#Sorry pal. Wire is always Tree.

[nethhiri]

I like that Killer automatically gets assigned cowboy, viking, or werewolf in AUs.

[danny-attic]

Family (TMVSTM)

Summary: Eric and Deborahbot 5000 feels like they didn't belong with the The Mitchells and run away to live their own lives

"Purple glasses woman, why did you saved me?"

"Oh come on, you boys are family now"

Family…?

It is such a complex word, too difficult to truly understand. For a robot create just to following orders, Eric did not understand it yet, though he did looked up the definition of it but despite that he plays along for the sake of his and his Pal Max brother

They're heading to the Silicon Valley, The night sky is filled with no stars but the green "fun pots" containing human to somewhere. It makes the sky lights up with green light. It is an unusual sight even for robots.

The Mitchells are really going to destroy Pal?.... If so, what will happen to the remaining robots? What if..they failed..?

The bot are lost in his memories and Net Work to find something he's looking for. It seems like he's in too deep in the system Until he feels someone shaking his shoulder part lighty

"Eric...Eric, are you there? Is your system too damaged?" A voice speaks in hushed tone

Eric turn his mechanical head to another Pal Max bot, Deborahbot 5000

His brother

"What wrong? you've been so still like you shut down. I'm…. worry"

Deborah grip Eric's shoulder part lighty. Robots isn't supposed to have feelings but they're the defective now anyway, so it's not surprising that he would express what he "feels"

The car stop at some abandoned gas station. Only Katie, Aaron and the loft of bread are sleeping in the car at the moment. Mother and The male Mitchells are inside the store for something. Eric finally answered and grip Deborah's hand back

"I'm okay, my system and outside damage is unchange at the moment. I'm sorry I didn't acknowledge your question earlier. Don't need to be worry"

"Okay… but tell me if anything is acting strange, will you? I don't want to lose you, brother...We're only defective robots here, if you're gone, what am I going to do?"

"I'll always have your back like you have mine, brother. We are going to survive, one way or another"

Eric tells what he thinks is logical to his robo brother. He let go of Deborah's hand and turned his head to Mother, who's making her way back to the car with her partner and tells her the safest route to Silicon Valley.

The car is running along the road at night. The robo brothers looking outside of the car, expanding their data about the human environment and hearing the conversation between Katie and Mother. They're talking about The male Mitchells, Rick of how he's just trying to make her happy.

Eric wants to feel this "happy" too and he wants Deborah to feel the same. Maybe it would feel really nice, like getting their system updated.

But how could they do that? They're about to went through most protected head quarter in the world right now and there's no guarantee that the plan would work but the show must go on

"Mom, what is that?"

"Oh my god!!"

The car suddenly stops, making their head jerks back, Eric and Deborah turn their heads to the front window. As the Mitchells get out of the car to stand in front of the giant building as tall as the sky.

"We're here...the Head Quarter" Eric said as he's getting out of the trunk

"Oh boy, I don't like this. Do you think we could get to the top without others noticing?" Deborah ask, stepping beside Eric in front of the car, behind the Mitchells

Slowly, Eric extends his hand to the side to his brother, knob and gears whirring while he processes his next word. Deborah immediately holds his hand and they're both looking up to the tower.

"No matter what happens, we're going to be alright"

__________________________________

The plan did not go well. The Mitchells got caught by a new robot, Pal invented. The sounds of the alarm is almost deafening, after the cable car has fell down and crashed. Deborah's vision is trying to adjust after he hits the ground. The first thing he see is the face of Pal Max bot with some face drawn on.

"Are you alright, brother?" Eric said as worrying as his robotic voice could spunds while kneeling next to him

Before he could answer, The black robot burst through and captured Mother and Rick. The Mitchells is being taken away and Deborah knows he need to help

Because they're his family now too

"Mitchells, we will help"

"Oh no no no, you won't. download new order"

Suddenly, like the virus creeping through their system. Making the robo brothers clutch their head like they're in pain, unable to take control of their body any longer.

New order appears : Capture the Mitchells

Deborah trying to break free one last time

No please I don't want to do this. Eric, Mother, Anyone…Can you hear me?..

"We're sorry, Mother"

Then, everything went blank

__________________________________

"Let's take a photo after we saved the world!" Linda said cheerily to Eric after handing or rather putting it in his hand

The battle is over the human won and the uprising is over. All of the Pal Max and the new robot has been shut down, Well almost every bot.

Eric and Deborahbot 5000 have broken through Pal's control and helped Rick Mitchells to put the video of the bread dog on, neutralizing the other robots. Now they're celebrating without them

They broke the code and helped this family save the world and now they can't even be in a photo? Eric thought but took the photo anyway. Maybe they're just too excited like humans always does.

The Mitchells tell the brothers, they can stay at home with them as a member of the family. The Mitchells welcome them, Linda teaches Deborah how to draw stuff like the Sun, the tree and other things. Rick shows them how to build a shelter from branches and leaves. Arron always talks to them about dinosaurs in his books and Katie sometimes asks them for ideas for her project. It was a good time.

Time passes and the robo brothers feels like they're more like a servant than a family. The Mitchells tells them to do things for them like chores, collecting the mails, mow the lawn and many things. Most of the time they haven't called them by their names or acknowledge them when they do something for the Mitchells. At first the brothers gladly do them, thinking it was a part of being a family but this time they had enough.

At night, when everyone is asleep. Eric and Deborah sit on a rooftop, looking into the sky. The moon is full today, shining bright along millions of sparkling stars. They come here every time they want to say something they went through each day, like updating each other. Today is different

"Today Rick called me Robot instead of my name again, I don't really think it's from force habits anymore" Deborah speaks in a quiet voice, mechanical head looks up to the shooting stars, then to his brother.

"But at least Mother let me help her cook dinner! It was really interesting, I learned how to peel a potato today, Look!"

He grabbed the potato peels besides him and held up to his brother. It's ragged, uneven and still has a big chunk of potato attached to it. Eric chuckles in a monotone like his robotic voice always does.

"That's great, Deborah. You know today Mother also let me do the laundry too! There was a lot of foam but I think I did well, Mother's face looks so surprised when I tell her I also put her bag in there too. She rushed past me so fast, I can't even see her"

"The purple bag? Oh yes, she loves that bag. Very thoughtful, Eric."

Then Deborah held out his hand, attempt to high-five Eric but they kept missing each other's hands, so they tapped their heads together gently. The glass tink softly as they did.

They looked up to the sky again, thinking about their lives with the Mitchells. Of how they've been treated lately, how they've been struggling to fit in the family and how they feel like they've been ignored.

Eric broke the silence between them and speaks in a quiet voice, hands gripping his knees tighter.

"Making our own order is great, we can do everything we want now"

Deborah nods " but why do I feel like we're doing The Mitchells order everyday"

"I understand if they haven't felt comfortable with us but they should have told us and we can be somewhere else. Not…. keeping us servants..like this.."

He looked back at Eric and asked in a hushed voice, if a robot can cry tears, his voice would be shaking like a human...but he's not human.

“I wonder if there’s any bots like us.. You know, the defectives. What are they up to? Where are they now? Do they stay with humans like us?”

“I don’t know, brother. I don’t know. I guess Pal wasn’t prepared for anything like this. She didn’t put any program for tracking other bots for us.”

“We should go find them. That way we can have our own robots family! We don’t have to listen to any humans anymore!

Deborah grab his brother shoulders part, turn his body to face him and said firmly

“You say it yourself, Eric. We take our own orders now. This is the time we can truly do that. Don’t you see? Other Mitchells except Mother didn’t treat us very well. They call us Robots rather than our names. They give orders. They got angry when we didn’t complete what they requested. They didn’t acknowledge us most of the time like we aren’t right there!”

His voice drop low and finally he hugs his brother, a gesture he saw human does to their family and the one they cared for

“We did everything together...but we’re just in the background every time..We aren’t supposed to feel emotions but I do...”

Slowly, Eric lifts his hand and hugs back tightly, mechanical gear and wires clicking as he thinks about his brother's words.

It’s true. They were in the background most of the time. They were more like a maid robot than a member of a family like the Mitchells said. Maybe his brother was right, this is not where they truly belong. They need to get away from humans. For good this time.

“You’re right. We should go”

Eric let go of his brother and stand up. Looking into the distant city, held out his hand for Deborah. They will make their own future with others, if there are any more of them left.

“Let’s go say our goodbye to the Mitchells. Though they may have treated us like this but they still help us from Pal.”

“Should we leave a letter or something?”

“If you want to, we can. Oh oh! We should put the glitter on!”

Together, they jump down from the rooftops and go inside the house. Writing a goodbye letter for the Mitchells, telling them they appreciated everything they did but they want to live their own lives somewhere else without anyone giving them orders

After sometime, they put the letter down at the dinner table with a flower Eric collected from the neighbor's house, The Poseys.

Now, the brothers stand in front of the house. Looking back one last time before leaving.

"Let's go, brother" Eric said.

_________________________________________

The sounds of the jet under their feet break the silence of the night. They jump and fly into the sky, green trails from the jet painting the night sky. They fly and fly further away from the house. Until the dawn came, they stopped at some abandoned cabin in the woods. It appears there's nobody living here for a long time.

"This place is in a good condition and I believe there's no human living here." Deborah said, feeling satisfied

"Yes, but we should look around just in case. Could you check around the cabin? I'll check inside." Eric asked while looking around and scanning the cabin with the camera on the top right of his head.

Deborah nods and goes out the door to check for anything or anyone. Leaving only Eric inside.

Eric wanders into the halls, scanning every room. The cabin is dusty and there were some traces of wild animals making a nest and shelter. Some kind of nuts and leaves were scattered all over the floor.Everything seems normal for an abandoned human cabin, until he spotted muddy footprints. It’s still wet, this only means one thing. There’s someone here.

The sound of a metal clanking from further down the cabin. It appears the sounds came from the kitchen. Eric changes one of his hand to the plasma beam shooter, being on guard and slowly walking to the origin of the sound.

[everlarkbirthdaygifts]

Happy Birthday, popsicle181!

Apologies once again for the delay on your birthday gift, @popsicle181​! We hope you had a wonderful birthday back on the 5th, and that you got all you wished for! To bring your party back around, the lovely @mega-aulover​ has written a story just for you!

For: popsicle181

Prompt: I would love anything with a college theme (maybe a first meeting) if possible.

Authors Note: I would like to apologize for the late submission of your birthday drabble. But I wanted to make sure that you received the best story possible and I hope you don’t mind the little journey we’re taking.  There are many bonds, the bonds of friendship, the bond of family, and the bond of love. Some bonds can never be broken. Special thanks to Norbertsmom for her encouragement and beta skills

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

Kindergarten: 

Katniss held her father’s hand tightly.  “Papa, do I have to go?”

“Yes half-pint, you have to go.”

Tears filled her eyes. “But I don’t want to leave you and mama.”

Her father kneeled down in front of her. “Tell you what. It’s not going to be easy for your maw and me to let you go to school for so long, but I can’t be selfish. I can’t keep you home and not let you learn anything. Especially since you want to be a big sister. And one day when you do become a big sister you’re going to want to read to them, and help them with their homework.”

Katniss looked down. She did want to be a big sister.  Livi Bard had a baby brother she got to help take care of. Katniss wanted someone to sing to, to play with, and wanted to teach all the things her mama and papa taught her. “I do want to read the baby stories.”

“Plus, if you learn how to write, we can write a song together.”

Her little head popped up, “Really!”

“Yeah.” 

Katniss looked at the massive building. “Okay papa, I’ll go to school. I need to learn to write a song.”

With that resolved Katniss marched purposefully into the building and went about her day. She learned how to hold a pencil and was tracing her name when she heard a soft cry in the room. Turning her head she saw a small boy hiding amongst a fortification of blocks. A group of boys were snickering at him. They ran away after the teacher appeared. 

Katniss stood up in her chair to peer at him. His round little face was angelic and his blond curls were a riot. His eyes were wide and filled with tears.  His pale cheeks were splotchy and he bit his lips to keep from crying in earnest. Katniss felt a deep stirring in her heart for the little boy. Getting down, she walked over to him and sat down. She didn’t like hearing other kids cry.  She began to build up the fort around both of them all the while humming. She noted the sweet smell of cinnamon. He reminded her of the snickerdoodle cookies her mama liked to bake.

“Twinkle, twinkle…” Katniss sang, “little star-”.  Her father sang to her whenever she was having a bad day. She hoped it would help the little boy. Katniss leaned over him and took a brick as she sang softly.  He stopped making noises as she finished her song. 

“You have a pretty voice,” the shy boy said. His tear filled eyes glanced at her with awe.

“No I don’t,” Katniss wrinkled her nose, “My papa has a better voice. Why were you crying?”

“The other kids were making fun of me, because of my name,” he whispered.

“What’s your name?”

“Promise not to laugh?”

Katniss nodded. 

“My name is Peeta.”

"I like your name."

 His blue eyes widened, awe in his voice, "You do?"

Katniss smiled.

"What's your name?"

Katniss shrugged. “My name is Katniss. It’s a plant that grows in the mud. Do you want to be my friend?”

“Sure.”

From that moment on Katniss was attached to Peeta. They were best friends all throughout Kindergarten. They were a team, coloring, defending the smaller kids in class from the bullies. 

Peeta learned Katniss became cranky when hungry, he always brought an extra cheese bun to share for snack. Katniss learned Peeta's favorite color was orange. She gave him all of the shades of orange from her crayon box. 

They shared their lunches together, and when Katniss got sick in class Peeta sat with her inside of the nurses office. He held her hand until her father came, and one day in class when Peeta tripped Katniss caught him before he fell into a chair.

“Peeta and Katniss sitting under a tree K - I - S - S- I - N - G…” one of the kids snickered one day. 

Katniss narrowed her eyes, becoming mad by the taunting.

 “Maybe one day we will be in love and get married and have the baby in the baby carriage. We’ll always be together,” Peeta replied.

Katniss snapped out of her anger. She turned to him and the thought of having Peeta, just like her mama had her papa made her happy.  “Always?”  

His gaze was unflinching, yet filled with tenderness. "Always."                                                 

The words formed a bond deep within her little heart. They were a team before but after this, they became inseparable. Nonetheless as all stories have a beginning, they also have an ending. Theirs had to come to a stop as Kindergarten came to an end. 

During play time on the last day of Kindergarten, they sat with their little arms wrapped around each other, as if trying to absorb as much as they could of the other.  When dismissal time came, they were not excitedly speaking about summer plans. Katniss sadly sat with Peeta in the class holding his hand.

“Peeta,” the Kindergarten teacher called. “Your father is here to pick you up.” 

Katniss squeezed his hand tighter.

“I’m sorry Mr. Mellark, Peeta’s normally picked up by his brothers.  Your son and Katniss have quite the bond. They are a pair of star crossed lovers,” the teacher explained. “They are so sweet.”

Peeta and Katniss stood, tears gathered in her eyes. 

“Promise you’ll remember me.” Peeta hugged her.

Katniss who at first didn’t want to go to school had discovered a reason to go to class everyday. 

“Always.”

“Here.” Peeta gave her a heart with a picture of them together,  he’d spent hours in class drawing. 

Katniss gave him an orange ribbon he liked.

They tearfully separated on the last day. Each one staring at the other over the shoulder of their respective fathers.

Sixth Grade:

“Dear Katniss,

I couldn’t believe it when I read you are in Mr. Raj’s class.  I am also going to be in Mr. Raj’s class. It’s going to be so much fun this year we are going to be in the same school and I heard Mr. Raj is a great math teacher.”

Katniss couldn’t believe her eyes.  She put down the letter. After they separated in Kindergarten, Peeta found out her address and he sent her a picture. It was a surprise to see the carefully drawn picture from her friend. It lifted Katniss' sadness. Her father encouraged her to draw him a picture in return. In six years the bond that began in Kindergarten grew. She learned Peeta lived in a very affluent part of town. Her home was humble in comparison, a two bedroom home that her father was restoring.  She and her baby sister Prim shared a bedroom. 

She was sitting at the study desk in the living room reading her letter.  Prim was already asleep in their room upstairs. Her mother walked by humming as she carried a laundry basket upstairs.  Katniss was trying to figure out what to write to Peeta. 

“So what did young Master Peeta write?” Her father joked sitting next to Katniss.

