#Peak unbalance of power.

[thatfrenchacademic]

Ok but hear me out

What if

the reviewer

was wrong, actually.

[buzzkillers]

The Deer Was Tired 1/3

synopsis: As a guard for the Atreides family, it's your job to make sure their precious offspring was satisfied. Even if doing so got in the way of your true mission.

Pairing: Paul Atreides x Reader

Trigger Warnings | Content: Manipulative Behavior, Dubious Consent, Abuse of Power, Stalking, Sexual Coercion, Corruption Kink, Assassination Au.

By his fourth night of no sleep, the Archduke was restless, prickly and completely fucking annoying.

If you could kill him you would, but you couldn't. You could just barely grab for your knife and after an hour, even moving had become an impossible task. Call that the 'completely fucking annoying' part.

What a pity. 

Now at this hour, the Palace was a sleeping beast with soldiers that stood bleary eyed in the hallways. The inner workings of the court, nothing more than a shallow husk.

 It reminded you of the cities on Tano, a planet so lively during the day but nothing but a husk at night. But this was not that, this planet was a graveyard. 

An open cemetery filled with the walking dead and the beast that fed on them. Bad actors filled every corner of this world, death licked at your feet and famine yipped at your lungs. You've never been so thirsty. But you were sure that even they were rested now. The disease, the pestilence and the worms. Everything rested at this hour. Everyone but him. 

It was an odd thought. You felt as if you were even breaking some rule, that even the dunes moon hated the fact that the two of you were awake as it shined it's light through the Lords window, successfully lighting up the dark room and giving you a front row seat to the Lord that stared at you like a bug, like something to step on. 

Maybe you were. 

If not a bug than a snake. Something slimy and slick that cleaned up the pest in your walls silently, efficiently. Something meant to be invisible. It was partly true. Just as much as you were partly impressed. 

You never knew such a delicate man could look so demeaning. It reminded you of those old war paintings, the kind filled with vengeful women with burning eyes and gnashing teeth. He wanted to kill you. 

It didn’t help that at this hour, the young man was dressed like his mother. His body decorated in a deep oceanic blue fabric that crashed into waves at the ankles of his calloused feet. Each cross stitch covered in jewels and beads that glimmered in the moonlight while he laid stiff on his cot. 

 He was beautiful like this. And if you were being nice you’d say that he looked like one of those deadly beauties you heard of on the radio-if you were being nice. The look of death on his face kind of ruined it. 

With a face engraved with dark circles and sallow cheeks. The lord looked more sickly than anything. A walking famine. Before he turned towards his window, a frown etched into his regal features. 

Then with a beleaguered sigh, the Lord pinched the bridge of his nose. "Be blunt, soldier," 

"Are you saying it all came up negative?"

You rolled your armored shoulders. It sounded like a machinery of parts. "Yes, m'lord," 

"And what about this room, the walls I touch, the air I breathe?,"

"Checked and cleared, m'lord"

His frown only deepened. "Check it again,"

"But-"

He slammed his fist on the window sill. 

"Must I repeat myself?" You straighten your posture.

"Must I?"  

You shook your head till your helmet let out a creak and the brat unballed his fist. "Good," 

"This sickness has already gotten in the way of the more important things, it can't make me ignore my father's request too," 

You blinked and lied: "The Duke may be lenient," 

He laughed till his cheeks went sickly red but no humor was on his face. "You know him then?" He asked, even though that wasn't at all what you said. 

Still, still he did not wait for your response. He simply groaned, low and hard like an injured animal too stubborn to die. You wished he'd just die. 

"In a weeks time my father will need me at peak condition, and yet I haven't slept in days,"

"I haven't dreamt in days," 

"I have not known rest in days, I can barely hold my dagger any more but you say nothings wrong,"

"It is the truth," you lied again. "I pray for your health everyday m'lord" 

And for a moment there was silence before he cut his eyes towards you. "Don't lie, you are irritated with me and would readily slit my wrist for disrespect if I wasn't a highborn," You've never been more grateful that your armor came with a face shield. 

The stupid prince just had a flare for the dramatics, that was all. 

"My lord," you continued, your voice unnaturally timid because that's what books told you to sound like when speaking to royalty. "May I make a suggestion,"

"You may," But he barely looked at you when he responded, his eyes now locked firmly on the expanse of sand outside his window. His own little view of this hell scape planet. For a moment you wondered what he saw.

"Well as you know, the Duke brought many of the servants on your home planet to the Dunes," you waited for him to interrupt but he did not, you sighed with relief. "Everyone with loyalty to the throne is on this planet" 

The young man scoffed. "Are you suggesting that I make friends with servants" 

"In a way," you lied and before the scowl on the mans face could deepen (fuck it) you continued: "I'm suggesting that you get a whore," You said bluntly and not at all regal or uptight, shit. 

You're barely finished your sentence before the Atreides lord went as stiff as a board. His eyes no longer focused nor his breathing noticeable. For a moment, you mistook him for an apparition until a rush of red bloomed from under his cheeks and his eyes went beady like a bug.

Nonetheless, silence draped over the room like sand, the only thing you could hear being the sound of mice that scurried through the walls and the dancing of desert sand. 

 It would be distracting if you weren't anticipating his answer. The poor man, you must've shocked him. Politicians were rarely known for directness and you've begun to contemplate if you ran into this too abruptly then you thought before you felt it.

The soft tremor of your muscles and the swelling in the back of your head that felt like a banging drum, like a whistled beat. As something red-hot and scorching (fear,fear, dread) seeped from your veins and onto cold white bone. 

The urge to run bursted in every cell of your brain but you could not move. The sense of doom forced you still. For a horrifying second, instinct fought against instinct. You needed to run, you needed to stay. You needed to scream, you needed to choke it all down. You didn't realize it was over until you collapsed to your knees and sticky drool sloshed from your lips while your nails dug painfully into the floor. 

 Atreides hadn't moved an inch. He simply looked at you from the reflection of the glass window. His eyes replaced with black opaques that made you wonder where his irises ended and pupils began. 

Shakily, you stood back to your feet. 

"My-"

"How dare you," he hissed. 

"Please-"

"Get out," And as if space and time were at his beck and call. You blinked, the universe ceased to exist and just like that you were at his door with your armored hand on the handle. 

"And soldier," he whispered, voice now hoarse. The room now thick, muddy and impossible to think through with this heavy cloud that swelled heavy in your head. 

"Check it again,"

__

The next day, the Dune sun sunk into every pore of your skin. 

You could barely hear yourself think as you leaned against the cemented pillars of the palace. Each moment passed by with a drip of sweat made the tree gardener eventually stop and glare before grimly handing you a cup. 'A waste of water' he grumbled before he got back to work, his own skin drier than the dirt itself. 

Oh the thrills of guarding the Palm Trees.

For a moment, you wondered if this was a punishment. Something suggested by the Lord himself before quickly you burned the thought away, the Archduke was not that cruel. No, he was efficient. If he truly wanted you to hurt, a quick walk in the desert would be more his style. You doubt that you would’ve made it to morning if you had truly hurt the Lord. But that was the problem wasn’t it? He wasn’t supposed to want to hurt you. He wasn’t even supposed to know you. And now you were here, so now what? 

Now what?

Your head had begun to hurt as you thought of the possibilities. You could run, you could change your appearance, you could simply die. Did it matter? The end result stayed the same; they would not be happy. They might just bring her back just to kill her again. Oh the horror. They were going to find out and you were going to die and, 

Something like terror had begun to lick at your bones. Fear lapping at your soles. Suddenly it felt like eyes were on you everywhere. That the sky was watching and the walls were listening, they were everywhere and what were you to say? How would you plead your case? Everything watched as you stood there, your entire body damp with sweat and in your delusion even the gardener kept his gaze on you. His deep set skin dragging with his eyes at your form. Did he know what you were too? Did he know what you did? 

What were you to say if they asked? If your stupidity breached the walls of the Lords chamber?

 It was one thing to be the brats guard, it was another for him to remember that you were his guard. Just like that, you gripped the cup painfully. 

If the Brat remembered you...no you couldn't have that. It would ruin everything.It maybe already had. But the man was teased of sleep, of rest. Day and night he screamed and shouted at the guards, at his parents. At this moment, he was no different than a drunken fool. Yes, that was it. Your stupidity could be put down to that. The ramblings of a sleep deprived idiot. Even if he wasn't around, you suspected that the brat would tell your commander about the perverted soldier who attempted to tempt him into depravity, but who would believe him?

Everyone. 

Everyone would believe him. Because he was a prince before he was a fool. And you were going to die. Either by his hand or something far, far worse. It was as simple as that. A fact set in stone. The revelation caused your heart to ram into your ribs. For it was a simple answer for a simple question. All that you had left to do was warn the others, to prepare them.

Or maybe you didn’t as your shift ended with a buzz on the wrist and an overarching shadow that stretched into a soldier with armor like yours appeared in your line of vision. Under the sunlight he stood like death's hand. His metallic armor catching a gleam in your eyes. 

“The commander needs to speak to you,” the man said gruffly. 

“He says it’s urgent,” and that was that. 

You could only jerk your head in acknowledgement and with a nod towards the Gardener, you swiftly made your final exit; but not before looking at the cup of liquid in your hand and throwing it to the ground.

[words-etched-in-her-skin]

Pleaseeeeee elaborate on that Alcina fic it was so juicy it can't end there!!

Well, now 👀 I had a feeling that little snippet would induce a want for more 😌 Shall we then? 😏♥️

"Now..." Her tone almost as dark as the curl across her lips as she readied your hips for impact, the head of her cock throbbing inside your entrance. "Shall we see just how many times I can get you to come for me... my needy little slut."

"Mmph- .. Yes.. please."

A wholey seductive growl imbedded deep within her throat as Alcina drove herself into you, forcing a stretch to your core so delicious that you couldn't help but moan. There was no better feeling in the world that being utterly stuffed by your Lady. To have your core filled with nothing but her throbbing cock. You squirmed when she paused - as much as you could with her hands still holding your hips still. Your need dripping unhindered from the slit of you, eager for more.

