleaf weeps as soundlessly as she can, slashing her clotted claws into the rotted wood of an ancient tree.  She heaves up everything she ate before, until nothing comes up…that had been her friend, and now he’s gone forever…and then she hears movement. She whips around, claws ready, but – it’s the white cat, with the frozen body.  I’m sorry you had to go through that, he mews, but I think what I have to show you may help.  My name is Snowtuft, he crackles, and if you want to stop these horrors, come with me.  And he walks away.

And she follows, heart in her throat, and they pass through a far-too-familiar field of flowers.  She can see that the odd depressions in the grass are where cats lay dying, and sidesteps bloody pawprints, where someone sprinted through the scene.  Snowtuft leads her past Mapleshade’s river, through a tunnel choked with bones and thorns, over a Thunderpath shrouded by fog until finally, they reach a hollow in the trunk of a tree.  It smells like poppy seeds and tree sap, but what catches her attention is the other cats. Snowtuft gestures to them – these are my fellow rebel leaders.  We were sinners, were monsters, were horrible in life, but we want to make up for our past mistakes.  This, he croaks, is Silverhawk – the silvery tabby has the beaks of birds protruding from his neck, snapping soundlessly at his face.  This is Sparrowfeather – a misshapen molly with thin birdlike legs.  This is Maggottail – the grey-white tom glistens with slime and his eyes bulge strangely.  And this is Boulder – the faceless cat gurgles at her, ineffectively wiping his dripping spit away.  Behind him sat a – a Kittypet?  A brown and white collared Kittypet, unkempt and bony.  I’m Dastardly Dan, Dan’s fine, that one hacks.  Those lot’ve been snatchin the worst o us outta the Dark Place, but well, they ain’t th’only ones.  And he gestures upwards, where a glimmer drops down and lands before Ivyleaf.  She hops back but – that’s – that’s a Starclan cat if she ever saw one.  Hello brave soul, the yellowy spirit murmurs, my name is Micah.  And I am VERY glad to meet you.

-The True Reason and The Power of the Powerless-

And Ivyleaf learns everything that has happened here.  How Micah was the mate of the first Oracular Healer, who separated their kits because she couldn’t care for them and do her Role.  How he had tried to change her ruling but was overturned.  How he wandered from Starclan, and found the Dark Forest, and watched it grow from the wrath and hate of a cat named One Eye.  How Micah had tried to save some of the souls here, and been injured – and how a long-ago Healer, who had killed their most ill patients instead of trying to heal them, had nursed him back to health.  That healer had made this hollow from the memory of their first victim, their own sibling, and hid there until Micah crashed in.  And how the Healer had been the inspiration of Micah’s mission in his afterlife – to save the repentant souls that came here.  The Healer had been the only one Micah had been able to save in any way – their spirit had begun to fade, and Micah had brought them out of the Miretrees and to a litter of cold kits – and they had splintered into the kits, saving their lives and being reborn. 

Starclan has refused to help me, or to change their ruling on Healers having kits…but the world is on a moment of great change.  When the Stars foresaw that the Dark Forest would rise up, many wanted to simply destroy the Dark Forest, and be done with it, Micah mews.  But instead, I crafted a Prophecy, and gave gifts to those who would need them, and hoped for the best.  And the best has happened – here you are, the brave soul that chose to enter the darkness, to save the light.  You I gave no gifts, for you need no gifts but your wit, bravery, and kindness.  You have what may be the most important role here –

You’re going to save the trainees.  You’re going to clear their eyes.  Micah pauses, have you ever wondered why your father, a loyal cat, is here?  Or Goldenheart? A mire is hard to escape once entered, and the darkness has clouded their minds into believing this is Good and Right. But you came here, knowing it would do you harm, and with many to support you, so the dark failed. Some may be beyond saving, but if you bring them to me, I will clear the shadows from them.

