#Mount Desert Rock Light

[jadafitch]

Mount Desert Rock Light, Frenchboro, Maine. Since the light's automation in the 70's, Mount Desert Rock has been used by The College of the Atlantic as a whale and marine mammal research outpost.

[space-blue]

Avatar 3 D23 musings and analysis

Images drop on some BIG screens at D23 seems like!

First off, great new looks and close ups of Varang!

First off it's super dope. Look at her fingers! Looks like she's wearing claws (bone? forbidden metal? body mods). The notches on her belly and legs also look like potential scarifications!

Stuff I want to scream about on a personal level: The tswins... I made my Txepiva (ash Na'vi) fan clan to be warrior like, living in more desertic areas, and cutting queues as part of warfare. I also recently made a sketch to illustrate an idea to a friend that they may wear these queues in a bandolier tied to shoulders and hips as a show-off.

My Txepiva also have bare tail tips, and Varangs fits this too in this art, though I'm sure it's just the light rendering technique. If not, then I should apply for a job on the brainstorming team lmao.

Though I appreciate the idea of warfare and tswin cutting, I want to point out it's also possible that she's not actually wearing the tswin of her enemies, or at least not in the "this is how we kill other Na'vi" way.

The others around her are in obscuring and impractical headdresses, and this looks like a ritual. IMO it's very possible that the tswin she wears are that of ancestors, or old leaders, great warriors, or even enemies, collected and rebraided to create this distinct look. I particularly think it'd make sense for it to be made of the hair of past leaders and worn as a sort of crown, as nobody else is rocking that look in the image.

Next we have her weird not-an-ikran.

Glorious beast with 10 winglets where ikran have 4. It also has mouth frills, jaw frills, and a spike over its head, making it closer to stingbats in that area. Here's a super obvious comparison with an enlarged stingbat picture:

So their mount probaby evolved independantly from ikran. Would be fun if they also have poison.

Another FUN detail : GUNS!! Does it look like guns? Could be recoms then, Lyle, Q , and some new red shirt recoms... or could be Omatikaya wil RDA guns...

But for real, there are only two types of Na'vi with guns: the Omatikaya clan and the recombinants. Given past images in leaks ((remember this?))

It's most likely that the people interacting with Varang are going to be recoms and not Jake's people. BUT who knows where the plot will go. If it's recoms, I'd looove to know if it's 3 moffos because Q+Lyle+Mansk, or if we're getting new recom red shirts or what.

Then we have views of air ships, so we're getting to see the promised Wind Traders, with Neytiri in the forefront, and the Man'o'war inspired floaters being pulled by sky manta ray...

Not much to say about those. I just hope we get some high definition version released online soon.

If this reignites your hype for Avatar, go vote in this poll!

There's 20h left to vote, and I think we could all benefit from an event around december 2024, to pass the time before fire and ash's big dropin 2025.

[needle-noggins]

The Biology and Riding of Thoma

Thoma, also known as Thomases (singular: Thomas), are the primary animal used on No Man's Land for transportation, meat, eggs, feathers and oil. The meat can be eaten fresh or dried into jerky, and thoma meat, fried in thoma oil and sprinkled with worm dust, is a popular street food. These massive birds were genetically engineered early on in No Man's Land history and are well-suited for the desert, making them easy to raise and care for. Plus, they're easy to ride.

Biology

Thoma are a combination of several bird species, genetically similar to Emu and Ostriches, but with the stature of much larger birds such as the extinct Terror birds (Phorusrhacids), standing near 5-6 feet tall at the withers. Their bright blue plumage and loosely-packed feathers helps dissipate heat. They have long eyelashes to keep out dust, and they have a second eyelid that protect the cornea from grit and bright UV light. This does, however, decrease visibility, making them more prone to tripping over rocks.

Thoma have a long, feathery neck that helps balance them at faster speeds along with the heavy, muscled keel. The keel is engineered to be similar to that of a broiler chicken, as their vestigial wings are useless except for thoma mating displays. Under the throat is a vocal sac, which can be used to transmit low rumbles over long distances. Most thoma, however, prefer to chirp at a frequency easily heard by their human caretakers and riders. They have long, powerful legs, capable of galloping up to 40 iles an hour, and a kick that can disembowel an attacker or rip into a worm's exoskeleton. The three talons on their feet need to be trimmed by an experienced farrier every 4-8 weeks, depending on a bird's mileage.

Thoma eat a diet of seeds, grains, worms, and (when available) fruits and vegetables. Like many birds before them, they will sometimes ingest small rocks and pebbles to help grind their food in the gizzard. The thin, short beak is perfect for pecking at the ground, and when provoked, they will also peck at an enemy. Thoma are, however, generally good-natured creatures, as they have been bred to be.

Riding

Thoma are easy-going and very trainable with a nice floating gait, making them great mounts for humans on No Man's Land. Like many birds, they can move their legs independently from the movement of the spine, which allows the use of saddles. Most saddles are similar to old Western saddles, and are optimized for comfort and long journeys. However, in the bigger cities, some people may ride Thoma in competitions, typically using more English-style tack for greater control of the bird. typically two straps are used to secure the saddle - a breastplate to keep it from sliding back, and a girth/breeching to prevent it from sliding forward. The strong legs are left free to move as needed, giving the bird great flexibility.

The tack on the head often consists of a bridle, a canvas covering on the neck, and a headpiece with blinders. Headpieces and bridles may vary, as the design has been through several different iterations, but the general idea is to generate gentle pressure on the beak when the reins are pulled and to protect the eyes. The headpiece often has blinders and a screen over the eyes, allowing the bird to travel without using the second eyelid. This allows the thomas to move with greater agility, picking its way around desert rocks even at high speeds. The canvas across the neck protects the feathers from the reins and keeps the bird cool. Some headpieces also include a protective metal beak piece that can be used as a weapon.

Thoma make excellent mounts as they are docile, easy to train, have very few natural predators, little fear of humans, and can live on worms alone in a pinch. They do require some water, not having ability to store much themselves, but their ability to dissipate heat and the ways in which the tack can help keep them cool minimizes the need. There are a few wild herds, but most thoma live on ranches or in stables, marked with a leg band or brand.

[rosynanapen26]

GANONDORF X READER

I was in hospital for 30 hours and had to start writting the smut part while I was on morphine. Really great decision... 👍 Anyway it's my first Ganon fanfiction so I hope I wrote the character well. I Imagined Ganon in Hyrule Warrior while writting this.

Warnings: SMUT Dubcon (kinda, I just want to be dominated by that man 😳), lust potion and use of force (I like things kinky and hard sorry not sorry) I ain't into villains and bad guys acting like puppies, so don't expect fluffy stuff. He's a bad guy. Not the Demon King for nothing.

On AO3 as well

It's being three years since Hyrule fell. Three years since the castle darkened. There was no sight of the princess anywhere after the king falls. Rumors has it that an evil Gerudo man took the place of the late king and that was the reason why the sun was never in the sky, replace by black clouds, especially close to the castle.

You were always taking a walk in the shopping district of the castle, taking in the songs of the birds and the voices of marchands urging people to buy their stocks. Everything, you would buy it there. But not anymore.

With no more exchanges between the four cities, there was nothing to buy in Hyrule. It was a dead place no matter where you lay your eyes upon. You had to go by feet in Goron city for the spices, Zora domain for the fishes, Rito village for arrows, sugar canes as well as oil and Gerudo town for the fruits. Only apples were growing close to your home and it was getting dimmer and dimmer.

You made plan to get to one place each five days since the travelling was taking you two and a half. One if you were lucky to not incountered monsters lurking.

Today you would be going to Gerudo town to restock. You didn't dare go for some days after hearing more beasts were in the region. Hopefully today it would be calm. You changed for the heat while hiding your head from the gust of sand that were frequent and made your way to the town.

You knew you were closer when the dried grass started disappearing and the rocks made their presence known with their massiveness. They were huge. So big that they curved in the center, almost hiding the sun for any light to go through. And no sunlight in the Gerudo desert meant a chilling cold. Fortunately your clothes were warm enough to support the drop of temperature.

It wasn't warm enough however to keep you from the chill that went all the way through your spine. It seemed darker despite the sun hidden already and the shadow casted next to you gave you the affirmation you weren't alone. With small steps, you turned face to face with a enormous horse. His skin as black as charcol and his mane like fire. Your breath stucked in your throat when you saw the rider.

Ganondorf.  

You would prefer being embushed by ten bokoblins than with this devil. You had at least a chance of getting away with the first.

"What is a girl like you doing here at night?" His gruff voice made the hair on your body stand as his eyes stared at you in the darkness.

You didn't like the attention on you like this, especially from this type of person. You stepped back, hoping to skirt around the man. "Nothing that concern you, sir." But he moved his horse in your way, halting you as the animal tapped its left hoof angrily with a whinny. You almost tripped at its actions.

"I insist." Ganondorf got down his mount, the clacking of his metal armor resonating in the silence as he made his way to you. He felt something special about you and despite having his doubt about a mere hylian, he would get to the bottom of this. Just like the animal was, the man was huge. Some hair escaped from the shawl on your head, his own red free in the wind. "I think you know who I am."

"I really do not know." You wished he would leave you alone. Ganondorf was gorgeous in your opinion, yes, but a danger. An evil being. It wasn't recommend to mess or less talk with him.

He gritted his teeth. "Do not lie to me, little girl." He grasped your wrist forcefully and you let out a painful whine. "Lying to me is like spitting on my face. Showing dirrespect will get you nowhere." Your body struggled against his hold, profanities leaving your lips every second for him. His eyes widened suddendly when a light blind the both of you, but not enough for the man to losen his grip. "That mark—" A twisted smile appeared on his face at the middle triangle glowing on the back of your hand. "So the legend is true. It does exist."

Confused and scared, you didn't falter your movements. "What are you talking about?" Your eyes met, the claws of his armor leaving a gasp from you. "Let me go!"

"I can't do that now with you in possession of something so important." There was a pregnant pause as his eyes gazed over your form. "You could still proved useful after I've taken it." Your brows furrowed in confusion at his words.

"What—"

Ganondorf reached for the glow with one hand while the other was still holding you in mid-air. It felt like he was piercing your skin and you screamed, the light around you growing bigger. By the time the light dismished, your body fell limp. The triangle that was on your hand turned grey, getting a scoff from the man. He smirked nonetheless knowing he was closer to get the power he wanted and deserved.

"Just two more."

•°•°•

Your sleep was over when you were throw on something soft. The action making your body bounced and mind alert. The hair on your skin rose up when your eyes made out a figure.

How long was he there?

"Look who decided to finally wake up." He sneered. You jumped from the bed but a yelp left your mouth when you were held back, tangling on the side of the bed. A gold chain was on your ankle, great.

Your eyes glared at him after colliding with the bedpost. Anything to be far from him although you knew inside that wouldn't stop this monster. "You got what you want Ganondorf. Why am I still here?"

The man chuckled darkly. "Feisty, aren't we?" He started to take off his armor, only the armsets with the claws staying. When he turned around however, red flood on your face. He already seemed built but without a top? The man was buff with muscles, red chest hair contrasting with his skin color. Your eyes broke from the sight immediately, hoping the Gerudo didn't see that.

But, oh, he did. "Enjoying the view small one?" Ganondorf threw the armor far while approaching your form dangerously. His eyes slit, challenging you to lie to him again and that shut you up. It only left you angry at yourself for finding this evil king attractive.

"You will stay here to keep me compagny and do as I say. Better started getting obediant now."

Keeping him compagny? "So now I am your pet?" You murmured unhappy, yanking the chain in resilience.

Ganondorf smirked devilishly, lookind down at you. He sounded condescending. "If you want to call it that way, pet." He emphasized the last word. "But you will watch your mouth soon enough."

"Or what?"

The door knocked suddenly, catching you on guard at who it might be. However, by the smile widening on the Gerudo man, you weren't excited to know. A sheikah entered the room. They look at you briefly and then at him. "Lord Ganondorf, I had found what you requested." The sheikah bowed down, giving the man a vial filled with red liquid.

Ganondorf didn't even look their way, his amber eyes on the vial with a twisted expression. "You're still being loyal after all these years, Sheik. I'm surprised."

"I follow whoever is the enemy of the royal family."

"That'll be all." The Sheika left in a puff of smoke.

"What is that?" Your voice was hoarse from the anxiousness, your gaze between the vial and the man.

"Something to keep you in line. It will bring great excitement to you, don't worry." The Gerudo man thugged the chain toward him, resulting in your body sliding to the end of the bed like a doll. It's like you weight nothing. It got a yelp from you and a booming laugh from him. He gripped the ties harder, bringing your face closer to his after the man crouched. "Open wide." But your mouth stayed close. Ganondorf growled at your disobience, irritated. "Don't start again, girl." He grabbed your cheeks and pressed with his armored claws digging into the skin. "Drink."

You finally let go after looking at him. The liquid ran down your troat. Instantately you felt hot and lighthead. "That fast huh?"

You couldn't keep your eyes off Ganondorf, your silent attraction reavealing itself so easily. "I feel strange."

He positionned himself on top of you, chest in full view. "You understand the effects do you, princess?" That nickname was new but it didn't bother you much as it turned you on more instead. Ganondorf cut the clothes with the sharp tip before grazing your nipples, eliciting a loud moan from you. Your voice ragged and reaching for air. The man continued to massage your breasts. "How does it feels?"

"You bastard—AH!"

He smirked triumphally while sucking the sensitive part. His tongue was hot and moving fast against your nipple. Your breath quickened at the attention your body was receiving. You hate that you love this. "Don't stop..." You whimpered, hiding your face with your hand.

"What was that girl?" You were interrupted by his hand caressing your lower parts. "Mh." Ganondorf gazed down a moment, his grin larger. "You're enjoying this quite a lot I see." The squishing sound of your garment and the juices were making you even more embarrassed.

"Just...." You try to ignore his eyes lingering on you. "Please continue..."

"Certainly princess."

Your lower body was naked as the air caressed your pussy. The man didn't struggle to take off partly his robe, revealing his member pulsing in front of you. Your pupils dilated and your mouth opened. "It won't fit—"

Ganondorf hands grabbed you easily by the hips, putting you on his lap, just over his member. Your owns instantly placed on his shoulders to create distance. "You were so excited to continue this little game." His voice resonated in your ears like honey, earning another whimper.

"I—"

His armored hand grabbed your cheekbones with power while you watched him with a mixture of lust and fear. "I'm in charge here girl. Don't command me, a king."

The intrusion was sudden but weirdly not as painful as you had thought. Maybe because your juices were flowing and cascading down the interior of your thighs. "That's it." He groaned silently, closing his eyes. The man's hands moved to your waist, applying more force before bringing your down again.

Your gasps filled the room. You were shaking. "It's too much! I'm too filled!"

"Perfect." Ganondorf replied and smacked his hips into you repeatively. He grabbed your hair from behind, another moan leaving your lips in exctasy. "You're mine to keep." He rolled his pelvis, touching new parts inside you that made you see stars. "Your power is mine. All of you—" He growled, changing position so you were now crouched on top of him, his arms snaking around your body and entering deeper than he had previously. "Is mine."

Your eyes rolled to the back, tongue out and sweat running down your body. "More....More please." You whimpered, shaking.

The movement stopped suddenly as his grip on you losened. You watched him with confusion and despair. You were so close! "Why are you stopping?" Your hands were on his pecks, his breathing moving your whole body to the ryththm.

"Oh, don't worry, princess. We are far from finished." He explained smugly. You were roughly switched on your stomach, your eyes half-lidded from the potion and the pleasure. Ganondorf fondled with your buttcheeks and you were vocal again after metal slapped the flesh.

"Ah!"

The man hips collided with your back, the new intrusion farther inside you. He gripped one arm, arching your body towards him while the other hand rest on the redened flesh. "How do you feel?" He huffed, his pelvis either creating round movements or entering forcefully, eliciting shocks across your body. "I sense your lust from your part of the triforce." He groaned, slapping harder but slower.