"Plea- .. Ah-!"

A single hard thrust.

"Hush, pet. Or I won't fuck you at all." She growled.

You only nodded in response, teeth pushing into your bottom lip as you did everything in your power not to whimper, not to beg out right and plead for more. A wave of heat rolling over you as the Countess leaned down, breath warm against your ear.

"That's better, slut."

A whimper caught within your throat, legs trembling, core aching. Heated desire coating her womanhood as she slid it out slowly once more, giving you a smug grin before slamming it back into you. Only this time she didn't stop, this time she fucked you hard - unhinged - with enough fervor that your eyes were practically rolling back into your head. Every thrust willing a feverish heat across your body. Building you hire and hire until your climax came on quick and hard, soaking the both of you.

"Mh.. that's one."

"Fuck, Alci-"

"I said hush." She hissed. "The only sound I want to hear from you, pet, is the sound of you gasping for air."

You only had time to let out a single whimper before her hand came to your throat - a hand that could easily snuff the life force out of you if it wanted to. Only a small percentage of her strength being willed as her fingers closed around your neck slightly - applying just enough pressure to hinder your air flow.

Your cheeks flushed almost immediately, body heated - restrained by nothing more than the sheer power of your lover. Her large frame readying once again as the length of her slid out of you - the fingers around your neck tightening ever so slightly as she herself thrusted back in. Each breath more shallow than the last until her grasp would lighten up just long enough for you to fill your lungs. The Countess a master of her craft as she expertly controlled the ebb and flow of your breath cycle. Matching it perfectly with the profound cock that drove in and out of you until another violent orgasm ripped through your body - forcing out nothing more than a screamless cry.

"That's two, slut."

Your body was practically limp beneath her, covered in a deep crimson. Though, you knew she wasn't done with you yet. You knew she would use you until her own desire peaked or you fell completely unconscious. You'd played this game far too many times before.

"Still want more, hm?"

You nodded slowly, breath nothing more than a hitch.

"Little whore."

"Y-your.. whore.."

You probably shouldn't have spoken but you couldn't help it. You loved it when she claimed you, you reveled in hearing you were hers, and only hers.

"Mh.. my whore, indeed."

With that confirmation came a hard bite to your shoulder and then your neck. The Lady's tongue swirling over your supple flesh as she marked and claimed you. Your body vibrating as another wave of need swiftly came over you again, moaning out loudly when her cock drove back into you.

"All"

Another bite.

"Mine."

This time she matched the heated stings across your skin to the movements to her hips. Movements that became more erractic with each thrust, more unbalance with every claim she put on you, with every orgasm she willed cross your body. Her lips finally coming to crash against yours with the metallic taste of blood that coated your tongue as hers warmly danced over it. Both hands back on your hips as she fucked you unhindered - merciless - swallowing every scream you gave her as her own climax finally met your own. Filling your already dripping hole with her hot desire.

Your body now limp beneath her, inky darkness filling over your eye sight as your heard Alcina murmur a number before you finally passed out.

Mh, and with that.. I wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day 💋

[gfuveelectronics]

GF4385 portable three phase power quality analyzer

GF4385 portable power quality analyzer is a low cost PQA carefully developed by GFUVE GROUP and specially designed for field test of three phase system, multi-functional and intelligent, concise man-machine operation. It is easy to use, large LCD screen display, high resolution, English display, IP65 shock-proof shell structure and so on. simultaneously measure 4-channel current (I1 I2 I3 I4 three phase and neutral wire current) and 4-channel voltage (U1 U2 U3 U4 three-phase voltage and neutral line voltage to ground), the peak value of current voltage, maximum/minimum value over a period, three-phase unbalance factor, short-flicker, transformer K factor, active power, reactive power, apparent power, power factor and displacement power factor, active power, reactive power, apparent power, total harmonic distortion and harmonic, etc; Display real-time waveform, harmonic ratio bar charts of current voltage; Dynamically capture instantaneous change of voltage current, monitoring starting current, monitoring the power parameters and generate the alarm list, generate the trend chart for a long time record test data.

[nanoprecise22]

Enhancing Gearbox Performance with Vibration Analysis by Nanoprecise

Vibration analysis in gearboxes plays a crucial role in predictive maintenance, enabling industries to identify mechanical issues before they lead to costly breakdowns. Nanoprecise, a leader in industrial IoT and condition monitoring, offers cutting-edge vibration analysis technology that ensures seamless gearbox performance.

Gearboxes are vital components in many machines, and even a minor misalignment, imbalance, or wear can lead to significant downtime. Nanoprecise’s vibration analysis system detects early warning signs like gear wear, misalignment, unbalance, or even lubrication issues by analyzing the vibration patterns in real time. This technology allows for precise identification of the root cause of potential failures, giving operators the chance to intervene before more severe damage occurs.

Nanoprecise’s solution leverages advanced sensors and AI-powered algorithms to continuously monitor gearbox vibrations. The data is processed to provide actionable insights, enabling maintenance teams to predict when and where a failure might occur. This proactive approach reduces unscheduled downtime, enhances operational efficiency, and extends the lifespan of machinery.

Vibration analysis also plays a critical role in optimizing energy consumption, as poorly functioning gearboxes often lead to increased power usage. By maintaining gearboxes at peak efficiency, businesses can save on energy costs while improving overall productivity. With Nanoprecise's innovative vibration analysis technology, industries can ensure reliable, long-term performance of gearboxes, ultimately driving productivity and reducing maintenance expenses.

[drewzeitlin]

Cross Stitch Stories: The Last Mule Standing: A Journey of Resilience Part 1

Part 1: The Beginning of a Trial

Mulo, the Pack Mule, had seen many seasons come and go in the mountains. His back had borne countless loads over treacherous paths, his hooves had trodden where few dared to step, and his heart had grown as sturdy as the rocks he climbed. For years, he had been the steadfast companion of a traveling merchant, known for his reliability and unwavering strength. To Mulo, duty was more than just a word—it was a way of life.

The merchant was a kind but shrewd man, always knowing where to find the best goods and how to navigate the most perilous routes. Mulo had carried spices, silks, and jewels across the jagged peaks, but today’s cargo was different. This time, it was not wealth or luxury that burdened his back but a small, carefully wrapped package containing life-saving medicine. The village on the other side of the mountains had been struck by a sudden illness, and without this medicine, many lives would be lost. The merchant had entrusted Mulo with this critical mission, knowing that only his most dependable companion could be counted on to deliver it in time.

The journey ahead was fraught with danger. Between Mulo and the village lay the notorious mountain stream, a deceptive body of water that looked serene from afar but was, in reality, a wild torrent fed by melting snow and recent rains. Many had tried to cross it, and many had failed, their bodies swept away by the merciless current. But Mulo was not just any mule—he was a veteran of the mountains, his spirit forged in the fires of countless trials.

As Mulo set off, the path leading to the stream felt familiar, yet there was an ominous air about it. The trees seemed darker, their branches weighed down by the mist that clung to the mountain like a shroud. The wind howled through the narrow valleys, carrying with it the scent of rain and the distant roar of the stream. Mulo pressed on, his powerful legs moving with purpose, his ears twitching at every sound, every shift in the air.

He reached the stream by midday, the sun hidden behind thick clouds. The sight that greeted him was more daunting than he had anticipated. The water, usually a steady flow, was now a raging torrent, churning with anger, frothing white as it crashed against the rocks. The stream had swollen to twice its usual size, its banks nearly invisible beneath the surge. Mulo hesitated for the first time, his instincts telling him to turn back, but the thought of the villagers, of the lives depending on him, pushed those fears aside.

He took a step forward, the icy water swirling around his hooves. The current was stronger than he had imagined, tugging at him with a force that made his muscles tense. Mulo dug his hooves into the rocky riverbed, searching for stability. The water surged against him, a relentless wall of cold that sought to unbalance and overpower him. He inched forward, his eyes focused on the opposite bank, where the path continued up the mountain.

But as Mulo made his way deeper into the stream, the water rose higher, reaching his knees and then his chest. The rocks beneath him shifted, threatening to send him tumbling into the depths. Mulo’s heart pounded, his breath coming in sharp bursts. He could feel the weight of the package on his back, a reminder of the responsibility he carried. Every step was a battle, every inch forward a victory against the raging current.

Then, just as he thought he was gaining ground, the stream unleashed its fury. A massive wave surged towards him, crashing against his side with a force that nearly knocked him over. Mulo stumbled, his hooves slipping on the slick rocks. He fought to regain his balance, but the current was relentless, pulling him towards the edge of a steep drop downstream.

In that moment, Mulo realized he was not just fighting the water—he was fighting for his life. And in the roar of the stream, the challenge had only just begun.

Come back tomorrow to find out what happens.

This story was brought to you by the Cross Stitch Pattern Animal Mammal Pack Mule With Story and Audio. Not only does this design look great, but it also tells a powerful story of resillance, with an audio recap included. The hero of our tale, Mulo highly recommends it. For more information, visit drewzeitlin.gumroad.com/l/mule. You can see all our cross-stitch patterns at DrewZeitlin.gumroad.com This is not your great-grandmother’s cross-stitch—it’s a multi-sensory experience! And one more thing: you get to choose the price. What do you have to lose? But how much do you have to gain?

