#Thorny-Cat Princess

[swelling-feeling]

▽△ 18+ Only △▽

▽△ Minors and Proshippers DNI △▽

△▽ Despite my "Intrigue" being pretty tame, it's better to be safe than sorry ❖ If you know me, i beg thee; pretend you do not ▽△

Welcome to my secret yet not so secret side blog, where you may expect Selfship Shenanigans related to my Kinks, which for the sake of not unmaking myself i shall refer to as my "Intrigues"; the main one of which being Belly inflation

Since im Asexual, i wouldnt bother looking for anything truly super horny here, just scenarios mostly consisting of wholesome, if not lightly spicy shenanigans - mostly romantic fluff, teasing, soft affection, that kind of thing

Two (or technically Three?) of my F/O's will be mainly present for the aforementioned shenanigans;

💞Romantic F/O💞

Spinel (S.U. the Movie / S.U. : F.)

✨Platonic F/O✨

The Witch / The Thorn (S.T.P.)

There's also AUs!

Ghoulx2 - Ghost Band AU; Ink, an Eldritch Entity masquarading as a Ghoul, actually finds that he enjoys this new life, and even falls in love with one of the ghoulehs; Spinel - the two quickly become mates, and what's more, She finds out that he can have her interests come to life - even better still, he shares the same interests as well... Shenanigans ensue. With this God's powers, Reality is Optional.

PromParade - Monster Prom AU; Trifecta and Susie Stiles, The Eldritch Nerd and The Punk Doll; Classmates at Spooky High, and soon enough, partners; ones who share a particular intrigue, and by using Trifecta's many Eldritch powers, have plenty of fun with it. (addition; inky&kuku - Monster Prom AU; Selfship with a character made by my sis, @/astral-riddles, known as Courage - simmilar shitck to the normal Monster Prom AU, but now with the Embodiment of Courage as Trifecta's partner and beloved!)

Vamp'n'Fae - WoW: Shadowlands AU; Zbigneiv, a Venthyr of Revendreth, and Spiderlily, a Night Fae of Ardenweald; Two diffirent beings from two diffirent Afterlives, and yet ones that still met in unusual circumstances, in an unsual place - a loving relationship quickly blossoming between the two, as well as a certain interest...

[fandomwriterstuff]

imgonnagetyouback

Sirius Black x Fem!Reader

Words: ~2.2k

Heavily inspired by imgonnagetyouback by Taylor Swift

You and Sirius Black had what you might call a contentious relationship. And what a relationship it was. You were rivals on the quidditch pitch but you also often found yourself in verbal matches with the dark-haired Gryffindor. 

What was once a childish rivalry had slowly but inevitable turned into something more heated. You could cut the tension with a knife every time the two of you got into it. Your friends who once teased you about what they called your ‘silly crush’ were now begging you to just kiss him, punch him, do something other than send him your sharp words and sharper grins. 

You were somewhat of an unattainable catch for most of your peers, what with you being top of your class, a Slytherin prefect, and unafraid to spit venom at those who offended or opposed you. Which was why your friends within your house (your only friends) were gobsmacked when your usually thorny insults and withering glares softened with mirth when directed at Sirius Black.

All that being said, that was how you ended up ditched by your friends after setting foot in Hogsmeade. This had to be your Slytherin friends’ conniving plan to end your years-long flirtatious bickering. There was no other reason why you were coerced into your best-fitting skirt, why Narcissa insisted on helping you smooth your hair out, why Barty kept sending you manic grins on your walk over. Lastly: it was the only explanation that covered all the previous factors as well as why you were standing in front of Honeydukes staring as three of the Marauders escaped from the back door while Sirius wasn’t paying attention. 

Your clever asshole friends must have colluded with the Grydffindors! 

Well, you thought to yourself, there’s no time like the present. 

The bell rang as you walked through the door.

Lilac short skirt

The one that fits me like skin

Did your research

You knew the price goin' in

“Fancy seeing you here,” you drawled, crossing your arms and cocking your hip as you appraised him. He did look especially attractive, but then again he always did. 

“Is it? The lads and I always start with Honeydukes,” he raised an eyebrow at you, challenging your presence there.

“And where, pray tell, have your friends gone?” You wondered aloud, purposefully obtuse. You tapped a manicured finger on your chin. “I definitely didn’t see them escaping out the employee entrance not two minutes ago.”

“And where’s your gang, princess? You’re usually not too far from Junior and my cousin.” This time he stepped closer to you, and your heart raced in your chest at the proximity. 

“Oh they’ve gone and ditched me. You really can’t ever trust a Slytherin, they’re always planning something you know,” you were rewarded with one of his smiles. Not the dazzling ones he threw at all the girls, nor the toothy shark grins you often received after a particularly pointy barb. It was softer.

“And what are you planning, sweetheart?” Sweetheart, that was a new one.

“I’m planning on taking you out,” you said simply, with sparkling eyes. 

“On a date or with your wand?” He shot back and you surprised yourself with the bubbly laugh that you let out. 

“I haven’t decided yet.” At that, you were surprised by his laughter, head thrown back and hand over his chest. 

“Alright, sweetheart, let me make this easy for you,” with those words, he approached you swiftly like a cat that might bolt, and entangled his fingers with yours. You looked down at the gentle way he was holding your hand and then up into his twinkling eyes. 

“Alright, a date then,” you smiled as you left the candy store hand in hand. “But if you treat me wrong, it’s the wand.” He only laughed.

Whether I'm gonna be your wife or

Gonna smash up your bike, I

Haven't decided yet

But I'm gonna get you back

Your relationship with Sirius changed after that day, though you still found yourself in verbal battles every so often, it died back with the increase of hand holding and heart eyes you were partaking in.

You were waiting for him to make a move: kiss you, invite you to a party, introduce you formally to his friends, anything. It was three weeks of experiencing how sweet Sirius could be and how softly he looked at you. You chalked it up to the lovely autumnal vibes, but you may have been wearing your rose colored glasses too much. 

Your friends didn’t see it coming, when you came back in a sour mood one late fall evening. 

“That’s not a nice face. Tell her that’s not a nice face, Sissy.”

“Shut it, Bella. Or I’ll make you,” you spat, your icy demeanor firmly back in place. 

“Lovers’ spat? Can’t imagine why. You and my cousin were doomed to fail,” she goaded you, and instead of giving in to your temptation you glowered at her. 

“You’re lucky I can’t risk my prefect status just to engage with the likes of you,” with that, you stormed into the boys’ dormitory and knocked on Barty’s door. “Make yourself decent, I’m coming in!”

Once inside, you plopped down on Barty’s bed and sighed deeply. 

“Get out,” he tossed the words at his boyfriend, Evan, and you were never more grateful for his friendship than you were at that moment. You didn’t need eavesdroppers. You cast a silencing charm on the room, and once he sat on the bed next to you, clearly awaiting your inevitable explanation, you allowed yourself to feel. 

You screamed, fists clenched in his forest green velvet covers. “How could I be so stupid?” You exclaimed. Anger, disappointment, and disbelief causing your eyes to fill with unwanted tears. 

“What happened, lovely? Do you need me to maim him?” You shook your head, your voice wavering with your next words. 

“I thought we had something. Everyone thought we had something. And here I am, acting like a fool waiting for an idiot to make a move on me when he was making moves on other girls!” 

Your best friend frowned, pensive. 

“What exactly did the elder Black brother do?”

“I saw him snogging some Ravenclaw in the astronomy tower,” you rubbed harshly at your eyes, willing the tears not to fall. 

“Yeah, alright, I’ll kill him,” Barty stood and you dragged him by his shirt back onto the bed.

“No, you’re not,” you were planning. Slytherins were always planning something. “I’m going to get answers from him, and then I’m going to show him what he’s missing, and then he’s going to be mine.”

Small talk, big love

Act like I don't care what you did

I'm an Aston Martin

That you steered straight into the ditch

Then ran and hid

“What do you mean ‘you didn’t think it would be an issue’?” You had your nose pinched between your fingers as you tried to make sense of his words. 

You’d cornered him and his friend James after a quidditch match against your own team, tensions running high with the Slytherin loss. 

You were filthy, you wanted a shower, you wanted to get your uniform off. But more than that, you needed answers. It seemed the news that Sirius was snogging Gretel the Ravenclaw was also new to James based on his comically raised eyebrows. 

“We’re not dating, therefore there’s no reason for you to be upset.” 

“So you spent weeks holding me hand, telling me how pretty and interesting I am, and then went and snogged Gretel?”

“Well who else would you have me snogging if not her?” He rolled his eyes at you like that was a valid question. 

“Me! God, you’re an imbecile. I thought you were witty and clever, but you’re obviously got fucking potatoes for brains,” you turned on your heel when faced with his silence and marched right into the girls locker room to shower and change. If a few tears leaked out during your shower, well… nobody had to know. 

You left the locker room after all the other girls, wanting to be alone with your thoughts. Unfortunately, James Potter was waiting for you looking fresher than before. 

“What do you want?” Your tone was flat, you were wary, but you were secretly hopeful James would have some insight. 

“I want to tell you something,” he looked sheepish. “I’m sorry about Sirius. He’s an idiot sometimes,” you nodded. 

“Yes, I’ve known this. I just didn’t know how much of an idiot he was.” James scratched the back of his neck, and you had a feeling he was here to apologize for his friend. You told him you didn’t want it. 

“I’m not here to apologize, he’s got to figure that out himself,” he let out a soft chuckle. “But I wanted to explain something and then… propose something.” You tried not to outwardly show your interest but you nodded for him to continue. “The only reason he knows what caring for people looks like is because of me, Moony, and Wormtail. I know you know his other family members so you know the Black family has a lot of…”

“Shitty parents? Trauma? Poor social skills?”

“All of that, yes, which leads me to this: he’s scared because he cares about you and is pushing  you away.” 

“Look, James, can I call you James?” You asked, but powered on before seeing his nod. “I know this. I don’t know if you know but I also come from a shitty pureblood family full of narcissists and actual villains. I’m scared about having feelings for him, clearly for good reason because it was so easy for him to hurt me.” You inhaled deeply, preparing yourself for your next words. “I don’t want him to push me away though, I like holding his hand and talking to him, spending time with him is wonderful, I want more though.”

