#We keep it for like 8-10 hours and set him free in the near forest because he was fine just a little dehydrated that time

[waru-chan8]

Why do I have the feeling I’ll get in trouble for keeping at bird at home afer my sister rescued it? We just contacted all the right people to make sure the little guy is safe, and we’re gonna return it to a rescue centre, but I still feel like I’m going to be in trouble for saving the guys life.

It’s not even a dangerous species and I’m freaking out so much

[seriouslyhooked]

Lost Souls and Reveries (Part 24)

25 part AU written for @cssns​. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23. Story available on AO3 Here and FF Here. Banner created by the amazingly talented @shipsxahoy​!!

Killian Jones is a wolf shifter without roots, without plans, and without a pack. He’s a rogue, someone humans should avoid and shifters should be wary of given his lineage. But one night years back set him on a path he didn’t realize he was taking, a path leading to a future he is destined for. That future is tied up in one woman – a human named Emma Nolan. Together Emma and Killian will find not only answers, but a love that’s truly fated. But will love be enough to set them free, or will past demons win out in the end? (Answer: love always wins – I am writing this so despite some tiny pockets of angst it’s basically a fluff-filled insta-love fest). Rated M.

A/N: Hey everyone. So as you can probably imagine, this chapter is going to be A LOT It’s double the length of a normal chapter because the midpoint was too high stress for me to leave you all on. It’s going to be high emotions and very unstable. That being said, I totally understand if some of you just want to skip it all together. Keep in mind if you do, you will be missing the final show down with George and a lot of final puzzle pieces many of you have been trying to piece together. I promise you I will leave the chapter in a stable place AND I have an extremely fluffy chapter planned for the final installment of this fic. That being said, I hope you’ll all forgive me for the angst, and happy reading!

“So what exactly do you think George has in store for us?”

After a few hours of being holed up in the car together, headed north to face her father’s Uncle, the question from Killian was direct and precise. But there was a reason it had taken hours for anyone to ask. The truth was something strange and unnerving. Without having every detail, they all knew that this was a dangerous man with an unstable mind. George Nolan’s reputation preceded him and his craven desire to do harm was undeniable. Still there was so much they didn’t understand. The only one with first-hand knowledge was her Dad, and every time she looked to him for answers, he appeared grim and stony. To see her father’s light dim, to see his kindness cool, was completely foreign to Emma, and it made her hands tremble slightly with anxious anticipation.

“It’s not going to be easy to get to him when we arrive at this ranch,” Emma’s father said, continuing to discuss the task before them just as he had for the last four plus hours. “My Uncle has never fought in any human war, but his life has been one long series of battles. The stuff he’ll have lined up will be straight from the textbooks.”

“They’ve got textbooks on shifter hunting then?” Liam asked with a tone of feigned amusement that was largely laced in sarcasm. “Well look at that. Learn something new every day.”

“Kidding aside, surely George is more sophisticated than that. He must have some sorts of surprises in store,” Killian offered.

“Oh plenty,” David agreed. “I know many of his habits, his tendencies and quirks, but it’s been thirty years since I left home, and there’s no doubt he’ll have more up his sleeve by now.”

Emma continued to listen to the others discuss, but eventually their voices started to fade. The words became less recognizable, and more a continued thrum of energy in the back of her mind. This mental distance was a defense mechanism, a means of shielding herself until the last possible moment. If she allowed her mind to linger in the what-ifs she’d go crazy. Instead, she leaned her head against the window, her temple feeling the coolness of the glass as her eyes stayed trained out, taking in their surroundings.

As the others shifted their conversation from trap types and weaponry to debate about what the best routes in and out of this park reserve might be, Emma thought back to a time before all of this chaotic uncertainty. Her eyes cast out towards the northern woods, with mammoth pine trees filling in the forests all around them. The world was green and bright. The feel of summer was thick still, and the world, though sluggish from the heat, was very much alive. The further from home they drove, the more altered the land looked. Flat coastal spaces ranged from rolling hills to jagged cliffs. Terrain was denser with brush and canopies. Heck, they’d literally left the country and were now in a totally new place, but Emma didn’t think of that, or even really see the sights before her. Instead she recalled what things used to be like, before she met her soulmate, and before everything went completely off the rails.

Emma’s life in Storybrooke was quiet and subdued for so many years. She had her work, and her friends, and her family. Every day was different, but it was also just the same. The spice of her life came from being a vet, where she might encounter varying pets and animals with a whole host of ailments and injuries, but the ebb and flow of life was rather monotonous. Nothing really strayed from ordinary, and after everything that they’d gone through when Neal was sick, Emma was grateful for that. She lived in a little pond with the fish she’d always known, happy that the big and scary waves of their past seemed to be behind them. Things were small and seemingly unimportant in their little corner of the world, but as safe as she’d felt, and as untouchable as being in Storybrooke once used to seem, it wasn’t all that she truly wanted. Where she had consistency and companionship, Emma was missing passion. She was missing that all-consuming love that comes when meeting one’s perfect match, and in more ways than one, she was missing key insights into who she really was. Pieces of her had been, for lack of a better word, hibernating, and now they were awakened, never to be suppressed or forgotten again.

But so far, these beautiful pieces had come with a tainted set of conditions. She met Killian, igniting a spark that had fanned into unquenchable flames. She fell in love with him, opened her heart to him, and started to believe that a life with real love was something she was meant to be a part of, but then she realized he had secrets and a past still left to face. She learned the truth about shifters, and her family’s place in that world. It was confusing but amazing all at once, yet with that incredible truth came a good amount of fear. There was so much left unknown, and things that could hurt them down the line. Bonding together had made Emma and Killian so much more secure in themselves and in each other. She was meant to be Killian’s fated mate, and he was meant to be hers, and Emma would never ever regret that. But saying yes to each other and taking that step brought the threat of Liam and whatever darkness may consume him. Of course, Killian’s brother was no longer a danger to them, but only a few weeks ago they’d felt differently. Before they saw Liam and understood his intentions and his destined ties to Elsa, he was looming menace that Killian had run from for years. His sickness had eroded critical human parts of Liam Jones, and though Elsa had cured him, nothing could take back the panic, the angst, and the worry they’d all expended in the days and weeks leading up to his return.

When they realized Liam wasn’t truly the enemy, there was celebration and reason for joy. Killian had his brother back, and Elsa too was blessed enough to have a mate. But in a matter of days Emma was forced to face down the risks of fully embracing who she was. The tying together of Elsa and Liam was a gift, but it also thrust Emma into more action than she knew what to do with. In a move that completely defied her past human understanding, Elsa used magic to help Emma merge her souls on some kind of spiritual, other-worldly journey. She’d met Killian’s dead mother in another unknown plane of existence, embraced her inner wolf, all while dying for just a few moments. That was crazy, and obviously something Emma should have had more time to prepare for and come to terms with, but she survived, and after the dust settled from such a stressful moment, she thought things were truly okay. They’d made it through, they’d braved their trials. This was surely enough to merit a good old fashioned happily ever after, but no. Things were nowhere near through. Her long-lost, time-ignored grandmother returned, freed from a magical coma that had robbed her of an entire lifetime with her children and grandchildren. Her brother was approached by a mad man and his safety was thrown into jeopardy. Her town was attacked by a genetically modified monster shifter. And if all that weren’t bad enough, they had not one, but two genuinely evil men hell bent on destroying them. Bad intentions surrounded Emma and the people that she loved, aimed at snuffing out her happiness and their lives, and for all of this she was yet again knocking on the door of danger and bracing for another spat with life and death.

I just want this all to be over. I’ll do whatever it takes, as long as we can go back to something even remotely like normal.

The thought whispered in her mind, but it spoke her deepest truth. All she wanted was for this to be finished. Emma wanted to rid them all of any monsters that were lurking in one final stand, and then she wanted to get to living. She wanted to get married, even though she and Killian were forever bonded already. She wanted a special day just about them and their love and their future. She might not have the determination and unyielding vision of her mother when it came to planning this wedding, but Emma craved a feeling, the sheer happiness that must come when she and Killian would say ‘I do’ for real this time. At the same time, Emma wanted to make her and Killian’s new house a home, and to prepare for the baby who she would hold close very soon. She wanted lazy mornings and sunset walks. She wanted beach days and trail hikes and running in the woods. She wanted days where she and Killian did absolutely nothing except spend time together, and she wanted to know peace again in a way she hadn’t had in what felt like far too long.

“I love you, Emma.”

The whispered words that came from beside her made Emma turn to her mate, and the look of calm and fidelity in his gaze helped Emma breathe easier. She hadn’t realized her agitation was carrying over from her mind, but as Killian pressed a soft kiss to her lips, she felt warmed through. The shadows she was grappling with and the what-ifs that would ultimately do nothing but cause more stress retreated again. For a moment it was just the two of them, and she smiled at him, raising her hand to cup his cheek as she looked into his eyes. God did she love this man. He was so right for her, so good to her. She couldn’t imagine anyone else she’d ever want by her side for a moment like this, and though she hated that they had to be here, she was grateful for their bond now more than ever. In all honesty she was thankful for everything they’d been through, huge and daunting and exhausting as it was. For ultimately they were stronger for their trials, and they had used each obstacle and hardship as a chance to grow together instead of fall apart.