"I can't feel like this—I can't—" You mumbled inconherently and before you knew it, white filled your vision.

You rested there on the bed, panting and disheveled as Ganondorf looked over at you one last time then left the room laughing with an evil smile on his lips.

[shadowphoenixrider]

Kinktober 2024 Day 20 - Facesitting

"On your back, Cajun." I said, pushing him onto the bed.

Gambit went down easily, grinning widely with dark, hungry eyes. He crawled the rest of his body up the bed as I mounted it, kneeling over his broad chest.

"What plans do ya have for Gambit, mon ombre?" He asked, drinking me up like he'd just stumbled in from the desert.

"That depends," I purred, smirking down at him. "Have you behaved yourself?"

The Cajun blinked owlishly up at me, trying to pour innocence into his eyes like some demonic puppy.

"Ma chère, please." He spoke, hands gently resting on my thighs. "Has Gambit not been un bon garçon?"

A frisson of heat surged through me at his nigh pleading words - they sounded so delectable I could almost taste them.

"I'll be the judge of that, Cajun." Was my response, leaning over him. "And don't try to 'convince' me, either." I smirked. "Truly good boys wouldn't need to prove themselves."

"Den it's a good thin' Gambit been a good boy, non?" He replied, running his hands up and down my legs - a light touch that was just firm enough not to tickle me. "He all too happy to submit himself to ya judgement."

I quirked an eyebrow up.

"Your silver tongue won't help you here, scoundrel. I know your tricks."

I saw the flash of mischief in his eyes and the smirk tug at his lips, a change of step in this tenuous dance of power.

"Ah contraire, chère, Gambit has on good authority dat his silver tongue be in much demand." His grin widened. "'Specially by yourself..."

Oh, I so loved this game with him. This push and pull until one of us gave in. It was intoxicating.

"Mm, maybe." I replied, leaning further down towards him, sliding my hips further down his torso. "But I know you crave it as well. The taste of me. So consider - if you've been a good boy, I give you want you desire. If you haven't..." My smirk grew into a grin. "Then perhaps I tie you down and take what I am owed from you?"

His eyes widened in feigned shock, but his pupils dilated with excitement.

"Chère, you wouldn't!" He begged. "You wouldn't subject Gambit to such torture!"

"I might do. Depends if I need to 'punish' him or not..."

"Gambit know he not supposed to convince ya," he began, "but please, chère. Gambit do anythin' for you."

"Anything?" I asked, grinning evilly.

"Gambit be yours to use as you please. Your pleasure be his pleasure," he said, turning his black and red eyes up at me.

I smirked. Oh, I knew what he was doing. I probably should have stopped him, reminded him that he wasn't supposed to be convincing me, and that he'd essentially offered himself up to the threatened punishment.

But it's so hard to do when Gambit is the one under you, and you are as hungry for him as he is for you.

It's all just a game, after all.

"Let me think..." I mused, rocking back and forth on his body, grinding myself against the hard planes of his muscles. Those gentle touches on my legs became tight grips, although he didn't stop me - he uttered a pleased grunt at the feel of me.

"Chère..." He muttered, clearly trying to resist the urge to pull me down to where his aching cock stood proud and waiting.

"Ah ah ah, no distraction." My sing-song voice made him roll his head back and groan in frustration. "You don't want me starting this from the beginning."

"Torture, chère!" He whined. "Gambit been nothing but un bon garçon, an' you submit him to dis?"

"So needy..." I taunted. "Has the good boy been holding on for so long?"

"Oui! Yes!" Gambit nodded vigorously. "He been waiting for ya touch for so long, chère."

I was wet already, and it was only increasing, my body aching for him every bit as much as he was craving me.

Ah...life is short, and I am not a patient woman.

With only a grin, I crawled over him, holding Gambit's dark, needy gaze. A delicious hot spark shot through me when I knelt astride his head, and his pupils swelled with the ecstatic realization of what was to come, a wide smile splitting his face in two.

"Oh, cherié!" Gambit breathed, pure excitement thrumming through his words as if he'd kinetically charged them. "Such a beautiful view...!"

His hands slid up my thighs, tongue darting out to wet his lips. His eagerness turned me on all the more.

"You know what to do, Cajun?" I purred. He nodded vigorously, and I couldn't help but giggle how he was trying not to strain up towards me like a dog on a leash.

And with that, I sank down on him, careful not to put my full weight onto his face (not that he probably would have minded). Gambit immediately buried himself against me, pressing kisses against my lips before his tongue darted out to begin his work in earnest.

"There's a good boy..." I cooed, tangling my fingers into his wild hair before rolling my head back to let out a luxurious moan. His grip on my thighs tightened for a moment before his large hands moved to squeeze my ass, tugging me closer to him.

It wasn't just his hands that were blessed with nimble dexterity - Gambit's lips and tongue moved in just the right ways to have me melting against him, rocking my hips into his face. He teased around my entrance before lapping his tongue in as deep as it would go, stroking my walls in ways I never knew were possible.

And just when I'd gotten used to that, he withdrew and decide to give my clit some much needed attention, which had me moaning and chanting his name. All the while his hands squeezed and massaged my thighs and backside, coaxing me to ride him.

It was bliss, pure euphoria, and I was happy to lose myself within it, the hot electric sensations that pulsed through my body as I ground against him.

Several hour-long minutes later I felt that familiar tension building within me, the tight coil winding around in the base of my pelvis. My fingers curled deeper into his hair, gasping out a warning:

"I'm, I'm close, Remy! Gods yes!"

I felt his wonderfully wicked grin against me, and he murmured something in a thick Cajun that was too soft and muffled to catch. Not that it mattered as his ministrations seemed to intensify, scrambling every sense I had under a pleasurable onslaught. Oh, I wished I could stay here forever.

The tension became nigh unbearable, wound tight as a spring.

"Please!" I begged, so close, so close.

Of course, he came through, and teased that little bundle of nerves in just the right way to make me unravel.

I cried out, back arching and clamping my thighs around his head. My powers slipped away from me and I felt my orgasm once, twice over as my nerves fired brightly, feeling every part of me so incredibly acutely I almost got lost in my zenith.

Gambit kept me anchored, though. His strong, large hands held me within myself, his hot tongue gently stroking inside me, massaging my fluttering walls and drinking me up like a man quenching a long thirst.

Slowly, slowly, I fluttered down from my high, feeling a little dizzy but very, very sated. I could have melted into the mattress and the man below me.

Speaking of which, his insistent tapping against my leg suddenly reminded me of our positions.

"Shit, Remy, sorry!" I breathed, releasing my grip and scooting back onto his chest. "You alright?"

The Cajun chuckled deeply, seeming no worse for wear aside from the lower half of his face being utterly covered in my slick.

"Gambit fine, cherié," he grinned up at me, licking his lips. "Jus' a bit o' tight squeeze, non?"

I shook my head at him, grinning.

"You're lucky I didn't hurt you. I know I'm only fifty kilos soaking wet, but you still don't want all of that on your head."

"Ah, but no finer way to die, ma chère." Gambit's broad grin barely wavered.

"I would prefer you didn't die, actually." I said, ruffling his hair. I intended it in the same jokey manner, yet Gambit sensed my discomfort. He gently eased me back onto his stomach so he could sit upright and look into my eyes properly.

"Remy not goin' anywhere, Shadow," he said seriously, taking my hands in his. "I promise."

My heart seized painfully at his sincerity, and I squeezed his hands.

"I'll hold you to that." I mumbled. He smiled, something so warm and loving it almost pricked tears into my eyes.

"Gambit hopin' ya will." He replied softly, leaning in to kiss me. It was gentle, tender, the sealing of a pact.

This moment lingered, both of us unsure where to go from here.

I decided that it was probably my turn to ruin it.

"So. Still up for a little more 'acts of service', Cajun?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

His answering grin was enough on its own.

"Gambit's all yours, chère..."

[tigressaofkanjis]

Transformers: Lost World - All 69 Organic and Cybernetic Animals

Mounts - Animals that are kept for transport.  

Pets – Animals that can be kept as creatures for comfort or raised as livestock.  

Hunts – Animals that can be hunted for meat and other byproducts like bone or plating. 

Planet Xari Organic Animals: 

Draco Horse (P/M/H) – All areas (except Ocean); Can be found in Tiger and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Midnight (Dark Blue, Dark Purple, and Slate Purple), Malachite (Dark Green, Green, Light Green), Aqua Spring (Deep Blue, Light Blue, and Teal) 

Rare Colors: Prime Sherbert (Red, Blue, and Yellow), Dragon’s Breath (Dark Brown, Orange, and Grey) 

2. Timbercow (P/H) - Towns, Meadow; Can be found in Tobiano and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Diamond Ring (White, Cerulean, and Silver), Blueberry Cream (Blue and Light Gray), Magical Betta (White, Blue, and Maroon) 

Rare Colors: Spatial Wonder (Blue, Gold, and Silver), Mint Vanilla (Mint, Teal, and Cream) 

3. Rushpig (P/H) - Towns, Meadow, Jungle; Can be found in Basic and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Moss Rock (Camo Green, Windsor Tan, and Black), Alstroemeria (Green, Yellow, and Orange), Tuxedo (Black and White)   

Rare Colors: Candy Apple (Crimson and Silver), Rainbow Fluorite (Lavender, Mint, and Black) 

4. Fluffsheep (P/H) - Towns, Meadow, Mountains; Can be found in Basic and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Frosted Bloom (White, Grey, and Magenta), Faded Dusk (Light Gray, Deep Blue and Orange), Cinnabar Dolomite (White, Maroon, and Deep Grey) 

Rare Colors: Elegant Eclipse (Gold, Black, and Silver), Purple Labradorite (Purple, Black, and Brown) 

5. Gullgoat (P/H) - Towns, Meadow, Mountains; Can be found in Basic and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Desert Bloom (Tan, Purple, and Yellow), Shaded Canyon (Copper, Purple, and Black), Treasure Ore (Silver, Gold, and Copper) 

Rare Colors: Parade (Cerulean, Teal, and Crimson), Fuchsia (Pink, Purple, and Gold with Blue Lights) 

6. Jaded Donkey (P/M/H) - Towns, Meadow; Can be found in Chevron and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Militia (Green, Grey, and Black), Malachite (Dark Green, Green, Light Green), Sand (Gold and Tan) 

Rare Colors: Masquerade (Vivid Purple, Neon Green, and Dark Grey), White Lotus (White, Green and Mint) 

7. Moonduck (P/H) - Meadow, Ocean, Tundra; Can be found in Basic and Mackerel Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Cobalt Aura (Dark Blue, Gold, and Purple), Obsidian Sun (Black, Orange, and Deep Copper), Energon (White, Blue, and Teal) 

Rare Colors: Cherry Swirl (Crimson and Magenta), Super Seven (Gold, Purple, and Maroon) 

8. Gemdog (P) - Towns; Can be found in Basic and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Variscite Bracelet (Gold, Green, and Mint), Fire Opal (Orange, Black, and Gold), Ruby Glass (Red, Light Teal, and Black) 

Rare Colors: Amethyst (Indigo, Gray, and Silver), Apatite Calcite (Blue, Slate, and Orange) 

9. Serpicat (P) - Towns; Can be found in Ocelot and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Purple Dawn (Purple, Lavender, and Grey), Decadent Paradise (Burgundy, Slate Purple, and Silver), Supernova (Black, Red, Orange, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Gothic Luxury (Black, Gold, and Crimson), Mosaic (Dark Blue, White, and Yellow) 

10. Horned Chicken (P/H) - Towns; Can be found in Basic and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Bumblebee Jasper (Yellow, Black, and Blue), Wire Jacket (White, Red, Green, and Black), Moonlit Ocean (Dark Blue, Black and White) 

Rare Colors: Rhondochrosite (Magenta, Pink, and Pale Pink), Lepidolite (Indigo, Lavender, and Slate) 

11. Rockram (P/H) - Meadow, Mountains; Can be found in Narrow Single Striped and Narrow Double Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Turquoise (Teal and Mint), Charm (Silver, Gold, and Magenta), Sumi-e (White, Black, and Red) 

Rare Colors: Lavender Field (Lavender, Grey, and Green), Dark Stone (Deep Blue, Black, and Slate) 

12. Ringshark (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Saddled and Mackerel Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Starry Night (Black, Indigo, and Copper), Moonlit Ocean (Dark Blue, Black and White), Ivory Glamour (White, Gold, and Red) 

Rare Colors: Green Amber (Dark Green, Amber, and Brown), Crimson Rosella (Red, Blue, and Black) 

13. Dagger-stripe Dolphin (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Basic and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Peppermint (White, Red, Green, and Grey), Star Sapphire (Slate Gray and Deep Blue), Aurora (Purple, Green, and Black) 

Rare Colors: Ornament (Red, Silver, and Gold), Tourmaline (Pink, Green, and Dark Green) 

14. Rainbow Jellyfish (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Tribal and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Fuchsia (Pink, Purple, and Gold), Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White), Grassland (Light Green, Mint, and Amber) 

Rare Colors: Showtime (Blue, Crimson, and Gold), Monochrome (White, Black, and Grey) 

15. Glowhale (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Mackerel and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Ominous (Teal, Black, and Silver), Rainbow Fluorite (Lavender, Mint, and Black), Imperial (Silver, Gold, and Purple) 

Rare Colors: Constellation (Navy Blue and Silver), Legrandite (Gold and Yellow) 

16. Reef Fish (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Saddled and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Citrus Melody (Green, Orange, and Yellow), Coral Reef (Pink, Teal, and Gold), Coreopsis (Yellow, Deep Gray, and Red) 

Rare Colors: Sumi-e (White, Black, and Red), Black Swan (Black, Deep Grey, and Gold) 

17. Coralcrab (P/H) - Ocean Can be found in Basic and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Harlequin (Red, Black, and White), Aspen Forest (Grey, Dark Grey, White, and Yellow), Mystic Mist (Slate, Lavender, and Yellow) 

Rare Colors: Ammolite (Green, Yellow, and Red), Black Pearl (Black and Silver) 

18. Barbed Octopus (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Leopard and Triangular Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Vampire (Black, Purple, and Red), Crimson Tide (Crimson, Burgundy, and Dark Red), Cupid (Pink and White) 

Rare Colors: Sphene Titanite (Gold, Green, and Burgundy), Candlelight (Orange, Black, and Yellow) 

19. Sunscorpion (P/H) - Desert; Can be found in Chevron and Wide Single Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Inferno (Tangerine, Light Orange, and Black), Regal Galaxy (Black, White, and Gold), Zultanite (Camo Green, Windsor Tan, and Grey) 

Rare Colors: Witch Doctor (Lavender, Black, and Slate Purple), Yellow Jacket (Yellow and Black) 

20. Cat-Eye Cobra (P/H) - Desert; Can be found in Ocelot and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Black Widow (Black, Grey, and Red), Tiger’s Eye (Orange, Black, and Crimson), Komodo (Green, Orange, and Deep Grey) 

Rare Colors: Morning Glory (Purple, Lavender, and Black), Flag (White, Deep Blue, and Crimson) 

21. Blue-back Camel (P/M/H) - Desert, Canyon; Can be found in Basic and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Aqua Spring (Deep Blue, Light Blue, and Teal), Glass Marbles (White, Red, Blue, and Black), Cosmic Nebula (Blue, Black, and Pink) 

Rare Colors: Dark Butterfly (Black, Indigo, Gold, and Light Grey), Turquoise (Teal and Mint) 

22. Frivolifox (P/H) - Desert, Tundra; Can be found in Saddled and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Sunset (Red, Gold, and Orange), Pink Dream (Pink, Purple, and Maroon), Dark Architecture (Tan, Purple, and Black) 

Rare Colors: Chromite (Silver and Gray), Mint Vanilla (Mint, Teal, and Cream) 

