#There was some mostly white cat too that like?? Became a snake with wings?? And then said snake disappeared

[eclipsedcrystalstar]

Had a dream where a tumblr friend sent me a video of like?? I guess gameplay of something mentioning that Moon was in it and I watched it and in typical dream fashion it was very confusing and didn’t even have Moon in it. There was that pink spider thing at first. Also you ask whatever’s on the speaker to give you five seconds and then you had to get to a checkered platform within five seconds. Apparently you had to choose between fighting gators or some other name I forget and it kept being mentioned you had to fight one you couldn’t ignore both. Then for some reason everyone were animals and it was a two teams fight? An ape had just kinda stared down a different animal during that and I think after that it became a different dream

[my2phetaliaheadcanons]

Pet Owners Part 1

Owning pets is rare for nations because a true nation’s pet has a bond with their owners as much as they do the land. Many of their pets don’t really have something they represent inexactness, it's just they were there when the nation was born, and they bonded. No one can really explain how they come to find their owners, both parties just know.

Some nations don’t have the nation pet, but instead either found a mythical creature or own regular pets that will eventually die.

America – A big black shaggy dog. Allen has owned Makwa since he was a small child. No matter where he went Makwa would follow. This mini mammoth is very protective of Allen and has bitten Oliver many times. This dog has even followed Allen into war zones. Their bond is as deep as man and dog can go.

He is Allen’s best friend and more often than not the wall he bounces off of. Whether he is venting, planning, or just sleepy mumbling, Allen takes the time to talk to Makwa.

England – Flying Chocolate Bunny (FCB) and Flying Strawberry Bunny (FSB). These mythical evil bunnies are downright monsters. Unlike his 1p that has only one, Oliver has two. Both nations discovered their bunny allies together, but instead of taking just one. Oliver decided to take two. They were found when the nations were about 150 yrs old.

Since mythical creatures have longer lifespans, they aren’t nation pets and die much later than an average pet.

FCB has red beady eyes and is the color of dark chocolate. His wings are shaped more like raptor’s wings and have a white chocolate underside to his wings. FCB often twitches and drools and looks like he is about to eat the nearest piece of flesh. He is known for being wilder and more chaotic, he does some of the dirty work for Oliver by getting physically involved. Scratching and biting Oliver’s victims, slowly driving them mad by wounds made from an unseen force.

FSB on the other hand is much sweeter. She is a light red with small yellow spots. Her wings look like a swan's, and have a light green underwing. Her eyes are small beady and green. FSB looks like a toy rabbit, small and fluffy. She is Oliver’s eyes and ears. She spies on whomever Oliver asks her to and takes the time to ensure that Oliver has whatever information that he needs. When Oliver had many colonies she was the one sent to spy on them. She is quick and knows how to use magic to shorten her fly time.

Oliver loves his bunnies and feeds them a lot of cupcakes and meat. He spoils them with fancy beds and toys. Though he does expect them to earn their keep with various tasks given by him.

Canada – A big white polar bear. Kuma is Canada’s oldest frenemy, over the years they have traded blows and saved each other. The amount of trust these two have is unrivaled by any other nation and their pets. Kuma has been with Canada since he was about a week old. Kuma is a typical adult polar bear with a scar across his left shoulder and it splits his fur.

Canada’s scars on his chest come from Kuma. They got really intense in a fight one day and came at each other for blood. That same fight gave Kuma his scar. Both winded up extremely wounded and ignored each other for a week before making up.

Over the years Kuma mostly follows Matt’s orders. But occasionally Kuma acts like a brat and ignores Canada. Kuma has his own little house outside that Canada built, but he also has a huge mat on the floor inside Matt’s cabin.

Japan – Koi. Like it’s been said before, Japan likes koi. They are beautiful and he owns many. He has been keeping them since he was physically about 12 years old. He has a pond that connects to a tank within his home. It is a huge tank that has all the proper fixings that allow for a comfortable space for his fish.

He invests heavily in the industry and always checks the farms himself when he has the time. Many family farms know of Kurai, at least a fake name he puts out, and newer farms hope to receive his blessings. His name carries a lot of respect and honor for the koi industry and those that don’t meet his standards close shop quickly.

Every so often he will enter his koi in contests. He loves to know that his are the best and has many ribbons from the past ones he has either won or come close to winning.

Germany – A small brown tabby. Luther loves his tiny kitty and spends many a nap with this little baby on his lap. His little tabby is called Winzig and her name is literally her size. Winzig was found by Luther one night after making his way home after a night of drinking about a year ago. She was small and hiding under a box by his apartment. In his drunken stupor, he picked up the kitten without thinking and brought her home. She is actually his third cat.

There were two others he had owned in the past. His first was a calico that was named Schnurrhaare (Whisker). She was very aloof, but they too napped together often. She sadly died in the year 1901. His second cat Axel came to him about 1950 and was a gift from his boss. Axel was a big Mainecoon that looked like a burnt cookie. He acted more like a dog than a cat and Luther loved him. They played fetch together.

None of Luther’s cats have been a true nation pet. So, each one has passed, Winzig is still young and very lively so she has a while still with Luther. Though the other two, Luther has kept their collars and buried them behind his father’s house. He leaves little bits of string on their graves for them.

Rome – This old man had a lion. Not just any lion, the extinct European lion. Mars was the name of this old boy and Rome had him from the time he was a child. At first, Mars was unsure about Rome and chased him. Over time the two became close. Mars didn’t have a huge mane it was more of a gentle fluff around his head and down his chest. His body and head were covered in scars. Mars was known to have a light pale coated rather than the deep dusty color of many of his brethren. He had a regal air about him and Rome cherished his lion a lot.

When Rome passed Mars lived on, but not much longer than Rome. He lived about 5 years while being taken care of by Luciano. Mars being old then, didn’t do much and seemed to enjoy the calm final years that Luciano offered him. He got a bigger and cooler grave than his master did.

Prussia – Alvin is an old destrier and looks like a Percheron. Lightly colored with dark grey boots and muzzle. Alvin has been with Wil since he was born, this stocky little foal just showed up outside and has been with him ever since. Alvin has been Wil’s first pick of steed into every battle that used horses and Alvin like his owner is brave and loyal.

Both master and pet love spending nights together riding through the woods. Prussia gives Alvin lots of training and treats. They are so close that more often than not spend many afternoons together. Alvin is also trained for various horse competitions.

Spain – So we all know this man owns a bull. Idiota is special to Armando even though he won't admit it. When Armando is tending to his fields Idiota is there giving a presentation of an old friend. Many believe that Idiota is a nation pet because of how long he has lived and Spain agrees. As much as he gets angry at his bull being stupid he could never bring himself to part with the bull.

The centuries of being petty with each other make it interesting to both parties. Though in times of danger both have each other's backs. Once during a siege when Spain was young, Idiota was all that stood between him and Rome. Though despite losing, it took Rome impaling the bull and beheading it to keep it from defending a young Spaniard.

Netherland – He has a snake. It’s a simple grass snake that often hangs out with him at home. He loves his little snake and named him Hazel. He says his snake looks like a Hazel. Baas and Hazel go on many adventures when the weather is ok for Hazel. He takes him to the store, to meetings with his boss, and other places. They spend lots of time gathering info on people and just pulling pranks. Baas believes that Hazel enjoys it as much as his master.

 Hazel has a huge terrarium with plenty of space, heating lights, and pools of water. It takes up a whole wall in Baas’ home. It also contains fish and other small creatures that make the tank self-sustaining. 

Baas relates to his danger noodle; in that, he sees himself almost the same as his snake. Both are hidden predators that take care of nasty rats. Which happens to relate to his favorite thing to do with Hazel, feed him.

Austria – A Greater Mouse-Eared Bat, I mean what could be better for him. Austria found Krampus around Christmas time when he heard some noises coming from his attic. Krampus had found his way into the attic and freaked out trying to get out. This caused a tear in his wing, and Austria being surprised by this tiny nightmare.

Austria feeling the spirit of Christmas was compassionate and took care of the bat. First, he forced his way into a vet clinic and had his little Krampus looked at. Krampus's huge tear would heal, but it makes it difficult for him to fly again. That was the vet’s opinion and then went off to call a sanctuary to come and collect the bat. Well, Jon didn’t like that and ran off with Krampus.

Since then Jon has done a lot to ensure his little friend was becoming better. Eventually, the wing healed, but not well enough for flying. So Jon has a little bat that can glide short distances and has a little cave in his home. Krampus gets all the proper nutrition and cleanings.

Though shortly after bringing Krampus home, Jon did call Matt. Matt had some words for Jon when he found out what he did.

Switzerland – This man loves goat cheese, so obviously he wanted goats. He and his 1p own a small herd together that they both manage. Vash does most of the physical labor while Hans makes them look good for competition and takes care of their papers. 

They are all Swiss breeds and earn their keep by giving milk. They have a great life with all the latest things for goat care. Hans even personally watches the new items get installed to ensure that it is done right and that his goats are given something nice. 

Hans pets them often and coos to them as he does. He keeps plenty of treats on hand, to the point all the herd runs toward him wanting treats.

Iceland – Mr. Puffin or Puff as Iceland calls him. This is puffin is nothing like his gangster 1p. He wears a small top hat and monocle. He is much more gentlemanly and often speaks about how Iceland could be better behaved. He often says things like stand straight, address the lady with respect, and so on. Unlike most nations and their pets growing up at the same rate, Puff was an adult when he met baby Iceland. Which concerned 2p Norway, because he could have been some kind of monster trying to destroy his new colony. One of the few times Norway showed concern for Iceland.

Though being the typical expectation for nation pets, Iceland loves Puff. They spend time together going about and causing havoc and attempting to win Norway’s attention. Though Puff still tells Iceland that there are better things to do than pursue Norway, but Iceland wants his brother’s love and acceptance.

Puff does his best to keep Iceland under control and professional, but he fails often. Though he refuses to give up and rather would keep on taking care of his young ward.

[scribblestatic]

The shrine they arrive at isn’t abandoned, but it doesn’t seem to have had as many visitors as others. There are a few people idling around, talking to each other, but none of them look like they’ve graduated college, and it seems it’s just meant for a hangout for the time being. Upon walking up the last stair leading to the flat, brick and stone ground around the shrine, Souma immediately begins horsing around, and Yuji joins in, teasing Kamiko into chasing them. Junpei finds a good place to sit on the stairs of the shrine, Kawaru settling beside him with her hands tucking her skirt to her legs. Izuku instead stands around and looks at the trees. 

The sky has darkened a bit, like it could rain. But it’s still only about 4pm, and the forecast says it’s supposed to be a bit cloudy. Still, it’s rather overcast...Izuku wonders if maybe he should’ve brought an umbrella.

He takes a few pictures of the branches as they reach out and conceal the sky with their little twigs and leaves. 

As he does, he kind of loses track of the people and his cousins, zoning out into his own universe.

The branches look like they’re grabbing for something. Maybe sunlight, maybe the sky. Still, like every year, the leaves turn their yellows, oranges, and reds, like someone’s bled watercolors onto them. Without the sun, it’s not nearly as vibrant as Izuku would’ve liked. Not that Tadao can see yet, but he wants these pictures so he can at least describe them. Because he will.

He’ll describe all his pictures so that the baby boy knows what he’ll one day be able to experience. Maybe.

Hopefully.

“Uhm…”

Izuku pauses as he’s about to take another picture and turns towards the small, meek voice. Just a step or two away, Kawaru stands, looking down at her feet. She fiddles with her fingers, a habit he knows very well.

“I’m sorry. About earlier...with uhm...avoiding you.”

A part of Izuku cringes a bit, but, well, it’s not like he’s not used to it.

“It’s okay. It happens all the time,” Izuku shrugs.

“But! I mean…” Her fiddling turns to twisting and squirming, like she’s uncomfortable but wants to say something so very badly that he can’t help but patiently wait for her to get her words together. “...I just...I mean...when I looked back at you and still...uhm…see, I know a quirkless kid at school. Uhm, we’re friends! I think?”

It’s only now that she gazes up at him, peering nervously, almost expecting.

“Oh...uh...good. That’s good.”

Apparently that was what she was waiting for, because her eyes brighten.

“Right? And, well. I thought...the way I avoided you was wrong. Everyone...everyone deserves a friend. Don’t you think?”

Izuku’s head tilts, then he smiles a little, turning back to his phone. On his screen, there’s the picture he’s recently taken of the bleak yet colorful leaves on the scraggled yet blessed trees. 

“Yeah, I think so, too.”

“You have friends, too, right?”

“Hmm…” Izuku gets back to the camera feature and sees a lantern hanging on a string. He takes a picture of it. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Oh, that’s good! I have two friends. One is Tamaki-chan. She’s really, really smart!”

“Yeah?” There’s a crow pecking at the ground before letting out a caw. Izuku snaps a picture. “What does she look like?”

“Weeeell...she has short black hair, and these really sharp eyes. She also has really round, fuzzy eyebrows. Her quirk lets her turn into a fox!”

Izuku raises his eyebrows at that and turns to look at Kawaru, a sort of familiar, wobbly smile on her face.

“Really? That’s really cool...does she live at a shrine?”

Kawaru gasps, blinking with surprise. “Yeah! How did you know?”

Izuku smiles in return, equally as wobbly as his younger cousin’s. “Well, a lot of people with animal quirks related to some Buddhist and Shinto religion practices became official families that take care of the shrines related to the animal they can turn into. So shrines that worship foxes tend to have a family that can turn into foxes that takes care of the shrine. The same with others, too, like cat gods and such.”

“Whoaaaa… Do you think there are shrines for dog gods?”

“Uhm…”

Foxes were one thing. Cats were another. Dogs were...well. Not well treated, to say in the least. Not as deities, anyway. And Izuku couldn’t really see himself telling a nearly 10-year-old that the main thing that summoned inugami were bloody rituals that involved beheading a starving dog and burying its head under a crossroad so its spirit would become furious and develop into a curse.

He’d found out through some accidental happenstances while researching heroes, leading to a whole afternoon of morose crying and two weeks of bowing respectfully to every dog he came across. He wasn’t about to bestow the same fate to the young girl.

“It depends. I guess.”

Kawaru hums. “Oh…”

When the silence lasts a little too long, Izuku smiles awkwardly and turns back around, taking more pictures. 

There seemed to be a murder of crows gathering. He’d only seen a few before, but more were starting to come in. A few had perched in the trees and were starting to caw to each other. He’d heard a bit about how they communicated and alerted each other to danger. It is interesting to see and hear them, their wings flapping, the branches shaking as they land. It’s something Tadao might like to hear about. He snaps another picture.

“Uhm, well,” Kawaru stutters behind him, “Do...uhm...do you have a friend?”

“Well...there’s Kacchan, but we don’t really talk very much nowadays. He’s...he’s busy. But I do have a...well...I wouldn’t really call him a friend. I don’t know...but. I guess? Maybe? Well.” Izuku smiles, flitting through the pictures on his phone. “He’s someone I really care about, anyway.”

He can feel a presence to his side, and when he looks, Kawaru’s standing closer to him than she has all day. “What’s he like?”

“He’s...really small. Super small.”

“How small?” Her gaze looks past him, into the branches at the crows.