“You let the light in,” she said, her words still soft and spoken only for them. She watched as his eyes lit up with both enjoyment and surprise, and it made her heart clutch in her chest that even after everything he might not know how much he meant to her. “You make me feel like this will be okay, even when hope is scarce. I don’t know how I’d handle any of this without you.”

“You’d find a way,” Killian answered immediately, pulling her closer into his embrace. “But there’s no need. I’m not going anywhere, love. Not now, not ever.”

Emma promised the same back to him, and she allowed that promise to fill her with faith as the final stretch of the drive came and went. Soon enough they were passing into the territory of the mountain lions that had contacted her Uncle, and only a slight ways on they came to the sprawling lands of the long abandoned ranch where George and the shifters were expected to be.

“Taking the car any further will alert nearby shifters or your Uncle of our presence,” Killian said to her father. “We might already have been noticed, but reports from the other clans said this area had largely been avoided by the sick shifters.”

“How far out are we from the cabin still?” Anna asked.

“A little more than a mile. There’s a road that would take us all the way there…”

“But the chances George has lined that with explosives or traps is almost guaranteed,” Emma finished. Killian nodded and her father did the same.

“As it is, we need to all be on high alert. This area might be largely vacant because traps have already been laid here and the shifters can sense it.”

“I don’t think that’s why actually,” Anna said, looking to the tree line. Emma mirrored her movement, but there was nothing there, at least nothing she could see.

“Do you feel something?” Liam asked.

“I’m not sure, but you see that path? The grass is browning there, but everything else is perfectly green.”

“What would do that?” Emma asked, but Anna was already moving. Gently she reached her hand out, a swirl of her magic touching the dying blades and when it did a tint of red blipped into existence before puttering out.

“Gold.”

“He’s here too?” Liam questioned but Anna shook her head.

“Doubtful. This magic is fading, and see the way the blades are bent, they’re heading out not in.”

“But he was here,” David concluded. Anna nodded.

“Definitely. So it would make sense that no one has sensed any shifters. Gold has likely infused his magic in their sickness. Realistically he included a fail-safe to keep any of them from attacking him. They’re probably compelled to avoid him unless he summons them.”

“Do you think it’s a trap?” Killian asked and Anna shrugged.

“Only one way to find out I guess.”

With that they all moved through the forest, careful to stay near Gold’s chosen route without actually setting foot on it. They monitored the area around them for pitfalls and unforeseen complications, but aside from some old and rusted out traps of times gone by, the area was clean. They moved closer and closer to where the cabin was said to be located, but ultimately decided it would be better to take down as many shifters as they could before going directly to George.

“The nearest clan said there were fresh kills from yesterday seen here, here and here.” Emma watched as her father circled three places on the map. They were congregated in clusters around the property, all of them by the nearby river’s edge. “Nearly an entire herd of deer slaughtered up by this bend.”

“A whole herd?”

“These shifters killed mostly for sport, not food.”

Emma’s stomach curdled at the thought. She still felt adamantly that killing as her wolf and claiming an animal to eat was a bit beyond her. Sure, she could technically do it, but it was extremely uncommon. Liam and Killian felt the same way, citing that the only shifters they’d ever known to take advantage of that particular power were their father and some of his closest supporters. As such, the two of them never partook, and only ever killed a wild animal while in their wolf form if the animal was a threat to others.

“That’s where we need to start,” Liam said and they all agreed, leaving the relative safety of Gold’s carved out trail and heading for the nearby waterway.

In another situation, these woods would be beautiful, a place of reprieve perhaps, and an area filled with plentiful wildlife and natural bounty. But now an eerie quiet settled on this land. There were no bird songs through the trees, no rustling of squirrels or smaller wildlife to be heard. In a matter of days, the presence of these shifters had eroded any sense of peace or serenity that may once have existed here, and that unnatural decay left Emma’s nerves even more on edge. Only a subtle wind through the trees and the distant gurgle of running water filled the space around them, and even their footsteps were nearly undetectable, as all of them were taking great pains to stay quiet and unheard.

After a few minutes of steady movement, Killian raised his hand, motioning for all of them to stop as he took in their surroundings. “There’s a hostile shifter, fifty paces out,” Killian said, his head nodding through a canopy of trees. Emma was astonished. She hadn’t heard or sensed anything at all, but then she shifted slightly closer to Killian and she smelled it.

“Mountain lion?” Emma asked, as the ungodly scent filled her nose and left her with a need to gag. It was hard to place the exact shifter when the sickness loomed so large, but from her basic knowledge of shifter scents, she thought it was some kind of big cat.

“No. Jaguar maybe.”

“It could be a panther,” David said as he readied his dart gun, loading it with the intended tranquilizer. “George’s idea of vacation involves hunting in other parts of the world. He had a particular fascination with the amazon. Always said panthers were wily and the hardest to kill. He might have trapped one for his army.”

There was no time to really soak that in, as the element of surprise would soon be lost to them. Instead they fanned out, moving to better circle the beast without alarming it to their presence. Only when everyone was in place having created a semi-circle around the river did it occur to Emma that they had one real potential obstacle – panthers could climb a hell of a lot better than any of them, and if this big cat got in a tree with enough coverage to escape her father’s scope, they’d be in big trouble.

At that exact moment, luck went against them and the wind suddenly shifted, brushing against her skin and headed straight for the clearing at the water’s edge where the shifter lurked. Knowing time was up, she moved quickly, making enough noise that the others would know to move too and coming face to face with a giant black beast a few seconds later.

The growl of the animal was feral and loud, a snarl scratched out in a blatant attempt to intimidate. Emma’s instinct was to shift to her wolf form, but that wasn’t the plan. Liam and Killian were the ones who would be shifting, and Emma, Anna, and her father would try their best to hit the jaguar with enough sedative to put him under. Emma attempted to do just that, aiming her dart gun at the jaguar’s neck, but the animal was too fast, lunging away and charging at Emma.

With lightening speed, a fully black wolf leapt at the jaguar, taking it off guard and grounding it with excessive force. Emma knew this was Killian, and watched as he and Liam both took on the panther. But they didn’t try to kill their foe. Instead, as was the plan, they attempted to corale the big cat to a more open space, in an easy line of sight for her father to hit. They were nearly there when the jaguar changed direction, ambling for a giant tree trunk in an attempt to get away.

“Oh no you don’t!” Anna said, her hands flying outwards as she dropped her dart gun and used her magic, managing to make the tree actually shake, tossing branches down below to swat the big cat away. The animal roared again, hurt to some degree from its fall, but mostly agitated. It now saw Anna and hissed at her, ignoring Liam and Killian and moving straight for her. Emma’s heart caught in her throat and protectiveness flooded her system. She was a split second from shifting and sprinting in her friend’s direction to save her, but then the jaguar let out a pained cry and she saw that he’d been hit. Her Dad had landed the blow, and now the drug was overwhelming the shifter’s system.

“Perfect shot,” Anna said, sounding almost excited at what had just happened, as if her life was in no real danger. Emma just gawked at her friend until her Dad explained.

“Anna knew what the plan was. She was never in any real danger. I’d never let that happen.”

Emma knew her father was sincere, since Anna and Elsa were essentially honorary Nolans. Still, she wished they’d conveyed that to her somehow instead of nearly giving her a heart attack.

“Well that was easy enough. One down, three more to go.”

Tracking the other shifters ended up being a much easier proposition since the noise from this skirmish had sounded through the woods. One by one they came out of hiding, two wolves were first, big, but they lacked cohesiveness in their attack, and after a bit of wrangling Emma managed to hit one while her father got the other. Soon after that the bears came, first a giant black bear and just when he was put down another that was brown, but not as massive as Anna’s grizzly from Storybrooke. These two were a bit more capable than the wolves, but they didn’t manage any lasting damage on Liam or Killian. But just when they were trying to catch their breath back in their human form, a cackling shriek of a final frenzied foe sounded through the forest.

“What the hell was that?” Anna asked, looking towards the tree line for whatever had made that awful sound.

“Wolverine,” Emma’s father and Killian said at the same time.

“Like the weasel things?” Anna asked, thinking as Emma did that this must surely be easy.

“Yeah, but wolverine shifters are five times the normal size,” Liam said bulking up his stance before turning to them. “Be on your guard, this one’s gonna be nasty.”

They watched Liam and Killian shift back again as a giant brown burst of energy scrambled through the brush. With gnashing teeth and a rabid expression, the wolverine was terrifying, and also enormous. Emma lost herself for a second, stunned at the sight of it, but when the beast moved to swipe at Killian she gathered herself back.