Ivyleaf is shaken and confused, but – I’ll do anything I can to save them, she agrees.  Micah smiles gently, and the gathered cats sigh in relief.  Now, when you awaken, please tell only those you can trust to not gossip.  And with a touch on her forehead, Ivyleaf awakens.  She bolts to the Leader’s Den, waking Longstar and Flamewish, and shakes them awake.  We have hope, she whispers to their astonished faces, we have hope and a plan.

(Each night, she corners a trainee, come with me, I’m giving you Special Training.  She starts with Goldenheart, who hacks and heaves and shakes in horror.  Her father collapses against her, begging forgiveness.  Icewing and Beetlewhisker huddle together.  Sunstrike tries to dash herself on sharp branches, only to be met with the strong but gentle embrace of Micah.  She can’t find the hollow when she brings Redwillow, and convinces him that her training is stealth, then ditches him.  She can’t get to all of them, but the time is coming.  When the Dark Forest is weakened, they will see what they have done…if they survive)

-Preparations-

The leaders meet in secret, and Longstar tells them some of what Ivyleaf discovered – keeping the news of Micah’s plan for the changes to the Code and who the spy is.  Mistystar is appalled but ready to begin getting the camp ready for war.  Blackstar is unbelieving until Mudstar tells them how Antpelt died – clawed to death, black rotten water in his lungs, between his loving mates.

The Healers begin stockpiling herbs, and the Nursery Guards and Camp Guards begin to clear out exit routes for the Nurseries and Elders Dens.  Crafters pull bark from the trees, reeds from the rivers, and scrap from the twolegs, to make armor and reinforce the walls.  Brawlers sharpen their claws, Historians and Tacticians work on battle plans, and Herbalists prepare poisons and paint.  Mates talk quietly, friends stick close, families promise to make it out together.

(Starclan prepares for war.  Warriors draw the stars into their claws, Healers into their pawpads.  Yellowfang rallies the Elders into a frenzy.  Spottedleaf and Cinderpelt gather the kits and ask them to scout from above, the only place that the Dark Forest cannot reach them.)

(And a school bus, driven by a Farmer and his granddaughter the Vet Tech, draws close to the scene)

The curtains rise, the stage is set.

Lights

Camera

-Action-

The Dark Forest strikes at Shadowclan first – Graystripe and Jaywhisker lead the charge to help.  The scene is chaos – Gheists everywhere, but Shadowclan is holding.  Jaywhisker can smell the stench of darkness and rot, and pounces on a Mire Warrior, shredding their already shredded form.  He hears Blackstar couch to life, and Redwillow screech as he dies.  And he hears the familiar voice of Feathertail, with the chimes of the Stars through it, call Starclan to battle.  Graystripe sobs as he attacks a skinny ghost, and hears his daughter vow to protect Briarlight.

Goldenheart and Ivyleaf fight back to back for a moment, and she sends him to help Dovewing – I can’t be her ears in this mess, go help her!  If you ever loved her- but Goldenheart is already gone.  She claws what’s left of the face off of a kittypet ghost, and turns all her attention to the battle.

In Windclan, Furzepaw leaps for Mudstar, and Sunstrike intercepts her.  Please stop, Sunstrike begs, the Dark Forest killed Antpelt, don’t let them kill you.  A furious Breezepelt slices through the back of a ghost, as Heathertail sobs over the fading corpse of another.  Nightcloud and Crowfeather tag-team a dog-faced ghost, scattering them to the wind, and Hopfoot’s starry spirit joins them.  Go on son, go to your kits, we’ll hold them off!  Tallstar and startlingly Onewhisker leap from the skies, and Crowfeather bolts.

Brambleclaw confronts Ivyleaf, snarling about disloyalty and punishment.  Ivyleaf smirks, did you really think you were in control of everyone? And suddenly the Dark Forest cats are fighting each other.  Snowtuft leaps onto Brambleclaw, and Ivyleaf goes for the stake in his throat, but both are thrown off.  Before Brambleclaw can do any major damage though, Hawkfrost and his otter friends attack.  Hawkfrost finishes what he started before, and the otters sit on Snowtuft until Ivyleaf can coax them off.