[henlp]

2023 Show Round-up

.Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Angel - Flawed, overly quippy, amazing character work oozing from every pore. Surprising how many contemporary actors popped in these shows before they were big. (Worst - Buffy S01, Angel S04; Best - Buffy S06, Angel S03(?); Fav - Lorne);

.Gargoyles - While some credit is warranted for a show with dark tones and heavy consequences for a lot of characters (both main and secondary) sadly the inconsistent quality of the animation, heavily flawed execution of the action setpieces, messy magic system and power levels, makes this one not worth revisiting, save for the two moments of peak comedy;

.X-Men the Animated Series - In spite of some animation jank, and Jubilee making a terrible impression during the first two episodes, the show has surprisingly decent, albeit simplistic, character work. Execution is mostly okay, resolutions more hit-and-miss. Time travel plotlines make no fucking sense;

.Spicy City - Rounding off a Ralph Bakshi arc with one of his most engaging projects, if not his best altogether (though not being a writer or animator might be seen as a jab at the man). Five (out of six) episodes of tech-noir tales, exploring a harsh cyberpunk future and the choices of different characters. And also one about voodoo magic hands, I don't know what the fuck;

.American Dragon: Jake Long - This 2005 show, about a magical asian kid protector of the world of magic and humans (in the East Coast), is always taking one step forward and one step back. Not only is there a major shift from S01 to S02, but for every good story, there's a ridiculous contrivance; for every decent new design, something looks ridiculous; with proper character writing, mostly contradicting what's come before; for every funny joke, there's a lot of mid-2000s cringe to unbalance things;

.Fantastic Four the Animated Series - First season is atrocious: incredibly childish writing; awful, overused comedy lines; cheap, lame animation. Second season is a mild improvement, but does not justify ever rewatching the show;

.Iron Man the Animated Series - First season is somehow WORSE than the Fantastic Four's, almost like a parody of old He-Man, including a team of random heroes that do nothing, but with a less chidish tone (on the surface). Once again, second season is a mild improvement, with some focus on a core line-up of characters and recurring plot points, but fails to deliver anything of quality;

.The Incredible Hulk Animated Series - While toning down the Hulk's raging nature, making him more of a misguided soul looking for acceptance and peace, it does a perfectly serviceable job with a smaller scale narrative, exploring Bruce Banner's attempts to escape custody and cure himself of his gamma radiation alter-ego. Secong season is far less engaging and the quality dips. A big, green 'Okay' overall;

.Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated - For the most part, it's just the old show with a fresh coat of paint and extra teen drama that isn't sufficiently explored. The overaching plot is interesting and really comes into its own during the second season, but the individual episodic mysteries are still formulaic and lacking (with some exceptions). Not bad, but could be better, maybe if the runtime for each episode had been longer;

.Spider-Man The Animated Series - Not even close to Spectacular Spider-Man tier, several problems relating to character interactions and how they're written (special mention to the romance and Peter's 'inner' monologues). Still, it's the king of 90s Marvel cartoons for a reason, whether that's due to the comic book stories it adapted, or because it was more grounded and focused on the protagonist's struggles;

.My Life as a Teenage Robot - Blown away by how much I enjoyed this show, especially the comedy. Which is good, because it definitely leans more on the comedic toon shenanigans involving 'kidified' teen characters, than weighty stakes in plot-driven episodes (but even those are pretty well-executed, all things considered);

.Spider-Man Unlimited - It's fine. In spite of its 90s edgy coat of paint, and being a soft reboot/spiritual sequel to its predecessor, it doesn't have any eggregious issues, powers and arsenals are used accordingly, characters aren't too nuts with monologuing and have appropriate lines of dialogue. Cliffhanger ending is what mostly sours the experience;

.Animaniacs - Hit or miss, the nature of a variety show with several segments and casts of characters. But overall positive, as the good is often funny/clever, while the rest is somewhere between okay, to a tad repetitive. Favorites are the Warners, Slappy Squirrel, Chicken Boo, and lil' Flame;

.Johnny Bravo (S01) - Less exaggerated with its humor, compared to the second and third seasons, but in spite of the more simplistic artstyle it still manages to hit some really good jokes; a bunch of which kids wouldn't understand or appreciate, and are definitely more aimed at adults.

[stiweb40]

How to Use Allen Bradley Vibration Monitors to Improve Asset Reliability

In the world of industrial automation and asset management, ensuring the reliability of your machinery is paramount. Vibrations are often indicative of impending issues within your equipment, and addressing them proactively can save you from costly breakdowns and downtime. This is where Vibration Allen Bradley Monitors come into play, offering a reliable solution to monitor and enhance asset reliability.

Understanding Vibration Monitoring: Vibration monitoring is a crucial aspect of predictive maintenance, allowing you to detect anomalies in your machinery before they become critical problems. Allen Bradley, a trusted name in the automation industry, provides state-of-the-art Vibration Monitors designed to safeguard your assets.

Key Features of Allen Bradley Vibration Monitors: Advanced Sensing Technology: These monitors employ cutting-edge sensors to accurately detect and measure vibrations, ensuring early detection of issues. Real-time Data: The monitors provide real-time data, allowing you to assess the condition of your equipment on an ongoing basis. Custom Alerts: You can set custom alert thresholds, receiving notifications when vibrations exceed acceptable levels. Integration: Allen Bradley Vibration Monitorsseamlessly integrate into your existing automation systems, making data analysis and reporting effortless.

Improving Asset Reliability: By using Allen Bradley Vibration Monitors, you can significantly improve asset reliability. Here's how: Early Issue Detection: Detect problems like misalignment, unbalance, or bearing wear before they cause machinery failure. Prevent Costly Downtime: Proactive maintenance based on vibration data helps prevent unexpected downtime and costly repairs. Extend Equipment Life: Addressing issues early can prolong the life of your assets, ensuring a better return on investment. Optimize Maintenance Schedules: With real-time data, you can optimize maintenance schedules and reduce unnecessary maintenance.

By investing in these monitors, you not only protect your machinery but also your bottom line. To learn more about how to enhance your asset reliability with vibration monitoring, visit and explore the full range of Allen Bradley products designed to keep your assets in peak condition. Don't wait until it's too late ensure the reliability of your assets with the power of these Monitors.

[gold-pavilion]

Hello!!! A while ago I read someone saying that Naegi's luck was mainly plot armor while Komaeda's luck was more "balanced", sooo I wanted to ask you, what are your thoughts on both Naegi's and Komaeda's luck?

HI SOFI I’M FINALLY ACTIVE ON TUMBLR AND ANSWERING THIIINGS.

AND BOY HAVE I GOT AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

The main difference between those two representations is kind of an easter egg, hidden in the Danganronpa novels and mildly suggested in the first game: that Naegi isn’t actually lucky, but a sort of Ultimate Bad Luck. Komaeda is the only one with the proper Ultimate Luck, which justifies why their talents are so different.

I’ll explain! There’s a small story called the Makoto Naegi Secret File that covers a day in his life, the day Naegi got his invitation to Hope’s Peak. In it, we’re shown exactly how bad Naegi’s luck is through a series of events where... well, not completely spoiling it, EVERYTHING goes spectacularly wrong for him and he ends up causing an explosion from a mail delivery motorcycle crash, where a bunch of letters get burned up. After the original Ultimate Lucky Student of that year (which had already been picked, it was a girl that year) is cancelled due to her letter being lost that way, Hope’s Peak judges that too must be an act of luck and picks a new student, which is Naegi. 

While Naegi considers the letter from Hope’s Peak a sign that he got compensated for his previous bad luck, as we know, that wasn’t quite the case, since it would get him caught up in the worst incident in the history of mankind and even a killing game. In short, everything has been a streak of bad luck for him. His true initial talent is most likely related to how he’s always able to come out fine of the unfortunate that always happen around him, most of which could’ve easily harmed or killed him. This is also probably why Junko couldn’t predict the pattern for his luck; cause first, one had to think of it through the right angle, the angle that it’s actually bad luck, and also take into account that he’d always come out of things well and standing. 

All in all, I find that great! It’s a nice hidden twist and the way he personally always ends up OK is a great method for a Bad Luck talent to function, it’s balanced and super funny once you know it. Everything he’s managed to survive, he’s very well earned by the things he’s had to go through. As for ending up as the Ultimate Hope, that’s his own merit and not inherently tied to his Ultimate Bad Luck.

So, taking Naegi outta the equation, that’d make Komaeda the only one with the Ultimate Luck talent in the timeline (and also Kamukura, but how his luck works isn’t expanded upon). As for how his Luck, the true Ultimate Luck, works for him, I agree that it’s very balanced, though also... cruel, in my opinion, and incredibly difficult to live with.

There’s no denying something special’s going on with him, cause the things he goes through, he truly has no way of causing. His strokes of Luck and the corresponding instances of bad luck that always comes with it are too major and mostly unpredictable. He can trust his luck when it comes to matters of probability, such as trying a 1/6 chance with a gun pointed at his head, cause he knows it WILL put those probabilities in his favor, but other than that it’s out of his hands. He doesn’t have any more control over his ability, can’t do much more with it and definitely can’t choose when to NOT have it active.

And it’s really amazing, what his Luck can do, but it’s also so awful in its incredible power and lack of real control. He’s just... subjected to it, constantly. He developed this defense system in his mind where, when tragic and horrible things happen to him, he focuses SO strongly on the good that will come afterward that he can cancel his own grief to the point where it seems he doesn’t go through it at all, and he got obsessed with the concept of a greater, superior, almighty hope to believe in (which I believe is a consequence to the life that his Luck forced on him too, + Hope’s Peak calling that same Luck something good and part of a hopeful future). And honestly, what else could he do? He’s a boat drifting at sea. His luck will take and give, whether he likes or or wants it or not, he doesn’t know what will be next, just that it will be “fair”. He’s as positive as one can be about it, but even he is a little scared of it, as some of his lines in Island Mode show (being scared of approaching planes, hesitating to do certain potentially dangerous activities with Hinata).

So as a talent, as a “power”, it’s an amazing one. And it balances itself out, but the damage it causes on the person who has it is something else altogether, the talent in itself isn’t compensating for that. It’s wonderful, but it’s also cruel and surely has caused most of Komaeda’s unbalances. I really hope it rewards him enough.

[vore-scientist]

Reward (safe/soft - GT - M/f-fluffy - platonic - vore)

A (mini) tale of the mystic woods

Premise: uhhh belly rubs good! Just a sweet story with my wizard Yonah and the Princess Sophia! 

Warnings: NONE!