“Like...smaller than you. So small you could hold him in your arms. Well, cause, he’s a baby.” Izuku grins. “His name’s Tadao.”

“Tadao?”

“Yeah.” Izuku finds some of the earlier pictures he took. Ones from the streets earlier in the morning, some from the funeral home and the cemetary, back when the day was brighter and the ground and sky looked much more vibrant than now. “I...I actually found him. In an alleyway. I took him to the hospital and the nurses take care of him now. But they let me visit to help him calm down and sleep. He...he seems pretty attached to me, so I guess that counts as a friend?”

“Uhh huh…” Kawaru says absentmindedly, a small frown on her face. But she’s not looking at him. 

It kind of sends a kick to Izuku’s self-esteem that he can’t keep the attention of his 10-year-old cousin, so his shoulders hunch in, his voice getting a little quieter as he searches the pictures for more things, enough things to make sure he’d have a lot to tell the little boy.

“Yeah. I’d like to think he’s a friend. He seems to think of me as one, too. I hope so. But...well, I like spending time with him. It’s...maybe weird, but he always seems to listen.”

Kawaru doesn’t reply, so now Izuku continues, speaking mostly to himself with his young audience sufficiently distracted by the air. Which is apparently more interesting than hearing him talk. But, again. Used to it. 

Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.

“He… It’s sad, but whenever I first see him, every day, he’s always crying.” Izuku sees the picture of the red bridge he took, a little bubbling stream below it. “But when I’m there, he calms down.” A cat, curled up and nestled by a statue, their eyes closed with satisfaction. “He stops crying and tries to be close to me and...I don’t know. I guess I just…”

“...Uhm.”

“I guess I’m just thinking that…” A group of women dressed in kimonos, white makeup on their faces, their hair in amazing updos. One of the women has eyes like a snake, her second eyelids closed in the very next picture. “I’d be better off at that hospital sometimes. Making sure he’s okay.”

“...Uhm...Izu...Izuku?”

He changes to the next picture, which turns out to be some point where he nearly dropped his phone. The screen is fuzzy and blurred, and there’s no way to tell what’s supposed to be there. Izuku scoffs at it a little and deletes it with practiced ease.

“He’s all alone right now.”

He stops talking when he feels Kawaru’s hand curl in the back of his shirt.

Now that he’s out of his head again, the scene around him seems to bleed back into his consciousness. And the first thing he notices is that the air is loud with the sound of crows.

He blinks out of his stupor and looks up at the sky, just as many other people are, their fingers pointing up in alarm, some people crowding closer to each other or to buildings for safety.

A startling amount of crows have gathered, perched on the trees surrounding the shrine. Nearly every branch is heavy with them, the black wings flapping and beady eyes blinking. The crows heads turn and twist, some hopping along the fallen, dead leaves as they gather in a wide, noisy circle.

Izuku feels Kawaru’s hand curl tighter into his shirt, and he reaches back, steadying her with a hand against her shoulder. He begins to step back, eyes wide, careful so he doesn’t trip the girl using him for shelter.

“Let’s...let’s back up...to the haiden. Maybe...maybe it’ll be okay once we’re near the roof.”

Her forehead bumps lightly against his back in her nod, her voice lost in the cacophony around them, alarming them from all sides.

The crows on the ground hop closer, their feathers puffed out. Up above, the crows puff and flap their feathers, their necks sticking out as more of them join the already loud symphony. Their cries continue to grow in volume until it’s ringing in his head, making his eardrums hurt.

Izuku doesn’t personally know the nuances of bird behavior. He’s spent more time studying heroes rather than that. But it’s alright. He doesn’t have to know.

It’s very clear that the crows have found a threat. Either that, or someone is about to use their quirk in a very, very bad way.

Each step backwards feels like he could trigger a negative reaction, which he wants to avoid more than anything. Phone still in hand, he tries to not take his eyes off of the surrounding crows, fingers moving to try to call the police. He’s not sure if it’s a quirk, but it’s better safe than sorry. Maybe someone else has called, but he doesn’t know, nor would he be able to tell. He’s barely able to hear anything aside from the cries.

The trees are shaking now, the weight of the crows so heavy that some branches bend and sway with their movements.

And suddenly.

There’s one last very loud caw.

Then, in a flurry of feathers and flapping, all of the crows suddenly take flight.

Izuku startles and turns around quickly taking a hold of Kawaru, hiding her smaller body under his as she screams in terror.

[primsgirl89]

More Than Blood 2: Returning once again

So, I will not be allowing Danny and Danielle to keep their memories. There are too many stories where Danny, Danielle, or both remember their time in Amity; it feels a bit overused. BUT! I will allow them to stay Pariah's Bane.

Danielle is portrayed by Emily Rudd.

Danny is portrayed by Cole Sprouse.

The rest of the cast as themselves.

Danielle sat on the porch of the Weasley's home; fear flooded inside of her chest as she stared off into space. Despite it being her favorite time of day, Danielle couldn't focus on anything other than the fear that rippled in her heart. She never felt this much fear- other than when Voldemort was involved- without there being a reason.

Both she and Danny remembered the night when Harry's parents' were murdered by Voldemort. It always sent chills running up and down her spine for hours; the only other time she remembered something close to the feeling was when she was paralyzed by a snake. She only remembered looking into the water she was bathing in; when the next thing she knew she was staring into the slitted eyes of the snake. Danny had been beside her when she had woken up; he had been the one to find her- which she was glad about- and bring her to the medical wing.

Footsteps sounded behind her; she knew those clunky sounding steps. Ron sat beside her- his firey red hair glimmered like a ruby in the early morning light. His freckled cheeks were pinkening from the slight chill in the air. Ron hardly woke up when Danielle would wake, but there were times when they would be the only ones awake. Seems that this was one of those times- he was probably excited since he would be seeing Harry soon.

"Couldn't sleep," Danielle asked her friend. Ron turned to glance at her with his stormy blue eyes dulled to a more grey tone.

"Hardly," Ron snapped. "How do you wake up like this and come out here, every bloody day? It's a nightmare."

Ron is a moody boy, but Danielle didn't mind much. She just giggled at her firey haired friend. Her inky black hair shimmered like an onyx stone in the early morning light. "I supposed you would rather go back inside then?"

She was the closest to Ron out of all the Weasley's, he seemed so comfortable in his own skin, despite always being compared to his siblings all the time. She liked his attitude to most things; she just didn't care much for his quickness to judge others.

Her head rested against his shoulder as she waited for his answer. Ron was protective of her, but she had proven to be just as protective as he- especially towards their family. Hermione though, Danielle had to help her from the purebloods who called her mudblood. She saved her so much, that she became known as Hermione's keeper.

She liked Hermione, but she also disliked her as well- she had her emphasis on logic made her skeptical about accepting anything without proof. It annoyed Danielle so much. Hermione's logic- as most people do- has limits, putting her beliefs before all else at the same time in a way that makes her ignore reality when it contradicts what she believes, no matter how strong or overwhelming the evidence was.

"Could we make breakfast?" Sighing, Danielle gave a small smile. Ron had startled her when he spoke up- she hadn't realized she began to get lost in thought.

When Ron had learned she could cook better than his mother he had wanted her to teach him. It was amusing at first, but Danielle soon learned that Ron wasn't as amused; he took his duty very seriously. If he messed up the red-head would curse up a storm.

"I'd rather ask Misses Weasley if I could floo to Harry with Danny."

Misses Weasley was like a mother to her and Danny- even with Harry- but sometimes it felt a bit unnatural for her to have anyone, other than Danny, to worry about her wellbeing. It isn't that she didn't like it, it was just she found it hard to understand how to respond to such affection.

Misses Weasley trusted her the most, out of the other five teens in the house, and allowed her to use the floo-network. She doesn't use it much, but she wanted to see if Harry was okay. Harry had asked his friends to hide the fact that they were wizards and witches if they ever went to visit him. Everyone, other than herself and Danny, had been found out about their status, so if anyone ever had to get Harry without suspicion; they asked either Danny or Danielle. Mostly Danielle though, which she found a bit odd since Danny was a much more cunning person than she was.

Then again, it could also be because Petunia seemed to want to pair her up with her son- Dudley. She hated to see the boy; he was nothing but selfish, greedy, and very rude. Honestly, she was tempted to just tell the family that she was a witch so it would just stop.

"Want to see your boyfriend," Ron teased lightly.

"You could say that," Danielle responded not paying much attention to what Ron had said. Nor had she seen his surprised look on the redhead's face. "I'm worried about Harry."

Gingerly, Danielle placed her fingers to her freezing-cold scar on her forehead. It hurt terribly, but she knew she felt worse pain in her lifetime- she just can't remember when. She had woken up earlier this morning than she would have normally, she was an early riser- usually waking up just before the first light of the day, but today, however, she had woken up at four in the morning.

She blamed the nightmare she had; not that she remembers what it was about. Danielle had felt the terror that came from her bond with her brother; he was having the same dream too. Danielle had remembered that she had woken Danny up, only to be blasted with his cryokinesis power to her midsection before he had fallen back to sleep. Danny usually slept until ten in the morning, so she let him be.

She wondered if Harry had the same dream as she and Danny. Since he also had a scar on his forehead, she figured the dreams could be connected to the scars.

"You alright, Elle?"

Snapping her eyes towards her friend, Danielle looked gobsmacked for a moment before she realized he was worried because he had seen her touch her scar tenderly. "Oh," she gasped, "I'm, uh, I'm fine."

She had to stop getting lost in thought.

She knew Ron wanted to push more into the matter, but he should know how she would react to his pushing. Ron sighed, grabbing her arm in a gentle hold, "at least eat something before asking. Harry should be awake in another hour or so."

"You are such a mother-hen," Danielle teased.

Rolling his eyes, Danielle was placed in his seat- grabbing yogurt from the fridge placing it down before her. Keylime, her personal favorite. Even she knew not many seemed to like it because of the tart taste, but she usually ate it with strawberries. She didn't even have to ask for the strawberries because Ron had placed a plate heaped with strawberries. Danielle grabbed a chocolate frog, using her pyrokinesis to heat up the frog enough so they could dip the rest of the strawberries into it later.

"Thank you, Ron," Danielle smiled. "I have told you I love you, right?"

"You only ever say you love Danny and me," Ron laughed lightly. They were trying to not wake anyone in the house. His hand reached over to take a strawberry to dunk in her yogurt. "Some times I hate that you got me to like this." With a cheeky grin, she and Ron finished their breakfast.

While she allowed herself to eat, she wanted to fly for a while before the other's in the house woke, but she was grounded from flying because she had gotten mad at the twins and levitated the two high in the night sky as a punishment. Shifting into her ghost-half- she and Danny had the power to turn into ghosts that aren't like the ones in Hogwarts- Danielle sighed in relief when she felt her body become lighter and warmer.

Her grey hoodie and blue jeans were replaced with a black and white outfit. Her hoodie changed from gray to black traveling diagonally down her left side and white on her right. The pants stayed baggy, but it changed in the same way as her hoodie- the white went down on the side of her legs. In the middle of her hoodie was a logo that had a D with ghost trails and the negative space inside it forming a P.

It was relaxing in her ghost half- as if all of her worries would just disappear from the world. Not this time, though, she had her thoughts on something for a while and she was beginning to feel funny about it.

"Ron?"

"Yeah."

Danielle fidgetted as her big blue eyes glanced at his hand, "do you like someone?"

Ron went still, she could feel his stormy blue eyes watching her intensely. A few moments passed before he sighed, "can't say I don't. Why do you ask?"

Danielle felt her stomach flop; she hadn't wanted to think much of what she felt. "Um..."

"Is it Harry?"

Eyes wide, Danielle fought back a gag. Harry looked a lot like her and Danny- she couldn't bother to think of a relationship with someone who looked like her or her brother.

"No way," Danielle snapped. "He looks like me and Danny."

Ron let loose a loud laugh, his hands slapping his knees. "I'm sure you're the only girl not crushing on him!"

Danielle felt her cheeks heat up; her eyes were watching the redhead next to her. "Forget it."

Danielle ignored her friend as she went to her shared room with Ginney- the youngest Weasley in the house- and began to get dressed for the day. She had made plans to go to Diagon Alley to buy herself a pet for the first time- she had gotten permission from Misses Weasley to do so. She often wondered what type of animal she would more than likely get.

Danielle knew from when she went into a pet store for the very first time, she knew that she wanted a cat. Danny wouldn't admit it, but he would like a cat as a pet as well. As the day wore on, Danielle cleaned things around the house- making Misses Weasley very pleased in the process. When ten o'clock hit, Danny had finally woken up.

Danny had a bad habit of skipping breakfast; saying it just bothers his stomach and he would eat when lunch came around. Danielle just found it endearing to see Danny argue with Misses Weasley over something so mundane. In the end, Danny ended up grabbing a bowl of chopped fruits and another smaller bowl of strawberry cream cheese. It didn't take Danny too long to get dressed- even if the clothes were dark in color. He wore a dark blue shirt under a dark grey jean jacket paired with black pants and shoes.

Danny had walked up to Danielle with a small smile on his lips. "Can you style my hair, again?"

Danielle sighed with a small smile of her own- Danny and the other boys would always ask for her to cut their hair. They usually hated when Misses Weasley would cut their hair, it ended up very uneven or it would be turned into a buzzcut.

"Sit down," Danielle said. "If anyone else who wants a haircut better be outside tonight."

The younger Weasley's all gave a happy cheer, happy to be able to have a haircut before the new school year. Danny followed Danielle outside- with a stool in his hold. With everything ready for the younger twin ready to cut her twin's hair, she began to take off the hair on her brother's head. Danny liked his hair short in the back and long in the front- just not dangling in his eyes long; a few strands he could handle. When they finished, Danielle had to get out of her now hairy clothes- she'll wear them again when she is doing the other's hair. With a goodbye to the Weasley's, Danny and Danielle went on their way to Diagon Alley's Magical Menagerie. The trip was silent- both wrapped in their own thoughts.

It wasn't long before they were entering the pet store; various animal noises reached Danielle's ears making the girl smile. They entered the store; money in her purse they began their search for their very own pets. Ironically, Danny followed Danielle into the cat section.

There were a variety of cats. Black, ginger, siamese, and tabby cats were just a few that were in the store. In the back were the kittens, some that had Danielle's heart begin melting from the sheer cute from the aminals. Many allowed her to pet them through the cage, many bit her, but there was one that caught her eye.

It was a tiny black cat with her right ear, paws, and the tip of her tail being white. Her eyes are a bright blue with a stormy blue mixed in. The poor kitten was kept away from the other kittens.

"Excuse me," Danielle said to the woman who was showing her all the cats. "I would like this one."

Danielle was in front of the lonely kitten. The store owner rolled her eyes, "that one had been nothin' but trouble."

Danielle grabbed her wand, said an intangibility spell on her other hand before going through the cage to pick up the small kitten. The kitten was too light, her ribs were easily visible under her fur and Danielle knew the kitten was dehydrated.

"How much?"

"Take it."

Frowning, Danielle took the shivering kitten and placed the cat into her shirt- letting her rest in her sports bra- which conveniently looked like an undershirt with her light blue v-neck. The young raven-haired teen waited for her brother to pick out his pet; she was surprised to see he had gotten a small gray tabby cat with yellow eyes.