At that, James’ ever-worried face turned into a devious smile, rivaling that of your friends. 

“That’s where the proposal comes in.”

And I'll tell you one thing, honey

I can take the upper hand and touch your body

Flip the script and leave you like a dumb house party

Or I might just love you 'til the end

You and James concocted a plan to get Sirius to realize he’d hurt your feelings and that he wanted you without stooping to his level. Your first thought had been to make him jealous, give him a taste of his own medicine, but James insisted that would just push him further away. 

So there you were, at a Gryffindor house party with your heart in your hands. They’d won a quidditch game against Hufflepuff and were celebrating. And what you were about to do was risky, but you were so hopeful that it would work. Spilling your guts to boy who didn’t seem all that interested in you seemed like a horrible idea from your perspective, but you were dressed to the nines with your nails and hair done. You were ready. 

“Hello, gorgeous, want to-” he cut himself off when you turned to face him, an eyebrow raised. 

“You’ve been avoiding me, Sirius,” you murmured, stepping forward as he stepped back until he was pressed up against a wall and you were in his personal space. James recruited Remus and Peter to help so that Sirius was already in a darkened corner when you found him. So you had him there, shielded by the darkness, and you started talking.

“I’ve wanted you since fifth year, pretty boy. The hair, the rebel vibe, the fact that you were willing to talk to me even though everybody else was afraid of me,” you started, and looked up through your lashes at him, gauging how he was going to react. “And when things started getting more tense, more fun, I knew on some level you wanted me too. And I was living for it: the banter, gazing across the room at each other when stupid shit happened in class, it felt like for once I was getting something I wanted. And then the tension broke, and you held my hand and we went on that date,” you dragged your knuckles up his side from his belt to his ribs. You felt his racing heart and smoothed your palm over his side, you didn’t want him anxious. “What I’m trying to say is that you hurt my feelings because I wanted you to care about me… The way that I care about you. And I know it’s hard sometimes to let people in, but if you would let me…” you sighed and removed your hand, looking down at your shoes. It was hard, baring your soul to him as he watched with wide eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” he breathed the words, and reached out to hold your hand and tangle his fingers with yours. “I’ve been an idiot. I hope you’ll forgive me.” At your nod, Sirius pressed his soft lips against yours once, twice, three times gently before smiling down at you. “You know you’ll never get rid of me now.”

“Like I’d ever want to.” That time it was you who leaned up and kissed him.

Masterlist

[complete-idiot-inc]

RazLili Week '24 "Animal"

In the True Psychic Gardens, Gisu explored around a giant, sprawling hedge maze. 

It was part of Mr. and Mr. Lover’s challenge. Gisu was with the more… peppy Mr. Lover. 

“Be sure to pluck any weeds of doubt you see. They harsh the jam and generally are a huge pain in the neck.” Mr. Lover said in his semi-melodic and certainly rehearsed way. 

Gisu saw a large, thorny vine jutting right out of the topiary wall and hastily started yanking the vine.

After a few decent tugs, Gisu successfully got the thing out of the wall, but due to the force she exerted typing to pull it, she stumbled bass-ackward into the wall opposite. 

Gisu fell straight through the shrubbery, but she saw something that made her do that hands-over-mouth, “squee!” kind of thing, you know the one. 

(Line break)

Lili was with the more dower Mr. Lover, he strangely looked like her great uncle, or at least the pictures she’s seen of him. 

Lili’s opinion on the gardens was mixed. On the one hand, she loved how Raz had a dedicated part of his mind all about her and his relationship with her. 

On the other hand, it was both the sappiest and the most pessimistic thing Lili ever saw concerning love, and she’s both read and watched The Princess Bride. 

And then there’s the foliage. 

It spoke to Lili in nothing but words like “She’s too good for me.” or “Why me? Why not Elton?” 

There was a single patch of shrubbery that wasn’t speaking in pure nihilism; however.

Pssst, c’mere, you’re gonna love this.

Lili, due to understimulation, decided, “Eh, why not?” and approached the wall. 

Lili peeked in, and her cat-like eyes went wide. 

(Line break)

Warden put some alcohol on a torn-off part of her uniform, “This may sting a bit.” 

The mole did in fact cringe a bit at the application, making a small “mew” at the disinfectant. 

“Sorry, I promise this won’t hurt for much longer.” Warden said tenderly, trying to soothe the trembling rodent. 

Warden then noticed Gisu and Lili staring at her and Mole through the shrubs, and immediately went tomato red. 

“AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!” Gisu went, finding the sight adorable. 

“DON’T YOU GUYS HAVE A CARD TO FIND!?” 

[birindale]

Increased number of pictures per post means i can now fit a whole minicomic in one go. very sexy

When Bow is kidnapped while exploring the ominous Dark Forest, Kowl rushes to get She-Ra's help. But a mysterious message is their only clue to his whereabouts, and no one can decipher it! Join our heroes as they face cat phantoms, continuity errors, and way too much verse on a quest to rescue Bow's heart from Catra's evil clutches.

Transcript/Image ID below the cut

[Image Description: A cover and 14 comic pages from the She-Ra mini-comic, “The Hidden Symbols Mystery”.

Cover: She-Ra holds her sword over her head. It is almost entirely obscured by the 'Princess of Power' logo. In the background, the toy version of the Crystal Castle is set into a cliff. Swift Wind and Kowl fly around, and on the ground we see Bow, Catra, a treasure chest, and a mysterious device resembling a magnifying glass on a piece of cloth.

Page 1: A yellow text box reads, "Legend has it the hearts of those who enter Etheria's DARK FOREST are gripped with evil gloom FOREVER!"

We see Bow journeying deeper into a dark, thorny forest, heedless of the narrative boxes.

A second box reads, "A grim warning indeed--but dire tales of danger cannot dampen Bow's CURIOSITY."

A third reads, "As Etheria's great archer steps ever closer to the forbidden forest, a pair of evil EYES follow his every move!" and we see a pair of bright yellow eyes with orange sclera, glowing against the silhouetted trees.

An ornate purple banner spells out the title, "THE HIDDEN SYMBOLS MYSTERY!" and we see that the eyes belong to Catra, who emerges from the shadows behind Bow's back. She's not wearing her mask, but her hair is stylized almost like cat ears.

"SO... the Dark Forest's strange powers lure brave Bow within my evil grasp! PURRRFECT! A little sleight of hand..." she says, as Bow gazes off in the other direction, completely oblivious.

End Page 1.

Page 2: Catra raises her arms over her head, trailing her hands through her ponytail in a weirdly seductive way, saying "Some MAGIC... and the master of bow and arrow..."

She's enveloped in a cloud of magical smoke. "...shall be..."

She emerges from the smoke like a rocket, now a dark-furred house cat. "... MINE!"

"MEEOOWWW! MEEOOWWW!" yowls the cat we know to be Catra, from the branches of a tree. Bow startles. "WHAT? HO! What evil MISCHIEF is this?" he asks.

"WHO GOES THERE?" he demands, evidently unable to recognize cat sounds.

"WHY, it's just a kitten! Guess I've listened to one too many tall tales about the Dark Forest!" he exclaims, when he sees Catra 'stuck' in the tree.

"FEAR NOT, little furball..." he tells her.

He shoots a rope arrow into the trunk of the tree, higher than where Catra's sitting, with a huge THWUNK!

"I'll get you down!" he assures her, scaling the tree.

End Page 2.

Page 3: Catra explodes into her true form, her cape fluttering dramatically. "Kind-hearted FOOL!" she shouts.

"The dangers of this Dark Forest is no tall tale--Your very bravery BETRAYS you! Now, you are MINE to do with what I wish!" she tells him, with a close up on her eyes. Her irises are slitted like a cat's pupils/

"Your SKILL with bow and arrow shall prove most USEFUL to my EVIL PLANS!" says Bow, because someone seems to have drawn the tail to this dialog bubble wrong. "NEVER! I will take no part in your dark designs!" he declares, leaping from the tree. A few vines begin to coil around him. That can't be good.

End Page 3.

Page 4: "Do not dare defy me! You are my PRISONER..." says Catra, jumping down from the tree as the vines wrap more securely around Bow.

"You have no choices here!" she tells him, leaning in close.

A yellow text box reads, "The cursed feline revels in TRIUMPH, unaware her wicked scheme has been DETECTED!" and we see that Kowl has been watching the whole thing.

"Oh me! Oh my! GREAT LAND O' GLOOM! Catra has Bow... he's destined for doom! Oh me! Oh my! What a horrible day! Good PRINCESS ADORA must know right away!" says Kowl, in verse for some reason, as he speeds away to get help.

He reaches Spirit and Adora, who says, "GOODNESS, Kowl! What is the MATTER?" and Kowl says, "Dribble... I mean drubble! Oh heavens... Bow's in TROUBLE!

"It's CATRA--that feline foe! She's trapped him! Our dear friend, Bow, he's in the Dark Forest! Yes! He is in need of your help, Adora, quickly TAKE HEED!"

End Page 4.

Page 5: "BY THE HONOR OF GRAYSKULL..." shouts Adora, raising both arms over her head. Spirit is silhouetted behind her. They were still ironing out details like 'catchphrase' at this point in production.

"I AM SHE-RA!" she finishes, as rainbow magic swirls and bursts around her and Swift Wind, both of them now transformed.

"No time to lose! Lead me to this dark trouble spot AT ONCE!" She-Ra tells Kowl.

End Page 5.

Page 6: "May the POWER of the sword protect us! Good Kowl, are you SURE this is the place? Bow is NOWHERE to be found!" says Adora (she's apparently de-transformed) from Swift Wind's back. Kowl flies in the opposite direction at their feet and speaks in verse again, "Bow is gone, that much is true... But I've found something here to give us a clue!"

"What strange fabric, what strange symbols!" says Adora, peering at a piece of green fabric speared on a tree branch. There are four symbols on it--boxes, lines, and triangles interlocking. "I'm sure they hold a clue to Bow's whereabouts, but I CANNOT read them!"