—

In her hands she held up the golden-green spherical treasure, the noon sunlight glancing off the polished surface. 

“You ever think of selling these at The Market?”

Sophia had to wait for an answer as Yonah chose that moment to take another bite out of a perfectly ripe dvashi apple. And another. He finished the apple.

By Sophia’s count that made 15 apples eaten. Which at his normal size wouldn’t have been impressive but at his reduced size… it still wasn’t impressive. Still massive, she was sure he could still eat a bushel of apples. And bushels abounded, the trees sagged with apples. According to Yonah the trees flowered and fruited all year round, but still favored their normal season best of all. Surely Yonah didn’t plan to eat all of these apples? He could, but growing so many small apples was a silly thing to do if you were a giant. Maybe he would turn them into preserves!

And besides! He grew some varieties to be larger, about the size of his reduced head. Massive apples. Yonah said that he could grow them much larger, but by trial and error he found that sweet spot of size without compromising flavor.

“I do sell enchanted ones! But those are made to order.”

“I’m talking just the apples! They’re amazing and it’s not like there are many orchards in these woods.”

He looked thoughtfully down at the princess in his lap. Sophia wasn’t sure if he was actually considering her question or just thinking about how adorable she was.

“You know, I have never thought of that. Though I like to leave the trees full for the nomadic gnomes. The majority move house around this time.”

Sophia didn’t know that. She only knew city gnomes, who definitely didn’t move into new houses every year. They did take extensive vacations to places of cultural importance, probably to honor the tradition they gave up in the city.

“I do make preserves with the ones that can’t be eaten in time. I dont sell it, I normally take it on patrols and give it out”

HA! She silently congratulated herself for being right. But also DANG!?

“Aren’t you Evil!? You just… give away magical apple preserves? Isn’t that like, the opposite of evil? How do you manage to maintain your reputation?”

“I’m not that kind of evil,” Yonah said, getting a 16th Apple. “I’m not after money or power. I’m the cantankerous hermit Mage who curses people for looking at my flowers wrong. And the grumpy giant who terrorizes people for fun.”

“You do like to eat people, that’s for sure.”

Sophia suddenly didn’t feel like eating another apple.

Yonah did, as he took his 17th.

“Not my fault you smallfolk taste so good!”

He chose that moment to take a crisp bite of the apple and wink at her.

She elbowed him for his cheekiness.

At least if he was eating apples he wasn’t eating her. For now… she had her suspicions. And they were never wrong. But she knew he told the truth when he said he doesn’t eat people and food at the same time. Of course… that’s because normally he has to spit them up so quickly that he’d be spitting up his food too, what a waste and also… gross. With her ability to sit safely in his gut for hours that’s plenty of time for the food to be gone before she needed to be released. Thus it would only be gross for her.

So far that had only happened once, and it wasn’t completely purposeful. She didn’t like to think about that incident, and not because of the brief time spent sitting in food as it digested around her.

Ok enough of that line of thinking. This little picnic, even if it was just apples, was her reward for doing so well in today’s lesson! Changing the color of objects. That was really fun. She started out merely changing a white painted cube green, but in just a few hours turned the black ink of a letter to her father a shimmering pink! That level of precision was apparently very impressive, and should have taken her a week to learn. If Yonah hadn’t been lying to bolster her ego, and she was fairly certain he wasn't… Because she had studied ahead of time, having sneaked a peak at his lesson plans.

It wasn’t easy. With the giant’s sense of smell he could often tell when she’d been somewhere she normally didn’t frequent. But she spent more time by his mail than normal in preparation for her snooping.

Paid off! With a great performance in a lesson, he didn’t “punish” her with a time out in his stomach.

Instead she rested her arms and head on his pillow-like middle, rising and falling with his even breaths. The wind rustled the tree canopy, causing the sunlight to dance across the princess and the wizard. She let him wrap a warm arm around her as he lay back against the tree and closed his eyes.

When she awoke she felt no more wind, and there was considerable pressure pressing down on her, and she was laying on a soft squishy surface. And it was intensely warm.

For a moment she thought Yonah had swallowed her in her sleep. Before realizing how ridiculous that would be. There’s no way she could sleep through being literally shoved down his throat. And she was dry, and still made of flesh.

Yonah had returned to his normal size while they napped and now she was lying underneath his heavy palm. He was sound asleep.

Adjusting her stiff limbs she found a much better position, and promptly returned to her nap.

Yonah woke slowly, first noting that his arm was no longer wrapped around the princess, for she was snoozing under his hand. All curled up, just her head poking out so she could breathe. So serene and happy. Gosh she looked so adorable.

And smelled… so delectable.

His mouth watered. The apples seemed so long ago now. Especially now he wasn’t so small. That was the problem with size changing. He could fill up on food so easily when reduced, feel so full but never satisfied, and then feel so empty the moment he changed back.

However… he didn’t have to feel this way. But he didn’t want to spoil his appetite.

He fiddled with the bottle of glass paste on his belt. Sophia looked so peaceful. He didn’t know if he could disturb her… Then again. She can just as easily sleep inside his stomach as on top of it.

Gently, he applied the smallest amount of paste to his fingers and stroked Sophia’s side. She moved but did not wake.

Even when he uttered the spell. And….

Opening one eye he found the princess snoozing as if nothing happened.

She did not wake until he delicately picked her up and brought her to his face. And didn’t fully wake up until her torso was in his mouth and he was licking her thoroughly.

ARRRRGGGGHHH!!

He ignored her screaming.

The problem with turning Sophia into glass is she tastes like… Well… glass. At least, after he licked off the lingering layer of delicious human flavor! Mmmmmmm. Savory beyond belief.

Of course, as he licked off the flavor he had to swallow her down to reach the parts un-licked.

She was fighting against him, knowing she wasn’t strong enough; though it was a bit uncomfortable as her glass limbs scraped his teeth, sending shivers down his spine. But he didn’t care, as he worked the form into his throat and swallowed. No problem. The struggles and the stretching hurt, and not insignificantly but not enough to worry him or cause him to panic. The kicking feet were at his lips and he held them between two fingers as he gulped down more of the princess, the feet entering his mouth for him to enjoy, her glass shoes slipping off into his hand.

Soon there was no more human in his mouth, she was all in his esophagus. Well mostly, her arms made it to his stomach at the same time her feet dropped below his collar.

It was comforting that once she filled up his stomach she didn’t continue to scream and instead made herself comfortable. Lots of movement, feeling around his stomach for the best spot to flop down, and give him some nice kicks and punches.

He liked to watch his stomach as she did this. Marvel at how well she fit there, just full enough to be noticeable. Her moments occasionally visible as fleeting and minuscule dents. Once she settled he put a hand over the spot. The solid mass was still moving around, just less forceful.

There was a considerable amount of grumbling.

“Something wrong princess?” Yonah said in a soft singsong voice.

He earned himself some kicks with that remark.

“You mean other than the fact that I’ve been eaten alive?!” she growled, “I was enjoying the nice day, with my friend, outside!!”

“Well, now you can enjoy it inside your friend!” he pat his stomach affectionately, which made it bounce a bit, causing Sophia to unbalance as she bounced too. In his mind he imagined her smiling or frowning. Both were equally cute options.

“It’s not the same, Yonah!”

Exasperated!

Now he could picture it perfectly, and he rubbed at the spot where Sophia was once more curled up. Her glass form made her much more solid, and sat much heavier in his gut. It was a pleasant weight. She pushed back against his fingers. Poking himself in various locations, Sophia scrambled about to attack each spot, a little game that continued for an amusing minute.

“You don’t seem too mad with me,” he finally said, wanting to make sure.

The princess had done incredibly well in her lesson today. That meant she avoided detention in his gut. That didn’t stop Yonah from rewarding himself for a job well done.

“Yeah, well,” Sophia mused, playfully, “I saw the look in your eyes earlier. Would have appreciated you giving me more warning, even just nudging me awake first. ”

As she spoke she turned her back to the front of the stomach and pushed an open palm into the stomach walls, which forced her to stretch out as far as she could, stretching the stomach. Then she dragged the arm down and up. And down and up. She repeated this with her other hand as well. There was a rewarding shudder all around her.

Yonah closed his eyes, his face the picture of soft bliss as the princess stroked his insides. It wasn’t often she was this tender with him.

“I know you like messing with me,” she continued, and felt his little chuckle, “And you know I’ll get you back for this,” she switched to using her feet, bracing her arms to keep herself stretched out.

Yeah… He didn’t expect to get off scott free, but he really didn’t expect to be rewarded with belly rubs! Yonah pressed his fingers against Sophia, stroking her as she did him, letting her know he appreciated this gift. How he had ever lived without this he didn’t know, and it had only been a few months ago when he had!

Of course, when he first got this job he had never eaten a small folk, only tasted them. In fact, he couldn;t imagine ever eating one. Until the thieves started arriving. It hadn’t taken long for him to get used to the occasional snack.

But the princess was not an adventurer. They cried; she playfully protested.They panicked; she massaged. Thieves had to be spat up before they died (he prided himself in usually getting them out before they were harmed at all). Sophia could snuggle with him for hours, and she had. He could fall asleep with her tucked safely away within him, and she would fall asleep too.

Waking up with a still full belly… there was nothing quite like it. And he fell asleep looking forward to when he would.

It took Sophia a few more minutes to settle down to continue her rudely interrupted nap. First, she knew that she could put him to sleep fast by keeping up the massaging. Second, she wasn’t ready to sleep just yet. Turns out, stewing in your captors stomach provided the properly motivating environment to think up some sweet sweet revenge.

Even as she released the tension in her limbs and leaned back. For a few minutes she let the pulse soothe her, it was strongest at her back. She let the gently flexing walls rock her to and fro; slick and soft and warm, she let the heat of his body seep into hers. She had to admit, it was nice. Intensely, intensely weird, but nice.

This still warranted payback. She’d heard of a way to melt wizards, and according to those sources it didn’t kill them, it didn’t even hurt them.

