#Valley of the mountain wild cats

[serpentface]

Amarzi Kos nomad showing off his eagle.

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'Kos' as an ethnonym groups a set of closely linguistically/culturally related peoples who make up most of the population of Kosov, one of three omas (a large territorial division with its own regional government) of the contemporary Burri Republic. 'Amarzi Kos' refers to a group of nomadic pastoralists who occupy southeastern edge of the Grajyi plateau steppe that effectively forms Bur's western border.

Kosov is the largest of the Burri omas, encompassing the easternmost edge of the Daginarya mountain range and a small portion of the high altitude Grajyi plateau. Kosov is landlocked and sparsely populated across much of its territory. The majority of its people and cities are clustered along the Hsuke river valley system, its tributaries, and the lush, rainy southern foothills (all of which are highly favorable for agriculture). At higher elevations, most people practice seasonal transhumance to and from mountain pastures, alongside terrace farming of hardier high altitude crops.

The Grajyi plateau is a different story. Its entire span falls into subtropical latitudes, but it is substantially cooler year-round than the lowlands, and experiences much less rainfall. The vast majority of the plateau is wholly unfavorable to agriculture (being mostly grassland with areas of cold desert), and subsistence depends almost entirely upon the herding and grazing of livestock for dairy, blood, wool, and dry dung fuel. Amarzi Kos pastoralists mostly rear horses and khait, and do not typically slaughter their livestock unless as an act of desperation. Almost all meat in their diet comes from hunted game, and most hunting is accomplished with falconry.

Falconry is of significant cultural import across much of the broader Burri sphere, largely as a leisure activity for nobility and the otherwise wealthy. To Amarzi Kos nomads, it is instead a matter of core subsistence, providing meat during harsh winters and furs for warm clothing and trade. The two raptor species most commonly used on the high steppe are the golden eagle (shown here) and the black falcon (similar to a gyrfalcon in size). The golden eagle is often used for its great size and strength to catch fairly large game such as jackals, the niive cat (a dogsized predator), migratory geese, and even (small) gazelles. The black falcon is used predominantly to hunt mid-sized birds, especially grouse and pheasants.

Men do the majority of the hunting during the winter while most women and young children attend to the livestock, cooking, and weaving. Women participating in falconry is culturally acceptable, though they will usually be given falcons as handling golden eagles is considered to be men's work. A boy's first successful eagle-hunt (which they will begin participating in as a teenager, using one of their father's birds) is a hallmark of coming of age and indicates that they are ready to trap their own bird.

The god Gen Yanna, a very minor deity of falconry in the broader Burri pantheon, has an expanded role in the religious practice of Amarzi Kos nomads (and some other groups on the plateau). Here he is re-contextualized as not just a falconry god, but the patron deity of Grajyi steppe and father of its people. Ethnic Amarzi Kos claim to directly descend from him, via a lowlands Kos woman he abducted as a bride long ago. He is the one who taught his descendants how to capture and train wild birds for falconry (and gets credits for teaching some other facets of high-steppe culture as well, such as an alcoholic fermented horsemilk drink, and the flying of dragon kites to ward off evil). He himself owns ten legendary birds, including a fearsome dragon he bound with a divine bridle and uses for hunting and as a flying mount (dragons in the Burri sphere are gigantic birds with 2-4 reptillian legs, feathered wings, and the head of a cockerel).

Across most of the greater Burri sphere, shrines to the gods have fixed locations within homes and town/city temples. This isn't practical for nomadic pastoralists, who instead build shrines along migratory/trade routes and visit as they pass by in their yearly journeys. These shrines are cairns (structured as a low outer stone fence surrounding an inner rock pile) upon which offerings to the shrine's assigned deity can be placed. The biggest shrines (built up from centuries of travelers adding stones) become de-facto focal points of religious practice and are referred to as sky temples.

The great sky temple to Gen Yanna is visited by most families on a yearly basis as they pass nearby, in order to pay respects to their divine ancestor and request his boon during the lean winter months. In addition to sprinkled offerings of milk, yogurt, and alcohol, a falconer will leave some of their bird's feathers at the shrine. This temple is surrounded by tall wooden stakes to which visitors tie their offerings, and the god's presence is felt in the sound of hundreds of feathers fluttering in the breeze.

[southern-gothic-comic]

Page 84

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(Author's Notes)

Panel 1: Everything is suffused with the softness of morning light. Imogen wakes up, smiling in contentment at her surroundings. Laudna is still asleep beside her, hair sleep-tangled and falling in her face, eyes and mouth a little open, bedraggled cat doll on the pillow, dead rat tucked under her chin. All of this is precious to her.

Panel 2: Carefully she brushes her hair back from her face, revealing her scarred throat and one maimed ear.

Panel 3: Imogen leans down and kisses her ear tenderly.

Panel 4: Laudna opens her eyes to find Imogen leaning over her. Reaching up, she caresses her cheek with the backs of her fingers and Imogen leans affectionately into her touch like a cat.

Laudna: Everything all right, love?

Imogen: Mmm-hm.

Laudna: No bad dreams?

Imogen: None at all. I haven't had a nightmare in weeks, come to think of it.

Laudna: Maybe they're gone for good!

Panel 5: Laudna starts preparing breakfast while Imogen pours water for tea.

Imogen: Wouldn't that be somethin'? I feel like gettin' out of Gelvaan's done me a world of good.

Laudna: You look happy.

Imogen: I am! I feel better out here than I have in years. Makin' our own way, and no one's mind pressin' up against mine except for yours.

Panel 6: They sit on the stoop with their tea. Imogen leans her head against Laudna's shoulder.

Imogen: Are you?

Laudna: Oh, yes. I'd be happy anywhere with you. I'm afraid it's quite a bit more humble than your old home, though. 

Imogen: Darlin', I'm happier in this li'l hut with you than any other house I've lived in. You're here. That's what makes it home.

Panel 7: Wider view of the surrounding woods. The trees are more autumn-colored than they were last time we saw them.

Laudna: It doesn't have to be for always. If we don't find the answers you're looking for here, we can always keep going on to that fancy academy in Jrusar.

Imogen: I don't mind stoppin' here until spring, at least. Glad we found a snug place to stay before the snow comes. To get to Jrusar we'll have to go through the Kaal Mountains, and that'd be hard goin' once winter sets in. Then it's north for a long stretch through the Hellcatch Valley on the other side and into the Oderan Wilds. {sigh} Long ways off, still.

Laudna: We'll get there. One step at a time. I'll follow wherever you lead.

[sparkly-sediment]

Tf2 Mercs Weedequitte

Asks are open my little giggle biscuits!

Scout

He hands that joint back WET

Slobber dripping off the sides, the tips cold when you go to take a puff, and you can see the corner of his mouth glisten

If Scout ever got high he would have munchies and get scared. He would have to go outside and walk around, maybe even hug a tree for comfort

Coughing and gagging in the most annoying way possible. Like that one cat picture with its protruding tongue and watery eyes void of complex thought

Scout couldn’t handle a bong. Just couldn’t. Stick to a cold can of bang! He might try to make a bong outta a bang can, but he won’t figure it out

Soldier

Do not give him weed.

Do not give him anything.

Dont give him any drug hes insane nuts bonkers and, yes, even bananas

He took acid once by mistake. Ended up in Europe a year after the war ended

Soldier is borderline on a good day but king will spiral into a drug induced psychosis. There will be bugs, skin, and a whole lot of paperwork for Medic

Wouldn’t even smoke he’s a total fucking narc too

Says devils lettuce

Demoman

Uses every weed euphemism known to man

Mary J is his fav. Kush, grass, gas, doubie, all of them

Approaches Sniper while the poor bastard making his trek between camper and civilization. Demo does an insinuating chuckle and says, ‘let’s make love to that wee lass Mary J’

Sniper starts running

He prefers drinking but this guy smoked some grass back in the day. Doesn’t fuck around and can pass a blunt without falling out

In half baked, Demo is the guy who gets munchies and accidentally kills the horse

Will smoke with Sniper and always provides what he can or hits a curtesy role, but he doesn’t pursue weed much and if snipes didn’t share, probably wouldn’t smoke

It does help the pain from his missing eye!

Pyro

One time, he got wild.

Pyro burned down an entire pot grow and was absolutely spazzing off that za rolling his way down the mountain

They were on the astral plane the entire hike down. Pyro crashed through the trees, crawled, laughed hysterically, cried, and vomited. Pyro drank water from a creek thinking it was the fountain of immortality

Pyro befrinded a squirrle named Banabo Jo. He knew Jo and knew his people were wise and brave. Banabo Jo recognized Pyro’s mystical capabilities and ability to see beyond, thus creating a mutual respect and brotherhood.

Banabo Jo guided Pyro from the mountain top and into the Heart of the Valley. He watched over as Pyro awaited rescue and gave the sacred squirrel farewell through the van window

(hypersensitive to drug induced psychosis)

Heavy

Rolls a blunt on Medic’s back and smokes it while they fuck

Smokes weed but only pipes. Very rarely will roll with paper, typically in the aforementioned situation

He can do some of the smoke tricks like puffing out O’s. He cannot french inhale and tbh has a chronic stuffy nose 😏

Medic

Wholeheartedly believe in and support the usage of medical marijuana

Smoked a little weed in university, but his classmates were too scared of him to invite him to the smoke sesh

He kinda gives off narc vibes!! Completely chill though, unless he could gain from blackmailing you

Asks if Sniper wants to puff and Sniper is shocked! Medic uses pompous words like oder tho and not the German oder

Arches his back so Heavy can sprinkle some flower on him for the roll-hole ritual

Engineer

Scene in Top Gun, “we’re in the spirit world asshole!” HIM OKAY HIM

Builds intricate and sick as fuck bong structures, dab rigs, and some real crazy stoner shit.

