#Part 5 of 5
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I never would have given you to them; not for anything (Tsu'tey x Reader)
Last Chapter <- Part 5
If you prefer to read on Ao3, the fic can be found here!
Summary: You can choose to stay.
Word Count: 7532
Reader uses they/them pronouns.
Perched upon Eywaâs throne after yet another near death experience, you were officially contemplating if Eywa wasnât just some neurological connection between the tree of Pandora, and was actually some dormant deity. Because for some reason, She really wanted you alive.
In the last twenty-four hours, you had been released from Bridgehead, captured and interrogated, only to somehow escape the first encounter, only to end up shot and then resurrected over the course of an hour, all so you could be nearly stabbed to death before the day was out. And somehow, you were still fucking alive, despite almost dying more times in one day, than you had in your entire previous life.
You wouldâve found it hilarious if you had had the energy to laugh. But instead, you just felt drained. Whatever will to live that had been keeping you going until now, was running on fumes. You were hopelessly hungry and achy from the bullet wounds smarting across your side, and to add insult to injury, you had no idea what was happening.Â
Tsuâtey seemed to have decided you were returning to camp with everyone, despite how little he clearly trusted you. And for some reason, neither Jake nor Neytiri had objected.
It wasnât as if you had much of a choice regardless. With Quaritch and the rest of your squad dead and General Ardmore no doubt informed of your betrayal, marching back into Bridgehead would be about as effective as eating a bullet. Not to mention, with your injury, wandering off into the forest would result in a similar situation.Â
Perhaps if you hadnât exerted every inch of energy you had left getting Spider out from under Quaritchâs knife, you couldâve managed option two. But that didnât matter now.
The body of your late comrades remained sprawled across the grass, their blood soaked into the earth beneath them. You felt no remorse for bringing about their end. Spider hadnât deserved to die so you would have an opening to get away. He was Tsuâteyâs son, and that was enough to make him worth protecting.
At least they would finally be able to rest.
Your gaze flickered away from the bodies towards your own grave. Of course, it hadnât moved since you found it earlier, where it had silently observed everything that had happened here. Unmoving and indifferent. It offered no answers beyond what had become of your past self.Â
The skeleton it cradled would not sit up and push the dirt off like a cosy blanket. The corpse would not reanimate and take a seat beside you upon the roots of the Throne. It would not laugh and sigh as it retold its life, filling in all the blanks the Tree hadnât. Hell, its body wouldnât even hold the evidence of what had killed it. By now there would be no fingerprints nor injuries to examine.Â
In your peripheral, Tsuâtey slipped into view, his hands visible and his expression solemn. Without turning your head, you moved your eyes towards him in acknowledgement. The mourning paint from his nose to his forehead had been mostly scraped away, his flying helmet set low above his brows.Â
âWeâre ready to go.â He told you simply, âJake has room on his ikran for you.â
You hummed, eyes rolling back to the grave. To the source of so many questions and anxieties.
Tsuâtey shifted restlessly on his feet. âLook.â He stepped closer, but at your instinctive shift to keep some distance between you, he quickly stilled himself. His ears lowered in understanding, his hands raised to show his empty fingers again. âI just wanted to thank you for protecting Spider and the others.â Tsuâtey said simply, his tone earnest. âI know I didnât say so before.â You looked him up and down, finding no ulterior motive in his gratitude.Â
âItâs what they would have done.â You said simply, knowing that you both understood who you were referring to.Â
âYes.â Tsuâtey agreed.
Another beat of silence.
âWhat happened?â Tsuâtey shifted on his feet, swallowing loudly. âWhat?â âWhat happened to them?â You repeated, eyes boring into the carved name of your headstone. In your peripheral, you watched Tsuâtey study you, before he shifted back a step and glanced at the graves. His body was wound tight, as if it pained him to acknowledge them. As if he viewed them as some sort of failure.Â
âWe should head back-â âWhat happened, Tsuâtey?â You pressed firmly, tearing your eyes from the graves to meet his. âThe Tree showed me so much, but it didnât give me answers. I need you to be honest with me, or I canât trust you.â
He swallowed. âOkay.â
âWhat happened to them? What killed them?â
>_<
âWhat killed them?â
Tsuâtey hated this. He despised the haunted look in their eye. He loathed the pain echoed in their eyes, both mental and physical. All he wanted was to go home. He wanted the safety of the clan surrounding his family. He wanted a warm meal, his comfortable hammock, and the knowledge that this nightmare was over.
âDid She not show you?â Tsuâtey asked instead of responding plainly.Â
The recom shook their head. âNot all of it. Someone gave me a tea.âÂ
âYes. It was infused with mucus from the Txumtsaâwll.â Tsuâtey confirmed with a grimace. He hadnât realised at first, and had found the soiled mug in the compound some hours afterwards, the smell having drawn his attention. âShit.â The recom breathed, âthen why did they stab me?â âThe tea alone would have taken too long to kill you.â Tsuâtey replied honestly, âand it is treatable if the patient is given the antidote quickly enough.â He paused to gather himself, stomach squirming as the uncomfortable memories began to resurface easily now that he was talking about it. âArvok, my brother knew what he was doing. And he knew he would be noticed if he was gone too long. He struck on the night of a meeting between our clan and one of the horse clans. He stole one of their knives and framed their Oloâeyktan for your death. You died in my arms when I tried to get you to Moâat.â
The recom was uncomfortably silent.
âHow did you catch him?â They had finally stopped looking at their grave as if it would offer answers and were instead looking at him. Properly looking at him. Not his ear or the space above his eye, like they had when they feared him before, now they were looking at him like an equal.
Somehow, it didnât make this any easier to say. âHe went after Spider.â Tsuâtey spat, âand it was his last mistake.â
He could still feel the rage of that betrayal simmering beneath his skin, even fifteen years later. Could still feel the chokehold of grief that had blinded him. Forcing him to be reliant on Moâat and the rest of the clan, to help him care for Spider when the sadness of losing his mate got the best of him.Â
He could still taste the FURY that had burned the back of his throat when he turned up to Arvokâs hut to pick Spider up, only to find his son suffocating. Arvok had laid the infant out on his back and removed his exo-mask, his face horrifyingly devoid of emotion as Tsuâteyâs son choked to death.
<âWHAT ARE YOU DOING!â> Tsuâtey had snarled, his body moving how he wanted for the first time in weeks. His vision had narrowed down to his son, panic and betrayal making his hands shake as he shoved Arvok aside and dove for Spider. With unsteady but determined hands, he had secured Spiderâs mask back to his face.Â
<âIt is for your own good Tsuâtey.â> His little brother had informed him, whilst Tsuâtey had kept his back to him, his attention solely on Spider. With careful fingers, he had combed Spiderâs hair back from his face, relief blooming in his chest as colour returned to Spiderâs face and his eyes cleared. He was still breathing hard, catching his breath, but humans usually recovered without difficulty at this stage.
At his back, Arvok was still monologuing, basically admitting to the murder he had allowed the visiting Oloâeyktan to take the fall for.
With Spider recovering, Tsuâtey had finally turned his attention to the threat. <âIt was you? You did this?!â> Tsuâtey hissed, fury replacing the fear as he turned slowly.Â
<âYes.â> Arvok admitted freely. And he was smiling.Â
<âIt was your fault?â> Tsuâtey bellowed, <âI had to bury my mate, because of you? Spiderâs other parent is rotting in a grave, because of you? You did this?â>
Arvok nodded again.
<âThis nightmare never ends, and itâs your fault!â> He wasnât entirely sure when he had reached for his knife, but it was in his hand regardless. <âYOU DID THIS!â>
Arvok seemed to have caught on that Tsuâtey didnât agree with his motive. The coward had startled at his raised voice, his hands rising in surrender as he began to back up.