Danny had gotten the food as she paid for everything. She was angry at the shop owner to know that they treated a small helpless kitten as they did. Danielle was quick to give the small cat some food and water when they returned home. She started Bella, the cat, off on wet food after getting her to drink some water.

Bella ended up resting in her sports bra, having a fit whenever someone would try to remove her from Danielle. Danielle knew that Bella only wanted to stay with her since her body heat was higher than a normal person's.

"Misses Weasley?"

"I'm never going to get you to call me anything else, am I?"

Misses Weasley was helping her with the lunch dishes, "sorry..."

"What is it, Dear?"

Danielle bit her lip- her eyes grazing towards Ron, who was laughing with Danny with Winter playing with Ron's wand. She wondered if she was being crazy for having these feelings for her friend, one whom she had lived with for most of her life.

Misses Weasley must have followed her line of sight, as she then placed a warm dry hand on her now bare shoulder. "Relationships are a fickle thing. One moment you're the best of friends with someone and the next you are in love with them. What you do about it is what matters."

"I don't understand..."

"You will one day."

Sighing, Danielle handed the last dish to Misses Weasley, "if you say so."

Danielle left towards the couch in the living room, allowing her body to relax to the soft purring that Bella was letting loose. The sounds from everyone in the house mingled together to create a soothing symphony where everything just felt right in the world. Bella would hop up and down every once in a while to drink or eat, but Danielle was becoming so tired that she had fallen asleep.

When she woke once more she had seen that everyone had left the house, nothing on the table- even though it was ten after five- so Danielle began to make some dinner for everyone. She made sure there was enough for everyone to have more if they wanted it. She prepared fried potatoes, eggs, and pancakes- she made her famous gravy for their meal. While Bella was now following her around the kitchen, Danielle felt alone for the first time in a while.

One by one, the Weasley's began to patter back inside the house. Fred and George giggling about something they had done- with Danny high-fiving the two, then came Ron- who went straight to her to watch her over her shoulder.

"Can I help," he whispered in her ear. Danielle would never admit it, but his breath against her ear had her shivering in a pleasant way.

"The eggs," she stuttered. A moment later Harry stumbled into the kitchen's fireplace with a slightly nauseated look to his face. Danielle noticed that he was in terrible need of a haircut as well.

Danny, who was the third one to come back, brought Harry into his room so he could change into more fitted clothes for the boy. Everyone slowly began to enter the home with a hungry look in their eyes.

"That wasn't funny Fred," Mister Weasley shouted. "What on earth did you give that Muggle boy?"

"I didn't give him anything," said Fred, with another evil grin. "I just dropped it. It was his fault he went and ate it, I never told him to."

"You dropped it on purpose," roared Mr. Weasley. "You knew he'd eat it, you knew he was on a diet -"

"How big did his tongue get," George asked eagerly.

Danielle leaned near Ron so he could explain, "Ton-Tongue Toffee."

"Makes sense now," Danielle whispered back. Her head turned slightly- not knowing just how close their heads were- her lips accidentally brushes against Ron's cheek. Quickly, so as not to pay more attention to Ron, Danielle began to reach for the plates. Hermione had rushed down the stairs, rushing to give Harry a hug; almost knocking him off of his feet.

"Harry!"

"So," Danielle asked loudly; quickly breaking up the conversations, "how about we eat first, then I can get started on everyone who needs a haircut. That way you all can do this so I am not in range of the yelling?"

As everyone settled at the dinner table, Ron was helping her bring all the food there, but being as clumsy as she was, Danielle fell forward. The pancakes went flying in the air and quickly being saved by Danny. Danielle blushed heavily as everyone laughed good-naturedly at her poor balance.

"Well," Ron said lightly, "at least she isn't face to face with a spider."

"Oh," Danielle huffed, "belt up, Ron."

Everyone dug into the food, giving compliments to Danielle and Ron. The meal was over in less than fifteen minutes; so Danielle grabbed the clothes she wore when she cut Danny's hair that morning, before heading outside so that she could begin to cut hair. Ron was the last one, and Danielle was glad he was the easiest to do.

When she finished, Danielle sat beside Ron and ended up laying her head on his lap as she watched the sun begin to set. She felt relaxed after a long day, she could hear the yelling coming from Mister and Misses Weasley, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

Ron's big hand began to pet her hair away from her face. "Let's head in, yeah?"

With Danny, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and herself; Danielle walked into Ron and Danny's room. Danielle made her way towards Ron's bed as he had also sat down as well.

"What are Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?" Harry asked as they climbed.

Ron and Ginny both laughed, although Hermione didn't. Danny and Danielle couldn't stop the small giggles that came from their throats.

"Mom found this stack of order forms when she was cleaning Fred and George's room," said Ron quietly. "Great long price-lists for stuff they've invented. Joke stuff, you know. Fake wands and trick sweets, loads of stuff. It was brilliant, I never knew they'd been inventing all that."

"We've been hearing explosions out of their room for ages, but we never thought they were actually making things," said Danny.

"We thought they just liked the noise," Ginny finished Danny's sentence.

"Only, most of the stuff - well, all of it, really - was a bit dangerous," said Ron, "and, you know, they were planning to sell it at Hogwarts to make some money, and Mum went mad at them. Told them they weren't allowed to make any more of it and burned all the order forms. She's furious at them anyway. They didn't get as many O.W.L.'s as she expected. "

O.W.L.'s were Ordinary Wizarding Levels, the examinations Hogwarts students took at the age of fifteen. Luckily they had one more year before they had to take the exam.

"And then there was this big row," Ginny said, "because Mum wants them to go into the Ministry of Magic like Dad, and they told her all they want to do is open a joke shop. "

As Danielle laid herself on Ron's bed, she allowed her eyes to close- to everyone in the room they had thought that Danielle had fallen asleep.

"You know," Ron said lightly, "Elle won't admit it, but she had been spacing out a lot recently."

"So," Danny sighed, "you've noticed it too?"

"Keeps touchin' that scar of hers. I know it's hurting her."

Danny and Harry touched their identical scars, "why do you suppose that happens?"

Ron shrugged, his eyes never leaving Danielle's form. Harry noticed. "Why don't you just ask her already?"

"We aren't ready."

[supernoondles]

2019

The last day of 2019 was also the day I fainted for the first time--a fitting metaphor for the year.

2019 was overall very emotionally taxing. This year was emotionally defined by falling intensely, deeply in love with someone (who is a very private person so I will try to be vague to respect that) and being in a lot of pain because of situations mostly outside of our control. There were a lot of intensely joyous moments, and a lot of intensely sad ones. Throughout it all I wish I had communicated better. I also made some bad decisions with another person I really loved and cared about that resulted in us growing apart. Do I think I grew from the experiences? For sure. Do I wish I could have come upon these realizations through a different course of action? Also yes. Am I fully healed from the experiences? Not really, but I've been getting better.

2019 was also very bad in terms of research. It was the 2nd year of my PhD. After I submitted my rotation project I basically felt stuck in the swamp of my advisors rejecting new project ideas for like literally half a year. This, combined with my high emotional volatility (partially due to starting birth control), made me really sad, unmotivated, and susceptible to self-blame. I definitely had high expectations for myself and became frustrated at my lack of progress and felt a lot of pressure from myself to get my shit together. I also felt incredibly bad after most advisor meetings and not supported by one of them to the point where I had to have a conversation with him about the lack of support (which was very scary)! Things started picking up, though, near the end of the year. I published a paper in collaboration with a former post-doc/now professor elsewhere whom I learned a lot from, and started finally building out another system. I also started mentoring an undergrad who at some point told me I helped him feel like he had something important to say and belong at Stanford for the first time and those words meant a lot to me. I think I'm continuing to refine what I value as research contributions and increasingly think about what it means to build systems that aren't used outside of the lab to satisfy the annual conference publishing cycle. I'm also starting to feel the pressure of doing work that follows a narrative rather than random projects that interest me.

Oh, I guess in terms of "program requirements," I did finish taking required classes, passed qualifying exams, and got a master's degree. But honestly those weren't hard at all nor do I think are externally valued in the larger research community, so I don't really celebrate them as accomplishments beyond surface level.

In 2019 I saw two different therapists. The first one was awful, I think directly influenced some of my bad decisions, and also didn't respect my gender identity??? The second one is a lot better and I'm grateful to see her, even if 90% of our sessions are just talking about my relationship (romantic/advisor) issues, which is something I want to move away from in the future. But I also feel incredibly privileged when relationship issues are the primary stressors in my life--I am grateful I feel equipped to handle other crap, like deadlines, and don't have to worry about my own health.

Those were the main things that have colored this year. We'll now move into the section of this post where I go through my photos to jog my memory of other events.

New years started a tradition of getting dim sum with Jasper, Matthew, and Michelle dear to my heart. My high school friend was also visiting and we all attended a really awesome new year's eve party. I was also going on a lot of dates and having a lot of good sex, which made me really happy, and at the same time crying all the time at work. In February I received probably the best gift anyone has ever given me and saw Panic! at the Disco, which I said in an end of the year group meeting was a good memory of my year (it was, to relive my scene days!). In March I roadtripped both to Marin (which I had never to been before, despite all my years in the bay) and LA for Wondercon; it was nice to both see high school friends and go on a trip with the boo. In April I went on a hike with my office which was probably the start of us all becoming closer (we are the social office in the wing now, which I take pride in! Also we draw a lot of Pokemon which warms my heart). In May I went to CHI in Glasgow and then to Paris afterward, and the entire experience was very weird and bad and also too many flights were canceled and/or missed and I vowed to not return to Europe for a while, but man do I love the noodles at Trois Fois plus de Piment. In June we hosted a double apartment party with my downstairs neighbors (side note: I am really appreciative of the place I live in, for the community, convenience, and large-ass space and will be really sad to be kicked out fall 2020) and I started a friendship important to me. I cat-sat for my advisor (the one who doesn't make me feel bad) twice. I went to Redwood State Park with my family and hosted a summer solstice celebration. Over the summer a friend I met in Paris back in 2017 moved in with me. I had a much needed escape from the bay to Seattle where I was reminded how abundant the world can be. I also went to Tahoe to celebrate my parents' anniversary, and really liked stumbling upon a smaller lake with a cheap boat rental. Then I became FOMO about the highly competitive Bay Area camping and did a last minute walk-in at Redwood Basin in Santa Cruz, which made me realize that I don't actually love camping (but was nice nonetheless). I ate an expensive meal at Commonwealth before they closed. For my birthday we made a friendship quilt and I served my favorite dish of cumin lamb but it was also 90 degrees in my apartment (I felt really bad and bought two fans afterwards). I started buying many cartoon frog plush after being gifted a $3.99 on sale Safeway frog (called Baby!). I went on Tinder dates (one of which was at a quaker yard sale marketed as Harvest Festival where I got a 1970s Kermit puppet for like $2) that largely went nowhere. My high school friend visited and we were both sad about break ups. I did Inktober before I went to New Orleans for a conference on Bourbon St where everything felt like it was coated in a sticky film of alcohol. I almost missed my flight home because I fell asleep in a sculpture garden but I had the most amazing Uber driver who snaked his way through traffic (oh and the flight was delayed by like 3 hours). I went to kind of embarrassing haunted houses and pumpkin patches over Halloween, but also had the most incredible bowl of ramen at Mensho. My whole office dressed up as Zootopia characters which warmed my furry heart. I spent like $120 on a Pokemon shirt. I started playing Arkham Horror and rekindled another friendship important to me. In November went on a road trip to Big Sur because again, I had to escape it all. For Christmas Eve dinner I roasted a duck for the first time (which was delicious). Shortly after I waited in line for 2 hours for a rollercoaster at Great America, which taught me the value of buying a fast pass because at this point in my life that money is worth it, and then waited 2 hours in line at the DMV to get a RealID (I had made an appointment, which was the fast pass).

Okay, now we move to the hobby section!

I got really into sewing in 2019, having received a sewing machine last Christmas. I made a Judy Hopps (which I wore to CrunchyRoll Expo) and Korok cosplay (Fanime), several unsuccessful garments, a crab bean bag, a dice bag, a fanny pack, and put hearts nipples on a jumpsuit.

Shows! I think I went to way fewer shows this year. The ones I can remember are Elephant Gym, Thom Yorke the night before I had an 8am flight, Carly Rae Jepsen over pride weekend (also, she is my #1 artist of the year, which makes a lot of sense given my emotional space), Mitski at Stern Grove, Capitol Hill Bloc Party (which was super lame, except for Lizzo, where I cried), and the National (which was a fucking surreal experience as they played on Stanford's campus, I was the only one within earshot of myself who knew the words to Crybaby Geeks, and then the white catalog moms came up to me after to thank me for singing the song).

I also started playing my own music! I started playing viola again for the first time in 7 years (lol) in both pop-up concerts with the Awesome Orchestra (one in Golden Gate Park, one at the Exploratorium) and a string quartet through my school. Sometimes I am filled with joy and delight. Other times interpersonal tensions run high and also I am very bad at being in tune. It's life.

Media! I really liked Mob Psycho 100 Season 2 and Beastars. I feel like those were the only notable anime I watched this year? I saw the Farewell three times--first in Seattle where I sobbed for like 1 hour after the movie, the second time with my parents, and the third where Awkwafina was present for a Q&A. I thought Parasite was incredible and Promare was OK. I have spent an unfortunately large amount of my time playing Pokemon Masters. I finally beat BOTW and completed my Pokedex in Shield like 2 weeks after getting the game.

Resolutions! In my draft of my 2018 end of year post (which I never polished and posted, sorry), I said my resolutions were 1. come out to my parents 2. draw enough to table at an anime con 3. be disciplined about paper reading and have a doc. I did none of these things!!! However, for 1, I feel like I am well equipped to have this conversation but am waiting for my sibling to do it first out of respect. 2 was just bad. I barely drew this year except for gifts. 3 was okay--I did have a large doc in the beginning of the year when I was looking for ideas, but as time went on I abandoned it (I also stopped reading papers, which I don't think you're supposed to do as a grad student...)

My resolutions this year are phrased as intentions (-(c) Matthew). They span several categories. Relationships: I want to open myself to and actively seek experiences of love, because I miss that. That being said, I will only date someone if 1. they have their life together 2. they love themselves and 3. they challenge me to grow. (I do think you can experience love without dating; the thing I'm after is love in an expansive sense.) Work: I want to do enough work so I don't feel guilty about not doing enough work, and also not berate myself for taking a long time to do things. Hobbies: I want to sew at least one thing a month. Chinese: I want to improve my Chinese, especially pronunciation.

Having written this 20 days into 2020, it's not been so bad so far. But I was also really happy in the beginning of 2019. Here's to no global maxima, a monotonically increasing year!

[kittycatgundam]

Odd Omens

Chapter 1

Angels and demons, good and evil is there ever anything in between a gray area? This question had my head spinning for a long time. Life is just weird most of the time.

I believe it just the way thing work and went on with my life. If only life was that easy. At least my life.

But no my life a pile of complicated shit. I wouldn't wish my life on my worst enemy.

Okay that's enough renting now I'll tell you my story.

For a long time I didn't have a name. You see my earliest memory is of a garden. Not just any garden no. It all started in the Garden of Eden.