“Get him to the river,” David instructed, yelling out the command so all of them could hear it. Emma realized right away that this was going to be a very different fight. Their foe was too fast and it had no instinct for self-preservation. All it did was lash out, aggressively trying to maim Killian and Liam to get what it wanted. With movements like that, she had no chance of hitting her target, so she shifted to wolf form to try and help that way. It was touch and go in a few spots, and more than once the beast almost managed to get a nip at her golden coat, but in a moment where she was one on one with the animal her father yelled for her to duck. She did so without question, and as the best lunged for her, she watched the dart hit him square in the chest, knocking him back and pulling another hellish scream from the animal.

“Nasty buggers, wolverines,” Killian said when they’d all determined the beast was subdued. “Even the healthy ones are horrors.”

“Could hardly tell that he was sick,” Liam joked and Emma let out a barked laugh, shaking her head.

“No way. They can’t be that bad,” she said looking to her father who only shrugged.

“They’re packless for a reason. Put too many together, and well, you just saw what can happen.”

Emma was amazed at that, and thankful that they’d managed to put him down for the time being. All of these shifters would be down for the count for at least a day. If Anna’s bear was knocked out for that long in the test, they’d surely be down longer, what with the difference in size and metabolic rate. As such they’d have time to gather them all together or have the nearby packs lock them down to a secured space. But in the meantime they’re greatest enemy was still before them.

“Did you notice the blood on him?” Liam said, drawing their attention back to the wolverine. “Right paw, encased on the claws.”

“Well someone had to have killed all those deer, right?” Anna asked but Liam shook his head.

“It’s human blood. I caught a whiff of it when he tried to strike me.”

“Human?” Emma asked, worried that these shifters had managed to harm an innocent hiker or something of the like.

“It’s got to be George. The packs were adamant that there are no humans in these parts and they checked with local rangers. There’s a warning out for hikers and campers for a twenty-mile radius and the packs have been circling from a distance for days. No one’s out here.”

“If that beast got a piece of him, then your Uncle’s in bad shape,” Killian said and Emma watched her father’s expression, wondering if anything like remorse would appear. It never did.

“Good. I’m not too proud to admit that we need the advantage. If George is at full health, he’ll be that much harder to stop.”

Heading towards the cabin once more, Emma considered what it would take to stop such a man. No one had said the words aloud, but they all must know that George couldn’t be allowed to leave this cabin. There would be no imprisoning him. He had to die and that was a dark cloud looming over them all. None of them would want to take a life, for Emma it was something she didn’t even think she could do, but in this moment she had to be ready to compromise herself. If it meant protecting the people she loved, she might have to take a life, and though that life would be an evil one, it would still hurt her. But despite that, she would still make that choice. Whatever the fall out, she would see her loved ones protected, no matter what.

“It won’t come to that, Emma,” Killian said, taking her hand as they moved through the woods. “I won’t let your hands be bloodied like that.”

“No we won’t. The person to handle this will be me,” her father said, and Emma looked to him, knowing that burden was something he would struggle with but that he was ready to take on. “I always knew this day might come. He’s my responsibility.”

No one argued with her father, instead allowing the last bit of quiet to consume their journey. They remained alert, moving towards the cabin, finally approaching it from the side. Emma was struck by how the quiet continued, but the air smelled now of smoke and burning wood, and when the dilapidated ranch came into view, there was a hazy gray smog coming from the chimney.  

“Someone’s in there,” Anna said with conviction, her hand moving across the air in a wave, her magic feeling out for signs of life. “And they’re in there alone.”

Quietly they circled around the property, until they reached the front door. From the outside it was clearly barricaded closed, but traces of blood adorned the faded wood going up the steps. Fingerprints in scarlet red clung to the doorway, another sign that George was injured.

“We can’t take his weakness for granted. Even hurt, he could have traps in place.”

“So what do we do?”

“Leave it to me,” Anna said, bringing both hands before her and tilting her head in concentration. She held herself tight for a moment and then pushed her arms out with a violent force. As she did a strong gust moved in, visible in its intensity, shattering the windows and pushing in the door. A split-second later arrows shot from each direction, and Emma felt herself pushed behind a wall of muscle. Killian was huddled in front of her, and Liam had gone for Anna, but Anna pushed him away.

“Wait!” she said her hands still suspended. Emma waited for the sound of impact, but nothing came, and when she peaked around Killian she saw at least a dozen arrows suspended in the air, all of them stopped by magic.

“Anna,” Emma whispered, her feeling of awe over whelming her and Anna let loose a smile.

“You can say it, Emma, I’m a bad ass.”

“We can all say it the moment this is over,” Liam agreed, similarly impressed by Elsa’s sister’s show of magical control. But he was right. This wasn’t over.

“Do you think there’s more?” Killian asked, knocking down one of the arrows as he headed towards the door.

“It’s possible,” her Dad admitted.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Anna said taking the lead before whipping back to head off Liam’s impending rebuttal. “And before you say anything, we both know I can handle this. Plus Elsa will kill me if anything happens to you.”

They moved up the stairs, through the doorway of the house, all of them on alert, but no more surprises came. The place was bare, but clearly lived in. Dust remained, but there were well worn paths where people had been coming in and out. The kitchen had been used, and so had a bedroom, but they didn’t actually find George until they reached the back of the house. Only when they’d entered the great room, done in the style of a long-forgotten hunters lodge, did her Great Uncle appear.

His back was turned to all of them, though he must have heard the shattering of windows and them moving through the house. He stood facing the fire, unmoving for a while. His left arm hung down, but his right clutched at his side, pressing over a makeshift bandage. Emma could smell the wound from here and see the red beneath the white cloth. His wound was deep, and he had lost a lot of blood, but still he remained stoic and unflinching and uninterested in them all together. Only when he was ready did he pivot, looking back to them all and offering no emotion as he did.

“It’s been a long time, David,” he said, his voice more even and regular than a man with a wound like that should be.

Seeing his face now, Emma noticed that there were some similarities between her father and this man. Their size was similar, and Emma wondered if George had started shrinking in his older age or if he’d willed that nuisance away from sheer grit. Their faces held a similar shape, though there were marked differences, but their eyes were arguably the closest trait they shared. Blue and intense, Emma recognized the color, but all comparison stopped there. For her father was a person filled with life and kindness. It radiated from him, the friendliness, the want to do good. He was a good man, but George… his eyes were hollow and dulled. If eyes were a window to the soul, this man’s was lacking, hardened, and in some ways unknowable.

“I must admit I always saw this reunion very differently when I pictured it,” George continued. His free hand moving to a glass upon the mantel filled with what Emma believed was whiskey. He took a sip, seemed to revel in it and then put the glass aside again, looking back at her father once more and treating the rest of them like they were totally invisible.

“Why you wanted one at all, I’ll never know.”

“Oh but you do, David. The day you ran you ensured that this moment would come. When you betrayed your family legacy for the sake of that fool lion, you wrote this into fate’s design.”

Emma found it difficult to look away from George, knowing better than to take her eyes off a man this malicious, but she needed a better understanding of their surroundings. The room was unlike the rest of the house which was sparse for the most part. This room had clutter, knickknacks hanging everywhere, and though nothing looked overtly threatening, she knew more traps could be anywhere. As if she’d summoned one, a steal trap descended from a rafter above and only Anna’s speedy reflexes and magical ability kept it from getting a part of Liam’s head. The sound of snapping metal against shattering wood filled the space, but when it faded out there was only the sound of the crackles in the fire and Anna’s sharpened breathing.

“Oh joy, another witch,” George said, again looking cold and nonplussed though one of his attack mechanisms had just failed. He didn’t even blink at the wasted piece of equipment, instead reaching for a bottle on the table a few feet away. He poured himself another drink, and they all just watched, transfixed in a way by this clearly dying man. It dawned on Emma that this was their chance to take him out, but then she remembered that they needed answers first. If they were going to crack the code of this serum and cure this artificial alpha sickness, they needed to know more about it.

“Why this way? These sick shifters seem like an unnecessary burden. If you knew where I was you could have just come for me. It would have been a hell of a lot easier.”

“Perhaps,” George acquiesced. “But the trouble with training you in my image as I did, was you learned how to cover your tracks. I had no idea where you’d gone, and by the time I discovered your whereabouts it occurred to me – I could do more than just take you out and destroy your family. I could destroy all of them with one perfected remedy.”

When he said ‘them’ he looked to Liam and then Killian, having figured out their shifter status from the start. It made Emma’s skin crawl to think that this man had wanted to destroy so many people. Because ultimately that’s what shifters were. They were people too. But George clearly didn’t believe that.

“I thought many times over the years that your aid would be most helpful in this venture. You always took to the science so quickly, perhaps you could have been of some use,” George said thoughtfully, looking at her father in a way that told Emma that in some sick twisted way he had some kind of regard for him. George was filled with vitriol, but underneath it there was something else. Respect maybe?  “Alas, the Nolan line is old and distinguished, and the stain of your choices could not stand. I could never allow it.”