23. Dustbat (P/H) - Jungle, Canyon, Mountains; Can be found in Cheetah and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Auburn Anthem (Crimson and Copper), Blood Moon (Black and Crimson), Iris Diamond (Silver and Violet) 

Rare Colors: Old Shed (Green, Dark Brown, and Black), Cards (White, Red, and Black) 

24. Sawbill Parrot (P) - Jungle, Ocean; Can be found in Narrow Double Striped and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Aurora (Purple, Green, and Black), Rose Bouquet (Red, Magenta, and Yellow), Ammolite (Green, Yellow, and Red) 

Rare Colors: Techno Rave (Dark Blue, Purple, and Gold), Hibiscus Trionum (White, Black, and Gold) 

25. Starry Owl (P/H) - Jungle, Meadow, Towns; Can be found in Cheetah and Mackerel Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Cosmic Nebula (Blue, Black, and Pink), Midnight (Dark Blue, Dark Purple, and Slate Purple), Purple Starling (Purple, Teal, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Tropical Dusk (Burgundy, Amber, and Lavender), Frosted Bloom (White, Grey, and Magenta) 

26. Xervias’ Hawk (P/H) - Volcanic Basin, Jungle, Mountains, Ocean; Can be found in Basic and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Ornament (Red, Silver, and Gold), Coreopsis (Yellow, Deep Gray, and Red), Black Swan (Black, Deep Grey, and Gold) 

Rare Colors: Decadent Paradise (Burgundy, Slate Purple, and Silver), Emerald Marble (Green, Gold, and Black) 

27. Split-tail Eagle (P/H) - Jungle, Mountains, Tundra, Canyon; Can be found in Basic and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Chromite (Silver and Gray), Huntsman (Tan, Dark Brown, and Grey), Shaded Canyon (Copper, Purple, and Black) 

Rare Colors: Phoenix (Yellow, Orange, Red, and Black), Royal Blue (Blue, Gold, and Teal) 

28. Lightleopard (P/H) - Jungle, Meadow, Mountains, Tundra; Can be found in Leopard and Triangular Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Prairie (Yellow, Camo Green, and Silver), Dark Architecture (Tan, Purple, and Black), Hibiscus Trionum (White, Black, and Gold) 

Rare Colors: Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White), Fire Hydrant (Red, Yellow, and Grey) 

29. Shining Tiger (P/H) - Jungle; Can be found in Tiger and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Monochrome (White, Black, and Grey), Dragonborn (Red, Orange, and Yellow), Wildfire (Amber, Red, and Dark Grey) 

Rare Colors: Predator (Black, Purple, and Gold), Mosaic (Dark Blue, White, and Yellow) 

30. Brutebear (P/H) - Mountains, Tundra, Canyon; Can be found in Basic and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Green Amber (Dark Green, Amber, and Brown), Andesine (Copper, Red, and Slate), Spatial Wonder (Blue, Gold, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Yellow Jacket (Yellow and Black), Diamond Ring (White, Cerulean, and Silver) 

Cybertron Cyber-Animals: 

31. Electriphant (P/M/H) -Jungle, Desert; Can be found in Basic, Mackerel, and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Constellation (Navy Blue and Silver), Turquoise (Teal and Mint), Midnight (Dark Blue, Dark Purple, and Slate Purple) 

Rare Colors: Ivory Glamour (White, Gold, and Red), Poltergeist (Black, Purple, and Grey) 

32. Giraffeton (P/M/H) - Jungle, Desert; Can be found in Basic, Hexagonal, and Triangular Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Flag (White, Deep Blue, and Crimson), Wildfire (Amber, Red, and Dark Grey), Prime Sherbert (Red, Blue, and Yellow) 

Rare Colors: Mystic Mist (Slate, Lavender, and Yellow), Leather Coat (Windsor Tan, Neon Yellow, and Dark Grey) 

33. Penguengin (P/H) - Tundra, Ocean; Can be found in Basic, Cheetah, and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White), Black Pearl (Black and Silver), Raven Flock (Grey, Black, and Slate) 

Rare Colors: Purple Starling (Purple, Teal, and Silver), Daredevil (Blue, Crimson, and White) 

34. Gear-deer (P/M/H) - Mountains, Tundra; Can be found in Basic, Wide Racing Striped, and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Aspen Forest (Grey, Dark Grey, White, and Yellow), Dark Architecture (Tan, Purple, and Black), Decadent Paradise (Burgundy, Slate Purple, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Crown (Gold, Red, and Silver), Spatial Wonder (Blue, Gold, and Silver) 

35. Motormoose (P/M/H) - Mountains, Tundra; Can be found in Basic, Narrow Single Striped, and Flames Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Desert Bloom (Tan, Purple, and Yellow), Dragon’s Breath (Dark Brown, Orange, and Grey), Baptisia (Purple, Camo Green, and Deep Purple) 

Rare Colors: Citrus Melody (Green, Orange, and Yellow), City Night (Blue, Orange, and White) 

36. Roboto-possum (P/H) - Meadow, Jungle; Can be found in Basic, Chevron, and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Peppermint (White, Red, Green, and Grey), Old Shed (Green, Dark Brown, and Black), Huntsman (Tan, Dark Brown, and Grey) 

Rare Colors: Cauliflower (Purple, Green, and Orange), Azurite (Deep Blue, Copper and Black) 

37. Glitch-mouse (P/H) - Meadow, Jungle, Volcanic Basin; Can be found in Basic, Tobiano, and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Grassland (Light Green, Mint, and Amber), Tourmaline (Pink, Green, and Dark Green), Diamond Ring (White, Cerulean, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Andesine (Copper, Red, and Slate), Poltergeist (Black, Purple, and Grey 

38. Armodrillo (P/H) - Volcanic Basin, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Hexagonal, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Auburn Anthem (Crimson and Copper), Imperial (Silver, Gold, and Purple), Legrandite (Gold and Yellow) 

Rare Colors: Iris Diamond (Silver and Violet), Tropical Dusk (Burgundy, Amber, and Lavender 

39. Arachnotron (P/M/H) - Volcanic Basin, Jungle, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Wide Double Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Crimson Rosella (Red, Blue, and Black), Regal Galaxy (Black, White, and Gold), Alstroemeria (Green, Yellow, and Orange) 

Rare Colors: Witch Doctor (Lavender, Black, and Slate Purple), Blueberry Cream (Blue and Light Gray) 

40. Cougaraider (P/M/H) - Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Wide Sports Striped, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Coreopsis (Yellow, Deep Gray, and Red), Candlelight (Orange, Black, and Yellow), Frosted Bloom (White, Grey, and Magenta) 

Rare Colors: Shaded Canyon (Copper, Purple, and Black), Raven Flock (Grey, Black, and Slate) 

41. Hyenabot (P/M/H) - Desert, Canyon; Can be found in Basic, Cheetah, and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Prairie (Yellow, Camo Green, and Silver), Sumi-e (White, Black, and Red), Mosaic (Dark Blue, White, and Yellow) 

Rare Colors: Snowflake (White and Baby Blue), Berry Platter (Blue, Red, and Teal) 

42. Razor Snake (P/H) - Desert, Canyon; Can be found in Basic, Ocelot, and Chevron Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Black Swan (Black, Deep Grey, and Gold), Chromite (Silver and Gray), Leather Coat (Windsor Tan, Neon Yellow, and Dark Grey) 

Rare Colors: Glass Marbles (White, Red, Blue, and Black), Purple Labradorite (Purple, Black, and Brown) 

43. Ro-simian (P/H) - Jungle; Can be found in Basic, Triangular, and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Star Sapphire (Slate Gray and Deep Blue), Zultanite (Camo Green, Windsor Tan, and Grey), Black Pearl (Black and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Dark Butterfly (Black, Indigo, Gold, and Light Grey), Hibiscus Trionum (White, Black, and Gold) 

44. Iron-bear (P/M/H) - Mountains, Tundra; Can be found in Basic, Narrow Single Striped, and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Andesine (Copper, Red, and Slate), Emerald Marble (Green, Gold, and Black), City Night (Blue, Orange, and White) 

Rare Colors: Morning Glory (Purple, Lavender, and Black), Azurite (Deep Blue, Copper and Black) 

45. Turbofox (P/M/H) - Tundra, Canyon; Can be found in Basic, Cheetah, and Flames Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Rainbow Fluorite (Lavender, Mint, and Black), Techno Rave (Dark Blue, Purple, and Gold), Decadent Paradise (Burgundy, Slate Purple, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Monochrome (White, Black, and Grey), Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White 

46. Driller (P/H) - Desert, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Mackerel, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Stardust (Black, Gold, and Tan), Blood Moon (Black and Crimson), Dragon’s Breath (Dark Brown, Orange, and Grey) 

Rare Colors: Wildfire (Amber, Red, and Dark Grey), Spatial Wonder (Blue, Gold, and Silver) 

47. Warwhale (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Wide Sports Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Ivory Glamour (White, Gold, and Red), Forbidden Depths (Slate, Deep Teal, and Deep Grey), Cauliflower (Purple, Green, and Orange) 

Rare Colors: Fire Hydrant (Red, Yellow, and Grey), Blueberry Cream (Blue and Light Gray) 

48. Cyber-wolves (P/M/H) - Canyon; Can be found in Basic, Tobiano, and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Mint Vanilla (Mint, Teal, and Cream), Magical Betta (White, Blue, and Maroon), Poltergeist (Black, Purple, and Grey) 

Rare Colors: Cupid (Pink and White), Smelting Rock (Amber, Black, and Grey) 

49. Nitrotigers (P/M/H) - Jungle, Meadow, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Inferno (Tangerine, Light Orange, and Black), Showtime (Blue, Crimson, and Gold), Yellow Jacket (Yellow and Black) 

Rare Colors: Fuchsia (Pink, Purple, and Gold), Cosmic Nebula (Blue, Black, and Pink) 

50. Rhinoceroids (P/M/H) - Jungle, Desert, Ocean; Can be found in Basic, Chevron, and Hexagonal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Harlequin (Red, Black, and White), Constellation (Navy Blue and Silver), Ammolite (Green, Yellow, and Red) 

Rare Colors: Glass Marbles (White, Red, Blue, and Black), Crown (Gold, Red, and Silver) 

51. Cyber-cattle (P/M/H) - Volcanic Basin, Meadow, Tundra; Can be found in Basic, Flames, and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Legrandite (Gold and Yellow), Old Shed (Green, Dark Brown, and Black), Cards (White, Red, and Black) 

Rare Colors: Chromite (Silver and Gray), Mosaic (Dark Blue, White, and Yellow) 

52. Alloygators (P/M/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Basic, Hexagonal, and Mackerel Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Citrus Melody (Green, Orange, and Yellow), Aqua Spring (Deep Blue, Light Blue, and Teal), Prime Sherbert (Red, Blue, and Yellow) 

Rare Colors: City Night (Blue, Orange, and White), Baptisia (Purple, Camo Green, and Deep Purple) 

53. Technohawk (P/H) - Ocean, Meadow, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Chevron, and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Phoenix (Yellow, Orange, Red, and Black), Crimson Rosella (Red, Blue, and Black), Predator (Black, Purple, and Gold) 

Rare Colors: Rhondochrosite (Magenta, Pink, and Pale Pink), Gabbro Merlinite (Indigo, Black, and Silver) 

54. Cyber-morphic Predators (P/M/H) - Volcanic Basin (Only found at the end of the magma river on an isle at the waterfalls bordering the map); Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Flames Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Vampire (Black, Purple, and Red), Aurora (Purple, Green, and Black), Komodo (Green, Orange, and Deep Grey) 

Rare Colors: Sunset (Red, Gold, and Orange), Emerald Marble (Green, Gold, and Black) 

55. Singlehorn (P/M/H) - Ocean (Only found on one isle); Can be found in Basic, Tribal, and Wide Single Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Coral Reef (Pink, Teal, and Gold), Mint Vanilla (Mint, Teal, and Cream), Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White) 

Rare Colors: Cosmic Nebula (Blue, Black, and Pink), Wildfire (Amber, Red, and Dark Grey) 

After unlocking access to Cybertron, these creatures will start to spawn in the wild of the overworld with each area on Cybertron visited for the first time. 

Cybertron: Sea of Rust 

56. Oxide Shark (P/H) - Ocean, Desert (Can swim in sand so watch out!) Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Ominous (Teal, Black, and Silver), Mystic Mist (Slate, Lavender, and Yellow), Hibiscus Trionum (White, Black, and Gold) 

Rare Colors: Shaded Canyon (Copper, Purple, and Black), Tropical Dusk (Burgundy, Amber, and Lavender) 

57. Opabinia (P/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Basic, Triangular, and Saddled Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Coral Reef (Pink, Teal, and Gold), Rose Bouquet (Red, Magenta, and Yellow), Sphene Titanite (Gold, Green, and Burgundy) 

Rare Colors: Turquoise (Teal and Mint), Blueberry Cream (Blue and Light Gray) 

Cybertron: Crystal City 

58. Ursanokor (P/M/H) - Meadow, Jungle; Can be found in Basic, Leopard, and Cheetah Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Pink Dream (Pink, Purple, and Maroon), Dark Butterfly (Black, Indigo, Gold, and Light Grey), City Night (Blue, Orange, and White) 

Rare Colors: Imperial (Silver, Gold, and Purple), Leather Coat (Windsor Tan, Neon Yellow, and Dark Grey) 

59. Cryo-Condor (P/H) - Ocean, Meadow; Can be found in Basic, Narrow Double Striped, and Wide Single Striped Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White), Fire Hydrant (Red, Yellow, and Grey), Purple Starling (Purple, Teal, and Silver) 

Rare Colors: Iris Diamond (Silver and Violet), Alstroemeria (Green, Yellow, and Orange) 

Cybertron: Tyger Pax 

60. Cybertronian Jellyfish (H) - Ocean, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Mackerel, and Tobiano Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Morning Glory (Purple, Lavender, and Black), Techno Rave (Dark Blue, Purple, and Gold), Raven Flock (Grey, Black, and Slate) 

Rare Colors: Yellow Jacket (Yellow and Black), Crown (Gold, Red, and Silver) 

61. Dieselle (P/M/H) - Mountains, Volcanic Basin; Can be found in Basic, Saddled, and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Tiger’s Eye (Orange, Black, and Crimson), Witch Doctor (Lavender, Black, and Slate Purple), Dark Architecture (Tan, Purple, and Black) 

Rare Colors: Magical Betta (White, Blue, and Maroon), Cauliflower (Purple, Green, and Orange) 

Cybertron: Mithril Sea 

62. Brontobot (P/M/H) - Jungle, Canyon, Tundra; Can be found in Basic, Tiger, and Hexagonal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Ornament (Red, Silver, and Gold), Decadent Paradise (Burgundy, Slate Purple, and Silver), Mosaic (Dark Blue, White, and Yellow) 

Rare Colors: Tourmaline (Pink, Green, and Dark Green), Baptisia (Purple, Camo Green, and Deep Purple) 

63. Manatronatee (P/M/H) - Ocean; Can be found in Basic, Chevron, and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Forbidden Depths (Slate, Deep Teal, and Deep Grey), Aqua Spring (Deep Blue, Light Blue, and Teal), Daredevil (Blue, Crimson, and White) 

Rare Colors: Mint Vanilla (Mint, Teal, and Cream), Snowflake (White and Baby Blue) 

Cybertron: Uraya 

64. Sheepacron (P/M/H) - Meadow, Desert, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Cheetah, and Tiger Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Stardust (Black, Gold, and Tan), Andesine (Copper, Red, and Slate), Hibiscus Trionum (White, Black, and Gold) 

Rare Colors: Emerald Marble (Green, Gold, and Black), Gabbro Merlinite (Indigo, Black, and Silver) 

65. Cyber-Duck (P/H) - Canyon, Tundra, Volcanic Basin; Can be found in Basic, Mackerel, and Triangular Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Peppermint (White, Red, Green, and Grey), Grassland (Light Green, Mint, and Amber), Zultanite (Camo Green, Windsor Tan, and Grey) 