Yep, that garden, the one with Adam and Eve.

My parents were both angels.

Wait, I hear you angels can't have kids can they?

I'm not sure myself how it happen but my parents found a way. I wish I could ask but I can't you see they are dead. Now were was I ... oh yeah the garden.

It's this garden were I was born. I bet you think I was born a angel with white wings on my back. You're only half right. My left wing is white but my right is black.

But how I hear you ask. Well, like I said both my parents were angels but my mom end up becoming a demon while she was pregnant with me. Get the picture now.

So I'm half angel and half demon. Cool huh, not really.

If you know anything about heaven and hell they don't like anything that they think might overpower them and that were I come in. You see I was seen as a threat to their power.

I think you might be getting the picture I think.

My parents hide my very existence so I would be safe. Of course any parent hided there kid from danger everyone know that. But how do you hid a kid from a god who can see everything. It's not easy let me tell you. Let's just say god was too busy with what was going in his garden. Untill my parents were found out to be in a relationship.

While I was in hiding I never saw but one of my parents at a time it was safer that way.

So I never went out into the garden you ask. Well you see I did go out to the garden and I made a couple of friends who mean the world to me. If you can call them friends. Maybe they are I'm not sure.

The first I met was a snake. He was in one of the trees. I went up to the snake and pet his head. That right I was not scared at all that the snake might bit me. I never need to be scared at any of the animals in the garden they were all really nice to me.

This snake had beautiful eyes and was so cool looking. He even talked to me. Yep, animals can talk in the garden but then again it might been that I could talk to them I don't know.

"What are you doing here? Who are you?" The snake ask me.

"I live here this only place I know. I don't who am, I don't even have a name you see. I just know I like you and that all I know." I told the snake.

"I see." Said the snake.

After that I would come see my snake friend ever now and then but one day he disappeared. I couldn't find him anywhere but I did found someone else.

An angle was standing by the tree that snake would be in when I came to see him. He look nice and maybe he knew where my snake friend was but I couldn't let him see me or anyone see who I really was so I had to change my appearance into something that was not out of place. I turn myself into a fox.

"Well, hello there little fellow." The angel saided to me.

I growled at him. "I'm a girl not a boy." I informed him.

"Sorry, about that you all look the same so it hard to tell. What a minute did you just speak to me?" He said as he was take aback by a fox talking to him.

"Yes, is that weird that I can talk?" I ask him as I sat next to him.

"Well, it can be sometime but you might be special. So why are you here?" He ask me.

"I'm looking for my snake friend he gone and I can't find him anywhere. Do you know were he is?" I ask him.

"Sorry my dear I don't where he is. You'll found him one day I bet so don't give up." He told me.

Since that day I would go to the tree and talk to the angle. That was untill a thing happen you know what the thing I'm talking about.

On that day is the day my parents die. My dad was with me that day. He had two piece of fruit from one of the trees from the garden. The fruit were the tree the I meet my friends at to talk to them. I didn't know what was going on. He told me to take the fruit and run. This is the last time I would ever see my dad ever again.

I run untill I found another cave to hide in. I ate both of the fruit. I decided the best way for me to survive was to become a fox and that what I did.

The garden was no more, my parents were gone, and friends were no were to be seen. The truth was I was now alone. I thought I would stay alone for eternity.

I was so wrong. You see life funny that way when you think your life will be one way it never stays that way. I did change onto turn my human form sometime. Just looking for the for the best way to survive.

On that note I have many form but I mostly use 5 forms. Forms one: my real form which just my white and black wings along with my actual eyes that are silver in color and look more like cats eyes then human ones.

Form 2: a fox with reddish blond fur coat and a fluffy tail. The form that I'm in most of the time. I usually only change out of this form if it's foxes mating season.

Form 3: swan is a form I don't really use but I love going to a pond or lake and changing into my swan form and going for swim and there also the flying of course I can't forget that. It's the best feeling in the world flying on one own wings. Better then going to some airport and jumping on a plane that for sure.

Form 4: snake form is a form I rarely used. It's not that I hate been in this form not at all but a white opal color snake with silver eyes doesn't seem like very good camouflage does it. Beautiful yes great for surviving nope.

Form 5: my last form is my human one of course. My human form has reddish blonde hair, bright blue normal looking eyes, and freckles lots of freckles. The only thing I change about this form is that fact of look like a man or a woman. I only been a man when it was easier for me to find work. Oh yeah I don't date. The companies great but the rest of it I can do without thank you very much. I do try to save as much money as I can it better to have some stashed away just in case. So I lots of mony in alots of banks. In truth I probably couldn't spend it all even if I tried.

I readed lots of books. Love stories, Mysteries, fun stories, and stories about different cultures. You never know where you'll end up. It helps to brush up on a local customs so you can blend in. My favorite stories are The Swan Princess and The Ugly Duckling.

I have one tiny problem two actually. My accent and my charisma. The more I stay at one place more my accent begins to adapt once it does it hard to change it. Then there my charisma, it make thing easy sometime and harder other times. Like I said I'm not interesting in dating. I mean I trying to stay under Heaven and Hell radar here. I also don't stay in one place long enough for that sort of thing.

One day I went to a theater in London since those were now becoming popular to watch a new play by a new guy call William Shakespeare. The play was call Hamlet.

I watch the play and noticed two men in the front, one look like just like the angle I met in the garden many centuries ago. The other guy he was with I didn't know.

They were watching play too. They were whispering to each other. What I didn't know what they were talk about since I was to far away to hear untill I hear the guy who look like my angel friend try to cheer on Hamlet. I think he was ask what his friend thought about the play because he then told them that the guy I didn't know was not his friend. I just roll my eyes at this.

Why are you talking to him if he not your friend. You seem like you know him. I left the theater and became a fox again.

I don't like deal with people. Humans have too much of a ego sometime. I went back to been in my human form once again. Why you ask me because sometime I'm too curious for my own good. Sometime I like to eat food even though I don't need to, listening to music is always good, looking for a good book, or just see how the world changes. I never need a reason to be either in my human form or my fox form.

And so the world changes from one century to the next. New thing pop up everwhere citys, cars, tvs, and phones.

Yes, I have a smart phone who doesn't these days.

I was in my human form. I been in my human form for awhile now. I just try to survive so I had to adapt to my surroundings.

One day I took a walk in St James's Park. I very fond of this park. It has a pond to bad it's duck pound. Duck can be such bullies. I was walking to the pond when I noticed I was being followed by some guy. Great, this is not what I need today. Oh by the way I decided to make my human form a woman from now on. I was try to lose the guy who was following me but I couldn't shake him.

"Damn!" I said under my breath.

I need to stop guy from following me. If I couldn't shake him the next best thing to do was to find some people to talk to which work most of the time.

I saw two guys setting on a bench feeding the ducks. Perfect, just what I needed to get this stalker to leave.

One guy setting on the bench had white hair and his friend had dark hair. I walk along the pond and wave at them.

"Hi guys, fancy meeting..."

I didn't get finish this sentence because I didn't know where I was going and was too close to the pond. I slipped and fell right into the water. I was now wet from head to toe. I looked at my stalker to white who seem to be worry if I was ok but dark just look at me like he was thinking how much more stupider can this girl get. I blushed at this and looked away.

The stalker and white seem to be getting ready to come to my rescue but stop because dark had beat them to it. He stood in fornt of me offering his hand to help me up.

"Here let me help you miss." He offered.

I give him my hand and he pull me helping me up but as soon as I was up on my feet dark took this opportunity just to sweep me off my feet and carry me out of the water and to the closest bench.

I held on to dark as he carry me. I saw my stalker was not happy and stormed off.

"You need to be more careful miss." Dark warned me.

"Ok." I manage to get out.

My attention was now on dark. He was hot, like male supermodel hot! He was tall, strong, and wore very stylish clothing which I bet now needed to be taken to the dry cleaners which I was probably end up paying for.

I try keep myself from look at him. It didn't stop me from smelling his cologne which smell really good. I held on tighter to him. My chest begin to tighten as well. I started to think happily that I wouldn't mean if dark never put me down.

Before I knew it I was setting on the bench. White came to see if I was hurt. Dark bend down and gently took my high heel boot off. He move up the pants leg of my jeans and took a look at my left ankle.

"She did a great job of twisting her ankle." Dark told white.

"Look really bad, don't worry my dear we take to the hospitals. You poor thing, you're shaking! Crowley give me your jacket so she can warm up." White said worryingly.

"No." Crowley said angrily. "We are not take her the hospitals. I'm not letting her set a foot in my Bentley so you can forget about it Aziraphale. If you want to help her get on your phone and call for someone else to help her."

"But she hurt, wet, and cold. I'm not going to just stand by and wait for someone else to help her. Look now you are scaring her. Don't worry miss Corwley may look all mean and scary but deep he just a big soft teddy bear." Aziraphale said try to reassuring me by patting my shouder.

Crowley shot him a look of pure anger. If looks could kill this one would have.

"Fine!" Said Crowley angrily. "Here, wear my jacket. I'm going to pick you up and carry you to the car ok?"

I nodded that I understood.

Once again Crowley pick me gently and carry me to his car. I rested my head on his chast has his cologne hit my nose again. I was started to having weird feeling. I was warm, safe, and happy in his arms. Yes, there were alarm Bells screaming in my head but I didn't care.

Aziraphale open the car door so Crowley could sit me down in the front seat of the car. Aziraphale got in the back seat and Corwley got into the driver side.

Crowley's driving can be described like he was in a car chase like in the movies. He was going 90 miles per hour which I knew wasn't speed limit in central London. I thought I was going to die on the way to the hospitals.

Thank to Crowley driving we got to the hospitals in no time. Crowley park the Bentley as close to the hospital entrance that he could get. He got out of the and came to my side and open the door.

"Put the jacket on and put your arms around my neck." Cowley said as he getting ready to pick me up again.

I did as I was told.

"That a good kitty." Crowley teased me.

"Just to let you know this kitty got claws! I might scratch you." I teased him back.

He stop and put his face close to mine.

"I wouldn't mind some scratching and bitting a little later after this if you catch my drift my little sex kitten." Crowley whisper teasley in my ear.

I turn bright red and try to hide my face.

"Damn you to hell!" I mumbled.

"No thank you, been there not a fan." Crowley mumbled.

Oops guess he heard me. Damn I need to work on my teasing game. Wait, what am I saying!

Been carry by Crowley I could tell that had he great body. Oh my god, I just want to shut my mind off. If you were thinking my imagination was running away with me with thoughts I dare not mention you would be right. I wish I wasn't immortal because I just wanted to die.

And Crowley was enjoying evey minute of torturing me.

We found a seating area and Crowley sat me in a chair. Aziraphale went up to the fornt desk to tell a nurse about my twisted ankle. Crowley set next to me. There a noise as my stomach rumbled.

"Are you hungry? I can get a treat as long you keep been a good kitty." Said Crowley enjoy this a bit too much for my taste.

"I'm little hungry but I can wait you needn't worry about me." Told him as I looked round the rest area so I didn't have to look at his face anymore.

This first time someone was make me hissing mad. I wish he just stop.

Crowley walk off and disappeared for a while. Aziraphale sat down on the chair on the other of me.

"We might be here awhile. Were did Crowley go?" Aziraphale wondered.

"I don't know and I don't care." I said as I folded my arms in front of me.

"I'm guessing Crowley been have some fun picking on you. I can tell him to stop if it annoys you." Said Aziraphale.

"No, that ok."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep, I'll just ignore him when he tries to pick on me again." I told Aziraphale and give him smile.

Aziraphale didn't seem so sure about it

Crowley finally came back and sit down next to me.

"Here!" Crowley drop a bag in my lap.

I opened the bag and inside was a sandwich, a bag of crisps, a couple of candy bar, and a coke.

"You didn't have to but thank you Crowley." I said happily.

I guess he really can be a nice guy not just a jerk.

"Well, later we can just ask the vet what kind food our little kitty should eat." Crowley tease me again.

"Crowley, I think that enough teasing her." Aziraphale told him.

"Here I through there hope for you become a better man but I guess even I can be wrong." I tease Crowley.

"You not helping yourself my dear. You might want to stop egging him on." Aziraphale try to warned me.

"Sorry I can't be a better man but maybe later you can find out what I really am." Crowley patting my head as he said this. "And since you're been such a good kitty we'll go buy you a catnip mouse. What do you think Aziraphale?"

"I think you two are out of your minds." Azriphale took out his phone and started to ignore us.

I ate the food Crowley gave me and hug Crowley jacket closer to myself.

I guess Crowley through I was getting cold because he put a arm around me and pull me closer to him to warm me up. I was almost in his lap. I smell his cologne again and I put head on his shouder. The smell of Crowley cologne seem to make me relax and I fell sleep. By the way I don't need to sleep but I do fine it help me to distress and cleared my mind. So I do sleep from time to time. Same with eating since I don't need to.

"Come on wake up, or do you want me to wake you with a kiss like in that stupid fairy tale." Crowley whispered in my ear.

" Eww, no thank you." I was grossed out at the thought of Crowley kissing me.

"You two stop that." Aziraphale warned us to behave ourselves.

A nurse came up to us with a wheelchair for me.

"Get in and I will wheel you to an examining room miss." The nurse said.

Crowley pick me up and put me in the wheelchair. The nurse wheel into a examininh room. The doctor came a few minutes later and examine my angle. Told me what all doctor will tell you about a twisted ankle. Stay off of it for a few days and let it rest. Also put some ice on it.

I was wheel back to rest area after I paid the bill.

Crowley and Aziraphale were waitting for me.

"Doctor told me to stay off my ankle for a few days." I told them.

"Tell us were you live and we will take you home." Asked Aziraphale.

I look down sadly. I must have worry Crowley a bit too.

"You don't have a home do you?" Asked Crowley.

"What?!" Aziraphale was shocked.

"I had a flat I share with a flatmate. My flatmate was a guy and he kick me out because I wouldn't go out with him." I told them. "But it ok I can alway stay at a hotel untill I fine another flat no big deal."

I try to get up out the wheelchair but Crowley stop me before Aziraphale could get to me. He pick me up out wheelchair.

"Hey, put down I can walk on my own you know." I told him.

"Stop, bad kitty! Stop acting so proud. You are staying at my place and I'm not take no for answer." Crowley yell at me.

Aziraphale look at me sadly. I couldn't get any words to come out. Why is Crowley been nice to me? I didn't trust anyone. I been alone for so long. Part of me want to trust them. I guess even I in my long immortal life get lonely.

[justadram]

Meta Monday: Dragons

“Dragons are fire made flesh, and fire is power.”--Quaithe to Daenerys in A Clash of Kings

In honor of all things ghastly, this week we’re talking about the fantasy genre beast to end all beasts, the dragon, and examining its role in ASOIAF and medieval history. Good or bad, it’s not entirely clear yet the role dragons will play in Westeros, but one thing is for certain: they feature heavily in modern fantasy and have been the stuff of nightmares for centuries.

Indeed, the presence of dragons in modern fantasy is one of the biggest holdovers from the medieval imagination. Medievals loved a damn dragon tale. You could talk dragons with just about anyone in Western Europe, and they’d know what you were yammering on about. What a dragon looked like, however, differed from place to place. Some of them were snake like creatures that slithered and killed via constriction, some had limbs and wings, some spewed venom, others fire. The Beowulf dragon, for example, is serpent like. The Norse Fáfnir is a slithering, venomous serpent too. While Chrétien de Troyes’ Yvain slays a fire-breathing dragon.