“Daddy.”  Katniss could feel the sting of the blush hitting her cheeks.  Her father learning her pen pal was well off he joked that Peeta was richer than Mayor Undersee. Katniss didn’t like it but her mother often told her that her father was only having fun. 

“We’re going to the same school in the fall and we’ll have the same math class.”

Her father whistled. “That’s pretty important stuff.”

“Yeah,” Katniss breathed. 

“What are you going to tell him?”

“I was going to say how happy I am and about how this summer you taught me to use the bow and arrow.”

“Well don’t stay up too late.”  Her father stood, and ruffled her hair. “I’ve got to change that cable, it’s frayed,” he said pointing to the floor lamp by the garbage bin.  

Katniss nodded.  She began to write, but what she wrote didn’t sound good. She tore the paper from her note book and threw it in the trash. Time began to  tick away, as the trash bin filled up. Katniss sleepily glanced at her letter, she yawned and she placed her head on the table. 

Coughing, she woke up to see her room was filled with smoke. Getting up she saw the trash bin was on fire. The curtain caught fire and Katniss screamed. Moments later her father ran down the stairs. Katniss ran from the desk into his arms. 

Her father tore open the front door,  and put her on the sidewalk, “Go to the neighbors house and call the fire department.”

Katniss nodded, and took off as her father ran back into the house.

“Mr. Wyler, Mr. Wyler,” Katniss pounded on the door.  Tears streamed down her face. 

“Katniss.” Mr. Wyler opened the door.

“My house is on fire please call the fire department!” 

“Alex what is it?” Mr. Wyler’s wife asked.

“Call 911,” Mr. Wyler said, stepping outside to look at her home.

Katniss ran back home. but her house was burning. Her father ran outside with Primrose. “Stay with your sister, I’m going to get mommy, okay.”

“Daddy,” Katniss yelled. Mr. Wyler pulled her back. Katniss turned to her sister and put her arms around her. That was the last time she’d seen her father alive. The fire was started by the floor lamp. The frayed wires lit the papers from the waste bin on fire. It was her fault for not being able to write, to communicate well. She blamed herself for her parents deaths and she closed herself off. 

Katniss vowed she would never allow others into her heart, for fear of losing them. Katniss and Primrose moved to another town with their uncle Haymitch Abernathy. She pushed the memory of Peeta away. She eventually met another boy named Gale, but she never let him get close and pushed him away at every opportunity.   

 College:

Katniss hated college. She wanted nothing more than to quit and go home. But to be honest she didn’t really have a home anymore. After her parents died and Katniss and her baby sister moved in with Haymitch nothing was the same. Haymitch wasn’t really her uncle, but he was the person her parents entrusted the care of their girls to in their will.  Haymitch and his wife were not a typical married couple, they always bickered. Aunt Effie detested uncle Haymitch's geese. UncIe Haymitch reminded Effie on a daily basis that they lived on a farm.

Kathiss was going to stay on at the farm helping Haymitch run the place, but Haymitch changed all of those ideas when he showed her her parents’ last will.  Going to college was the one thing her parents wanted for Katniss and Prim. Unbeknownst to Katniss, their parents had a college fund for each of the girls. 

The fund and her scholarship she won for archery had secured her place in Panem University. Katniss was a shy person by nature and the bustling nature of the university overwhelmed her. While other freshmen met and became friends with the kids around campus, Katniss avoided people, people like her roommate. 

 The first few days, her roommate Clove was your average girl next door. Then precisely at midnight on the Saturday of that first weekend she shaved her head. The next day Clove painted her half of the room black, and she bought a set of paring knives that she used for target practice.  Katniss was eternally grateful when on the following Monday Clove found a guy and moved in with him. Clove took all of her clothes and most importantly, her knives. 

For the past 2 weeks the room was quiet and peaceful. Katniss didn’t have to put up with Clove’s screeching music. And although she enjoyed  having a room to herself, Katniss admitted to herself she was lonely. She missed her sister.  She missed the familiar sounds of Haymitch's geese. The click- clack noise of Effies heels,  as she walked on the hardwood floors. She even missed Haymitch and his cantankerous ways.

Katniss' internal strife must have shown on her face because her sister was trying to make her feel better. 

“Cheer up Katniss,” her baby sister said through the computer screen.

Katniss grimaced. Only a handful of people could tell what she was really thinking. She effectively hid her real feelings often. Life had taught her that putting her real self out there only caused hurt and pain. Her sister, her uncle Haymitch, and Peeta knew the real Katniss. Thinking about the boy with the warm blue eyes always caused flutters in her stomach. 

Katniss shrugged.

“Look, I know you didn’t want to go to college, but trust me. Little things always lead to something bigger.”

Her sister was always spouting encouraging statements, like the one found on those posters.  Katniss rolled her eyes. 

“You are in a real mood tonight.” Prim grimaced, then said, “I hate to do this to you but do you remember when I did you that favor…”

Katniss at first frowned. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“You know when you and Gale wanted to go hunting for deer in the middle of the night? Remember I told you you’d owed me.”

Katniss blinked, she remembered that night. She stupidly wanted to go, thinking it was purely to hunt. It turned out all Gale wanted was to drink beer and try to make out with her. She’d given Gale a shiner when he tried to make a move on her. Gale was embarrassed to admit she’d given him a black eye; he said he ran into a branch. That was the beginning of the end of her so-called friendship with Gale Hawthorne.  Prim had covered for her that night.

“What do you want you little shyster?”

Prim gave Katniss that grin that caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. Her sister was typically the nicest person unless she was on one of her missions then Primrose was ruthless. 

“You must promise me the next time you go out you will speak to the first person you see.”

Katniss opened her mouth to protest.

“Katniss!”

Prim’s stern voice caused Katniss to shut her mouth. She mumbled, “Fine.”

“Good.” Her sister looked so proud of herself. 

“Prim!” Katniss could hear their aunt call, “Time for dinner!”

Prim rolled her eyes. “I’ve got to go.” 

The screen went dark and Katniss flopped herself on the bed. Her eyes narrowed. There was no way she was going to complete the task Prim set up for her. Katniss became grinchlike in her thoughts. There were ways of avoiding people. She’d done it in high school. Gale was an anomaly. He wouldn’t leave her alone after he found out how good she was at hunting. He was annoying as the gum that got stuck to your sneakers. 

Sitting up, Katniss grabbed her pen and paper and jotted down a few notes:

eat breakfast at five in the morning 

get to class just as it began 

sit in the back of the class

buy lunch & dinner when the crowds are gone 

Study in the library at odd hours 

Wear a hoodie so that no one can talk to you. 

Wear your headphones so it looks like you’re listening to music 

With her plan set, she began to systematically avoid people. Katniss even purchased things like crackers, jelly, and peanut butter, chips and salsa to munch on so that she didn't have to leave her dorm room. During the week, she used shadows and stillness to get across campus to avoid the  crowds. Everything was going to plan, except for the week of Thanksgiving break. Katniss didn’t have enough money to go home, plus there was a massive snow storm forecasted. Katniss decided to stockpile some snacks from the student commissary that Wednesday evening. 

The campus was empty as nearly everyone left by the morning as to not get caught up in the blizzard. Katniss had one last class that ended at four-forty-five. Professor Coin didn’t let anyone out until the end of the class; the woman was merciless. 

Going to the commissary was a risk. However Katniss was low on supplies, and she needed something to drink and eat. If the snow storm was as bad as predicted, the school cafeteria would not be opening. She also hated the cold and she wasn’t going to leave her dorm room until Monday morning.

Katniss hoped there wouldn't be a lot of people cramming the small building. Those left on campus were probably like her, doing last minute shopping.  Katniss rushed out of class. The snow fell quickly and was accumulating. 

She got to the commissary and thankfully it was still opened. She rushed in and rebounded back against a solid form. 

“Woah,” a deep voice said. 

Katniss blinked as the world swayed as she fell backwards. Suddenly she came to a violent stop, and her vision came into focus;  she noted blond curls, warm blue eyes, and a gentle smile. She picked up on the strong scent of cookies. She looked at him then saw they were near a display of cookies and baked goods. A wave of nostalgia wafted over her as cookies and baked goods always reminded Katniss of her childhood friend Peeta. 

“I got you.” 

Katniss didn’t like to be touched. She’d clocked Gale for stepping into her personal space when they went on that phony hunting trip. However, being held right now caused her entire body to tingle. She felt the way her cheeks burned. Katniss was sure they glowed redder than an apple. 

“Are you okay?”

She wasn’t much of a talker and all she could manage was a little nod. 

A wave of familiarity hit Katniss. She shook her head, trying to understand what odd dimension she’d stepped into.  Much the way certain scents brought forth certain memories, there was something about the guy holding her that didn’t cause her to feel that instant rejection.  She didn’t mind his touch. 

Unlike Gale who had a current of negativity about him, this boy had a current of good. Katniss thought maybe she’d fallen and hit her head. She must have been in a dream like state, as everything around her blurred and the music that was always blaring in the student run commissary was silenced. Only they existed in this small bubble. He was handsome and debonair. And Katniss couldn’t help but give a  virtual stranger a slightly goofy smile. 

“Here, let me help you.” 

Katniss questioned why his voice caused her heart to palpitate like the beating drums from Jumanji. “Ahhh…’ the guttural sound that came out of her was sure to make an impression on the guy holding her. The more she stared at him the more attractive he seemed. 

“It’s okay,” he said holding her shoulders, as she slipped on the wet floor. 

He helped  her become upright and Katniss noticed how broad his shoulders were, how masculine his hands were. She also noticed his eyes were that elusive blue that changed color with his mood. Right now his eyes were a cheerful robin's egg blue, as he grinned at her. 

“Sorry.” Katniss blurted out embarrassed by her lack of coordination. 

"It's okay the floor is wet from the snow." 

"My friends call me Peet, not, P- E- T- E but P- E- E- T."

The spelling was unusual but at least his nickname wasn't painful. Gale called her catnip out of spite, because she decked him. "Katniss."

Peet's blue eyes widened at her name.

"I know it's not a usual name, it's a plant."

"It's a tuber that grows in the marshes with a creamy colored flower." He blushed and he rubbed the back of his neck as if embarrassed by what he was going to say next. "I know alot about flowers. I decorate cakes for a living."

"I hunt with bow and arrow," Katniss blurted. She opened her mouth and closed it, she felt giddy suddenly like when she was a child and the world included her parents.

"I sound like a geek." His cheeks became ruddy. Peet looked over her shoulder, “Man it’s coming down out there.”

Katniss blinked and forced herself from awkwardly gawking at Peet to the door she just came through. “Crap,” Katniss bemoaned. A few inches had fallen. 

“We should hurry up.  I’m in Crumpet Hall just across the way. Where do you live?”

“Greenly,” Katniss muttered. 

Peet gave her a low whistle. “That’s way across campus. If you don’t hurry you won’t get to your dorm room on time.” 

Peet was right, if she didn’t leave soon she wouldn’t make it to her building across campus. Her mind turned to the shelves, she needed to do a power shop, and get out. Thankfully there weren't a lot of people in the commissary.  “Thank you,” Katniss said. 

She hurried down the aisles quickly picking up what she needed. When she got to the cash register Peet was paying for his food.  She kept on staring outside at the snow. The visibility was getting worse.  Once done, Katniss bundled up to go outside. 

“Will you be okay walking all the way to Greenley?”

Katniss turned to him. “I hope so.”

Both set out in the snow. The path that led from the commissary to the dorms was blanketed with half-a-foot of snow. The cold wind bit at her cheeks and it was getting harder to see. 

"KATNISS!" Peet yelled out to her when they got to the fork in the path.

Kathiss stopped walking, he was only an arms length away. He got closer to her, as the snowfall dampened the sound of his voice.

"You should come with me,” Peet shouted. “I have a suite, my roommates are gone for the break. I promise I’ll be a gentleman.”

She trusted Gale because he was her hunting partner, but didn’t trust him outside of the woods. Her instincts about Gale were spot on. After they fell out he started going out with Madge, the mayor's daughter. Then he began the name calling.  Looking into Peet’s eyes she wasn’t sure she should trust him.  Just then she heard thunder and she jumped out of fright. 

“It’s getting worse out here, we need to get to safety,” Peet said. “I lost my brother in a snowstorm!” He held out his hand to her.

Katniss heard the desperation  in his voice. Learning he’d lost someone caused her to acquiesce.  She took his hand. 

Together they walked toward his dorm room. A walk that normally took five minutes took nearly fifteen. Peet waved his ID card in front of the scanner to get into the building. Once inside, the warmth stung their cheeks, but it felt good. 

“Come on, my room this way. I can throw your coat and stuff in the dryers downstairs.

Katniss followed him through the winding corridors to his room. Using his ID card he opened the door to his suite. There were two doors and off to the side a small living area and a kitchen with another door. 

As he walked toward the kitchen Katniss saw Peet had a limp. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” He put the bags down. He sat down. “I have a fake leg,” He knocked on his leg.

Katniss would have never guessed that he had a prosthetic. The more she got to know about him, the more intrigued she became. “I’m so sorry.”   

“It was a long time ago.” Peet shrugged. 

The walls in the kitchen were painted a soft orange. The color struck something within her and once more she was hit with a sense of familiarity. She continued looking around at the kitchen. He had things that no average college guy would have. 

There was a set of professional knives inside of a case.  Stainless steel pots and a cast-iron pan hung neatly from a wall. There was a marble block and a wooden rolling pin neatly tucked away in a corner. And his spices were lined up on the counter.  Saffron, thyme, Rosemary, allspice, clove, ginger, caraway, cardamom, nutmeg, dill, cinnamon we're just a few names she read. As a hunter knowing your prey’s environment helped you figure them out. Seeing Peet's environment led her to believe that what he said about being a baker was true. He was honest.

"I'm going to go get some towels and if you give me your coat, like I said, I can toss it in the dryer."

He walked out of the room as she removed her coat.

 She was only removing  her jacket, but for some reason it felt so intimate, as if she was peeling back a layer, exposing her soul. 

She should have been terrified; she was in the dorm room of a stranger. Yet there was something compelling about Peet, an underlying sweetness and goodness that she found in only one other person, her sister. Like an old pair of shoes, comfortable and familiar. 

“Here,” Peet said, handing her a fluffy robe. “It’s a bit chilly in here, my roommate always complains that if I could I’d have the thermostat set to zero.”

Katniss wasn’t expecting  robe, but she took it, handing him her coat.  When he walked out she sniffed his robe, it smelled of cinnamon and it made her smile. Her father always smelled of fresh pine. Katniss slipped on the robe and instantly felt a warmth that spread from her inside out. The door opened and Peet walked back in, he smiled at her, and his eyes turned a dark blue. 

“Good, are you hungry, I’m going to make us some bread, maybe some cupcakes.”

“You don’t have to,” Katniss protested.

“It’s nothing. I made dough earlier. I've been letting it rest. I just have to sprinkle some herbs on top.”

It sounded wonderful, but Katniss didn’t want to give him any more trouble. “It sounds like a lot-” Katniss was going to say more but her stomach growled.

“Yup that settles it, grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and cupcakes.”

Katniss nodded. 

“Have a seat, the remote is somewhere by the T.V.,” Peet said, washing his hands. 

Taking her book bag, Katniss sat down in the living room. There was nothing on the television; all of the local channels were covering the snow storm.  Her phone pinged with a message.  

It was a message from Prim asking her if she was fine. 

Katniss looked up at Peet. She asked herself if she was fine, and for the first time since coming to college Katniss could honestly say she was fine. She replied to her sister.  With a soft smile on her face, she began watching him cook. 

Peet’s movements in the kitchen were efficient, like the chefs she’d seen on TV.  He took out several cookie sheets and put them down on the counters.  From the fridge he took out  tomatoes, peppers, and a bowl covered with a dishcloth. He set the oven to preheat.  

Katniss moved from her position to the kitchen table so she could watch him. His hands were steady and quick as he put tomatoes and peppers on a cookie sheet. He sprinkled the tomatoes and peppers with olive oil, seasonings, salt and pepper, before putting them in the oven.  He next set to work on the bread.

Fascinated, Katniss watched on as Peet took off his sweater and the white t-shirt he was wearing showed off just how fit he was. His back muscles moved under the t-shirt as he worked on the cupcakes. Peet was making them from scratch and not from a box.  Her mouth watered. If it wasn’t for the pinging sound of her phone, Katniss would have continued to gawk at Peet. 