He love getting blazed and tinker with something, but that did cost him the tip of his pinkie finger

He’s a lightweight and really just skims a hit or two and bounces

Totally hotboxes that fucking workshop

Spy

He’s a classy kind of smoker

No weed inside, at least not his house. Very discreet about it and even if he was just in the world’s foggiest hotbox, he would never snell like week

No weed smell ever it’s incredible

Mainly sticks to cigarettes but he will smoke with Sniper.

Smoking, whether it be weed or cigarettes, is a form of foreplay for them fr

He never has cotton mouth either

Sniper!!

Save the best for last bc he is a canon pothead

Sniper just tries to be a chill guy. Go to work, fire a gun, smoke some weed. Would he like more? Sure. But is he okay where he’s at? Good enough

The first to discover his gardening habit was Spy. The whole breaking and entering thing really gives away secrets

Sniper has SO MUCH TEA. Various team members come to him and smoke, which is cool with him. He prefers when they replenish his stash, though. Or at least give him something in return

When they smoke they also complain. Inhibitions are dropped and suddenly Sniper knows that Demo is pissed at Medic for not letting him drink rubbing alcohol, every though Demo knew it would kill him, because he and Pyro were trying to light a burp on fire

He only enjoys smoking with Spy and Ms. Pauling. Pauling is fun and they talk mad shit together, maybe do something stupid on a minor scale

Spy and Sniper venture into the bush if yk what im saying. Weed is just kinda a plus but Spy can get too zesty sometimes

[flightfoot]

Do you have any good fic recs on Ladynoir. Them just hanging out or being angsty? They don’t have to be long either

Hopefully these fic recs work out for you!

Veritas by writer_slk

The latest akumatized villain is filling the mouths of its victims with criticisms and complaints. If left unchecked, every relationship in Paris will be put at risk. While Ladybug and Chat Noir are trying to stop the villain, Ladybug learns something about her partner that she didn’t want to know and then says something she didn’t mean to say.

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Imaginary Friend by Engineerd

Alya went back to typing on her screen. “You’re right,” she agreed. “All that pressure? No wonder Ladybug made herself a boyfriend.” “Chat Noir is not her boyfriend,” Marinette scoffed. In which Ladybug summons Chat Noir as her lucky charm one day. (She keeps summoning him.)

---

The Son of my Enemy by Saccha

Cat Noir never wanted to be a villain, but he doesn't have a choice. Ladybug wishes she could save him. A reverse love square, villain!Cat Noir AU.

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you deserve to be loved and you deserve what you are given by thescuttlebug

Marinette is terrified, suddenly. She’s not like this. She’s not this kind of alpha, to get her head turned by any pretty pheromones she trips over. She’s not--she’s not disloyal, she’s not inconstant. Chat smells like moonlight, like the sudden shock of night air and the terrifying rush of leaping out into the empty dark, like deserted city sidewalks and unfamiliar corners: something midnight-metallic, something strange, something wild. Nothing like Adrien. Not a single note in common. She’s not like this. She’s not like this. He smells-- He smells-- “Ladybug,” Chat croaks, still staring at her. He smells stray.

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Evergreen by tanyatakaishi

Everything was gone. The entire cityscape had been obliterated, leaving them in a valley of trees. Blue mountains, peaks dressed in snow, stretched tall in the distance and at their foot lay an array of vineyards, miles wide with no civilization in sight. AKA: two heroes lost alone in the woods with no cheese.

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As the dust settles by Pengirl91

After Ladybug lost everything and yet her partner stood by her, she realized what she had been trying to lie to herself about for months. She is undoubtedly in love with him. The only problem is that she's terrified of what that could lead to and there's a monumental task ahead of them before it might be safe to act on her feelings for him... more than she already has. Post Strike Back with my hopes, wishes, and predictions for season 5 as I wait with great impatience. Now complete.

The meat of this story is mostly a SentiAdrien fic. Adrien discovers that Gabriel is Hawkmoth, so Gabriel orders him to stay silent about what he found out, as well as giving orders to help him with plans to obtain the Miraculous he needs. Luckily, he doesn’t know that Adrien is Chat Noir...

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I (Wish I) Knew You by @buggachat

University has been hard on Marinette. Making new friends and maintaining her grades is a lot easier said than done when she has to disappear at odd times to fight akumas. She's struggling, and with Alya away with family and Adrien painfully out of reach, she's never felt lonelier. If only she could talk to someone who really understood her struggles... but it's not like Chat Noir would know anything about loneliness. Right?

Nice aged-up Ladynoir fic here! Marinette’s struggling with losing friends and lovers because of her flakiness due to her superhero activities, until at last she breaks down. Thankfully, Chat Noir’s there at least - and it soon turns out he’s got problems of his own that he’s been hiding.

There’s some fluff and angst, it’s mostly just the two of them navigating life, dealing with their feelings and talking things out.

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To Have Loved by @trishacollins

Adrien struggles with the loss of children he never had, with a life he remembers living but that wasn't real. The only person who understands him is Ladybug, his wife and his children's mother. Sleeping alone is such an empty feeling. Together, they might make a start at healing. Or they might just make a new disaster.

I love Jubilation angst. Depending on how "real" that timeline felt, waking up could be devastating - and Chat WAS certainly devastated in that episode. It's akin to the Pevensie kids in Narnia growing up, becoming rulers, and then tumbling out of the wardrobe a couple decades later, the same age at which they left. Of course Ladybug and Chat Noir would cling to each other afterwards, the only other person who remembers that imaginary timeline.

That's not all this story entails, however. Gabriel isn't too happy about Adrien sneaking out as much as he has been, and he WILL get answers, one way or another...

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in which chat noir comes up with an awesome gift for ladybug by @mixelation

If his Lady wants ultra rare Adrien Agreste merch, then that’s what his Lady will get! Written for the Miraculous Ladybug Secret Santa exchange.

This was really sweet and I love how mixelation wrote Adrien's internal narration! You really viscerally understood his thoughts and feelings. It had some of the intimacy of a first person perspective, but well, in third person.

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Mamma Mia! by @ladynoirfanao3

When Marinette discovers she is pregnant, she is distressed to realize any of the three men she slept with in the recent past could be the father; Chat Noir, Ladybug’s partner and ex with whom she had gone through a tearful breakup - the mysterious Cat Walker, Ladybug’s rebound - or Adrien Agreste, Marinette’s current boyfriend. Bit of a twist on the base concept of Mamma Mia, where she doesn't realize all three potential fathers are, in fact, the same man.

So this is a fun little fic. I loved seeing Adrien and Marinette independently wrestle with the situation - Adrien, with maybe being the father of his former girlfriend's children (but maybe not), and Marinette, with needing to tell her former and current boyfriends that they might or might not be the father, and having to deal with a potential change in their relationship because of that.

Oh yeah, this fic is rated M, but the sexual content is relatively mild. The foreplay is detailed, but the actual sex is just implied.

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Bend the World Around It by @kasienda

“Tell me it was real." She can’t look at him. She can barely stand the pain in his voice. She definitely can’t face it. “It wasn’t.” He shakes his head, and turns to her - his eyes swirling in their intensity. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. Tell me that you were there. We were there together, having the same dream.” She squeezes her eyes shut. She wants to lie to him. She needs to lie to him. But she can’t. Lying would be like it never happened. But it did happen. And if it’s all they get to have, she wants him to know it. “I think we were having the same dream,” she whispers, unable to meet his eyes.

So this is an adorable Jubilation aftermath fic, with Ladybug and Chat Noir both mourning the loss of what only they remember, of a dream that never was. And them deciding that screw it, it may not have been real to anyone else, but it was real to them. They remember those years together, and they want to live together, if only during the times when they can afford to be missing from home. They remember being happily married, and crave that life.

---

(Drag) Kings And Queens by @entity9silvergen

Marinette sees one of her commissions on drag performer Chat Noir and a friendship is born. If only she could get her girlfriend Adriana to go to one of his performances… Adrien plays with a new side of himself through drag with some help from his new online friend Ladybug. If only his newfound confidence could help him work up the courage to tell his boyfriend Marino about it… Closeted T4T Drag AU based on buggachat’s tumblr post with lots of extra identity shenanigans.

So like entity says, this fic is based on one of @buggachat's tumblr posts.

Though it actually manages to be even MORE queer since both Adrien and Marinette are trans.

It's an utter delight! The drag performances are a treat, and I love the identity shenanigans XD. It's just a lot of fun.

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Phantom Pains (and other hints of you) by @buggachat

She couldn't remember anything. Not where she was going, where she'd been, why she was in this stairwell, or even her own name. But as she watched the blood pool at the base of the steps, she at least knew one thing for certain: the corpse was hers. Getting used to being dead was going to have its growing pains. — “Well, unlucky lady,” Chat Noir greeted with a bow, “Can I get your name?” “Didn’t we just talk about this? I told you, I don’t remember it.” “And I told you,” he reminded, “that you can just pick whatever fits you best.” — Ladybug and Chat Noir may not remember who they once were, but at least the two lost souls can find comfort in each other's company. But as Ladybug starts uncovering more and more memories of her life, letting the past go doesn't seem as easy as Chat Noir claims it to be.