But… she could think… later… sleep… now.

[FIN]

[Thanks for reading! please reblog/message me with feedback! for more mystic woods go to vore-scientist.tumblr.com/tagged/+mystic+woods+story or search ‘mystic woods story’ on my blog! For thief stories only search “MW Thieves”]

[you-are-my-neverland]

Lost Souls: Worldbuilding

[NOTE: yes, it looks like a lot of text. you can skim it. it’s fine. tag list: @draculinawrites ]

The world for Lost Souls was firstly inspired by the Chinese cultivation world, though without the actual cultivation aspect. In this world, there are four main sects that each practice their own type of ‘magic’ and patron god/goddess.

A Sect is defined as a subset of an overarching religion. In this world, the basis of all magic is jīngshén ( 精神), meaning spirit and consciousness. This is the common term from where all magic stems from. Jīngshén is said to be a gift from the gods, the essence of all life. Every person has it, but it varies in terms of strength. The stronger one’s jīngshén is, the stronger their magic will be. However, like fēngshuǐ (which is not the same thing, as fēngshuǐ is simply one’s harmony with nature), there needs to be a balance, which is usually maintained through techniques like meditation and training to focus the mind. Jīngshén is tied to the emotional and mental state of each person, so both are affected. When there is unbalance, a person’s magic becomes more volatile.

The opposite of jīngshén is huòluàn ( 祸乱), calamity and chaos. This is loosely called ‘dark magic’, and it is forbidden. Those who practice huòluàn cannot practice any other type of magic, since they are objectively going against their jīngshén. It’s a devastating magic to practice and very hard to master. Those who cannot handle it basically tear themselves apart.

There are two other main magic practices in the world/story that are not associated with Sects:  yīdào ( 医道), the art of healing and xuèliú ( 血流), blood stream (i.e. blood magic). Yīdào is a mix of magic and medicine. It uses your jīngshén to heal your body. Xuèliú is an old, forgotten practice that has long fallen out of use and is frowned upon due to being seen as too close to chaos magic. It includes the use of rituals and spells and such, and is seen as an easier way to practice magic if one does not have a strong jīngshén. However, both of these forms of magic are not commonly practiced.

(Please consult this map if you are confused on Sect placement)

Yue Sect

-Based on the Lune Isles (based on where modern day Philippines is)

-Worship the Moon Goddess, whose name was lost to time and cannot be uttered. She is ancient and revered by them; there are many old legends surrounding her, the main being that she made the stars fall down and create the Isles. They celebrate her with two festivals, one at the turn of spring and the turn of winter (i.e. the solstices).

-Sect colors are silver and midnight blue

-They practice xīngchen (星辰), stars and constellations. This is an astronomy based magic that draws power from the sky that one must have a clear mind to use. It relies on mystic and lore. The stars are seen as a time-space continuum (time and space are seen as relative things and all time/space is connected, i.e. the past-present-future). Xīngchen is mostly seen as the art of prophecy and premonition. 

-Disciples of the Yue Sect commonly practice instruments to focus their minds and understand the messages of the stars. The art of music can keep bad dreams away or let someone revisit past memories, etc.

-The Divine of the Yue Sect reads the stars and translates it to the words of their Goddess. They are the only person with more power than the Sect Leader.

Kao Sect

-Located on Aster (around modern day Thailand/Cambodia)

-Worship the Twin Two-Faced Gods, Pavidus and Algos, the gods of crossways, paths, and conflict (literally fear and pain). They believe jiànshù to be tied to choosing the right path, so they often pray to the gods and believe that the gods’ visit in dreams or visions (whether it is Pavidus or Algos or both, it depends on the path). The most honored will be chosen to duel with them. 

-Sect colors are gold and black 

-They practice jiànshù ( 剑术), swordsmanship. It is based on martial arts and woven with elements of magic that promote connection to each practicioner’s sword/weapon. Each sword is considered to have a spiritual essence as well. Though there are many different techniques, the Kao Sect specifically uses the idea of spiritual essence in nature and using that to make one’s movements better.

Xanthos Sect

-Located on the Kometes Mountain Range, the heart of the Sect on Kometes Peak (to the right of the Himalayas, at the bottom of China). They experience a rainy season after the eighth month.

-Patron goddess is Fiema, the goddess of peace in war. They honor her on the eighth, hottest month of the year, where they leave the candles burning outside and inside their houses to ward of evil spirits. The Xanthos Sect is very superstitious when it comes to eveil spirits. They believe that fire burns away the evil essence of the soul and that Fiema protects them from such evil things, like war and such.

-Sect colors are dark green and gold

-Practice yàn (焰), literally meaning flame; blaze. This is the most volatile form of magic that can only be properly practiced by highly skilled people. It is a consuming energy that can and will kill people who don’t handle it properly (literally burning them from the inside out, since fire and flame are at odds with people’s normal essence). As fire is not in harmony with nature as well, the natural protections of jīngshén and fēngshuǐ are low, making the practicioner susceptible to huòluàn. However, if used correctly, it is VERY powerful, though it takes years to master.

Takeda Sect

-Located on a peninsula called Soland (where modern day Malaysia is)

-Worship Qisol, the god of nature. They believe he controls the water and the air and grants them their power. (i.e. when the weather is bad, he is upset). His origin tale is a boy who drowned and was then reborn as a god. One of their traditions is a lantern festival where they set lanterns out on the water to appease the spirits and say a prayer for drowned and lost souls. When someone dies, their body is sent over the water in a funeral pyre in order to safely reach the afterlife and not remain tied to the earth. 

-Sect colors are blue and white

-Practice bùkě-huòquē (不可或缺), water and air are indispensable to life. Closesly tied to fēngshuǐ, and practicioner’s of it can manipulate water and air to their bidding. There are limitations depending on how strong a person’s jīngshén and fēngshuǐ are. Different people can specialize in different types and forms of this magic depending on their family line.

[frstbiitten]

NEW FILE: Ringkvinna (MK12)

Eira Klasdottir was born as a part of one of the clans who serve Earthrealm safety and in return, a place to exist. The Lin Kuei, how they denominate themselves as a group, are cryomancers who flee Edenia in a desperate attempt of survival ages ago after the environment became hostile. They have a unique fighting style involving cryomancy, an ability that every Lin Kuei shares, but it has to be trained first to reach the peak of perfection.

At the age of 7, Eira started to train to become a warrior like her father Glacier. As her alumni and daughter, he shared his secrets about cryomancy, fighting techniques and the best way to take down enemies, Glacier only wanted the best for his daughter, to become one of the most powerful warriors. Glacier himself shared the honor to be one of the best cryomancers of the clan, alongside the Grandmaster’s sons: Bi-Han & Kuai Liang. One night, Glacier vanished from the village the cryomancers lived in, there were no hints of where he could be, since the relationship between her father and the young warriors could be described as a friendship, Eira joined the brothers, becoming a new “sibling”, especially for Kuai Liang, who saw the potential the young girl had.

When the Grandmaster died of old age, the title could pass to only one of the brothers, and they clashed in kombat to prove who was worthy of the title. At the end of the fight, Kuai Liang took the mantle as Grandmaster, and also the name of Sub-Zero (an alias only used for the leaders), but Bi-Han didn’t take this lightly and left the clan, nobody knew where he go, or why he did such a thing. Sub-Zero didn’t know how to take this foolish act from his brother, and with the years forgave his action, however, now he had to take care of Eira, take her under his wing, continue with Glacier’s training. By the age of 21, Eira received her alias: Frost, possibly one of the strongest fighters that the clan has ever seen before. Precise, brutal, honorable, with a cold looking attitude at first sight, but with a warm heart. Both Sub-Zero and Frost were invited to participate in a mysterious tournament held in another realm called Orderrealm, for the two of them, traveling to another realm was a whole new kind of experience, the weird thing was that they weren’t the only ones who came to represent Earthrealm. 

Frost got the opportunity to fight against a strange sorcerer, but it wasn’t part of the tournament, she got ambushed by evil forces, the sorcerer wasn’t even invited to fight, but his services involved disrupting the Earthrealmers, so they would lose their chance to fight for their homeland. After losing her fight against the sorcerer, she was found in the Green City of Seido by the Grandmaster of another clan she never heard about, his name was Hanzo Hasashi, able to control a fire hotter than Netherrealm’s, the leader of the Shirai-Ryu. He tried to aid her, but Frost was cursed with dark magic, said spell provoked a unbalance when it came to using her powers, letting her anger posses her body like an evil spirit, becoming even more lethal in battle, but just for a few seconds. After defeating Hanzo (but letting him live), Frost was jailed under Seido’s law for “disrupting the order”, but escaped illegally, not without first fighting against Hotaru, a soldier responsible of keeping the chaotic beings who defied the laws of the realm in their respective cells.

Luckily, she got back just right in time for her next fight, but the way she fought against the young Jacqueline Briggs, a Special Forces soldier with an incredible tech, caught Sub-Zero’s attention, something out of the normal is happening to his pupil. The situation turned into something else when Bi-Han appeared in the tournament, he seemed a bit different from the last time, but both cryomancers couldn’t tell exactly what happened to him. It could have been a family reunion, but Bi-Han’s heart was filled with hatred for his brother, again, the scene of the kombat between siblings, but the outcome this time was different, an unofficial fight could end tragically. Both Lin Kueis almost died in the battle, Kuai Liang survived the encounter against his brother but got severely wounded in the middle of the fight. In the other hand, Frost did her best to defend Sub-Zero, but Bi-Han didn't surrender easily before he escaped, he severed her left arm. If it wasn't for the strange display of rage from her side, probably both would have died that night.

Due to the several wounds that Sub-Zero received, he had to be discarded from the tournament, and if it wasn't for the help granted by SF, Frost wouldn't have the chance to continue, thanks to them, she got a new prosthetic arm designed especially for her. However, the curse given by the mysterious sorcerer began to show signs of aggravation, followed by nightmares and inability to control her anger or even her powers. The Dragon Medallion, an artifact only used by the most powerful Lin Kueis, was given to her, hoping it would help her to control her emotions, and it did work at the end. Frost needed to be careful about how to use her cryomancy, enough to prove how powerful the new Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei can truly be.