Rare Colors: Prime Sherbert (Red, Blue, and Yellow), Azurite (Deep Blue, Copper and Black) 

Cybertron: Iacon 

66. Cyber-dog (P/M/H) - Meadow, Desert, Tundra; Can be found in Basic, Wide Racing Striped, and Tribal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Black Widow (Black, Grey, and Red), Royal Blue (Blue, Gold, and Teal), Smelting Rock (Amber, Black, and Grey) 

Rare Colors: Dragonborn (Red, Orange, and Yellow), Purple Labradorite (Purple, Black, and Brown) 

67. Cybercat (P/M/H) - Jungle, Canyon, Mountains; Can be found in Basic, Flames, and Ocelot Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Crimson Tide (Crimson, Burgundy, and Dark Red), Constellation (Navy Blue and Silver), Sumi-e (White, Black, and Red) 

Rare Colors: Blue Sky (Cerulean, Baby Blue, and White), Desert Bloom (Tan, Purple, and Yellow) 

Cybertron: Kaon 

68. Hydroweasel (P/H) - Ocean, Tundra, Volcanic Basin (Only in the water at the edge of the area), Desert (Only in the water at the edge of the area); can be found in Basic, Wide Single Striped, and Leopard Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Turquoise (Teal and Mint), Wildfire (Amber, Red, and Dark Grey), Leather Coat (Windsor Tan, Neon Yellow, and Dark Grey) 

Rare Colors: Royal Blue (Blue, Gold, and Teal), Daredevil (Blue, Crimson, and White) 

69. Beetgadol (P/M/H) - Mountains, Jungle, Desert; Can be found in Basic, Mackerel, and Hexagonal Patterns. 

Normal Colors: Old Shed (Green, Dark Brown, and Black), Huntsman (Tan, Dark Brown, and Grey), Poltergeist (Black, Purple, and Grey 

Rare Colors: Crimson Rosella (Red, Blue, and Black), Spatial Wonder (Blue, Gold, and Silver) 

[mickimagnum]

Devin's Dude Ranch: Episode Five

*the camera pans down to show Echo Valley Ranch, soon after the sun has risen. a rooster crows loudly.*

Devin (voice-over): "Today is my solo date with Handra and I'm really excited to see him. I like our connection. It's comfortable and easy. And we have a lot in common. So, yeah. I can't wait to see what happens between us when we have more time alone together."

Handra (voice-over): "I barely slept last night I was so excited about our date today. I can't believe I get to spend the day with Devin. I don't know what we're going to do, but as long as I'm with her, I know it's going to be fun."

*the next shot opens with Handra approaching Devin. she's waiting for him between two horses, one of which is her horse Gale. Devin is smiling at Handra*

Devin: "Good morning, Handra!"

*Handra beams at Devin*

Handra: "Good morning, beautiful."

*he comes to a stop in front of her and they hug*

Devin (teasingly): "Can you guess what we're doing today?"

*Handra glances at the horses, then looks back to Devin and jokingly scratches his head, as if confused*

Handra: "I was hoping you'd give me a hint."

*Devin lets out a loud laugh, which Handra follows with his own deeper chuckle*

Devin: "Well, I thought we'd go for a ride. And maybe stop for some breakfast along the way."

*their eyes meet and Handra gives her a lopsided grin*

Handra: "I would love that."

Devin: "Alright, great! Let me introduce you my friends here. This gorgeous creature to my left is my horse, Gale. And on my right is the newest addition to the ranch. His name is Bellamy, and he'll be your mount for the day."

*Handra's eyes light up as he looks over Bellamy. He makes he way over and gently runs his hand down the horse's neck*

Handra: "Hey there, big fella. It looks like you and I are going to be pals today."

*Bellamy relaxes his head in Handra's palm and closes his eyes, enjoying the affection*

*Devin smiles to herself, as if making note of how well the horse responds to her date*

*After a few moments of allowing them to bond, Devin speaks up:*

Devin: "You ready to saddle up?"

Handra: "You bet."

*the pair mount their horses and begin on their journey*

*the next shot fades in of Devin and Handra riding along a trail that winds up a desert mountain. Their conversation is indistinct, but it is peppered with laughter and sounds upbeat and playful*

Handra: "A fancy pergola in the middle of nowhere? I feel like that's definitely for us."

*Devin's laughter rings out against surrounding rock walls*

Devin: "You would be correct, sir. Onward!"

Handra: "Yes, ma'am!"

*the pair ride up to the Oasis' pergola and come to a stop.*

Devin: "Well, this is fancy."

*Handra nods in agreement as he leans forward in the saddle and scratches Bellamy's neck*

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

*Stan, Milo, and Houston are around the bar in the kitchen having breakfast*

Milo: "So, what do you think they're doing?"

*Houston puts his fork down, sighs, and presses his finger against his temple as if to stave off a headache*

Houston (dryly): "I'm trying not to think about it."

Milo: "Because it makes you jealous?"

*Houston sits silently for a moment, his jaw clenched, obviously considering whether or not if he was going to answer*

Houston: "Yeah, man."

*Houston picks up his fork and begins shoving the food around on his plate*

*Stan looks on silently as he sips his coffee*

At the Oasis...

*Devin and Handra and now seated at the table under the pergola, enjoying gourmet french toast*

Handra: "I don't know if I told you, but you look amazing today."

*Devin, who just shoved a fork-full of food into her mouth, now hides behind her hand as she chews and begins to blush*

Devin: "Thank you. You do too."

*Handra smiles and and glances shyly down at the table in reply*

Devin: "You handled yourself pretty well on Bellamy on the way up here."

Handra: "I spent some time as a horse trainer, mostly training ponies for kids back home. So, I've had my fair share of time in the saddle."

*Devin cocks an eyebrow*

Devin: "Really? That is so cool! A fellow horse trainer; yet another thing we have in common. You know, I teach riding lessons and most of students are kids. I think getting people involved with horses young is so important."

*Handra smiles at Devin, his eyes shining*

Handra: "That's amazing. And I agree. It creates a lifelong bond and respect that's really, well...magical."

*Devin nods enthusiastically*

Devin: "Yes! Exactly!"

Handra: "You train and sell competition show horses, right?"

*Devin nods*

Devin: "Yeah, that's right. But, I've got a new project I'm working on, too. See, Bellamy's not just any horse that happens to be at my ranch. I plan to breed him with Gale. That's my the next phase: breeding and training highly pedigreed Quarter Horses."

Handra: "Aaahhh. That makes perfect sense. That's exciting for you."

*Devin smiles and cuts another piece of french toast*

Devin: "I think so," *eats the piece she just cut and after she swallows she says:* "So, what about you? What are your plans for the future?"

Handra: "I bought my ranch, but I'm still in the process of really getting it up and running. I guess I'm just having trouble picking a direction of where I want to go with it. I feel like I could make it all work, you know? I'm stuck in a cycle of analysis paralysis, I guess, surrounded by a bunch of half-finished projects and none of them are making me money right now."

Devin: "Maybe you just need to figure out what you're passionate about? What would be worth dragging your *bleep* out of bed every morning at 5am. What you want to bleed for. I mean, you grew up on a farm. You know this life will literally make you bleed."

*they both share a short chuckle*

Handra: "Yeah, I know you're right. It's just harder than I thought it would be. This 'being my own man' and starting my own legacy thing."

Devin: "If it were easy, it wouldn't be worth doing. And honestly, you should be proud of all you've accomplished so far. I mean, we all have rough patches. But, it's how you get over them that really matters."

*Handra smiles up at her*

Handra: "You're really special. You know that?"

*she returns his smile*

Devin: "Thank you. I've just lived an interesting life that has taught me a lot of lessons. Most of them the hard way."

*Handra reaches across the table and takes her hand*

Handra: "I hope to hear all about it some day soon."

*their eyes meet and they smile at each other*

Devin (softly): "We can do that."

*After a brief time lapse, Devin looks to the away and sighs*

Devin: "It's time for us to head back."

*the two then make their way over the horses*

*before they mount, Handra stops Devin, takes her hands, and looks into her eyes*

Handra: "Thank you for an amazing day. And for listening to me and being so kind and supportive. I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to be here with you. And before we go back, I need you know how much I like you, Devin. I really, really do."

*Devin beams at him*

Devin: "You're welcome. And thank you for an amazing day. I also really like you too, Handra. I'm glad you're here with me."

*Handra then holds Gale steady while Devin mounts*

*Once Devin is in the saddle, she leans down and kisses Handra. It's sudden and catches him by surprise, but he begins to kiss her back, holding onto Gale to steady himself*

*after the kiss, they two separate, look at each other, and burst out into smiles*

*Handra then makes his way over to Bellamy, with a little extra swagger in his step, and mounts*

Devin (to Gale): "Alright, girl. Let's go home."

*as the pair begin the ride home they join hands*

Handra: "Wait, does this mean we're literally riding off into the sunset together?"

Devin: "It's only noon, cowboy."

Handra, in diary room: "After today's date, I now know for a fact that Devin is woman I've been waiting for. She's so kind, and smart. Conversation and just being with her is easy. Everything about her feels right. And...she kissed me...best kiss of my life." *smiles at the floor in recollection*

Devin, in diary room: "I really enjoyed being with Handra today. And when he opened up and was vulnerable...that meant a lot. Every minute of being with him just feels natural. So, yeah, I kissed him," *laughs* "I think I surprised him a bit. But I wanted to shake things up. It was nice. I can't wait to see him again."

Handra submitted by @bloomingkyras Milo submitted by @belsasim Houston submitted by @invisiblequeen James "Stan" submitted by @natolesims

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[longlistshort]

Aaron Zulpo has captured the beauty and quiet of the desert in his enchanting paintings for California Deserts at 1969 Gallery.

From the gallery-

Following his relocation to California, Zulpo’s interest in landscape painting has expanded and become a pivotal aspect of his studio practice. This change has inspired a new series of sensitively observed landscape paintings of the American West. He begins his work in plein air during exploratory hikes through rugged desert terrain. Zulpo’s connection to the land imbues his paintings with a sense of reverence.

In California Deserts, the artist presents a series of recent paintings whose subjects range from the canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains, to the peaks of Mount San Jacinto, to the boulders and century-old Yuccas of Joshua Tree National Park. Zulpo captures the changing atmospheric and lighting conditions of the desert sky, as exemplified in works such as Quail Mountain Dust Storm and Joshua Tree with a Red Sky, bathed in golden, peach, and auburn tones that evoke the allure of the desert at sunset. Other paintings, such as Looking at Maze Loop from Quail Springs, highlight the uniquely expressive quality of cloudforms, which appear, at times, to mirror the craggy rocks below.

Drawing inspiration from early twentieth-century landscape painters, such as Rockwell Kent and the Canadian Group of Seven, Zulpo presents a serious and sustained engagement with the natural world. At the same time, he brings a twenty-first century environmental consciousness to the landscape tradition, calling attention to the inherent virtue and beauty of wild spaces and the need to preserve them.

In 2017, Aaron Zulpo and Johnny DeFeo co-founded The Guild of Adventure Painters. This non-profit organization aims to keep nature at the forefront of the arts by offering residency programs, community building initiatives, exhibitions and public events. Since its inception, The Guild of Adventure Painters has been dedicated to inspiring artists to immerse themselves in the outdoors, cultivating a deeper connection with nature and playing a vital role in its preservation.

This exhibition closes 6/15/24.

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): The Assignment of the Duty of the Prophethood and First Muslims

Our Prophet starts to hear supernatural voices

When the Master of the Universe (PBUH) reached the age of thirty-eight, he started to hear some voices and some lights around. And sometimes he was called as, “O Muhammad!” from unseen.

Yet he was then still unable to understand what those strange voices and lights meant. However, he knew that such occurrences were not meaningless and not for nothing and spent days pondering over them.

From time to time, he told his venerable wife, Khadija, about them and often they two spoke about them. His wife, Khadija, the only source of comfort then, kept consoling him during their conversations.

This state of Muhammad (PBUH) continued for about one year.

True Dreams

At the age of 39, the period of “True Dreams” started. The events that were to happen the day after were being shown to him in his dreams in a way between wakefulness and sleep. It was so much so that the dreams he had in the night were taking place during the day as he had in his dream.

This state went on about six months, which can be considered a preparation period for receiving divine revelations.

He seeks loneliness

After this six-month period, the Master of the Universe’s holy spirit was searching for complete solitude. His greatest desire was to distance himself from the community and to remain alone with his thoughts… because his soul was getting discomforted by the indecency, cruelty, and gloom that was found in the society in which he lived.

He was made to love loneliness, He could abandon everything that he possessed but he would never abandon being alone with the universe and his realm of contemplation, away from people.

For that reason, he did not stay much in Mecca and was seen to choose desolate places that were far from people and to be consumed in contemplation in these places.

During these periods of solitude, he asked why the mountains, rocks, the earth, the sky, and the universe had been created, why people were sent to Earth, and what their aim and purpose was. The boulders of Mount Hira, the immense deserts, the sun, the moon, the shining stars, nor the passing clouds could answer his inquiries. He passed his days and nights in wonder since he could not find the answers to his questions.

Yes, the Master of the Universe’s holy spirit craved solitude in the outwardly sense whereas in reality, he carried the desire of being in the presence of Allah within the depths of his soul. This desire was to reach an endless existence within solitude.

This condition was seen in almost all of the prophets before they received revelations. Before his prophethood, Hazrat Musa spent 40 days fasting in solitude in the mountain of Tur. Similarly, Hazrat Isa was consumed in worship for forty days in a peaceful forest as he remained far from the world. 

THE MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE IN HIRA

The year was 610 in the Gregorian calendar.

The Master of the Universe (pbuh) was forty years old.

He had a regular custom that he had been doing for years. He would spend the month of Ramadan with contemplation, worship, and prayer at the cave at the hill of the Mount of Hira. It was quiet and serene in there. It was the best place for him to be left alone with his reflection. His blessed soul, which was bored with the corrupt atmosphere of the society he lived in, found tranquility and peace over there. 

The Messenger of Allah did not worship randomly in the cave of Hira; he worshipped in accordance with the religion of Hanif, the religion of Ibrahim, his ancestor. 

One day in the month of Ramadan, he went there again for worshipping and contemplation. He made his way to the mount of Hira with provisions that his wife Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) prepared for him.

The universe observed every step that its Master took with respect and stood in a deep silence. Yet, that stillness was not in vain. It was full of wisdom.      

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) accompanied the stillness with his reflection, which thus brought about some harmony. It was as though the universe whispered to his great soul as saying, “The reason why I was created is you. It is you who will explain my meaning best and that I am full of wisdom and lessons. Therefore, I am grateful to you.”

The Master of the Universe (peace be upon him) was now in the cave at the hill of the Mount Hira, where he soon was to be worthy of having divine revelation. He was engaged with his worshipping and contemplation.

[thunderjawsandlightning]

Niloy November - Day 1: Light

There are flickering lights rippling over the dunes, shifting colours like silk banners in the air.  The lights look ephemeral, transient, almost eerie if not for the delicate structures they outline on half-buried buildings.  Nil pulls up his Charger to a halt atop a sand dune, the mask cocking to the side as he surveys this new sight.  He’d been through the Stillsands not too long ago, maybe a fortnight or so? And the desert had been coloured only with spiraling dust devils and the red-and-green markers of Rebel camps that he’d taken care to avoid.  But now, the desert was alight, and Nil couldn’t resist the curiosity that tugged from behind his sternum to investigate closer.  The light in the sky reminded him of Aloy, of the machine-light she often seemed shrouded in.  The largest, most lingering memory was the explosion of blue at the top of the Spire, him and the old general surrounded by sparking demon-machines and flames, faces turned upward and his body thrumming with the knowledge that she would have been at its epicenter.  The quieter, more constant memory was of her, on the road, backlit by the placid blue light emanating from her mount.  