“It must eat you alive to see what I’ve become,” her father said, standing strong in the face of his Uncle’s condemnation. “To know how many shifters I’ve healed, how many I’ve saved from men just like you. I spent each day doing anything I could to unmake your mess. For every life you ended I would prolong five, ten, or more. I figured I might not be able to stop you, I’d never risk my family to do so, but I could try to make some amends for the shame of what you’ve done.”

“The only shame belongs to your traitor mother,” George snapped out, his words sharp as the lashings of a whip. “You live because of her wicked sins.  She bastardized the very fabric of our history. The lineage of our people was destroyed for her disgusting infatuation with filth.”

No one dared speak in the face of those hateful words. Emma merely looked to her father, who stood there unmoving. He didn’t tense, didn’t react. He waited there, almost mirroring his Uncle, unwilling to give anything up by revealing his anger and emotion. Emma heard something, like a wire being pulled and then watched as her father took out his gun and shot two portions of the wall on opposite sides of the room. When he did a bevy of arrows snapped, but were shot to the floor instead of out into the room at chest level as they would have without interference.  Emma looked around the room to see if anything else gave away surprise attack, but she saw nothing. Killian however did, and he grabbed a stone paper weight from the pile of mismatched and chucked it at the back wall. Only when the stone thudded to the ground did Emma see the small fuse that had been lit and was now extinguished thanks to the hit of the rock.

“You killed my father,” David said, ignoring the added excitement of the would be surprise attacks, and when she could finally turn her attention from the unrest around them, Emma watched her father and felt how much grief that fact brought him. “You killed your sister’s true love, forced her to run, and to leave her two sons behind. Wasn’t that revenge enough?””

“Maybe it would have been, if his death meant anything to me, but truth be told he was just so… forgettable,” George said, his malice lacing every syllable even as they rang out with control and practiced authority. “I couldn’t even tell you what he looked like. He was nothing. Obsolete. Just another in a long line of shifter trash that needed disposing of.”

“When did you know?”

“That you were of mixed blood? I only discovered that recently. You see I too believed your brother’s illness was just that, and I didn’t think to question Ruth’s death when you were born. I saw it as a gift – two new warriors for the cause that I would raise for greatness. The magic that shielded your true nature was well woven, and it had to be, for if I’d known what you two were there would have been no need for sickness, I’d have finished you myself. But no. It took years to discover the truth. Only when Gold showed me Ruth’s sleeping body in his treasure trove did I discover just how deep her treachery ran.”

“You knew she was alive,” Emma’s father said, anger now beginning to rise as his fist tightened on the weapon in his hand.

“Oh yes. Long before she woke, I knew exactly where she was. Gold offered her to me if we made a little deal. I refused. She had no worth to me. I consider her lucky I didn’t kill her then and there.”

“You are a monster, you know that?” Emma asked, not willing to listen to this anymore.

“Ah, and there she is, the final downfall of the Nolan line. Our dearest Emma,” he said, spitting out the words and glaring at her, as if she was nothing but inconvenience to him. “You had a chance to be worth saving. Half breed as you are, you had Nolan blood and you were still human, unlike your cursed brother. But you couldn’t resist the filth either, could you? No, you had to go and choose to mate with one of those mongrels just like my wretched sister.”

Killian growled low in his throat as George looked his way and let out a choked laugh. It was sinister, and directed, but he quickly dismissed Killian again, looking back to Emma. “And then you let that witch remove your block. You tainted yourself. Your brother was already marked for death, I couldn’t let the Nolan line live on as shifter scum.  But you – you I would have spared. You’d have been the legacy. The last hope of the Nolan line.”

“Never,” Emma swore, meaning it with all her might. “I would never have turned my back on my family, and I would never believe all this nonsense you hold dear.”

“Oh, it’s not nonsense, Emma. Shifters are despicable, a plague upon this earth, and there is no remedy for them except removal. You need only look to your mongrel’s father for proof of what I speak.”

“You knew Brennan?” Killian asked, the shock palpable in his and Emma’s mental bond, but his poker face holding firm, giving very little away.

“Did I know Brennan Jones? The single most conceited alpha on the continent? The one who devoured other packs for power and for sport? Yes, I knew the monster. Hell, I owed the beast a debt. Without him none of this would have been possible. In the end, he was the key to everything.”

“You’re lying,” Liam said, disgusted and disturbed. “Our father hated hunters and he’d never help one.”

“The bite hardly makes for a stable mind, but you know that don’t you?” George said with a sick and twisted attempt at a smile. He clearly knew of Liam’s prior ailment, and he was more than willing to use that against him. “Deep down you realize that if I told your father he could have power he’d have given me anything I dared to ask for. All it took was the promise that I would replicate the serum for his pack while making them still submissive to him. He wanted an army, the strongest pack the world had ever known. As if I ever would have let it get that far. Fucking dog. No, I take it back. A dog would be smarter.”

“And so Gold, he was just unimportant?” Anna asked, carefully dragging the conversation away from Killian and Liam’s father for the time being, and to another glaring gap in the fabric of this story. “You want us to believe you did this all on your own?”

“No, I will admit I needed his magic,” George said, as his face darkened for the first time since they arrived, giving away his extreme resentment. “The venom I extracted from actual alpha sickness wouldn’t spread without a curse to bind it all together. But Gold is not to be trusted. He made a mistake, and when the attack with the grizzly failed, he turned on me, leaving me here to die.”

“Why would he get involved? What did he have to gain?” Emma asked and George stared blankly at her.

“You know, I never bothered to ask what he wanted with you and the three witches. Truth be told, I never really cared. But I imagine it won’t be pleasant for any of you. And he assured me you’d never manage to reproduce with that animal, so I didn’t give a damn.”

“Did he promise you that?” Emma quipped, her fury rising in her chest. “Was that part of the deal?”

“Not explicitly, but if things had gone as they should, they would be dead,” he motioned to Liam, Killian and her father, “And you two would be Gold’s.”

“But it didn’t go to plan.”

“No. I could never have anticipated that of all the worthless grizzlies in the world this one would be tied to a witch.”

“Don’t talk about him like that!” Anna demanded, her hands coming up, ready to attack.

“Oh is he yours? I’m sorry,” he said sneering. “Sorry you too are tainted. Such a shame. But perhaps Gold will manage in the end. He’s a patient man, and really, what’s a few years matter? I waited nearly thirty for my revenge. It’s too bad I’ll only have a sliver of it.”

With lightening quick precision, George drew a knife from his hip and threw it towards Liam who dodged it just barely. At the same time more traps came from the wall and the ceiling. It was chaos, with arrows and steel traps and more, and all of it consumed Anna and Killian and her father’s attention. Emma though stayed still, not knowing how to react. She felt herself needing to respond, but then she realized that everyone else was focused on the other things and were missing what was right in front of them. Indeed George was more skilled than they were anticipating. And, having forsaken his hold on his wounded body, he grabbed a pistol from his waist and aimed it at her father.

“No!”

Without hesitation Emma jumped to push her Dad out of the way, successfully managing to  force him from the trajectory of the bullet, but then she felt the blow of impact into her shoulder. There was no slowing down of time. This was immediate and instinctive, and the pain of the hot metal piercing through her skin set in just as swiftly. She flinched at the force of it, falling towards the ground as Liam lunged for the gun, disarming George, and Killian grabbed her, holding her close.

“Emma!” he cried, panic clear in his gaze as George’s laughter filled the room. Liam meanwhile, pinned the old man down and let out a ferocious growl. Through the pain of her injury Emma saw the fear in George’s eyes, but her body was chilled, her heart pounding loudly in her ears.

“What did you lace it with?!” Her father screamed and Emma looked down to where she’d been hurt, seeing the black inky lines that used to be her veins. Oh God she was dying. She was going to die.

“Nothing you can save her from,” George said, his voice labored as he lay pinned beneath Liam. “Gold procured it for me. It’s potent and powerful, and cannot be survived.”

The realization that this could really be it settled on her, and Emma felt herself slipping away. This was really the end. She was too far gone. There was no stopping this poison, this toxin designed to extinguish her father once and for all. The pain that flooded her system began to subside and instead she felt cold and numb. This was shock – the last bit of adrenaline before she’d be gone and she looked at Killian, desperate to say goodbye and say she was sorry, but unable to speak.  

“Emma, no, you’ve got to hold on! We’ll fix this! We’ll save you!”

“Killian.”

“Don’t leave me,” he begged, his voice and face etched in the pain of what was coming.

Afraid to close her eyes, Emma looked upon the man she loved and she felt such unimaginable grief. She wanted to hold on for him, she wanted his pleas to be right. But she was falling under, the current of this poison too high. This was really it. She moved her hand, reaching for Killian and then she felt it, a flutter from her abdomen. Her hand changed course, and moved towards her unborn baby, tears streaming down her face. She’d failed her child. She’d failed Killian. She…

In an instant, warmth flooded from the space where her hand lay through the rest of her being. The feel of it forced Emma’s eyes to close, but when the warmth grew she opened them again, wanting to understand why she felt this way. Her eyes blinked open and the brightness in the room had totally changed. She was surrounded in a beautiful haze, and she wondered if the light she saw through her tears could be real. It had to be an illusion, right? One last crazy vision before death finally came, but Anna’s gasp filled her ears, and Killian’s whispered words, tortured and yet hopeful filled her ears.