Broken”star” leaps at the Thunderclan nursery, and Honeyfern clashes with the monster of a leader.  She falls to her claws, and Berrynose screams in horror.  Poppyfrost slashes at the blinded beast in fury, but it’s Yellowfang who sends her child to a second death.  Honeyfern rises into a starry form, and takes up her place at the Nursery entrance. Mapleshade charges at Swiftpool, but is stopped by the timely intervention of Crowfeather.  The mates slay her, but there are more and more ghosts appearing every moment…

Tiger”star” laughs at the weakened and half blind form of Longstar, I have more ghosts at my disposal than you will ever understand!  Starclan will fall!  The Mire will rise!

And then

A noise pierces the night.

HWONK HWONK HWONK

A massive yellow monster charges down the Thunderpath, scattering the charging Dark Forest forces.  It screeches to a halt, and its side opens and

-HOPE NEVER DIES!!!-

Is screeched by the throats of the cavalry – the Hope’s Clowder cats, arrayed in thick armor and bristling with energy.  They overrun the gathered ghosts like water over stones, and they are not alone.  The Barn cats charge after them, swooping in on any injured cat and carrying them into the monster.  The monster’s twoleg bursts out, wielding a long stick with a flattened and curved edged end, and begins swatting at any remaining ghosts with vigor.  The spirits of kittypets descend like a swarm of ducks on twoleg treats, and the ghosts that the Miretrees depended on are scattered and destroyed in moments.

Tiger”star” screeches in horrified confusion, which only doubles when Darkstripe, sleek and plump, and Sasha, bright eyed and healthy, charge towards him in armor of their own.  Fireheart, rushing from the camp to help Longstar, goes for Tiger”star”s dangling organs, and then the fight goes on in earnest.

And then it all

Just

Stops

Tiger”star” fades away, nothing more than a terrible memory.  The ghosts of the Dark Forest and the Dark Place scatter.  The friendly spirits of the Dark Forest and the Dark place gather to lick their wounds.

And Longstar and Fireheart are dying.

Flamewish crouches by them, weeping.  Their children and grandchildren gather around their father and uncle.  Brightheart begs Longstar to stay – she’s not ready! Everyone still needs him!  No one is ready for this, Crookedstar intones, but you will be amazing my dear.  And surrounded by friends and family, Thunderclan’s leader and his dearest friend pass into Starclan.  They rise up together, gathering the newly dead behind them.  And not just Starclan is leaving.

Dastardly Dan is greeted by the Farmer’s friend Sweet Pea, who invites him and his friends to join her.  My Twoleg would love the company, and when her mate joins us, we’ll have a barn to explore!  Only if we can ‘elp the others, twasnt just our lot that feel bad fer what we did.  Of course, says another cat, Nanigans, everyone deserves a second chance.  With a glance at Micah, who stands with the Miretrees rebels, Dan agrees, and the group of dead kittypets trot off together, past the Farmer and past the Vet, who has emerged from the monster.  They disappear behind the monster, and all that is heard of them after is sighs of relief and cries of joy.

Micah steps forward, and what of these cats?  What of these who want to change, to be better?  They deserve a second chance as well.  The gathered Starclan cats mutter and murmur, but the still-present Longstar loudly agrees.  Darkstripe was given a second chance, and now look at the fine Clowder he leads!  These cats deserve the chance to change!  I will make a place in Starclan with my own paws if I must, adds Fireheart.  And an agreement is reached.  A place is made – not Starclan or Miretrees, but a place where those who desire to change may go and rest.  The gathered rebels cheer, and as the living are told of this new place, the rebels begin to change.

Snowtuft ceases his constant crying, and the ice of his body clears.  Silverhawk’s biting beaks become a collar of silent spikes.  Sparrowfeather’s legs become sturdy enough to carry her weight properly.  Maggottail’s skin looks less rotten and gooey, and his eyes shrink.  Everywhere one looks, the rebels are somewhat restored.  Micah, tears in his eyes, leads the group to – to the Restful Fields.