<âTsuâtey!â> His mateâs murderer pleaded, <âthink about what youâre doing-â> <âNO!â> Tsuâtey snarled, his tail thrashing with rage. His hands ached to kill, his entire body ached actually. From heartache and loneliness and remaining in his hammock for too long. But he was moving. Finally his mind and body were in sync again, listening to him. Willing to help him carry out vengeance. To protect his son from this threat and avenge his fallen loved one. <âI will not think! I will not wait! This ends NOW! I will NOT allow you to hurt ANYONE ELSE!â>
Arvok fumbled to draw his blade, but it was too late, Tsuâtey had already tackled him to the ground. His brother had shrieked and wiggled, pleading for mercy, but Tsuâtey had given up listening. His knife punctured vulnerable flesh with a wet slice, and the body beneath him began to tire.Â
He recalled the numbness that had followed. How his limbs had refused to cooperate again as he had crawled off the body, tears sliding down his face as grief tore open his chest anew. He had gathered up his unconscious son and crawled towards the hutâs entrance. He had only been able to make it as far as the walkway outside before he was forced to rest, his limbs screaming in exertion as a panic attack threatened to crawl up the back of his throat.Â
All he could think about was his son choking in his arms. About the promise he had made to his dead mate to look after him. How he had almost failed not even two weeks after theyâd died.
He was a terrible father.Â
Heâd curled up outside the hut for what felt like hours, tears slipping silently down his cheeks as he protectively curled around Spidersâs little body. Listening to his heartbeat even out and feeling his breaths with every puff of the exo mask.Â
Moâat had been the one to find him. She had always been like a mother to him. Even more so in those moments, when she had peered into Arvokâs hut, and seen his body, but had not flinched away from Tsuâtey. Her voice had been soothing and calm as she had helped him up, coaxing him into keeping a firm hold on Spider as she led him away from the scene.
Within minutes, sheâd had him sat in her hut with a cup of tea in hand, whilst she sent hunters to deal with Arvok. By the time Spider had spluttered awake, Moâat already had food waiting for him and Tsuâtey had stopped shaking.Â
With a hard blink, Tsuâtey was back to the present. Stood beneath the shade of Eywaâs Throne with his family readying their ikran at his back, as he looked upon the reincarnated form of his mate and finally felt as if a weight was being lifted from his shoulders.Â
âI dealt with him personally. He will not be a threat to you, should you choose to remain with us once you are healed.â Tsuâtey continued.
âIâm just sorry I wasnât there.â The recom breathed, âthat canât have been easy.â
âIt wasnât.â Tsuâtey replied simply, because it was true. It hadnât. And several times, he was sure he wasnât going to pull through. âBut you are now. I asked Eywa for a miracle. For you to stop being dead. And you did.â He smiled, small and private, whilst the recom nodded. âAnd you came home.âÂ
âI wanted to.â The recom admitted. âGetting back to you was my first thought upon waking up. I wasnât even sure if the clan had survived the Battle for The Tree of Souls, but I had to know anyway.â
âThank you.â Tsuâtey said again, and they looked up. He did not elaborate, and they did not ask him to.Â
And this time, when he offered a hand to help them stand, they took it.Â
>_<
âHold tight.â Jake called over his shoulder, prompting you to tighten your arms around his waist as he coaxed Bob into a fluid glide under the belly of a colossal mountain. The wind tore at your hair and bullied your ears into lowering tight against your skull. You didnât have a visor, so youâd been forced to duck tight against Jakeâs back so his bulk would block most of it. Your eyes watered as you peeled them open a crack against the sting, to watch the mountain pass.Â
Far below, the forest sprawled, and you couldnât help but feel safe. Even if it was Jake doing the driving. As if to prove your point, your pilot unexpectedly rose higher on his stirrups, yanking you up with him thanks to your death grip around his stomach. Crouched awkwardly behind Jake, you winced as he yipped loudly over his shoulder, prompting the other ikran to fall into formation behind Bob.Â
With another turn and a great swerve, the flock neatly soaring up into the hidden mouth of High Campâs entrance.Â
The camp stretched out below you from wall to wall. A living, breathing community of homes and cooking fires, interwoven with the compounds the scientists used to live alongside it all.
Bob circled once above it all before landing on the lip of the rocks as he had before. The rest of the flock followed suit.Â
Your hands were ice cold from the wind, but somehow, you managed to peel your frozen limbs out of their death grip around Jake. Sitting back heavily in the saddle, you breathed out a sigh of relief now that there was no longer any danger of plummeting to your death.
Jake turned in the saddle, looking back at you over his shoulder with amusement plain on his face. âIâm surprised you didnât scream the whole way up here.â âYou forget I also used to accompany Trudy on her missions.â You replied sharply. âA little rough flying and a maniac of a pilot hasnât killed me yet.â
Jake raised a brow at the irony, but didnât push. âNeed a hand down?â He asked instead.Â
âI got it.â
He shot you a look that clearly said he didnât believe you, but he dismounted alone regardless. Remaining in Bobâs saddle, you watched Jake stride towards Neytiriâs ikran and raise his hands in preparation to help Tuk down.Â
Then you remembered that there were things to do and a clan to inform, all whilst you were relaxing on someone elseâs ikran. Glancing down, you realised that you couldnât actually judge how high the drop from the saddle to the ground was going to be. Even the flight up had drained you, and you could feel yourself on the cusp of crashing now that your adrenaline rush had well and truly died. Readjusting your grasp on the saddle straps, you yelped when Bob seemed to sense your struggle and smoothly lowered himself to the ground. Stretching your legs down, you scrambled for purchase whilst clinging tightly to the saddle.Â
Bob was surprisingly patient and remained still until your feet touched cool stone and you slid off him entirely. He cooed softly as you leant against him, the world briefly spinning now that you had moved too much.
At your back, Moâatâs booming voice echoed throughout the chamber. <âWelcome home!â> Glancing over your shoulder, you found the Tsahik and a good chunk of the clan crowded around the landing area.Â
Despite how gently you had moved, the movement pulled your torso wound wrong and you hissed in pain, ripping a hand away from the saddle to apply pressure. Which was bloody ridiculous because youâd just endured an entire flight without it complaining more than a dull throb.Â
Your knees buckled without you focusing hard on keeping them straight, but luckily, Bob was a nice tempered ikran and simply followed you down instead of watching you topple over like Jake probably would have if you had instead allowed him to help.
Bob cooed encouragingly, his big head swinging round to lightly push at your shoulder. His scales were cool against your heated skin; soothing.Â
Distantly, you could hear Moâat waxing poetry to the clan, declaring some bullshit about Eywa repaying everyoneâs hard work and devotion by offering one of the fallen a second chance. The People ate it up with hums of agreement, blindly trusting their Tsahik as they should. She might have mentioned the other recoms, or dragged Jakeâs situation into the mix, but you couldnât really hear.
White noise had swept in and drowned out her loud, regal voice. Your vision swam, but you could feel the stone you were sitting on and the saddle strap still clutched tightly in your hand. You could hear Bob chirping and feel the vibrations of feet approaching.Â
Shadows flitted across your unseeing vision as a hand soothed down your back, whilst more checked your forehead for a fever. An even smaller set cupped your cheek, encouraging you to look at a small, pale face locked away behind an exo mask. You blinked slowly, feeling horrendously nauseous.Â
Someone else dropped to their knees by your side, causing the other hands to retreat. The hands that touched you now were uncertain but supportive, encouraging your crumbled form to lean into them. You felt hands on your kuru, lifting and moving the braid, but it didnât hurt, so you didnât bother to fight it.Â
There was softer, comforting talking happening right in front of your face, but your ears couldnât figure out the words. Not whether they spoke in Naâvi or English, let alone what was being said, but the sound was comforting all the same as you felt yourself beginning to drift.Â
There was zing up your kuru that flooded warmth into the base of your skull where your braid connected to the top of your spine. The pain seemed to ebb in its wake, leaving behind a sensation that could only be described as soothing.
Iâve got you. Tsuâteyâs voice promised, although it spoke in your mind rather than out loud. Clearer than anything that was happening in High Camp. He sounded kind, like he had in the memories, instead of angry at your very existence.
Hurts. You thought back, letting out a pained shout as you were abruptly lifted by whoever you were leaning into. Their grasp was firm on you, more grounding than painful now that you were being held steady.
I know. Weâre gonna make you better.
Spider? He is here.