The main types of dragons were the Continental dragon or fire-breathing dragon we all know that inspires modern fantasy writers, the mostly wingless Lindworm of Germanic tradition, the limbless and wingless Germanic sea serpent, and the two-legged and winged wyvrn.

A variety of dragon-like creatures can be found in ASOIAF as well. The wyvern is a dragonish beast from Sothoryos that doesn’t breathe fire, but is still one of the reasons that continent is sparsely populated. The firewyrm, on the other hand, is a wingless fire-breathing underground creature, which tunnels through earth and stone. Additionally, there are two legendary species: sea dragons and ice dragons. The former might still be found in the Sunset Sea; the latter in the Shivering Sea and White Waste.

The ice pressed close around them, and he could feel the cold seeping into his bones, the weight of the Wall above his head. It felt like walking down the gullet of an ice dragon.--Jon Snow, A Storm of Swords.

Depictions of scales, four legs, wings, and fire breathing are the norm in modern fantasy. GRRM’s dragons differ in one key area: they have two legs and use their wings in the same way a bat does--both to fly and as forelegs. Another agreed upon detail from the past and our present is dragon size: they end up big, but they start out small. Daenerys’ dragons start out the size of cats and firewyrm brood are the size of a human arm. Likewise, the dragons in Ragnars saga loðbrókar (hello, Vikings fans) start out small enough to be put in a jar. All end up large enough to do major damage. Many modern fantasy and medieval dragons are also treasure hoarders, who prefer to live underground in caves, a predilection not shared by ASOIAF dragons, who require open spaces to grow and aren’t greedy for anything but food seemingly.

Medieval dragons were also fantastical in that they happened to other people, often far away and in the distant past. Christendom tended to think of dragon-slaying as happening in the distant east. St Elizabeth the Wonderworker slayed a dragon by stomping it to death in Constantinople in the 6th c.; St Margaret was eaten by a dragon in Antioch and burst from its stomach by God’s grace, killing it in 303; St Theodore killed a dragon in Asia Minor before 306; St George slew his famous dragon in Cappadocia or Libya before 303. Many of these accounts were popularized in the west in the 11th and 12th centuries, the same time as  Chrétien de Troyes was popularizing the knight errant, who sometimes slew dragons. These saintly dragon-slayings supposedly happened in the east, because the east was viewed as pagan and dragons were stand-ins for the devil.

Although dragons are presently in Westeros on HBO and soon on their way in the books, they similarly originated elsewhere, far away, long ago. There are competing claims as to the origin of dragons in the world. Valyrians claim they spawned from the volcanoes on the Valyrian peninsula. In Assai, they say ancient people tamed dragons and brought them to Valyria. They also might be from the Shadow Lands. Or Valyrian bloodmages could have created dragons from wyverns.

We shall not pretend to any understanding of the bond between dragon and dragonrider; wiser heads have pondered that mystery for centuries. We do know however, that dragons are not horses, to be ridden by any man who throws a saddle on their back.--The Princess and the Queen, GRRM

The Targaryens, who originally hail from Valyria, are dragon-riders. So, while many people rightfully fear dragons, Targaryen power is built upon the relationship between rider and dragon. There is a positive relationship between the beast and rider. Dragon riding is modern fantasy fare--but not all medieval dragons were considered purely evil. Most famously, the Welsh are represented in their mythology by the red dragon, who will ultimately defeat the Anglo-Saxons or white dragon: not an evil portend, but one of future victory.

Some were also not so far away. In England, dragons happened closer to home with some regularity. Anglo-Saxons settled Knotlow (now in Derbyshire) in 700 and called the hill there Wormhill, the lair of a dragon. The Bisterne Dragon of Hampshire was dispatched by a Sir Maurice Berkeley in the 15th c., saving the village from its milk thieving ways. Celtic legend surrounds Bignor Hill in Sussex. The Lambton Worm in Durham was dispatched by John Lambton upon his return from the crusades. A similar legend exists of the Linton Worm, along the Scottish borders. Etc, etc.

Elsewhere, they also could make trouble closer to home, often during the period of conversion from Germanic paganism to Christianity. St Clement of Metz tamed the Graoully, a foul dragon, in return for the local population’s conversion. St Olaf killed a sea serpent in Valldal, Norway by chucking it into the mountains. Umbria had a few troublesome dragons, including a wyvern in Terni and a dragon in Fornole, respectively dispatched by a knight and a pope. Holy men and women often feature as dragon-slayers, since dragons became symbols of Satan after the Christianization of Europe.

Dragons were by and large something to be dispatched, defeated by the hero either in pagan or Christian tradition. And while Daenerys looks upon her dragons as children, even she has trouble controlling Drogon and locks the other two up, when a man claims Drogon ate his daughter. Not everyone looks kindly upon them: they are to be an instrument of conquest, as they were in the Wars of Conquest against the Seven Kingdoms. To those about to be conquered, they are feared, as much as they were feared as Satanic symbols.

However, for all the long history of dragons being better off dead, they are also creatures steeped in surprising magic. For example, in Germanic tradition, Siegfried is gifted with invulnerable skin after he kills and is bathed in the blood of a dragon. Their magic can be expansive.

This is no doubt true in Westeros as well. We are told that when dragons went extinct in the world of ASOIAF, the winters became longer and the summers shorter. Their magic is tied to the seasons, tied to the very thing which now threatens Westeros, as surely as their flames do. And they may play a key role not in the subjugation of Westeros to Targaryen rule, but in the fight for Westeros, as they face the undead army that approaches from beyond the Wall.

“Necromancy animates these wights, yet they are still only dead flesh. Steel and fire will serve for them. The ones you call the Others are something more.”--Melisandre, A Storm of Swords.

After all, dragonglass, which the smallfolk say is made by dragons, is one of the few things that can kill an Other. The other is dragonsteel, which Jon and Sam believe is Valyrian steel, the outcome of a lost process of forging with magical properties, possibly forged by dragon. All things dragon seem to point to the possible defeat of the Others, which means we might want to keep those dragons around just a little bit longer.

*Meta Monday appears on Mondays when I’m feeling inspired. Feel free to follow me or the tracked tag: Meta Monday.

**If you have a topic you’d like to see addressed by a medievalist, please send me an ask. Past topics are here.

[khicken121]

Overwatch: Baihu x Zhuque AU Pt 1 (Gency)

Psst…

Psssssstt….

@l-avieja…

It’s done...!

Well, the first part of three is

Summary: The Rejects have escaped their prison. Zhuque and Baihu can only hold them off for so long.

Characters: Genji Shimada, Angela “Mercy” Ziegler, Too many to list (mostly everyone else)

Warnings: Semi-Graphic Violence

Other Tags: Baihu!Genji, Zhuque!Mercy, Oni!Genji, Fantasy Setting (Kinda? idk), Gods and Goddesses, author’s attempt at a slow-burn romance

-----

That day in the heavens was like any other in its existence. The gods were going about their routine duties. The sky was clear over the clouds. Nothing in the mortal world was out of the ordinary. It didn’t occur to the gods that that was the problem until it was too late.

Far too late…

Yes, they always kept a close eye on the human world, however that’s all they paid attention to besides themselves and each other. The Rejected Ones were banished to the void and left as they were meant to be. Forgotten. Along with the other creations that eventually proved themselves to be nothing more than mistakes. A blink of an eye to the inhabitants of the cold and pitch-black world would be centuries to those still living in leisure, under the warmth of the sun and above the chill of the clouds.

When centuries passed for those in the void, many new gods had arisen in the heavens. While the Celestials could not see the Rejected Ones nor the greatly less favorable place they were forced to call home, the Rejected Ones could certainly see them. It’s been too long since they’ve had that luxury, and while the demons were supposedly bound to the hellhole for eternity, there were always loopholes in magic and contracts.

When they pushed through the weak spot, their chance had finally arrived. And they’d be completely and utterly stupid not to take this opportunity.

-----

The Baihu was considered a wise god by his worshippers, but everyone in the heavens with him was well aware of his youth and reputation. Although he was capable of giving genuine love, few gods accepted that truth, as the reputation behind him wasn’t a completely virtuous one. He used to be proud of having multiple mortal lovers over the many centuries he’s been alive. He didn’t even have a true friend until The Zhuque came into existence in the plane. Friendship budded between she and he almost immediately, as she was unaware of his frequent rendezvous to the mortal realm. As his friendship with her grew, he left that life behind him. He found himself wanting it less and less, at first he thought he was only doing it for himself. Eventually, he came to realize that he wanted less because his desire to devote himself to The Zhuque was stronger.

He only wished that she could look beyond his past. Perhaps then she’d be able to return his feelings in the same way.

As time passed for them, he grew bold enough to subtly begin to advance on her, but also leaving plenty of room for her to back out should she not want to be anything more than friends. As luck would have it, she was perfectly content being friends with him. Sometimes she found amusement in teasing him in a similar manner. It wasn’t very often she’d retort with a flirt of her own, but when she did, it was when he least expected it and was caught very off guard. She’d inwardly chuckle at light pink decorating his cheeks that was heavily contrasted against his pale skin and white hair.

-----

They broke through.

The loose seam in the spell that kept them bound to that dark, lifeless void was finally torn, and they were finally free. They emerged from the gaping crevice in the earth that led them to the surface and continued upwards. They didn’t even stop when they reached the heavens. When they arrived, the battle had just begun.

They gave no warning of their arrival, and the only trace they left were the fallen physical forms of the adolescent and elderly gods that guarded the entrance of the celestial realm. The young gods fought their hardest with all the physical, mental and magical power they possessed. However, the weapons they were armed with were no match for the far more advanced ones the demons crafted during their time locked away. Small, lethal projectiles, faster than what could be seen with unaided eyes, ripped right through their bodies faster than they could heal themselves. The magic they bled dripped into the mortal world below them: dormant, powerless, and not of any use to the beings currently invading what was once their home.

It didn’t take long for the bloodshed to catch attention of the four constellations. They swiftly came to the aid of their fellow and fallen gods and goddesses, and the demons finally had challengers worthy of their levels of power. Qinglong and Xuanwu used their physical strength to hold of the small army of invaders while Baihu and Zhuque scouted and healed as many fallen warriors as they could. Within minutes, they had some of their army back in the fight, but the combined powers of the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise were overpowered by the Rejects.

With every Constellation that fell from the sky, the invaders also stole the relic that granted them the amount of power they had. Qinglong’s helmet and Xuanwu’s armor that granted the wearers to summon storms of imminent destruction to gods and mortals, and the ability to bring scattered targets together respectively. Their next targets were Zhuque’s staff and Baihu���s sword which could penetrate any surface. However, when they approached the domain of the last two constellations, all they encountered were more gods that were wiped out previously, all of whom being led by a colossal white tiger with eyes of ice and a phoenix with a wingspan stretching over a meter in lengths and feathers aflame.

The Rejects sneered. The small army was no match for them, and if they could wipe out a seventy foot dragon and ten foot snake, an oversized cat and bird wouldn’t be difficult either.

The last of the two constellations certainly gave them a challenge most worthy.

The tiger’s claws left deep gashes within the physical bodies of the demons, and  her talons did similar damage; in addition to the raining streaks of fire on top of them, having no effect on her allies. With Baihu’s and Zhuque’s leadership, the other gods following them proved to be much tougher to kill. However, the small army’s lack of a plan became more and more obvious to their enemy, and this was quickly being taken advantage of. More and more of them were being killed a second time and even Baihu and Zhuque were having a tough time maintaining their animal forms.

Baihu’s patience was wearing thin. He was tired of deflecting bullets and seeing fragments of Zhuque’s feathers falling down and having little to no effect on the… monsters in front of him that seemed to be unaffected by her attacks. He was told too many times in his life that he shouldn’t be rash and impulsive, especially when it came to battle. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to care about all the warnings he received. He always went with his instincts in the past and they always carried him along just fine. And when she was too weak to maintain her phoenix form and fell onto the floor of the heavens in a flurry of  her own screams, fire and soft feathers; they were screaming at him to go for the kill!

He let out a deafening roar that thundered across all planes of the world around and below them. With silent, swift steps and bared teeth, he lunged towards the looming black and red figure that was responsible for her injuries. Claws extended, he ripped into the armor on his face and chest. He felt triumphant as he watched black liquid oozing from the gashes he created, but it was quickly extinguished as more screams fell from Zhuque’s throat. Her backless dress no longer had a purpose for exposing so much skin. Where her wings once were were replaced by fountains of crimson blood spilling over her exposed spine and being absorbed into her clothes. The only thing that kept her alive was the all too familiar beam emanating from her staff. Only now, the beam was a combination of violet and gold, equally giving as much life as was being stolen, and her pain was only worsening being on the receiving end of dark magic being channeled through her relic. The wings were flapping in protest to the grip that was held on them. They wanted to reattach to her body, but the heterochromatic demon with slender fingers refused to let them go. The deeper she dug her long nails into the flesh of the massive bird-like wings, the more Zhuque cried in pain and the more sinister her smile became.

He didn’t react fast enough. As soon as he turned around with the intention of getting her wings free, three small holes bore themselves into his own back and began eating away at his flesh. Nonetheless, he refused to fall. He drew his sword and deflected the next round of projectiles that fired from the handheld weapons of the black and red armor clad figure he faced. But as his moves became faster, they also grew less controlled, which allowed five more darkening spots to occur along his body.

The woman that held Zhuque’s staff and kept the goddess’ wings pinned held a smile with dangerous eyes as she watched Baihu fall to his knees then down on his stomach. The beam flowing from the staff ceased, and Zhuque was slowly losing consciousness as the seconds passed.

“Baihu…” she barely managed to mutter when she glimpsed his limp body a few feet away.

“Kill her,” the female demon ordered her armored companion.

“And what about him?” he replied with a chilling rasp.

“He’ll be a very… interesting experiment,” she answered. “Leave him, but throw the other’s to earth. It’s time they finally knew what they’ve put us through for all those centuries.”

He said nothing in reply. The last thing Zhuque saw was his weapon aimed right at her neck before all that flooded her sight was darkness.

[magicofdawnofficial]

Types of Neheburs - Beastial

Types of Neheburs from the Magic of Dawn series by Leah Dougherty.

Bestial Neheburs, as the name implies, are Neheburs with more beast-like appearances. 

Bold means they live for over three centuries on average. 

Vayles: Horse-like creatures with legs made of twisted branches and roots. Tails and manes are bushes of flowers or poisons, and some grow large antlers made of more branches. They are distantly related to the now extinct unicorns.

Nermurs: The body shape of a wolf, the head of a cat, and wings of a hawk. They are a mixture of feathers and fur, and usually small. 

Arachoa: A hybrid of an arachnid and humanoid, these creatures come in a variety of unique features. The only trait that remains consistent is the strong resemblance to arachnids. Most are naturally reclusive, seeking quiet darkness over light, but all have a curious nature.

Hyrax: Body of a rabbit with antlers poking out the top of its head, and feathery wings that can be used to fly. Hyraxes have a natural talent for White Magic, and are considered to be distantly related to the now extinct Lulls.