[ladyramora]

Viera Zenos: Boing, Plop, Cute

As he made his final blow, she managed to smack off his helmet, her eyes widening at him as she landed a few feet away, rolling on the ground before stopping and struggling to pull herself into a sitting position.

He then stopped her shinobi friend’s sneak attack and flung her to the ground so she was far away from her friend. He opened his mouth and began urging the beast to get stronger and challenge him again, smiling as he admired his handiwork; he saw how her armor was now barely hanging off of her in scraps, her weapon dented, chipped and twisted, her hair cut at strange angles and her skin covered in oozing cuts and blooming bruises…

Ah, it wasn’t as much damage as he did to the usual boring opponents thrust upon him, but it was still satisifying to see how many marks he had made upon the beast. Normally it was one or two to kill a lesser warrior, but her body was covered in as many marks it would take for him to fell a small army…

But there was something about her that was not something he’d ever seen before on an opponent.

An opponent he had fell struggle not to laugh as they looked at him.

“I’m sorry.” She snickered, “But could you PLEASE put your helmet back on?" 

”… What?“ he finally replied, having not expected that request at all. Usually people pleaded for their lives, not for him to put his armor back on. He glanced at the dented helmet laying on the ground a few feet away, what did she want him to put that on for? "Why would I do that? You are the first ever to knock it off my face, why would I put it back on?”

She had a hand over her mouth as she seemed to struggle to contain her laughter, “It’s just… it’s your ears. I-I can’t focus on what you’re saying when…” she then covered her mouth with both hands as she began to laugh harder, giggles slipping through her blood covered fingers.

His ears? What about them? They were probably just as long, furry and the same as they always were.

“When what?” He asked, starting to get a bit annoyed as he stepped over to tower over the woman, “What about my ears?”

“I’m sorry, I mean, I KNOW you all have bunny ears, but I mean, you all normally keep them under your helmets or tied behind your heads or something… but… just… when they came out of your helmet…they just.. they JUST!!” The mighty and powerful Warrior of Light, slayer of false Gods, was practically squeaking from laughter at this point.

Zenos felt irritation start to bubble in his guts, as he lifted the giggling mess off of the ground and asked, in a low snarl, “Just what?”

She struggled to control her giggles as she pulled her cut up and bleeding hands and balled them into fists against her forehead, “They just kind of…” She was beaming with glee as she unballed her fists and had her hands stick straight up in the air and said a single, “Boing!” before letting one of them droop to resemble the way high ladies in court would hold out their hands to possible suitors, “Floop.” She snickered before dissolving into a fit of laughter.

Zenos stared at the battered woman he was holding in the air as tears of laughter began trickling down her cheeks.

What? 

“Your ears just POPPED out of the helmet!” She roared, “Then as soon as they were both all the way out, one just FLOPPED over!”

Okay… now that the sound effects had been explained, now she needed to explain what exactly she found so bloody funny about it.

“Normally!” she blurted through her uncontrollable fit of glee, “Your ears are like.” She held up both hands in front of her head, “Or like!” she had both hands sort of droop downwards, “Or!” she held her fingers by her temples and had her hands slant downwards, “OR!” she balled her hands up, “OR!!” she placed her hands on either side of her head, her fingers curling towards the back of her head, “BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN ANY OF YOUR EARS GO LIKE THAT! DO THEY ALL POP OUT LIKE THAT WHEN YOU TAKE OFF YOUR HELMETS?!" 

He frowned, thoughtful as he quickly deciphered her hand gestures to represent the many ways his people’s ears went, still not getting what her deal was right now, but his interest had been peaked and he had no intention on stopping her while she could still speak.

"One goes up, the other flops down!” she laughed loudly before she seemed to look at his face and try to force herself to calm down a bit, “I mean, like I said, I know you all have them, I’ve fought enough of you to notice that, but I mean.” She indicated his armor, “You’re supposed to be this super big, intimidating bad guy! You have the massive black armor and bloody hells, your ass alone is so big that you need a curtain to cover it! So you got the big part covered!” she laughed.

Zenos self-conciously glanced down towards his rear, it wasn’t that big, was it? 

“And you have the swords, the reputation, and I mean, I’ve fought you before and you kicked my arse then too! I should be shaking in what’s left of my boots or grinding my teeth right now but… But…!” she broke out in a fit of giggles that was starting to irritate him.

But she had a point; Why the hell wasn’t she doing either of those things right now?

“But just, I knock your helmet off and your ears just go ‘BOING!’ out of the helmet and then one of them flops down like that!” She cried, before holding out her arms at him and blurting that, “It’s just so cute and just RUINS the whole 'big bad villain’ thing you’ve got going and just,” She then let out a sound that seemed to be part giggle part snort laugh and she covered her mouth with both hands, her cheeks pink and a smile still on her lips as she seemed to stifle herself, a bit embarrassed by the sound.

But that quiet only lasted half a moment before she started laughing even harder, her arms wrapping around her belly as she seemed to start having trouble breathing due to laughing too hard and too much.

Zenos was at a complete loss now, his brain struggling to process the words that just came out of her mouth.

… Did… did she just say that he, the man responsible for the bloodiest massacres all over the planet and her greatest foe, was… cute?

Just… what?

He barely managed to hear his Doman soldiers start to laugh behind him, something starting to bubble up in his stomach at the sound, knowing that they were probably laughing at him. 

He felt his cheeks warm for whatever reason.

He felt so many feelings surge through him at that moment that he knew fairly well like irritation and annoyance. But then there were ones he could just not put his fingers on at the moment and did not want to sort them out here.

Luckily he was saved from more bafflement by the arrival of villagers and the beast wild with laughter on the ground’s other companions came to aid her and he left them to it, ordering his snickering soldiers to retreat for now. 

After receiving treatment for his wounds and putting his dented armor and swords away, he settled down in his room on his airship with a meal and a bottle of fine wine. 

He gently stirred the red fluid in the glass as he began laying out his symptoms of his emotions and began silently diagnosing them. 

It took little time for him to understand that confusion was in the mix with irritation and annoyance. A bit of anger too, was in there. but as for the odd heating of his cheeks, it took him a few glasses before he was able to determine that he’d been embarrassed. 

His greatest enemy had been laughing at him.

Him!

He’d had her beaten, lying on the ground almost in nothing but her small clothes and her own blood, but she had still laughed at him. Even when brought face to face with him, she had still laughed!

And called him CUTE?

As much as he would loathe to admit it, it had been humiliating to have been called 'cute’ by his enemy, her joyful smile and her eyes crinkled with mirth and sparkling with unshed tears of laughter as she told him, “It was just so cute!" 

”Cute.“ He scoffed, swirling his newest glass and watching the crimson liquid whir in the glass, fuming.

He wasn’t cute. 

He wasn’t.

He stopped stirring his wine and looked at the whirling surface, silently challenging it to argue with him… but as he glared at the stilling surface, his face fell as he noticed his cheeks seemed to be a bit off in color. 

He put the glass down and quickly made his way to the mirror in his room. The person who designed the airship always did that to the royal’s rooms, he didn’t know why, the royal family were all as strong as they were beautiful and Zenos personally didn’t really care much for primping. 

But as he looked at his reflection, he noticed a soft shade of pink on his cheeks. 

Odd. 

He didn’t feel drunk. he glanced back at the wine, normally it took about two barrels of the real hard stuff before he really even began to feel the effects of alcohol… 

So what was going on with his face right now? His cheeks looked like the beast’s did when she let out that strange sound earlier. 

He felt a chuckle bubble up from his chest as he remembered that moment, she had looked so surprised by it! What kind of sound was that anyways? It was so… awkward and silly and just… 

cute?

Wait, what?

He snapped out of his daze, his cheeks still bright pink and a smile quickly sinking off of his face. His heart racing despite the lack of a decent opponent to spar. 

He shook his head and walked back to his table, inspecting the wine bottle for signs of tampering because he’d be damned to give that beast the satisfaction of thinking she was anything like 'cute’.

[imjustheretoseetheprivateblogs]

The Legendary Wonder Woman: Chapter 1

Perfect.

With a delicate stroke of her knife Hippolyta finished the rounded cheek of the Erotes. All around her sculptures, carvings, reliefs, wreaths, and bouquets of flowers of all colors and materials sat finished or half-finished waiting for the Queen’s loving hand. Ruling the Amazons was her birthright, battle was a gift to all Amazons, but art was her’s. Ever since she had first walked out of Poseidon’s oceans with her sisters she had enjoyed molding clay and stone to her vision and forging fine designs from precious metals. Her passion had even led her to her greatest treasure. She sat back in her chair and smiled. Every detail of the clay figure before her had been constructed with painstaking care, from its winking smile to its layered wing feathers. Its bow had taken her three hours and that wasn’t counting how many times she had cut and rolled a piece of clay for the bowstring only to throw it away. Now came the tricky part. A bulbous pile of clay rested on the sculpture’s otherwise proportionate head. This was to be the hair. Unlike the feathers she could not simply add more clay since it would unbalance the head. It would take all of her concentration to make the lifelike hair she desired for her creation. Wiping her brow, Hippolyta leaned forward to begin carving the first lock.

“My Queen!”

Hippolyta’s hand slipped, jamming her knife deep into the sculpture’s face. Swallowing her frustration and schooling her expression, Hippolyta turned to the door of her quarters. An Amazon stood there, panting and clearly distressed.

“Yes, Io,” said Hippolyta, “what is it?”

The Amazon, Io, bowed low.

“Forgive me, my Queen, but the Lion skin of the Oppressor is missing!”

“What?”

Hippolyta rose and grabbed the golden scepter, the symbol of her rule, where it rested against her carving table. Her own projects would have to wait.