It was Haymitch telling her to be safe. Katniss and her uncle had a strange relationship. They understood each other, but they never talked. Haymitch instincts were as good as her own. He never liked Gale.  She sent back a thumbs up emoji. Glancing up, she knew instantly Haymitch would like Peet. He had that inherent goodness Prim had, and Haymitch had taken to her baby sister immediately. 

“You don’t remember, do you?” He asked as he put water in the  kettle to boil. 

 Katniss found this question odd. “Remember you? We’ve just met.”

“Actually, I’m pretty sure we met before.” 

He chuckled, then turned to face her. “You gave me this,” Peet took out something from his pocket and looked at it fondly. “You disappeared on me.  I could have used a friend.” 

He put the scrap of faded ribbon on the table and Katniss' eyes widened. “Peeta.”

“When I saw your eyes I thought it was you, but then you said your name and I just knew. There aren’t many Katniss’ in the world.”

Katniss eyes filled with tears. The boy she’d been writing a letter to, that caused the fire was standing before her. Though he wasn’t unscathed, he lost a brother and leg. “My parents died. We had to move.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” 

“You wouldn’t have known; you were a kid. We were both children.” Katniss couldn’t move, however the ribbon mocked her. He carried it all of his life. The drawing he gave her had burned in the house. She didn’t know how to feel. 

“That winter break I lost my leg and my brother.” He looked down, his eyes turning dark, a midnight color as he recalled the painful memory. “We snuck out of the house to play in the snow in the middle of the night thinking the storm was over. The snow was so heavy we got lost getting back to our house. My brother covered me with his body, it’s why I lived, but I lost my leg.”

Katniss looked at his legs before her eyes moved up to his face. He looked just like she felt, in need of a new beginning.

The whistle of the kettle forced him to turn around. 

“Why are you stuck here for the weekend?” Peeta turned to hand her a cup of tea. 

Katniss took the cup, and debated telling him the truth. He’d been honest with her. There was no reason to lie, besides she wasn’t a great liar. “I didn’t have enough money to go home,” Katniss automatically followed her answer with a question. “ What about you, why are you stuck here?”

“Nobody wants me home,” Peeta said. 

Katniss frowned. It wasn’t the statement itself, but the way he said it, as if he was unloved. “Why?”

He turned around and shrugged, “I’m not needed.” 

The smell of the apartment filled with the lovely scent of oregano and broiling tomatoes.  Peeta shaped up the bread in his hands as if he had been doing it all of his life.  “Anyone who can cook like you is worth their weight in gold. Right now my aunt is preheating the oven to cook the frozen dinners she purchased.” Katniss looked down at her idle hands. “I haven’t had a cooked meal in years.”

“My mom, she blames me for the death of my brother. She was relieved when I decided to come to Panem. She wasn’t at the train station when I left.”

Hearing how cold his mother was caused Katniss to pursed her lips. She stood and on impulse she hugged him from behind. All of those childhood sentiments filled up in her heart and all that he’d told her made her understand something. Prim was right, she needed someone in her life. And the universe had brought her friend back to her, despite all of her careful planning. 

Peeta turned around and hugged her back. She stood on tiptoe and sniffed the collar of his shirt and the familiar scent of cinnamon and vanilla caused her to feel at home. She closed her eyes. 

“I’ve missed you,” Peeta murmured into the crook of her neck. His hot breath fanning the sensitive skin, making her feel alive. 

“I’ve missed you, too,” Katniss replied.

“I’ve never forgotten you, Katniss.” 

Katniss could feel the rush of heat to her cheeks as she blushed and butterflies filled her stomach. 

Peeta pulled away and then he grinned. “I better get you fed. If I recall you got really testy when hungry.”

Katniss laughed, then sat down. She picked up the ribbon. Primrose was right; from something small something great had happened. One day, she decided, she would tell their children of how a little ribbon led to a love of a lifetime.

FIN 

[layer-bloody-sun]

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR OCS IMMEDIATELY. Also please rate them on a sale from 0 (not at all gremlin-like) to 10 (absolute gremlin bastard) thank u -Miserytheapprentice

For the sake of myself I won't talk about all of them but only the mains of my recent stories. The Layers are also out because there's 57 of them, I'll just keep Cana because I see you're into the Arcana 👀

So let's start with her ! Cana is a girl, my apprentice, her full real name is Darla Morgasdottir and she is Lucio's sister. She is very kind and protective, ready to put her life on the line (as shown during the plague). As one of the Layers she has some special abilities, in game this shows as her knowing what to do at certain times. Her Ego is named Déluge and he can control destiny.

•She is self aware in some realities/routes.

• Cana loves having friends and family around her, her cat familiar Coony is like half of her soul,

•Mélusine (@nimusicaltrash apprentice) is like a little sister to her !

Next up is Luard. He's my own Oc for my story The Traveller's Journey and the main character along with the next one. Luard us a demon from a race closest to human in appearance, so he possesses horns and pointy ears. He is very calm and composed, he has this sage aura surrounding him. He is loving and cares a lot about his family. Luard is a loving father,

• He crave peace and understanding between his people and humans.

• His purple eyes means he has affinity with thunder lightning, yet he's more proficient in fire magic

• His horns lacking ornaments other than very simplistic ones symbolise grief.

Ambre is the second MC of TTJ, she is a bright young woman looking for her father who instead fall upon Luard and they have to travel together. She is energetic and loves to learn, she has an open mind and easily adapts to new environments. She loves reading, learning, and talking.

• She is the daughter of the Hero and has an incredible magic potential

• Her favorite animals are foxes

• She does a 360° after meeting Luard

Orville is the dad of the MC of a new story of mine that still doesn't has a name (neither does the mc). He's a guardian watching over the forest that takes most of the small country they live in. He loves joking around and teasing his daughter. He's this crazy sage aura. He loves tending to the little creatures of the forest

• Orville isn't his real name, he forgot it, Mc's mother gave it to him

• He has scars from barbed wire on his head and neck from when hunters tried to take him down

• Mushrooms and tree bark are growing on him but he doesn't mind

Narish is from NoDol (D stylized), he's a police officer that is in charge of the case of recent murder plaguing the city. He's short tempered and snarly, only like coffee, stay cats and dogs, and sometimes people.

• Clinton Balagoire, his subordinate, is his only human friend

• Has an unhealthy obsession with the local weirdo

• once spend four days awake to catch a spider in his flat. He called in sick as well. He was not victorious.

Barchal, local weirdo and engineer, is an adept of teasing. Especially Narish. He's a creator that has done wonders for the city, and yet is the officer's main suspect in the murders. He's a workaholic fueled by coffee and sheer willpower

• Had a friend named Anthony that passed away soon after Barch open his workshop

• his library is full of books about deities and strange alchemy myths

• His workshop is so messy Allan once disappeared for days under piles of blueprints.

Allan is what could be called either a umonculus or a chimera, he is not human in the slightest and tends to frighten people by his appearance. He's a very sweet and the naive creature, always willing to help his 'father'. He loves playing around and helping Barchal.

• his favorite task is making coffee

• he can't speak nor make any kind of cries/sound

• He thinks Narish is funny

Jack is from Underground Wanderers, he seems to be a talking skull that also can use a little magic. He helps the Mc in exchange for finding his body as they climb the different levels. He's annoying and presumptuous, sees himself as some kind of superior being and is a real dick. Despite all that he also has a softer side he shows Mc after a while. Deep down he cares and enjoy her company.

• May have made him a hot human for the ending

• Uses magic through singing. Dislike any remark comparing him to bards

• Came here to become a 'Caretaker' yet can't remember where he came from of when exactly he came here

Cleïa is the Mc mentioned above, she is very sweet and shy, she got trapped underground because of a haunted house trip that turned sour. She's frightened easily and doesn't like people much, probably has anxiety problems but it never got checked out. She loves reading, resting, and write everything that happens in a notebook

• Always has a satchel but it's filled with useless stuff

• Slapped Jack the first time because he scared her

• Where does the bandage on her cheek comes from ? Who knows, not me

Taya is from Blurred memories, she's an energetic young woman that lives with her brother but longs for adventure. She can't stay in place and tries to get stuff done all the time. She loves stories and myths and want to learn always more about everything around the world

• proficient in water magic

• is forbidden near any alcohol

• Has mismatched eyes

Oliver is her big brother (but Hezekiel is the oldest of the family). He is composed and calm, very mature and civil. The epitome of a gentleman. He owns a bar in the human part of their world and tries to slowly change the reputation of witches. He loves a good cup of tea and a nice book, as well as naps.

• can be too strict but cares deeply

• his best friend is the reason for a creepy legend and is basically a living cryptide.

• his the Guardian of the youngest prince but doesn't do his work right because he doesn't care.

Tad is a young man the same age as Taya, he's the third prince of the witches and tries to be like Oliver who he fancies. He's shy and clumsy but does his best in everything he does. He's hard working, just not talented. He loves the sea and spending time with his friends

• Has a sea shells collection

• Has three perfectly aligned beauty marks on his right cheek

• Did a power move once and started getting more secure about himself since (it'd be a spoiler sorry)

Bäriste is a Demon under the form of a late teenager girl (19) that comes from my story It Started Before Us. She's an adept of sarcasm and tease, loving to just mess with people and their lives. She can be a bitch and is detached from emotions in general

• It's her last reincarnation so she's making the most of it

• Her hair split in the middle on each side and gets darker and horn-like

• Has a necklace she never takes off

Last but not least, Gayl is a werewolf, also 19, attending the same school as Bäriste. He acts cool and mysterious but is actually socially awkward and dislikes people in general. He loves peace and quiet, which he never gets at home since he has a very big family. He loves them a lot too tho.

• Fall in love of Bäriste on sight, to his latter utmost horror.

• he wears glasses which is ironic since werewolves have good eyesight. He's the only one in his family

• His best pal is a vampire that tried to feed off Bäriste and would have been killed if Gayl hadn't intervene by accident.

Gremlin scale :

Cana : 5

Luard : 0/1

Ambre : 3

Orville : 6

Narish : 2

Barchal : 8

Allan : 0

Jack : 3

Cleïa : 8

Taya : 10

Oliver : 0

Tad : 2

Bäriste : 10

Gayl : 0-5

There, if u want more about them tell me, or if you want to hear about other ocs or even the Layers...just hmu 👀

[otherworldliness]

I R O N   M O U N T A I N

I walked up to the pens through the canted storm glow into the cathedral of dust the horses built over themselves with the wind and their circling and their eyes blazed that orange like the day's last light into the arena and threw their shadows around them and flickered and I got the work because how I edged up to the black and white one that likes to be a ass sometimes and I walked him down with him feinting side to side to side while his mane got all tangled in the glowing gusts and I stretched out my arms and backed him until he was in the corner but he didn’t run and I spoke to him and touched his neck flicking and nervous like lightning and when I got my arms gentle around his face and held it to my chest I could whisper to him there and I kept whispering until all suddenly the winds died down in him and the storms stilled and all their voices went quiet I can’t always make it happen like that but sometimes I can Mr. Moses walked up to me all

who the fuck are you and I said

hey Boss and he looked at me for a few seconds and he said

you run a saw and I said

sure can and he said

good I don’t need no more cowboy wahoos round here and I said

y’all got a room and he said

feed these horses and come up to the house and I said

OK Boss

at the headquarters Mauricio had Chile Colorado stewing in the big pot on the stove and he turned and looked at me and knew who I was but I gave him the sign and he acted like we were strangers nobody else was there from before Mr. Moses was drinking a beer and he said

what’s your name and I said

Major and he looked at me like what kind of name is that but he shook my hand and said

Major I’m William Moses and I said

good to meet you Boss

and he introduced me to Mauricio and Mauricio shook my hand and smiled at me and Mrs. Moses was in the living room reading the Sunday comics and listening to Emmylou on the record player and I knew right away we’d be pals Moses put me in the same room I used to share in the summers with John when the ranch was ours and I put my bag down on the boards of the floor and pulled the silver raven out of it and put it under the loose board so I could dream but then I remembered you and I had to sit down on the bed real hard and hold myself to keep all of my secret night from spilling out

I got up in the morning dark and turned the light on and the room was cool from the windows being open and the late August dark coming in and I pulled on my pants and shirt and boots and walked into the kitchen where Mauricio and Mr. Moses and another man stood smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee around the table and Mrs. Moses had a skillet full of eggs and sausage and their cigarette smoke whorled up around the tines of the elk antler chandelier over the table and Mrs. Moses said

Major this is CB

and I shook hands with the man who was skinny and tall as a Sotol bloom and Mr. Moses turned to Mauricio and said

you know the old fence at the west end with all those holes and Mauricio said

yessir and Moses said

why don’t you and Major go out there and fix that up we’re gonna need to move the mares over there pretty soon and Mauricio said

will do

the truck bumped along the road with the windows down and the morning light in the dust behind us bluer than prayer and Mauricio said still looking up over the road

I heard about Elle and I said

oh and looked down at the knees of my blue jeans because how there was always a silver knife chopping around in my heart and he said

I’m sorry Major are John and your parents OK and I said

we’re all about making it and he said

do they know you’re here and

my voice went away and he put his hand on my shoulder and took his old felt hat off the dashboard and put it on and I whispered

I’ll tell them

and we got out of the truck and he handed me some Mooremakers and we cut all the old wire down off the fence and rolled it up and put it in a big blackred mess on the bed of Mauricio’s truck and it scourged our shirts and raised up dark rusty scars and we pulled out the bright lines of new cable across the expanse and tied them onto the far H brace and hooked up the comealong and stretched them off the ground and made it where you could tap them and they’d sing wavy as Hank’s yodel and we tied them off to the close H brace and slicked them up to the posts and stays and Mauricio sang and two Prairie Falcons called down at us from where they held at the edge of a cloud

Mauricio and I redid fences for a month before Mr. Henry visited the ranch for the first time it was hot in the day and our sweat puddled into our shirts deep to where the Tiger Swallowtails landed on us to water I didn’t know Mr. Henry was coming and on the way back when Mauricio turned up the big hill to the main house my heart started flutterskipping because how I hadn’t been there since you were still here and the world wasn’t so full of all its black horse music and my heart still sometimes had doe deer lain down in the shadows of its trees like secrets I whispered

where are we going and he said

to say howdy to Mr. Henry

I looked up the hill and didn’t think I could be there but he said

he’s not a bad one Major

we pulled up into the gravel lot and the house swept out from us like a white bird to the cliff edge and the oak trees swayed huge around it in the light wind

Mr. Henry and Mr. Moses sat on the porch looking onto the valley below and when Mauricio and I walked up Mr. Henry stood and shook my hand and he said

James Henry and his voice was deeper than bullbellow and I looked up and said

Major

he looked at people that slow way like he actually saw them and his eyes were quiet and held me strong so that none of the ocean of night inside me had to leak out even though I was at our house and he turned to Mauricio and shook his hand and while I sat there and Mr. Henry and Moses talked I could feel your words coming off the white stucco walls touching my face like quail down but I couldn’t hear what you said even though I tried and Moses said to me

Major

and my eyes startled up I’m always getting woken up from something and he said

Mr. Henry wants to know if you can cut some firewood for the house and I said

yessir and Mr. Henry said

good then I’m going to go take a drive around the ranch but you all come back up for some dinner a little later tonight

Mauricio drove and CB was with him up front and Moses and Mrs. Moses were in the backseat and I rode in the bed with the dogs and Rhett was up close at my legs with his long coat and his warm and they were playing the country station out of Stockton in the cab and it came out of the yellow glow of the radio and deer floated over the fences like spirits under the high beams in front of us as we moved up through the smell of piñon smoke to the house that was shaking beneath all the weight of night and there was the first chill of autumn and the truck stopped and the dogs poured out of the bed in front of me in a falls and circled round Mr. Henry’s big lab whining and pawing and I said

come on there pups

and jumped down and Mr. Henry had the long table on the porch set and a fire in the hearth that was wide so I could of lied down in it and the mouths covering the walls moved in the flickering light like they were trying to say something but no sound came out but I tried to read what they said but they all spoke different and I couldn’t see long enough to tell but Mr. Henry sat at the end of the table smoking a cigarette and drinking wine and when he greeted us he buried the dark under the deep of his voice

evening

and he shook hands with us and gave Mrs. Moses a hug

Sharon I’m sorry my wife couldn’t help you out of being the only woman at the table and she said

please I’m used to all these men

and he poured us glasses out of an old bottle and it was wine that was like a velvet blanket and I said

thank you and he said

sure thing Major and the dogs trotted back and forth silently along the edge of light and Mr. Henry said