He ran a hand along the glowing blue wires, giving his Charger a pat before urging her forward.  The machine gave a subtle chitter, an accompanying flicker of her lights as she turned her head as if in acknowledgement, and Nil chuckled to himself.  First, it was back East, and now here in the ever-dangerous West, that seeing humans astride machines was becoming an ever more common sight.  Although, nothing would quite pique his interest the way Aloy had that one day, thundering up to the bandit camp among the Gatelands on the back of a Strider.  She had left her machine a ways back on the road, behind the rocks – a smart move, given that a lone grazing machine would have looked out of place so close to a camp.  

To see someone riding a machine felt like something out of a story, more like the fireside tales of his childhood, or one of the lurid fables of Considerate Udain. The time it took for her to approach his waiting spot allowed him the breadth of feelings from a mild awe and shock, to an impressed appreciation, to a quietly burning curiosity that he let simmer to embers in his mind.  That same wash of feelings came surging through Nil’s chest now as he dismounted and walked forward in wonder.  The apparitions shimmering and flickering overhead felt so much like something Aloy would have walked through, something she would have been drawn to, or drawn forth from the depths of the sand like water from a well.  

And among honeycomb-patterned metal and glass, under beautiful, ghostly, scintillating lights, already seeing a path of twists and turns through stone and over sand, Nil thought, ‘The perfect place for a different kind of duel.” 

[teecupangel]

Submitted by @saberamane

I’m finally back with the Ark/AC Fusion!!

 They reach the deepest depths of the subterranean cave they’ve called home for the past while, and find the platform for the final ‘boss’ of the area. Entering, they encounter the deformed, tentacled monster that was once ‘Rockwell’ (which Ezio says, firmly, that that was on the list of things he definitely wouldn’t consider having sex with), and in time, put him out of his misery.

As the portal readies to ‘ascend’ them, Desmond says a last, tearful farewell to his Reaper, placing it in a cryo pod and leaving it in the saddle of his rock drake.

As they are lifted up, following the spinal like machinery back up towards they came down, all the broken down machines begin to light up until they reach the very beginning of where they started. A bright flash of light and the portal whisks them away.

Only this time, they are not transported through space to a new ‘ark’, they are sent to earth. And earth does not look good. There are spires of crystallized element erupting from the ground, and the dirt is dry as dust and lifeless, not a single spec of green anywhere to be seen. And the creatures are ‘infected’ with the element as well, large parts of them replaced with black and purple, looking like decayed flesh.

They’ve barely taken in their surroundings when these infected creatures begin to take notice, and run towards them.

Surprisingly they’re saved, by a white and red tek Giga of all things. And who does Desmond see on it’s back?

Clay.

Desmond:

Velonasaur

Gasbag

Defense Unit

Mega Mek

Forest Wyvern

Ice Titan

Altair:

Enforcer

Scout

Gacha

Rubble Golem

Thylacoleo

Yeti

Ezio:

Managarmr (Because they’re flashy as fuck, and Ezio is all about the ‘bling’, lol)

Dire Bear

Tapejara

Rex (Ol’ reliable lol)

Daeodon

Desert Titan

Ratonhnhaké:ton:

Snow Owl (I just feel he’d really like their heat vision, and they can heal which would help him when exploring.)

Rock Elemental (Because sometimes you just need a tanky boy.)

Yutyranus

Megalosaurus (Cave runs!)

Iguanodon

Forest Titan

Clay!!: He Lives!! And only has tek Creatures

Tek Giga (totally hacked, not legit tame AT ALL, because you can’t legit get them.)

Tek Rex

Tek Raptor Pack

Tek Quetzal

Tek Parasaur

Enforcer

And as a surprise, Clay, the best man to ever live, hacks an orbital drop to get Desmond’s Reaper for him. And he is definitely judging Desmond about this, even though he knows how this happens. I mean, Desmond could have just left the thing out in the wild to fend for itself…

Now then, how is Clay here? He doesn’t know exactly. He woke up on ‘Extinction’ with that weird gem thing in his wrist, and all engrams/dossier’s unlocked. For a long while he thought he was still in an animus or something…

Also, he is linked to Ezio, and Ezio only, so when Ezio dies… Clay does too. And the first time it happens is a surprise to everyone BUT Desmond. Clay is not please with being linked to someone else, especially when they die often…

=============

Additions from teecup:

The Ark Survival Evolved AU idea (this one and this one too)

Tames for The Island Ark

Tames for the Scorched Earth Ark

Tames for the Aberration Ark

Clay would add an interesting dynamic to the mix too, especially if he’s being a chaotic gremlin.

Also, the fact that Clay can hack the system is such an OP move at this point that I think we need to give Clay a disadvantage of some kind to level the playing field (because the other OP character we have is Desmond and his OP-ness is ‘random’ as far as everyone knows although it seemed to have a higher chance of working on bosses which is more of a rule of funny than anything else).

May I suggest, Clay actually has the lowest ‘stats’ of the four? Like, yeah, he has all engrams/dossiers unlocked BUT he gets tired and hungry quicker than anybody else and his inventory is lower than the others (even if he ups his inventory using other means like a mount, it is still lower than it should be).

Clay thinks someone is out to get him because he’s cheating the system or because he’s not meant to be there in the first place and his entire existence was some sort of accident. Maybe even both!

So, because of Clay’s ‘limitation’, he tends to stay near the base because (1) he’s squishy so he could easily die and (2) if Ezio dies, he dies anyway. Staying near the base means that anything that stayed on his ‘corpse’ could be retrieved if necessary.

Desmond

Reaper does not count as a tame in this ark because Reaper is technically a ‘mod’ at this point and it seems to aggro everything that sees it so, yeah, his Reaper is safer in the base as a lookout/patrol. Full on bored kid always happy to see their working parent come home and play with them vibes.

His Velonasaur usually joins him when he’s out in the ‘wilds’, acting as both a decoy and a DPS attacker with his thorn and spine attacks to keep the enemy (especially flying ones) switching between two or more targets. He also sometimes acts as a scout but Desmond prefers him to stay close by as more of an early radar if Desmond is too focused on one direction.

Gasbag was tamed sorta unintentionally? Desmond found a Gasbag wounded and he felt bad for the poor fella so he gave him food to try and heal him. That amount of food was enough to tame him (and maybe Desmond’s random glitchy taming ability might also be in play) and he followed Desmond back to the base. He works more as both pack mule and also a source for more oxygen. Desmond definitely does not like him to be part of any fighting because he just sees him as a sweet mild-mannered tame, even going as far as feeling scandalous when Altaïr suggested that he could be a good decoy.

Everyone calls bullshit on Desmond taming a Defense Unit. Like, everyone knows by now that if there is any monster/creature/whatever that could not be tamed in this Ark, it would be the sci-fi looking crab robot thingie. Desmond swears he tamed him the ‘natural way’. They all think it’s bullshit but, at this point, they just accepted that Desmond was bound to freaking tame one or two untameables this time anyway. The Defense Unit itself is kept near the base as more of patrol and it likes to attack anything near the base that doesn’t register as an ally to Desmond. This does mean that any other patrolling tames usually grabs the carcass of anything the Defense Unit has killed back to the base for easy ‘good boy’ praises (even though everyone knows it was probably killed by the Defense Unit). 

Altaïr built the Mega Mek after a few Meks have been built that have a prototype hidden blades. Desmond gave him the big puppy dog “I want one pleeeasse?” eyes after seeing Altaïr’s own Enforcer and hearing how he liked watching shows of robots fighting back in New York. Everyone gives Altaïr the knowing ‘you’re so totally whipped’ look when he presented the Mega Mek (which was created using the previous experimental Meks) to Desmond. This is Desmond’s preferred vehicle of choice and as a Vorpal TEK Cleaver as its main right hand weapon and Altaïr’s latest hidden blade attachment as its left hand weapon (the next version will have a hook blade attachment because Ezio insists)

Because of Mega Mek, the Forest Wyvern is usually used for aerial attacks or if Desmond needs to scout some place from high up. Forest Wyvern is also his usual go to AOE attacker and Gasbag is afraid of the fire. 

Unsurprisingly, the Ice Titan serves as the main attacker in Desmond’s ‘pack’. Desmond and the Ice Titan usually tag team every enemy into oblivion while it’s distracted by the Forest Wyvern or the Velonasaur. Desmond never leaves the base without his buddy Ice Titan (which he may or may not be calling Vanilla Ice, Clay stresses he should not be allowed to call him Vanilla Ice).

Altaïr

The Enforcer is his main mount mostly because of how adaptable to the environment it is. His Enforcer is usually called Altaïr’s Monster by Clay because it’s not just one ‘tamed’ Enforcer. It’s multiple Enforcers all ‘stitched up’ by Altaïr’s audacity after he learned that fully crafted Enforcers can only be level 1 and he hates the game of chance of having enemy Enforcers leave blueprints of random quality so he just went “I’ll take my base Enforcer and just keep upgrading him with other Enforcers parts”. Clay is sure cannibalizing parts from other Enforcers is also against the rule but everyone just accepts it because Altaïr is already in his mad scientist phase and every mad scientist needs to create a monster that may become their undoing as a treat. Why is the Enforcer most probably going to be his undoing? Well, it’s a modded Enforcer for all intents and purposes so it is one of their highest damage dealing ‘tames’ at the moment (maybe only rivaled by the Mega Mek)

As the name says, Scout is usually used by Altaïr to scout around so Altaïr could plan his route better. Unlike the Enforcer, Altaïr didn’t bother to mod his Scout BUT he does have a lot lying around the base because of their varying qualities so everyone believes he plans to mod his current Scout at one point or another. It is also sometimes used to lure targets into traps or, if Altaïr believes that Desmond plans to go to a dangerous area OR thinks Desmond might be planning something stupid, he would let Desmond ‘borrow’ his Scout and the Scout’s only instruction is to keep healing Desmond’s Mega Mek. Desmond can’t even use it to scout around because the Scout’s main and only order as far as its concern is to keep healing the Mega Mek. 

The Gacha stays in the base to keep producing resources, especially crystals. Altaïr tried to make a farm but noticed that the Gachas tend to become sad if Gachas of the same gender are near each other and then Altaïr had to get a female Gacha for both of them to stop being sad then they had children. At some point, Altaïr had unintentionally built a large enclosure to ensure the current Gachas are not sad OR trying to overwhelm the base’s population with more baby Gachas. (Clay had suggested they just kill the excess Gachas, at which Altaïr grumbled that Desmond wouldn’t like that if he heard about it and Clay just made a whipping sound). One of them actually gives loot instead and Altaïr is trying to study how the hell that happened. 

So apparently Rubble Golem cannot be tamed but Rock Elemental can be? But if we want Altaïr to have a Rubble Golem instead, we can make it as a thank you gift from Desmond for the Mega Mek? Either way, this one is mainly used to mine resources for Altaïr’s ‘studies’.

It might not be his original Thylacoleo but Altaïr tends to forget that at times. It doesn’t mind. It mostly stays near Altaïr acting like an oversized lazy cat.

Okay. So this one is weird. There’s a Yeti in a cave near their base and Altaïr is currently studying it from afar because… it’s sorta a fascinating creature to him? Like it seemed to understand them to some degree and he would like to study it further before killing it (if the need to kill it does come up in the first place). Clay jokes that, soon enough, that Yeti will start learning sign language. That only made Altaïr curious if that would be possible.

Ezio:

Ezio would insist that he got a Managarmr because he’s all about the bling as Clay and Desmond like to tease. But also, the Managarmr is one of the more ‘dangerous’ mounts to use as they can attract aggro easily thanks to their ambush attacks and flashiness sooooo… there may be a reason why Clay dies a lot in this game thanks to Ezio XD (because of this though, Ezio’s other tames rarely, if ever, get hurt)

If Ratonhnhaké:ton’s previous Dire Bear was more on the attacking and mule side, Ezio’s Dire Bear is more of a jack of all trades but master of not. Loves to gather everything and anything it sees to get pets from Ezio. Fast enough that it could be used as a scout. Definitely packs a punch. And can take more weight than most. 

Tapejara is his aerial support and usually used to ferry him and his other tames into usually inaccessible areas. Tapejara is highly skilled because it does a lot of things, including stealing eggs while the mother is distracted.

Th T-rex is called Cars 2 (in honor of Desmond's T Rex named Car) which Clay claims to be an underrated Pixar movie that deserves more love. Desmond insists Clay is being sarcastic. Nobody else gets the reference.

Daeodon is a tame that everyone insists (especially Clay!) that Ezio brings with him because of its healing abilities. Seriously, Ezio needs it the most this time around for some reason (there are theories that the monsters that easily aggros on Ezio might have ‘smelled’ or ‘felt’ his connection to Clay and that’s the reason why Ezio has the second highest respawns in this around, 1st is Clay and that’s because of Ezio’s deaths mostly. It really says something that Desmond who would have to respawn if anyone BUT Clay dies is the 3rd highest this time around and he likes to ‘take a walk’)

The Desert Titan is usually used as a mobile base and Ezio taught it how to grab his corpse and run away. Actually, his tames had been taught of “Dead Ezio Protocol” which can be summarized as ‘grab Ezio’s corpse and find a safe place while keeping each other safe’. The Desert Titan usually served as the leader in that scenario with the Managarmr becoming bait and decoy while Tapejara flies back to the base to get Ezio.

Ratonhnhaké:ton

Absolutely agree. Ratonhnhaké:ton would like Snow Owl’s utility and also use him as a messenger if any of the others are nearby.

Rock Elemental: Yeeeess, the tank of Ratonhnhaké:ton’s pack and also the real MVP considering the amount of fighting they do.

Ratonhnhaké:ton let Desmond name Yutyrannus “Yuty Junior” in honor of the first Yuty. Ratonhnhaké:ton’s Yuty though is more on the buff-debuff side than pure damage, giving roars that ups attacks of damaged tames (which tend to happen) and weakens enemies.

Ratonhnhaké:ton asked Altaïr if he’d like to name his Megalosaurus in honor of Altaïr’s old Megalosaurus but Altaïr just reminded Ratonhnhaké:ton that he didn’t exactly name all of his tames. That’s more of Desmond and Ezio’s thing (Clay sighs and tells Desmond that naming them only makes it harder to let them go and Desmond groans that he knows that but he can’t help it, they look so sad without names and Clay will stress that, no, they do not, that Gacha is sad because he’s not getting any Gachussy). In honor of the nameless Megalosaurus, Ratonhnhaké:ton names his Megalosaurus Junior. (No one knows if he’s being serious or if it was a joke)

Iguanodon was one of Ratonhnhaké:ton’s first tames in this Ark but she’s been heavily outclassed by the other tames and the places Ratonhnhaké:ton now goes too can be quite dangerous for her. Mainly, she serves to gather food and act as a pack mule for the pack so they can continue on even longer without returning to base.

Forest Titan has a building on its back that stores most of Ratonhnhaké:ton’s other attack items including weapons, ammos and they serve as a mini-sorta base but not really a base? There is a bed there so Ratonhnhaké:ton can respawn on the back of the Forest Titan (he told Ezio he should do that as well but Ezio’s like ‘naahh, it’ll be fine’). The Forest Titan also serves as an offhand tank if Rock Elemental needs to tap out for a bit.

Clay

Tek Giga might have been the trigger that makes everything aggro at Clay. The Tek Giga was Clay’s first hack and hacking in this Ark takes a long time so he could not do it anymore because of all the aggros. However, with the help of others, Clay is planning to try hacking another one. Maybe even the big boss just for shits and giggles XD

Tek Rex and the Tek Raptor Pack are Clay’s main damagers. He calls them his “Jurassic Park Gang”. Only Desmond gets that reference of course. 

Tek Quetzal is usually his go to mount whenever some big fight is happening and staying on Tek Giga or even Tek Rex would be dangerous.