"Woe is me! Woe is me! LOOK! These symbols hold the key!" says Kowl, as Adora pulls the fabric down.

"QUICKLY! Kowl, we must pay a visit to the Wise Old Wizardess and ask her for help!" says Adora.

End Page 6.

Page 7: "She-Ra, my dear, your visit comes as a most pleasant surprise," says a woman with hair that appears to be made of rays of light, even though Adora is still de-transformed.

"But I sense you are in NEED! How is it I may HELP YOU?" says the woman, presumably the Wise Old Wizardess.

"Somewhere in Etheria's Dark Forest, the evil Catra holds Bow PRISONER! The cloth Kowl carries is our only clue to finding him, but I CANNOT decipher it!" says Adora, holding out the cloth, which Kowl is not carrying.

"Perhaps THIS will find your answer... and your friend!" says the Wise Old Wizardess.

She passes Adora an object that looks like a cross between a hand mirror and a magnifying glass. "Place your many colored cloth beneath the powerful gemstone and the symbols you shall read without delay!" she says.

End Page 7.

Page 8: "Why... it makes SENSE! It's a MAP... a map into the DEPTHS of the DARK FOREST!" says Adora, holding the object over the cloth, which is still only one color, showing a grid, compass, and river.

"Go quickly now! Your noble friend's plight is GRAVE indeed!" says the Wise Old Wizardess, pointing dramatically.

"FASTER, Swift Wind, FASTER! We must find Bow and foil Catra's evil plan for him before it's TOO LATE!" says Adora, as Swift Wind and Kowl fly as fast as they can.

"HOOTY HOOT HOOT! There's the Dark Forest door! QUICKLY! Go through it! Let us soar!" says Kowl, pointing at, like... some kind of tunnel through spacetime? It looks like a diagram of a gravity well.

"We're going to CRASH right through it! I want to take that conniving feline by SURPRISE!" says Adora.

End Page 8.

Page 9: A yellow text box says, "Meanwhile..." and we cut to Catra and Bow in a clearing. Catra is standing a few feet from Bow, holding up a finger as though delivering a lecture, while he's on his knees with his hands tied behind his back. "You've served Princess Adora these many years... a PUPPET to her beck and call! And yet it's gained you NOTHING!" she scolds.

"To serve Adora has been my GREATEST HONOR, her FRIENDSHIP my ample REWARD!" says Bow. Catra crosses her arms and scowls down at him.

"Don't be a fool! Join forces with me and the POWER and WEALTH of all Etheria will be OURS forever! LOOK..." says Catra, showing him a vision of the two of them standing on a dais of some kind, Bow waving and beaming down at a crowd of people. Each of them holds a basket of something gold up to Bow and Catra. Catra is gesturing at Bow as though presenting him to the audience, smiling under her mask. She's wearing a long pink skirt. The background is cool and abstract, but it evokes a castle of some kind.

"Doomed to spend a lifetime with you, Catra? No gold or glory is worth so high a price! In your plans I will take no part!" says Bow, waving her off, so I guess his hands are untied now.

End Page 9.

Page 10: "Perhaps my FRIENDS will change your mind!" says Catra, pointing at him and summoning what have historically been called 'cat phantoms' but she never does this again so it's anyone's guess. They're scary little ghouls with cat ears. Ahh!

Bow breaks the ropes around his wrists with a loud 'SNAP' so I guess he was still tied up after all.

He draws his bow despite not having had it a second ago, nocks an arrow, and says, "BACK OFF, foul phantoms... my MAGIC ARROWS will change your tune!"

An arrow, apparently magic, flies.

It goes through two phantoms, who wince in apparent pain.

"OAF! Your worthless weapons are but POWDER..." says Catra, catching the arrow, "... in my HANDS!"

She clenches her fist around the shaft of the arrow.

It warps and withers like a dehydrated plant that somebody like, gnawed on.

End Page 10.

Page 11: "You've had your chance! Prepare to meet your DOOM!" says Catra.

"Toil and trouble, gloom and sadness, feel the POWER of my madness. As the legends have foretold, your beating heart shall now grow COLD! Your happiness shall turn to HATE--I seal FOREVER your DESPERATE FATE!" say Catra, hands covered in magic. "NOOOOO!" says Bow. The heart on his chestplate glows a sickly gray, and the cat phantoms grin smug little cat grins.

"HISSSS..." says Catra, turning from Bow, who's slumped to his knees again. She-Ra has showed up, sword drawn and ready for action. "SHE-RA! My most UNWELCOME guest! The power of my evil spell CANNOT be broken! You are TOO LATE!" says Catra.

"I am outmatched by Catra in this Dark Forest! I must OUTWIT her if Bow is to survive!" She-Ra, who I will remind you is The Most Powerful Woman in the Universe, thinks to herself. "Let me see..."

"You shall NOT have my fine friend's heart! I take it for MY OWN!" says She-Ra, holding up a small green chest. Both it and the Sword of Protection are glowing. "Has the Dark Forest DRIVEN She-Ra from her SENSES? What in Etheria..." thinks Bow.

End Page 11.

Page 12: We see that the box contains a cartoonish heart.

"Oh no you don't! His heart belongs to ME!" says Catra, snatching the chest from She-Ra.

Swift Wind flies off, with Bow and She-Ra on his back somehow, as Catra gloats over her prize.

"SWIFT WIND, be gone! Bow... you are quite safe now, but hold on TIGHT!" says Adora, who has once more de-transformed off-panel.

"MY HEART!" says Bow, with an uncomfortably close close-up.

"My heart! I feel it beating once again! Oh, She-Ra... I don't know how you did it, but you SAVED me!" says Bow, flexing both arms over his head even though she literally just told him to hold on. He looks so happy though... it's probably fine.

End Page 12.

Page 13: Swift Wind and his passengers glow bright as they fly away.

"You miserable MEDDLER! You TRICKED me! The HEART OF DARKNESS is in RUIN and I must FLEE for my life! Oh, you will pay for this someday--Belive me, you WILL PAY!" says Catra, shaking her fist after them. We see that the chest she holds is now empty.

A yellow caption box reads, "Etheria's great archer, weary from his misadventure, finds himself safe within the castle grounds once more!" We see Swift Wind, Kowl, and two human figures silhouetted against the base of the Crystal Castle.

Another yellow caption box reads, "And he tells his true friend, Princess Adora his tale!" We see Spirit, Adora, Kowl, and Bow, safe and sound. "Oh Princess Adora, my CURIOSITY got the better of my good judgement! Catra tried to steal my heart!" Bow tells Adora.

End page 13.

Page 14: "But Adora, she would NEVER succeed because my heart belongs to YOU!" says Bow. They've switched places, Spirit and Kowl have disappeared, and they're now silhouetted by a brilliant green full moon.

"And I'm SURE you have learned a moral as well..." says Adora, smiling at him and apparently just not addressing that at all.

"Yes... be ever so CAREFUL not to let your CURIOSITY take you to DANGEROUS PLACES!" says Bow, in red text. "Oh yes! Curiosity ALWAYS gets the CAT! Tee hee!" says Adora. A white caption box reads, "The End."

End Page 14.

End ID]

[discocandles]

Spy x family headcannon(? It's my typical perception of the character that I wanted to share):

The Thorn Princess has a lot of cryptic energies, and it makes up a lot of the cover for her secret identity. It's canon that garden is often thought of as an urban legend, and so thorn princess being thought of one as well isn't too big a stretch, but I think that yor unconsciously adds to it when she's out as the thorn princess.

Yor's stealthiness making her able to basically appear behind her target during broad daylight does add to that too. But the most cryptic part about the thorn princess is that it is always cloaked in darkness. The idea that on has seen the thorn princess's face would be considered ridiculous. Why that would imply it had a face.

While Garden is considered an urban legend with murders and shadow governments, the Thorn Princess is for those who indulge in the occult. Its home is deep within the shadows, deeper than anyone could hope to go. They believe that it might take the form of a gray cat in the day.

Yor doesn't really know much about her alter ego's status. All she really learned of it was when she saw one of her knives at a pawn shop, and went in to purchase it. The owner asked if she "was one of those pagans who was going on about a thorny duchess or something?" She simply said she enjoyed the look of the knife(yor prepared that when she first saw her knife the day before). As she headed back home, she realized he meant the thorn princess, or her.

Anyway, Yor as Thorn Princess is just very creecher to me.

[hpcanon-oc-fest]

HPC OC PROMPTS

As it’s a little difficult to have proper prompting for OC pairings, we’ve decided to have a theme of prompts! The theme this year is 7 Core Classes. The idea is, whatever your OC’s favorite/best class is, that’s the prompt list you choose from! If they liked an extracurricular or they don’t have a favorite class, then that’s perfectly fine, pick whatever you please. Prompt list below the cut.

Potions

Feelings bubble over

Going off-book

Unexpected reactions

Telling the truth

Obviousness

Cooking together

Getting sick

Luck

Mad science 

Poison/antidote

Drink me/eat me

Drunk decisions/hangover

Subtlety

Transfiguration

Difficult changes

Animalistic urges

Disguises

Makeover

Walks in the moonlight

Getting a pet

Breaking the law

Similarities

Game of Chess

Cat and mouse

Princess and the frog

Transformation

Set in stone

Herbology

Growing together

Planting seeds

Buried feelings

Out in nature

Reap what you sow

Weeding the garden

Pruning

Entanglement

Thorny

Turning a new leaf

Harvest

The apple doesn’t fall far

Charms

Floaty feelings

Arm candy

Finding what sticks

Height differences

Double trouble

Perfect movements

Accio gone wrong

Locked doors

Vanishing

Music to my ears

Corrections

Enchanted

History of Magic

History repeats itself

Breaking tradition

Ghosts of the past

Skeletons in the closet

Old flames

Bad habits

Legacy

Making history

Archaic

Portraits

Workaholic

Ancient magic

Defense Against the Dark Arts

First argument

Greatest fear

Chocolate

Light in the darkness

Monsters aren’t born, they’re made

Fighting for forever

Soulmates

Know thy enemy

Curse-breaking

Under a spell

Invisible

Resurrection

Astronomy

Rewrite the stars

Legends of old

Star-crossed lovers

Like night and day

Wishing on a star

Alignment 

Celestial Ball

New direction

Turning the tide

Phases

Sleeping under the stars

Sunrise/sunset

[space-cat-lair]

Insolent Feeling of Predestination

It hangs thick in the air, the same way my hometown's weight hangs on my shoulders, keeping me warm and dragging me down. I can feel it in the humidity of the Valley, in the tumultuous fog, impossibly still, yet charged. It's in the way it dusks, dull and timid, earlier and earlier, covering the world in a purple starless blanket. That same blanket that then turns white at morning, teasing snow like a wicked child, waiting for the moment humanity regrets its actions to fall.