“The baby.”

His hand came over hers, and the light grew stronger. Emma blinked away her tears and watched as an iridescent magic not so unlike Anna or Elsa’s moved over her skin. Swiftly it traced the tracks of the onyx-colored poison, soothing every line within her. Emma felt sensation again, as the magic traced over her, filling her with energy, and with hope she’d thoroughly lost. The cold she was feeling was eradicated, and when the magical light finally reached her initial wound the darkness that marred her once smooth skin ebbed away. The blackness was removed, and most of her pain went with it. The bullet hole was still there, and she was bleeding, but she was alive, and though she couldn’t truly, scientifically know for certain, she felt in her heart that she was going to be okay. She was going to live.

“That’s not possible. You should be dead! You should be… wait, did you say baby? You can’t be pregnant!” George screamed but Emma didn’t even bother to spare him a glance.

“She saved me,” Emma whispered, feeling the sensation that somehow her unborn child had stepped in. She had no rationale reason for it, especially given how early on it was in her pregnancy, but it was suddenly very clear. Their child would be more than a hybrid of a shifter and a human – she had magic in her, for whatever reason, and she had used it, even before her birth, to save Emma.

“You can’t be pregnant! Gold said -,”

“Gold is never going to beat us!” Anna yelled. “You’ve failed, and now you’ll die for nothing.”

“Oh not nothing. I still have my weapons. Mated or not, there is no cure for your wretched shifter, I’ve left no trace. It’s all gone and cannot be recreated. So you see, the secret dies with me.”

The pain on Anna’s face looked just as piercing as what Emma herself felt moments ago, but it culminated even more when Emma’s father stepped forward, raising his gun to deliver a final blow. She cried out for him to stop, but it was too late. The deed was done. Her Uncle was dead, and his secret died with him.

“Why would you do that?!” Anna screamed, and Emma looked to her father for answers. He had ruined her friend’s only chance, but he only nodded to the fire.

“I know George better than anyone, and I am willing to bet my life that he burned the secret away. It’s shifter custom..”

Killian sniffed the air and gave a slight nod. “There’s more than wood in that blaze. Paper – both old and new and a bit of leather.”

“I know that there are spells that can unburn what was destroyed,” Emma’s father explained, seeking to calm Anna and show her he was not forsaking her new mate for an easy kill. “I’ve heard about them while healing other packs. They’re not common, but possible. Call Ruby. She’ll know.”

They did just that, and through the grace of something larger than themselves, Ruby found a spell in great haste. With shaky hands and a wavering voice, Anna recited the incantation Ruby read to her, and low and behold the fire sputtered to a stop and from the flames scraps of paper formed, with scribblings of formulas and multiple solutions. A leather bound book also took shape, and there, within the pages were a scribbling of formulas and well-kept notes.

“This is it,” her father said, looking relieved that his hunch was proven right. “This is what Neal needs to find a remedy.”

“Oh thank God,” Anna said, nearly falling to her knees, but ultimately being caught by Liam. It was finally over, and in the end they had everything they’d set out for.

“We did it,” Emma said, looking up to Killian, taking in his expression of relief and some lingering pain. She could feel through their link that the trauma of thinking she would die yet again had rattled him. He was at wit’s end, and she clung to him, trying to prove to him that she was okay, and that they had both made it through.

“I’m telling you right now, Emma, there will be none of this, ever again.” His voice was stern and his eyes made a silent promise that if she ever even thought of fighting such a battle in the future he would chain her to his side and make it so she couldn’t leave. “We are going home. We are getting married. We are meeting our miracle child when the time finally comes, and we are living happily ever after. There will be no more fighting. There will be no more close calls. We’re done with this.”

“Okay, we’re done,” she promised, resting her forehead against his and soaking in the feeling of their mission being complete. “I love you.”

“And I love you, Emma. Far too much to ever walk this world without you.”

“Emma?”

The voice of her father pulled Emma from her and Killian’s embrace, and she could see in his eyes the pain of all of this. He’d almost lost her too, and he’d just taken a life. Her father, the man who was always a pillar of strength for her whenever he could be, was hurting and she moved towards him, hugging him close.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” her dad whispered, hugging her as tight as he could, with his hand cradling the back of her head like he always had, ever since she was a little girl.

“I’m glad I did. If he’d hit you, you’d be…” She trailed off as she pulled back to look at him, unable to face that he would have absolutely died.

“I know,” he agreed, leaving words that hurt to much to say unsaid. “I love you, Emma.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

Before she could so much as step away from her father, she found herself jostled into Anna’s waiting arms and her friend gave her a vice grip of a hug. Emma squeaked a sound of surprise out, and Killian moved toward her protectively, but she shook her head, knowing Anna needed this. A second later Anna jumped, remembering Emma’s injury.

“Oh crap, I hurt you!” she exclaimed, but looking at Emma’s wound, they could both see it was already looking much better. “I can’t believe it. The baby healed you. She must be a witch, right? But it shouldn’t be possible.”

“Maybe not,” Emma said, her hand coming back to rest on her stomach. “But somehow it is.”

“And every one of us grateful for that.” Liam said, with a warmth in his eyes and a nod of his head that told Emma Killian’s brother was glad for her speedy recovery. “But might I suggest we wrap things up and get back home? We might have slain a few beasts today, but there’s much more that still needs to be done.”

“Aye, brother, you’re right,” Killian agreed, taking Emma’s hand in his and bringing her close as he looked deep in her eyes. “Let’s go home, love.”

Emma couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than to go home and to be done with all of this, and with a swiftness she was grateful for, they managed to contain things as best they could. With the help of the nearby packs, each of the sedated shifters was returned to a cage here on the property. None of them took any pleasure in containing these animals, least of all Anna, who also needed a little magic to really keep things secure, but they knew it was for the best. Sick as they were, there was no telling what these shifters would do, and in the interest of protecting the nearby shifter clans, and any humans who may wander into this area in the future, they left these animals temporarily caged and under the watchful eye of the pack who originally called on Lance.

Driving home after that, Emma was surprised at how quickly the time went by, but that was largely thanks to the sleep she fell into once she was back in the safety of the car and nestled in Killian’s arms. Magical revival from her child or not, Emma was exhausted, and the wound she’d incurred did ache and aggrieve her. Knowing that this pain still lingered, Killian held her close, kissing her anywhere he could and whispering that it would all be all right. She trusted him in this, and slowly gave into the comfort of his presence, falling into a slumber filled with flashes of dreams. Some were blips of the fighting they’d just faced, but there were more that came later that were so much more beautiful and remarkable. Emma would never be able to explain them out loud, but these flashes were of her future, of that she was sure. She saw in them a life that was happy and bright. She saw Killian, her love, standing with her, never far from grasp. She saw her family and her friends also with her and not a one of them saddened or stressed out. And then she saw the children, glimpses of a beautiful baby girl with dark hair like her father and eyes that matched Emma’s to a tee. There were more behind her, but it all came so quickly. These flashes seemed to surround her while also staying just out of reach, but as Emma woke up, she couldn’t help smiling, and the first thought that came to mind was Hope.

“I think we’ve got a name all ready for this little girl,” Killian whispered to Emma as he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. She smiled, snuggling into him further and knowing her mate had read her mind, quite literally.

“I can’t wait to meet her,” Emma admitted, thinking back on her dreams and knowing in her heart that her child would be a blend of magic and love and endless possibility. “But at the same time, I can.”

“Is that so?” Killian asked, seemingly surprised by her latter admission.

“Yes. On the one hand I love her so much already. I always have, and I always will,” she said, and Killian hummed out a sound of agreement with that. “But on the other, we still have so much to do. We have to get ready.”

“In more ways than one.” Killian teased and Emma felt her cheeks grow warm as she smiled and nodded her understanding. He wasn’t just talking about furnishing their place or baby proofing their new home. Emma could see, hopefully, more than a few weeks spent relaxing, recuperating, and spending every waking moment that they could enjoying each other and strengthening the bond they’d found together.

“Speaking of getting ready, we’re nearly home, and we’re about to have a lot of explaining to do,” Anna said and Emma jumped, not realizing the whole car was listening in on their talking. “Oh sorry, were we supposed to pretend we couldn’t hear you?”

“Seems a bit late for that,” Liam replied, his voice gruff but his eyes sparkling with amusement at Emma and Killian.

“Anna’s right though. It’s best to get our stories straight now,” David said. “Better to frame some of this as, let’s say ‘kindly’ as we can.”

Emma knew her father was thinking of her mother and her reaction to everything. She appreciated that her Dad wanted to spare her Mom any more pain, but she also knew, even if he said this that it would never come to pass. Her parents never held secrets from each other, and this time would be no different.  