Tek Parasaur is there to cause chaos, master of hit and run attacks and also… berry gathering. This one looovvveeesss stimberry and the common joke is that it’s tweaking when it’s out gathering stimberries XD

His Enforcer is something he fully crafted on his own and, no, he will not do that abdomination that Altaïr was still doing. At some point, Clay thinks Altaïr should just stop but he knows he won’t. He had a taste of what it feels like to be Frankenstein and he’s going to keep going until the Monster finally says no. (Desmond tells him to stop being so overly dramatic)

[otherworldseekers]

Something's Gotta Give Chapter 8 Scene 2

And for those who don't want to read it on AO3...

Previous installment | Masterpost

Once, the road that ran through the country just south of Mor Dhona would have been frequented by Garlean convoys moving back and forth between Castrums Meridianum and Centri. But now it was deserted, the remaining Garleans who hadn’t died in the destruction of the Praetorium holed up in what remained, waiting for a rescue that would never come. Severia had watched Nero closely when they had passed by his former seat of command, but there had been no emotion on his face. His lack of concern for his fellow soldiers made her shiver. Every time she thought she was figuring him out, he showed her a new piece of himself, and she struggled to fit them all into the same picture. But at least it gave her food for thought on the long road north. 

They were deep into the hills when the storm caught up with them. The dark clouds rushed in as if blown by a wind from hell, the change in the atmosphere covering her skin in goosebumps. She urged her mount forward faster, her head whipping back and forth in search of any kind of shelter, but even the few trees that grew on these rocky hills were bare at this time of year and would do little to shield them. What would they do? She had to find something. A convenient pile of boulders, a rocky overhang, anything…

Rain started to splash down on them and Severia felt her bile rising as she began to panic. The storm was moving too quickly. At this rate it wouldn’t be long before…

A long low rumble sounded from the south west. For a moment, her body seized up and dizziness almost overcame her, before the sound faded away. She kicked her mount into a gallop. A small voice in her mind whispered that it was reckless and futile, but a louder voice was shouting “run, run, run”. The first lightning strike she saw was only a few hills away, the clap of thunder sounding just a moment after the flash. And at that point, she lost all reason. 

Nero wiped water from his eyes and cursed as Severia disappeared down the road. The rain was falling in sheets, reducing visibility to mere fulms. He had no idea what had gotten into the Warrior of Light that she would do something so stupid as to gallop headlong into a storm, but it left him little choice but to follow her. He cried out her name over and over but the roar of wind and rain was too strong. More than once he just barely avoided careening into a tree or rock along the roadside and his chocobo squawked and fought him in protest. 

Suddenly there was a brilliant flash of light and heat ahead of him on the road and he heard a terrified scream. He had a very bad feeling about that scream. Thunder crashed around him as he burst onto the scene, bringing his chocobo skidding to a halt as he vaulted off its back and ran. Severia lay in a heap on the road, rain and dirt spattered and unconscious. Nero went down on his knees in the mud, lifting her limp form in his arms. He breathed a sigh of relief to feel her pulse still going strong. Nor did she appear to have any sign of injury. The lightning hadn’t hit her, but judging but the scorched circle just a few fulms away on the road, it had been close. 

Was that enough to cause such a reaction in a woman who had faced Eikons without flinching? He felt there was more here that he did not know, but that would have to wait. He had to figure out what to do about the situation immediately before him.

Perhaps miraculously, Nero’s chocobo was still standing where he left it, attempting to cower beneath its wings. He looped the reins around his arm and, carrying Severia, headed further down the road where he could just make out the dull golden glow of her Kirin. As he approached the beast, it looked at him and made a sound halfway between a horse’s neigh and a dragon’s roar. Then it trotted further up the road before stopping and looking at him again. 

Nero sighed. “Very well. Might as well follow the mythical beast and find out what happens,” he muttered. “It can’t be worse than standing here in the rain.”

After several more starts and stops, Nero peered through the rain and made out a patch of darkness in the hillside. A cave. The Kirin had led him to a cave. Naturally. As unsettling as the experience was for a man born in magicless Garlemald, Nero was not ungrateful. The Kirin was watching him carefully as he carried Severia into the shelter of the cave. Nero made a point of nodding to the creature and saying, “Thank you.” It seemed content with that and walked sedately into the cave before him. 

Blinking the rain from his eyes, Nero looked around and took stock of his situation. Fortunately the cave was rather large and it was obvious that it had been used by travelers before. There was a campfire circle still in evidence and toward the back of the cave a stack of dry wood. Nero gently laid Severia down to one side of the circle of stones and attended first to their mounts, as she would have wanted him to do, removing saddles and saddlebags and providing his chocobo with a pile of greens. The kirin, Severia had told him before, was a spiritual creature and didn’t need physical sustenance. 

He concluded that starting a fire next was most urgent as both of them were soaked to the bone and shivering. Severia had always used flint and tinder but Nero smirked and fetched his ceruleum lighter from his saddle bag. Soon he had a lovely blaze going. That left the question of their water logged attire. Using some of the longer sticks from the stockpile, Nero quickly fashioned a couple of simple racks to dry their clothing on more efficiently than they would dry on the cave floor. Satisfied with their construction, he peeled off his overcoat, waistcoat and shirt, placing them on the rack to dry, and putting his boots next to the edge of the campfire. He longed to take off his chaffing trousers but suspected that Severia would not be so keen on that idea should she awake. Well, if he moved around enough they would probably still dry on his body. 

Nero narrowed his eyes as he looked at Severia. This was going to require some delicacy. But if he left her in those soaked clothes in this weather she would surely catch a chill. He considered whether or not she might rather risk the chill than have him undress her. Probably. And whether or not he was simply justifying the action in his mind so that he could get a peak at her in her small clothes. Well, who could blame him? She, certainly. But she wasn’t conscious at the moment. Still… 

He retrieved a blanket from the saddlebags, thankfully dry. He wasn’t the best of men, but he wasn’t a monster. He would wrap her up warm when she was free of her wet attire. Tackling the ridiculous number of belts and buckles, Nero finally managed to pull her tunic open. A moment later he closed it again. 

“Well, that was unexpected,” he muttered to himself. He sat back on his heels and rubbed his chin in thought. His objective was to get her dry and warm. Surely she would understand?  He considered this possibility. “No, she’ll kill me. But what else can I do?” He began to reach for the opening of her tunic again and then paused, sighed, and closed his eyes. 

He performed the rest of the operation blind and very, very carefully, making sure he touched her no more than he absolutely had to. If she woke up before he was done she would certainly kill him. Some jostling couldn’t be avoided and her hair came loose around her shoulders. Once she was wrapped up in the blanket, he placed her on her back beside the fire. Feeling restless and slightly irritated at himself, Nero went to dig through the saddlebags for supplies. 

His own actions of late had become confusing to him. He had always been a man who looked out for himself first, who satisfied his own desires at others’ expense if necessary. So what was it about Severia Zetsuen that had him repeatedly considering her welfare above all else? Why did he find himself wanting to please her? Even more concerning, why did he feel the urge to protect her? Even if it be from himself?

Returning to the campfire with his spoils, Nero finished setting up camp and began to make preparations for their evening repast. He glanced occasionally at Severia as he worked, noticing when her face turned toward the warmth of the fire, when her cheeks became rosy from the heat. So when her eyes slowly blinked open and she sat up and looked around herself in a daze, he was ready to hand her a steaming cup of tea. 

At first Severia stared at it in surprise, but when she took the cup in her hands and breathed in the fragrance a smile lit her face. She took a small sip and sighed in appreciation. “Thank you. But how…” Her brow furrowed as she examined herself. “Did you…” She peaked beneath the blanket wrapped around her. 

Ah yes, here it comes, Nero thought to himself. “Now, hero,” he began, trying to head her off, “it’s hardly my fault that you weren’t wearing any small clothes under that tunic.”

Severia let out a squeak, her face frozen in a horrified rictus. “You looked? You saw me…”

“I couldn’t help the first glance,” Nero argued in his defense. “I certainly wasn’t expecting it.” And it certainly didn’t seem like her, wearing her tunic without any kind of undershirt or breast band. But he wasn’t about to question her about her underwear habits. “Er, Severia?”

Severia had calmly set down her cup of tea and turned her back on him, hiding her face in her arms. 

Nero ran a hand through his hair, feeling a little hurt. He’d done his best, hadn’t he? He’d carried her through the storm, seen to her comfort and health, made her favorite gods-damned tea. Why the hells did it matter so much if he’d seen her breasts? They were both mature adults. These things happened.

Nero’s brow furrowed as he began slicing bread for their evening meal. Hunched over on the other side of the fire, her hair flowing around her shoulders instead of pulled back as usual, she looked so small and fragile. He’d gotten so used to her meeting him as he was, to their interplay as equals. He’d quite forgotten how much younger than him she was. How inexperienced compared to himself. And suddenly he felt a thousand years old. 

Fucking hells, he thought to himself. I might as well be the despicable old lecher she takes me for. 

A clap of thunder echoed through the cave. The storm continued to rage outside and Nero had almost stopped noticing it. But at the sound Severia began to shake. Was she cold? She shouldn’t be, sitting so close to the fire. If it wasn’t the cold that made her shiver then… It was fear. And the pieces of their predicament fell into place. But before Nero could say anything, another bolt of lightning hit just outside the cave, another crash of thunder accompanying it. 

Severia screamed and threw herself to the ground, curling up into a tight ball. She wasn’t just afraid. She was terrified. Nero shuffled over to her side, putting his arms around her shoulders and lifting her to face him. “Severia. Severia, it’s alright.”

Eyes closed and hands gripping her horns, she shook her head and moaned. It was somewhat shocking seeing her, the fierce Warrior of Light, frightened of thunderstorms like a child. Nero wasn’t sure what to do. He’d never comforted anyone before. 

“It’s alright,” he repeated. “We’re safe here.”

Tear filled eyes peaked out from her blanket. “Safe?” 

“I promise you,” he said gently, brushing hair from her forehead. “The storm won’t reach us here.”

“Us?” A whimper with just the barest hint of hope. 

“Us,” he said with what he hoped was an encouraging tone. “I’m here with you. You’re not alone.”

Her lower lip quivered and one small brown hand reached out from within her blanket for his. “You won’t leave me?”

Nero felt those protective instincts had only just been beloathing shifting into high gear and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He wanted, more than anything just then, to be the one to keep her safe. To be the one she could rely on. “Not as long as you want me to stay,” he promised. 

The haunted look in Severia’s eyes eased into relief, the corners of her mouth rising just the slightest bit. “Please,” she whispered. Her fingers brushed softly again his bare skin for a moment. “You’re so warm. It’s so cold. I don’t want to be cold.”

Nero felt a worrisome tightening in his chest and pulled her closer. But there was something wrong here because it wasn’t cold. Not right next to the fire as they were. And now he noticed that there was a glassiness in her eyes that he had never seen before. Her face and her shoulders were flushed and a sheen of perspiration was developing on her brow. Had all his efforts been for nothing? Had she developed a fever after all?

“Shit,” Nero muttered to himself. He laid her down on her bedroll. Water. He needed cool water. He grabbed an empty bowl and filled it with rainwater at the cave mouth and then ripped off a strip of his own blanket to wash her face and neck. He emptied her tea mug and filled it with rainwater as well and propped her up to help her drink it in small sips. 

“Nero…” she said weakly when he had forced her to drink the whole thing. “It’s ok. You can go. You can leave me behind.”

“What nonsense are you talking? Leave you behind? Because of a little storm?” Nero scoffed. “I assure you the situation is not remotely that dire.”

“I’ll just… be a burden…” Tears once more began to trickle down her cheeks. “I’ll always be… a burden.”

“Severia, you are the realm’s most competent adventurer, a hero in your own right, depended upon by world leaders and common folk alike.” That she would think so was laughable to him. But he realized that he was doing the same thing everyone did with her. Seeing her for what she could do, not who she was. She was far more than hero and champion. She was far more than that even to him. “You’re the most fascinating person I’ve ever met,” he told her softly, still holding her upright. “You make me want so many things I always told myself I could never have.” 

He didn’t know if his words were getting through to her. Perhaps it was better if they didn’t. But it was something he needed to admit to himself, he realized. Nero was a man who had always pursued lofty goals. But in chasing those dreams, there were things he had denied himself. Things he told himself would only get in the way, things he didn’t need. And he had thought it was no real loss. With Severia, long dead desires had begun to surface. The longing, more than anything else, of the companionship of an equal which he had given up on 14 years ago. 

It was a development he hadn’t anticipated when he had forced himself into NOAH. And he still didn’t know what he was going to do about it. What he wasn’t going to do was allow this incredible woman to say such patently ridiculous things about herself. 

“You’re no burden, Severia. Not to me.”

He watched her face crumple up in distress as her tears poured. “It’s my fate. It’s always been my fate. Just let me die.”

Nero sucked in a breath. With sudden insight he realized that this wasn’t about her life as an adventurer. This was about the past. What she had confided in him the previous night. Somehow she was reliving it. Something had triggered her. The storm. The lightning and thunder. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, wanting nothing more than to take away her fear. But how? He needed to know more. 

“Severia,” he whispered into her horn. “Tell me about it. Tell me about the storm.” He watched as her eyes cleared and she seemed to see him for the first time since her fall. But she didn’t pull away from him. Instead she closed her eyes and buried her face into his neck, clinging to him like a woman drowning. 

“It was the third night,” she began softly. “I’d been tied to the tree for that many days. Without food. Without water. The ropes had torn my wrists to shreds from my struggles. But I had no more strength. I couldn’t even stay on my feet. I sagged against the ropes and they cut into me harder than ever. That was when the storm began. I didn’t notice it coming. The pain was all I knew. Then suddenly water was coming down in sheets all around me. At first I was happy. I opened my mouth and drank as much as I could. But then came the lightning. The sacred tree was the only tree for miles around. It drew the lightning to it. I watched it strike over and over, moving in my direction. It was inevitable that it strike my tree.” 

She paused to catch her breath, and on a whim, Nero took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. He raised their hands until the back of hers was against his lips. It felt natural to do it. It felt good. And she didn’t stop him. Did he dare to hope she liked it too?

“I don’t remember anything but the pain. So much pain, filling me from head to toe, and then nothing until I woke up the feeling of water on my lips. I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t died. I was supposed to die.” She let out a deep sigh. “Since then I’ve been terrified of storms.”

“Considering what you’ve just told me, I think that’s entirely fair. You experienced things no child should ever have to.”

“I should be stronger,” she said, her voice quavering. “I’m a burden to everyone like this. I… I couldn’t even fight Ramuh. I failed.” She pressed her face into the deep rumble of laughter in his chest even as she protested. “It’s not funny.”

“I think, as a man whose career you thoroughly wrecked with your typical prowess, it’s only fair that I be allowed to revel in your rare failures. At least a little.”

Her back went rigid and she pushed herself upright to glare at him. “Your career of invading foreign lands and murdering innocent peoples deserved to be wrecked,” she said acidly. 

Nero grinned. “There’s the hero I know.”

Severia blinked at him and then deflated. “That’s not fair.”

He tipped her chin back up so that their eyes connected. “Everyone fails, Severia. No one succeeds all the time. It doesn’t make you any less. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have been saved.” He wiped her tears away with his thumb and cupped her cheek. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Nero, you… You can’t…” 

They were so close, their mouths only ilms apart, and he was tempted almost beyond mortal strength to kiss her. He thought perhaps, with the way she was looking at him, that she might want it too. But he had told himself after last night that he wouldn’t kiss her again, not until she asked him. 

The moment passed and she pushed herself away from him. She looked exhausted as she laid back down. It was likely quite tiring to relive such a memory. Nero remember that he was supposed to be helping her, not forcing uncomfortable confessions from her. But he felt better knowing what was causing her condition. It should pass with the storm, but she still needed care. He stood up to refill her cup at the cave mouth. 