It's in the way you stand in the middle of a desert road, the concrete cracked and unfamiliar with your heavy and erratic steps, so unlike the smooth gliding of rubber and chain. Right in the middle, staring down the dotted line like a bull waiting to charge. You raise your gaze, trailing it over the line until it fades with the horizon, or behind the serpentine road; then you see the evergreen trees, sullen, tired, old. Spikes so dark that the night shines upon them, their tips straining to touch the sky as if to gain a glimpse of paradise, rendering them the thorny crown of a maddening earth. Princess of all that is lost, of life and nurturing, of concrete and war. Mother of mothers, Queen of sovereigns and all life.

It's also in the way you cry yourself to sleep, thinking of all things beautiful in the world: the hug of a mother, a silent pact, the eyes of a cat, an unexpected gift, soft, soft socks, and your friend’s smile. It's all so beautiful you can't help but cry. And there you feel it, insistent like a tongue slapping on a drum, that insolent feeling of predestination.

[sparklingandtwinkling]

Go! Princess Pretty Cure Characters as Mobians

🩷🌸🌹💙🧜‍♀️🌊💛⭐️💫❤️🔴🔥🐩🕊️🐈

Cures:

Haruka Haruno/Cure Flora - Auburn Deer/Blonde (with Rosy Ombre) Deer

As Cure Flora, she controls the power of flowers

Dreams of "becoming a Princess"

Minami Kaido/Cure Mermaid - Teal Dolphin/Blue (with the middle a Ocean Blue and the bottom a Dark Ombre) Dolphin

As Cure Mermaid, she controls the power of water

Her dream is to be a Marine Veterinarian

Kirara Amanogawa/Cure Twinkle - Brown Owl/Orange (with a Reddish-Orange Ombre) Owl

As Cure Twinkle, she controls the power of stars

Her dream is to become a top model

Towa Akagi/Twilight/Cure Scarlet - Light Red Hedgehog/Silver Hedgehog/Light Pink (with a Magenta Ombre) Hedgehog

Princess of Hope Kingdom

Younger sister of Prince Kanata

As Cure Scarlet, she controls the power of fire

Her dream of becoming a Grand Princess

She was brainwashed and became Twilight and was thought to be Dyspear's daughter

Faires:

Pafu - Poodle Cure Flicky/Poodle Mobian

Younger sister of Aroma

She can transform into a young human.

Aroma - Bird Cure Flicky/Purple Blue Jay Mobian

Older brother of Pafu

He can transform into a young human

Miss Shamour - Cat Cure Flicky/Siamese Cat Mobian

A fairy found inside the Cures' Lesson Pad

She is a Siamese cat who can also take human form

Magical Allies:

Chieri/Cure Flora - Pale Pink Gazelle

One of the Legendary Princess Pretty Cure of the Hope Kingdom and Past Cure Flora.

Her powers have since been passed down to the current Cure Flora.

Yura/Cure Mermaid - Sky Blue Porpoise/Turquoise Porpoise

One of the Legendary Princess Pretty Cure of the Hope Kingdom and Past Cure Mermaid.

Her powers have since been passed down to the current Cure Mermaid.

Sei/Cure Twinkle - Blonde Mourning Dove

One of the Legendary Princess Pretty Cure of the Hope Kingdom and Past Cure Twinkle.

Her powers have since been passed down to the current Cure Twinkle.

Villians:

Dyspear - Black Swan

She is the ruthless leader and sorceress of Dys Dark.

Her goal is to spread despair and chaos around the world and she dislikes dreams and hope.

Close - Black Wolverine (Dys Dark)/Black Winged Wolf (Second Form)/Black Marten (Mobian)/White Phoenix (Third Form)

One of Dys Dark's commanders and a member of the Three Musketeers.

He was crafted from Dyspear's soul.

He is extremely loyal to Dyspear and even helped with reviving her. Dyspear trusts him greatly as well and later passed down her remaining powers to him.

Shut - Pale Blonde Himalayan Cat

One of Dys Dark's commanders and a member of the Three Musketeers.

Lock/Kuroro - Orange Thorny Devil Lizard/Green Dragon (Final Form)/Cream Calico Cat Flicky (Kuroro)

One of Dys Dark's commanders and a member of the Three Musketeers.

After his defeat he is found as a fairy named Kuroro.

Stop & Freeze - Silver Tech Rabbit & Gold Teach Mouse 

The robotic-like twin generals of Dys Dark, they work for Close.

Family:

Ibuki Haruno - Brown Deer

Haruka’s father.

He is a Japanese sweets maker, who runs the shop "Haruya" with his wife.

Moe Haruno - Brown Deer

Haruka’s mother.

She works at her family's Japanese sweets shop "Haruya" with her husband.

Momoka Haruno - Burgundy Deer

Haruka’s younger sister.

Tsukasa Kaido - Blue-ish Gray Shark

Minami’s father

Head of the Kaido family.

Masumi Kaido - Dark Turquoise Dolphin

Minami’s mother.

Wataru Kaido - Dark Turquoise Shark

Minami’s older brother.

Wataru is famous for being the president of a company under the "Kaido group".

Ken Takamagahara - Eagle

Kiria’s father.

He is a well-known actor who has starred in Hollywood movies and is filming in Brazil at the time.

Stella Amanogawa - Dirty Blonde Owl

Kirara’s mother.

Her former dream was to be on stage with her daughter. Now, her new dream is for her and Kirara to become supermodels.

King of Hope Kingdom - Silver Hedgehog

Towa’s father and the king of Hope Kingdom.

Queen of Hope Kingdom - Light Red Hedgehog

Towa’s mother and the queen of Hope Kingdom.

Prince Kanata - Light Purple Hedgehog (Prince)/Dull Purple Hedgehog (Civilian)

Is the prince of Hope Kingdom and the older brother of Towa.

His full name is Prince Hope Grand Kanata.

Supporting People:

Yui Nanase - Dark Blue Ocelot

She is the roommate of Haruno Haruka and her dream is to be a children's book author.

Yuuki Aihara - Brown Clouded Leopard

He is Haruka's old classmate who used to pick on her when they were younger because of her dream of being a princess.

He is also a member of the tennis team.

Tina - Dolphin Flicky

Is a dolphin flicky that befriended Minami after saving her from drowning in the sea.

Seira Azuma - Dark Olive Turtle

She is the student council vice-president of Noble Academy, and is a good friend of Ayaka Nishimine.

Ayaka Nishimine - Blonde Manta Ray

She is the student council secretary of Noble Academy, and is a good friend of Seira Azuma.

Kimimaro Ijuin - Brown Humpback Whale

He is a rich super celebrity, Kaido Minami's classmate, childhood friend and self-proclaimed fiancé.

His dream is the desire to "take a step forward with Minami".

He later attends Noble Academy as a student.

Asuka Kitakaze - Brown Orca

Is a world leading marine biology expert and veterinarian.

Her dream is "to understand the sea".

She is also an author and she currently resides in Florida.

Karin Akehoshi - Dark Plum Mouse

She is a dreamer who aspires to become a model like Kirara after finding magazines featuring her.

Feeling like she isn't good at anything, she became Kirara's temporary assistant to earn more experience.

Ranko Ichijo - Bright Auburn Wildcat

A third year student at Noble Academy and is Kirara's spoiled rival.

She works as a reporter for the television programme "Sunday GoGo".

Kyoko Tachi - Black Ground Squirrel

She is the president of the model industry that Amanogawa Kirara belongs to.

Yume Mochizuki - Light Purple Porcupine

She's the author of The Princess of Flowers and Noble Academy's Headmistress.

Shirogane-san - White Honey Badger

She is the head of the female dorms, and is a good friend of Mochizuki Yume.

Reiko Kisaragi - Black Lioness

She is the supervisor of the girls' dorm who originally disliked the idea of keeping Pafu in the dorms.

Shuu Imagawa - Golden Blonde Silverback Gorilla

He is the representative of the Noble Academy's male dormitory and is also a member of the student council.

He and Naoto Koshiba seem to be close friends.

Naoto Koshiba - Dark Blue Meerkat

He is the representative of the Noble Academy's male dormitory and is also a member of the student council.

He and Shuu Imagawa seem to be close friends.

His dream is to become a scientist.

��—————————————————————————————————

Previously: 🪞👗❤️ | Next: 🧹💎

[dizzydennis]

Sonic x Blaze (Sonic Channel Cover Story) - English Translation

Translator notes: My Japanese is not fluent, but I do my best with my N3 certification. There may be some inaccuracies. As the weather gets colder, Blaze heats things up for November. I hope you enjoy part 1 of this cool duo and their swashbuckling adventure deep into Coral Cave.

Tearing through a peaceful silence was a terrifying explosion that echoed throughout a cave.

While the sounds reverberated and echoed about, countless robots lied in wreck as they sparked with intense burn marks all over them.

It was a member of royalty wrapped around a red flame. This person pushed back an army of robot pirates that were rushing in. There they stood, with one arm extended outwards to obliterate her enemies and the other arm pointed upwards with smoke coming out of their fingertips. This person was none other than Blaze the Cat!

"What's wrong? Is that all you got?"

Pirate robots slowly surrounded her like a hoard of demons, ready to attack all at once.

Blaze dropped to her hips to intercept them and strengthened the power of her flames behind her to start spinning.

"Hey hey hey ~! Where are you looking, you clanky bucket of bolts!?"

A hedgehog flew in with a blue breeze and knocked down robot after robot at a speed incomprehensible to the untrained eye.