Netherling: Small salamander-like creatures with bodies made of translucent colors, and butterfly-shaped wings. They are flighty, energetic, and fast-paced creatures. Each is born with a single strong affinity for one type of magic and will be unable to utilize any other form of magic.

Unicorns: Horse-like creatures with a single horn protruding from their forehead. Despite being known as one of the most powerful mages, the unicorns were a naturally peaceful race who sought diplomacy over war. They were completely annihilated as the first attack from Elder Fryst, signaling the Dark War.

Waers: A fusion of something humanoid and beast, waers are an oddity that can consistently successfully mate with non-magical sentient creatures, such as humans. Their animal forms come in a wide variety, and truly powerful waers reach a fusion form of both animal and human.

Skavians: Skavians are powerful bird-like creatures that have an affinity for the weather. They come in a variety such as: thunderbirds, icebirds, girebirds, torrentbirds, and galebirds. Elder Maylanna was a hybrid of ice and gale.

Goomgas: Pudgy bipedal creatures that are coated in a smooth gelatinous goo. They have a pair of antennae that are long, thick, and drooping downward behind their head and curling upwards at end. They have a long, thick tail that is larger at the base than at the end. Because of their skin they require a constantly moist environment, with many preferring to live underwater (but some do well in swamps). 

Griffins: Powerful fighters with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion. They have the head of an eagle, and are known to be extremely loyal. It is not unheard-of for a griffin to die of starvation after losing a mate, wanting desperately to remain by his/her side. 

Hippogriffs: The front legs, wings, and head of a giant bird and the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse. It is a cousin of the griffins. 

Chimaera: Typically a combination of a snake, goat, and lion. Some chimaera will have additional animals fused together into their body depending on their parents. They cannot have more than eight different animal parts, however.

S’orell: Body of a stingray with several tentacle-tails, and a dense orb of magic at the top that they use for psychokinesis. These Neheburs are born blind in a traditional sense, and instead use their “vision” to see magic. It is said if overcome with too much stress s’orells will become entirely blind and start to wilt away. 

Dragons: Largely considered the most powerful living creatures, they are the embodiment of power, dominance, and magic. These creatures come in a wide variety of appearances, signifying their affinities. Little else is known about them, since most knowledge outside of Desoul was destroyed during the Dark War.

Tre'tals: Small, furry creatures that mostly resemble a ferret. Known for their knack of inventions, high intelligence, and pitifully weak magic, they were quick to form an alliance with the unicorns. Unfortunately because of this they joined the unicorns in extinction during the Dark War.

Howlers: Wolf-like creatures that constantly thirst for battle. Little else is known about these beings as they became extinct during the Warring Era.

Lulls: Gentle and beautiful dove-like creatures, related to phoenixes. It was said that their singing could calm storms, and relax even the angriest of dragons. Unfortunately, all lulls were killed during the Dark War.

Phoenixes: Considered as one of the most powerful living creatures, phoenixes are regarded with extreme respect and admiration. They have always refrained from allying themselves with any kingdom, choosing to remain as a neutral party and promote peace alongside the unicorns.  During the Dark War, after the merciless slaughter of all unicorns, they fought against the dragons for a brief time. When they nearly became extinct they retreated and sought the protection of Elder Maylanna until the Dark War had ended. Phoenixes are unique in the sense that when they reach the end of their natural life cycle (one thousand years), they are reborn as a child. Some choose to retain memories, and others choose to start fresh. They are well-known for their powerful singing voices, which can soothe everything, and everyone.

[dezyrooberry-blog]

Fairy Bound

Darius Duel knew the rules. Don’t tamper with fate, don’t use magic, and don’t, no matter what, mess with a fairy. Odd rules, right? But everyone lived by them. Every creature alive lived by those three simple yet demanding rules. Darius was not an exception, though he often found himself in trouble by following them.

    It was a warm, clear day in July and Darius was in the middle of the forest near his village. He went there every Sunday to get away from the people he was often surrounded by, mostly his father. Darius had only one parent at that point in time. Darius’s pregnant mother had been executed when he was no older than nine. Her life had been taken from her because she had broken all three rules, and Darius was left with his father, who had immediately fallen into deep depression and alcoholism.

    Darius and his father had been shunned by the village for Hecate Duel, Darius’s mother’s, crimes and were pushed to the edge of the village, closer to the forest. Darius hated what had happened to his mother. Not a day went by that Darius, now seventeen, missed and grieved for his deceased mother and unborn sibling. His father was a different story. Darius wished within an inch of his life that his father, Aeron Duel, had been executed instead of his beloved mother.

    Darius clenched his fists as he walked through the woods, going in no particular direction. His vision was clouded with memories of when he was nine. Memories of how sweet his mother had been. Hecate hadn’t meant to break the rules. At least that’s what Darius thought. Darius was only tugged back to reality as he tripped over a rock, yanking his arms up to catch his sudden fall.

    Darius groaned out in pain as he lay still on the ground, his thick, black, oily hair hanging in front of his neon blue eyes. How had he let himself get so distracted that he’d tripped over a rock? The boy shook his head as he stood, dusting off his clothes carefully. Shallow cuts littered the pale skin on his long arms. Darius was a pretty lanky teenager. He was tall, but not insanely so, and very thin. His father often underfed him. The boy shook away his thoughts once more and looked ahead as he continued to walk.

    The sun was reaching its peak in the clear, blue sky and the heat was beginning to become insufferable for Darius. He’d always been more keen to being out in the thick snow of winter than in the hot, boiling sun of summer, but he wasn’t going to give up his free day of the week to his father.

    The sound of running water reached the tall boy’s ears, causing a bit of relief to flood through his system. The sun’s rays were beating against his bare neck like a boxer beating a punching bag and sweat was beginning to trickle down his face and neck. Darius stopped at the stream and sucked in air, kneeling down to the water, before submerging his head, allowing the cold water to wash over him. After a moment Darius pulled his head back up, sighing in relief. His hair was soaked and cold droplets of water traveled down his face, just as the sweat had previously.

    A soft wind picked up, rustling leaves and chilling Darius’s face a bit more, much to his liking. Darius never had enjoyed a lot of heat. Darius sat under the shade of a tree, watching the water with his bright blue eyes. The water bubbled quietly, rushing over rocks and plants, holding and nurturing fish like a mother. The idea of being nurtured by his mother was almost foreign at this point in his life. He’d not been cared for the way she cared for him in eight years. Not since Hecate’s execution. The memory of Hecate’s death flashed in front of his vision, clear as the stream’s water.

    Darius forced the memory away, refusing to relive his mother’s beheading once more. Darius looked to the sky, his skin dry and heating up once more. The air seemed thicker than usual, but Darius chalked it up to humidity. The boy pushed himself up, blinding himself momentarily when a ray of sun that was sneaking through the tree’s leaves struck his eyes. Darius shook his head and blinked a few times before continuing on his way, following the small creek upstream.

    The sound of birds chirping and small animals scurrying across the forest floor was more prominent the farther into the woods he traveled. He looked up at the tall, wise oaks around him. They’d been around for hundreds of years, maybe longer. Darius smiled slightly as he traced his fingers over the rough bark of one of trees. It felt like the tongue of cat but rougher, Darius thought. He chuckled a bit to himself, sweat beginning to once more make its way down his forehead.

    The boy continued on his way, careful to step over the gnarled roots of trees and plants. He didn’t want to trip again, after all. After a few more minutes of walking upstream Darius noted that the stream was flowing out of a dark cave. Darius sighed softly in relief as he stepped inside, cooler air surrounding him. He could see well enough and sat down on the cold stone, putting his hand in the icy water of the stream. The soft sound of the wind moving past the mouth of the cave soothed Darius, but something felt off to him.

    Darius sniffed the air, the scent of honey and buttercream filling his nostrils. Odd. Especially for a damp cave. The tall boy tugged his hand out of the water and wiped his forehead and the back of his neck, cooling himself down a bit. Then something weird happened. The gentle sound of singing became evident from the front of the cave. The voice was so soft. It made Darius want to curl up on the warming stone floor of the cave and fall asleep, but Darius forced his attention to the cave mouth and wished he’d just fallen asleep instead.

    At the mouth of the cave stood a tall creature. It was over seven feet tall with the perfect hourglass figure. Its eyes glew a beautiful pale lilac with speckles of silver only enhancing their beauty. The creature’s hair was long and pale, shining silver with streaks of lilac. It reached the creature’s ankles. It had high cheekbones and an obviously female figure. She had pale, almost white, skin and a flowing, purple dress. A fairy.

    Darius felt himself freeze in fear and awe the minute the fairy entered his sight. Everything else fell away from existence, only the fairy mattering. Her voice was unwavering as she walked towards the boy, well, floated towards the boy. She didn’t have wings, despite what some believed, though she still floated a good half foot above the ground. The sweet smell of honey and buttercream was stronger now, Darius then realizing it was coming from the fairy herself.

    Fairies were magical beings, believing themselves to be above all else. They did as they pleased when and where they pleased. No one bothered them. Not even a bug. Why? It was against the rules. Fairies were dangerous, fast and strong. Their beauty could only be compared to that of another fairy and would paralyze creatures in their spot the same way it was doing to Darius. Awe and fear. Darius knew this, but couldn’t seem to bring himself to move from his sitting position to hide in the cave, the pull of her beauty, scent, and song all holding him in place. He was terrified as the fairy landed on the ground, no more than two feet away from him. Darius’s breath was audible and loud in his ears as her song came to a slow halt in a decrescendo.

    “Why what a cute, young boy.” The fairy said with a laugh, a razor edge to her beautifully smooth voice. Darius swallowed thickly, gather his scattered thoughts a best he could.

    “Y-You’re a fairy.” He said, cursing himself mentally at his nervous stutter. The fairy only responded with an amused, sharp laugh, a smirk settling on her perfect features.

    “And clever too. You’ll fetch a high price on the market.” She said, a sly tone to her smooth voice. That made Darius inhale sharply as he found the strength to stumble to his feet. He stepped back, his movements wobbly and unsure.

    “What do you mean?” Darius asked, his voice quieter than he’d hoped. A wider smirk played on the fairy’s lips.

    “You are coming with me.” She said and struck the boy. She was like a snake looking for prey, and Darius was the meal. Darius stumbled back at the sudden blow to his right temple, tripping over his feet as he fell back into the shallow water of the stream. It wasn’t deep, but it was fast, and the next thing Darius knew he was flailing in deeper water, moving out of the cave.

    The wound to his head was throbbing and he already knew a bruise was forming. He tried righting himself in the strong current, but his vision was hazy and movement sluggish. He gasped for air, only inhaling water. He kicked as much as he could, but darkness edged its way into his vision. As unconsciousness began to set in he felt himself being lifted out of the water. Once his face hit air he coughed and sputtered out water, taking a deep breath of air before darkness completely took him over, leaving him unconscious in the fairy’s arms.

    When Darius next awoke he tensed up, jolting, only to slam his head against wood bars. He winced and propped up on his right forearm, rubbing his forehead with his left hand. He noted his surroundings. Fairies. They were everywhere outside of his wooden prison. That’s when panic set in and he scrambled to his knees. He knew something was wrong. He could feel the strong sense of magic around him. That didn’t exist in his realm. His stomach sunk as the familiar scent of honey and buttercream filled his lungs. The fairy had brought him to the realm of the fay.

    Darius twisted in his small crate, peering up at the fairy that had taken him. She set the crate down at a stand. Another fairy seemed to be running it. Darius swallowed thickly at the sight of the new, definitely male, fairy. He was taller than the female, though just as beautiful. He had black fringe and bright silver eyes with flecks of blue. Upon closer inspection Darius could see traces of the same blue in the fairy’s black hair.

    “I brought you a human boy for sale, Flathlith.” The fairy who’d taken Darius said. The male, presumably Flathlith, turned his gaze to Darius, who could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

    “Name the price, Quexie.” Flathlith stated as he looked back to the female fairy. His voice was demanding, firm, yet somehow smooth and beautiful.

    “Hundred gold coins.” Quexie said, her voice just as firm as Flathlith’s. She had a smirk still on her face, her pale skin glowing a slight ivory in the lighting. Flathlith thought a moment and nodded. He reached behind the counter of his stand and pulled out a small cloth bag, dropping it in Quexie’s grasp.

    “Fine. Now be gone with you.” He demanded. Quexie smiled, revealing a mouth full of sharp, pearly white teeth, before humming and turning, floating away.

    “Pleasure doing business with you.” Quexie’s voice came before she faded away into the crowd, Darius dumbfounded for what had just occurred. The boy blinked a few times as the realization had come to him that he’d been sold. After a moment he felt anger settling in.

    “Hey! Wait a minute! Let me go!” Darius yelled, though his voice was quieter and more unsure than he’d hoped for. His head was throbbing with the pain of being struck by Quexie and hitting the top of the crate. Flathlith’s attention turned to Darius, his gaze cold and dark. It made Darius want to shrink into a shell like a snail.

    “Quiet, Boy! Speak again and you won’t be fed.” Flathlith growled, slamming a fist against the crate’s top, tearing a fearful whimper from Darius’s throat, despite his best wishes.

    Darius didn’t speak again. He’d wanted to, but his fear was too great. Fairies looked at him occasionally, though none paid him much mind. He was fed a small amount of meat that night for supper, and Darius ate it after Flathlith threatened to harm him if he didn’t. Darius stayed there, in that crate, for a little over a week before a tall male fairy approached the crate, studying him closely.

    The fairy was about the same height as Flathlith, maybe a little taller, and had long golden hair that shimmered. His hair reached his mid back, but his face and body showed he was obviously a male. His skin was as white as snow and his eyes shone a beautiful gold color with speckles of silver. The fairy’s high cheekbones only helped to compliment his gorgeous, perfect appearance.

    Darius shrunk beneath the fairy’s gaze, struck by awe at the appearance. No one ever really got used to a fairy’s appearance, no matter how much time one spent around them. The boy noted the scent of vanilla and coconut wafting from the fairy peering coldly down at him. It seemed every fairy had different yet obvious scents about them. After a full minute of staring at the lanky boy, who’d lost a few pounds over the week due to lack of proper feeding, the fairy turned to Flathlith, who was a few feet away.

    “How much for the boy?” The fairy asked. His voice was smooth and warm, yet held authority. Flathlith turned and raised a brow.

    “Well, if it isn’t Plume Gadjeel. I’ll take your last buy didn’t last very long?” Flathlith questioned, floating over. The fairy, Plume, nodded.

    “How much?” Plume repeated, his voice demanding. It chilled Darius to the bone. He felt he’d been caught in a blizzard at how much the words he’d heard chilled him.

    “Five hundred gold.” Flathlith stated.

    “Three” Plume responded. They were bargaining for Darius. Darius winced at the thought of what Plume would do to him if he got him.

    “I’ll meet you halfway. Four.” Flathlith said, his gaze steely and unwavering. Plume had a similar expression, but after a moment he nodded. He held out an empty hand. It began to glow. It glew so bright Darius had to squeeze his eyes shut, but once the glowing died down he reopened them. In Plume’s once empty hand sat a cloth bag with four hundred gold pieces inside. Darius felt his breath catch slightly in fear and surprise. He didn’t know fairies could do that, and that spurred fear as to what else a fairy might be able to do.