So this is a beautiful, sweet, tragic love story of two lost souls wandering around with each other, yet with Ladybug still desperately wanting to be found, to remember who she was - and wanting to know why Chat so adamantly wanted to stay amnesiac. It's got some neat worldbuilding, and some fantastic prose. It's just a really nice little story!

[stardewremixed]

Why does the Mayor send Robin to greet you at the Bus stop? What is he so busy doing that he can't be there right away? How would the Opening Scene play differently if another Stardew townie greeted you? What housewarming gifts/ advantages would you gain from someone else? Here are my little headcanons.

Marnie - she's the Mayor's secret girlfriend. Maybe he doesn't want to risk exposing this to the new farmer. However, I think it would be cute if you had a dog or a cat from Day 1 thanks to Marnie pointing out that the farm would be a great place for them to run around.

Caroline- She would encourage you to shop at her husband's store. An invite to her Tuesday aerobics class would be nice.

Pierre - He's a busy man running his store, but he might offer you extra seeds.

Demetrius - He would awkwardly show you around, and you'd have access to the farm cave on day 1 if you accept his offer to study the local bat population.

Robin - she's the vanilla choice but I'd like to think she gives you a storage chest.

Linus - the mountain man is shy but he is curious about the new farmer. He would bring some wild forage.

Marlon - Ah! The new adventurer! A rusty sword seems like the kind of welcome gift he would offer. (You don't gain access to the mines but monsters might spawn on the first night on the farm).

Gus - ah! A new farmer! This man is kindly bringing you a hot meal.

Evelyn and George - He would be like 'dagnabbit! Dragged me out here woman!' He can't exactly roll around easily on the farmland. She would be happy to make your acquaintance (and bring cookies, of course). George might give you a leek from Ev's garden.

Pam - She's driving the bus, right? She would mention it's normal for the mayor to run late. Let's crack open a pale ale.

Clint - Errr... hi... here is a sprinkler for your farm. (Makes a quick exit). (Or maybe an upgraded watering can).

Gunther - ah yes! Please help us replenish our museum. It is in a sad state. Here is a library card and a book about the history of the Valley.

Willy - Day 1 fishing pole! Oh yeah! (Super useful for the riverlands farm). If you're on another farm type, maybe just a fish).

Wizard - He finds you very... curious... and gives you the ability to understand Junimos (except who are they?). He smiles and says you will understand in time. And poufs! Where did he go?

Morris- beats Lewis to the bus stop, just barely and is out of breath. He gives you the Joja pitch early (and for today only, a discount if you buy a membership) but you wouldn't sell out, would you?

[12timetraveler]

The Wild Cat

Arthur returns to camp with a Christmas surprise

For @sad-sweet-cowboah for the @rdrevents winter exchange. I hope you enjoy this sweet little story 💙💙