More vibrations thrummed through your cheek, which was pressed against a cool collarbone, as the person holding you spoke out loud. Almost instantly, a small hand reached up to grab your limp arm, which hung down. Five fingers squeezed down, sending a bolt of relief through you.
You found yourself suddenly grateful that this inevitable crash hadnât happened in the forest. If they had decided to leave you behind, you wouldâve been vulnerable to predators or detected by the RDA. But here you were instead, hidden within the heart of the clan, concealed within the floating mountains. That is right. Tsuâtey soothed in your mind. You are safe here. We will not allow harm to come to you.
And you believed him.Â
The rest was a blur after Tsuâtey ducked into Moâatâs hut. Your strength had almost completely departed now, as you hung limply in Tsuâteyâs grasp. Strangely, the Oloâeyktan continued to be unsettlingly gentle as he sat himself down beside the fire, with you cradled between his knees and your head resting back across his shoulder. His touch burned your over sensitive skin, but it was as soothing as it was unsettling.Â
You saw the hut through Tsuâteyâs eyes, your own suddenly too tired to stay open. You were in the same hut as before, Moâatâs herbs hanging from the ceiling whilst a pot of something strong bubbled over the flames. Spider had already moved towards where Moâat kept her instruments, his back tense as he began pulling out various things. You could feel Tsuâtey searching for something to say to soothe his worries, but Moâat swept in before he could voice anything.
<âGood.â> The Tsahik breathed as the curtains swished shut behind her. There was an unspoken lightness to her tone as she moved further into the room, ruffling Spiderâs dreads as she went. <âI will not have to bully you into creating the bond. That shall allow this to go much more easily.â> She paused to take note of what Spider had already begun to pull from her supply, a proud grin tugging across her lips at what she found. <âYouâre learning.â> She praised, to which both you and Tsuâtey noticed some of the tension leaving Spider.
Moâat squeezed his shoulder, before returning her attention to you and frowning. <âNow, let us see the damage.â> She approached on steady feet, sinking to her hunches at Tsuâteyâs side as she began asking questions about your injuries.Â
Between the three of them, they began patching you up. Tsuâtey kept you steady and the pain at bay, whilst Moâat cut away your shirt and the old leaf bandages to get at the wounds beneath. Spider handed over disinfectants and cooling salves that she took great care in firmly rubbing into the fresh wounds. The pressure was even and predictable, allowing you to suck in shaky breaths whenever she withdrew her hand for another dose.Â
As Moâat carefully bandaged you up, you felt Tsuâtey beginning to relax on the other end of the bond. Until now, heâd been careful to keep his own emotions in check, so much so that you had barely realised he was tense. But now you could feel it. His anxiety came in waves, ebbing and flowing with no rhythm. As soon as he was calming the first, a second would unexpectedly sweep in to drench him, causing his heartbeat to pound against your back. Stubbornly, his face remained unreadable.
With what little strength you had left, you reached up to cover his hand that was gently curled over your stomach.Â
Iâm fine now. You told him mentally with a tight squeeze to the back of his hand. Good as new.
There was no fresh wave of guilt to challenge your claim, and something visibly loosened in him. Through the bond, you got the vague sense that he wanted to bury his face into your shoulder and cling tightly, but it was gone as quickly as it came.Â
<âTsuâtey sit them up higher.â> Moâat suddenly said from closer than you were anticipating. Dutifully, Tsuâtey obeyed, whilst you cracked open an eyelid to find Moâat holding a bowl of something steaming and a spoon. <âThere you are.â> She said softly, <âtry and eat something before you go back to sleep. Today has taken a lot from you. You will need your strength.â> As she spoke, she filled the spoon with warm broth and raised it to your mouth. You opened and hummed in thanks as the warmth flooded from your tongue into your body. It was the most delicious thing youâd had since waking up. Hearty and soothing, sweet but not too much so. Worlds better than RDA rations. It warmed you from the inside out, allowing sleep to make your eyelids heavy.
<âSpider, could you clear some space for a spare hammock, of course weâll need to monitor them-â>
<âDad and I could look after them!â> Spider rushed out before abruptly cutting himself off. He cleared his throat. <âI mean, we have room. In our hut?â>
You grumbled softly, content to let them figure it out between them. With the broth heavy in your belly, you could feel sleep finally digging its claws in and refusing to relent. This time, you couldnât have stayed awake if you wanted to.Â
>_<
For what felt like weeks but could have only been days, you flowed in and out of consciousness like river water around submerged stones. When the current pulled you higher, you managed to peel your eyes open to find a woven hut roof and a warm bowl of something light to eat waiting for you.Â
And when it pulled you deep down within yourself, you relied on the comforting presence of Tsuâtey to keep you grounded. During those times you shared Tsaheylu, the pain was relieved better than any painkiller, as if Tsuâtey swept it away through sheer force of will. With the connection also came stories, fond memories that Tsuâtey offered to pass the time. Some you recalled from before everything went to shit, and some that were new.
If you were especially lucky, you would drift up enough to hear Tsuâtey asking Spider for memory ideas. To which the boy would happily and animatedly narrate some fond memory he had, whilst Tsuâtey recalled it from his own perspective and fed it down the bond to you.Â
It was a simple, repetitive existence. So much so that it was jarring to float upwards again and find yourself staying there.Â
Your eyes were crusty as you peeled them open, your back smarting from lying still for so long. But you could already tell you didnât hurt as much. There were still bandages wrapped securely around your torso, slightly restricting your breathing, but you didnât feel wet under them. Your injuries were definitely on the mend.Â
The hammock you were tucked in swayed gently as the rest of the hut came into view. It was not one you had been in before.Â
In the pit, the cooking fire had fizzled out into nothing, whereas the repetitive, slow breathing of someone nearby alerted you to the fact you were not alone. Everything hurt as you eased yourself up into a sitting position, surprised to find yourself stripped of your ratty, RDA issued uniform and instead dressed in the traditional naâvi loincloth. Your hair felt clean for the first time in days, the build up of sweat and grime washed away whilst you were unconscious.Â
The world swayed as you struggled to haul yourself out of the hammock, dark spots floating across your vision as you grasped one of the supports for dear life. The tent your hammock was strung up in was tidy, but clinical, with hooks lining the ceiling supports in uniformed rows and baskets of healing supplies carefully tucked away against the far wall. A long rug covered most of the uneven stone floor, whereas the entrance to your right was pulled to, but not obstructed.
âZaza?â A small voice groaned from behind you, heavy with sleep. Your ears pricked as you turned, finding Spider half out of a hammock three times too large for him. âWhere are you going?â There was thinly veiled panic hidden in his tone, accented with the way he was holding himself dangerously still. Uncertain whether to approach.
âWhere am I?â You asked instead of answering, tail ramrod straight as the boy fully slipped out of the hammock. His stripes were dull now, somehow, you could tell even in the low light.Â
âIn the infirmary,â Spider offered easily, hands plainly in sight as he slowly approached. âI wanted to take you home but Dad said you might not be comfortable with it.â
âI see.â You replied neutrally.
âAre you hungry?â Spider offered when you didnât follow the sentence up with anything else. You found yourself nodding hesitantly, to which Spider smiled tightly. The cuts Quaritchâs knife had left across his throat had scabbed over.
âCan we go to mine and Dadâs tent? We have ingredients there for breakfast?â
âOnly if that is okay with your Dad.â It felt weird to refer to Tsuâtey like that. âHe wonât mind.â Spider replied too quickly, flashing you a winning smile. Smiling back, you followed him out of the tent and into the main chamber of High Camp.
The camp was quiet considering the early hour, with only the odd hunter milling around and the ikran perched near the cave mouth.Â
Spider walked noticeably slow ahead of you, glancing back periodically as if you would slip away between the tents if he didnât keep an eye on you.Â
The boyâs tent was surprisingly empty of Tsuâtey when he held the curtain open for you. As you rounded the dormant fire pit to take a seat, you noted the two hammocks strung near the back wall, alongside the knick knacks and keepsakes scattered beneath the one on the left - clearly Spiders. Whereas Tsuâteyâs was neatly tidied with his bow stand empty and his arrows gone. The tent felt homely, and well lived in.