    “Fine.” Plume’s voice snapped Darius out of his imagination. Plume gave the bag to Flathlith before picking up the wooden prison that Darius was in. Darius wanted to scream, but it caught in his throat and he only released a ragged, fearful breath. He’d just been bought by a fairy for who knows what, and Darius didn’t think he wanted to find out.

    Darius didn’t dare speak the entire trip. From what he could tell, Plume was worse than Flathlith. It took at least another hour of being crammed in the uncomfortable crate before Plume set him down inside a gigantic mansion. It was gorgeous. A grand staircase was evident from inside the crate and he could see the floor glowing a pale gold.

    Plume opened the crate and yanked Darius out roughly, causing the boy to grit his teeth, and threw him on the floor. It was hard, cold, like stone but smooth and golden in color. Darius was sprawled out on the floor. He smelled bad and looked worse. His bones and muscles hurt from being in that small crate for such a long a time, crammed at awkward angles. Honestly he wished he’d been able to escape that wooden prison, but now matter how hard he’d tried he couldn’t break through. Magic must have been making that crate unbreakable.

    “Tell me your name.” Plume spoke as Darius attempted to get to his feet. He did after a moment, though his legs were weak and felt like they’d buckle beneath him.

    “Darius.” The boy spoke, glaring up at the tall fairy. That was a bad idea because Plume’s hand came up and backhanded him across the face, sending Darius back to the cold floor. Darius’s cheek was throbbing and already a red color. A bruise was definitely going to form where he’d been hit.

    “Don’t glare. It isn’t attractive.” Plume demanded as he lifted Darius off the ground by his hair. Darius gritted his teeth in pain, thankful when Plume set him down. “Now, Darius. You will do as I say when I say. Otherwise you will punished. Understand, Pet?” Plume asked. Darius shrunk slightly at the cold, demanding tone that Plume had. He swallowed thickly and nodded.

    “Yes.” He said, managing not to stammer pathetically.

    “Good boy.” Plume said and turned, floating up the stairs and motioning Darius to follow. Darius hesitated. He could turn and run out the door. But would he make it? Darius didn’t know. After a few seconds of thinking Darius turned and bolted towards the exit. He had to risk it for freedom. He didn’t want to be a pet to a fairy. Unfortunately for Darius, fate had something else in mind.

    As Darius yanked open the door, he was pulled back by none other than Plume, he gripped tightly onto Darius’s wrist. Darius unwillingly released a whimper as Plume lifted him off the ground by one arm. Darius felt like his arm would pop out of its socket at how hard Plume had yanked him up and away from the door.

    “What a naughty thing to do, Pet. And I had such high hopes for you. I guess you’ll have to be broken before you accept your fate.” Plume said, an evil, insane smirk plastered to his face. Darius could feel his heart stammering and stomach churning in fear. Goosebumps rose on his exposed skin as Plume lifted his other hand. A ball of fire began forming in Plume’s palm, growing bigger by the second. That’s when Darius panicked.

    Darius began to thrash wildly, squeezing his eyes shut and kicking as hard as he could at Plume, twisting in the fairy’s grip. It only worsened the throb in Darius’s shoulder, though, and Plume retaliated by slinging the boy roughly against the stone wall. As darius’s back hit the wall his eyes flung opened as he gasped for the air that had left his lungs upon impact. He didn’t even have time to close his eyes before the ball of fire hit his face and Plume slammed his head back against the wall, sending Darius back into unconsciousness. Fairies really seemed to enjoy knocking people out.

    Many hours had passed before Darius began to reawaken. The first sense to come back was hearing. He couldn’t hear much of anything aside from the sound of pages in a book being turned. The next sense that came back was scent. He could smell vanilla and coconut, which meant Plume was around. Next was touch. Darius could feel a faint throb in his shoulder and a horrible pain in the back of his head, as well as plush cushions beneath him. He must have been moved. Next was sight. Well. It should have been sight, but when Darius opened his eyes with a painful groan, he was only met with more darkness.

    Darius lifted his arm, the one that didn’t ache, slowly. He lightly touched his face, his left eye shutting as his fingers grazed over the eyelid. No blindfold. That could only mean one thing. Darius had been blinded. The boy shot straight up, gasping at the immense pain the sudden movement shot through his body.

    “You’re awake.” Plume spoke from what Darius could only assume was across the room. Darius’s head snapped in the direction of Plume’s gorgeous voice, though that only sent another wave of intense pain down Darius’s spine, causing him to grit his teeth.

    “What… Happened?” Darius asked, almost fearfully. His mouth was dry and his voice came out cracked and heavy.

    “You disobeyed. Now you can’t see because I threw fire at you.” Plume said. Darius could hear the smirk in Plume’s voice, but before Darius could answer, something was pressed to his lips. It was cold, curved, and hard. “Drink.” Plume said. It was a glass. Darius moved his hands up slowly and took the glass, drinking the liquid after a moment’s hesitation. It was water. Darius could tell by the taste. Once it was gone Darius lowered the glass from his lips.

    “Thank you?” He asked worriedly. The last thing he needed was another beating. He was already covered in bruises and scars from his father, but now he had new ones from the fay.

    “Good. Now. Are you going to cooperate, Pet?” Plume asked, his voice holding authority. Darius almost winced at the tone as Plume took the glass, setting it elsewhere. If Darius couldn’t take a fairy with sight there was no chance of doing it without. He sighed silently and nodded.

    “Yes.” Darius spoke, his voice holding just a bit of fear for what was to come in his life. He felt Plume’s finger trail across his jawline, and Darius wanted to do nothing more than to move away from Plume’s touch and throw up, but he forced himself to stay in his spot. Plume suddenly gripped Darius’s jaw and yanked his head up roughly. Even without sight Darius could tell Plume was studying his face closely.

    “You really should act better. All these bruises don’t suit you very well, Doll.” Plume’s voice was strong, unwavering. Darius hated the name Plume come up with for him, but he simply swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the pain in his head.

    “Yes, Sir.” He said, though he wished he hadn’t because of how it seemed to affect Plume.

    “Sir? I like that. You are to always call me by that name.” Plume demanded. Darius gritted his teeth.

    “Yes, Sir.” He repeated, much to his distaste. Plume hummed in slight approval and released Darius’s head, allowing him to fall back against what Darius assumed was a couch.

    “Good. I am guessing you’re hungry. You’ll have to earn your keep if you expect to eat.” Plume said, his smirk obvious in his smug voice.

    “How do I do that?” Darius question, looking down. He couldn’t see, but he still didn’t want to appear as weak as he felt and he was sure there was a fearful expression on his face.

    “You’re still being punished, so that will start tomorrow. For now you are to wash yourself and head to bed. You go hungry today.” Plume said. Darius bit the inside of his cheek to keep from sneering a complaint. He nodded.

    “Yes, Sir.” He said. Plume yanked him up off the couch and began leading him around the mansion. Darius stumbled after, trying his very best to keep up. He heard a door opening and was pulled through. Plume released him a moment later.

    “This is the bathroom. There are clean clothes for you to wear on the counter and a towel with them. Good luck.” Suddenly Plume was gone, Darius hearing the door shut. The scent of vanilla and coconut faded away after Plume left. The boy sighed and reach his hand out. He slowly stepped forward until his finger brushed against a tiled wall. He carefully followed it to the bathtub and sat on the edge. He was pulling his shoes off when he heard a very familiar female voice.

    “Darius.” The voice said. Darius paused what he was doing as his head turned in the direction of the voice.

    “Who’s there?” Darius hissed quietly, though his voice was somewhat shaky.

    “Hold still.” The voice spoke. Darius didn’t move. He knew the voice. He just couldn’t place it. He tensed when he felt gentle fingers touch his forehead. Darius shut his eye as the fingers moved down. A gel of some sort was put on one eye, then the next.

    “What’s going on?” Darius asked. He felt considerably calmer, he just didn’t know why, until the hand pulled away and the gel began to burn. Darius hissed quietly in pain, but the hand clamped over his mouth. Darius’s hands shot up, trying to rub the gel away, but he could no longer feel the gel, just the burning sensation.

    “Quiet, Darius. It’ll stop in a minute.” the voice said. Darius tried prying the hand off his mouth, but it wouldn’t budge. After a minute the burning sensation stopped and the hand released his mouth. Darius’s eyes opened and he was shocked. He could see! And when he realized who was there, he screamed and fell back into the tub.

    Standing before him was Hecate, his dead mother, and a beautiful young girl that looked to be the age of about eight. His mother looked exactly the same as the day she was executed except for the fact that she didn’t appear pregnant now. She had black hair, just like Darius, and stunning green eyes.

    “Darius, we can’t stay. Pretend to still be blind. We’ll explain everything at our next meet.” Hecate said quickly as she took the silent girl’s hand. Darius blinked and they were gone. Just in time for Plume to burst open the door with an angry expression. Darius just stared at his knees, gasping for breath that seemed to have left him.

    “How naughty. Making me worry I’d already lost another pet.” Plume growled and grabbed Darius’s hair, yanking him from the tub and onto the floor. Darius groaned slightly in pain, squeezing his eyes shut.

    “I’m… Sorry, Sir.” Darius forced himself to say. Plume simply sneered and grabbed Darius’s wrist, tugging him off the floor and out the door. So much for a bath.

    “Worthless pet. Can’t seem to be good.” Plume said as he tugged Darius down the stairs. Darius nearly tripped, his eyes wide in fear, as he traveled down the stairs. It was bad enough he was bought by a fairy, but of course it had to be an unstable one at that. Plume yanked Darius out the back door and the next thing Darius knew he was being tied to a pole with a magical rope around his waist. How humiliating. Darius kept his gaze down, trying to focus on the shoes he never quite got off of his feet.

    “You’ll be staying out here tonight. No food. No water. No bath.” Plume said as he turned and floated back inside. Darius tried untying the knot on the rope, but the rope only tightened around him. Definitely magic infused. Darius huffed in annoyance and sat on the ground, glaring as he tightened the laces of his shoes once again.

    “Sorry for getting you in trouble.” Hecate’s voice came from behind him. Darius scrambled to turn while on the ground. When he finally faced his mother he noticed the girl was there too.

    “Mom… How are… Why are… I thought you were dead!” Darius exclaimed as quietly as possible. Hecate’s expression became solemn as she peered sadly at her son.

    “I am. At least in the human realm. My body… It’s gone. I’m a soul. This is Naomi. She’s the child I was pregnant with when I was executed. She’s your half sister.” Hecate said, placing a hand on the small girl’s head. Naomi had pale skin and long brown hair, her eyes shining a beautiful green with freckles dusting across the bridge of her nose. Naomi smiled.

    “I’m so happy to finally meet my big brother.” Naomi said, her voice soft and sweet. The faint smell of strawberries wafted off of her.

    “Wait wait wait. What?! Half sister?!” Darius asked. He’d never thought his mother could be unfaithful, especially since she always had said how much she loved Darius’s father. Hecate nodded, smiling sadly.

    “Naomi’s father… he’s a fairy. That’s part of the reason I was executed. I tampered with fate when bothered a fairy. I didn’t mean to. It wasn’t supposed to happen. I got pregnant with the fairy’s child. I had to use magic to live. It was killing me from the inside out. Humans and fairies aren’t meant to have children together. I messed with fate again when I used magic to save my life so I could give birth to Naomi. The council found out and I was executed. I wish it could have gone better, Darius. I’m so sorry I had to leave you and your father.” Hecate said, looking down as if she were ashamed, though she obviously loved Naomi and knew it had been worth a shot. Darius had listened quietly, his hands clenched into fists as he stared down, now standing. He was taller than his mom, but he still wouldn’t let her see his face.

    Darius felt weak, betrayed, sorrow, and loved all at once. He’d missed his mother so very much. The boy trembled slightly and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t dare cry. He didn’t want to lose what little dignity he had left. His eyes opened when he felt the sudden pressure of Naomi hugging him. Her head barely reached Darius’s ribcage. Darius could feel the tears he tried so desperately to hold back trickle down his face, staining his cheeks. Darius sunk to his knees, holding Naomi close, as if he’d known her since she was born, as she followed the motion, tears escaping her own beautiful eyes.

    Hecate approached slowly and sat on her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around her children. Darius hated that he sobbed softly, trying to soothe his sister. He hadn’t cried since the death of his mother. Not over anything emotional, at least. Hecate ran her fingers through Darius’s black locks of hair, shushing him softly.

    “Please don’t cry, Darius.” Naomi’s voice was soft, almost pleading, as she looked up at her big brother, a smile on her face as tears trickled from her eyes. Darius sniffed and wiped his eyes, smiling faintly. His eyes were glossed over still and he didn’t know how long he’d been crying, just that a considerable amount of time had passed since it was completely dark out.

    “Don’t worry, Naomi. I’m fine.” He said as she wiped away her tears too. The three broke from their hug, though they all stayed sitting.

    “Darius, how is your father?” Hecate asked softly, her voice kind and curios. Darius’s smile dropped at the mention of his father.

    “Not good.” He said, averting his sad gaze from his mother.

    “What? Why? What’s been going on since my death?” Hecate questioned, concern obvious in her voice. Darius didn’t answer immediately. He took a few minutes before deciding his mother deserved the full truth.

    “After you were executed… Dad became depressed. He resorted to alcohol. He only got worse over the years. First it was just a few negative comments about me. But after awhile he hit me. He’s left many markings.” Darius said, lifting his shirt just enough to show his stomach, which was littered with various bruises of different shades and a few scars scattered about. Hecate and Naomi both inhaled sharply at the sight of Darius’s injuries. Most of the bruises were fading since he hadn’t been around his dad in over a week, but they still existed on his tanned skin.

    “I… How could Aeron, my husband and your father, have done such a thing to his own son?” Hecate exclaimed angrily. Naomi was silent, peering down at her alabaster hands. Darius looked down.

    “I don’t know, Mom. I just don’t know. He changed a lot after you died.” Darius said sadly. Hecate sighed angrily and reached into a pack she had. After a moment of searching she pulled out some shears.

    “Let’s get this rope off you.” Hecate said, reaching for the rope around Darius’s waist. Darius looked up in confusion, pushing the thoughts of his father from his mind.

    “I don’t think shears are going to work.” Darius spoke. Hecate chuckled faintly, smiling.

    “They aren’t ordinary shears, they hold magic.” Naomi spoke up, lifting her gaze from her hands. Darius gave the two a doubtful look. He wasn’t supposed to mess with magic. But it was his only chance, so after a moment he nodded. Hecate smiled and carefully slipped one blade of the shears under the rope. The metal was cold against Darius’s skin, but he ignored it as Hecate began snipping the shears on the rope. It took a bit to get all the way through the rope, but after a minute the rope gave away and fell to the ground around Darius’s feet.

    Darius watched as his mother put the shears away. He couldn’t believe that actually worked. He found himself happy. He was free! The a thought dawned on him. What now? He didn’t know how to get back to his realm. Where would he go? He couldn’t just stay in the realm of the fay.

[ryderreturns]

Who, Who || Solo Para

Who: Ryder Lynn

When: Tuesday morning, October 16

Where: Alesandria Library and Research Center

Why: Ryder hits the books to further his understanding of Animal Magic. 