The full story can be read below and on AO3

~~~~~~~

The snow was beautiful, but damn was the winter cold. 

The gang had tried moving a bit further south before the snow hit, but had only made it to a moderate climate before the snow hit and it became too much to move further. So while you weren't stuck up a mountain, you weren't in the nice warm desert either. 

Perhaps you were being a little extra grumpy this morning. Arthur had gone out on an errand for Dutch and Hosea, delivering mail and stopping at a fence to exchange some items for cash. Nothing dangerous, but it was a bit of a ride. Without your sweetheart sleeping beside you, the night had felt cold and long. Fortunately he should easily make it back by later in the afternoon. 

As you sipped your morning coffee, looking out over the white valley you were camped in, you tried to keep that positive in mind. He'd certainly been gone longer, and on more dangerous journeys before. But always you felt his absence. 

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), Mrs. Grimshaw wouldn't stand idleness, even when your mind was preoccupied with worry. In fact she seemed more determined to keep you working rather than let you sit in your anxious thoughts. 

By the time Arthur trotted in around sunset, you'd helped Pearson prepare some meats to preserve, had melted snow into water to do the washing, gathered coals from the fire pits to help Pearson cook, and helped patch a hole in Javier's jacket. Now you were taking some time to check the horses, picking snow clumps out of their hooves and making sure none had any injuries unnoticed. 

You didn't even have to look up when you heard the heavy footfalls of Boadicea crunching through the snow toward camp. Arthur’s snappy retort to Lenny’s call of “Who's that?” Was possibly the sweetest sound you'd heard all day, as grumpy as it was. He wasn't a huge fan of the cold either, and it made his rough exterior extra prickly. 

You finished picking the snow clumps out of Old Boy’s back hoof, setting it gently on the ground before straightening out. Arthur smiled as soon as he spotted you over the giant horse’s rump. 

“Hey darlin',” he sighed, dismounting before Bo had even come to a stop. He loosened her girth and removed his saddle bag before letting her loose to get some hay and find warmth amongst the herd. He tried to sling his saddle bag over his shoulder but stopped, lowering it to his side instead. 

“Bout time you rolled in,” you teased, brushing some snow off the fur of his jacket before wrapping him in a hug. 

“If it weren't for the snow I could have made that trip in one day,” he huffed, stomping his feet and rubbing his hands together. 

“Well I'm glad you're back safe,” you cooed, kissing his cheek before hugging him tighter. 

“Careful darlin’. You'll squish ‘im.” He chuckled, gently prying you from his front. 

“Squish who?” You asked, scanning Arthur's body. Surely he wasn't talking about his prick. He always loved when you pressed up against him there. 

“Not that,” Arthur huffed, following your gaze down to his crotch. He undid the top couple of buttons on his coat, grinning all the while as you spotted his surprise. 

An ashy gray fluffball with brown eyes peered out of Arthur's coat. You would have sworn it was a sentient piece of lint. It was hard to tell what the creature was until it let out a pitiful little mewl. 

“Who is this?” You gasped, reaching out to take the little cat as Arthur carefully unlatched its claws from his wool coat. The kitten immediately curled up against you, seeking warmth. 

“He ain't got a name. Yet,” Arthur grinned as he watched the cat search for an entrance into your coat. “Figured I'd leave that honor to you.” He leaned forward, stealing a kiss from you. “Merry Christmas, darlin'.” 

“What... He's for me?” You asked, looking between your sweetheart and the fluffy gray kitten in your arms. 

“Mmmhmm. I remember you talking about that cat you had as a little girl. When I found him I figured I knew someone who'd love him.” 

“Where did you find him?” You asked, watching as the short gray kitten tail disappeared into your coat. 

“Damn near the middle of nowhere,” Arthur huffed, rubbing his gloves hands together. 

“Just wandering the wilderness?” You studied the fluffy little cat, who was now peering up at you from inside your winter coat. “You sure you didn't bring home a mountain lion cub?” You teased.

“Well if you don't want him, give him back,” Arthur pouted. The twinkle in his eyes told you he was just playing along with you. 

“No. He's my little mountain lion,” you huffed, hugging the kitten close. Arthur chuckled. 

“He wasn't quite in the middle of the wilderness. I could see what looked like a homestead that burned down. I'd guess this little guy was the kitten of one of the barn cats. But he was all alone out there.” 

“Poor baby,” you cooed, wiggling your finger at the little kitten. Together you and Arthur made your way to the chuck wagon, and you easily found a can of salmon to feed the starving little furball before heading to your shared tent. The canvas tarps had been lowered around the tent to shield you from the cold, and to protect your privacy from the close proximity of your camp mates. It was still chilly, but the condensed space did provide some warmth. 

The kitten emerged as Arthur cracked open the can of salmon, smelling the yummy treat. Arthur set the can on the ground, and you helped the kitten pull itself out of your jacket. The ravenous little beast began scarfing down the salmon as soon as he was close enough, letting out little “nem nem nem” sounds as he ate. 

Now that the kitten was out in the open, no longer looking to burrow into the nearest coat he could find, you could study his features better. 

He was fairly young. Probably just old enough to be away from his mother. And even though the puffy coat you could tell he was skinny. The ashy color of his fur was textured with blacks and whites, giving a lot of density to his coloring. The tail was stubby like kitten tails are. But as this poor, abandoned kitten stood there, scarfing down the canned salmon, you couldn't help notice the happy way his little tail flicked back and forth. 

“I think he's a Maine Coon,” you mused, examining the kittens features. 

“Huh?” 

“It's a breed of cat,” you explained. “They're most popular up north in, well, in Maine.” 

“You know,” Arthur huffed, sitting beside you on the cot. “I never considered there were breeds of cats like there are horses or dogs. They're just... Cats.” 

“Trust me there are plenty of different cat breeds,” you giggled. “I'm not an expert. But I knew a woman who bred them. This little guy looks a lot like the kittens she had.” 

The little kitten was now finished with its meal and was now taking stock of the new environment. You wiggled your fingers at him, and the kitten focused on on your hand, ready to play now that he'd been fed. 

“If he is a Maine Coon, he's gonna get big,” you giggled, flouncing your fingers out of reach just as the kitten pounced. 

“Oh. So I did bring home a mountain lion cub after all,” Arthur teased. 

“Not quite,” you laughed. “But he will be one long kitty.” 

The kitten pounced at your fingers, narrowly missing your hand with its claws. He latched onto your skirt and climbed your leg, round eyes focused on your hand. 

Arthur watched fondly as the kitten played on your lap. The way your eyes shone down on the little creature, while your lips turned up in a giggle. 

“Do you like him?” Arthur asked. 

“I love him,” you said, grinning up at your husband. “Almost as much as I love you.” you tilted your chin up, and Arthur took it for the invitation it was and snagged your lips in a sweet but loving kiss. 

Arthur broke the kiss with a hiss, and you looked down to see the kitten hanging onto Arthur's hand, claws piercing the wool gloves while tiny fangs tried to nom on his fingers. You giggled and detached the fearsome cat from your husband's glove. 

As you held up the little kitten it let out a big yawn, tiny fangs glinting in the candle light. This time when you set him back in your lap, he curled up in the fabric of your skirt. 

“What are you gonna name him?” 

“I don't know,” you hummed, studying the little kitten. “I was thinking Ash, or Cinder to match his coat, and since he was found by a burned down homestead. Or maybe Coal, since he's a Christmas gift, but I've been very naughty this year.” You giggled. 

“No denying that,” Arthur teased, bending down and nipping at your jaw; the only thing he could reach with your scarf covering your neck.

“Thank you, Arthur,” you sighed, leaning against him.

“Merry Christmas, darlin'.” 

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

If a travel guide were to exist for Gallifrey, what would be the highlights?

Your Travel Guide for Gallifrey

Welcome to Gallifrey, the Shining World of the Seven Systems, a planet steeped in history, future, and wonder! Whether you're visiting for the burnt-orange skies, explore its ancient cities, or soak in the aura of a civilisation that's much better than yours, there's something for everyone.

🌍 Key Highlights

🏙️ The Capitol

Gallifrey's Heart: The Capitol is where the threads of Gallifreyan society—politics, culture, and science—meet. Enclosed in a gleaming dome, its High Gothic-meets-Art Deco aesthetic is impressive to off-worlders.

The Citadel: Home to the High Council, the Matrix, and corridors full of people far too important to make eye contact with you. Tour the grand chambers if you're invited.

Low Town: If you're looking for a drink and some atmosphere, nestled beneath the Capitol, this shadowy district is home to the poor/low class and disenfranchised Shobogans. It's gritty, chaotic, and a fascinating glimpse into Gallifrey's underbelly. Just keep your wits about you ...

🎓 Prydos City

The Time Academy: Prydos City is dominated by the Prydonian Academy, the prestigious institution where future Time Lords are trained. Stretching over 28 square miles, it's a maze of lecture halls, libraries, dormitories, and TARDIS bays.

Marketplace of Ideas: Prydos is famous for its unique shops, including concept stalls where you can purchase ideas from across time and space.

Streets of History: The city's streets are paved with intricate mosaics, depicting Gallifrey's rich history, so be sure to look down.

🌌 Arcadia City

The Second City: Arcadia is Gallifrey's cultural hub, known for its artistic flair and stunning desert landscapes. Situated in the Arcadian Sector, the city is surrounded by the Myridian Mountains and the Arcadian Desert.

The Palace of Arcadia: A renowned restaurant that offers some of Gallifrey's finest culinary experiences that finally don't involve fungi.

Fortified Beauty: By the Time War, Arcadia had become Gallifrey's most fortified city with grand towers and defensive walls.

🏜️ The Death Zone

A Forbidden Arena: Once an arena for the Games during the Dark Times, this pentagon-shaped valley is now a chilling reminder of Gallifrey's darker past. Surrounded by a powerful force field, it's a magnet for thrill-seekers and historians alike.

⚱️Ruined Cities of the Wild Lands

Scattered across the Wild Lands are the remains of ancient settlements, abandoned roads, and ghostly ruins from Gallifrey's earlier eras.

🌄 Natural Wonders

⛰️ Mount Cadon

Gallifrey’s Tallest Peak: Rising to the edge of the atmosphere, this legendary mountain is a must-visit for thrill-seekers. Beware of its hallucinogenic snow, which offers visions of your past, future, or that embarrassing thing you said at breakfast.

Lush Slopes: Depending on the season, the mountain is covered in vibrant flora, from lizard-eating blue flowers to hallucinogenic nuts.

🌌 The Wild Lands

Untamed Beauty: A vast expanse of red deserts, rocky mountains, and golden fields. It's home to nomadic Outsiders who've rejected Time Lord traditions—and the killer cats of Gin-Seng, who've rejected you.

The Sea of Life: With its shimmering silver waters and orange sands, this legendary body of water is said to hold mystical properties and has myths and legends attached to it Just don't drink it—it's a metaphor, okay?