Major can you get the steaks off the smoker and I said

yessir

he’d cooked good thick steaks and he scalloped potatoes inside and made a Caesar and I liked that he was that kind of man that made friends with the people who worked for him and while we ate the dogs came one by one and laid down in the firelight that stayed bright because of how CB was nearest the hearth and kept throwing logs crushing onto the coals when it burned down and once I saw Mr. Henry watching the walls like he could see the mouths too but I wasn’t sure

Mr. Henry walked into the headquarters before leaving and said

you all got anything needs to go to town and Moses said

no sir and I said

give me a second and he said

I’ve got five

and I ran into my room and took out my book and wrote tell mom I’m ok on a page and tore it out and put it in an envelope addressed to John and ran back out and gave it to Mr. Henry and I said

thanks and he said

sure thing Major

I cut out the fire killed oak for three months I only cut the best trees when it was that right point of evening when the wind was always just right and the light would turn purple and flow down through the hills like water but I stopped cutting before any night got into it and then I hauled the wood down the mountain because that’s how he asked and I took the trunks and the thick boughs that hadn’t got burnt up but just got killed and I logged them and the logs that weren’t rotten I split and stacked and I got ten cords up against the adobe wall of the house before the night that I was out with Mr. Henry and Moses by the fire and everybody else was gone in and the first cold front of the year slid down over the land and sent the sparks from the fire spiraling southward about our legs and against the canvas of the coats we had on to keep out the shards from the cold and the Iron Mountain hulked further south still and we watched it pull the stars down close to it but it always stayed dark even though it took more of the light than we could and Moses was asleep in his chair so that it was just me and Mr. Henry and we’d drunk enough whiskey where our eyes turned to amber and opened up and could see the ghosts of the iron oaks up there swaying in the wind like silk and glowing darkly and he said softly

can you see them Major and I whispered back

yessir

do you know why you see them and I said

no sir

I want you to cut some logs from it

how I asked

I don’t know he said and I whispered back

I think I can figure it out maybe and he said

I think maybe you can too

I moved to the little cabin off from the main house and I forgot the silver raven but it didn’t matter because I didn’t sleep anymore anyways because the day was too bright to be able to see the ghost oaks and I kind of stole Rhett from CB not like I did it but Rhett just started sticking with me and CB didn’t care because of all the other dogs stuck with him Mr. Henry told Moses how I was going to just report to him and Moses said

OK

and I went up to the hills over the main house at night and tried with my chainsaw but it was like passing through air and I tried with my axe but it didn’t work either I kept going back but I didn’t know what to do and one day I got real sad and went down into the valley where the red oaks all bent like fire in the gusts of autumn and I strung all the biggest trees together with spiderweb to make a machine because I was trying to listen to heaven so I could hear you again but in the nights when I put my ear to it everything got all drowned by the clamor of God up there drunk and murmuring to himself in the dark and running into furniture I just wanted to hear you say goodnight like you used to I just wanted you to tell me again that I’m your good little brother and how you lovemelovemeloveme but I couldn’t hear you and the wind kept blowing and I laid down on the cold ground not remembering anything anymore except that you were here and now you are gone

I can’t figure out how I said into the receiver and he said

you can take a while and I said

alright and he said

just don’t worry too much about it and I said

OK I won’t and he said

are you doing alright out there in the cabin and I said

yessir Rhett stays with me and we keep that stove burning so it’s warm and he said

who’s Rhett and I said

he’s that red merle Aussie and he said

alright then Major I’m glad you’re keeping up I’ll see you all out there afterwhile

after we finished up dinner Moses asked me if I would shoot a deer in the morning early because he wanted to have some backstrap for when Mr. Henry came the next week and I said

I don’t have a gun and he said

you can use that 30 aught 6 I’ve got over there in the cabinet and I said

I’ll be up early

I walked down from my cabin later that night to the headquarters to grab a beer and when I opened the door into the kitchen CB was standing in the refrigerator light taking out a bottle and he said

you want one and I said

yes please

and he popped the tops and we sat down at the table in the dark and I said

where you from CB and he said

I grew up down 90 outside Sanderson and I said

so you’ve been out here the whole time and he said

I’ve been here for a while but not the Iron Mountain for long and I said

you’re family out there in Sanderson and he said

used to be but my dad died and my mom kind of split off after that I don’t really know where she is things fall down on this land kind of hard some times

and we sat in the dark and drank in silence for a while and he got up and the light spilled out of the refrigerator into the kitchen again and he got two more beers for us and I said

you know where the trapper piles up the bodies and he says 

yeah what of it and I said

them all piled and stinking those bodies they’re all through us

but I could tell maybe he knew but he wasn’t going to say and he said

how old are you

and I said 18 but he knew that was a lie

he went and got us each another beer because we were drinking too fast and said

time for bed

yeah I guess I better

I’ll be around 5:00 to get you

and I shook his hand and walked up the trail to my cabin

the cold was ringing when I woke and I got up and put some kindling onto the coals in the stove and stacked some logs on that and blew the fire going and I put on my thermals and my pants and a shirt and zipped my coveralls on over everything and there was a knock at my door and Rhett stirred up whining from my blankets with the fire flicker in his eyes and I said

come on in 

and CB walked in and said

morning and his voice made fog inside my room and he patted Rhett’s head and I said 

howdee

and he poured me some coffee out of his Stanley and I pulled my gloves on and grabbed the rifle and slung it onto my shoulder and shut Rhett in the cabin and we drove out a ways and parked the truck and walked up onto the mountainside and CB said

you stay here and glass the valley and I’ll go around and watch that other side and I said

OK

shoot a doe if you can

I nodded and lay down in the grass and watched out as the light came I kept having to switch my hands holding the binoculars because of how fucking cold it was and every time I stuck my right hand in my pocket I could feel the extra brass shells banded together to keep them from ringing

deer come out in the morning because of how they are the same color as it and you have to watch so careful because it’s like trying to see water in water but I finally got my eyes right so that I could see an old doe come through the dim and I took off my glove and switched the safety off and put the cross on her neck and the shell cracked open and the bullet went hurling out away from me to her

CB walked around from the other side of the hill when he heard the shot I don’t like killing deer because afterwards I can hear all that low thunder out of death’s horn and I try not to hear it but I can’t not after I brought it and I remember you telling me how it was what made the dogs whine in their sleep and how every now and again it gets loud so that car alarms go off in the streets I don’t like hearing the sound from it CB walked up and said

that’ll do

and we put a rope through her back ankles and pulled her up from the bough of an oak and cut her guts out and left them where they fell grey and steaming on the ground for the coyotes and CB said

Mauricio will make us some chili tonight and I said

hope so

and then I looked down at the bloody knife and I threw up on the dirt and CB just shook his head at me but I wiped my mouth off and got up and CB dropped the doe into the grass under the tree and I picked her up and put her on my shoulders and he said

come on crazyass

and we walked back up to the truck and I put her in the bed and her eyes turned to frost from the inside

the next evening I was walking water line and I heard the elks bugling at each other and I looked but I couldn’t see them because how the grey was down on the earth but then all of a sudden I saw first one and then another big bull come out from the clouds and when they walked their antlers tore up the fog so that they dragged all these ribbons of emptiness behind them through the air and I knew how to cut the ghost oaks I don’t know how but I just knew and I ran back to the truck and drove to the house and I ran in past Mrs. Moses and she said

where are you off to

but I ran past and into the room and I pulled up the floor board and took out the silver raven and I went and jumped in the flatbed that had the welder on the back of it and I drove it over to the barn and I got my chainsaw and filed all the steel teeth off it and I cut the raven into little pieces with the torch and welded them onto my chain and filed the lumps sharper than the moonlight and then I went and sat by the forest and time changed I watched the sun rise and fall and rise and fall until I lost count

I got so skinny sitting there all those days I needed the milk of your voice I needed the warm bread of your words but finally I saw the night anchor pulling across the world and it caught on the Iron Mountain and the dark stayed and I took my saw onto the hill and found the stand of ghost oaks all dark and gusting in the wind and I walked to them and pulled the saw going and set the blade against one and blue sparks burst like little galaxies everywhere and the sparks went through me like I was the one that wasn’t there instead of them and I worked the long night through and I had to keep going back and welding on more teeth because the silver wore down so fast but I cut a little stack and laid it invisibly next to the other logs by the house and at the end I fell asleep beside the wood and Rhett was sleeping there too and the night closed all its eyes and came over close and lay down against us to keep us warm

I mailed Mr. Henry a letter

I figured out how to cut it

I made a silver blade

Moses let me take a truck into town and I pulled up to The Blues where there was a fire burning out of some shitty lumber stinking up the air and someone was singing old Marty Robbins inside and people were turning on the dance floor in quick circles through the spindled light that the disco ball hauled through the cigarette smoke and I walked over to CB and he slid me a bottle of Jack across the rough boards of the table and I slugged on it and slid it back and he said

look who’s out tonight and I said

howdee and he said

you gonna have a time and I said

might turn that way

and then the warm of the whiskey went through me and the world got soft and dark and I looked up and saw her there in the glow of the can lights and she looked all alone and quiet from the others and she wheeled from me and then back again and our gazes caught together across the room in the breeze from the song and I couldn’t even see who she was with but when I tried to look away our eyes got caught up like wind knots and I couldn’t turn she had on a dress covered in horses and the song ended and another fast one was on and it was just like that that she was in my arms and laughing and we turned like a dust devil all over the place and the horses went and bucked and galloped across the cloth plains of her dress and the sea of night inside of me flashed away for then because how she took my loneliness in her hands and pushed it away she said

lets get out of here and I said

OK and she said

come on then

and we ran out to the truck and drove west down 90 out there to old Nopal where the heavens push down hard on the earth and pulse and blaze and it was just us sitting there with the truck engine shaking and she kissed me so delicate that I couldn’t figure out what was happening how the softness hit me all brutal everything bunched up and the red lights flashing on us as that train went by in the night the horn blowing so loud that the dark got ripped away and the ground shaking and we were just alone there and it made it where I felt like horses loose on a highway or like moths like grass burning and there was all that flint in us that was rubbing along our ribs when we breathed and I thought it might have been light that filled us but I didn’t know for sure I never know for sure and then she took her dress off and her body was the moon and all at once the air filled with the ghost lights swarming and near and they circled round us like little stars and brought close their burning faces to whisper to us every name of night and they passed over again and we lay there holding together breathing like we’d run miles and we grasped to each other while our shadows turned circles around us always behind us to the lights and as fast as they were there they left again and the cab of the truck exploded into dark except for the soft waxing of her body

Lucia came out to the ranch the next weekend in her dad’s flatbed because I told her about the ghost oaks and she said

let’s burn some and I said

OK

she drove out on one of those days where it was real cold out and the clouds were down low and were rubbing off on the hills so that the grass and trees turned silver and thick with frost I already went around with Moses breaking the ice off the water tanks and there wasn’t anything else to do because it was so damn cold

she came into the cabin and Rhett walked up against her leg with his head up so she could pet him

who’s this she asked

oh you mean Stinker Bell there

she’d sat down and Rhett was nuzzling up in her lap and she was making those noises at him that people make with dogs and I walked over to the ice chest and got us out some beer and brought it and gave it to her and I said

his name’s Rhett and she said

well hello Rhett and I said

he’s got two different color eyes

and she pulled me down with them and kissed me

I cooked venison and we ate and when we were done I went and got the logs from outside first I lit red oak and then I burned piñon and after that I lay the dark ghosts of the old iron oaks onto the bed of coals and I understood why he wanted me to cut them it makes the smell like a chapelfull of myrrh smoke but the warm of it doesn’t touch your skin or your face but it sounds into you and calls all the wild and tender things that hide high up on the game trails in your heart down and it makes the moon rise through the dark of you like a mother of pearl disc and all the creek beds in your soul fill up with cold water

we lay there naked in that warm on the Navajo rug in the cabin and the ghost fire came out of the stove like snow light and the small brown spiders crawled out to us through the shadows and wrapped us there in their silentest silks and we didn’t have to be afraid of anything anymore because how in that garb not even the night can see you

she stayed with me in the cabin for three nights and every word she said had a bunk where I could lay up and sleep for a night she’d say

Major

and take my hand and put it down between her legs where the warm ocean was only barely inside her and she would pull me down and as I rocked in and out of her our hearts sloshed back and forth so full of stars that death was with us too we got so close and I knew she couldn’t stay forever and that evening we walked outside and she washed the creek in her hair and then the stars got hold of her and tossed her nightward and she flew up and up and she didn’t fall and I knew how she had to leave because she was the moon but I’m getting too used to all these leavings

that night my dreams rode in in the dark their horses the color of flood water under a flashlight and the dreams breathed as hard as the horses and their breath got so hot when they whispered close it made my ears ring all I could hear was how God talked in symbols but I already knew that and I kept wincing away into my blankets because it was like when someone breaths real hard on a microphone turned up too loud but I wanted to hear but I couldn’t hear what they said and I whispered out to them

tell me if you can pray to just one part of God and maybe can He keep it secret from the other parts of Him like could I ask Him to open my dreaming eyes and help me find the heavens I hid in myself but lost

and my dreams bent their heads to me

but ask it from the gentle part of Him and not the part that’s always drunk and angry and would open all my eyes and then burn nightmares into them forever

and my dreams leaned in close

like sometimes He seems to like answering prayers as mean as He can and I just want to find the God that’s actually better at being good than us not just the one that says He is

and my dreams put their heads against my head and ran their fingers through my hair until I fell to sleep in sleep

the next afternoon I saw the fire start I knew it was coming because how the ground was so dry it smelled like rain even when I pissed it was the storm with no rain that did it I tried to stop it I said to the wind and I said to death and I even said to God but none of them were listening I was cutting cedars on the hill but I saw all the smoke column up and I dropped the saw and ran down the road and I ran so fast that my breath fell behind and I took off my coat and kept running and my mouth tasted like it got full of pennies and I found CB but I couldn’t say anything and I had to hunch over there to let my breath catch up with me

you crazy fucker he said

but I caught my breath and I told him and he said

where and I said

by the gate

he was in a valley fixing up a hole in the fence but he climbed the hill with me and he saw the smoke because the fire got big while I was running and he said

how the fuck did that get started and I said

I tried to stop it it was the storm I tried to make it go away but he said

nevermind

and ran down the hill and started his truck and raced up the road to go get the firemen I guess and I ran down the hill after him but now my legs felt funny and I said

shit

and had to slow down but I kept trying to go fast so I could find Moses but the sun started sliding down and the edge hit the earth and the fire got bigger and even though it was night now the wind kept rising and the smoke made my head ache and behind me the mountains flickered and in front of me the tree shadows swung around in the light but then I had to stop because the hills turned into a gold river and my eyes were spinning around and I had to sit down and make the world stop so I could go again and then it stopped and I ran up to the headquarters where there wasn’t a light on and I knocked on the door anyways but no one was inside and I kept turning around to see the fire get bigger and the smoke smash against the Iron Mountain

prow of the earth I whispered breathlessly up to it

I couldn’t let the house burn I had to not let it burn Elle got born there and when we were young and she’d never been too jealous of the dead she would laugh so loud and blazing white as the stars that the rooms and the halls would get full and silver and you could see them there glowing if you were out in the night and it would bring you back from whatever trouble sort of thing you were about and now after I got all the rivers in me full up with tears it’s the only place left where I can go hear the shadows that her laughing cast and not have to feel sadforever

I ran up to the dozer and tried to start it but it didn’t start because the batteries were dead because nobody had driven it since who knows but the flatbed was there so I brought it over and turned the welder on and I put the ground on the black and the lead on the red and turned the key of the dozer and the engine rolled over like a fuckcrazy horse and the lead off the welder made burning stars shoot all over the place from the battery and I jumped down on the flatbed to turn the welder off but it was already stalled 

piece of shit I yelled at it

and jumped back up on the Cat and put it in reverse and gunned it because bulldozers run fastest backwards I don’t know why but it still wouldn’t go fast enough but I turned it towards the house and the tracks that had got rusty sitting there were polished like mirrors after the heavy thing touched them on the ground and I could see the stars that were living in them and the flint under the treads burst out with sparks to light my way