He wrecked every last robot with his thorny body by slamming into them before he landed next to Blaze after a hard-hitting ricochet.

"Yeah, Blaze! Long time, no see."

"Sonic ..."

"... Will the grand princess of this country ever get rid of these pesky pirates?"

The two followed the remaining robots as they escaped further into the cave. Sonic asked in jest, but Blaze moved forward with a serious expression.

“It’s like the Sol Emeralds were crying out in the middle of the night. I must’ve come here due to their influence, but I can’t figure out what is going on here.”

Blaze replied bluntly. She had no interest in engaging in light conversation.

Blaze is the princess of the "Sol Empire" and she resides in a world separate from Sonic’s. She is also the guardian of peace in the empire and the secret precious stones known as the "Sol Emeralds.” She works tirelessly with her special fire powers.

"While it may be an urgent matter, I can’t really give it my attention right now. I’m already after some actual villains and I’m in the middle of cleaning them up. What about you?”

Sonic responded with a face that showed he had realized the gravity of the situation he was in.

Sonic had previously gone to check on the seventh Chaos Emerald that he had left in Twinkle Park. However, he also had the other six mysterious Chaos Emeralds with him.

The moment the seven gems came together, they emitted a bright light that suddenly began to wrap around Sonic ... and by the time he noticed what was going on, he was in Coral Cave.

"So, if you came here, then we will need to take care of your problem after we deal with these the current situation.”

"Aah, alright then ..."

A second wave of pirate robots then began their attack.

The mastermind behind these pirate robots should have already been defeated. The robots lost their master and had been strays left in the wake of Sonic and Blaze’s adventure. They weren’t sophisticated, but they still had guns that could shoot anywhere and anything. In large numbers, they were a threat and some types even held a destructive wrecking ball! They should not be underestimated.

In a turbulent attack, Blaze damaged and hindered the movements of a bunch of enemies with her flames. Sonic then hopped in and attacked the robots with his quills. The robots reeled back, but prepared for another attack.

Soon after… the two of them needed a breather after pushing back that second wave. They fell into a back-to-back formation.

"I’m digging this ...! But I didn’t think you'd be able to let somebody cover your back."

"I can’t do this alone."

Blaze once had an adventure with Sonic where they defeated a mighty enemy after joining forces in battle. However, when they first met, Blaze felt she had to handle everything by herself. She was a pretty distant person.

After that adventure with Sonic, Blaze learned the strength of trusting others. She even became tolerant of other… more demanding personalities after meeting Amy and Cream; the latter of which was very innocent. She became much more open-minded and realized she wasn’t an authority above her peers, but rather… a friend. Sonic was happy to welcome such a small change in Blaze, but ...

"Just wait, Sonic. I understand it now ..."

Sonic realized Blaze was talking to him, but she turned away.

"The truth is, I will never be the same as you…"

The roots of Blaze's heart haven't changed ... but Sonic actually respected her noble seriousness; that strength and persistence that Blaze held within herself that wouldn’t allow her to let others close.

After the attack of the pirate robots had subsided, the two decided to attack head-on at the enemy’s base. They proceeded to hunt down the robots while heading into the furthest depths of Coral Cave.

They had been exploring the caverns for about an hour and they reached the deepest regions of the darkness. Sonic noticed a big change in the area around them.

He could see the area was brightly illuminated by an emerald’s clear green light; the air was clean too, despite the fact it within a deep underground cave.

While walking along the decorated, exterior walls, Sonic realized that this was something special.

When he turned his attention to the back of the cave cavity, he saw what seemed to be a staircase accompanied by the sound of metal squeaking ... Sonic felt the sounds belonged to a barrage of pirate robots. He could just barely make out the robots going in and out. This was it! ... There was no doubt; this was the base of the pirate robots.

Excited for another swashbuckling adventure, Sonic shouted towards Blaze.

"Art thou ready to attend the party, Madame Princess?"

"............"

Sonic tried to pass by Blaze, who had become silent. Without a second thought, he headed for the stairway.

His path was blocked by a hand right in front of his face. The first burned with ambers and fire.

"Hey! What’s the big idea?"

Sonic gave a surprised look to Blaze. Blaze stared at him with pure anger in her eyes.

After a moment of silence, Blaze slowly spoke. It was in a quiet, angry tone, as if to control Sonic. The blue hedgehog was overwhelmed and his jokes stopped.

"... It's my problem from here. You should go home."

"...!?"

A wave of cold tension rushed into the windless, undersea cave.

(To be continued in part 2…)

[dragonageficrecs]

Ship rec list: Fenris/Hawke, AU

Fenris/Hawke fandom is massive. Loquaciousquark, theherocomplex, the_tevinter_biscuit and queenofkadara are especially prolific for this pairing, to this reader's joy. Fics marked with "^" are ones that have been completed during the modern plague (or recently completed fics).

It was hard to sort between AUs that felt like they could take place in Canon (and add to the expanded draft of FenHawke Canon and Canon AU fic rec list) and the AUs that felt like they should belong with the other fics here. Is there a method to this madness? Who knows.

Fic rec submission box and ask box are open.

-

WC <10k

^Water is Taught by Thirst by loquaciousquark. Fairy Tale / Merman AU. Merman Fenris and F!Hawke. A sequel to the lovely oneshot that's linked in the author's summary.

Time Unbound, Anew by theherocomplex. Reincarnation fic? For a Tumblr prompt from loquaciousquark: kissing so desperately that their whole body curves into the other person’s."

^Katzenjammer by cadaverum. Modern College AU, M!Hawke. For want of a lost cat... I enjoyed the appearances of the various DA2 companions.

-

WC 10-25k

^The Respite Hollow (or, The Ice Was Cold and So Were Their Hearts Until They Fell In love) by loquaciousquark. sequels are An Ice Like glass (or, While You're Waiting for Closure, Try the Gelato) and Compulsory Figures (Or, What To Do When the Cold Front Blows Through). Figure Skating AU! The shadow of Danarius looms large. As the winter Olympics approach, it might be a good idea to refresh your skating terminology :D

^Family is what you make of it by Elveny. Modern AU, pretend relationship. Fenris is a tattoo artist (the irony!), Hawke is a social worker. Family expectations abound in here. #and they were roommates.

Unbound by VikingEggplant. Pirate AU. Separate fic rec post here.

^Theodosian Idol by theherocomplex. F!Hawke, Pop Idol AU, which is... I don't think I've read any fics with this premise in other fandoms. Mad props for creativity and for implanting Gideon Emery's singing voice in my brain. As if his voice wasn't alluring enough already.

-

WC 25k-50k

^Pathetic in Love by KnightOwl725. Modern AU, no magic. This fic delves into the whole thorny tangled mess that a Hawke can be when chasing after Anders, even in the canon universe. Who hasn't wished to be first in someone's heart?

A Convincing Affair by kellbelle. Modern AU, College/Uni AU, pretend relationship. Fenris is threatened with deportation.

The Broken Binding by loquaciousquark. Fairy Tale AU. F!Hawke. Quark wrote this 10 years ago. What was I doing ten years ago?! Not writing a fic like this, that's for sure.

-

WC 50-100k

Champion by Vashoth. Royalty AU. The fic where Princess F!Hawke is trying to protect her sister while a tournament is being held for her hand, and Fenris is an escaped slave posing as a knight. A+ fight scene writing, which is notoriously hard to get. Separate fic rec post here.

Swan Song by Nenalata. Modern Ballet AU. Author summary:

What's the point of having perfect technique and graceful movements when the thought of dancing makes him sick to his stomach? Art is meaningless without passion, without emotion, without intent. Modern, city, dance AU featuring F!Hawke/Fenris and all your favorite denizens of Kirkwall and some of your least favorites.

My Heart Is Big by kihadu. Farm AU. Author summary: Nat Hawke is an ex-assassin living out his days teaching kids how to ride horses when a strange tattooed man appears on his doorstep with no shes but the most wondrous voice Nat has ever heard. So Nat gives him a job.

Notes: I never thought I would enjoy a Farm AU, but I did. Learned quite a lot about horse-keeping through this fic. Separate fic rec post here.

^Damned Spot by queenofkadara. Author describes it as "Crack Modern AU" where Fenris is newly hired as a bouncer at F!Hawke's pub. Standalone fic in a series.

Invicta, Invictus by loquaciousquark. F!Hawke. Tevinter AU in the canon universe. Marian Hawke takes Tevinter by storm, and meets our favorite broody elf. Satisfying worldbuilding.

-

>100k

Spire by loquaciousquark. F!Hawke. Another Tevinter AU by the above author, but with the premise that Fenris and Hawke are already in an established relationship. That implication is beautifully explored during Hawke's entry into Tevinter. This fic also has a very satisfying concluding arc.

^Night Shift by ghostbunny. Vampire AU. If you ever wanted to ship FenHawke and Handers in one fic, this fic is for you. Separate fic rec post here.

Through Your Eyes by Regen. Soulmate AU. Similar to the Voiceverse concept where only one soulmate perceives the other in dreams.

^Where the Winds of Fortune Take Me by queenofkadara, Shoute. F!Hawke, Pirate AU! I am quite not sure if Cullen/Lavellan or Hawke/Fenris is the main pairing, and haven't finished reading this 300k+ word epic, but it's an enjoyable, fluffy read with some steamy art *fans self*. Queenofkadara also has a cute Hawke/Fenris series if you want to check it out.

---

Note: I didn't recommend fics like Milk Carton kid because they're just too sad for me.

Also haven't yet read Skyhold Academy, Denerim Confidential, etc. A Lesson in Drowning by theherocomplex looks fantastic, but I'm a wuss so avoiding horror for now...

[peanutbutterjelly-pie]

As we're approaching the end of the year, would you mind sharing what were your greatest fanfic read of 2020?

Oooh YES, I’d be happy to 🙌

I’ve read lots of fanfic this year (as I do every year 🙈) and here have a selection of my absolute faves this season:

+

Cupcakes and Kittens by MandalaRose 

Dean Winchester is not a cat guy. But one softhearted Sasquatch brother and a mad dash to the pet store later, Dean somehow finds himself the sole caregiver for an abandoned baby kitten. It's a good thing that quirky pet store girl gave him the Twitter handle for her cat rescue buddy, CJ. Dean doesn't know about the kitten, but he sure as hell could use some rescuing right about now. [...]