🌀The Untempered Schism

A Window to Infinity: Just outside the Capitol lies the Untempered Schism, a shimmering tear in the fabric of reality where Time Lords glimpse the infinite vortex. It's a rite of passage for young initiates.

🌙 Pazithi Gallifreya

Gallifrey's Copper Moon: Pazithi glows a striking copper in the night sky. Once a hub of mining colonies during the Dark Times, it now offers tranquility for lovers and artists.

🚀 Getting Around

🚇 Sub-Surface Transtubes: Gallifrey's underground train system connects its cities. Whether you're headed to Prydos for a lecture or Arcadia for a meal, this is how most Gallifreyans travel.

🛰️ Transmat Systems: Perfect for those in a rush, Transmat systems offer near-instantaneous travel. Side effects include tingling fingers and existential questions about whether you're the “same you” after reassembly.

🚁 Aircar Skimmers: These longboat-shaped vehicles with golden sails and forcefields are relics of a bygone era but still operate regularly.

💡 Tips for Travelers

Stay Curious: From cloisters to hidden libraries, Gallifrey is a treasure trove. Keep your eyes open—you might even spot a Time Lord not glaring at you.

Mind Your Manners: Gallifreyans value decorum. A polite bow and a little self-deprecation will go a long way.

Beware the Wild Lands: Beautiful as they are, these areas are best explored with a guide—and a very healthy respect for local wildlife.

Gallifrey awaits—a world of timeless wonder, breathtaking architecture, and a history that stretches across millennia. Whether you're here to study, explore, or simply gawk as how amazing it all is, you're guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

Related:

💬|🪐🌍How is Gallifreyan geography different to Earth?: The landscape of Gallifrey.

💬|🪐💊What causes the hallucinogenic effects of the snow on Mount Cadon?: Theoretical look at why the snow on Mount Cadon is so wild, man.

💬|🌳🦁What native Gallifreyan species are there?: Overview of the fauna of Gallifrey.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |��Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[dabiconcordia]

The First Cat

The Ark on the dark, multitudinous waters Was tossing; the rain in a cataract poured; But Noah, his Lady, their sons and their daughters And all the wild live stock were safely aboard.

They weren't much seasick in spite of the weather And rather cramped quarters; they'd food to suffice, And all things were lovely, when, squeaking together, There rushed from the galley a rabble of mice!

They multiplied--yes, like a warren of rabbits! They plundered the pantry, devoured the grain; And such were their simply unspeakable habits That poor Mrs. Noah was well-nigh insane!

She said so in language untrammeled and forceful! And what might have happened, the Lord only knows! When Noah, the kindly and ever resourceful, Went up to the Lion and tickled his nose.

Then thrice sneezed the Lion!--and forth from the feature His Majesty sneezed with, there leaped in a trice A silky-haired, dagger-clawed, brisk little Creature-- And woe to the ravaging legions of mice!

In twenties, in thirties, in fifties she slew them Before Mrs. Noah had time to say "scat!" "Aha!" laughed the Skipper, who watched her pursue them; "I don't know It's name, Dear; let's call it A Cat!"

So, born of a sneeze in the Rain of All Ages That deluged the mountain, the valley, and plain, The Cat on your hearthstone to this day presages, By solemnly sneezing, the coming of rain! by: Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943)

[wintergale27]

The Colony Founders!!

A group of cats that came together on a whim, looking for community and family. I'll admit, I don't have as much of the "pre-story" era planned out as I'd like. I just keep running into walls trying to find the finer details :/

What ramblings I do have are under the cut ^_^

It all starts, of course, with the Great Quiet. The day the last humans disappeared. What happens exactly, I'm leaving up to reader interpretation. Was there a war? A plague, the rapture? The cats don't know, so neither will we. All that's important to know is that humans are gone, but their infrastructure and belongings are left behind.

It has been close to 8 years, or 16 seasons, since the Quiet. Nature has reclaimed the valley and the surrounding town. Animals are running wild reclaiming the land that was theirs an unimaginable amount of seasons ago, and enough time has passed that there are many who never even knew of the human's existence.

But not Wisteria. Her mother was in her prime during the years of the humans, "best in show," she said. So Wisteria learned all about them, all about the once bustling town they called home. But all Wisteria wanted to do was go beyond the walls of the city, to the mountains surrounding them.

Once she begins having strange dreams, premonitions of something yet to come, she is convinced. This storm she sees on horizon can only be stopped once certain events are set in motion.

So she sets out to find the cats she sees in her dreams. Brown, Yellows, Blue, and Orange. Forest, Marsh, Mountain, Field, and Town. She can feel that they will answer her call.

It's relatively smooth sailing from there; convincing former housecats, alley cats, and loners of the valley that they should come together as a community.

Golden Eagle establishes a group in the forest. They hold the most "traditional" values, with few former housecats. They want to live wild, as their ancestors did. Hickory takes the open area on the other side of the river. Nicknamed the Ridge for the drop-off before the road. Bluegill takes the marshy area at the base of the mountains. He always had an affinity for water, so he gathers fellow cats who don't mind getting their laws wet. Maplebelly takes a group further up the mountain and discovers the sprawling cave systems. Cicadashell feels a calling to protect and train those who may not be the most equipped for living in the wild. He sets up his group right between the forest and the town, the border between the two worlds. His group has the most former housecats, and are also the most likely to use left behind human objects. If it ain't broke, don't fix it or whatever. I mean, they even live in a cabin.

In order of most to least likely to make use of human objects: Border, Cave, Marsh, Ridge, Forest.

The first big trial comes when winter hits. Cats are getting sick. Seriously sick, and it's spreading fast. Cats are struggling to breathe, running fevers, and coughing stuff up.

Some cats see this as a sign that the colonies shouldn't exist. This infection wouldn't be spreading like this if they weren't all grouped together. But others see this as a sign that the colonies work. Living together means that they can help each other and share knowledge that they otherwise might not have had. Instead of a sick cat being condemned to either get over it or die, all while fending for themselves, now they can rest while others take over the burden.

It's a rough season, but they make it through. Not without losses, however, as among the casualties are three of the founders. Golden Eagle was just too old, he was always at a higher risk from infections like this. Hickory and Maplebelly spent most of their time around sick cats in the healer's den, so the over exposure to the infection combined with not letting themselves rest properly meant that they just weren't strong enough to fight it off.

Wisteria is the next to go. They just wake up one night and find her nest cold, her scent stale. They search but never find a body, and they refuse to believe that she is gone until she appears in Vixen's dreams. Her fur is filled with stars, and she leads Vixen to the Whispering Willow, where the border between planes is thinnest.

Bluegill is next, offering himself as a distraction to a pack of coyotes in hopes that the rest of his patrol can make it out safely.

Cicadashell is last, pinned by a beam during a fire protecting a small kitten.

But the storm Wisteria saw still looms on the horizon. She has set the dominoes to fall in their favor, but will their messages make it through before it is too late?

[yuurei20]

Sebek Info Compilation part 7: Sebek and Lilia

Sebek refers to Lilia by his first name on NA, but in his original dialogue he actually only ever calls him “Lilia-sama”, with Lilia apparently being on a similar level to Malleus from Sebek’s perspective.

Sebek was entrusted to Lilia by his grandfather when he was six years old and has been under his tutelage for the past decade.

He is quick to defend Lilia when he thinks that Lilia is not being paid proper respect, such as when Ace asks them why they led the ghosts to where he was during Phantom Bride.

Sebek scolds Ace for taking “an aggressive tone” with Lilia, insisting that he “learn (his) place”.

Sebek also becomes angry when Eliza rejects Lilia for being too cute, insisting “You’re even cuter than the ghost herself!”.

Sebek scolds Silver for interrupting Lilia when Lilia was speaking with Malleus, and scolds Idia for failing to “smoocharoo” Eliza at Lilia’s request.

Sebek is also an adamant supporter of Lilia’s musical endeavors.

Sebek often references having to survive in the wild with Silver as part of Lilia’s training.

Sebek is also capable of reciting “basic lessons in survival that Lilia was kind enough to teach me”.

During his second birthday vignette we learn that Lilia once took Sebek and Silver out to one of the mountains that border Briar Valley and, without any forewarning, disappeared. He left only basic tools and a note that said, “Let’s Survival ♪”.

Sebek says that, at the time, neither he nor Silver actually had any survivalist experience, whatsoever.

Lilia left the two alone on the mountain to survive as best they could for a week.

Sebek obeys what Lilia says over Silver’s instructions and, in some cases, even over Malleus, such as when he was ordered to apologize to Leona and argued the point with Malleus, but when Lilia follows up with “I think you should do as Malleus says” he responds with “Ah…yes, sir!”.

Sebek, Silver and Malleus all insist that Lilia can be terrifying on Halloween, but when Ace says that “Sebek is just a scaredy-cat” Lilia replies with, “no comment on that” and he has a voice line of “Silver and Sebek used to be scaredy cats, you know. I’d always have to do laundry the morning after Halloween”.

Silver describes scarecrows in a central plaza and Sebek says that “the terrifying part is what Lilia looks like as he dances in the light of the fiery tribute” (Lilia insists he “simply got in touch with (his) inner child and let loose a little.”)

(There are further descriptions of burning scarecrows, dancing in a circle in firelight and giant ogres, which may be in reference to multiple Disney properties such as Night on Bald Mountain, Sleeping Beauty and Nightmare Before Christmas.)

[little-pup-pip]

Just curious, what requests do you have in your queue/to do currently? If you're ok with saying it that is :]

Oh boy, that's a bigger question than last time someone asked! I have over 200 waiting requests at this point!! Because of that this got very very long, so I put the rest under the cut! Like last time, this is in order of how recently I received the request, and doesn't mean I'm too busy to take new requests!!

Ibara saegusa (enstars)

Monochrome oranges cats and angels

Gloomy bear

Another rockruff (maybe)

Cult of the lamb (specifically the lamb)

Llewellyn Watts (Murdoch Mysteries)

Jake (trailer park warlock)

Cult of the lamb (pet dreaming themed)

Bear therian

Selkie

Ice bear (we bare bears)

Tubbo (maybe)

Snow leopard

Pink

Australian shepherd (pupre)

Cassie (fnaf: ruin)

Draik (neopets)

The rainbow fish

Black kitten + space

Pumpkin head (maybe, needs more research)

Alice in wonderland

Sheep

Someone's OC Avery & siblings

Gothic

Star catcher (MLP)

Masc version of my druid board

Scrooge CG (2009 film)

Beetlejuice

Superstar daycare (fnaf)

1950s + ocean

Pandas + light purple and black

Dandelions

Willy wonka CG (recent movie)