I got up to the house that was glowing clear white like the moon even though the fire snaked next to it huge and orange and the smoke flowed over the hills like the world was coming apart and the wind pushed the grasses into waves and the fire was twice higher than the house when I came up and spun the dozer the treads shrieking like giant barn owls and dropped the silver blade into the earth and rammed a wide swath of clean dirt between the house and the fire and the engine all low down growled and the turbo whined and the exhaust went dark in the dark and filled the woodsmoke air near the house with diesel smell and I screamed

COME ON FUCKING COME ON

and I got one break down when the fire got there and a second break started and everything was swirling and full of bright and dark but the fire jumped my line into the meadow by the house and I tried to chase it but the wind turned it huge so I couldn’t chase it and the flame surrounded me and I killed the dozer in the middle of the firebreak and jumped down and ran into the courtyard of the house hoping that the walls would hold long enough for the flames to pass but the oaks were too huge and hot and the herd of bright red horses ran all along the floors up the walls and set the paintings on fire and I went to the fountain to lay inside it but the fountain was empty and I yelled to you

HELP ME

but I couldn’t hear you and I turned to the flames

no please no

and I ran out the back of the house but the flames were at every side and I jumped out off the deck over the cliff into the night below and I dropped and dropped and went through some tree to the ground and my head spun to darkness

I found the rock pool at the edge of the meadow that’s never in the same place twice and I got in the cool water and drank the bottle of whiskey from the stone edge and my liver turned to ember and glowed into the water and you walked into the dark gold light like from out of nothing and I knew you were my dream but how it didn’t matter and the stars still saw your face and got drunk off it and I watched them lose their ways and stray through the black up there staring down at you and you said you could talk to me for the night only but that was all and I thought that was ok it was ok and all again you held me and I was shaking but all I could tell you was about how I keep trying to build the heaven in myself so you can come be with us again but I have to make sure it’s hidden enough that it doesn’t get broken but how it’s so hard because I keep not being able to find it after I hide it and I have to start all over again and you whispered to me 

it’s okay Major   it’s alright

and your voice was quieter than smoke so I could hear and I heard you but I couldn’t keep you there and I wanted so bad to keep you there

I woke late the next evening and I heard CB and Mauricio yelling my name on the cliff top and I whistled back to them and Rhett ran down the hill to me and licked my face where I lay and they came down and CB said

you crazy motherfucker and I said

I think my ribs are busted

and he looked at the cliff and he said

yeah I bet they are

and they helped me up and half carried me and lay me on the back of the truck and my sides pulsed like shards of suns when I breathed and the house was burnt and smoldering and Mauricio got into the pickup bed with me while CB drove slow down to headquarters that was still there and they had the horse trailer hitched in the driveway I think they all thought I’d died or something because Mrs. Moses ran out crying and Moses told me how they’d followed the dozer tracks up there in the night and yelled and how I hadn’t said anything back and I said

I guess I was sleeping

my head ached so bad with all the night crashing around in it and Moses said

we got to get these horses out of here but they’re kicking up a storm in that trailer and I said

it’s because they got too much fire into their eyes and they all looked at me like they always look at me but I got off the truck and limped through the yard under all the stars that were falling in flurries now and I got up into the trailer with the horses and they stilled down and I said

close that up and keep the light on in here

and they did it and the fastener screeched as they pushed it down into place and the truck started up and I was surrounded with the heavy smell of the horses and I leaned against the black mare and winced at the bumps and all the stillness in the horses asleep in the lit trailer hauling through the dark filled me up and I could feel the massiveness of heaven just out there heaving breath in and out and how alive it was and how I just had to find a pure place to put it into the world and then we just had to believe in it and love each other even though we’re all the ruined but we still can love even though our hearts are wrecked and that’s what I had to know so I whispered every heaven that I could find to the mare and I thought that the ocean of her heart would keep them safe but I didn’t know anything for sure I never know anything for sure

[ourlastbastion]

Etherian Mall Ch. 4

The One Where Double Trouble + The Super Pal Trio Chat

AO3 

FF.Net

The group was seated at the food court, trays and cups from the various different shops littering the table. Double Trouble’s tail moved from side to side every few moments, a smile that promised nothing good planted on their lips as they drank from a large soda cup. Across from them was Entrapta, tearing apart an old Nokia flip phone, wires and bits all over her empty food tray. Beside her, Scorpia was animatedly talking about a recent trip, pinchers waving about, smiling so wide it was a wonder her face didn’t fall off, and beside Double Trouble was Catra, leaning against the table with a lazy smile and resting her cheek on her hand as she listened to Scorpia.

“It was amazing!” Scorpia exclaimed, throwing her arms up into the air, eyes sparkling. “Then the bird just started tugging at my mom’s hair, and the two of us couldn’t help but laugh as she tried to get it to stop. The zookeeper had to come over and help because the hawk didn’t want to leave.”

Catra chuckled, taking a sip of her cola, tail swishing back and forth in a lazy manner as she listened. “Sounds about right for your bunch,” she commented and gave a toothy grin. “I’m glad you and your moms had fun on the trip. It’s nice that you still spend time with them.”

“Of course I’d still spend time with them, they’re family. Just because I’m all grown up and out of the house doesn’t mean I have to forget about them,” Scorpia seemed rather proud as she said that, pinchers on her hips and chest puffed out. Family was important to her, just as important as her friendships were, it’s just another thing about her that made Scorpia so amazing.

Today was one of those weird days for the group, where their schedules just barely aligned. Catra and Entrapta were on break at the moment, while Scorpia had just finished her shift and Double Trouble, well, as far as the group knew, they were here early for either a shift they picked up for someone at one of the stores, or here to watch and cause trouble. It was always a gamble for which it would be.

But, they had a brief period of time to actually meet up and talk before returning to their respective areas of work, it was something they enjoyed, just eating and chatting together without the stress of needy customers or overbearing bosses hanging around them like a noose. Especially with catching back up with Scorpia after she’d been gone a week on that family trip of hers to a zoo out of state.

Abruptly, Entrapta shoved her Nokia phone, or rather all the pieces of it, into a small baggie that in turn was put inside of her larger bag. “I should be returning to the Fright Zone about now,” she declared after looking at the clock. “Break is almost over, and there’s plenty of work to do.”

“Ah, about that, how’s everything been since your sudden promotion?” Double Trouble asked with a coy smile.

Entrapta didn’t smile though, she had a thoughtful expression like she was trying to solve some sort of puzzle that was missing a few pieces. “It’s been strange, if I’m being honest. There’s a lot more work, and Hordak is trusting me with more managemental tasks, which is good. I'm getting more opportunities to learn a field I never considered before, and I have the chance to study social interactions during business meetings,” she listed, leaning on her hair like it was a counter for her.

“But?” Catra arched an eyebrow. Despite how good everything sounded, the way Entrapta said it made it seem that there was more to it.

“He’s been strange ever since he offered me the position,” she admitted. “I thought he would be happy that I agreed, but he seemed disappointed, and I can’t fathom why he'd be visibly bothered by my acceptance. My observations have also shown that he’s also been rather tense lately, and trying to limit his contact with me, particularly when it’s just the two of us. I’m worried that I may have overstepped some boundaries that I didn’t notice.”

Scorpia offered a comforting smile, reaching out to pat her hair, “I’m sure you did nothing wrong. He’s probably on edge because of Prime. You know how he gets when the big boss is involved.”

“Just give it some time and I’m sure he’ll be back to his usual stick-up-the-ass self in no time,” Catra added with a laugh.

“You’re right,” Entrapta nodded, slinging her bag over a shoulder and fishing out her recorder from one of the pockets. “Patience is key here, but if he’s upset over something Prime did, perhaps I can make him some tea to help him feel better, I hear it’s supposed to help calm people down.” She was already walking away, talking into her recorder and her voice growing distant as she made her way back to the Fright Zone’s tech store.

The group just watched her go with grins and heads shaking.

Double Trouble was the first to speak up after she left. “I feel sorry for Hordak, all his attempts and she never seems to notice.”

Shaking her heat, Catra finished off the last of her soda. “Entrapta’s smart, but she can be clueless at times. Knowing her, however, she probably never realizes he’s asking her out because she thinks they’re already a thing,” she offered and then shrugged, “Or maybe she really is that clueless when it comes to romance. Either way, my money is that they’ll become official within the year.”

“Oh, Kitten,” there was a glint is Double Troubles eyes as they spoke. “You should know better. I’ll happily take you up on that bet, knowing those two it’ll take them longer than a year if no one intervenes. Does twenty dollars sound fair?”

It was hardly a question needing an answer, the competitive spark had been lit, and Catra’s grin turned challenging, “You’re on.”

Scorpia just looked between the lizard and cat, blinking as she tried to figure out what was even going on. “Wait… Hordak has a crush on Entrapta?” she asked, eyes lighting up like it was the cutest thing she had ever heard. "Oh gosh, that's adorable, they'd make a really good couple!"

The tension was gone, replaced by sighs. Shaking her head, Catra patted Scorpia on the arm, “Oh, Scorpia, you take the trophy for most oblivious woman in the mall,” she sympathized. “Don’t worry about it too much, okay?”

“That reminds me, how have things been with you and that darling Lonnie?” Double Trouble asked, changing the topic of love from Entrapta onto Scorpia.

Instantly, the large woman’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, she waved her pinchers about in defense and shook her head. “There’s nothing going on, really,” she said and gave a sheepish laugh, “I just think that she’s really cool, and she always seems interested in listening to me and sparring with me. It’s not like we’re dating or anything, we’re just friends.” From her side of the table, Catra turned to Double Trouble mouthed ‘Oblivious’ to them.

Chuckling they stretched their arms high above their head, “Well, I will say that seeing as you finally got over your crush on Kitten here, I can say that you’ve finally developed good taste in women.”

“Hey!” Catra kicked them from under the table. “Excuse you, I am a snack!”

“Is that so? Well, I suppose some people like salty treats and bitter treats,” Double Trouble mused, earning another kick from Catra.

[moonwaif]

Latte (H)Art: ch. 4/?

“Interlude”: Hinami stars training with her pal Ayato. (Ao3)

Summary: Traumatized after being rejected by Kirishima Ayato, her first love, a teenaged Hinami vows that she will never fall in love again. Four years later, Hinami is a young woman trying to get by in life. Her painful past is behind her - at least, until she gets a job at Aogiri Tree Café, where she runs into a few familiar faces…AyaHina human!AU

| Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 |

A/N: So it's been like what, a year? Hahah my bad. This chapter was originally way longer but I scrapped most of it, and this is what's left. Anyway here's Wonderwall.

Hinami realized she was in love with Ayato on the day of the science fair.

It was a complete disaster.

They had arrived at school that morning expecting to see the solar powered remote control car they'd worked so hard on the previous night, staying at school until long after the sun went down. What they found instead was a mess of wires and disassembled parts.

Someone had sabotaged their project.

“Why would anyone even WANT to do something like this?” Momo wondered out-loud. “It’s just the school science fair. We don’t even get a good prize.”

Her words sounded far away. Hinami spun on her heel, ignoring Momo’s voice calling out to her as she fled.

Fifteen minutes later she was sobbing in the basement stairwell.

She couldn't understand Momo. To Hinami, it had all seemed so important at the time. She didn't want to see the disappointment in her teacher’s faces, or face the ridicule of her classmates. She couldn't stand to hear her parents’ half-hearted, “You can always try again next year Hina." Just thinking about it all sent a hot wave of humiliation burning through her throat. She couldn't go out there. Better to just stay in this stairwell and hide until it was all over.

“Oi, put a lid on it. All that crying is a pain in the ass.”

His voice reverberated through the narrow concrete passage. Hinami turned to look over her shoulder. Ayato stood a few steps above her, looking down in disdain.

It made her laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he demanded, but behind the anger he sounded slightly unsure.

“Ah, it’s just that when you’re annoyed, you look a lot like your sister,” she explained. For the first time that morning, she smiled.

Ayato said nothing.

The door to the stairwell burst open. It was Momo, the remnants of the solar powered car clutched to her chest. “Hinami!” she breathed. “There you are! Come on, we need to…”

Her eyes locked on Ayato, and her mouth clamped shut. Ayato glanced at the mess of circuits and parts in her hands.

“Is this for that pointless science fair?” he asked.

Momo nodded, blushing. “Someone broke it…”

“Yeah. Looks like a pile of shit.”

‘He’s right,’ Hinami thought. For some reason, she didn’t feel like crying anymore. She stood, brushing off her skirt.

“I’m sorry this happened, Momo. I should have stored the car in a more protected place…”

“Ahh no, no! It’s not your fault, Hinami-chan.”

“Mmm.” Hinami reached out, taking the ruined project. “Sorry, but I...don’t think we can fix it. I know you worked hard.”

“..annoying.”

The girls glanced up at Ayato, who scowled back down at them, his arms crossed.

Momo blinked. “Huh?”

“Just gonna give up and then go home and cry about it, right? Freshmen are such annoying little shits…”

“What else can we do?” Hinami mumbled, blushing. She'd never talked so much with an upperclassman before, especially not one as popular as Kirishima-san.

“I dunno, come up with a new idea? Aren’t you supposed to be smart or something?”

He looked right at Hinami as she said this. Her cheeks grew warmer. Did people really think she was smart?

“I - I don’t - there’s not enough time - “

Ayato interrupted with a dramatic sigh. He sauntered down the stairs, rolling his eyes as he passed them.

“Follow me.”

Twenty minutes later Hinami was rushing into the cafeteria with a pitcher of water, droplets sploshing over the sides. Ayato watched her idly as she approached, his feet propped atop the plastic fold-out table.

He nodded approvingly. “Good. Your little friend already got the fan.”

It was a tall fan, plugged into the nearest socket and pointed directly at the table. Hinami could sense the curious gazes surrounding them. She tried not to glance at the other booths in the cafeteria, or the myriad of sophisticated experiments displayed upon them.

“Turn it on.”

Her eyes flew back to Ayato. He was pouring water onto the table in a gentle stream. Hinami gaped in confusion.

“The fan?” he repeated, brow arched.

Oh. Right. Hinami flicked the switch. She glanced at Ayato expectantly, but he was already leaning back in his chair, looking bored. People were starting to wander over now, whispering to each other. It didn’t take long for someone to finally approach them.

“Where’s your experiment? Is it invisible, or something?”

Takizawa snickered with his friends. Hinami felt her face grow hot.

Ayato wasn’t phased. “You’re looking at it, smartass.”

Seriously? Hinami internally cringed, prepping herself for the public humiliation that was about take place.

Even Takizawa looked flabbergasted. “What, a wet table? Fueguchi-san, come on, you didn’t really let him talk you into this, did you?”

Ayato stood. The boys with Takizawa were still laughing, but Hinami noticed some real interest in the eyes of the girls.

“Since you seem to lack an understanding of basic science, I’ll spell it out for you, dickwad,” Ayato said coolly. Takizawa’s face reddened. “Water’s on the table. The fan creates wind. The wind vaporizes the liquid, which becomes a gas in the atmosphere.”

The students were smiling, still snickering but giving each other uncomfortable looks - almost like they were unsure who they were laughing at anymore. Ayato spread his hands out on the table, leaning forward with a sly, predatory grin.

“Evaporation, Takizawa,” he said slowly. “A dweeb like you should know that much, right?”

And then he started laughing. Long and loud. Takizawa stammered a retort, but by then no one was listening. Everyone had clustered around Ayato. Hinami could hear some of the girls chastising him, calling him “lazy” and “ridiculous”, but their voices held more admiration than derision. The boys were bumping against shoulders, all eager to get some of that cool to rub off on them, booming fond remarks like, "Leave it to Kirishima-kun!"

Takizawa was left behind in the tide.

“Wow,” Momo whispered, appearing beside Hinami. “I can’t believe he really pulled that off!”

Hinami nodded. At that moment, Ayato suddenly caught her eye. She felt her insides freeze as his mouth split into a slow grin, one eye flashing her a wink.