Spider was clearly comfortable navigating it. With confidence, he woke a fire and began pulling all manner of fruits out of the various baskets near the entrance. Pausing to tie back his dreadlocks, he neatly pulled out a spear knife from a box and got comfortable on the opposite side of the fire. WIth a steady grip, he ducked his head and began dutifully cutting the closest thing to him - a yovo fruit. Â
Between you, the fire popped merrily, and you very quickly realised you had nothing to say to him. Besides sharing a near death experience and a common drive to keep each other alive, you realised you had nothing in common. You didnât really know him.
âHowâs your throat?â âHealing.â Spider replied after a heartbeat of silence. âH-howâs your side?â âBetter.â You assured him, with a subconscious touch to the healing injury in question. âIâm assuming I have you and your Dad to thank for that?â Spider ducked his head. âDad did most of the work, I just helped.â âAnd yet you were standing guard when I came to.âÂ
Spider flushed this time as if he was embarrassed you had noticed. âI fell asleep.â He admitted with a mumble.Â
The corner of your mouth tugged up at the quiet admission. âDonât beat yourself up over it, Iâm the exact same when I sit still for too long. Youâve had a difficult-â you trailed off, âhow long have I been out?â âTwo days.â Spider supplied helpfully.Â
âThank you, itâs been a difficult few days.â
âIt hasnât been bad.â Spider admitted absently, using his knife to half and scrape some freshly sliced yovo fruit into two nearby bowls. He was quiet for a moment as he picked up the slightly larger portion and held it out to you. Ducking your head in thanks, you reached forward to take it from him, but Spider didnât let go.
Meeting his gaze, you found him already watching you with a long look. âThank you for not dying again.â He said sincerely, âIâd really appreciate getting to know you this time around.â
You smiled bitterly at the sentiment, a look that Spider mirrored easily.Â
âAnd I, you.â You replied easily, finding that you meant it as he let you take the bowl. âIâve heard great things about you Spider, itâll be nice to get to know you better.â He averted his gaze then, scooping up a bit of fruit and stuffing it into his mouth instead of responding straight away. Taking a page out of his book, you lowered your gaze and did the same. The fruit was delicious. It was sweet and full to bursting. With every bite you had to wipe the sides of your mouth because of the sheer amount of juice in every piece.
âWill you stay?â Spider asked when his bowl was half empty. You paused mid-bite to find him looking at the fire instead of you.
Swallowing your mouthful, you wiped your chin and asked seriously, âdo you want me to?â
âYes.â Spider said without missing a beat. His expression was painfully vulnerable, full of hope and what could only be described as longing. âDad does too. And Moâat. Jake and Neytiri too, but they wonât admit it because they donât want to pressure you.â He paused, âyouâll be safe with us here.â
âI would be.â You agreed, âbut I have to see if itâs the right decision first. If I donât fit here, then I canât force it. Do you understand?â Spider pouted but didnât contradict you. âI understand.â He said maturely, and you knew he was being honest.Â
>_<
Recovery was slow, but youâd never been the kind to remain in bed for long. Even with Moâat barring you from contributing on hunts, you ensured you rose with the sun and helped out around the camp in whatever way your injuries allowed. Sometimes, that was cleaning or servicing stolen RDA weapons alongside other hunters, or you were washing and prepping Moâatâs herbs.Â
In those first few days, the clan gave you a wide berth, which you appreciated. In return, you remained unarmed and calmed yourself by sitting with your back to a wall or against someoneâs hut whilst you completed your tasks. You kept your head down, and gradually, their unease faded.Â
Usually, Spider or one of the Sully kids joined you for an hour or two, talking about anything or everything whilst their parents hunted or contributed with patrols. But today, Tsuâtey sat himself down opposite you, a basket of fruit balanced on his hip. He kept his gaze fixed on his work as he crouched a comfortable distance away, and immediately occupied himself with peeling the fruits.Â
You said nothing, and as you had the last few days, refused to start up a conversation. As long as neither of you opened your mouths, you tended to be able to exist in the same space without dissolving into insults or painful memories. You knew he was trying.Â
You knew Tsuâtey was attempting to rebuild some of that trust in the only way he knew how, but it was unsettling. Youâd never known him to be this quiet. This comfortable in existing in someone elseâs space without having to voice his internal monologue. It was just another reminder of how much he had changed whilst youâd been frozen in time.Â
And whatâs more, some of the things he was doing for you, couldnât be explained away as an Oloâeyktan looking out for one of his own. Even after youâd woken up and spent that first morning having breakfast with Spider, you had been a long way from recovered.Â
Moving around without long naps in between chores left you exhausted and oftentimes passed out in the weirdest places, such as Tsuâteyâs tent floor when you had been waiting for Spider to finish making lunch. That time - and every time after - youâd woken up in a hammock instead of on the floor.Â
When a fever had come for vengeance and your wound had gotten a minor infection, heâd been nothing short of doting. Feeding you light meals to settle your stomach. Braiding your sweaty hair back so it was off your forehead and didnât cling to your neck. Changing your bandages like clockwork. Adding and taking away blankets where needed.Â
In a lot of ways, it reminded you of how your parents had doted on one another. Performing thankless acts of service without the other ever having to ask for it.Â
And through it all, he scowled the entire time. Like constantly. And you definitely shouldnât have found that as achingly familiar and reassuring as you had. You definitely shouldnât have started looking into it, searching for the fiery, annoying man youâd fallen head over heels in love with all that time ago.Â
You were submerged so deeply in your thoughts, that youâd completely forgotten where you were and what you were doing, until you managed to sink your knife into your thumb. With a hiss and a jerk, you dropped the fruit youâd been peeling and jammed your bleeding thumb into your mouth and sat back on your hunches.
Across from you, Tsuâtey clicked his teeth. âIdiot.â He sighed, but not with his usual bite, hell, it practically sounded fond, as if youâd done something endearing instead of pathetic. âHere,â he continued, reaching into the pouch secured across his chest strap and pulling out a river leaf. âLet me.â Slowly, he reached across the distance between you, his expression open and sickeningly kind. You let him take your hand without a fuss. Carefully, Tsuâtey mopped up the blood, a soft tut leaving his lips as he assessed the depth of the injury.Â
âDo I need to go back to Moâat?â You joked half-heartedly.
âLuckily not. Sheâs getting sick of only seeing you.âÂ
âNot for long hopefully.â You interjected, âIâm on the mend for real this time.â Tsuâtey hummed noncommittally. âHave you given any thought into what you will do once youâre healed?â He asked point blank, with no warning or prompt to get him to say it.Â
You blinked. âWhat brought that on?â Tsuâtey ducked his head, a gesture youâd noticed Spider doing when he was embarrassed. âI overheard Spider asking about it the other week, and I canât stop thinking about it.â He admitted sheepishly.Â
Just to fuck with him, you gasped dramatically. âYou were eavesdropping?â âI was not!â Tsuâtey corrected defensively with a scowl. He bit his lip and averted his gaze again. âI was worried when neither of you were in the infirmary when I went to check. Naturally, I checked home before looking anywhere else for him.â
âI see.â
âSo?â
âWhat?â With a firm crack of his tail, he caught your gaze and held it. âI answered your question, so answer mine.â
He was still holding onto your hand with both of his, you realised absently. He was sat close enough now, that the combination of all three hands had fallen into his lap, the river leaf forgotten and your finger beginning to scab. It was such an intimate position, that you almost forgot what his question was.
âIf I were to stay,â you started carefully, intending to see how far he would go, âI would need somewhere to live. Moâatâs going to chase me out of the infirmary one of these days if I stay there much longer.â âWe have spare tents.â Tsuâtey said neutrally, ears swivelling to face you, showing just how eager for your answer he really was. âAnd if you were comfortable, you could even move in with Spider and I if none of them were to your liking.â He paused, before quickly tacking on a panicked, âbut only if you wanted to. There is no pressure of course.â âOf course.â You agreed readily, feeling more at ease than you had yet. With a small smirk, you decided to keep fucking with him. âAnd I would need my weapons back.â âThat can be arranged.â Tsuâtey agreed, before glancing up and stalling at your expression. You tilted your head.