The Grand Temple of Themiscyra was a monument to Amazonian engineering, standing proudly on Reformation Island, a scholarly place of renewal and spiritual guidance in the atoll the Amazons called home. Two-hundred cubits wide, twice as long, and fifty cubits high, the marble and limestone columns shone against the sun of Themiscyra’s eternal springtime. Under its roof, statues of the Amazons’ patrons stood in a circle, embellished with gold and precious stones. They numbered nine, eight goddesses and Gaia, the mother earth herself, who had formed the Amazons from the souls of wrongfully slain women and the earth of the ocean floor. Every day, Amazons knelt and prayed before the statues and would be doing so, if they weren’t flocking to Hippolyta in worry. To quiet them, the queen raised her hand. Silence fell in a heartbeat.

“What is this about the Lion Skin?”

One of the priestesses, a girl with red hair in tangling ringlets who was timidly holding her wrist, stepped before the queen.

“I was down in the vaults, making sure that the guards had their meals and...And the Lion Skin was not there with the other relics.”

The temple was not only a place of worship. Within the deepest recesses of the temple, there sat ancient relics of significance and power. Treasures such as the Golden Perfect, a mysterious tool given to the Amazons by their patron goddesses, the Girdle of Gaia from which all Amazons drew a wellspring of strength, and the Lion Skin of the Oppressor, worn by the demi-god who had subjected the Amazons to pain and indignity. Every year, the Amazons would display it on the anniversary of their liberation and proclaim ‘this is the armor of a fallen warrior’. For it to be stolen was to steal Amazon culture.

“Have you told Castalia about this,” asked Hippolyta.

Castalia was the head priestess of the island. While she was not what many would think of as an Amazon, round faced and a serene in countenance, she was known the island over for her acts of kindness and her skill at divination. She had even taken Hippolyta’s own sister, Menalippe, under her wing when she began to have visions of the past and future.

“Menalippe had a vision this morning,” the priestess who had first spoke said, “so she and Lyla are tending to her to find out what it means.”

“Then they should be told of this,” said Hippolyta, “they are the temple’s caretakers.”

“But what if it is nothing,” said another Amazon, this one with skin like copper and hair cut nearly to her scalp, “This could be nothing. Some sick joke for the sake of rebellion.”

“Then who would be the perpetrator,” asked Hippolyta, “who would gain from this? Who would have the audacity to steal the Lion Skin? Most all of us are here.”

“What of the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall?”

The amazon who spoke was long faced and dark-skinned.

Hippolyta sighed.

“My sister may be…”

She trailed off, searching for the right word.

“…Brash, but Bana-Mighdall has always respected the temple and its treasures.”

Bana-Mighdall was the home of a sect of Amazons that prayed to Ares as their Patron, as odd as it was. While many Amazons followed the ways set down by their Goddesses, Bana-Mighdall embraced the warrior heritage of the Amazons, preferring combat to art and spirituality. They lived on the third island of Themiscyra, the ‘Forbidden Isle’, a harsh overgrown landscape of vicious creatures. They also still practiced Kopís Mastoú, which had fallen out of favor with many other Amazons. Their ruler was Hippolyta’s second sister, Antiope, a bold and fearsome combatant.

“Be that as it may,” the first Amazon said, “she has not appeared in the temple in some time.”

“Neither have I,” said Hippolyta, “nor has our best smith, Althea, nor General Philippus. And is Castalia, our greatest priestess, not attending to Menalippe away from the temple? Does this mean they should be counted as thieves?”

No-one spoke.

“Then we should focus less on blaming one another and more on finding the culprit.”

“Queen Hippolyta!”

It’s going to be one of those days, the queen thought bitterly as she turned to see what the newest problem the day had brought her. An Amazon with richly tanned skin and her hair in a tight braid pushed her way through the throng of her sisters to the Queen.

“Yes, Sophia, what is it?”

“I cannot find Diana, anywhere.”

“Have you checked the stables?”

“And the armory, and the libraries, and I have spoken with Castalia, Antiope, Philippus, and Mala is on her way to Althea to see if she has seen Diana.”

“Have you spoken to Nubia?”

“Twice, my queen.”

Hippolyta turned back to the rest of the Amazons.

“Has anyone seen my daughter?” she asked the crowd.

Each Amazon looked to the sister next to them, a murmur falling over them as one by one each of them answered no.

Hippolyta closed her eyes and partook of a deep calming breath.

“Send out a search party to look for my daughter. At this point, only the Gods know what she’s up to.”

The wind whipped her hair, throwing the Lion skin of the oppressor off of her shoulders as Diana rode through the forests of Paradise Island. She didn’t need to keep it anyway. In a few hours at most she would have somebody’s attention. That was why she stole it in the first place. Besides who would want to ride around with a smelly animal skin on their back was beyond her kin. Dryads, with their willowy arms and wild hair full of foliage and twigs, scattered as Diana bounded out of the woods and into the grassy fields and the sunlight. She answered the raucous calls of the tree spirits with her own, waving to them. The midday sun was out in full, the sky blue and full of bountiful white clouds, as it always was. The island was full of life, as it always was. Birds sang, beasts hunted and played, all was right on Themiscyra, as it always was. This was her home for more than twenty long years, as it always had been. And after the twenty-first long year, things were starting to get downright dull. Diana leaned down to the ear of her steed.

“Faster, Jumpa, faster!”

Jumpa the Kanga had been her friend since she was no more than ten. Roughly four cubits tall, the Kangas served as the primary mounts of the Amazons, their spindly arms and powerful legs making them expert climbers and leapers. They were easier to train than the wild hearted Pegasi, which only a few Amazons in the history of Themiscyra were able to even get close to. Diana would know, too. She had tried to mount one in her youth, only to find herself thrown from its back and saved from death by a tree branch’s timely intervention. But in the five minutes that she clung to the mane of the winged horse she had managed to wrangle, she experienced flight. The freedom, the thrill, the view, that was something she would give anything to feel again. Here on the ground, the ‘heavenly’ days seemed to run together.

Calls for her to stop reached Diana’s ears.

A band of five Amazons, all riding their own Kangas, rode into view from the treeline. Diana turned her gaze back to the path ahead, a smile pulling at her lips. This promised to be fun.

“Head for the cliffs,” she said to Jumpa, “You know what to do.”

Digging her heels into Jumpa’s sides, Diana egged her steed onward. The voices of the other Amazons grew louder and more frantic as her speed increased. She heard their voices shouting, “Diana stop!”

Diana did not stop. Instead, she urged Jumpa to go faster. Over rocks and back into the forest, through streams and weaving between trees, Diana evaded her pursuers. Finally her destination was in her sights. On the southernmost part of Paradise Island, sharp peaks and cliffs rose up like stone knives scraping at the heavens. Diana had already climbed them twice, to see the Griffins that roosted there. She knew how to hold fast to the steep rock face and Jumpa knew her way back to the stables. With a practiced leap, Diana grabbed an overhanging branch and flipped nimbly onto the side of the cliff. Jumpa continued on underneath her. Just as the Kanga had bounded out of sight, Diana’s pursuers came after, shouting for her to stop. Diana bit a laugh down as the other Amazons rode off into the woods. Undoubtedly, they would end up back at the stables with her nowhere in sight. Turning her gaze upward, Diana began her climb to the peak of plateau she was currently clinging to. Hand over hand, foot over foot, one at a time and never looking down Diana scaled the cliff, surefooted as any mountain beast. Finally, Diana felt grass and the edge of the plateau under her hand and hoisted herself up onto the ledge. She’d chosen this place as her refuge, for when things were becoming too stagnant for her tastes on Themiscyra and that was unfortunately becoming the norm as of late. Diana sat on the cliff’s edge and kicked her legs out. From where she sat, Diana could see the entirety of Paradise Island and its two sister islands. In the distance she could see the overgrown tangle of creepers and trees that was Forbidden Island, where her Aunt Antiope’s tribe lived, within the walled city of Bana-Mighdall, and the verdant meadow that was Transformation Island, the place from which she had taken the Lion Skin of the Oppressor. She knew every inch of both of them and of Paradise Island. Diana pushed the balls of her hands against her eyes. She knew every Amazon on the island by name or reputation, every creature that lived on their shores, read every book in their library. Would something new just fall out of the sky and end her malaise?

“The Griffins’ nesting is not until the fall,” a voice behind her said. Diana turned. An Amazon with hair the color of wheat was standing behind her, looking down at her.

“Mala?”

“Hello, Diana.”

Mala had been on of Diana’s closest friends since her eighteenth year, and of the Amazons was one of their most accomplished riders and athletes. None had beaten her in Íppefsi, riding portion of the Games of Liberation.

“I thought I would find you here. It is your favorite spot.”

Mala held out her hand for Diana to take and helped her to her feet.

“And why shouldn’t it be?”

Diana turned her gaze back to the horizon, shining with the golden light of the sun. Diana raised her arms and leaned over the edge of the cliff, a warm updraft keeping her from falling. The serenity of flight and freedom was so close, tantalizingly close.

“When you stand on the edge, it feels like you can fly across the ocean and over the horizon.”

“And come right back?”

Diana turned to look at her friend. Mala’s expression looked hopeful, even longing, though why she would feel like that, Diana couldn’t say.

“Does it matter?”

Mala’s face fell at Diana’s words.

“But Diana, all of your sisters are here.”

Diana nodded.

“And I’ll carry them in my heart wherever I go,” she said, placing her hand over her heart.

“Yes, yes, of course you will…But I came to find you because of the Lion Skin. Did you steal it?”

“Yes.”

“Diana!”

Diana looked to her friend.

“That skin has been in that…crypt for centuries, Mala. What do you expect it to do? Walk out of there?”

“Diana, you caused a panic.”

“At least it is something new around here.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing…it meant nothing.”

Mala ran a stressed hand through her hair.

“Well, it would not be ‘nothing’ if someone else had found you. Diana, you could be in serious trouble.”

“Then what would you have me do?”

“Go to the temple and pray to Athena for wisdom granted by this experience.”