It was then she knew.

She was falling in love with Kirishima Ayato.

Hinami slammed her fist into the punching bag, jaw clenching. Why the hell was she remembering all of that ridiculous stuff now?

Ever since Hinami had walked into Aogiri Tree, she’d been streamlining towards a past she’d left dead and buried. At least, that’s what she’d assumed. Now she wasn’t so sure. Ayato, Takizawa, Akira; seeing them had managed to set off emotions inside Hinami like a string of firecrackers. If she really was completely “over it,” then why did she feel so angry? So scared? So impotent?

‘Because you never really got over it,’ she thought. ‘You just ran away from it all...like a coward.’

And now here she was, caught in the claws of what was her pathetic failure of a life. Except this time she wasn’t running. This time, she was going to punch that life in the face.

‘Evaporation experiment?’ Punch. ‘I can’t believe I fell for that!’ Punch. ‘So juvenile and asinine!’ Punch. ‘He just used us another opportunity to show off!’

Hinami rested her forearm against the punching bag, panting. She glanced at Ayato, who looked back at her with an irritatingly amused expression.

He truly was a pitiful sight. The dark, bruised bags under his eyes had lightened somewhat, but he still hadn’t showed up at work today. Hinami didn’t know much about concussions, and if Ayato’s face was any indication she didn’t want to find out.

“You don’t have much stamina, do you?” he drawled. “Do you even work out?”

Hinami glared daggers into his back as he turned around, reaching for a towel and tossing it at her nonchalantly.

“Here. You’re sweating like a pig.”

‘I’m gonna murder him,’ Hinami thought, shaking as she wiped at her forehead. ‘I’m gonna learn how to fight and then I’m gonna murder him and burn the body.’

‘No, no, stay cool...you came here for a reason, remember?’

“Right now you lack the fundamental strength,” he continued, lounging back against the wall as she fumed. “A hit from you is gonna hurt about as much as a mosquito bite. You need to bulk up.”

“Then help me train,” she muttered. God she hated this, groveling to this asshole...

Ayato reached for a notepad, throwing it to her. Hinami caught it. Jeeze, why couldn’t he just hand her things like a normal person?

The first page of the notepad read: “Week 1. Burpees: 30 seconds. 5 reps. Plank jacks: 40 seconds. 12 reps…”

Hinami flipped through the pages. “This is a personalized workout plan.”

“Yup. Follow it. Then in a few weeks we can get to the good stuff.”

She tried to imagine Ayato sitting in his bed, pen in hand, eagerly creating a detailed fitness plan just for her. What kind of strange reality was this?

“Ok,” she answered, awkwardly. “So...do I need to keep coming here?”

“If you’re gonna get serious, yeah. You can train here, it’ll keep you on track and help you progress a little quicker. I mean it’s not like I’m doing this all for free. I’m already - “

“Docking an hour of my pay every time we meet,” Hinami cut in flatly. “Yeah, you told me. And I am serious. I mean, I came to you, so…”

There was a moment of awkward silence as Ayato examined her, a peculiar expression on his face. “Why does someone like you wanna fight, anyway?” he asked finally. “You planning to go and kill Akira or something?”

He grinned, tickled at his own joke. Hinami wasn’t laughing.

“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “Maybe it’s so I can kill you.”

Ayato’s eyes flew up to her, startled. For a long moment their gazes locked. Then Hinami’s courage faltered.

“Or...maybe not,” she mumbled, looking away.

There was another beat of silence. Then, “See, this is your problem. If you’re gonna make a threat at least commit to it.”

He shook his head, sighing as he reached for a pair of boxing gloves.

“What are you doing?” Hinami asked. Did he intend to fight her now or something?

“Relax,” he said, reading her mind. “Since you’re here, I might as well show you how to throw a punch. ‘Cause if you really wanna kill me, you’re gonna have to try a lot harder than that.”

TBC...

[flowerpot101]

Protector

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Request: Oh please let me send you a request :) I thought about something where the Reader is also an avenger (maybe something with electrical powers) and during one Mission in a fight against Hydra, you get attacked and thrown in a nearby lake while saving Bucky. You nearly drown and also cause of your powers you get into some shock. The others almost realize it too late but Buck comes after you to save you. You have to be revived but you survive and Bucky finally tells you that he loves you ? :)

Word Count: 1854

Warnings: It’s really sad and I’m sorry, like I even started crying when writing.

Everyone was sitting in the quinjet as it flew to a secluded area in the middle of the forest. The land was mass with greenery and large beautiful pine trees, Y/n loved the forest, it was the one place where she felt at peace and couldn’t hear any buzzing. She wasn’t exactly fond of her powers; to control electricity came with prices, if she was in the city all she could hear was the buzzing of all power moving through the wires. It sounded as if she was always under a power line, training with Avengers helped her gain more control but the buzzing never went away.

Half of the team would go inside while the other half would stay outside to stop anyone from infatuating into the building. Her and Bucky were signed the west side of the building where it faced an open space with tall grass and a lake about a mile away. They were lying on their stomachs, covered by the grass while they looked out for any agents. This was a highly dangerous mission for they weren’t just dealing with just regular day humans; they were also dealing with ones who had powerful abilities. Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be long before they showed up so they had to work quickly without getting completely caught.

Thirty minutes had passed and the team just got word that Natasha and Steve were already in the office, quickly grabbing the files they were assigned to collect. In the distance she could see Sam’s little drone fly around the building, scanning it for any unwanted guests. Tony was flying through the air as he gave instructions to other members of the team, telling them where they needed to go to avoid anyone. As he came around the corner of the east side, something slammed right into him causing him to be thrown across the air and crumbling to the surface while he skimmed across it at a high speed. The fighting began as everyone came out of their hiding spaces and all the enemies came crashing down from the sky; crunching the asphalt beneath their feet as they planted down into it.

Everyone became engrossed into their own individual fight, your opponent was much stronger than you but it didn’t mean that you weren’t able to take them on. You always tended to spar with Bucky or Steve during training or even Thor if he was around so facing someone a lot bigger or stronger then you wasn’t really a deal breaker for you. When you were able to twist them around and get them into a choke hold, you sent waves of electricity through their body causing them to convulse while they dropped to the ground. One of the others had seen what you did to their friend and was storming your way.

Taking a step back as you lowered your body in a stoic stance with feet planted; when they got just a few feet away you pushed your feet forward, running their way. Before you reached them, you flipped with your hands planting onto the ground and pushed with all your strength causing you to slightly fly over their head. They weren’t quick enough as your hands came around their neck and body twisting around as you landed behind them, pulling with all your might; they flew through the air and crashed into the building. Straitening her back while she stood, she brushed her hands back and forth then looked around to see if there was any more to worry about. Everyone had already gotten their opponents down but grunting could be heard behind her and as she looked, Y/n saw Bucky struggling with a man triple his size.

Panic began to rise; she needed to help him quickly before something bad happened. Running their way as the man had just knocked Bucky to the floor, arms rising to strike down on him, her body stopped as her hands came out forward shooting white streaks of electricity. The man was flung backwards as Bucky let out a deep sigh of relief while his head leant back to gently rest against the warm ground. Y/n ran to his side and helped him to get to his feet, her eyes danced over his body as she looked for any injuries.

“Are you okay?” She said as her eyes finally came back up to meet his.

All he did was give her a nod of reassurance, both looking back as the man that she just shot at got back to his feet looking more than pissed off. Then they watched as energy built around him, red flashes of whatever forming around his body and before they knew it he was letting out a loud roar causing the unknown energy to hurtle their way. Eyes widening and pushing Bucky to the side to protect him, she was hit full force. Her body was flung back into the air and her body hunching forward.

Bucky watched from the ground while her body flew through the air, her body then falling down. Making a loud noise as she hit the surface of the lake then Bucky shot up from his position and ran full force, coming to your rescue. Only thinking of getting to you as quickly as he possibly could before it was too late, he knew you and water didn’t exactly mix well especially when you had just used your powers against someone. He knew the energy you were able to pull from the ground would sit inside you until your mind knew it was safe.

Getting closer to the lake, while he ran he pulled his heavy duty jacket off and by the time his shoes were off he was leaping into the water. In the distance through the slightly foggy water he could see your body as it convulsed from the small shocks and the white streaks that flashed beneath your flesh. While Bucky was in the water, Tony had just slammed into the man who caused you to be flung away like a rag doll, everyone instantly teamed up on him to take him down. Then Tony ran towards the lake just as everyone exited from the building, they watched in confusion but soon followed him.

Steve ran up to Tony’s side as he looked out in the water, “What happened, Stark?”

His breathing was hard and eyes were wide, panic filled his voice, “Y/n was thrown into the lake, Bucky went in after her.”

He soon was filled with panic as he heard that his best pal was inside the water saving a girl that he knew Bucky loved. Steve cared for you as if you were his own sister and to know that you were possibly dying while you floated down through the water just broke him and caused his heart to clench. Everyone looked out to the water, scanning it for Bucky to pop up through the surface with you in his arms. But as time went on, they were becoming hopeless with their watching but soon they heard a large gasp of air. And there you were, your head lulled forward with your soaked h/c hair covering your face, while Bucky held you to his body as he swam backwards to shore.

Getting closer, Steve reached out his hand for Bucky to take and instantly grabbing it, Steve helped him pull you two out of the water. Bucky heaved in and out as you laid there, not moving or looking like you were breathing; he quickly got over your body, pressing his ear to your chest to check for a heartbeat. It was faint but it was there, Bucky then started doing CPR, tangling his hands together as they rested between your breasts and he pushed. He continued to push against your chest, trying to bring you back for he couldn’t lose you.

“Come on… Come on, doll. B-breathe,” he choked out.

They watched as he frantically pumped up and down against your chest, Steve stepping forward with his arm reaching out, “Buck…”

“Don’t!” He yelled while shoving Steve’s arm away and quickly went back to his frantic pumping.

Nose flaring as tears pricked his eyes, “C-come on, doll… I c-can’t… I can’t lose you.” Whispering out the last part as his head tucked into his shoulder and wiped away the escaping tears.

“Bucky… She’s gone,” Natasha gently said to the soldier.

Head popping up to look at her while his frantic voice came out, “No she’s not! She can’t be! I just need to keep trying!”

Steve watched Bucky as he fought to bring you back; tears brimming in his own eyes, everyone’s eyes were brimmed to the top with them. Slowly member by member left with not being able to watch anymore, they all knew about the feelings he held for her. Natasha walked with her head down with her eyes blank and tears falling while Clint held her close to his side. In the distance they could hear Bucky’s yelling.

Bucky had stopped his pumping, hunched over your body with his head in the crook of your neck, tears were streaming down his flushed cheeks, “You c-can’t go… Not n-now… Not when I h-haven’t told you that I love y-you.”

He straightened up as he looked down to your body then he did the last thing he would ever do. Bringing his fist up, he brought it quickly down onto your chest then waited five seconds and repeated, and repeated.

Then you were spluttering water out.

Chest heaving as you coughed harshly, everyone turned around when they heard you. All eyes were wide as they stared at your now moving body from where they all stood in the field. You frantically moved your eyes around as you breathed in and out deeply.

“Oh my god.” Bucky hushed out as he rolled off your body.

Both were looking up at the sky, Bucky’s tears not halting as he looked at you then he stood up and scooped you up into his arms. Walking through the tall grass to get to the quinjet while he passed everyone they followed behind him, Y/n was looking at his red puffy eyes and weakly brought her hand up to wipe away the stray tears and whispered, “It’s okay.”

Walking up the platform, he went to take a seat with still holding you against his body; he couldn’t let you go not when he came so close to losing you. Fists tightly holding on to his still soaked shirt, she mumbled out into his chest, “I love you too.”

Bucky’s eyes widened, ‘’You heard that?”

“Yup.”

His face filled with a crimson blush but he was smiling wide. It was going to take a while to get back to the compound but he continued to hold you and when the doctors examined you, he wasn’t that far away. He was never going to stray far away from you, he was going to protect you like you had done for him, even if it was a life or death situation.

@dekahg

[missyslittlepet]

*Requested - Reader always teases Rocket. One day he has enough and decides to get them back. Sorry for not posting much recently, hope you enjoy!!! 💙 * "Stop." Rocket mumbles in his usual tone. You try to stop yourself from laughing by biting your lip. Rocket sees this looks away shaking his head. You had been teasing Rocket for a few weeks now. You loved the way he stumbled over his words and got all flustered. You could tell he wasn't used to the flirting but that's what made it even better. Rocket fumbles with the gadget he currently has in his hand. He needed a distraction. The things you said to him sometimes... He was amazed he hadn't taken you up on some of your offers. Of course, he knew you were joking with him. Little did he know you had been harbouring a crush on him since the day he saved you on Xander. You had been so happy when you were invited to join the Guardians mostly because you knew you would be able to spend more time with Rocket. You stroke his arm softly and you feel him tense up as a shiver runs through his body. He was starting to get annoyed by the whole situation. Not at you per se, but himself for not being able to come back with anything that had you blushing as hard as he was under his fur. He knew you knew the effect you had on him. "I mean it Rocket," you say putting on a serious face. "I imagine your whiskers would tickle... we'll have to find out sometime." He looks up at you and gulps loudly. When he sees you wink at him his eyes widen and he suddenly forgets how to breathe. Quickly he excuses himself and scampers off to his room. He shuts the bedroom door quickly behind himself and leans against it untill he catches his breath. "I am Groot?" Rocket's eyes open and he sees his tree friend sat by the ship's window across from him. "Yeah," Rocket sighs and walks over to his bed before jump up onto it. He throws himself down rather ungracefully and stares up at the ceiling. "She was at it again..." Rocket turns to look at Groot. His face is serious and determined. "You gotta help me pal, how can I get her back? She probably thinks I'm stupid, I just stutter and freeze up." "I...am Groot?" "What do you mean I can just flirt back? I don't know how to flirt! I don't even know if she is flirting. I hear Quill use that word all the time, what's flirting." Groot laughs and smiles at his furry friend. Sometimes Rocket really was oblivious. "I am Groot." Groot suggests. "There's no way she would go for a guy like me. I'm- and She's- I'm no good at this Groot!" While everyone else is asleep Rocket lays awake thinking of ways to tease you. He remembers that he needs to fix the blasters on the ship tomorrow. It would be the perfect way to get you out of your comfort zone and allow him to finally make you flustered instead of the other way round. You were great with weapons but you had no idea how to fix the Milano. The next morning he walks towards you while you're getting your breakfast. "Hey, (f/n)? I need a hand fixing the ship later and everyone else is busy. Can you help?" "Um, sure... You know I'll be no help what so ever right? I don't know the first thing about ship maintenance." Rocket waves his hand brushing off your statement. "It's fine, you just need to hand me stuff. I'll do all the hard work." "All the hard work? Is that a promise?" You wink at him. Rocket had been expecting this and was already bracing himself. He smiles at you and winks before heading towards his room to get his tools. You stand still kind of annoyed about not getting the reaction you had been hoping for. With a shrug you continue eating. "Right, all I need to do is fix this fire to this one and we're done." Rocket cracks his fingers before finishing up the last if the wiring for the new blasters. Rocket asks you to hand him a tool with a strange name and you look at him with a blank expression. He shakes his head and sighs. "Honestly, do you know nothing? It's about this big." He indicates with his hands the size of the tool. You nod and walk over to his tool box. You find something and gran it. You walk to Rocket and hand him it. "Hey," He laughs (suprised you actually found the tool he needed). "Keep up the hard work and this won't be the only thing this size you'll be getting today." He winks and continues with his work. You stand there completely frozen in place. Did he just? You look at him both shocked and pretty impressed. He actually managed to make you speachless. Rocket glances at you and laughs at your reaction. Maybe he was good at this teasing thing after all.

[msdooos]

I’m scared

I’m scared

summery: Reader is at Purgatory, after she was used to summon Eve

word count: 1.9ish (sorry!)

Character: Benny, reader, Dean, Sam and Bobby all mentioned. And a surprise one.

Warnings: injures, language, bad writing(It’s my first time so again sorry)

A/N: This is written for Mama and Angelina's Fabulous 300 Challenge. I had this idea when I thought about the girl who was used to summon Eve. And this were born. This is my first fic and I hope you like it.