âAnd I would need to negotiate a relationship with my son if his father was open to it.â Tsuâtey went very still causing panic to slam into your sternum. Abruptly, the tables had turned and it was you scrambling to justify yourself. âOf course, I wouldnât want to step on your toes. I donât even have to see him that often if youâre not comfortable with it. I can take him out for a day, or we donât even have to do that. I could be like that distant cousin, or the weird clone twin of his dead- fuck this isnât coming out how I wanted it to-â
âI think,â Tsuâtey cut in sharply, looking more amused than offended. âThat Spider would love to build a connection with you.â Tsuâteyâs hands had gone completely slack around your own. The sluggishly bleeding cut completely forgotten now that the air between you was thick with untold tension.Â
âAnd what about his father,â you pushed, studying his expression, âwould he be happy with that arrangement?âÂ
Tsuâteyâs gaze dragged across your face and circled at least twice down to your lips. âHe could be persuaded.â He said darkly, making your stomach squirm from his tone.Â
His eyes had fallen to half mast during the little back and forth, his pupils swollen as they looked at you. You could feel your tail wagging at your back, and you hated to think how eager you probably looked.Â
With a hard blink, you dragged yourself off of that train of thought before it could derail off into dangerous territory. Kissing him would be a stupid idea right now, you reminded yourself. In fact, it would be more stupid than marching into Ardmoreâs office and openly admitting to treason. Not only would it jeopardise your position within the clan, but it wouldnât actually fix anything between you and Tsuâtey and might even end with him pulling away.
No, as gorgeous as he looked right now, and how much you could see he wanted you, you needed to wait. There was no room for this, when you were only just beginning to trust each other once again. Maybe soon, but not now. Not today.
Clinging tightly to that reasoning, you sat back and pulled your hand out of Tsuâteyâs grip.
He blinked and seemed to come back to himself. With a sheepish clearing of his throat, he also shuffled back and out of reach. Ears lowered, he took up his knife again and continued his previous task of peeling the fruit, dutifully pretending like nothing had happened.
You hated it. But you hated that blank expression on his face more.
Scrambling for something to say - anything - to keep the conversation flowing, you blurted out the first thing that randomly came to mind to fill the silence.Â
âHow did we end up adopting, Spider?â
Startled, Tsuâteyâs head snapped up. His brows furrowed as he struggled to process the question, as if bewildered you were still willing to talk to him after pulling away. Â
âWhat?â âI mean, if Iâm going to be co-parenting with you, then I should know these things.â Something like relief flooded his expression. âI see.â He said easily. âSo,â you prodded, with a pointed wiggle of your ears, âhow did we end up adopting a human child together?âÂ
Tsuâtey smiled fondly to himself. âIt was after the battle. We went to Hellâs Gate to raid for medical supplies. I insisted on coming along because you were so small, and you fought me every step of the way because I had suffered a shoulder injury.â
Instinctively, you knew which shoulder to glance down at. The bullet wounds were old and faded with time. You could only imagine how long it had taken him to heal them, and how long it had taken to rebuild the strength in that arm.
âThe corridors were stupidly small and impractical, but echoey. I heard a baby crying and you followed me when I went to investigate. We found Spider in someoneâs bunk room, and you told me he was hungry. From there, it was just a matter of no one else having the time to take care of him, and you stepping up. And as your mate, I did too.â
âHuh.âÂ
âAnything else you want to know?â Tsuâtey prodded good naturedly. You thought for a moment. âWhat was his first word?â Tsuâtey stopped his polishing to laugh. A proper laugh. The kind that started deep in your belly and burst its way out of your mouth and demanded you to tilt your head back from the sheer force of it. A truly gorgeous expression on him.
âWhat?â You defended yourself with a chuckle, âI need to know the important information.â
âOf course.â Tsuâtey chuckled, the mood light. âHis first English word was uh-oh, because he knocked my bow off your desk. And his first Naâvi word was Sempu.â
âOh, I see how it is!â You mocked, pretending to be offended whilst Tsuâtey shot you a wicked grin as if heâd won. âSo his first word was practically âdadâ, big deal.â Tsuâtey hummed.
âAlright, whatâs his favourite food?â
And it went like that for several hours. You and Tsuâtey basking in each otherâs company, learning and reliving fond moments from a time long gone. It was easy and familiar, and it finally felt like home.
~FIN~
Last Chapter <- Part 5
#tsu'tey x reader#spider socorro#dad!tsu'tey#spider#father-son duo#recom reader#gender neutral reader#part 5 of 5#final part#may the hopeful ending bring you peace#gonna miss these sillies#taking responsibility for that child you don't remember adopting#found family#avatar#avatar twow#canon divergent#Tsu'tey lives
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Tobin Heath | Inspiration Summit 2023
If someone is fired up by this conversation and they want to learn more, they want to follow you, they want to follow re-inc, where should people go?
I think supporting womenâs sports is a big one. Supporting women's sports, demanding more for the athletes.
You can find us at re-website.com. We use our collections, our story telling to really uplift marginalized voices and stories. That's part of this idea, we have a platform and we want to give the platform to other people, we want to amplify conversations like this over and over again.
Going into this big thing called the World Cup this summer, we're starting a media division that's going to change the way women are seen and experienced in sports, which is really exciting and kind of tackling a whole other issue that we've seen and experienced through our careers and we're ready to start carving out a space for what women's sports culture should look and feel like by the people that have done it themselves.
So big things to come, but I'm just really inspired by conversations like this that are being had with so many women that are in the workplace, that are trying to create change.
I think reimagining the world is one step but it's also one step with everyone.
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Returned: Rauru x Fem!Reader NSFT Series. FINALE
Summary: Rauru is somehow revived in modern Hyrule and his instincts have gone insane as he realizes he's lost his mate.
Triggers for mild dubcon elements as well as just nsft stuff.
Part 1
Y/N smiled as his lips stirred her from her sleep, his hands tracing along her back. âRauru,â She mumbled. âYouâre insatiable.â
âForgive me,â he whispered almost solemnly. She went quiet, listening to his apologies, to his guilt as his fingers rubbed gently as if apologizing for being so merciless on her body as often as he was. His fingers dipped in slowly, making her moan softly as his lips found her back, nipping gently. âForgive me.â
Y/N whined as he curled his fingers. âIâve long since done that,â She muttered before turning over to face him.
He smiled and looked down at his twitching length. âThe rut is nearly over.â
âThank Hylia. My legs might not last,â she joked, pulling him down and kissing his cheek. âCâmon then. Letâs have a gentler round?â
He smiled and kissed her as he moved between her legs, pulling her close before pushing into her. Her sigh of pleasure made his heart melt slightly. He wondered just what he could find out about this woman.
Rauru reminded himself of what he needed to do as he moved inside of her, holding her carefully as he relished in her moans. He reminded himself he needed to protect her at all costs. He reminded himself to make sure nothing comes near her.
He would do everything in his power to keep his mate alive again. He had to. He couldnât bare the thought ever again.
Her hand reached up and cupped his face, making him shiver as he locked eyes with her. He blinked at her worried expression. âWhat?â
âYouâre crying, Rauru.â She smiled gently and pulled away, making him whine. âI have an idea. Sit against the headboard.â
He did as she said and watched her climb onto him, sinking down slowly. With a hiss of pleasure, she finally settled against him and stayed there, touching him and holding him close, simply feeling him against her and inside her.
Rauru hesitated as he leaned into the affectionate touch, relishing in the way she was practically cradling him. He smirked. âNow I know youâve adjusted to me. You can withstand staying still on me.â
âBarely,â She giggled, kissing his closed third eye. Y/N rocked her hips a slight, making him groan. âItâs hard considering you are filling me up like this.â
He smiled and nuzzled her, simply enjoying the contact. âAre you going to tell me whatâs going through your head?â
The Zonai sighed softly as he rested against her shoulder. âMyâŚSonia was murdered in cold blood because of me.â
âAnd youâre scared itâll happen again?â He nodded. She sighed and rubbed his back. âI will say this, for safety, before everything happened, the princess ordered us to train under her knight. She wanted to make sure we were able to protect ourselves. I may not look it, but I was the star pupil that helped Link take out a Hinox once.â
âReally?â He asked, imagining her going wild. It was enough to make him twitch, causing her to whimper. âSuch a little thing like you?â
âH-Hey, Iâve got like an inch on Link!â She whimpered as he bucked his hips.