“No need to bother. Chances are Ruby’s seen most of it anyway. She’s probably told half the tale already.”

Killian’s guess was soon validated, and as soon as they arrived, they were greeted with huge hugs and a million more questions. They might know most of what had happened, but there was so much more they wanted verified and expanded. Ruby had her visions that were helpful, but there were blank spots and things that couldn’t be explained. People wanted details of the shifters, of the fighting, and of George. They wanted to know what they’d learned of Gold and this plan and the evil that was done to enact it. But more than anything they wanted to know how Emma had lived. Emma explained as best she could, and the others stood by her description. One moment she was dying and the next she was cured. There was only one answer to the question, but no real explanation. No one understood how or why, but still it was true. Emma was saved and that was a miracle. Maybe someday they’d understand it, but for now they were just as grateful as could be.

Every query was ultimately answered, despite the exhaustion they were all feeling, and Emma felt it was better to get this done now rather than later. If they put it all out there, then maybe they could put it all behind them. Eventually they broke apart for the night, and by that time it was nearly sunrise of the next day. Just as Liam had said there was still a lot of work to be done and over the next few days they hit the ground running. Her father and Neal made a possible cure in a matter of days, and Emma did all that she could to help them. It was a long, laborious process, but it was made totally and completely worth it when she watched the moment that her best friend truly met her one true soulmate. Seeing that it worked, they made enough to get up north, and her Uncle Lance and Aunt Gwen brought the rest to other packs, making sure every sickened shifter was treated, and reporting back that they all were now freed, and were all on their way back to the homes they’d been forced away from.

In the meantime, Elsa and Ruby and Ruth worked long long days to try and track Gold. Using everything they could ,they sought to better understand the malicious mind of this maddened man. Anything they could learn could be a clue, but Emma knew this was just the start of their long journey. Her Great Uncle’s snide remarks rang true to Emma – Gold would remain hidden for as long as he could, but if they were all patient, surely someday they would find him, and stop him before any more grief could come their way. To this point Emma still didn’t understand his endgame. He wanted Anna, Elsa, Ruby, and Emma could easily understand that. Three strong witches must surely be a threat, but wanting her for her status as a hybrid… it didn’t make sense to Emma. The only thing she could think was that maybe it wasn’t her that Gold was after. Perhaps it was her baby, who would be a hybrid too, and in even more ways than Emma. But the others remained convinced that Gold could not know. He’d sworn to George Emma couldn’t get pregnant, and for now, that secret was protecting them all. And ultimately, despite the danger Gold still posed, Emma knew in her heart that she would never let anyone hurt her child. One life threatening instance was more than enough – and she knew, down to her bones, that there would never come another time when her baby was at risk from these terrible men.

And yet, in the midst of all of this work and all of this progress, Emma found a way to make good on her promise to Killian. She helped the others as best she could, but she also took time for herself and time for her love. They made their house a home, and found many new moments of peace and tranquil calm. They planned for their wedding, and for their family, and for their future. But more than anything they lived every day to the fullest, knowing that they’d never allow anything or anyone to take this away from them again. For love, in the end, was a powerful thing, and fate was a power even stronger than that. And as for Emma and Killian, fate had decided that they were meant to be, and that they were indeed meant to live a wonderful, glorious, happily ever after.

Post-Note: Hey everyone! So I know there’s still so much that I didn’t get to go into detail on. I wanted to do so much in this chapter, like see Neal make a cure and watch Anna meet Kristoff and all that cuteness. But it just wasn’t meant to be. Instead, I am working on the first epilogue of the story (which will include Emma and Killian’s wedding) and I am on track to post it next weekend. As I’ve previously mentioned, I will also be writing a follow up story to this one, that’s not just from Emma and Killian’s POV but the POV of the other central characters as well. In that story I will be including the Anna/Kristoff meeting and probably more of the process of healing Kristoff, so if you can wait you will someday get a snapshot into that. After that there will eventually also be a second epilogue of this story, where you get to see how everyone is doing in the future, and how life has shaped up for CS and the others. Anyway, thanks so much for riding through this with me. I know it was a really heavy chapter, and so much happened, but I hope that you enjoyed and that you trust me to make everything right with a cute and fluffy wedding chapter next time. Thanks so much to all of you for reading, and as always I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Tag list: @jennjenn615, @kmomof4, @winterbaby89, @teamhook, @ultraluckycatnd, @resident-of-storybrooke, @artistic-writer, @snowbellewells, @snarkycaptainswan4, @allofdafandoms-blog

[alonely-dreamer]

Dangerous Creatures | Chapter 22: Bittersweet Creature

Summary: Mackenzie Alemaund is an unlucky 18 year old teenager whose life changes drastically after she gets kidnapped by two vampires and learns, in the same day, that she is not human.

Pairing: Elijah x OC

Words: 4829

A/N: Please, note that I am French so there might be some mistakes here and there, besides I couldn’t have it edited! I hope you’ll like it!

Masterlist

New Series: The Valuable Sun

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21

Heidi and Alexander were as inseparable as they were different. They loved each other, it was clear, even if Heidi never smiled and he never stopped laughing. Mackenzie watched them live together, like they were two pieces of the same puzzle, so different and yet, they made sense, they completed each other. They needed one another. Alexander always managed to make her smile at least once a day. It was almost his life’s mission. She needed him to relax and he needed her to keep his feet on the ground.

Living with them was entertaining and never boring. Heidi was determined to teach Mackenzie everything she should know if she were to live in this world alone. Alexander helped her train physically. It always ended with blood and bruises, but he always healed her at the end of the day. She learnt more in two weeks than she had in the past six months. She had grown stronger and more confident.

They had asked her several times if she wanted to go to the Forest, but she always declined. They had left Mystic Falls, but the town was still a two-hour drive away. She refused to walk away even though she never answered any calls from her former friends. Not Elena’s, not Bonnie’s and not Rebekah’s. She didn’t want to talk to them. She was still angry at the doppelganger and the witch and she figured she always will be. Heidi had told her that the fire inside her would make her spiteful and revenge hungry. She had been right about that. Even though Mackenzie wasn’t actively trying to kill them, she didn’t feel anything but anger towards them. They weren’t her friends. They had never been her friends.

Not answering Rebekah’s calls was more difficult, especially since the blonde had no idea where Mackenzie was. But the elemental didn’t want to talk to the Original. She didn’t want to talk to any Original but one. The one who never called. She had had two weeks to think about it, about what he said, and though she understood why he did it, she wished she had had the chance to give him a piece of her mind. She wasn’t a fragile doll that needed to be kept in a box. If she wanted to use her powers to protect the people that she loved, she would, and she wouldn’t apologize for it. She wished he knew he hadn’t changed her for the worst. She wished she could tell him he had changed her for the better.

And she wished he could see her right now. She was standing in the backyard of the house they had been living in for the past two weeks. Alexander had compelled the owner to let them in. The old man didn’t live there anymore, he lived across the street with his daughter who took care of him. Alexander, Heidi and Mackenzie had the house to themselves. It was a big yellow house, newly built, enclosed within four brick walls painted in the same color as the house. Nobody could see what was happening inside. And that was for the better. Because they would have seen a nineteen-year-old girl on fire, standing in the rain, with a dark cloud above her head which flashed with lightening, surrounded by a circle of strong wind with snowflakes twirling inside. It was a sight to behold. Heidi made her do that at least once a day because it made the elemental use every element at one. The trick was staying on fire while the rain poured down on her, keeping the snowflakes alive near the heat and controlling the lightning so that it would stay within the cloud. Not burning her clothes was also a difficult exercise that she had mastered in two days.

Alexander laughed as he applauded. He was standing near Heidi, on the wet brick terrace. Mackenzie let go of her magic, making all of it disappear in less than a minute. She was panting, exhausted by the amount of power she had just used. Heidi said nothing but Mackenzie had learnt to recognize the pride on her face.

“This shouldn’t be difficult,” the witch said coldly as she noticed Mackenzie pant. “We will do this until it takes you no effort,” she told her before she stepped back inside the house.

Alexander chuckled. “You did great.”

She smiled back at him before taking a deep breath. She felt as exhausted as she looked.

“By the way,” he said, “your phone keeps ringing.”

Mackenzie caught the smartphone he had just thrown at her. She wondered who could be calling her again. Elena and Rebekah had stopped calling about a week ago. Her heart tightened when she saw his name on the screen.

“Are you gonna pick it up?” he asked.

She didn’t know. Why was he calling? She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to him. She was still angry at him for leaving her the way he did.

Seeing as she gave him no answer, Alexander took it upon himself to answer for her. He took the phone from her hands, so fast she didn’t see him coming.

“Mackenzie’s phone!” he answered.

“Alex!” she breathed out. “Give it back!”

“Oh, so you want to talk to him now?”

She tried taking her phone back, but he was taller and faster than her. The only way she could get it back was if she used her magic. She used wind to make it slip off his hand, but he caught it before it could even reach the ground.