Maki Harukawa (Danganronpa)

Kidcore Halloween + pumpkin puppy Webkinz

Fruit bat

Mermaid

Pastel purple + pandas

Robocar Poli

Brown, lime green and forest green puppy

Weird Barbie CG

Shiny Vaporeon

Where the wild things are

Squid

Dylan (the magic roundabout)

Conner CG (Detroit become human)

Mitsuri kanroji (demon slayer)

Minecraft mooshrooms

Sharks or wolves (haven't decided)

Hot Wheels

Miffy

Fox

Sharks

Zombies

Vincent (dead plate)

Vintage kitty dreaming

Deadpool

Shane CG (stardew valley)

Wolf pup

Celestia and Luna (MLP)

Soft blue and yellow

Pascal (animal crossing)

Pastel blue and pink

Batman CG

Ram

Osamu dazai (bungo stray dogs)

Dylan (the quarry)

Rain/nature + white rabbits

Ox

Penguin + dinosaur

Noah (total drama island)

Vision CG (marvel)

Light blue

Bumble bees + lavender

Yellow + ducks

Bearded vulture

Barn owl

Queen barb (trolls world tour)

Oliver (vocaloid)

Light green light brown and beige

Mind (Chonny Jash/CCCC)

Cinnamoroll + emu otori (project sekai)

Yellow+ chicks and puppy stuffies

Seam CG (deltarune)

Plants vs zombies

Viktor (arcane)

Queen of trash CG (Elmo goes to grouch land)

John Constantine (Justice League Dark)

Aziraphale (good omens)

Scenecore

Musa (winx club)

Leap frog

Hyper feminine puppy

Crow + black cat

Totodile + bodies of water

Bees

Sackboy (Little Big Planet) and or My Melody

Baby crocodile

Animal crossing

Pastel kitten

Doki doki literature club

Keralis (Hermitcraft, maybe)

90s grunge

Tula tones (novi stars)

Eevee + dragons

Kitten + stars

Ratchet (rescue bot academy)

Pastel shark

Mikan Tsumiki (Danganronpa)

Mushrooms

Grey + Ross federman youtooz

Sparkly dragon

Blue and purple + puppies

Ducks + alt/Gothic lean

Cinnamoroll

Shadow (sonic)

Jellyfish

Boyfriend.xml (Friday night funkin')

Puppet (fnaf)

Golden retriever + yellow and blue

Bernese mountain dog

Strawberries

Genshin impact

Len or Miku

Toothless (httyd)

Eddworld

Donnie (rise of the tmnt)

The princess and the grilled cheese sandwich

Pastel goth princess

SpongeBob

Karako Pierot (hiveswap)

Young Michael Afton

Soft fox

Great pyrenees + farm

Ike eveland

Invader Zim + neon green

Julius Caesar (Octavian, night at the museum, waiting until March for this one)

Scorpion

Vampire squid

Golden retriever (again, lol)

Cats + playing outside

Border Collie

Tiger

Argos CG (World of Mr. Plant) 

Pochacco

Mortal Kombat

marble cross fox/forest/fantasy (I'm figuring this one out still)

Puppy + SpongeBob

characters from Project Sekai, Hoshino Ichika, Mochizuki Honami, Akiyama Mizuki and Kusanagi Nene.

Baby vulture

Frog with more fem themes

Rain world/slugcat

Dark academia/cottagecore

Border Collie

Modded smash hit rooms

Crying child (fnaf)

Agent Smith CG (the matrix)

Katamari

Enjolras (les miserable)

Rolfe DeWolfe CG (Rockafire Explosion)

Bugbo

Slime rancher

Puppet (fnaf)

CosMc's

Parado (Kamen Rider)

Tally hall

Gordon (all engines go)

Spinel (Steven universe)

Cater diamond (twisted wonderland)

Rockabilly (probably)

Felix Lee

Jing yuan CG (Hsr)

Charles Xavier CG (X-Men)

Toki wartooth (metalocalypse)

Naoto Shirogane (persona 4)

Kitoto (I don't know what he's from)

17th century dutch

Sirena von boo (monster high)

Jake (miss peregrines home for peculiar children)

Minecraft

Sees behind trees

Allay (Minecraft, I think)

Spinosaurus screenshots or products

Tecchou (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Barbara (genshin impact)

Tasmanian devil

Spamton CG (deltarune)

Spinosaurus

Grunge + lop eared bunnies

Yume-Nikki

Daxter (jak and daxter)

Madness combat for puppies

James Sunderland (silent Hill)

Shirokuma (Danganronpa)

Leo (IDW comic)

[who-knew-a-sheep-can-write]

Back to Black: Vampire!Sebastian x Reader (Semi-NSFW)

Fun Fact: Sebastian was my first love in that game :) now it's Elliott >:)

Contains: Thoughts of nudity, sexual thoughts, mentions of masturbation, blood, vampire bites

The heat was a killer. All day, the sun beat down on you like you were a snake in a terrarium. Your body was at the brink of exhaustion as you were barely kept awake by a few cups of coffee doing their absolute best and sheer determination to make it to your little date with Sebastian tonight. You wiped your forehead with the back of your hand, groaning internally as your hair clung to your face and neck uncomfortably, every exposed piece of skin was glistening with balmy sweat that made you slightly sticky to the touch.

You stopped your trek back to the farm next to Marnie’s ranch. Through the cows mooing and the hens clucking, you could hear the river running wild behind you. It had rained pretty heavily the past few days, saving your back from watering all of those crops while you hurt it instead by tearing through those damn mines. You turned a bit, eyes meeting the river as it babbled on through the forest, taunting you with its cold water you dreamed of feeling with your entire body. How bad would it be if you were to just go in? Dip your feet in? Maybe even wade in it waist deep?

You scoffed and turned, continuing your hike back to your farm. You didn’t trust yourself, you couldn’t. The heat was getting to you so badly you knew you would strip and jump right in.

Besides, you had a nice clawfoot tub back at the farm that was big enough to fit two.

You smiled like an idiot in love, gazing into the void of nothingness as your feet went to auto drive, carrying you back to your home as you drooled at the thought of sharing that bath with Sebastian. You could feel it, you swore it. Surrounded by lukewarm water, the scent of wildflowers amongst other scents turning the water milky with barely any bubbles to cover your naked bodies. You could feel him pressed up against you, your naked back against his naked front.

His stiff cock against your a-

You tripped up the stairs to your farmhouse, startling yourself out of your sexual daydreams when you slammed your knee into the wooden porch. You hissed, feeling your knee split open at the bend just enough for blood to draw and skin to scrape. You cursed to yourself, stabilizing yourself against your front door as your cat lazily followed you up the stairs, meowing at you for food instead of being concerned that you just hurt yourself. You sent a pointed look at your cat, but he only pawed at the door and meowed again.

You huffed through your nose and tossed the door open, shuffling inside as your little feline friend trotted over to his automatic feeder and began to eat. You started for your bathroom, stripping your sweat-soaked shirt off over your head and letting it pool to the floor as you kept limping towards your bathroom.

You started to fill up the tub, adding in some soap to the cooling water and swirling it around, you quickly shirked off your shorts- being careful of your bloody knee- and got right in. You hissed when the water hit the torn skin, but the pain quickly faded to a dull throb.

You sat back in the tub, back resting against the curved porcelain as the water quickly filled up to your chest before you turned off the flow. Sitting there as you soaked in bliss, you couldn’t help but think on your daydream again as your hand dipped beneath the surface of the water to the junction between your legs.

The summer sun had started to set, casting the valley in blankets of purple and red lighting that slowly grew darker and darker as the minutes dripped away like sweet honey. Even as you trekked the small path behind your farm to the mountains the shadows grew larger and darker until the path was barely visible.

You popped out in the familiar clearing, heading down the small hill to the cozy little carpenter’s shack, finding the garage door had been tossed up and the workbench light turned on. You could hear something going on inside.

You poked your head around the corner, watching with a dumb little grin on your face as Sebastian toiled away with his motorcycle with his back to you. His hair had been combed back by his fingers, an unlit cigarette loosely held between his lips as he worked on his bike. He was in a grey t-shirt that clung to his body. It didn’t seem like it, especially when you first met him, but under the baggy dark hoodies he wore Sebastian was surprisingly built with lean muscle. He wasn’t bulky like Alex or Kent, but it was obvious he could quite literally knock the sense into someone if he wanted to. You stared, hoping you weren’t drooling, at the way his biceps and forearms flex as he tightened whatever.

You couldn’t help but think sensual little thoughts. Lust clouded your mind, bringing back your sweet daydreams from earlier to coil around and cloud your judgment. You shamelessly thought about him taking you right here in the garage. Maybe against his motorcycle? Maybe lifting you up to sit on the workbench as he sucked and lapped at your sex? Maybe even just taking you on the concrete floor? You wanted him so badly you could almost taste the salty sweat on his skin against your tongue.

“You gonna just stand there and stare?” he piped up, still with his back to you.

You flushed at his question, your heart racing in your ears as you sheepishly stepped into the garage. Once again today you had been snapped out of your lusty thoughts. As you walked up beside him you couldn’t help but stare even harder at his lean muscles flexing as he sweat lightly against the thin fabric of his shirt.

“Sorry,” you finally spoke up, “I didn’t wanna disturb you.”

He suddenly stood, the stool he was just sitting on scraped against the concrete floor as he nudged it out of the way with his foot. He turned to look at you, eyebrows raised in amusement as a content smile settled on his face.

“You never do.”

He almost looked… off?

Dare you say a little pale and thin?

He took the unlit cigarette and placed it behind his ear, opening his arms up for you which you happily took. His embrace was always something, always comforting, always warm despite appearing to be a cold and closed off person. Even now as he wrapped his lanky arms around you, you found yourself sinking into his warmth.

Or you would have if he was warm.

He was surprisingly cool to the touch, the light stain of sweat that had gathered at his collar was even cooler. It did wonders to cool you down though. Even in the late evening hours, the summer heat was still too much today.

You pulled away a bit to kiss him. Even his lips were cool to the touch. He seemed to push against you a little more than usual, drinking up the warmth that bled from your body in soft waves.

The kiss broke and you both found yourselves standing there peacefully in the garage, gazing into each others eyes lovingly before Sebastian pulled away.

“You ready?” he questioned over his shoulder.

Sebastian kicked the stand out and removed the key from its ignition. You were quick to take off your helmet, taking in the cool air that still tasted of the rain that fell earlier in the morning. You scooted off your seat in back, holding onto your helmet as you stared off into the distance at Zuzu City lit up like a Winter Star tree. It made you miss your home a bit, a slight pang in your chest bloomed as you looked back at the bustling city.

Bugs hummed and chirped in the night as the woods surrounded you both. The grass was still a little damp as you walked a bit, still shuffling a bit from your little accident earlier. Your knee no longer hurt but the joint felt tight as you were sure to wrap it well.

“How long were we gonna hang out here?” you questioned over your shoulder. “I don’t have much planned tomorrow so we can stay late.”

The moment Sebastian took his helmet off, he stiffened.

His body locked up like he were a deer caught in the headlights. His back was to you, he was barely breathing at all, he was quieter than a field mouse with a hawk circling overhead. You settled your helmet onto your seat and went up behind your boyfriend.

The moment you placed your hands on his shoulders, it was like you shocked him back to life.

He pushed away from you, his helmet dropping to the dewey grass as he stumbled. His breathing became labored as he refused to look at you.