What: Trigger warnings for mentions of past violence and terrorism

Admittedly, Ryder hadn’t spent much time in Alesandria since returning to NYADA. Since he wasn’t in tutoring anymore and with plenty of resources in Aequitas for his classes, there hadn’t been much need to go into the largest library on campus. So it was his own fault his magic was limited. Since beginning his journey with magic after moving to New York to live, Ryder had mainly pursued what he wanted to do. So his time went to perfecting the magic it took to talk to all types of animals, understanding them and their dynamics. There hadn’t been a need for him to do much else, though he worked on his water affinity because he enjoyed it. 

Working in the Emporium had given Ryder all the ‘formal’ education he’d known before getting accepted to NYADA the first time. He’d learned what he needed to for practical purposes, and then picked up what he felt like learning. All that changed when he became a student of magic. Doors had been opened, introduction classes teaching him the breadth of New Age magic and what he could do. Dueling had gotten him to learn more about fighting with magic - as well as being thrown into situations like fighting the Merr on what should’ve been a relaxing beach trip. 

From the attack at the Pagan Pride Parade to non-life-threatening duels in Undique, Ryder was all too aware of his shortcomings as a fighter. For all his talk of wanting to protect his friends, he sucked at it. It was that fact and Santana’s help with pointing out the obvious that had him on the search for help. To start, he turned for the Occidental wing of Alesandria Library.

Rather than trying to find anything himself, Ryder went up to the counter where a librarian was murmuring a spell over a book covered in some goo.  “Uh, hi,” he greeted. “Sorry to bother you.” 

The librarian didn’t fit any stereotypes he had in his head. In fact, the guy on the other side reminded him of the villain from Black Panther. The white guy with the cannon for an arm. He had sharps eyes not hidden behind glasses. His murmuring stopped and Ryder looked down to find the goo had collected into a waiting empty coffee cup. ‘Someone thought it funny to place a slice of pie between the pages of a book like a toddler,’ the librarian explained. ‘I’m sending this to a lab to find if I can trace it to a student.�� 

Was this the guy they sent after you if you didn’t bring back a book on time? He hoped not. “I... hope you catch them,” he said. Clearing his throat, he pressed on, “Could you help me find books on Animal Magic, please?” 

‘Your student ID.’ There wasn’t a question at the end of the statement, confusing Ryder. So he just pulled out his wallet to hand over his ID. After the card was scanned, the Librarian held the ID in his palm and began to speak over it again. ‘Guide this student to Section 39, Subsection Animalia, Bookshelf 8.’ The card began to glow and when the Librarian let go, it floated on its own. ‘Follow your card. Come back to this desk to check out any materials.’ 

Ryder put up two thumbs before taking off after his card to keep up with it. So this was what it looked like to not just wander around guessing or using a computer to search. So much cooler, he thought. 

The glowing library card guided him to Section 39, Subsection Animalia, Bookshelf 8. Most of the books were old and in leather covers, though he spotted a few more modern books in plastic and cardboard. Ryder reached up to grab his card and put it back in his pocket, where it ceased to glow or float. Reading through the titles, he took down the three best options: Animal Magic for Dummies, Arcanum Animalia, and Das Buch Der Natur. 

Despite the temptation to start with Animal Magic for Dummies, oh who is the writer kidding, he started with Animal Magic for Dummies. Each of the chapters was dedicated to a different aspect of Animal Magic and its uses, such as Communication, Imitation, Morphing, Manipulation. 

Ryder bypassed the chapter on Communication and started out his research with Imitation. After speaking out a spell to have the text read aloud in his thoughts, he began researching. 

The user can use/imitate animal powers, they can run like an ostrich, swing like a monkey, sprint like a cheetah, move like a cat, take the strength of an ant, track like a dog, hide like a turtle, constrict like a snake, etc. They cannot transform into animals, as this power only enables the user to mimic animalistic traits while still in their original form. Some users can mimic multiple animals at once. [x]

This book really made the concepts easy to understand and gave examples of spells and animals that matched each. Ryder took out his Grimiore and began transferring information into a new section in bright green ink. It gave him a number of ideas of things to try. 

Thinking back to his fights and what he needed to improve on, Ryder went looking for a spell that could help him with his speed. Something that would allow him to get to the enemy before they got to him.

His eyes paused on a detailed drawing of an owl:

He had to speak out a spell to translate it from German.

Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes, which includes about 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. [x]

Animal magicians have been known to copy a number of the Owl’s physiology, hoping to mimic their movement, both speedy and silent, their enhanced sight and hearing, as well as their deadly talons. A few examples of spells:

Going through the list of examples and spells, he skipped over any of the ones that focused on copying physiology. That seemed like too big a thing to start with. However the title of one spell, Silent Movement, caught his eye. Ryder started copying down the spell into his Grimoire.

This is exactly what I need, he thought.

[awriterstransition]

Warm Scales Part 2

      If you find any of the sections of stories I write interesting, I’ve tagged every story with “Isen” so if you search for Isen’s name you get every part I wrote.  If you have any questions about my stories, or want to tell me anything, go ahead and send me a message.

Warm Scales Part Two

        My week was pretty plain, I stayed mostly at home under Lynn’s watchful gaze, and my bodyguard’s. I’d talk to Mrs. Ring on the phone, text her as well. I’d do what I could to answer any questions I could for Aldure. Though he was still had his moments of stress when he was trying to understand our technology, as well as, try not to break it. I cooked and cleaned in order to clear my mind when I wasn’t writing, but when I was writing that was all I did. Though when the weekend came around I knew I had to do something else. So I simply decided this was the day I was going to take Aldure around the sanctuary.         Lynn was busy with his police work, so Ilian and Aldure’s two guards were our only protection. Aldure hadn’t really left the apartment since he first came to it. So this was the first time he actually got a proper look around the Sanctuary, so he had plenty of questions. So like museum guide I took the lead and started to explain everything to Aldure, at least everything I could.          “This sanctuary is set up on the southern end of New York City, it’s five by five city blocks. In the center going vertically; is the park, grave yard and temple. The blocks going around the perimeter of the sanctuary are regulated for housing. ON either side of the park, going vertically by three blocks is the stores, restaurants, and markets, but also the fire station and the police department which share building space with one another. IF you have any problems with disturbences you just have to call 911, all phones in the sanctuary are already locked to the police and fire station, so you won’t end up calling a human controlled police station.” I explained gesturing around to buildings as I explained, Aldure followed my gaze as I looked around, but he said nothing, just taking in my words.          “New York City in the contract we signed with them, Cadara owns all the land and this sanctuary, and this sanctuary acts as an embassy for their people. However because of this, the Mincridarn government personally regulates law and problems such as fire, building regulations. New York City will provide us power and water, at the cost of the American government. This sanctuary and the few others across the ten states so far are the only places Mincridarins and Adestrians are allowed to live in, these sanctuaries were created as signs of good faith.”          “But where do you go to train and spar?” Aldure asked and I looked up at the dragon, because this was a common question.          “On the right side of the sanctuary in the market district on the back side, or facing away from the park is the Arena, and a large specialized gym tailored to all kinds of Mincridarins. Each day of the week there are classes specializing in types of combat, and weaponry? Today, Saturday, is spears and Leggala Royal Martial Arts hand to hand combat training. On Sundays, sometimes we’ll have human martial arts instructors come in and teach. We’ve had all kinds of martial arts, Mix Martial arts, Tai’ Chi, Wing Chun, Kung Fu; and that’s just naming a few.         In the Arena every month give or take a few days we’ll have fighting tournaments, that are recorded live and you can watch these fights in your apartment on channel one.”          “Where do you get healed if you’re hurt?”          “The clinic is right next door to the gym for obvious reasons. It has a mix of human, and Mincridarn healers non-magical and magical.”  I simply answered and Aldure nodded as we continued to walk around the Sanctuary.          “Is flying regulated?”          “Yes and no, in the area above the sanctuary flying is permitted for avian breeds, but you aren’t allowed to fly beyond the boarder of the sanctuary. We don’t have a lot of Avian breeds here, but you’ll see one every now and then flying about.” I explained and Aldure nodded looking at the sky where a single avian Mincridarn was flying off somewhere.         The streets and the sidewalks were filled with Mincridarins walking around talking and or playing. Since there was no cars, cubs played in the streets free of fear of being hurt. Mincridarins were incredibly social, it wasn’t normal for them to be locked away in their homes. They were active and loved doing physical activities and being around others. So as we walked we got looks from many Mincridarins that we passed. They gave kind greetings, some of them as we walked by called out to me seductively; cat calling me.         An older Mincridarn female even came to me and offered us some of her cooking when we passed by her window. The old Feline handed out some fresh cookies, oatmeal raisin. Mincridarins in some rare cases had stomachs similar to the animal they took after so chocolate and sugar were highly regulated. There weren’t really any kind of deserts, other than some well baked berries and fruits. So the cookie wasn’t very sweet, but it was still rather good. Aldure and I thanked the old feline, and the guards as well since they got one from the female as well.          “Is there any bars?”          “What kind of bars are you looking for because there are a few?” I asked and Aldure looked down at me.          “Just want to know.”          “Well, we do have an old Irish pub on the left side of the park in the market area, there are a few other bars but those bars are normally inside special clubs.” I answered keeping the idea of strip clubs to a minimum because of the cubs that were around. Strip clubs for Mincridarins weren’t looked down upon, in fact Lynn told me they were fairly common. The definition of Bar for Mincridarins was a little skewed because a bar for them was a strip club, and unlike most human strip clubs, it’s normal for the servers, to be fully nude, and not gender biased. So it was entirely normal to be buying drinks for females and be served drinks from a stark nude male. Mincridarins and Adestrians weren’t homophobic in any regard. Though some had problems dating the same gender, it wasn’t same thing as being homophobic, because they could easily have a gay friend and not be bothered by them, it was just the act that bothered them.          “Do you have any public bathes or pools?” Aldure asked and I looked up at the Aldure.          “It’s on the right side of the park on the north end behind the arena.” I informed and Aldure nodded and stretched his body.          “The shower is too small, I can’t spread out my wings when I bathe so I can’t wash myself properly.” I nodded, wondering about that because it’s not like it was a bad thing, but I realized every now and then Aldure had a small musk to him, now I understood why.  Though another thing to understand about Mincridarn and Adestrian customs, was that it was totally normal to bathe with a friend, sister, bother, mother or father, at any age, even as adults it was common for the son to bath with his father or relative.         They did this in order to properly clean the fur, and check for any kind of parasitic insects that might have taken hold. Because of this thinking, public bathes are normal and not sex segregated. Females of any age could bathe with males of any age. Even when I first became Lynn’s roommate I bathed with him in a nonsexual manner.          “I wish most of my friends could see this world, no matter where I looked it’s just amazing. The level of human technology and the intellect required to build and craft such buildings and such small things.” Aldure said as he continued to look at buildings as we walked by them. Each of them run down in their own way, but slowly getting repaired and cleaned. Even after nearly five years of the Mincridarins coming to earth, the buildings were still very much unpleasant, and needed plenty of help. Slowly the buildings were getting better but it still took a while.          “Sometimes we humans don’t realize what is in front of us until we take a step back and actually think about the things around us. We use computers but we don’t understand how the circuitry and programing of the computer work. And sometimes when we look back at before such things were created we don’t realize until then how wonderful the technology we have really is.” I added as I kept a nearly even pace with Aldure. The dragon just simply nodded, and for some time we only just walked looking around.         Every now and then Aldure would ask a question and I’d answer him, we talked to others, had a few laughs as we told some stories of our past. But when lunch came around we sat down at a restaurant. “The Serpents Bite”, the restaurant was owned and controlled by two twin sisters, green tree snakes from Matra, a country to the Far East. Where cities and villages are built in the ancient and giant trees that covered the landscape.  The Serpent’s Fang, was a restaurant tailored to cooking only spicy foods from all across the world, mainly recipes from the Mincridarn home world, but there were some human dishes such as curry, and chili.         We were sat down by a teenage stag, his antlers still rather small, just a two point rack. He wore a simple Green apron with a white button up shirt and brown slacks. He gave us menus, Aldure and I both ordered waters to start with.          “So I guess I’ll pay.” I called out knowing in a way it would be rude not too, I was showing Aldure around for the most part anyways.          “No I’ll pay, I have one of the plastic card thingy’s.” Aldure countered dropping his menu too look at me, I just looked at him, his gaze was firm and I could tell he wasn’t going to budge. The noble spirit of the dragon coming forward. “Do you even know how to use a credit card?” I asked simply and Aldure face flushed, and he mouthed quiet words to try and counter but he slouched in defeat.          “No.” Aldure simply stated and I expected this, but he brought his head back up and looked at me.          “But I’ll owe you a meal.”          “That’s fine.” I simply agreed and Aldure perked up hearing this, and looked down at his menu; drinks came not to long after. I was given a normal sized cup, Aldure was given the pitcher. The water was cold and it was a simple comfort before we ordered our meals.         Aldure ordered the spicy chicken curry, as spicy as it could be, I ordered the Avrin, which is a Mincridarn vegetarian dish, and where spicy peppers from the Mincridarn home world are cut open and stuffed with warm riced sautéed with spice based herbal sauce. The peppers were like large hand sized jalapenos, and they had a similar taste but a much firmer kick.          “You know humans would think were on a date.” I said as Aldure was drinking from the pitcher, my words caused him to cough up the cold water into his hand and he looked at me with large eyes. A female wolf quickly came over to help clean up Aldure with a hand towel. Though Aldure shooed her away and she left the towel, and he dried off his hands, as he spoke.          “What are you talking about?”          “Showing you around the town, taking you out to eat. I’m just saying, most people would call this a date.” I explained and Aldure fell quiet and looked at me, and spoke after a moment.          “Well it wouldn’t be a bad date.” Aldure admitted, and I gave small laugh because in my own opinion if Aldure and I were dating I wouldn’t say it was bad either. Though my simple remark lead into conversations about Lynn and Mrs. Ring, and some of my comments turned ears. Mincridarins didn’t need to look at you, and it took some getting used to, but you don’t look for their eyes when you’re trying to talk privately but there ears; because they swivel around to catch your conversation if there interested in listening.         As we talked about Mrs. Ring and Lynn, the conversation shifted towards escapades and other males and females I might be interested in, and my “Type”. During this conversation I got plenty of turned ears, but we both fell silent once our food had arrived. We didn’t talk as we ate, the food was too good to be distracted from. I paid for the meal after drinking a tall glass of milk to wash away the heat of the pepper I had just eaten. But regardless of what I tried to do the edges of my mouth still burned, but my stomach was satisfied.         After I got my card back, and Aldure and I left to walk the streets with the guards who had been outside watching the door. Aldure brought up the idea of going to the public bathes, even the guards seemed interested in the idea and by how Aldure asked me it seemed the plan hinged on my agreement. So I didn’t turn it down, plus a warm bath after all the walking we did sounded like a fun idea anyways. Plus I had always wanted to see what Adestrians looked like under all their clothes. Aldure normally bathed with his guards and Ilin bathed with the guards as well, so I had never seen them naked; and come on they were well balanced thick walls of muscle and scales, I had to get a better look at them.