Tagging: @atc74 , @mamaredd123 and @jadangelofthelord

Prompts are:  During the story a character finds out a dark secret, Calm and Eyes of the Tiger.

Italic are reader thoughts and Song Lyrics.

It hurts!

Everything does. Consider getting thrown into volcano, I think that I'm excuse.

Then there's this voice in my head telling me "Everything going to be ok". Quite please, you aren't my mother too, Mother of all monsters Eve

"OW, that hurt" you shouted. "Could you be any gentler Benjamin? OW". The vampire continued patching you up after a few monsters came after you.

"It's Benny! It wouldn't be like this If you were more careful sis. Who were they and why they, and why were after you?" he asked as he finished his treatment.

"First I prefer Benjamin. Second, let's just say I'm part of the reason that they're here". You stood up and shook your stiffness and continue your journey to find the exit gate.

"You said that the way out of here is by me going through that portal cause why again?" you asked you your companion for the millionth time.

"You're a human. And this place isn't heaven nor hell where you should probably belong sis" he chuckles "It only a place for monsters".

"Ok and you need me to get out of this place. Great! Tell me again WHY I should trust you Mr. Vampire?"

He rolled his eyes and bluntly answered "You won't. First rule sis, don't trust anyone. But you and I know that I'm your only guide to the gate". You said to trust you.

"And it would be a lot faster if it weren't for your ex-enemies that are after you sis. But no need to worry I'll never let them near you" He's right.

You sight "They aren't the one I'm worrying about, they aren't a problem. We better hurry up before it's too late" your only concern is someone he hadn't shown himself yet and that scared you a lot.

"Yeah sis. We better do" he agreed and you continued your adventure.

As you do, you started to wonder again how things turned up the way it is.

Once you were with the Winchesters and Bobby working on a case that involved Dragons. Yes actual dragons. Who kidnapped virgins to God knows where. And when you found their hidden castle (sewerage) thing didn't work out as you expected, one of the dragon had run off and you followed him. As you started to fight with him his hand glow and melt your knife and out of nowhere another one knock you out from behind you. Then the last thing you remember was the heat from the volcano.

Note to self: once you get out of here you're losing you virginity for good this time.

And then Purgatory, the place that you stuck in now, Bobby described it as back side of your worst nightmare; it's all blood, bones and darkness. That filled with bodies and souls off all things hungry, sharp and nasty. Monsters land.

He's right about all. Bloody, messy and nasty. Hell sometimes you hadn't been able to sleep due to fight for your life and it was tiring for you. But with all that there were this feeling pureness.

Every day was a battle field for you, running and fighting for your life. And it doesn't end here no; once you kill a monster they miraculously came back to life to start hunt you again. That was daily Benjamin came and offered you a way out. He'll show you the door and you help him getting his soul out with you. That's the deal and you agreed.

Trees! Oh how many times you had walked by them? Many times you can't count. They're lovely, tall, big and Green! But not these trees. Oh no, as they're creepy, ominous and Dangerous.

Not to expect what's behind them and when you'll be tide on one of them, like the ones that's you and Benny tide on now.

Your fears finally came in front of you in a shape of ex-hunter turned vampire Gordon Walker holding a knife up your throat.

"Hello Gordon, long times no see. And here I was start to wonder when we'll meet again" you smiled nervously as he didn't say a word, and looked at Benny then back to you. A mischievous smile started to creep on his face.

"Rumors these days are nothing but about this human girl who's running around looking for a way out, and at first it didn't peak my interest. That was it until your name came and then my interest was intrigued. And I search for you"

"You see Y/N following you around might made me learn few facts about you, interesting one too"

You frown at him and he suddenly stabbed you; it took you by surprise that you didn't have a time to react to it. You didn't scream or whine like you always do and it surprised Benny. You wound started to bleed and you glared at Gordon, then he moved his knife to see your reaction, to where there was none.

"You see pal, you ticket train here hasn't been able to feel pain what so ever lately..." he then moved his knife and your wound started to heal as usual, "...and also her fresh wound starts to heal miraculously. First I was amazed, but then it came to me your ticket here is expired"

The hell "Come on! I'm a golden ticket Gordon"

He laugh at you and continued "All these times and you haven't asked yourself what's the meaning behind all this, why is this happening to you and how come that the gate haven't shown up till now?"

You didn't say anything and although you were starting to get nervous you stayed calm as usual. You always had these questions in your mind but you didn't dare to know the truths, as you were afraid of them.

Benny looked at you and you avert you eyes away, then he looked at Gordon, "How about you entitle us then, what's your theory to what's happening to her?"

"Oh no, It's not theory it's all truth. Your friend here is no more than a lost soul"

A What!

"Without a body that can carry you out she is nothing more than a mere sprite that can do nothing. An added burden to you"

"And so what! She at least a human soul that doesn't belong down here, and I do intend to use this chance no matter how the low possibilities are"

"That's a brave of you, but tell me what will you do when this chance slip out from you..." he came to you with a razor wire in his hand "...no hard feeling Y/N, but I think it's fair to chop your head off the way you and Sam did to me" And started to pull the ends around your neck.

"I'd dropped this wire if I were you Gordon, or I could say little brother"

A woman's voice creeps behind him; he was surprised by it as he hasn't heard this voice in very long time. And he did what he was told.

"News came up that you were here, and you don't know how amazing this news was not only for me; I mean you ending up here as vampire of all things monsters. They call it an irony Gordon but I call it a Karma you ignorant"

He then spins around to find she and a grope of familiar faces were surrounding him; she then drew her machete and cut off his head.

"And I call this Justice. Get him guys"

Without a word every one jumps at his body and tore him into nothing. She then cut your rope and left you to go.

"As Thanks for letting me find him no one in my group will lay a hand to you both"

And you nodded and you gone.

You started to walk towards the only place you love here, by the river. Everything Gordon said keep coming to you and it left you lost, as you are now.

Look at me, even though I'm a sprite I still ended up here. Maybe I really deserve to suffer even after my dea..

"You're calm!" Benny shout from behind you "I mean you always are, but not to this extent. Consider what he said I'd thought you'd be freaked by now, but you're calm and it started to creeps me out"

You looked at him with sad eyes and said nothing

"I've always think about what he said and I every time I do I got scared of what might happens"

You recalled everything that happen to you here

"I got thrown here and then there was a wanted price over my head. The Eve suddenly back and from what she said turns out everyone think I'm dead and in heaven. And then when we thought that it's finally over and finally found a way out Mr. Dick Leviathan took it with his gooey friends. And now we're stuck here because my body is probably burned. Call it bad luck Benjamin but I don't think your way out is with me"

He looked at you to elaborate "You can go on your own, I won't stop you. But I only have one request, when you'll go tell me before hand so that I will not look for you and worry about you like an idiot" you chuckle you gave him your back.

"One thing I learned while your here is that your pain in the ass sis..." you huffed "... but never a burden to me; in fact you are friend that I can count on and trust on this place, and I won't abandon you just because. Not after I promised that we'll get out of here."

He stood up and gave you his hand which you took it

"So how about you rising up, back on the street. After all I did my time, took my chances. Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet. I'm just a man and his will to survive"

You stopped on you and looked at him "Did you just... sing Eye of the Tiger?"

He looked at you and shrugged then started to walk

"Face to face, out in the heat. Hanging tough, staying hungry. They stack the odds still we take the street. For the kill with the skill to survive" you continued singing with him

It's the eyes of the tiger

It's the thrill of the fight

Rising up to the challenge of our rival

And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night And he's watching' us all with the eye of the tiger"

Both of you sang not caring about anything for now.

It's been two month since you last saw Benny; as pace of werewolf came after you and they got him. You waited for him by the river, but he didn't show up. And you started to get worried; that might be someone after him.

You started to look after him, and after two whole months you found him sound and save.

He was talking with someone about the portal, and you started to get mad. You were looking all around for him and here he is, having the best day of his life with this random stranger.

You immediately run towards him and punch him hard you heard a broking bones

"Ow. Sis what was that for?"

"What was that? What are you? Allergic to giving me peace of mind? I had to look for you for you moron. Couldn't you at least say goodbye"

"Y/N?"

A familiar voice came and you turned fast

"Dean!".

tags:

@mamaredd123 @atc74 @winchesters-favorite-girl @jadangelofthelord

[zombierunfiction]

Season 1 Mission 9: Recovery

Nearly a week later Charlotte had completely healed from her late night run and was slowly getting closer to Sam.  They spent a lot of time when he wasn't watching out for the runners spending time together.  He showed her all around Abel including the closet where they kept the board games that they had found from runs.  

Charlotte actually felt hopeful for the first time since the event happened.  Currently she was sitting in the mess hall talking to Jack and Eugene over bowls of oatmeal.

"So Charlotte how's it going on those runs?  I've noticed our sports bra supply is getting bigger."  Jack said with his playful british accent.

Charlotte rolls her eyes.  "Hey there's a lot of women here in Abel and sports bras are a need."

"Your last run yesturday brought in 8 of them!"  Eugene said being one of the few Americans in Abel.  

"Not my fault."  Charlotte said holding up her hands.  "Besides if i remember correctly Sara brought in several pairs of underware the day before."

Both Jack and Eugene started laughing hard as Janine steps over.   Charlotte had yet to meet her in person but she looked exactly how she imagined the land owner to look.  Dark brown hair with a deep farmers tan that melded well with her green eyes.  

"Runner Five we need you to go on a run."  Janine said briskley.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.  "I didn't hear any annoucement."

Janine rolls her eyes.  "Well now you have so get your gear and let's go."  She said roughily as she walked out of the mess hall.

"Woo... someone has a bee in their bonnet."  Jack whispered as Eugene gently pat Charlotte on the arm.  

"Go on.  It might be important."  Eugene said as Charlotte nodded and quickly walked to the packs.  She got her pack on then grabbed her axe tieing it into her pack.  She put on her head set then walking towards the gate.

"Raise the gates!"  Sam says as the alarm goes off while the gates rise.  "Runner Five, ready... gates are open... covering fire."  The gun shots start to ring out.  "and... go!"  Sam said as Charlotte took off away from Abel.  "So... just checking my mission sheet for your status... yeah, that's not a mission sheet.  You've seen my office or should i say, corrugated iron hut we decided was no good for a latrine, with enough electricity from the generator to power the transmitter, but not enough some days for, oh, I dunno, light?"  Sam said almost bitterly.

Charlotte chuckled.  "You're office is just like you Sam.  A mess but a very organized mess."

"I'll take that with the love that was intended."  Sam says with a grin.  "Did you hear that Janine?  It's okay.  Don't you worry about me Runner Five.  Just trying to keep everything together here while Janine..."  There was rustling around before Sam taks away from the mic.  "What are you doing with the electricity, Janine?"

"Remember, you're in MY house Mr. Yao."  Janine states harshly.

Sam chuckles slightly.  "Yeah, I thought we did away with private property after the whole, you know, end of civilization?  Remember that?"

"I remember this place was my farm house before all of you arrived.  And I remember I am the only one who knows where all the junction boxes are, because I wired the place myself.  So, yeah, those tools we were expecting from the military base would be pretty useful right now.  Any word on that?"  Janine said  sounding rather miffed.

"Ah, yeah... right, right, right... Yeah, so uh... we're sending you back to your helicopter today, see if there's anything you can, uh, find in the wreckage.  And I've got a surprise for you..."  Sam said with a smile as foot steps run over as Sara runs over with a green army hat on that held her hair under her hat.

"Hey there Five!  Remember me, your old pal, Runner Eight?"  

Charlotte shook her head.  "Of course I remember you Sara."  

Sara smiles.  "We're on the road together again.  Isn't that great?"  She says coughing roughily.  "We're making good pace here, Five.  We're heading into hostile territory.  You remember from your first run in?  But if we just keep running, and don't stop for too long at the chopper, we'll be just fine."

"Joy.  Not like I am dying to go back there... besides I jumpped out and parachuted down."  Charlotte said as she jumpped over a stump.  

"I'm pretty interested to see what we'll find in that chopper, you know.  That's why I volenteered for this duty."  Sara said as Charlotte glared at her.

"This isn't about you still thinking I brought down the copter is it?"

Sara looks at her.  "You can't be to careful.  I know what people say.  'Don't think about the past, just keep your eyes on survival' but I-"  Sara started coughing hard again.  "Well I just can't help wondering about things.  I mean, I've got the same problems as everyone else.  Lost my husband and my two boys back when the dead took the east.  Had to take them out myself when they came back.  Only had a shovel to do it with."  Sara said as she ducked under a tree branch.  "I never would have thought I had the strength in me, but you know!"  She laughs breathlessly.  "Like they say, we didn't know ourselves 'til this happened.  You never know what you're capable of."

Charlotte looked at her for a moment before looking ahead of her.  That was an understatement.  She was in the same position.  She had taken out several of her former neighbors when the outbreak first began and it was surprising her reaction to it.  She had none.  She didn't feel anything when she had to take out the neighbors that had welcomed her into their Northumberland neighborhood.  

It distrubed her.

"Well, I won't ask your story.  You'll share it when you're good and ready.  No one's story is ever good, is it, Five?"  Sara asked as they got up onto a small hill that led down a road.  "Anyhow, I didn't expect to wind up somewhere like Abel Township.  For a while there, I thought I might go mad!  But turns out... I can run really fast.  I always ran at school and college back when I was a girl, and that's a useful skill these days.  Useful enough for me to earn my keep... in lots of places."  Sara starts to cough again before taking a deep breath.  "Oh this damn cough just won't quit!"

Just as Charlotte was about to comment the sound of a distant cough is heard.  Both girls stopped and looked around, listening.

"I know I cough loud, but that wasn't an echo."  Sara whispered.

"No... someones out here other than zoms..."  Charlotte whispered back before a groan hit their ears.

"We've got more company!"  Sara shouted as she grabbed Charlotte's wrist taking off down the road as zombies began chasing them quickly.

"Hey Runner Five, Runner Eight - you're out of range for Runner Eight's transmitter, but I guess you can still hear me.  You're getting close to the chopper, and we've got more movement - hostiles behind you, just like we expected, but something up ahead too."  Sam said.

"No kidding Sam!"  Charlotte shouted as she dodged away from an abandoned car following Sara.

"Watch yourselves, because I -"  Sam sighs heavily.  "Janine, is this really nescessary?"

"Unless you want the whole base's electricity to go down in the middle of the night, I've got to replace this wiring right here."  Janine said matter-of-factly.

Sam sighs heavily.  "Yeah, apparently it can't wait.  They're switching off transmission AND scanner."

"So complete radio silence?" Sara said.

"Only for a few minutes!  You're on your own guys, You'll be fine."  Sam consoled.

"Unless we turn on each other, hey?"  Sara joked as the distant coughing happened again.  "Who is that coughing?"

"Okay... I'll be back in just a few minutes.  Sorry about this guys.  You know, if i could it all myself..."  Sam says slowly.

"You've be a very valuable asset to this base, Mr. Yao."  Janine said as static comes over the radio before silence hits them.

The coughing continued then began having a wheezing sound joinning it.

"So we're on our own, huh?  Just as we reach the chopper, and..."  Sara said as they got to the trees where the wreckage of the chopper laid among broken trees.  "holy... is that..."  Sara said as Charlotte looks in horror.  

"My pilot... yes..."  She breathes as she looked back seeing the zoms and seemed to lose interest in them.  They walked towards it slowly.  

"That girl... she's reanimating from the dead right now.  She must have been left half eaten like that, strapped into her seat in the chopper..."  Sara said as the woman was fighting against her seat belt.  Her face was half eaten as she fought hard.  The sound of fabric ripping is heard.  "Now she's... oh hely mary, mother of god!"  Sara said fast.

"Run!"  Charlotte shouted taking off grabbing Sara this time as the pilot broke free of her seat belt and scrambled after them fast.  "Holy shit i thought she died in the crash!"  She said as they weaved through the trees.

"Good thought.   Damn who was this girl?  A sprinter?"  Sara asked as Charlotte lept over a boulder chancing a look back seeing the pilot stumbling after them groaning loudly.

"She was just my ride.  I didn't even know her name."  Charlotte said fast.

"Hey Five.  I've got a plan.  We've got to find out what's in that chopper!  So if you - I know how this sounds, but just trust me -"  Sara starts.

"Yea like that's not the first time I've been told that."  Charlotte said with a laugh.