“Sebastian? Are you okay?”

You made to walk up to him again when he waved you off, suddenly turning to look at you as though you had just stabbed him. His eyes looked…different. He looked like he had been starved for days on end. The darkness that surrounded you both made it nearly impossible to make out the colors of his eyes, but you could tell that they were a lot darker. He watched you with fear in his gaze as he stepped away like you were the predator.

“Are you bleeding?”

His voice was strained and wispy like he was at a loss for air. He was almost astonished by asking that question, spitting it out like you just told him you did something horrendous.

You peered down at your leg, noticing a dark spot on your knee through your pant leg. You cursed softly, rolling up the loose leg to reveal your wrap had come a bit undone as blood beaded out of the soaked material. The wrap must’ve come undone sometime during the ride up here and you just didn’t notice it until n-

How did he know?

Fear shot right through you as you cautiously gazed back at Sebastian.

Something heavy settled in the pit of your stomach, a soft buzzing filled the void of your mind to stop it from going crazy. The bugs no longer made noise, the woods swallowing all sound around you, and surely it would help deafen any noise that would come from this.

Sebastian’s eyes weren’t human anymore. No longer were they a dark shade of stormy blue that blended in with the darkness surrounding you both, but a paranormal red that cut through the night like daggers.

You’ve heard rumors that there were vampires in the valley from inside of the Adventurer’s Guild, but you mostly took them to be old tales conjured up by Marlon and Gil to jokingly tell the young members to scare them from the dark.

“Sebastian.” You swallowed thickly as your nerves suddenly stood at attention. “Are you-”

You didn’t dare to finish asking that question, especially when you caught the faint glimpse of fangs in his mouth.

He was upon you in the blink of an eye, lanky hands pinning your shoulders as his lithe weight suddenly hit you like a train. You weren’t given any time before one of his hands snaked up to your hair and snatched your head to the side, the crane of your neck burned and ached before he sank his teeth into you. A scream gurgled out of you as your blood flowed freely into his mouth. You tried to push him away, weakening hands snatching at his leather jacket only struggled under the pressure you applied.

A second wind took over you, new found power surging through you. You reeled one hand back and suddenly slammed it into his throat, balling your hand into a hardened fist, nailing him right in his larynx.

He let go of you, hacking your blood up as his skinny fingers wrapped around his neck.

You fell over onto the grass, the hard ground smacked the wind out of your lungs as you crawled backwards. Your nails tore up the wet grass as your vision started to dark around the corners. You clutched at the side of your neck as blood continued to seep through, fingers trembling as you stared him down.

He looked like a crazed maniac. Blood coated his lips and his chin, fangs glistening copper from your blood sticking, dark circles around his eyes made his pal skin contrast even more. He looked like a rabid animal.

His haunting neon eyes pinned you in your place as he stalked forward.

“G-Get away from me-” you spat as you brought your leg back, ready to kick at your crazed boyfriend should he lunge for you again. Some sort of monstrous growl clicked from him as he stalked towards you once again, his eyes seemingly growing brighter as you struggled to keep awake, the blood loss was starting to get to you. You tried to crawl backwards some more until your arms gave out. “Sebastian, don’t,” you pleaded.

[cyberpunkonline]

The Great Tech Heist: How East Coast Money Made Silicon Valley’s Wild West Look Like a Rigged Casino

Let’s take a trip back to the ‘90s. Picture it: everyone’s wearing acid-wash jeans, video game cartridges are getting blown into like they’re ancient relics, and the internet is that weird thing we only use to email chain letters and download Metallica tracks on Napster (sorry Lars). The tech world is exploding, right? West Coast kids, wired up on Mountain Dew and Jolt Cola, are coding like mad geniuses in their garages, while on the East Coast, fat cats are throwing cash at any startup that promises to "disrupt" something, anything. Sounds like the American Dream? Think again.

The Myth of the Silicon Cowboy

Look, we’ve all heard the fairy tale: Silicon Valley was built by scrappy hackers, rebellious dreamers who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and revolutionized the world. Yeah, no. Turns out, the tech boom wasn’t just a bunch of geeks in garage startups waiting to change the world with code—it was funded by some serious East Coast money. Yup, while the West Coast had the talent, the algorithms, and the vision, it was those Wall Street fat cats who swooped in with their big, dirty bags of cash when the rest of the world still thought the internet was just a fad for nerds.

Let’s not look at this through rose-tinted glasses. The West Coast might’ve had the hackers and engineers, but the East Coast had the old-money institutions and finance bros itching to throw dollars at anything with "tech" in its name. It wasn’t just about innovation, man. It was about control. The future wasn’t some wild frontier—it was a rigged casino. And the house? You guessed it. Ivy League-educated venture capitalists who had their claws in the game long before anyone knew what "dot-com" even meant.

East Coast Money, West Coast Hustle: The Unholy Union

Picture this: West Coast techies, hyped up on vision boards and overly optimistic projections, meeting East Coast investors in their slick suits, who smell like cigars and finance spreadsheets. It’s a match made in capitalist heaven. The techies needed funding to keep their dreams alive, and the financiers were happy to oblige—so long as they got a cut, or better yet, all the power.

This wasn’t a one-off thing. This was a system. East Coast money turned the Valley into a playground for the rich before the innovation even had a chance to breathe on its own. The money vultures from Boston and New York didn’t just see an opportunity; they saw a way to control it from the start. The ‘belief gap’ (you know, that time when people still thought tech was a passing trend) was patched over not by pure innovation or passion, but by heavy financial artillery.

The Fad That Wasn’t: Dirty Money and Nepotism

Let’s get real. Tech wasn’t some magical, equal-opportunity goldmine. It was a “get rich quick” scheme for anyone with the right connections or enough dirty cash to play the game. Nepotism was as rampant in the tech space as in any other industry—maybe even more so. Those that had old money? They were the ones who got in early, while the rest of us were busy playing GoldenEye and waiting for dial-up to connect.

Sure, there were a few exceptions—some genuine innovators who actually did come out of nowhere to change the game. But for every scrappy underdog success, there were a hundred trust-fund babies whose families were plugged into the venture capital pipeline. The rise of the tech industry wasn’t fueled by underdogs, but by a calculated infusion of East Coast dough—making sure that when the chips fell, the same people who always win were the ones holding the cards.

Media vs. Tech: A Clash of Titans or Just a Slow Dance?

And let’s not even get started on the media’s role in all this. If you thought the mainstream media (MSM) was rooting for the rise of the internet, think again. The old guard—newspapers, magazines, television—they were terrified. Internet? Pfft. Just another fad like laserdiscs and slap bracelets, right? Wrong. But of course, they had to protect their interests, so they downplayed it at first. "No, no, people will never want to read their news on a screen." Yeah, well look where we are now. They couldn’t hold back the tide, but they sure as hell tried.

And when they couldn’t? They hopped on the bandwagon, rebranded themselves as “digital pioneers,” and started their own media conglomerates online. They played both sides, hedging their bets, and ultimately getting in bed with the very tech companies they once mocked.

The House Always Wins

Look, it’s no accident that tech became what it is today. It was designed to succeed in a system that benefits the already-powerful. When East Coast money plugged into West Coast talent, it wasn’t to help build a utopian future of innovation and creativity. It was to control the next big thing. The old money powers weren’t afraid to take over the narrative—and as usual, the house won.

So yeah, every time you hear about the "wild west" of tech and how it was all about risk-takers and visionaries, take it with a grain of salt. Sure, there were some rebels in there. But the real power move was knowing which side of the table to sit on. And unless you were part of the old guard with the right connections, you were just along for the ride.

As Hunter S. Thompson would probably say, it’s all one big swindle. The game was rigged from the start, and now we’re all stuck in this digital casino, hoping we can at least break even. But let’s face it: the house always wins.

And remember, folks—when you’re sitting there staring at your screen, watching tech giants swallow the world whole, just know this: behind every slick algorithm and groundbreaking app, there’s probably a cigar-smoking finance bro laughing all the way to the bank.

And that’s the real joke.

[aasbwcrp]

☀️As Above, So Below❄️

A literate roleplay

In the wilds of Alaska lies a glacial valley divided between two warring Clans. Haunted by a history of bloodshed, tyranny, and endless war.

Following a 12 moon timeskip, new leaders emerge in the Clans. Following Shiverstar’s death, his deputy, Houndslash, is on the path to lead RiftClan and hopefully work towards peace between the Clans, while in RidgeClan, the once community focused Clan is left even more divided when both their contentious leader and well-liked deputy die suddenly in a rockfall. Left with only their newly appointed healer, Snowgale, to guide them, some warriors are vying for power hoping to win their Clanmates’ and StarClan’s approval.

Tension is higher than ever, and the cats of these Clans must rush to discover the truth behind the conflict or face destruction at the claws of the other.

—

☀️RidgeClan, cats of the golden cliffs, who admire the jump and never fear the fall. A Clan that once valued community above all, has become a shamble of its former self, left divided ever since their previous leader, Soaringstar, made the controversial decision to crush RiftClan under an avalanche and exile the RidgeClan cats who warned them, with two RidgeClan cats left dead in the process. This group lives high up in the mountains, traversing rocky cliffs, glaciers, and grassy foothills to hunt.

❄️RiftClan, dwellers of the deep and stalkers of the dark. Previously recovering from the bloody and tyrannical rule of Slatestar, these cats lost many friends in an avalanche caused by RidgeClan, and now with Shiverstar passing on as well, some have grown weary of the war. These cats live in a small cave system and hunt in the pine forests of the southern part of the region.

—

What do we offer?

- A detailed and realistic setting.

- An interactive territory map with descriptions of landmarks and locations.

- Detailed Clan history and a frequently updated timeline of recent events.

- A member driven and character focused plot.

- Channels for plot discussion, character brainstorming, and lore theorizing.

- A diverse and supportive community with ample space for artists and writers of all kinds.

- Community events that sometimes include prizes such as AASB Art Fight, writing competitions, lore quizzes, etc.

- Custom character emojis which you can draw and submit at any time.

- Additional character slots rewarded for activity.

Why do we do auditions?