âIâd love to see you,â He admitted, gripping her hips and moving her along his length slowly before dropping her down again. âSee you fighting wildly.â
She rocked her hips hard, making him moan as she bounced eagerly along him. He grunted when she stopped so only the tip was inside her. âFuck, Y/N,â he whined. âWhyâd you stop?â
âYou were making fun of me. Just for that, Iâm in charge.â
He smirked at her determined gaze and nodded, folding his hands behind his head. âYouâre in charge.â
Rauru bit his lip as Y/N began to ride him, practically using him as she whined and moaned. He watched her ride along him, leaning her hands against his thighs to give him a full view of her. So much of this woman reminded him of his long gone mate.
His eyes shut tight at the thought of having lost her only to bury himself in another mate as soon as he was revived andâ
âEyes. On. Me,â She commanded. His eyes snapped open, eying the way Y/N gyrated her hips and taunted him by taking him as deep as she could. He grunted as he twitched. âYou want to come donât you? Want to come in your mate?â
âFuck,â he moaned, gripping her thighs. His claws scratched roughly as he whined out, âFuck, Y/N, please donât stop.â
Y/N moaned as she rode him, biting her lip. âS-So deep. RauruâŚâ
âDonât hold back. Give in. Let me make you feel good,â He encouraged as his thumb delved between her folds carefully. She jerked as though sheâd been zapped and cried out loudly in pleasure, soaking him entirely. âThatâs it! Just give it to me. My mate!â He moaned lowly.
Y/N whined when she felt his climax, his seed filling her entirely. She whimpered when she felt it leaking out with each bounce of her hips, trying to milk him as she moaned lowly.Â
It was only when she had to squint that Y/N finally took notice of the rising sun as the village began to come alive down below the hill. With a giggle, she kissed him.
âMorning.â
He blinked at that and chuckled. âMorning.â
Soon, breakfast was on the table as Y/N was reading over her research notes. âHave you been to the ones in Faron?â
âNot personally but I asked Tauro to send me his notes from his trip there to find the fifth sage. It mightâve been a ritual ground.â
âNot wrong,â He confessed before scratching at his beard. âThough, Iâve never participated myself. See, the ritual was more like an annual festival because itâd been so long since the rituals were held.â Y/N blinked at him. âWhat?â
âThatâs right! You could literally help us solve some of thisâWait, you mean, those ruins are even older than Hyrule itself?â
âThe ones in Faron? Yes. I saw your notes about the Typhlo ruins. Iâve never heard of such ruins. I can only assume after I sealed away the Demon King that they were built.â
âMakes sense, but even soâŚâ She hummed. âAre you sure you just didnât get out often? The current theory is the Typhlo Ruins were built alongside Hyrule CastleâŚwellâŚhmmm,â She mumbled, trying to think. âThe castle did come after the war though, agh,â she groaned, rubbing her forehead. âItâs too early for this much thinking.â
They both blinked at the knocking at the door. âItâs open!â She hollered.
Rauru blinked when he saw a familiar blonde come in. Her eyes fixed on him in shock as she stammered. âHey, Z,â Y/N greeted. âFound this guy on the Great Plateau. Turns out he was our mystery monster.â
âT-ThatâyouâHow are youââ Zelda stammered, still absorbing the information as Link came in behind her.
At the sight of the man, Rauru was quick to Y/Nâs side, pulling her against him as he narrowed on him. Why did that man look familiar, he couldnât exactly remember. All he knew was it was a male near his mate and heâdâ
âHey, Master. Iâm back.â
Link gave her a pointed look. âQuit,â he muttered softly, though the smallest quirk of a smile appeared.
Y/N only grinned and patted Rauruâs arm. âHe hates it when I call him that.â
âProbably because youâre the same age,â Zelda amended.
âI mean, not really but I guess? Rauru, this is Zelda and Link, but something tells meâŚâ
âHow are you here?â Zelda asked finally.
He paused and shook his head. âI wish I knew. I found myself here suddenly and couldnât calm my instincts. OnlyâŚOnly Sonia had ever been able to pull me out. Then I met Y/N.â
âYeah, yeah, yeah. Z! Youâre not gonna believe this. The ruins in Faron. The Zonai Ruins.â
âYes?â
âRauru says they were already outdated and had festivals there with those ritual outfits Link had found. Do you know what this means?â
âThese are even older than Hyrule itselfâY/N this is an amazing discovery!â
âI know! Which is why, hear me out, I want to go investigate them and bring Rauru along. He can fill in some blanks and maybe we can get somewhere with our research!â
Link sighed as the women began to grow excited over it, finding it both endearing and worrying as he glanced at Rauru. When Rauru met his gaze, Link took a moment to study his reaction before nodding firmly, as though bowing a slight at the king without letting his guard down.
As Rauru watched his mate discussing a research plan with the princess, he knew his life was blessed with a second chance.
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All Salem Scenes Compilation -> V.8 Part 5/5
Volume 3 - Volume 4: Part 1 & Part 2
Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7
Volume 8: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
#rwby#Salem#salem scenes#salem compilation#rwby edit#rwby clip#my edit#rwby volume 8#rwby v8#saintâs âramblings#part 5 of 5
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SEE STORY (Part 5 of 5) A tale from the World of Sea
Return to the Master Story Index
Return to World of Sea
See Story
by
De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)
Cover art by @wind-the-mama-catâ
14372 words
copyright 2023
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.
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Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users
Users  of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may  reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in  my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical  compositions. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge  for their images.
All sorts of Fan Activity, fiction, art, cosplay, music or anything else is ACTIVELY encouraged!
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Sea is a colony assumed lost somewhat over a thousand years before this tale opens. They were sent on a one way trip, not knowing that there was no land at all on the whole world of Sea. Thus, aside from humans, NO CREATURE OF SEA IS IN ANY WAY ITS NAMESAKE. They were simply named for a superficial resemblance to some Earthly creature by the early colonists.
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New to SEE STORY? Read from the beginning HERE.
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âOh, look! Â She has Strong Skins and Wing Rays and Orcas! Â Buy me one, please Daddy!â
âLook, Kara, this girl has a model of a fishing smack, just like the one Mother uses. Â Would you like it?â
It was not long before every one was sold.
A few sailors of the Grandalor wandered by, speaking loudly, âMake lots of toys, Longin! Â Theyâre all that youâll have next Gathering. Â We pulled your best waters right out from under you in the Council Meeting. Â Didnât give squat for âem either.â Â They linked arms and walked away, laughing.
Kurin came running up to Cat, in tears. Â âDid they really take away our waters, Cat?â
Cat gathered the child into her arms and held her.  âCalm yourself, Little Fish ⌠Thatâs it.â  She petted Kurinâs hair gently. âThey think that they got our waters, Kurin.  That is not the same as getting our waters.  Where was the crab reef?â
Kurin wrinkled her brow in thought.  âWe sailed south for most of the night with a good wind and all sail âŚâ Her eyes lit up.  âIt was in the buffer space between the Gulaâs fishing waters and the Dolthinâs ⌠They didnât get it at all!â  She clapped her hands in glee.
âI know that you,â here Cat, smiling, gently touched Kurinâs nose, âcan keep a secret, so I will tell you. We tricked them out of a whole fishing water of better reefs. Â This is the most important thing to remember, though. Â If they had not tried to cheat us we could not have turned the tables on them. Â Always deal honestly, but never stupidly.â
The bazaar continued for days. Â Everyone chaffered and bargained for the best deals that they could get. Â
A small knot of sailors and officers had gathered a little way from the Longinâs booth, as they had for the last several days. Â The people changed, but the group remained. Â They were all there for the same reason. Â The Longinâs Lady Luck could most often be seen there, though this Gathering, there was no telling where she might turn up. Â Many were simply curious. Â Others were thinking of courting her.