“Nice try, angel,” he winked at her with a smirk. “Hang on a moment, will you?” he told Elijah over the phone.

“Give it back!”

She used wind to make him fall this time and he laughed as his back hit the ground.

“Ouch!”

She bent over to take the phone, but in less than a second she was the one lying on her back, in the wet grass, with Alexander on top of her.

“You have to be smarter than that, angel.”

She growled, using wind again to remove him from her. He landed on his feet and before he could move again, roots rapidly came out of the ground and whirled around his ankles, his legs, his entire body.

“Oh, crap,” he said before he fell forward.

Mackenzie let a laugh escape her as she stood up. “Was that smart enough for you?” she said as she reached for her phone.

“You’re a fast learner,” he grunted as he tried to free himself from the roots.

Mackenzie ignored him and brought the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Mackenzie, are you okay? What happened?” Elijah asked with worry.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she breathed out, trying to catch her breath. “What do you want?” she said, a little bit more coldly than she intended.

“I…” he paused, then cleared his throat. “Nobody’s heard from you in two weeks.”

“Yeah? Wasn’t that the point? You never wanted to see me again.”

Elijah didn’t reply. Mackenzie started to regret her words. She sounded bitter and childish.

“I’m in Mystic Falls and I… Elena asked if you were with me. Rebekah said you left when I did.”

“Yeah, so? What are you doing back in Mystic Falls anyway?”

She heard him sigh. “Bonnie Bennett managed to trap Niklaus with a spell. I’m here to retrieve my brother.”

Mackenzie wasn’t surprised that Elena and Bonnie hadn’t given up on getting rid of Klaus.

“And what? You need a witch to free him from the spell?”

“No, I…” he paused again. She knew her harsh words were getting to him. Good. “I gave my word to Elena I wouldn’t set him free for a few centuries.”

She scoffed. Of course, he did.

“So what do you want?”

“I called because nobody could tell me where you were. I was worried.”

“You wanna know what I think? I think you worry too much, Elijah.”

“Harsh,” Alexander said from where he laid on the muddy ground, still prisoner of the roots. Mackenzie shot him a dark look.

“Where are you?” he asked, ignoring Alexander’s laughter in the background.

“What? You care now?”

“I never said I didn’t care.”

“No, you just decided what was best for me without even asking me what I wanted!”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“Maybe I don’t need protection, Elijah. Maybe all I needed was you!”

He didn’t reply. The silence was unbearable. Even Alex had stopped laughing. She was kicking herself mentally. What had gotten into her? She hadn’t realized what she was saying until it was too late. She felt tears form in her eyes.

“Where are you?” he asked again.

“In a small town… two hours away,” she said with a small lump in her throat.

“Rebekah’s on her way to a storage room to get Niklaus. Will you meet her there?”

“Why?”

“Because she could use your help. Alaric will be coming after her and… she could use some help.”

“Alaric?” Mackenzie frowned. What did Alaric have to do with any of it?

“My mother returned and turned the professor into a vampire before she died. She made a weapon that can kill my siblings and me. His life is linked to Elena’s. We will be leaving the country as soon as we get Niklaus back.”

The air disappeared from her lungs. He was leaving her again and he hadn’t even come back.

“I was thinking Germany,” he said which brought the air back to her chest. “I heard there was a Forest there where we would be safe.��

She chuckled, letting a tear fall down her cheek.

“And you don’t mind me facing Alaric?”

“Like you said. You don’t need protection.” Besides, Alaric wasn’t going after her. He was going after them. “What should I tell Rebekah?”

Mackenzie looked around. Alexander was still on the ground, waiting for her to answer, even though he already knew what she was going to say. Heidi was standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, with a raised eyebrow.

“Tell her I’m on my way.”

***

When she got to the storage room, night had already come. Damon and Rebekah were already there. So was Alaric. She looked at Alexander and Heidi who were dropping her off before heading to Mystic Falls where they had planned to meet later that night.

“Do you want us to come with you?” he asked from the driver’s seat.

“I’ll be fine,” she shook her head. After all, the past two weeks had made her ready for this type of situation. “I’ll see you later.”

“Be careful,” Heidi said as the elemental closed her car door.

They drove away before she entered the maze that was the storage room. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she heard both Rebekah and Damon shout. She was in front of Damon’s black SUV and hurried around it to find Alaric leaning over Klaus’ desiccated body with a stake in his hand. Mackenzie didn’t get the time to appreciate the irony of Klaus lying dead in a coffin as Alaric was more than ready to kill him.

“No!” Rebekah cried from where she sat on the ground.

Mackenzie waved her hand. She used wind to send the stake away from Alaric’s hands and witchcraft to break his neck. It was the first time she was trying it and Heidi would have been proud of the results. Alaric collapsed to the ground.

“Mackenzie,” the blonde breathed out.

“Looks like I arrived just in time.”

“Let’s go before he wakes up,” Damon told them, not bothering to ask what she was doing there. She guessed he wouldn’t complain about it.

He closed the coffin and Rebekah helped him get it in the trunk. Damon took the stake before he took the wheel and he drove away faster than he could run.

“Nice to see you’re still alive,” Rebekah told Mackenzie coldly.

“Sorry… I was busy.”

“Busy at the witch academy? When did you start kicking ass?” Damon asked.

“I’m motivated.”

“Well, thank you for saving my brother. You did arrive just in time.”

“You’re welcome.”

Mackenzie was sitting in the back seats, looking at the back, making sure Alaric wasn’t following them.

“How long ‘til we get there?” Rebekah asked Damon.

“Too long. He’ll wake up before we even get close.”

“That’s fine,” Mackenzie said, more for herself than for them. “I’ll deal with him.”

“Where did you get all this confidence from?” the vampire asked but she ignored him.

Half an hour passed without an incident. But the knot in her stomach didn’t go away. She knew Alaric was coming and when he did, she’d have to find another way to stop him. They couldn’t kill him with his own weapon because he was linked to Elena, and if he died, so did she.

“Do you see anything?” Rebekah asked after an hour, finding it weird that Alaric hadn’t reached them yet.

“No,” Mackenzie replied, she didn’t see him, nor did she feel him.

“Let’s keep our eyes open,” Damon said. “He’ll get to us at some point.”

“Wait,” Mackenzie breathed out. “He’s here.”

“How do you know? I don’t see him!” Rebekah said.

“I just kn-”

But before she could finish her sentence, Damon stepped on the brakes. Mackenzie put her hands on the seats before her, trying not to fall over. The glass of the rear windshield shattered, making her scream. She saw Alaric trying to get inside the car.

“Drive!” she shouted at Damon as she pushed the vampire hunter away with a strong wind.

Damon obliged.

“We can’t go back to Mystic Falls, Elijah is there, he’ll kill all of us!”

“No, he won’t,” Mackenzie snarled as she made sure Alaric wouldn’t be able to follow them. She used nature to create obstacles in the road. She tried to have roots trap him, but he was too fast, he was getting very close. “What the hell happened to him?! I thought you two were friends!”

“His ring made him go nuts!” Damon replied. “He’s not my friend anymore!”

Mackenzie breathed out of relief as a root finally caught Alaric. The closer he got and the easier it was for her to use her magic on him. He was stuck on the road, the roots whirling around him, almost breaking his bones. If Alexander couldn’t get out of that, he wouldn’t either.

“How did you do that?” the vampire asked as he looked in the rear-view mirror.

“Magic,” she told him as she leaned back against her seat, trying to catch her breath.

But her reprieve was short as Alaric was now right in front of their car. Damon tried to stop, but he was too late and he hit the hunter. They all shouted at the impact. Mackenzie was stunned and didn’t realize right away that Alaric had broken the window on Damon’s side.

“Where’s the stake?” he growled

Mackenzie shook her head, trying to recollect herself. How the hell did he free himself? She saw the stake between the two seats in front of her and took it. She tried to burn it, but fire didn’t work on it, it was spelled. She knew what she needed to do, but it would take time.

“Buy me some time, Rebekah,” she whispered to the blonde.

The Original didn’t ask questions and just nodded. Damon and Alaric were fighting outside but the hunter was trying to get inside to get to his weapon. Mackenzie started to focus. If she took the magic away from the stake, then it would be destroyable. She felt her magic blend with the stake’s, but unlike what she did to bring back Kol and Elijah, this time, she had to take the magic, not give it away. She felt it filling her veins, mixing with her own magic. Esther’s witchcraft was becoming hers. It was powerful and hot. It felt so good to feel the spell crumble away. Heidi would have been proud.

“Mackenzie!”

The elemental heard Rebekah before she saw it. Alaric tore the car door apart and grabbed her. He threw her at the side of the road. She screamed before her back met a tree, the impact taking her breath away. She didn’t even get the time to open her eyes as Alaric was already there, taking the stake from her hands. She wasn’t done with it, she couldn’t destroy it.

“What are you?” he growled.