+

The Shawnee Trail by @valleydean

In 1887, Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak lead a peaceful life in Lawrence, Kansas. Dean and Sam are stagecoach messengers for Wells, Fargo and Castiel is the town doctor. When Castiel's patient, Kelly Kline, knocks on their door one night about to give birth, she asks for the Winchesters and Castiel's help in protecting her son against one of the west's most notorious outlaws. To fulfill that promise, the men set out on a journey full of shootouts, trouble with the law, gambling, and an important discovery: Dean and Castiel really need to define the nature of their relationship.

+

Balancing Act by VioletHaze 

Dean Winchester doesn’t like cats and he doesn't believe in love, but his new neighbor has him questioning a lot of things about himself.

+

A Midsummer Night in Las Vegas by @whelvenwings

Dean is a Prince, and even in the 21st century he’s expected to make a good match (unfortunately for Castiel, marrying your local librarian and best friend apparently doesn’t count). The announcement of Dean’s upcoming arranged marriage to someone he doesn’t even know hits Castiel hard.

But late in the night during his bachelor party in Las Vegas, Dean leans over to Castiel and asks him a question. Castiel knows he should say no. But the next morning, Dean and Castiel wake up with matching rings on their fingers. [...]

+

Rooted In Memory by superhoney 

Dean has one job: protect the princess. And he’s very good at it. Until Claire disappears in the middle of the night, along with Jack, the prince of the neighbouring kingdom, who everyone expects she’ll marry someday.

Dean’s next step is clear: find Claire and bring her home. But in order to do so, he’ll have to team up with Castiel, Jack’s bodyguard, the most frustrating (and attractive) man Dean knows. As they bicker their way through a sprawling, slightly magical forest, they also confront their own thorny past, leaving Dean with the uncomfortable feeling that maybe he’s been wrong about Castiel all along.

+

angel in black by dothraki_shieldmaiden

Bounty hunter Castiel Novak has simple rules for how he conducts his business. Get in, get out, deliver the fugitive, and do it all with the least amount of effort possible. Never become emotionally involved.

When he takes on the job of hunting down Sam and Dean Winchester in order to bring them to justice, his rules start shifting. Threatened by supernatural forces as well as his attraction to Dean, Castiel soon has to decide what he’s willing to stand for…and what he’s willing to die for.

+

[pransesdp]

Random Sam Headcanon Thoughts-

-For all her spooky goth aesthetic, Sam’s actually got a secret appreciation for Unicorns (though doesn’t care for how they tend to be portrayed as overly-girly/cutesy in a lot of popular media). She prefers depictions where they’re more “dignified” yet unpredictable in their vast mystical powers (kinda like genies or mischievous fairy spirits).

-While she’s generally more of a tea drinker, her most go-to coffee cup is a dark chocolate mocha

-As a young adult, she’d get a shoulder tattoo of a thorny rose vine with some kind of skull in the middle (symbolizing her rebellious yet nature-loving ways)

-She’d definitely get a black cat as a pet at some point in her life, along with maybe the occasional spider or snake as some “companions” too (much to her friends’ fear lol).

-She’d spend a brief period of time traveling the world some, away from her friends and family in a time where she struggled of where she wanted to go next in life outside of what was “expected” of her back home. The sights and thought-provoking experiences she got to have in these beautiful, big countries would be something she’d never forget...

-In times when they aren’t getting on each other’s nerves or wrecking havoc, Sam would surprisingly get along pretty fine with some of Danny’s ghost adversaries. Johnny and Kitty make for some decent company in times where she needs to take a breather from the living world’s problems (with Kitty often offering some makeover sessions, shopping trips and/or “vengeance” plots to help the goth girl cheer up), Ghostwriter and her could totally jam sometimes when they both need to vent some things with their poetry, and of all people, even Desiree would find Sam a charming girl who (while obviously having learned better by now to watch her words around the sneaky djinn) actually grew to feel for Desiree when she learned of her lonely past later down the line. So their own dynamic would be something akin to like a sort-of “fairy godmother/heroine” thing (further tying in to how Desi’s son and Sam’s daughter form an unlikely friendship within my next gen verse).

-Of course, Sam and Princess Dora would continue a fine lil friendship throughout the years of knowing one another, respecting each other’s inner strengths in times they need it most. At one point Dora even offered to weave a ghostly gown for Sam’s upcoming prom as a token of thanks... which proved to be just as spookily fabulous as Sam’s goth bride outfit way back when.

-One of her most treasured possessions is an amethyst quartz geode that Danny bought for her on her birthday. He actually took quite a bit of struggle to break it open to surprise her, but it was all worth it once she saw the beautiful purple gleam of the crystals inside (which according Danny, symbolized just how special and valuable she’s always been to him in his life 💜).

[lowrollshighhopes]

Sunland Episode Sixty-Six: Circle of the Lean Lands

The druid expected the party to try and capture him as a slave, but Cam spoke to him in druidic, and although suspicious, he talked with her. He of course new of the wound in the world to the south, but was of the opinion it was impossible to fix, at least for mortals. The effects were spreading throughout the ecosystem and he and his fellow druids were exhausted trying to defend it.

Cam had never had a druid circle, being entirely self-taught and he was both puzzled and impressed. He explained that there were often druid circles based in places of power, but his Circle stewarded the places between, the 'lean lands' where the flow was less.

Cam showed him the seed she rescued from her forest, and his attitude changed, telling her it might actually help. His Circle was meeting soon, and he gave directions, and said he'd send a guide.

The party travelled along a dried riverbed into hilly country studded with cactus and thorn thickets, and George spotted some of the little cat people watching them, George offered them rations and they approached and spoke to him in their own language.

Harmony was able to cast tongues on one and learned that they were 'welcome, big ones' and that their 'big friends' had sent them as a guide.

The cats led the party into patch of thick cactus forest, and offered to take their 'strange cattle' around for them. The cats lived protected by the thorny cactus, and the party were offered cactus juice.

After a little while a young furbolg arrived and asked Cam lots of questions about the people from over the ocean, not all of which Cam answered truthfully. He quickly vanished, however, when the elder of the Circle arrived, the cats, known and lynians, greeting her respectfully. She was less suspicious than the first druid, but still needed some convincing. When Cam showed her the seed, she said it carried immense potential, when exposed to the raw power in Sunland, and that it might be used to help heal the wound in the world. By itself, it would not be enough to seal the rift, but could 'staunch the bleeding' and buy some time.

They had more immediate problems, and the party was taken to the druid encampment outside the cactus valley; a large beast from the deep desert was approaching, driven out of its usual grazing grounds by the aberrations, and hunger was leading it to the cactus valley, although even that would not sate a beast of that size for long.

The beast was impossible to pin down, and to enraged to reason with, it burrowed under the ground and its roar was painfully loud. Hope rode out to meet it and bore the brunt of its fury, learning also that it did not like the cold in her sword, and she managed to cut its tail clean off. A cluster of lynians fired glowing bugs at it to blind it, and Cam used her earth elemental form to pursue it even when it burrowed beneath the earth.

When it died the druids gathered around to examine it, and start harvesting meat and hide, much of which would be distributed to the lynians. The party spent one more night in the druid's encampment, save for George who preferred to remain the guest of the lynians. Cam had an honest talk with the princess about how Silring was run and how she objected to convict labor.

Following the directions of the druids, the party headed south east through dry country, and found the ancient and weathered foundations of what might have been a large town or small city on a hill, at the crest of the hill they learned one side had collapsed, and there was a gaping hole straight down into a tiled room, partially collapsed, the floor littered with bones and coins. Beyond the ruined city and stretching to the horizon, was an endless sea of dunes.

The party descended into the room, leaving the horses up on top. Telula revealing she'd thought to bring her flying carpet, and giving Harmony a lift down.

Once there, Cam collected the ancient triangular coins from among the scattered bones of snakes, and not-quite-humans. Hope's wand detected magic suffusing the area, and George examined the single door out.

[writing-ideas-inc]

Prompt

People throughout the castle felt a fog roll in behind their eyelids, slowly lulling them to sleep. Lazily, a cat stretched out to relax for what it thought was a quick nap. The servants found walls to lean upon so they could rest their eyes for just one moment. Even the ever-so-regal King and Queen, still sat upon their thrones, succumbed to the deep slumber which blanketed the castle.

As the living fell asleep, vines with sharp, pointy thorns grew from the darkness, creating a nearly impenetrable wall surrounding the now dormant castle, separating the castle from the rest of the world. The wicked fairy queen’s curse had come to pass—the firstborn princess of the King and Queen would fall into a terrible slumber on her 18th birthday, and the kingdom would fall into darkness and chaos.

Townspeople gathered outside the castle pointing and talking amongst each other in shock. Some of the braver ones crept closer to the thorn wall, but none came close enough to touch the wall in fear of the curse. And facing the thorns stood the princess, painfully wide awake, and on the wrong side of the thorny border.

- submission by kaitlyn.liddicoat on Instagram

[hardcoreprocess]

Oh, to love as Night and Day. — Beta Bro, Rose, Dad E. — 1204 words. — A gift for a Polyswap event on AO3. Focuses on arranged marriage, wedding jitters, age / experience gaps.

Expecting brutality from a marriage is not the norm for an aspiring Queen Apparent, but it's difficult to put aside misgivings when faced with— the gentlemen intent. Both, of course, are older. Established. Kings, one inherited and the other taken by war. They are good men, close advisors assure, with fine breeding or good training to their combined name. Even still— she is nervous.

All throughout her fittings, it lingers. Concern, no. Fear, unlikely. Merely uneasiness. Exchanging letters is a way to gauge the emotional depth of a person, but does every royal pen their own thoughts? Or do they rely on scribes and whispering consorts, dictating what a young girl would like most to hear?