“Where are you going?” she asked, slightly panicked, as he walked away from her bedroll. 

“Only to get you more water. It’s important to take in plenty of fluids when you have a fever,” Nero explained patiently. 

Once again he helped her to drink the water in measured sips and then went back to his seat on the other side of the fire where the bread he had cut earlier was rapidly growing stale. “Fortunately it matters little since I was going to make toasted cheese.” There hadn’t been much else to eat left in their bags. 

“Oh,” Severia said hopefully. “That sounds delicious.”

“Trust me. It will be. I have a secret ingredient,” Nero said smugly. 

The secret ingredient ended up being garlic powder, which Nero said he always carried with him, just in case. And he was right. It was more delicious that she could have imagined. He insisted on her drinking several more cups of water during their simple meal and kept up a running stream of loud chatter to drown out the fading noises of the storm as it passed. By the time he had cleaned up the storm was reduced to just the steady beating of the rain and he saw that Severia’s eyelids were drooping. 

“Now, you need to rest, hero,” he said. 

“Oh. Yes.” She bit her lip, looking downcast. 

“Is there a problem?”

“Well. Um.” Possibly she was blushing, but he couldn’t be certain. “It’s only… I’d rather not sleep alone tonight.” 

Nero cocked his head as if he hadn’t quite heard her correctly. “What is it you do want?” There wasn’t anyone else there, except their mounts. Did she want to bed down with her Kirin? 

“Could I sleep with you?” she asked in a very small voice. 

The night had been full of surprises, but this one was perhaps the greatest. He stared at her for some moments, processing the request. 

“Not… Not that way! If that’s what you’re thinking,” Severia exclaimed. 

“I wasn’t.” Had hadn’t. He felt somewhat insulted that she thought he would consider taking advantage of her so in her weakened state.

“Good. I just-” 

“You want to sleep side by side?”

She looked like she was regretting the whole thing but she managed a grudging, “Yes.” 

“Very well. I’ll move your bedroll.”

Severia was grateful when he placed her bedding between his own and the campfire, protecting her on two sides. Even with the thunder and lightning gone, she felt terribly fragile. She couldn’t bear to be alone. And it felt almost natural when Nero banked the fire and then laid down beside her. What would it be like to have him always there, at her side? She thought, as she drifting off to sleep, that it might not be so terrible.

Silence fell around them with only the droning of the rain and the occasional pop from the campfire to relieve it. Nero was all too aware of Severia’s presence beside him and how very undressed she still was beneath the blanket. But he refused to allow his mind to dwell on it. Instead he conjured up the schematics for his new device in his mind and poured over them for the hundredth time, looking for any flaws and finding none. He smirked as sleep rose to claim him. Of course not. He was a genius.

Thanks for reading! Any kind of comments or feedback is especially welcome!

[dykeishheart]

The Dragons Of Enura

New excerpt of Saints in the Desert!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually fucking got there!!!!

It's like, 4500 words. Took me a hot fucking minute. Anyway, enjoy the chapter where I introduce dragons, aspects of Enuran culture, philosophy, and some light desert ecology (fantasy). Also there's a big fuckoff huge pile of dead bodies because like. War.

“Hold. Something stirs.”

Damian stood, the rumbling of the earth growing beneath him. Leander gripped his pike tight, white knuckled on the shaft. The rest of the men behind them stopped short, looking around to see nothing but sand. What remained of the Enuran town burned behind them as it had all night and into the morning. Fear of curses and magics unknown rattled through the men.

“Damian… I think we’ve upset something,” Leander said, his eyes forced closed to not see his lieutenant witness his fear.

“Dragon. They got ‘em out here in the desert, I heard so from my cousin. They live in the sand! Big as a galleon, they eat-”

“That’s enough, Bertholdt,” Damian snapped, cutting him off.

Leander started walking again, pacing hurriedly into the desert. Damian blinked, then followed after him. He heard armor and weapons clink and rattle behind him, hushed whispers passing amongst the men like barn flies as the troupe walked away from the morning sun. The rumble was getting closer, heavier, and more sustained.

A solitary tree stood in the dunes ahead. Damian knew not what kind. As the ground shook, so too did the dry and feathery boughs, needles dropping off snaking limbs. Leander stopped again, looking out at the tree. The ground was still for precious seconds, a stillness almost as concerning as the shaking earth before it, before the alien tree was swallowed into the ground below.

“What in the name of God…”

The earth erupted. Sand blasted the men and filled the skies, entire dunes obliterated into the wind. A thick haze of reflecting sun in clouds of dust blinded Damian to everything around him; he couldn’t open his eyes to the dust storm for more than a half a second lest the sand shred them open. Tears welled in his eyes. The power of the storm against his body felt as if the weight of the entire desert had crashed into him like a ship careening into rocks. Damian reached his arms out to find Leander crumpled on the ground ahead of him. He crawled over the top of Leander to shield him, however little good it would do now. Damian felt an eternity of sand settle on the two of them as they laid on the ground, breathing heavy, pained breaths of mortal terror.

It was all he could do to keep from seizing up and dying of shock, just holding onto Leander. He was right. The world felt as if it was ending in this sad little corner of the desert. A bed made for a curse, and he was lying right in it. As his eyes held shut against so much sand, his vision was nothing but fire. Fire as far as his mind could tread, as far as the horizon of his imagination, burning eternal behind a grinning madman.

The sand slowed, settling a mighty weight on Damian’s back. He could hear Leander struggling to breathe. He hurriedly pushed himself off of Leander, and carefully wiped his eyes. When he finally dared open them, Damian saw sand strewn about Leander’s face thick enough to almost entirely obscure it. Frantically he started brushing off as much of the stuff as he could until blessed breath was heard in Leander’s mouth. Leander coughed violently, a dry drowning just narrowly warded away.

“Dragon! I told you! It’s a fucking Dragon!”

Damian whipped his head around, scanning the horizon. He saw nothing. He looked back down at Leander, then hoisted him up by his shoulders.

Leander opened his eyes, shock mounting in them as the light dilated his pupils. He raised his hand to Damian’s cheek, touching him as if he wasn’t truly sure he was real.

“Lieutenant! Behind you! Get down!”

Damian’s head was swimming. His vision went black. Voices were calling to him but they were far away, just vibrations through water. His stomach turned. The smell. The pit was calling to him.

“Are you okay? Damian? Here,” the short priest said, forcing a gourd of water into his hands.

Damian stared at the man, dumbfounded. He had lost himself in memory. He blinked, then looked down at the gourd. It had been so long since he drank.

“You disgrace everything our glorious kingdom has fought for. To think you would take the charity of these savages. Do this and damnation far greater than you can imagine awaits your paltry spirit,” spat the king like so much venom.

“I… I cannot accept this of you. You will die where I will not. You have greater need,” said Damian, pushing the gourd back.

“My god, drink the water. We’re a short walk from the river and we have two more gourds full. If you hold still a gardener might eat you as you are, so please, eat and drink with us.”

Damian hesitated. He looked behind himself, but the king was nowhere to be seen. He turned back to the priest. He nodded to Damian, urging him to drink. Damian looked down at the yellow gourd in his hand and gently pried the stopper out.

“I understand your hesitation. We are not without fears of each other. I do not forgive you, but I do not wish to harm you. You may drink.”

“Speak for yourself,” said the younger man off to Damian’s side.

“Quiet, fishmonger.”

Damian looked back to the priest and considered his words. He wondered how many men in his army would’ve given a starving Enuran a scrap of food, even if they had enough to spare. He wondered how many would spare water for a thirsty countryman, even. He wondered if the gesture was one of kindness or fear. He took the gourd up to his mouth and drank, the flavor of the water greeting him in bittersweet homecoming.

The water was a bitter shock. His tongue absorbed much, dry as it was. He could feel the rush of it down his throat, the skin cracking on his lips anew as he drank. The weight of what he had denied himself became clear in the wet of his palate.

“Thank you. I am glad you have ceased this cruelty to yourself,” spoke the short priest.

Damian stopped drinking. The words turned in his mind. He looked to the priest. “What did you say?”

The priest smiled a world-weary smile. “Young men who wish to learn about the world often think to be either blind gluttons or martyred as ascetics. Both are paths of foolishness, as they are fosters of cruelty, either to others or oneself. You cannot gain wisdom through violence.”

“I killed thoughtlessly. I don’t think a man who does that should have an easy time of things.”

“You have a strange idea of what would constitute justice. I fear the man who made you saint of such things,” said the taller priest.

Damian looked at him, anger in his eyes. “In a just world I’d have died long ago. Murderers don’t deserve to live unpunished.”

“Aye, and your death would surely bring all your victims bounding back from the belly of death itself to live once more. Tell me how many innocent men you might have killed if only you were told they were murderers? And for what?”

Damian’s mouth fell open. He couldn’t even form a reply. He had already proven the man right. All that time ago, on the day he became a saint, he made the lie a reality. It had cost him his only love.

Damian looked down to the sand at his feet. “No. They will never come back.”

The priests exchanged looks. Damian could not know what they were thinking to each other, but whatever it was, they nodded to one another.

“Damian. We have come here today to witness a great tragedy in Enura, but also to work. Such things are always opportunities to bring life out of death, much as the gardeners do. Come with us. If you truly wish to receive penance, do so with learning rather than violence,” said the shorter of the priests.

“Mother, you cannot be serious,” protested the fisherman.

Mother? Damian looked at the young man, then back to the priest. He looked closer at the short little man, clothed as he was in loose robes to obscure form as much as protect from sun and sand. A decidedly mannish face greeted Damian’s eyes, and the voice Damian had heard matched this quite well. Damian’s confusion must have been obvious in his face; the priest examined him in kind with eyes that did not seem concerned with his understanding. It was a face that said not to ask whatever questions he had, but that would not answer them either way if the warning was unheeded.

“Will you come with us? There is much to be done,” spoke the taller of the priests. The shorter priest kept his eyes on Damian, looking for any reply.

Curiosity bested him, and Damian asked a question. “What does he mean by mother?”

“My son means to say I am his mother. It is an idea which needs no explanation, unless I have sorely misunderstood how Kelsyid children are raised.”

Damian’s suspicion was correct; the answer would not come. He looked down to the gourd in his hand and took a final swig of the bitter water. A soreness in his muscles crept in with a droning persistence, as if vitality was returning to him as laborious digging through his veins, an unpleasantness that was toned by the reminder of him still being alive in some regard. Damian’s stomach gnashed at the rest of his insides, squirming in search of anything to digest now that water had woken it from dormancy.

“I suppose I don’t have much choice. I will come with you, but I fear I’ll not be of much assistance unless you have a lot more water.”

The short priest smiled at him, her face wrinkling with delight. “I’m glad you’ve come around. Come, we go to the river. I hope you like fish.”

***

The river was near enough to the pit that it could still be smelled as if it were under Damian’s nose. After so many hours in its magnetism, Damian had come to regard the smell as a companion, bound were the two as flies and shit. Fish Damian did not recognize were sizzling in an iron pan; the fisherman had produced both when the four of them sat down by the river’s edge. The noonday sun was hot over-head and the sand was hot under-heel, and the smell of cooking fish was all but drowned in the quagmire of rotting bodies.

Damian surveyed the landscape near the river. Scrub brush was abundant here, far more than he had ever seen in the Wasting Sea. Gnarled and twisted trees with weeping, feathery boughs dotted the land, standing each as solitary moments of interrupted terrain. Damian had never seen trees of this nature back home. Trees back home were tall and thin, uniform to a degree, and bunched together, branching only at their tops to form dense canopies of needling green. To see trees so sparsely planted, twisted and knotted and ugly, was so alien as for him to wonder if they were even trees at all. Damian had heard from more traveled soldiers that Enurans don’t use lumber to construct their homes or to craft their weapons, but he had always wondered how that could be. If their wood was this crooked and misshapen, how could they use it?

Damian’s idle musing was cut short when the fisherman produced an oddly shaped knife with a bone handle in front of him, gesturing to take it. Damian looked up at the young man and saw a much softer expression than he’d come to expect from earlier in the day.

“Take this, and come with me. We’ve carving to do.”

The priests nodded and assumed supervision of the cooking fish. Damian stood and took the knife gingerly in his hand. It felt immediately intuitive to hold, comfortable between his thumb and palm in a way that suggested decades of use in exactly the manner he had held it. The bone was dry and cool, soft in a way Damian did not expect, and porous to the point that it seemed to drink the sweat of his palm. The blade was a hard iron, and Damian tested the sharpness of its edge by raking his thumbprint across it flatways so as not to cut himself. Its edge was marvelously maintained. The fisherman was dedicated to his craft, this much was clear.

“This is a beautiful tool. You must use it with pride,” Damian said to the young man.

“Indeed. It’s an inherited craft, as is the knife. My father was a smith. The bone was his father’s. If I’m lucky, I will give this to my child one day.”

“You did not become a smith like your father?”

“Do children follow their father’s work in your country?”

“Typically, yes. Apprentices aren’t realistic for common folk. My own father was a fisherman as you are, but I chose a life of soldiering after he died.”

“Hopefully you will put soldiering behind you, so your sons and daughters might be fishermen instead,” said the young man, wistfully.

Damian hadn’t even thought about the possibility of having children. Could he even do so?

The fisherman had started walking out toward the trees, and Damian followed him. When they arrived at the gnarled thing, the young man pulled a small axe out from somewhere underneath his robe, then set about the tree, examining it with a keen eye for some detail Damian couldn’t guess. He must have found what he was looking for, for after a few moments the young man began hacking at a bump in the wood. After a few decisive chops, the bump was pried loose and rolled into the young man’s hand with a bounty of sap in tow.

“Do you see these burls? They are places the tree has hurt before,” said the young man, sticky sap coating his fingers. He turned the burl over in his hands. “They are the hardest wood of the tree, most difficult to carve but they give us beautiful eproxa.”

“What is an eproxa?”

The young man began chopping a second burl on the tree as he spoke. “I do not know its translation in Kelsyid tongue, but they are ritual items. We use them to represent our dead in the festival of the gardeners. We carve them from wood here where the oldest of the white bean trees grow. I’ve heard other towns to the south of us just use stones because the white beans do not grow there,” explained the fisherman. He plopped the newly cut burl into Damian’s hand, sticky sap dripping off the thing.

“The closest word for us would be ‘effigy’ but we don’t typically make them to honor the dead so much as rally soldiers on the eve of battle. Our town did not celebrate it but I know of a place in Kelsys where an effigy of God’s disciple Rhea is built out of dried sticks on the week before soybean harvests and placed in the middle of the markets. Most Kelsyid effigies are built to burn the night before battle, and they typically depict the enemy.”

The fisherman considered his words. “Enurans do not build effigies as you describe. Eproxa are small things to hold close, but I suppose the two are both meant to inspire. If you must call it anything in your tongue, I would say it is a talisman. But eproxa is a word which is close to us, so I hope you can appreciate the difference.”

The young man sat down in his place beside the fire and ran his hands across the sand to clean off the sap. Damian followed suit, watching as the young man started carving into the burl in his hand with his own knife. The bone handled heirloom sat uneasy in Damian’s other hand, suddenly feeling as if he shouldn’t be holding such a thing.

The pan of fish had been removed from the flames earlier by the priests, and they now stuffed the fish with herbs of an unknown kind.

“It smells wonderful,” said the young fisherman, not looking up from his carving.

Damian watched as the short priest removed a folded animal skin from her leather bag on the ground. She unwrapped it and produced a flat bowl with a wide lid made of some kind of red pottery. It looked similar to the clay pottery Damian had seen from the towns of the northern coast in Kelsys, but different in a way he couldn’t place. Removing the lid, the priest took four thin flatbread circles from inside and set them across her lap. She placed a single stuffed fish in the center of the flatbread, then rolled the whole thing up in such a way that one end of the newly formed cylinder was closed in on itself. The priest handed the wrapped fish to Damian.