(Not everything is so terrible as the deaths and burials.  Sasha is reunited with her kits, and screams in joy at the sight of her thought-dead Tadpole-now Crowfeather.  She meets her grandkits and weeps in joy.  Darkstripe is able to apologize in person to Sorreltail, and while they will never be close, she does forgive him.  Frostfoot walks with Darkmoon, and meets his sister once again.  Ruby changed her name to Smoke, and changed her nature as well.  Forgiveness is had, with tears at time lost.)

And life goes on.

-Epilogue-

Brightstar surveys Thunderclan from the leader’s den, Cloudtail and Daisy at her side.  She watches her deputy, Charheart, work with her former apprentice Ivyleaf and HER apprentice Hollowpaw, and wonders if Longstar approves of her choices.  Daisy nudges Brightstar, and asks if she really doesn’t mind being a momma to her kits, and both Brightstar and Cloudtail snuggle her in – they’re a family now, and everything is going to be wonderful.

(In the city, things are going well. No group of rogues cat best the Brawlers or Scouts of the Hope Clowder, and their Healers are backed by the Twoleg Healer, who takes the worst cases without complaint. They stay in touch with the Barn, and often tell stories of how they all rode in a car to go fight ghosts)

(In the Dark Forest, ghosts lick their wounds and snarl angrily.  But as they try to regroup, someone is watching.  Someone who will use them for her own gain…)

(In the Dark Place, Quince flees from her former lackeys.  Mapleshade promised her power and freedom, and now she’s back at square one!  As she fumes in her hiding place, she doesn’t see the amalgam of cats creeping behind her…)

(In the Restful Fields, Micah is visited by Moth Flight.  They talk for quite some time, and she finally agrees to a change in the Code.  But not today – today is for rest and renewal)

[doublefords]

AH, LOOK AT THIS, PICKLE! SOME DISTINGUISHED SCIENCE GENTLEMEN! EXCUSE OUR INTRUSION, BUT WHAT ARE YOU FINE MEN RESEARCHING OUT HERE IN THE FOREST? IF IT IS ANOMALIES, WE AND PICKLE WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE STUDIED!

-THE MOSS

oh hey, science guys! neat. what're you doing all the way out here? it's pretty boring around these woods. y'know, except for weird things like moss. moss is pretty damn weird. i mean, i suppose i am too, considering i'm their host and all, but y'know. slightly less weird than the living moss. so is that what you're here for?

-pickle

Apologies for the late response! It seems that we were caught up with our projects and didn’t see your phone call. Coincidentally enough about moss… we did talk about a moss creature with our other caller not too long ago!

And I’m happy you asked! I’m here in Gravity Falls to study various anomalies which seemed to be huddled around this area/town due to a “weirdness magnet” (as I like to call it). Currently, Fiddleford is assisting in a somewhat… confidential project.

Although, I’m certainly intrigued by you and Pickle. “The Moss”, your name was? Well, I’d Be more than willing to study your kind! It’s incredibly fascinating to meet more anomalies (either than gnomes…) cIrculating Gravity Falls.

We talkin’ ‘bout new critters, Stanferd?

Oh! Yes, yes. We just got another call from what seems to be… moss creatures of some kind? They said they were more than happy to be examined and studied. I’m more than wiLling to take up on that offer, don’t you think, F?

Huh! Color me stoked! Wonder if they’re r’lated ta ‘lil Molly!

That’s what I wondered too. Or perhaps it’s just a coincidence that both a mosshog and the moss creatures appeared at the same time.

Now that I think of it, I do have a few questions to ask… Let’s see… [rustling of paper…] I just wrote them down…

Ha! Tell me, what did you mean by ‘their host’? Is moss more like a pet or a parasite? And ‘living moss’…? Do you guys live around here? Do you typically stay in more moist areas of the forest? Shallower or deeper parts of the forest? Tell me—

A’right, this is gettin’ as long as it is. I’d best let the call end ‘ere. Call us back if ya have a response to all of Stanferd’s questions! (Whew! The phone bill’s gonna sky rocket, Ford!”