Auditions ensure the quality of writing and characters in the roleplay. You can re-audition every wave as many times as you want or need. If you don't get in on your first try, you can always ask the mods what they think should be improved to get a higher rating next audition.

Audition waves encourage activity both in the roleplay and in the community. It's a great time for members and spectators to build relationships, between each other and their characters. Many of our members love helping spectators with building characters and navigating the audition process, and our staff is always available for questions if you need. As a spectator, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your character for the next wave and make friends in the process!

AUDITIONS ARE OPEN ON DECEMBER 20TH, YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!

Join the new server here and get started making your character!

https://discord.gg/MM4PbXjbxP

Art below drawn by one of our members dodgebii!

[aplaceinthedark]

chapter four: FORGET my NAME

Summary: Down in the Shenandoah Valley, there lay a court consisting of the Grim, the Drowned, the Witch and the Watcher.

CW: mentions of religious sacrifice, supernatural themes

Every chapter will have a different cw section. This is Bad Omens rpf, so obviously, I don't know all the little nuances of the members or their family members.

A/N: Some things are color-coded. If any of you are colorblind lemme know. 

If no one was going to tell me what the hell was wrong with the people here and their fascination with some ghost story, I was going to find out myself.

Frustratingly, the camera was a flop. I had tested it out first with Nick, who had been cheeky and flipped it off when he triggered the censor. But my apples vanished at some point in the night without triggering the camera. After a few nights of that, I set it to record regardless of motion. My result was the camera glitching at 3 in the morning, and not coming back online until half an hour later.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was like they knew the camera was there.

By wednesday, I was almost fed up with the whole thing. When Nick and I texted, I vented my frustrations, but there wasn't a lot he could do since he was in Richmond. After his ominous message in his driveway, he wouldn't talk about the subject; stating it was because of Granny and the possibility of her overhearing. Then he would distract me by almost quite literally dangling a cat in front of me.

Honestly, I think Jerry had more to say than the whole town combined.

Thursday, I was practically bouncing off the walls with how bored I was. I wanted to work on the house, but Nick wanted to help this weekend. I told myself I wanted to wait because then he would be over more, and… I wanted to hang out with him.

I hadn't realized how lonely I was until I came out here. Most of my so-called friends had really been Mike's, and once he was… gone, they vanished. I hadn't had my own friend in several years, and now that I had one, I almost wanted to cling onto him. Like he would vanish if I let him go.

But because he wasn't there, I decided that it was time to find some answers. And if no one would answer my questions, maybe some books could.

And I was gonna start with this Watcher creature.

The library…I don't know if it was because I had grown up in a city where there were several libraries, but my first thought was that it was the smallest library I'd ever seen. It didn't even take up a whole block, and it was only one story. I almost didn't go in because there was no way anything could be in here.

But I forced myself to go in. There were only two people behind the front desk - probably the only people who worked here - and a few people in what looked like a computer room. I slipped off to the left towards all the books before anyone would notice me. I found a corner where I could work uninhibited.

Unsurprisingly, it only took half an hour to find all I could about the subject of the local legends. It wasn't a whole lot, but more than I thought I would find. I found a few books - if you could call them that - several news articles, and a copy of some cartographer's journal.

Reading through everything, I soon realized why no one would tell me anything: it was because there was nothing to tell. It wasn't because they were scared to say its name; it was because there was nothing on the subject. Nada. Zip. No concrete evidence.

Sure, there were stories. Tales of odd noises heard or glances of something in the corners of their eyes. But it was just that: bare minimum evidence that was blown widely out of proportion. Mostly, it was tales of white dogs or the sound of a string instrument from deep in the woods.

And the Watcher…

It was all over the place. One tale said that the Watcher of the Woods existed as long as the mountains were mountains:

In the days before men, wild animals roamed unchecked across the land. They were as spirits and had all the power of spirits and were wise and could speak. Among them, the Watcher of the Woods was the wisest, for he alone could attain the valley of the deepest green and seek wisdom from the oaken groves.

"In the early stages of the world, the earth was still learning its shape. The shell of the earth cracked, and the land heaved, and the oceans churned. Great mountains were born at the seams of the earth, and great valleys appeared where the land split.

In ages past, all things living commanded infinite power. Some creatures sought to keep their strength secret and refused to share their gifts. Thus, darkness sought to make all creatures equal and share their power equally amongst all things.

Instead, the craven amongst them concealed their Divinity, and left the world death-like and dull. Their True Names were lost, and no more were they as spirits. O ly the Watcher remembered how the world had been, and only the Watcher could guide the others toward the darkest grove to uncover the wisdom of old."

“After a time, the deer heard the response to its plea. “I can do what you ask,” the ancient tree said, “though there will be a cost.”

There were also a lot of animal tales, and I was surprised to see Granny's name in one of them as an intro. I guess there weren't a whole lot of people to talk to in this town. There was "Journey to the Oaken Grove" about how a little rabbit journeyed to the Watcher to seek out answers. There was "The Fox's Shadow" about how a fox left his family and didn't come back right. There was also a tale called "Lost in the Labyrinth" where a deer begged the Watcher to take away its suffering.

“I will pay it,” said the deer, “whatever it may be, if it means I may be free of fear.”

“You must give your heart to me,” said the tree. “To be truly free, you must relinquish your greatest strength, and only then will you find relief.”

“Is it wrong of me to do so?” the deer asked, worrying that it was its fear alone that drove it to ask this of the tree.

So the deer whispered its true name to the great tree, who accepted it tenderly and wove a spell to set the weary deer free.”

“Not at all, dear one,” the tree replied. “You are very brave to make such a sacrifice.”

But the most shocking thing I found? A ten-year-old news article abbut these cultists, and weirdly, a photo of Nick and Noah was in it.

None of this, however, held a candle to the witness accounts of people who lived near the forest. Tales of half-men cultists from the underworld, and on the summer solstice, they would appear to make a sacrifice to the horned king of hell.

Nick's words from this past weekend came back to me. "People here like to think they care about you... they end up leaving you to the lions." Was this what he meant?

Nick 😺🍌: Noah wants to know if it’s okay if he can come over.

Despite what little I found, I still copied down what I could, until my hand cramped and my spare change for the copier was spent. I was close to leaving, having everything packed up and ready to go, when I got a text from Nick. I felt my heart leap, but when I saw the subject matter, I groaned in frustration.

Well at least he’s asking this time.

A part of me wanted to text back “No, absolutely not,” but instead I hesitated. If Nick was certain that Noah’s and my first meeting was a fluke, then maybe I should give him another chance.

Nick 😺🍌: come on, give him another chance.

Nick 😺🍌: are you busy?

No, but I’m not home right now. I’m leaving the library right now.

Nick 😺🍌: Can I ask you for a favor then?

I’m not stealing any babies for you.

Nick 😺🍌: LOL NO can you drop off a book at Granny’s? She’s feeling under the weather and I don’t want her getting any sicker.

Anything for Granny.

Nick 😺🍌: Ty! I’m almost done with my break, but just text me when you’re done and I’ll let you know about Noah when we’re closing up shop here.

Defeated, I picked up the book for Granny and left the library. With all my papers and books, I couldn't help but think of my old college days. Gauging the time, I decided that the trip to the Heritage Center would have to wait until tomorrow.

Granny was delighted to see me. She fussed over me leaving, preventing me from simply dropping off the book and leaving, so I had to stay for a bit. Which was fine, since that meant seeing Jerry and Lydia. I tried to skirt around her questions about me and Nick. He had been right about the rumors, in a way, and judging by how she was talking, Granny wasn't helping.

"I'm just so glad Nicholas is seeing someone," she said as I tried to pick up Jerry. "He's never been quite the same since Noah disappeared."

I froze, letting Jerry make a bid for freedom. "N-Noah?" I asked. "Aren't they friends?"

"Oh, they were. Noah was always staying over, so much that he had his own plate at the table," she said. I wasn't able to school my confused expression quick enough before she looked over at me. "Oh, he probably hadn't told you about him yet. He doesn't like to talk about the subject much."

My unease was growing by the second. "What do you mean he... disappeared?"

Granny got up, motioning for me to follow. I went with her to what looked like a spare bedroom, or a storage room for a bunch of crochet projects. But my eyes fell onto a framed picture on a table as Granny dug through a dresser. It was of Nick, though he had short hair and small spacers in his earlobes. He was kneeling and gripping the hand of a much younger Noah, who also had short hair.

Granny pulled out a manilla folder, drawing my attention away from the picture. "Nicholas was once obsessed with trying to find Noah, but then a year had passed, and he stopped. He threw this away, but I kept it in case he would regret the decision." She then pulled out what looked like an old newspaper clipping.

And above it, in big bold letters..

I didn't want to look, but I knew I was going to have to. The first thing my eyes were drawn to was the picture: a young man, obviously older than the previous picture, but with long dark hair and big dark eyes, smirking at the camera. An exact mirror of the man who had shown up on my property a week ago,

MISSING RESIDENT PRESUMED DEAD

[riseoftheclansrpg]

CLANS OF THE LAKE - RISE OF THE CLANS

The Clans of the Lake consist of four feral cat communities,  known as WoodClan, ValleyClan, RockClan, and StreamClan. They follow what is known as the warrior code, living as warriors in the wild.

Their four territories lie next to one another, next to a lake. The terrain and foliage is vast in its variety, with the mountains close by in the north, and ocean not too far away in the south. In between are varied forests, streams, and other varying foliage.

To learn more about the Clans, click the Clan names below!

WOODCLAN

WoodClan lives in a tight-knit pine forest, the paths among it known only to the Clan itself.

VALLEYCLAN

ValleyClan lives among the sloping hills and valleys, next to the large, bustling Twoleg farm.

ROCKCLAN

RockClan lives at the base of perilous mountains, a threat to all but the tough cats who live there.

STREAMCLAN

StreamClan lives surrounded by rushing water, the fish there a steady source of prey for the sleek cats.