These overwhelming thoughts are beginning to twist in her mind, gnarling an already thorny bramble. The wedding arrangements are in place, handled with utmost efficiency by mindful cultural experts. A bit of everything, seamlessly blended. But now the fault lays on her, manifest in the form of dress anxiety. Too snug, too revealing, too bright, too drab...

As her mother might say: "To err is human, to fret is Lalonde." What a kick she'd have as witness to this event. Positively smug to the bone, and she'd leap on suggesting an outlandish gown.

It's all the motivation she needs to form a final decision. Her chest heaves a sigh of relief as warm orange and pastel blue garb her in heavy veils, sweeping silks. Billowing sleeves serve to hide fiddling hands, loose skirts to obscure unsteady legs, and flats to avoid twisting an ankle before scores of nobles. Now that would be embarrassing.

Fortune is smiling down at her, it seems. Only half an hour remains of her "preparations" now, leaving no room to panic or second guess further. The gathering of maidfolk breathe a collective sigh of relief when she deigns to eat, offering light hand cakes and sips of bracing wine when asked. When this inevitable timesink is complete, the princess vows internally to recognize each for a duty well done.

As long as she doesn't take ill mid-ceremony. If such a thing occurs, her ire will be unparalleled. With nerves still jockeying her good senses, this possibility is assured among her attendants. Used to such things, they smile placid but disbelieving. On a better day, it might make her crack a smile of her own. For now, it leaves her petulant.

Not for long, at least. Drums ring out in a cheerful march, but in her fugue? It feels like a funeral procession. Even through the heavy veil, the magelight is almost piercing.

At the end of the hall, stood by the altar and the comfortable arrangement of pillows beyond, stand her betrothed pair. Arrayed for the wedding in unexpected fashion— and this stalls the worrisome roils in her gut. Though their lands could not be more different, hers sequestered where twilight sky is near-eternal and they basked in equal morns to eves...

On her left: the Lord Keeper of the Heartland, a towering specimen typically garbed in fuchsia and violet. Now he drips with gold, ears to ankles, arrayed in the colorful array of a sunset. It complements her well, and brings softer element to his general's figure. Her right: the High King of the Fertile Plains, steely blue eyes in perfect harmony with a sweeping suit of navy and seafoam, styled to accentuate the grey coming into his hair. Not built for war as his counterpart, but solid as they come, an anchor dressed like midnight

She is— the plushest of the lot, and comparatively small. Not uncomfortably, but certainly unprepared for how far back her head must tip to make some semblance of eye contact. It's when the music swell begins, as her padded feet cross the threshold into the grand hall, that they turn. Perfectly synced. Two of a kind.

A matched set that she will soon be joining.

Part of her reels, body moving without her accord down the aisle of thick carpeting towards the grooms, at the realization. Soon— too soon— not soon enough— they will be joined in matrimony. Is it natural to feel like an imposition? Of course she's garnered feelings for the pair, after so many hours tucked into her chambers with letters penned bold and strong, but—

Surely they consider her a means to an end. Pretty, youthful, capable of bearing a child to term. If it weren't her, it could have been anyone. And that sensation, the bitterness in her gut, returns even as every step shortens their respectful distance. Close enough now to see the silver in blond locks, the scars in broad hands dusted in dark hair, the warmth in very different smiles.

One grins with his eyes, squinted and curved with cat-like amusement. The other is nearly paternal, proud in the most forgiving sense. It turns her gut, different this time. So light, so ticklish, she does not dare open her mouth for fear of the butterflies escaping all at once. The dais represents the final step, not unlike the perilous climb to gallows. Hesitation, thy name is

"Rosalind?" he asks. The shorter one, dark-haired, gentle in tongue with concern knitting his brow. He speaks soft, with only her ears in mind, tipping out of a perfect posture to draw nearer to her height. Mindful, the bastard, to the point of tempering some number of fears. That hand is still outstretched, and what fool would she be if it was not taken?

So her soft fingers rest in his scholarly palm, to be gently led up the first step. There is one more, her mind helpfully reminds, and to balk again is absolutely humiliating. But when a furtive glance is cast to the other side, a hand waits for her acceptance. He is not as gentle, built for battle or conflict. They shared barbs in letters, but appreciated kinds, a like-mindedness that lends itself to soothing the nerves.

Gold pierces through her veil, as though he can perfectly discern the position of her eyes despite layers of fabric. Maybe he can. But his voice is gentle now, a reminder of their decision. "Are you ready?" is a— difficult query. There is time to run, gather her skirts and flee all the way back to a starving country wracked by loss and ill-preserved culture, isn't there? And she knows, surely as the sun and moon rise, that they would allow her to go.

If that is what she chose.

One slow inhale. One slower exhale.

"I am ready," Rosalind says, smooth as the waters over which she presides. To her right, James affords another fatherly grin, saturating her in raw courage. To her left, Ambrose narrows his eyes in silent mirth, spurring her to proper form. Beyond, behind, their congregation seats—

•

They are a set, the day and the night and the twilight between. For every heaven has a moon, a sun, and stars to govern. An auspicious day, a beautiful union, and rumor speaks of portraits to come that depict the ecstasy of matrimony. Loving, transcendent, a honeypot overflowed with nectar and seed. Maybe the rhymes will cease when the Queen of the Wine Dark Sea no longer trembles with finish.

[Original text available in Oh, to love as Night and Day. on AO3.]

[yourdeepestfathoms]

Beside The Dying Fire (part two)

[DnD AU with the tour!verse]

Part 1

Word count: 2862

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

In a whirl of spears and flicking ears and stomping hooves, the stranger had been ushered away from the village. Several people looked nervous, while others were outraged at the idea of an intruder in their territory; there were only two entrances into the town, one in the very front and one in the back that led to the interrogation area and holding cells. The rest of the perimeter was covered in a wall of thorns that Katherine’s father had enchanted to grow. That meant the stranger had to fight off the painful, prickling plants to get into their village.

And that was not good.

Katherine rubbed her forehead tiredly. She had to spend several minutes calming down townsfolk (and stopping Anne from singing a way-too-jolly doomsday song), assuring them that everything was going to be okay. After all, what’s one little Tiefling to all of them?

When she finally finished her “forest princess duties”, she walked back over to Faedi’s hut to check on Catalina, only to see the Aasimar outside, on her feet, wearing her steel-plated shoulder paddings and holding her sword. She almost looked silly in the armor with her protruding pregnant belly, but her face was serious and she looked ready to stab someone.

  “Catalina,” Katherine sighed. “I told you to stay inside.”

  “I did,” Catalina said. “But then I got bored and wanted to come help. So I still kinda half-obeyed you because I stayed inside for awhile!” Her shoulders slumped with a rattling of metal; if the pads hindered her because of her pregnancy, she didn’t show it. “But I missed everything! What happened?”

Katherine couldn’t help but laugh slightly at her friend. Even in a time of possible crisis, Catalina still knew how to lift her spirits just by being herself.

  “There was an intruder, that’s all,” Katherine told her, steering Catalina back into the hut. “A Tiefling.”

  “Oooo,” Catalina said in interest.

Katherine wondered if she felt for the stranger or was fearful of her like the others. After all, Aasimars and Tieflings were very similar to each other, with just one being of celestial touch and the other being of infernal touch. 

  “Why are they here?” Catalina asked.

  “I don’t know,” Katherine answered as she began unbuckling Catalina’s shoulder pads. “I’m going to go see them after this.” She caught Catalina opening her mouth and quickly added, “You can’t come with me.”

Catalina pouted, ruffling the golden feathers in her hair. “That is SO unfair! I can be useful! Look, I can be intimidating, watch,” And then she made an intimidating face. Katherine laughed loudly.

  “You are so cute,” Katherine said, earning a wrinkled nose and glare from Catalina. “You just stay here for now, okay?”

Catalina huffed and slumped down onto the bed. “FINE!”

Katherine smiled and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you, love.”

After making sure Catalina wouldn’t escape and follow her, Katherine headed out to Ghent’s prison.

Not that it could really be considered a prison. It was a giant tree that her father had hollowed out with his magic. The prisoner would be stuffed inside the trunk and then the hole would be wrapped in enchanted thorny vines to keep them in. 

Maggie was standing guard outside the tree, still holding her spear. She was probably the only other person in the entire village who believed they needed a security system, and she wanted to be head of the guard. She was very cunning and ambitious, always wanting to prove herself, like how she jumped into a proper position when she saw Katherine coming.

  “The prisoner has been safely detained,” Maggie said. 

  “Thank you, Maggie,” Katherine said. “I’ve just come to see them.”

Maggie nodded. “Just shout if you need anything stabbed.” She gripped her spear and smirked.

Katherine thanked her again, then walked over to the cell. Inside, hugging their knees as far away from the vibes as possible, was the Tiefling.

Unlike the rest of her kind, her sweaty, dirt-spattered skin was a strange pure white color that gleamed like polished pearls in the faint light. Scraggly, white-blonde hair stuck to her lean face, falling around her bony shoulders. Strands of thorns were tangled around her stubby horns, which curved back over her head, and long, whip-thin tail, and there was mud stuffed in her cloven feet. She was small, thin, and lithe, and looked very tired.

  “Hello there,” Katherine greeted softly as she sat down in front of the tree. “My name is Katherine Howard. What’s yours?”

The Tiefling didn’t answer. She didn’t even look over at Katherine.

  “Why are you here?” Katherine asked.

Again, no answer. The Tiefling showed no signs of being cooperative.

Katherine sighed. “Sweetheart--”

That got the Tiefling to glance up. Her eyes were a startling grey color.

  “Sweetheart,” Katherine said again, slower this time. “I need you to work with me. I don’t want you to be hurt. Can you please tell me your name and why you are here?”

The Tiefling looked at her for a long moment, then curled her tail in close and hugged her knees tightly. The poor thing seemed very shaken, or perhaps she was just too exhausted to speak. Katherine sighed again.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to be interrogated, then. I wish you luck.”

So, an hour later, the young Tiefling was hauled out of the cell and to the place of interrogation. For Ghent, that was a pond.