âSee her, there back of the Longin booth?â pointed Mara, the new First Mate of the Fauline. âThatâs her with the white hair, like fresh foam.â
âSheâs the Longinâs Luck?  What a beauty!â said Torinsin, of the Gulaâs rope walk.  âI heard that sheâs blind and helpless, though ⌠Dragons! Look, she just dragged that whole tub of lobsters up front by herself.  Donât look helpless to me.â
âLots of us been watching her. Â She donât act blind. Â I wonder what the Grandalorâs up to this time. Â Spreading lies like that?â speculated Morin, of the Grython, stroking his chin. Â âOur Captain said that she would be welcome aboard.â
âMaybe they want to get her for themselves!â Mara put in. Â âMaybe I should ask some of the Faulineâs crew to meet her. Â Seems from what Iâve seen sheâd be an asset to any crew.â
âI did hear that sheâs marrying, gonna leave the Longin this year,â said Morin.
âThatâs whatâs up, for sure, then,â said old Ganther, the Dolthinâ Master Boatwright. âGrandalor is trying to grab the Longinâs Luck for themselves, and cut us all out. Â Just like them.â
âIs she still available? Â We have some good young men on the Gula that might do,â said Torinsin, eagerly.
âWe all do! Â I talked to Captain Mord already. Â Sheâs bespoke,â said the Captain of the Grinna.
âWhat! What shipâs got her? Â Whoâs the lucky guy?â asked Torinsin, only slightly downcast, but still eager for gossip.
âTheyâre keeping it under their watch-caps until the night of the full moons,â said Forin, Grinnaâs First Mate, stroking her hair and smiling a little at Torinsinâs expression.
âHas anybody thought to ask her direct?â asked Ganther, cutting to the heart of the matter. Â âSheâs easy to find, now. Â First time in nineteen - twenty Gatherings that anybodyâs seen her much. Â Now, sheâs all over the place.â
âI am, arenât I?â said a cheerful voice, like splashing, flowing water.
The whole group jumped as if shocked by a Jolting Ray, and turned to see Cat, only a few feet away.
âSo, tell us, who is it to be? What shipâs getting you?â asked Torinsin, eagerly.
âYou all could have come to the Longin and courted me. Â Nobody did. Â Iâm afraid that sheâs right,â said Cat cheerfully, pointing to Forin. Â âCome and see on the Weddings Night.â
âDid anybody ever tell you that you are cruel?â said Torinsin with a cheerful grin.
âOne or two ⌠hundred ⌠so far,â replied Cat.  Then singling out Forin, she added,  âCome, take me to your booth.  You have some truly beautiful cloth that I would like to get.  What do you call those woven-in pictures? â
âI believe that you mean our brocade âŚâ  The two wandered off in the direction of the Grinnaâs booth, chatting cheerfully.
The Longin finally ran out of shellfish. Â By the night of the Full Moons, the Longin had sold everything that they had brought and were preparing to strike their booth. Â Sold out or not, the other booths were being struck, too. The Gathering market was over and the space was needed.
As they were packing away empty tubs and lace spools, fabric bolt cores, and their awning, Cat noticed that Kurin was crying quietly. Â Packing could wait a few minutes.
âLittle Fish, why do you weep?â
ââCause tonight youâre going to marry somebody from off of the Longin, and I wonât see you anymore.â
âKurin, Kurin Behar, come here,â and she wrapped her strong arms about the child. Â âCome with us to the Weddings tonight and see my husband and love. Â If you do, I will give you a present that you will always have to remember me by. Â Besides, you may indeed see me from time to time.â
Kurin seized on that last. Â âYou mean it? Â Iâll see you again, sometimes? Â Promise?â
The Captains of the many ships of the Gathering Fleet were now escorting their young men and women of marriageable age to the rafts that had been the marketplace. Â Most of those were going to meet people that they had been courting for at least several Gatherings. Â Some were friends from childhood. Â Only a few ships arranged marriages for advantage, without concern for the feelings of their young women and men.
Grandalor was such a ship, and as their marriage gigs rowed past the Longin on their way to the wedding barges, some of their women were openly sad. Â There were a few among them, however, who rejoiced that they were leaving so oppressive a Captain as Barad. Â Few of the young men looked happy at all. Â Their marriages were bringing, not happiness for themselves, but skilled women for the Grandalor; cooks, weavers, ropers, sail-lofters, and all those other skills needed to maintain life on the Sea.
The Longinâs young folk felt sorry for the Grandalorâs, but they climbed cheerfully into their own gigs, going to meet those folk that they had chosen, and who had chosen them as well. Â Cat was among their number, pulling an oar with a will. Â Those who wished to watch the marriages followed in other boats, Kurin among them.
Everyone on the Wedding rafts were divided into four groups, to the north the brides, to the south the grooms, to the east, the Captains and officers and to the west those who came to watch and wish well. Â That last group was by far the largest. Â
There was little room left on the rafts. Â A cheerful buzz of conversation drowned almost all else. Everyone knew that the Lady of the Longinâs Luck was due to marry, but to whom? Â What ship would be lucky enough to have her? Â It was clear that the Grandalorâs lies about Cat had been dispelled by all that people had seen her doing during the market.
The order of the ships was called. Â This was the order in which the ships would bring forth their grooms to meet their brides. Â The Longin was to be the last, by her own choice. Â Many felt that the suspense was deliberate.
Night had fallen to star filled darkness and the Wedding Rafts were lit with lanterns. Â Shortly after full dark, the eastern horizon began to glow. Â Soon the limb of large Wohan appeared over the horizon. Â Carsis followed and a few minutes later, little Dorac. Â All three continued to rise together until, for a moment, all three moons sat, just touching the horizon. Â Their light raced across water gone flat as glass, like three shafts of brilliance, converging on the Wedding Rafts.
There was a quiet that fell on all the watchers. Â A woman could be heard telling her children quietly, âRemember this moment. Â It will not happen again in your lifetime. Â The Dragonâs Moons only rise once in a thousand Gatherings.â
The ceremonies began. Â Sarfin, Captain of the Dorton called forth the Dortonâs grooms. Â Their brides were called and, rejoicing, went to their loves. Â When the roll was complete, the Dortonâs Ceremony of Marriage was spoken and the brides signed the Shipâs Articles as new crew-members. Â Each ship had its own version of the ceremony. Â Each Marriage from each ship took another bite of time. Â It was growing late.
Finally, Mord of the Longin called the last of the grooms forth, and besides the brides for them, there was one more, still uncalled. Â Cat would be left standing alone when the last of the Longinâs grooms had his wife. Â Everyone could count, and the raft was absolutely buzzing as people figured this out.
The last bride went to the last groom, and Cat stood alone, dressed in a lovely brocade of white with black leaping Orcas. Â Captain Mord came to her and said quietly, âWhere is your groom?â
âHe is here. Â Marry my friends, and then you will see.â
Shrugging, Captain Mord went back to the grooms and new brides of the Longin and began the Ceremonies of Marriage. Â Cat went to the spectators.
âKurin! Â Kurin! Â Oh, there you are, Little Fish. Â I promised you a present on my wedding night, and you shall have it. Â Come with me.â
Trustingly, Kurin put her hand into Catâs and followed her across the raft. Â The Longinâs Ceremony was just done. Â Captain Barad brayed, âI donât see your groom!â Â His voice was cut off by the flat smack of open hand to cheek.
Mord withdrew his stinging hand and said poisonously, âMECAT, my sister in all but blood, has said that he is here. Â I believe her.â Turning to Cat, he said, âAll of the marriages of this night but one are done. Â What do you want me to do?â
âState for all my name, ship and crew. Â My husband will make himself known.â
Turning to all the watchers, Captain Mord called out, âCat, my sister in all but blood  ⌠Her name in full, dictated by Custom and Law is Mecat  ⌠ Of the Longin her whole life, Our Gift from the Sea ⌠Of no crew because of the Dragonâs name you bear ⌠Who have you chosen and who has chosen you?â
All about the raft, a dozen huge fifteen-ton Orca whales jumped at once, rising clear out of the water and falling back with a huge report and splashing of sea water.