“It is a favorite of mine. Do me the honor of complimenting my cooking?”

Damian could finally smell the herbs more strongly now that the finished meal was so close to his nose. The scents reminded him of basil, but he didn’t recognize the leaves so it must’ve been a different plant. He laid the heirloom knife across his lap so that he could hold the wrapped fish with both hands. It had been weeks since Damian ate any food; his mouth ran wet as soon as he opened it to take a bite. To be truthful, he might’ve enjoyed eating wet clay after so long of nothing at all. His own estimation of flavor – skewed as it must’ve been – made little difference. The fish tasted incredible. He could taste an overpowering aroma from the herbs, bathed in the juices of the fish and the sheep’s milk butter which it had seared in. He’d never eaten anything like it. The flatbread was warm in his hands as he savored the first bite of food he’d had in his immortal lifetime. What a marvel to be welcomed back to his senses, to taste something that wasn’t sand and desolation.

He looked up to see an expectant look on the priest’s face as he forced his throat to remember how to swallow. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and all he could manage was a nod. Satisfied with his answer, she went about rolling the remaining fish so the four of them could eat together.

***

Damian took the wood burl in his hands. Lunch sat amiably in his belly, the first time anything had done so since his time with the Coyotes. He wondered how they would be faring. The fisherman sat next to him and held his partially carved burl in an instructive pose for Damian to copy.

“Envision the endpoint of the cut. Place your blade shallow and push, using your thumb to guide the blade gently to its home at the end of the cut. Force is not your friend here, only self-assured movement. If you use too much force the knife will twist under pressure or you will break your grip. The cut will be ugly and you might nick your other hand.”

“What am I creating with these cuts?”

The fisherman paused and thought to himself before answering. “I suppose you do not feel the same things we do about death. We create eproxa to please our dead, so usually their faces or their favorite items in living times. There are too many dead here and too few living to make appropriate eproxa for all of them before the gardeners arrive. Make whatever pleases your heart.”

Damian puzzled over what exactly he meant. He wasn’t even sure he knew how to please his heart anymore. The fisherman’s comment about death felt pointedly accusatory, but Damian couldn’t protest it. The young man was telling the truth.

“You keep mentioning these ‘gardeners’ but I don’t follow what you mean. Who are they?”

“If I am correct in my predictions, you will meet one tonight. When you do, be respectful,” said the fisherman with a certain finality about his voice.

Damian would have to get used to unsatisfactory answers, it seemed.

“I’ve yet to ask your name. What do you like to be called?”

“By you? Nothing. My mother may be more graceful, but I will not pretend not to hate you. I am teaching you these things because it pleases my mother, not because you have a right to know them.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You are not. You are ashamed.”

Damian could not form a reply. Anger heated his blood, but it quickly subsided. The young man spoke truthfully, but to acknowledge his assessment twisted the knife in the wound. He looked over to the priests, both of whom were carving their own eproxa, neither of whom acknowledged the conversation.

The ground began to shake. It shook in a way that Damian had hoped was only a dream. It shook with the waking of something terrible.

“We have less time than I had hoped, it seems. Come, Damian. Let us head closer to the bank,” said the taller priest, taking the shorter one’s hand to pull her up.

“We have to run! Are you crazy?” Damian dropped his wood burl, barely carved at all. He was frantic, sweat beading his brow.

“Damian, calm yourself. The ground shakes with life. You are in no danger,” spoke the shorter priest.

“No danger? It’s a fucking dragon! I’ve felt this before, right before I was nearly eaten by a monster!”

A mighty wallop met the side of Damian’s head, followed quickly by the hot desert sand. His vision spiraled with darkly spun webs. His stomach turned over and tied itself in knots from his concussed head and the shaking earth.

“Never disrespect my mother, and never disrespect the gardeners,” the young fisherman shouted, barely coherent through the thick clouds swirling in Damian’s head.

“You didn’t have to do that,” the tall priest chided.

“He had it coming.”

“Fuck. Okay, I’m sorry. God,” Damian groaned, holding his pounding head, “you could’ve just given me a warning.”

“You will not die,” said the fisherman, chuckling.

Damian couldn’t understand how the three were so calm. What on earth were gardeners? Were they the dragons? Did Enurans truly have mastery over these beasts? He looked up at the three, each seemingly unconcerned. How could this be their reaction to the same monster that buried his men in the sand and nearly ate them all that time ago? And why would they hold a festival for it?

The taller priest extended a hand for Damian to pull himself up, which he accepted. He winced as his head throbbed.

“You throw a hell of a punch.”

“I hit you with your sword pommel,” the fisherman said through a massive grin, holding up the sheathed blade.

Damian couldn’t even be angry. The man’s clear enjoyment of the moment was infectious. The circumstances were ridiculous to the point that Damian felt like laughing with the young man.

“Let us get out of the way. To the shore, quickly,” said the fisherman’s mother.

The four of them hurriedly walked to the river’s edge, Damian looking over his shoulders to try and see where the dragon would erupt. The rumbling had subsided for the moment, but that could change rather quickly from his experience.

“There! Behold, the gardener emerges!” The taller priest pointed beyond the fire; far off before the horizon sat a mound of sand and shrubbery, shifting with something below.

Damian froze as he absorbed the sight of it. Wings colossal stretched slow and stiff out of the earth, casting off mountains of debris in shrugging wakefulness. A head followed, black and speckled with orange, yawning maw bedecked in spilling sand. The behemoth shook its limbs, leaving the craterous hole of the earth to fill with its castoff bedding. It stood true to its myth, tall and wide as a galleon on the northern coast, its frame truly transcendent in scale. Damian felt a hand on his, pulling him downward, but his eyes were fastened tight on the monster before him.

“Damian, kneel before the great bird. Please do not dishonor yourself.” The hand pulled more insistently.

Damian couldn’t tear his eyes away. The towering wings of the beast slacked back down to the ground and splayed out as if a great lantern spilled its oil across the land. The creature shook itself off of the rest of its sandy blanket and the rest of its lingering sleep, then turned its massive head skyward. It opened its cavernous maw and opined a guttural howl, the kind that rattled bones, pierced eardrums, fractured daytime sky. Damian wondered momentarily if this was a howl to its kin, some kind of summons like the baying of a pack animal in the evening hours of the hunt, or if it simply howled to feel that it still could after waking from a tomb.

The dragon crept toward the corpse pit, its sluggish movement shaking the earth with each heavy step. It raised its leathery wings, creaking with newfound mobility, and beat them downward with torrential force. The desert erupted with sand once more as this great terror launched skyward, blowing debris far and wide in a brilliant plume. Damian stood in awe of this thunderous cloud, standing now outside of it to truly appreciate the sheer terror that had enveloped him those many months ago. To watch such a thing from a distance was beautiful in its own way, haunting as it was to experience from inside the cloud. The dragon descended, its flight ultimately akin to a leap for such a large creature despite being such an incredible distance. Its wings billowed upward to drag against the fall, letting the colossal lizard land with far more grace than it looked to possess at first blush. The innumerable corpses looked paltry to such a megalithic beast.

Memories danced a sonorous dance in Damian’s eyes. The mouth of a hungry abyss, so deep to create its own horizon in which to be enveloped. The lot of them spared the snapping jaws, wide-eyed and terrified, each man leaving alone – even as they walked together – after being changed by such twisting fear. He recognized this ghastly face, the pattern of orange and black under eyes so dark they swallowed the sun. This was the beast that Leander struck with his pike that fateful day. Damian was sure of it. He took shaky steps toward the dragon, knowing not what compelled him but knowing that he dared not falter.

[wolfwoocl]

@sixty-billion

The fastenings attached the ends of his hammock to the bolted mounts on the wall creak as the sandsteamer streaks through the branching cracks of the canyonlands in a flurry of scattered dust and pebbles. 

A small, dark circle on the riveted ceiling panel marks the exact spot he’s been smoking every evening. The vessel rolls over a hefty bump and Wolfwood lets out a stream of curses as his skull hits the roof of the sandsteamer with a resounding thud. 

“Damned dolphin-class sandsteamers! Barely enough room to turn and look at my own ass and every damn rock or pebble has me knockin’ my head against the ceiling.” 

It beats trekking through the desert, considering they had just enough double dollars to cover fare to the next town. Miles and miles of sand separate each of the Seven Cities as they crawl eastward. 

Wolfwood braces with the points of his elbows digging into the stretched canvas and leans over, glaring at Vash in the dimly lit passenger cabin. The only source of light in their cramped quarters streams in through a small porthole window next to the tiered hammocks. There is just enough room to walk, hunched, from one end of the stretched hammocks to the other. The wall with the window peeking out to the desert is recessed enough that he managed to wedge the Punisher upright and into it.

Their only exit is the slab of a metal door by their feet with a simple deadbolt lock. He wouldn’t call the remaining features of the cabin “amenities.” Small cubbies beside each hammock leave enough room for a small-arm or minor personal effects. Netting stretches from one end of the war wall to the next for cargo.  

“Tomorrow night, your ass is sleeping up here and mine is sleeping down there, tongari."

[albertfinch]

INFLUENCING ETERNITY

Paul was not content to know he was going to inherit Heaven. He wanted to be a son of God and inherit the Kingdom on earth.

Philippians 3:12-14 - "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

God has called us to rule and reign with Him now while we are on earth and when we inherit Heaven, too. We are called to be the Bride of Christ.

1 Timothy 6:11-16 "...Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in His own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. Amen."

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

THE POWER TO INFLUENCE OTHER LIVES

Upon our death, the life we lived here on earth will influence eternity. Because of the Living Water flowing out of our life, our life affects the people around us..

Romans 14:7- "For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself."

We are called to complete the race, to subdue the earth, to take DOMINION, and rule and reign with Christ to fulfill the original commission that was given to Adam and Eve, the first man in Genesis.

Hebrews 12:1-2 - " Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..."

Hebrews 12:22-23 - "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in Heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect."

Life is one test after another that prepares us for promotion.

Deuteronomy 8:15-17 -  "He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you."

The things we endure here on earth help to mold and make us into champions of God.

WE GO THROUGH TESTINGS

Jesus was able to handle rejection and disappointment without quitting and giving up. He had to go through the testings, trials and wilderness wanderings just like you and me in order to qualify for the power.  He had a destiny and a call to prepare for.

God is preparing us to rule and reign with Him forever.

God uses the trials, tests, disappointments, sorrows, grief, and painful failures in life.

He stretches us to the breaking point time and time again so we are able to hold more of His essence, and overcoming power.

God uses pressure to cause us to expand and be strengthened.

Spiritual opposition enables us to learn to defeat the enemy through different warfare tactics.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but they are mighty through the Spirit of God.

We are called to stand up and fight and take the Kingdom by force.

Those that do not learn to war in the spirit and to use their spiritual weapons will not make it through the calamities and diseases that are coming on the earth.

We must learn to walk in the fullness of what God has given us (OUR CALLING IN CHRIST).

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[xhellbillyx]

Divine Purpose (fem oc x male oc)

tw for this fic will include: SA, smut (18 +), violence, gore, torture, dark themes

In all her time spent in purgatory waiting for her judgement to be passed upon her , never did Salome ever think that the king of hell himself would call upon her. "A divine purpose" he had called it, this gift... this duty. She had observed in silence as Lucifer sat upon his throne woven with bones and flame and declared her his glorified errand boy. The dark thrumming power he had bestowed on her swirled in her veins and coiled around her bones like a serpent. She had felt the shift immediately; felt herself become something... more. The offer Lucifer had proposed was simply too tempting to resist. Her soul and eternal loyalty in exchange for revenge and a new life. Salome needed all of seconds before accepting the fallen angel's deal; her soul hadn't meant anything to her in quite some time. Little did she know, she'd soon become his favorite creation but perhaps his biggest regret.

Chapter 1: The Harbinger

The rocky earth bit into her hands as she collided with the ground below, this landing could've been better. With a raspy breath, she willed her now aching body to stand and surveyed her surroundings. The crimson moon casted an eerie glow on the desert and the distant howling of a coyote pricked at her sensitive ears. Shaking the dust from her wings, Salome willed them away with a flick of her wrist. This had always been a welcome perk to her power, being able to call on her wings should she need them but tuck them away when she didn't. It allowed her to blend in as well as keeping her from dragging them around as they were undoubtably heavy. In the distance, light from a nearby town shone brightly against the darkness of the desert, the bandit-ridden shithole of Black Rock she assumed. The buzz of dark energy that slithered up her spine told her that her assumption was correct. She always felt this buzz when her targets were close, the thrill of the hunt was the name she gave it. With a melodic whistle, Salome called for Azrael, her horse and was met with a rumbling beat of hooves as an answer. Chosen by her from a yearling, Azrael had become her mount and companion since her very first collection. The obsidian colored stallion was by far her most treasured gift from her king and he too was given abilities of his own. "Hello, my friend." Salome cooed to her steed and he greeted her with a low nicker and toss of his head. Running a hand through the thick tresses of Azrael's mane, she stroked the soft fur of his coat underneath, "Are you ready?" With a dip of his head, Azrael shifted so his side was facing her, an invitation. A smile ghosted over Salome's lips as she gripped the cool silver of the saddle horn before slipping a boot into the stirrup and swinging up. Adjusting the blade on her back and grabbing hold of the reins, she took in a breath to calm the dark energy that hummed in her. Something ancient and primal stirred beneath her ribcage and the honeyed taste of bloodlust coated her tongue. Salome savored these moments, when the Harbinger energy flooded her senses and replaced tormented thoughts with those of a predator, in these moments, she was free to indulge in the carnal parts of herself without the distraction of a conscience. Eyes that once held the color akin to liquid smoke now shone with the violet hue of the Harbinger and inky black tendrils worked their way across her body, down to her fingertips. Do with me what you must, the Harbinger rasped into her mind, I am yours to wield.

Before she could depart, a powerful gust of wind tore over the sand and rock and the rumbling of thunder along with it. Salome gave a sigh of agitation as she stared into the amber gaze of Killian, her master's lap dog and resident pain in the ass. "Happy to see me?" purred Killian, his voice a deep and sultry timbre. Salome's violet-kissed eyes narrowed in frustration, "As happy as a kicked dog." she spat. A feline grin worked it's way across the Incubus's full lips, "Come now Sal, I'm only here to help. No need to get testy." A snort came from Azrael, signaling his impatience, his mistress had summoned him for a job, one he was eager to carry out. Salome shushed him with a gentle pat to his thick neck before quirking a brow at the nuisance before her. "Do I look as though I need help? Don't you have innocent women to seduce into handing over their souls?", the bite in her voice was palpable. Her patience was running thin, did Lucifer not trust her to carry out this collection on her own? She had never failed him before so why now, was he suddenly concerned? Killian clocked the wheels turning in that startlingly gorgeous head of hers, he could tell that she was questioning her master's trust in her abilities. Little did she know, Lucifer had nothing to do with his little visit, he came of his volition. His spies sent word that Salome's target, Jonah Madsen, was no ordinary collection mark. He's been dabbling in dark magic and other occult practices to stave off his collection. He knew Salome was coming and he'd be ready for her, information that had likely not reached the Harbinger before she left. "Jonah knows you're coming Sal, he's prepared for it. He won't go without a fight. I just want you to know what you're walking into.", Killian exclaimed, he knew how stubborn Salome could be and it was going to get her killed one of these days. The eye roll aimed at the demon was felt before it was seen, and the scoff Salome sent his way, had the Incubus clenching his jaw. Fucking insufferable. "Give my best to dear Luci, he truly wasted his time sending you. I'll have that prick kneeling at the throne before dawn and I'll level that cesspool of a town to do it.", she growled, turning Azrael and galloping towards the town at breakneck speed.

Killian ran a ring-clad hand through his silvery hair with a huff. She's going to be the death of me, he thought to himself before enveloping himself in the shadow to follow her. The demon had a feeling she would need him and he'd be there when she did.