Sara smirks.  "If you circle round that way, she'll chase you.  I'll head back around quietly to the chopper to see what I can find.  Deal?  Okay I'll catch up to you.  Remember -  the newly reanimated are the quickest.  Run really fast!"  Sara broke off heading in one direction as Charlotte headed off fast.  She heard the pilot running after her hot on her heels.

It took her a bit to finally shake the pilot but after dropping down a small hill and running up the other side.  She jogged over to Sara who was picking at the chopper.  In the distance zombies were groaning and the snapping of branches signalling their approach.  

"I lost her.  Thankfully."  Charlotte said as she took off her bag.

"Good.  Got them!"  Sara said as she was stuffing the electronic equipment into her bag.  "Here, I can't carry all this, you take some."  Charlotte nodded taking the rest of the electronics.  Sara reached in the dash and pulled out something.  "Well, you know what I found back there?"  She pulled it out showing Charlotte's Mullin's Base Military ID.

Charlotte looked at it.  "My ID."  She said simply.  "Still think I'm the one who shot it down?"  She asked almost bitterly.

"It's looking pretty good for you.  There's your picture, there's your military cred.  Guess you're just a raw recruit like the rest of us, huh?"  Sara said as Charlotte gave her a look.

"If being a lieutenant is a raw recruit then yea."  Charlotte said sarcasticly as she reached for the ID only for Sara to pull it back.

"Now, I hope you don't mind, Runner Five, but I guess I'll be handing this to the head of runners when we get in.  Just because, you know, a bunch of us were wondering who you really were, and this... Well this is looking really great for you.  Imagine what I would have to do out there If I'd found someone else's ID in that chopper?"

Charlotte glared at her and stood up zipping up her pack.  "Stop speaking in riddles Sara.  I don't appreciate it."

"Just imagine.  Wouldn't have wanted old Sam to hear that.  He's a good kid."  Sara probed zipping her bag.

"Don't you dare-"  Charlotte said just as static came over their head sets as Sam's voice appeared again.

"And... we're back!"  Sam said excitedly.

"Yep.  Got you all hooked up again back here. Even boosted your signal a bit."  Janine said.

Sam chuckled softly.  "Did I miss anything?"

Charlotte stared at Sara for a long moment.  Sara had started out very suspious of her and even when she found proof, she still seemed hesitant.  And to bring Sam in on this was bellow the belt.

"No Sam you didn't miss anything."  Charlotte said tensely as Sara and her started to jog away from the chopper.

For a bit the two ran in silence before Sara pushed her mic up so Sam didn't hear.  "You know, Five,  I didn't know whether to trust you at first.  i've been in that military base myself, you know.  Never saw you there."  She said simply.  "But I guess people move around a lot.  Yes I was there, well, it must have been nearly five months ago!  Just after the outbreak hit."  Sara said running along the road they took to get there.  "They gave us all these shots, told us it might be a vaccine.  Might be a punch in the eye, you know?"  She chuckles softly.

Charlotte looked at her with a stone face.  The military had taught her that no matter your personal feelings fellow soliders stuck by you.  They trusted you until you gave them a reason not to trust you.  She had done nothing to Sara to warrent the mistrust.

"A lot of people thought they had a vaccine back then.  Remember how they said on the news?  'It's like small pox; it's like rabies!  We'll have a vaccine in a few weeks.'  Yes pie in the sky!  But a bunch of us thought we could make it to family down south.  We'll I guess you know how those journeys turn out.  I was lucky to find Abel Township before I got bitten."  Sara coughed hard again.

"Is this conversation going to continue on or do you have a point somewhere?"  Charlotte asked.

Sara looked over at her.  "I keep in contact with a bunch of those people back in the base, and I guess it's my job to say you and me - we've got to talk sometime, Five.  About Project Greenshoot?"  Charlotte looked at her in shock.

Sara was her contact about Project Greenshoot.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~           < 9 >

Season 1 Beginning

[flauntpage]

The Seductive Allure of French Soccer

The first time I experienced French football was as a 10-year-old. Being born in the nineties, I had missed most of the lump-it-long-and-trudge of the English game. The version I was introduced to was graced by European hot shots, who added flair and finesse to the grit and passion of homegrown British footballers. One morning my dad had left Eurosport on after watching cycling or cross-country skiing, or something equally 'yer da', to go and cut the grass. They were showing highlights of the weekend's fixtures from Ligue 1.

I was immediately captivated. There were players with silver boots and spider web tattoos hitting footballs really, really hard at the goal. The frenetic pace the game was being played at was like nothing I had seen before – and I'd seen Mark Viduka bag a hat-trick against Charlton Athletic. I was used to watching Stephen Carr, David Dunn and Lee Carsley, completely unaware that there was an entire footballing universe filled with incredible kits and players with lightning bolts shaved into their heads. There was Sidney Govou – I'd never before been so excited to watch a man run around a football pitch. It didn't matter that he was stationed on the edge of the D, completely peripheral, inconsequential to the action unfolding around him, because he looked incredible doing it. Enthralled by the highlights, I had left my dad exasperated and angry, banging on the window, demanding I unplug the lawnmower from the inside socket. Sorry dad, not today pal. I'd just found out about Olympique Lyonnais, and they had a Brazilian bloke in red Predator Pulses scoring free-kicks from 45 yards. The front lawn would simply have to wait.

READ MORE: Robert Prosinecki and the Improbable Portsmouth Years

After the programme had finished, I was a changed man. No more Match of the Day for me. Shepherd's pie? Forget it, mum – coq au vin, s'il vous plait. I spent hours looking for a player with a white mohican in a blue-ish kit that I'd seen in incredibly low resolution on a video hidden in the extras menu of FIFA 2003. After exhausting my knowledge of dial-up internet forums and search engines, I finally found my man: it was Serbian forward Danijel Ljuboja. With 34 goals in 123 games for Strasbourg, he was neither prolific nor high-profile, but for some reason, in the incredibly limited customisation of FIFA 2003, the creators had decided to give him his very own hairdo. It was one of the most exciting things I had ever seen. I was hooked.

Historically, Ligue 1 has been overlooked as a top European competition. Consistently ranked below England, Spain, Germany and Italy, it is seen as a breeding ground or stepping stone for young exciting players, but not a final destination. The other leagues have all had their time in the sun: the romance of Italy in the nineties; both the Galactico and Messi/Ronaldo eras of Spanish football; England's run of four successive Champions League finalists in the mid noughties; and the all-German final of 2013, followed by Pep Guardiola's arrival in Munich. But the same cannot be said of France.

In spite of this, French teams have consistently performed well in Europe, and never more so than during my pseudo-footballing/pseudo-sexual awakening to Ligue 1. In 2004, Monaco, aided by on-loan Spanish striker Fernando Morientes, found themselves in the Champions League Final against Jose Mourinho's Porto. Monaco encapsulate the essence of French football more than any other side. A principality dripping with riches, there is perhaps no place more desirable to earn a living. Yet the style of play is at odds with the surrounding lifestyle: instead of meandering yachts and mid morning strolls in the sunshine, the club is consistently electrifying, dynamic, exciting.

It's never been easier to watch French football's brightest young stars in action // PA Images

That electricity has come to prominence again this season, with Ligue 1 sides getting more attention than ever before thanks to global social media and a streaming culture that allows us to watch any game unfold, anywhere on earth.

When a Qatari takeover at Paris Saint-Germain saw unrivalled funds pumped into the club, French football gained some leverage in attracting top talent. The takeover coincided with the arrivals of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Javier Pastore and Marco Veratti, as well as the totemic figures of David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Awash with riches and talent, PSG developed a monopoly in France, much like the Lyon side that secured seven successive Ligue 1 triumphs and captivated me as a 10-year-old. In Paris there were five consecutive titles, but there were also critics. Players who moved to PSG were seen to be cashing in and taking the easy option, instead of pushing themselves and furthering their careers in a more competitive league.

The nouveau riche Parisians attracted top names to the French capital. But this turned Ligue 1 into a forgone conclusion, and arguably diminished interest from further afield. Already down the pecking order of European leagues, France was now seen as another Scotland: one powerful team, a lot of whipping boys.

But this season has proved entirely different. Thanks to their forethought, extensive scouting networks and focus on young players, Monaco and Nice have gone toe-to-toe with PSG. The title is going right to the wire.

READ MORE: Unpacking the Logic Behind Calling a Footballer 'the New Thierry Henry'

The free-scoring exploits of Monaco have seen them bag more goals than any other top flight team in Europe. They are not only doing the business domestically, but are also pulling up trees in the Champions League. Rarely has any team combined the fearlessness of youth with the composure that this side has shown. Looking back through recent footballing history, it's tempting to compare them with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side of the nineties and noughties. They have Thomas Lemar (21), Bernardo Silva (22), Fabinho (23), Benjamin Mendy (22), and Tiemoué Bakayoko (22). But the jewel in the crown is the emerging Kylian Mbappé, who at just 18 possesses a devastating combination of explosive pace, slaloming dribbling and frightening composure. The youngster looks destined to become football's next superstar.

Should Monaco somehow defy the odds and reach the Champions League Final this season, there is a real chance that their success could act as a catalyst to build the profile and attraction of Ligue 1. The last time a French outfit won the competition was its inaugural season: in 1993, a Marseille side containing Marcel Desailly, Rudi Voller and Didier Deschamps overcame one of the greatest AC Milan teams in history, including Van Basten, Maldini and Baresi.

Ligue 1 has always held a special place in my heart, ever since I first laid eyes on Sidney Govou. And for the first time in my life, the tides may be turning in Europe. French football has the chance to stand alongside the superpowers and stake a claim to be included among them.

@TobyDennett for @TheFootballPink

This article was originally published by The Football Pink. You can purchase their latest issue in print or digitally via their website.

The Seductive Allure of French Soccer published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

[three-of-swords]

Don’t Starve rambling.

Under cut for the people on my dash who deserve better. If you’re on mobile, then... I guess I’m sorry, regardless. I tried.

OKAY SO

My camp currently consists of eight improved farms, nine berry bushes, twelve saplings, a bunch of grass, a line of trees around the camp itself, and eight treasure chests full of garbage and live rabbits and stuff that may or may not come in handy later on (including everything I need for the Wooden Thing EXCEPT the Box Thing). The only downside about the location is that the upper and western “walls” are against the “ocean,” so winter tends to bring with it many Pengulls and MUCH lag. I have both my science machine and alchemy engine built, along with one drying rack and a crock pot. Below my fire pit but above the line of trees is a wormhole marked with a sign and a gnome (who has a friend on the other side of the wormhole). This wormhole leads to a small pig village and some spider nests, and is good for quick, emergency escapes.

My camp is set up west of a huge rabbit warren with tons of grass. A little further out than that are MANY bees and tons of flowers and berry bushes, which is nice. I only need to venture that far for flowers, generally, but there’s a fire pit out there in case I need to stay for spider silk or wood gathering.

South of my camp is the graveyard which has already been dug up, yielding tons of crap that’s probably only good for the Pig King (frazzled wires, melty marbles, mismatched buttons, and the like). Around that area is a herd of Beefalo, made smaller by the Deerclops attack I suffered last winter, but growing in size again as the seasons go on. Those Beefalo have been amazing when the hounds come, taking care of them quickly and generally only losing one of their own when a Red Hound bursts into flames. I’ll admit, I’ve grown EXTREMELY fond of my Beefalo. Also there happens to be a neutral Treeguard huffing and puffing around near the graveyard so that’s nice.

On top of that. heading out into the rabbit warren yields a path going STRAIGHT north, through Tallbird territory (eggs and meat for a daring me!) and to the small farm where I found the Metal Potato Thing. There’s a fire pit there, along with a science machine and two chests, and the farm there is always tended. Just in case. The road leading up to the farm also cuts through not just Tallbird territory, but a huge field of rocks perfect for mining.

So with the Wormhole leading straight into spider and pig territory, the Beefalo herd south of me, rabbits east of me, and the area I’ve since dubbed Tallbird Highway, this territory is nearly perfect (except the whole Pengull thing). I have something close to security because of the Beefalo and Treeguard, easy access to food because of my crops and the rabbits, and plenty of storage for my supplies thanks to all the chests. You’re probably thinking (all one of you that’s reading this, probably. Hi Nico.), “Julian, this all sounds quite glamorous, but crops alone won’t help you through the winter!” Well, Probably-Nico, you’re right.

I’m still new to the game, but there are some things I learned pretty quickly. Namely, rabbits don’t go bad until you kill them, dry meat doesn’t start to spoil until you take it off the drying rack, food from the crockpot stays fresh as long as it’s in the pot, and crops do not spoil until you harvest them. Hence the live rabbits in my chests, and the Tallbird eggs, and the full berry bushes and crop fields.

Oh, but Probably-Nico, I know you know me better than that. You know I don’t stop there when I put my skills to use. So you probably won’t be surprised when I tell you that my caution harvesting crops doesn’t begin and end with not harvesting anything until Wilson is hungry. Oho, no. 

You see, Probably-Nico, I’ve learned that certain foods do certain things differently. Most importantly of these, I’ve learned that making a Fistful of Jam with berries in my crockpot can heal your Sanity, and that while all crops are good, pumpkins and eggplant do more for your hunger, and Dragonfruit does a WORLD of good for your health. Which means when I see Dragonfruit or any of the gourds ready for harvest, I don’t harvest them until I have to. Carrots and corn, however, are harvested right away, at least until Winter comes and I need to be satisfied with anything. No, I harvest carrots and corn, and immediately plant more seeds and fertilize them. Then I pray for a more filling fruit to grow before those damn Snowbirds show up again.

Okay, so I have an abundance of crops, and those small morsels of rabbit meat are nice. And Tallbird eggs are swell! But when winter comes, what in the world can I do for more food?

Remember I mentioned those damn Pengulls? I worry about summoning the Krampus by killing them... But I’m gonna fucking kill them, Probably-Nico. I HATE those things. I hate the noise they make, the lag they create, and the nasty, broken, rotting eggs they leave when winter ends. They attack you if they see you attack one of their own, but they’re harmless until you do. So what is my method of disposing of these quacking vermin? Simple. I go right up to them and chase one away, into my camp. There, I slaughter it. More times than not this yields me an egg, and if I’m lucky, a bit of meat. If I do this once or twice a day (minding how many rabbits I’m killing, mind the naughtiness level...), I get eggs and meat on top of what crops I am surviving off of, and those Pengulls dwindle in number.

“Well, Julian, is sounds like you’ll be well fed,” you say, but you sound worried. “What happens if the Hounds come? Or the Beefalo go into heat? Or the dreaded Deerclops comes again?”

Fear not, Probably-Nico. As I’ve said before, the Beefalo make quick work of the hounds, and when I hear them coming, I have a special chest in my camp which holds not just my Beefalo hat and a torch, but a Beefalo horn I can use to summon my friends. In addition, I drop my backpack and leave Chester in my camp so he will be safe from the slaughter. As for the Deerclops, I can’t hope to fight him myself. All I can do is turn to one of my three escape routes. Plan A, I run up Tallbird Highway to my small emergency farm. Plan B, I jump into my wormhole and chill with Mr. Gnome until I’m certain the beast has moved on. Plan C, I grab my Beefalo Hat and horn and shepherd my friends away from the horrible monster, so he doesn’t massacre them like last time.

“Wow, Julian,” you say, so impressed because you’re probably my parabatai and you love me dearly and you’re only reading this because you want to make me happy and you no longer care what I’m talking about because I lost you way back when I mentioned spiders and pig men. I appreciate this by the way, Probably-Nico. You’re very good to me. But you continue, “You have food, you have an escape route, you have everything you need to survive. So what if you die? Won’t it be terrible?”

You’re right. It will be. Luckily, I’ve found a Touch Stone in two different locations, which I’ve heard will revive me should I die. Also, in case my pretending to be a Beefalo and hiding in a herd when I hear dogs barking didn’t clue you in, I do not like danger! Barring a tragic accident with the Deerclops or some equally vile beast, I should be okay. And if I ever get lonely, I have Chester.

And to wrap this up, I’ll tell you a little secret about my pal Chester; he’s holding a Blue Gem in each of his precious lil tummy slots. Come next full moon, he’ll be a walking ice box, which to me changes the game I’m playing from Don’t Starve to Won’t Starve.