âStand just here, little one,â Cat whispered to Kurin. Â âI will be back in a moment with your gift. Â Trust me, you will come to no harm.â
Raising her arms, Cat cried out in a voice like storm waves toppled by the wind, âIren! Dark Iren! Come forth and claim your bride!â Â The ocean in front of her boiled and rushed aside as a huge Sea Dragon reared his head high in front of her. Â
The creature was covered with large black scales the size of a manâs hand. Â Spines ran down his back and frills adorned his head. Â There were large tendrils about the fanged mouth. Â Big dark, intelligent eyes gleamed from deep set sockets. Â Orcas rose with him to the surface.
Cat dove joyfully into the water and was gone. Â A minute passed and then two. Â A well-meaning woman, one of the Longinâs new brides, tried to lead Kurin away.
âCome, Dear. Â She is gone. Â As long as she has been under, she must be drowned.â
Kurin confidently shook off the kindly hand. Â âShe told me to wait. Â This is a short dive for Cat. Iâve seen her do five minutes before.â Â Mystified by Kurinâs response, the woman waited with her.
The water swirled, and a second Sea Dragon rose up. Â This Dragon was pale, like new sea-foam, but scaled spined and frilled like the other. Â It had eight foot jaws, with two-foot fangs and eyes that were completely blank. Â It was blind. The monster head thrust toward Kurin, who refused to run. Â The woman fled in terror. Â Powerful tendrils about the Dragonâs mouth grabbed Kurin, and hugged her. Â Kurin, with a squeal of delight, tried to hug the massive snout.
âOh, Cat! Â Youâre back, just like you said.â
Blind Mecat, the Great Sea Dragon gently put the child down. Â âI have your gift, Kurin. Â Just stand for a moment.â Â The enormous jaws opened and a breath like fog came out and enveloped the child. Â As the breeze blew it away, everyone looked in amazement. Â Kurinâs hair, once dark, was now the color of new sea-foam.
~THE END~
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Macaque spent the whole season Big-Damn-Hero-ing and was NOT happy about it xD
#lmk season 5 spoilers#lmk spoilers#lmk season 5#lego monkie kid#lmk#macaque#liu'er mihou#six eared macaque#sun wukong#monkey king#qi xiaotian#mk#li jing#anyone else find it interesting that in english the 'macaque' part of his name comes first#but in chinese the 'six-ears' part comes first? so the way he's called by name in the different dubs has slightly different vibes#i can't quantify 'em tho :/ am not a vibeologist#Macaque was this season's biggest GOAT#like he's very petty about it but he cares about mk and swk SO. MUCH.#(well ok the petty is mostly aimed at swk)#which: fair#POV: everything is going to shit and you are currently the only celestial monkey NOT being re-traumatized or gaslight by celestial beings#macaque's gonna start rolling up to beach parties with a shirt that says:#I Saved The Monkey King's Arse Several Times And All I Got Was An Almost-Hand-Holding-Moment And This Stupid Shirt#MK NOOOOOOOOO#im a fucking wreck that's their KID. he's their BOY. their little BRO HE'S THEIR KID OKAY AND THEY LOVE HIM ENOUGH TO FISTFIGHT THE GODS#which i guess is a little easier since they can win those fights actually#not explicitly shadowpeach#but oh it is there. lurking. waiting to strike#lion king reference! :D
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since Eng is getting 7.5 soon(?), I felt motivated to go back to my Meleanor rig and make her a couple of lesson animations! ...except for alchemy, because the cauldron bubbles proved too hard to photoshop around, whoops.
maybe she just got lost on her way to the classroom...?
(credit: backgrounds are from the game, I just put her on top of 'em)
(aside from the backgrounds, this is not an edit, I drew her from scratch! please do not tag or treat as an edit!)
#art#twisted wonderland#twisted wonderland spoilers#twisted wonderland episode 7 spoilers#twisted wonderland book 7 spoilers#twisted wonderland episode 7 part 5 spoilers#twisted wonderland book 7 part 5 spoilers#gif warning#gifs that will inexplicably never get a perfect no matter how many cupcakes you use warning#let's just say she hasn't been added to the alchemy schedule yet#AS PER USUAL#(sam sneaks in at night and messes with the schedule so we have to buy candy from him instead)#(i promise i will stop spamposting eventually) (they gotta stop giving me characters to obsess over first)#anyway in my continuing efforts to manifest a meleanor card into existence#it's time to remember i made this a million years ago#just blow off some of the dust and cobwebs that have accumulated here...#'i'm only gonna add a couple of things i won't do too much'#(spends ten minutes trying to decide what color goggles she should have)#(flipping back and forth between green and purple) it's no use she looks good in everything#spineposting#(not me stealth editing because i didn't realize the wrong arm attachment had somehow popped in whoops)
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raise your hand if you have ever been personally victimised by mahito
#jujutsu kaisen#jjk spoilers#sorta if you're not up to date with the anime?#kugisaki nobara#nanami kento#yoshino junpei#they rewind the part where mahito gets kicked across the hallway 5 times#i realised nobara and nanamin are both missing their left eyes whilst drawing this twinsies<3#sorry for drawing you like this junpei x#my art
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GLORY TO THE RISEN GODS
#everyone is obsessing over the new companions meanwhile me:#and yeah i drew these based off 3 dimly lit screenshots so they're probably inaccurate. do i care? no!<3#my art#dragon age#dragon age 4#dragon age the veilguard#da:tv#what is the correct tag. idk#evanuris#ghilan'nain#elgar'nan#<- i hope :)#alongside the egg on this game's roster of antagonists we have: eldritch horror lesbian and evil divorced father#absolutely obsessed with them#man they scene where they come out of the fade from behind solas has been replaying in my head nonstop since i saw it#also just wanted to point out that they said on the q&a that all ancient elves eventually go bald. but elgar'nan actually has hair in the#closeup. therefore i honestly think it's a skill issue on solas' part#also no one pay attention to the fact that i haven't posted art in like 5 months lol <3
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("You already failed this one, didn't you.")
#rewatching a bit of jellos stream made me want to draw this part#in stars and time#in stars and time spoilers#isat#isat spoilers#from odile's friendquest in act 5#isat siffrin#isat odile#my art
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genderbent vento aureo fanart i did last year
#jjba fanart#jjba part 5#vento aureo#gender bender#fanart#anime fanart#character art#digitaldrawing#old art kinda#golden wind
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Hey, no one thought they'd need window security on the top floor!
Episode 53 Part 34 First < Previous > Next Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5 Ep 41, Ep 42, Ep 43, Ep 44 Ep 45, Ep 46, Ep 47, Ep 48, Intermission, Ep 49, Ep 50, Ep 51, Ep 52
Ko-fi | Patreon
#I headcanon that her weird Queen Banana hair is Chloe's natural hair#and every other time I've drawn her hair down she's styled it with at least 5 products#scarlet lady#scarlet lady au#scarlet lady comic#mayura#episode 53 part 34
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Drew some Jojos risographs I'm printing for future conventions featuring: Jotaro, Josuke, Giorno and Jolyne
#jojo part 3#fanart#jjba#jojo part 6#stardust crusaders#stone ocean#jojo part 4#jojo part 5#giorno giovanna#jolyne cujoh#jjba jolyne#jjba jotaro#jotaro kujo#jjba fanart#josuke higashikata#jjba josuke#jojo's bizarre adventure#artists on tumblr#risograph#joestars#cordwanerart
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April Shower
#art#digital art#drawing#illustration#procreate#artwork#jojo's bizarre adventure#jjba#jjba fanart#giorno giovanna#jjba part 5#golden wind
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I Would Like to Thank
@inhumaninterestâ for READING, LIKING
and REBLOGGING
WARRIOR CLAN, Part 3 of 4
WARRIOR CLAN, Part 4 of 4
T'LASSâ QUESTION, Part 1 of 4
Science Fiction
SUBMARINE! 1812, an Alternate History
Chapter 6 : KRAKEN, Part 5 of 5
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Posted 6 days ago
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#@inhumaninterest#WARRIOR CLAN#Parts 3 & 4 of 4#Science Fiction#SUBMARINE! 1812#Chapter 6 : KRAKEN#Part 5 of 5#Alternate History#Written by De Writer
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