The pond was further into the forest, where the trees opened up to the sky. Paths were cut through the surrounding shrubbery for easy access to places to watch. Thick cattails and reeds lined the edges of the water, which rippled peacefully with aquatic life. Several rocks led up to a large, flat stone at the center of the pond, and there was a larger, sloped rock in front of it. Katherine’s father took his place on top of that one, while the prisoner was prodded onto the flat stone with sharp spears.

The area was soon packed with people. It seemed as though the entire village came to watch and see the weird-looking Tiefling, not that Katherine blamed them. A Tiefling had never been to Ghent before. Several children were gawking at the girl with wide, adoring eyes, pointing and whispering things to each other. As Katherine passed by, she heard a small faun say something about the Tiefling’s tail.

Katherine climbed onto the tall rock where her father, Edmund, was already perched. He was an old, but wise wood elf with neatly-combed dark brown hair, even darker brown eyes, and ears like knives. Clad in animal furs and wielding a heavy wooden quarterstaff, he held himself like a real king and not just the chief of a forest village.

In the crowd, Katherine spotted Maggie and Anne near the back. For once, Anne didn’t have any instrument in her hands, but Maggie still had her spear and she was shifting from hoof to hoof, her gait haunches bursting with energy. Closer near the rock Katherine was on, was Catalina, who had stubbornly attended despite Faedi’s orders for bed rest. Catalina caught her gaze and flashed her a smirk that said, “No baby is keeping me from missing drama.” Katherine chuckled in reaction.

One of the villagers in charge of leading the stranger, a big, burly Tabaxi that had the pelt patterns of a cheetah, leaned down and clasped a pair of metal shackles around the Tiefling’s wrists, then quickly stepped away. The Tiefling glanced back at him with a wounded expression, then frowned down at the restraints. Edmund thumped his staff on the rock, and she squinted up at him.

  “I am Edmund Howard, Chief of Ghent,” Katherine’s father said, his voice booming around the clearing, resonating with the wind. “This is my daughter, Katherine. We welcome you to our village.”

The Tiefling just blinked at him, then tugged lightly against the shackles. The tip of her tail flicked back and forth like a calculating cat’s. 

  “Have nothing to say?” Edmund said. He waited, but got no answer. “Hm. Not to worry.” He tapped his staff twice on the rock. “Shall we formally begin? What is your name?”

Grooves and swirling symbols engraved around the shackles lit up white and the Tiefling’s body shuddered. She wide-eyed them, now tugging more frantically against them.

  “Hyurk..” She grunted.

  “I don’t think I specified,” Edmund said, “Those shackles are enchanted. If you lie, the pain will worsen. So advise you to tell the truth.”

Katherine always hated the shackles. They seemed cruel, forcing people to say things against their will. Though, she did fine Catalina’s experience with them the first time she came to the village extremely entertaining.

( “Does it really hurt when you lie? I wanna see! Ask me a question, Kat!”

  “What’s your favorite kind of pie?”

  “Apple-- OW, DRAGON SHIT--”)

  “Joan,” The Tiefling forced out through gritted teeth. She was shaken, clearly in pain. Her voice was soft and youthful, but also hoarse, like she hadn’t drank water in decades.

Joan, Katherine repeated to herself in her head. What a beautiful name.

  “Surname?” 

  “Meutas”

  “Where are you from?”

  “A-a small village. Near the ocean. I think it was called Shul? Yeah, yeah... Shul. I was from there.” Her neck tendons strained as she spoke.

  “Are you a traveler?”

  “No.”

  “Where are you parents? You’re awfully young to be on your own.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “How old are you?” Katherine butt in suddenly, earning a scolding look from her father.

  “Fifteen.” Joan answered, and Katherine felt a wrench in her heart for the little one.

  “Why did you come here?” Edmund regained control of the interrogation.

Joan looked like she attempted to fight back and not answer, but it didn’t seem to go well from the way her body jerked with massive discomfort, like she was about to be sick. Her tail slid across the top of the rock and dipped into the water.

  “Didn’t mean to,” Joan gasped through a wave of pain. She must have hesitated slightly. “Was running. Stumbled in. I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry.”

Edmund raised his eyebrows in interest. Katherine glanced at Catalina, who was giving Joan a pitiful look. Her hands were folded protectively over her pregnant swell.

  “Running from what?”

  “Just travel-- Agh!!”

In response to her lie, Joan’s thin body crumpled over on itself. Her tail lashed like a snake on fire, and she moaned in obvious pain. She almost fell into the water, but the Tabaxi held her up firmly by the shoulder. Katherine could see his claws digging in. Through heaving breaths, Joan let the truth spill out:

  “Th-these people. I-I really don’t know their names. Th-they just don’t like me ‘cause I’m a Tiefling and I look funny. I-I think they w-want to hurt me, s-so I avoid them.”

Katherine didn’t like this anymore. This wasn’t interrogation, it was torture. This poor, innocent child was being stripped of her will and humiliated.

  “And did you just lead these people to us?” 

  “I-I-I don’t know,” She was stammering horribly. A sheen of sweat glistened over her milky white skin. She looked ill, like she was being forced to function with a fever. That was the effect of resisting the magic.

  “Do you want to hurt us?”

  “Nnnnnggg...” Joan moaned as her stomach appeared to cramp. “N-no... J-just wanna...rest...for a little while...”

There was a hissing sound, and Katherine realized that was the shackles. Smoke was rising from Joan’s wrists. 

  “I-I’m gonna throw up...” Joan gurgled.

But nobody except Katherine seemed to notice or care.

  “Hm.” Edmund studied the girl closely. Then, he waved his staff in front of him and whispered an incantation that sent ice through Katherine’s veins. “Let me look into your head, Joan. I must know what you’re hiding.”

The whispers that eddied throughout the clearing sounded like thunder in reaction to the statement. Some people looked fearful, while others looked excited. Katherine glanced at Maggie and Anne, and saw that they were both wide-eyed in interest.

It was unknown if the fragile living psyche could stand such a trauma of having someone look through their head. It was a violation that nobody, no matter what they had done or who they were, should have to go through.

Katherine exchanged nervous glances with Catalina. This was cruel, they both agreed. The stranger was just a girl; she didn’t deserve this. They watched as their chief held his hands out to Joan and closed his fingers into fists.

  “Who are you really, Joan?”

Joan’s eyes popped open wide. She rasped, “Wh-what are you doing?”

  “Do not resist.”

The words did nothing.

Joan’s head jerked back before her whole body hauled forward, doubled over on her knees. Only the whites of her eyes could be seen, with a faint glow coming from the sockets; blind.

  “No. Please stop, I--”

She cut herself off with a heartbreaking whine. Blood snaked from her nose. Tears soon joined them.

  “P-please stop,” She panted. “Please...”

  “Submit.” Edmund growled.

But the girl did not.

She began shrieking, body seizing wildly, tail spasming out of control. Her eyes, blank and white, faced the grey sky, but were unseeing. Tears ran red, and she cried blood. The vessels in her ears burst, next, then her mouth, and then her entire face became a horrific shiny red because she was bleeding from every orifice in her head.

Katherine grabbed her father’s arm and shook him. “Father, stop!” She yelled. “You’re hurting her!”

Edmund didn’t hear her, though. He was lost, too.

  “That’s enough, Father!” Katherine tried again, but to no avail.

Thunder rumbled deeply overhead. Small tide pools of blood collect on the surface of the stone. Joan’s fingertips and nimble claws flushed crimson and then bled; the spell was starting to attack her extremities. If Katherine had to take a guess, it was probably to make her submit to the investigation of her mind. 

Katherine gave up on her father and jumped down from the rock. She landed heavily in knee-deep water, but ran through it as fast as she could to get to Joan. Catalina hurried over a moment later. 

  “For a pacifist village, you guys got some brutal interrogation methods,” The Aasimar said in an attempt to lighten the mood. But Joan was still suffering under the spell, so Katherine couldn’t think about humor at the moment.

  “We have to free her,” Katherine said. “My dad is going to kill her. She can’t take this.”

  “Don’t worry, I got this,” Catalina said as she took out her sword.

  “Are you going to STAB my DAD?” Katherine yelped.

  “No!” Catalina snapped. “Just trust me! Oh, and cover your ears.”

Katherine obeyed, immediately slapping her hands over her sensitive elf ears. She watched as Catalina raised her sword skyward, noticing the way the silver seemed to glow with charged energy, murmured an enchantment, and then brought the blade down onto the stone.

The resulting crack of thunder was like nothing Katherine had ever heard before. Even with her ears covered, she still felt like she went deaf for a moment as a booming, apocalyptic crash exploded throughout the area. It rattled Katherine’s bones in her body, and then she realized that was just the ground and water quaking with the noise. She nearly buckled underneath the overpowering sound, but managed to stay on her feet as her ears rang painfully. Rain began to pour down heavily. 

Behind her, Edmund gasped sharply, staggering backwards from the shock of being startled out of the spell. His eyes were wide, bulging in their sockets. Many loyal villagers ran to his aid, while others pointed their weapons at Joan, who was laying face-down on the stone, unmoving. Katherine fanned the closest Tabaxi and his spear away as she propped Joan up in her arms.

  “She’s alive,” Katherine told her friend. She unlatched the shackles, revealing bright red blisters burned in Joan’s wrists. “She needs to be tended to. Come on.”

Scooping Joan up into her arms, Katherine hurried through the water, back down the path to the village, and to her treehouse as quickly as possible. With the help of Catalina, she dressed the blisters around Joan’s wrists with old man’s beard lichen and cleaned her face off with a wet rag. By the time they were done, the storm had turned into a mini hurricane outside. Katherine shut the shutters on her many windows, which usually aired out her home when it wasn’t raining, while Catalina watched over Joan closely.

  “I think you may have flooded the forest,” Katherine said.

Catalina shrugged innocently. “I helped. I think I did good.”

Katherine smiled at her. “You did do good, Lina. Thank you.”

Catalina puffed out her chest proudly. “Hell yeah I did!” She then looked down at the little Tiefling laying in Katherine’s bed. “What are you going to do with her?”

  “I’m not sure yet,” Katherine said, sitting down next to her friend. For now, Joan looked peaceful as she slept. “I don’t think she has anywhere else to go. Maybe Father will let her stay here. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?”