Diana sighed,

“Alright, I will go to the temple today. I have not seen Castalia in some time.”

“What about the skin?”

“I will return that too.”

Mala frowned at Diana.

“I promise. You are not my keeper.”

“With all the grief I have to tell your mother about I might as well be.”

Diana rolled her eyes. She knew the skin was important. That’s why she took it. But then she thought about what her mother would say, what her aunts would say, and she started to regret the decision. Maybe a prayer for wisdom was what she needed. Mala’s hand on her arm broke her thoughts.

“Diana, I was going to ask Lydia if she wanted to go swimming today. Would you like to join us?”

“No thank you,” said Diana, her eyes going back to the horizon, “I went swimming earlier.”

“Then, we could go to visit Nubia. I’m sure that she is getting lonely down near the gate.”

“I will visit her later. Right now, I think I would like to be by myself.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mala, you do not need to watch over me.”

Mala nodded.

“Very well.”

Mala went to the edge of the cliff where Diana had climbed up before and began her descent. She would feel better soon, Diana thought. Once I return the Lion Skin, I can explain myself to mother and then this ordeal will be over. A soft coo reached Diana’s ears. Landing but a few cubits away from her, was a dove. Diana smiled and crept towards the small creature. It must have only started to fly, it was so little. Diana held out her finger. The dove hopped onto it without a second thought and Diana smiled. Animals always liked Diana. When she was a little girl, she’d once been allowed near a fawn while its mother was near, when every other Amazon was met with the deer bolting into the forest.

“Hello,” Diana said to the dove, “what do you have in store for me?”

The dove said nothing, only turning its head and lifting off from her finger. Diana followed the flight of the dove, grabbing a creeper vine that ran up the side of the cliff and descending. She dropped through the air for the last few Cubits when she was near the ground. She did have to go to the temple, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do it the fun way. Above her, the dove glided through the sky and Diana spread her arms as she ran, their path taking both her and the dove down to the beach. As the ground beneath her feet gave way to sand, Diana saw the dove land with a large flock on the beach. Spreading her arms, Diana did her best lion impression and sent the flock scattering. She laughed.

But then she saw the flock head towards the horizon. Birds could fly away from Paradise Island, away from the sameness. But she could not. What she wouldn’t give to fly.

[ask-the-guardian-of-the-seas]

HEADCANNON POST: HIS ISLAND

- Under read more because it’s a long post! but enjoy this~

(Okay! i promised this yesterday but simply never got it done! but here we come with this post because i’ve been wanting to elaborate on bede’s island for a long time and the sheer vastness that comes with it, not to count the sheer amount of different environments that come with it because of it’s vastness. All pictures from burst.shopify.com)

- Bede’s island is a protected area that is considered sacred (Both due to his dwelling and the shamouti tribe that worships over Lugia as a deity) So the island has no human inhabitants and is a area punishable for trainers to even think of visiting without permission from the tribe and catching pokemon there is considered immoral due to some of the species dwelling there!

- These pokemon include rarer species such as chansey/blissey, Tirtouga, lileep, cradily, kabuto and kabutops. There is many other species both rare and common that take up residence, it’s unknown how many exactly, but it is known that these are all under the protection of the sea guardian and to try anything would result in a punishment harsher then any human could inflict.

- A lot of the region is mountainous in some areas, leading to some very high up peaks that always have snow at their tops, some of which that barely break the cloud barrier. It has a lot of open ocean, often filled by whirlpools  in the outer rings because of bede and due to inhabitants of wild gyrados. The waters here can lead very deep with speculation it is apart of the Mariana trench but no submersible has been quite adapted enough to reach the bottom to find out.

- There’s a lot of waterfalls, some small and simple, frothy in a way, other’s warm hot-springs and some thunderous boons of glory that are constantly roaring out bountiful amounts of water. This has led to lots of heated geysers and cavernous area that are caved out into the islands surface and leads deep underneath it, some of these caves are flooded but other’s always dry and some a mix of both. As on the occasion they are only filled with water when the tides in.

- There is a decent hunk of forestry on the island but only in certain area’s otherwise it’s barren of tree’s but in the area’s there is tree’s. It’s very large redwood tree’s that tower high above a lot of creatures, perfect for climbing pokemon and flying types to nest

- This island also has an active volcano. But surprisingly enough, the islands and surrounding area actually freezes for part of the year, Leaving blizzards. Huge hunks of ice and snow blanketing the landscape.

- The Island is the biggest of three other ones, shaped partially like a crescent, These other three islands are smaller and hold inhabitants to each of the legendary birds, The tallest one is ice cold and semi-frozen and holds home to Vita’s Articuno Chione, The second tallest is another active volcano with a slight surrounding island area home to Eos, Vita’s Moltres and the last one is the smallest of them all. Holding a rocky, almost barren land belonging to Typhon, Vita’s Zapdos.

- Last but not least, A set of ruins lay on the island, These are composed of a circular set of stone panels carved into the very mountain itself, glyphs of a unknown or otherwise lost language that details the stories of the sea god, it’s unknown who carved it into place or why.

- At it’s center, a altar sits, a place for a chosen ‘hero’ to place three elemental orbs of unknown origin and a peacekeeper by the shamouti tribe to play the song (On a special ocarina of unknown making) known as the beasts song should the birds ever fight and unbalance nature. It’s only by presumption that disaster has stricken once before in ancient times and that it was resolved by a hero and a peacekeeper. 

- This altar is surrounded by stones made up of some kind of crystal that despite having samples taken is not understood in makeup and how these structures were created, these crystal pillars react to the song when it’s played and emit a green glowing light to match the notes, it spills out some form of green water into the surrounding sea that is shown to calm the birds and restore power to the sea’s guardian.

[drewzeitlin]

Cross Stitch Stories: Tenzin's Odyssey: The Yak's Triumph Over the Himalayas Part 4

Part 4: The Snowstorm and the Final Ascent

The snowstorm raged outside the cave, the wind howling through the mountains with a ferocity that shook the very earth. Inside, Tenzin rested, his body grateful for the brief respite from the relentless cold. He knew the journey ahead would be even more challenging, but the vision of the legendary valley fueled his resolve. As dawn broke, Tenzin emerged from the cave, the storm having left a fresh layer of snow that glistened in the morning light.

The path before him was steep and treacherous, leading up to the highest peaks of the mountain range. Each step was a battle against the elements, the thin air making every breath a struggle. Despite the biting cold and the relentless wind, Tenzin pressed on, his eyes fixed on the summit that promised the entrance to the valley.

Hours turned into an arduous march, and the landscape became increasingly hostile. The snow was deep and powdery, concealing dangerous crevices and unstable ground. Tenzin’s powerful legs drove him forward, but each step was a test of his strength and endurance. The path grew narrower, the drop on either side a sheer plunge into icy oblivion.

Midway up the ascent, the weather took a turn for the worse. Dark clouds gathered, and another snowstorm began to brew. The wind picked up, blowing snow into Tenzin’s eyes and reducing visibility to almost nothing. He could barely see a few feet ahead, the world around him a swirling, white vortex.

Tenzin knew he had to find shelter quickly. Pushing through the storm, he scanned the surroundings for any sign of refuge. The mountain offered little, but his sharp eyes caught sight of a rocky overhang. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. He made his way towards it, the wind trying to push him back with every step.

As he reached the overhang, the storm intensified, snow falling in blinding sheets. Tenzin huddled under the meager shelter, his body shivering from the cold. The storm showed no signs of letting up, and he knew he couldn’t stay there for long. He needed to reach the summit and find the valley before his strength gave out.

After what felt like an eternity, the storm began to subside. The wind died down, and the snow lessened, revealing the path ahead once more. Tenzin emerged from the overhang, his determination unwavering. He continued the ascent, the final stretch of his journey.

The climb grew steeper, the air thinner. Tenzin’s muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to give in. Every step was a testament to his resolve, each breath a victory over the mountain. As he neared the summit, the landscape began to change. The snow thinned, patches of greenery appearing amidst the white. The air grew warmer, and a sense of hope filled Tenzin’s heart.

But the mountain had one final challenge in store. As he approached the summit, the path became a narrow ridge, barely wide enough for him to navigate. Below, the drop was dizzying, a sheer fall to the frozen depths. The wind picked up again, threatening to unbalance him. Tenzin moved carefully, his hooves finding purchase on the narrow path.

Just as he reached the ridge’s midpoint, a sudden gust of wind hit him with full force. Tenzin staggered, his hooves slipping on the icy surface. He fought to regain his balance, his heart pounding in his chest. The ridge was unstable, small rocks crumbling away under his weight.

With a final, desperate effort, Tenzin lunged forward, his hooves scrambling for a grip on solid ground. The ridge behind him crumbled, falling away into the abyss. He pulled himself onto the summit, collapsing in exhaustion. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he had made it. The valley lay just beyond the peak, its promise of warmth and abundance almost within reach.

As Tenzin lay there, gathering his strength, the first rays of the sun broke through the clouds, illuminating the path ahead. The legendary valley awaited, a beacon of hope after the long, arduous journey. But the final steps would still test him, and he would need every ounce of strength to reach it.

The cliffhanger intensified as Tenzin pushed himself to his feet, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The entrance to the valley was close, but so was the limit of his endurance. Would he find the strength to take those last crucial steps, or would the mountain claim him in the end? The answer lay just beyond the summit, in the heart of the wilderness he had dared to conquer.

Come back tomorrow to find out what happens.

This story was brought to you by the Cross-Stitch Animals Mammals Yak With Story and Audio. Not only does this design look great, but it also tells a powerful story of overcoming adversity, with an audio recap included. The hero of our tale, Tenzin, highly recommends it. For more information, visit drewzeitlin.gumroad.com/l/yak. You can see all our cross-stitch patterns at DrewZeitlin.gumroad.com This is not your great-grandmother's cross-stitch—it's a multi-sensory experience! And one more thing: you get to choose the price. What do you have to lose? But how much do you have to gain?