She didn’t reply. Instead, she brought him to his knees. She used water to fill his lungs and she watched him as he choked at her feet.

“You’re not a witch, are you?” Damon said, out of breath, as he approached.

Mackenzie looked up at him but didn’t reply. Pain was traveling across her back.

“What are we going to do?” Rebekah asked. “We can’t have him follow us to Mystic Falls.”

Mackenzie took the stake from the ground, resuming her work. “He can’t kill you if he doesn’t have a weapon.”

“Well, good luck destroying it,” the eldest Salvatore said, knowing there was no way to get rid of it.

Mackenzie smiled as she felt the last drop of magic leave the stake. It rolled out of her hand, burning with hot flames. Only ashes reached the ground.

“No problem,” she shrugged at the two vampires who were looking at her with opened mouths and wild eyes.

“If my brother doesn’t marry you,” the blonde said. “He’s a fucking idiot.”

Mackenzie chuckled before she rolled her eyes. She looked down, however, when she felt herself blush. “Yeah, you might want to tell him that…”

“What?” Damon scoffed. “Trouble in paradise?”

“My brother’s an idiot and he knows it because I already said so when he told me what he said to you two weeks ago.”

“What are you doing?” Damon shouted suddenly, startling them. “Stop it!”

“What?” Mackenzie asked, worried by his tone. “I’m not doing anything!”

“You’re killing him!”

“No, I’m not! I’m not doing anything!” she repeated.

“No, no, no, no!”

The vampire kneeled near the former history professor who was collapsing to the ground, though not because of Mackenzie. His body was turning grey. He was dying.

“Oh my God!” she breathed out as she understood what it meant. “Elena’s dead.”

“Ric!”

Rebekah gestured for Mackenzie to follow her, leaving Damon alone for his friend’s final moment. The blonde leaned against the car as Mackenzie couldn’t stop looking at her former professor’s dead body. Tears formed in her eyes and she let them fall on her cheeks. He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve to die like this.

“What do you think happened?” she asked with a lump in her throat.

“I don’t have to think,” the blonde said.

Mackenzie frowned as she looked up at her friend. The Original gave her her phone. The screen showed her messages with Kol. The last thing he sent her was this: “I’m not running anymore.”

“I couldn’t have stopped him even I wanted to.”

“I know,” Mackenzie said in a whisper as another tear made its way to her face.

Against the original family, they never stood a chance.

***

Damon left without saying a word, leaving his friend’s body on the side of the road.

“Running to Elena,” Rebekah had said, “even dead.”

Mackenzie wanted to take Alaric’s body with them, but Rebekah insisted that Damon would come back for him and that they didn’t have time to drop him off anywhere anyway as Stefan and Damon would probably come after Kol for killing Elena, with or without a weapon. She gave the history professor a last look before Rebekah drove away.

“Elijah’s not going to be happy with your brother.”

“I doubt Kol stuck around long enough for Elijah to scold him.”

“You know it’s going to sound horrible but… I’m glad you don’t have to run.”

“Personally, I don’t care if it sounds horrible. I’m glad Elena’s dead and the fact that I don’t have to run is just a bonus.”

Mackenzie stared at the vampire in silence for a moment. She wasn’t surprised by her lack of emotions and decency. After all, Elena had tried to kill her and her siblings several times. Plus, she was a thousand-year-old vampire who killed people every time she was hungry. No, she wasn’t surprised, because that was who Rebekah was. Who her friend was. And even though Mackenzie had been mad at Elena, she wasn’t happy about her death. Someone’s death was nothing to be happy about. Never. Elena had family and friends. And a life. She was a high school student. She had a future. But not anymore. Because of Kol. Because of Klaus. Because of the Mikaelsons. And maybe Elijah was right, maybe she should stay away from them. But, for some reason, she didn’t want to.

She brought a hand to her neck, to Elijah’s necklace. She had just realized that the ‘M’ wasn’t for Mackenzie. “You are a friend of my family, Mackenzie. Maybe the only person we can trust here. Our only ally. A true friend.

No. The ‘M’ wasn’t for Mackenzie.

She smiled.

“We’re here,” Rebekah finally said after an hour.

Mackenzie sighed. It was too dark outside to see anything. The vampire had stopped the car near the forest at the entrance of Mystic Falls. She got out of the car, wondering if Heidi and Alexander were around. But as she tried to see if she could sense them, all she found was two original vampires. She walked around the car to where Rebekah was standing near the trunk.

“Elena’s dead?” Elijah repeated his sister’s words.

“We don’t have to run, ‘lijah. It’s over.”

The eldest Mikaelson looked up at the elemental as she appeared from behind the black SUV. She had her hands in her jeans’ pockets. She was happy to see him, but she felt nervous. Nervous because of what he said when they last saw each other. Nervous because of what she said when they last spoke.

“’lijah,” she chuckled uncomfortably as she took a step forward.

He didn’t look unhappy to see her, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His eyes travelled on her body, looking for injuries, no doubt. They then laid on his sister who took the hint and walked away.

“I’d ask you if you’re okay but I’m afraid you’d say I worry too much.”

Mackenzie winced at his words, then rolled her eyes.

“You wanna go there?” she asked. “Okay. How about we talk about you leaving me behind without even giving me a chance to response?” After everything she had gone through to get him back, he had been the one to leave her. That had hurt more than she could have ever imagined.

“What would you have said? I can’t give you a good life…”

“I told you!” she cut him off. “I don’t need anything…” she paused. She couldn’t find the courage to say it again. She looked down, trying to blink the tears away. “I’m old enough to make my own choices,” she continued as she looked back up at him. “I’m strong enough to decide who I want to be with. That night you said what I did to Stefan was unlike me, but it’s not! I’m an ultimate, there’s a fire in me that gives me anger issues,” she admitted, “and it makes me spiteful and mean. But that’s who I am. You didn’t do that to me. And I would’ve told you that if you hadn’t left so fast! Yeah, I can also be calm and compassionate like you said but so can you! We’re not just one thing, Elijah. And you know what, maybe you think that what you did that day to save your family makes you a bad person, but I disagree! You did what you had to do to make sure they were okay. Your family is what you should value most, and I should know because I have none. I have no one but you. You and Rebekah. And I won’t just stand there and stay behind while people are trying to kill you! And the fact that you won’t either is why…” she paused again, then cleared her throat. “You’re strong, and you’re brave and you’d do anything to save your family and that’s why you’re a good person, Elijah. You’re not a monster. We’re not just one thing. We’re capable of a lot of things but at the end of the day, if we have people that we love, if we have people we’d do anything to protect… we can’t be that bad.”

Elijah didn’t reply. Maybe he was looking for what to say, but Mackenzie didn’t give him the time to answer. She stepped forward and took his hand, making him look at her.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Elijah. I meant what I said. You saved me. And maybe, now that I can control my powers, now that I’ve changed, you don’t like who I’ve become, and…”

She stopped and gasped as he seized her by the arms and pushed her against the car. Her back met the vehicle and she looked up at him with wild eyes, confused, unable to tell what he was thinking.

“Stop,” he said so low she almost didn’t hear him. “Stop,” he repeated a little louder. There were tears in his eyes, pain on his face. She didn’t’ understand what was going on in his head. “Your blood can’t be on my hands,” he told her with an unsteady voice.

She didn’t know what to say. She knew it was the reason why he had left. She knew he would feel guilty if something bad ever happened to her. That was just how good a person he was.

“It can’t be,” she whispered. “I’m stronger than you now.”

He gave her surprised look before he chuckled.

“I am, actually, I can kill you, and I know you know that,” she continued. “So, if anything, if something bad happened to you, then it would be my fault, because, well, I’m the only one who can really hurt you…” she joked.

He shook his head. She could see he was trying not to laugh. She gave him a smile that he returned.

“You worry too much, ‘lijah,” she told him again.

“Maybe you’re right,” he nodded as he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry I left.”

“I’m sorry I was mean to you…”

He laughed. “I deserved it.”

“Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

He smiled. He took her face in his hands and trapped her brown eyes in his. “I promise.”

She felt a surge of courage go through her, and before it had the chance to disappear, she tiptoed, slid her hands up his chest to the back of his neck, and kissed him. He responded immediately, kissing her back, his hands falling on her waist. She wasn’t sure what to do, she had never kissed a man before. But Elijah knew that. He was gentle, he was slow, he didn’t ask too much of her. He released her from the embrace but kept her close to him. There was no space between them. It was just them, standing there, as one.

“I’ll never leave you again,” he said, and she smiled.

He was about to kiss her again when he heard two people approach. He turned around, keeping Mackenzie behind him. Rebekah was by his side in an instant.

“Who are you?” she asked.

Alexander laughed. “We’re friends.”

“Um,” Mackenzie cleared her throat as she stepped out from behind the original vampire. “This is, uh… my godparents,” she explained. “Alexander and Heidi.”

“Nice to meet you,” Alexander grinned at both of them. Heidi said nothing.

“These are the people you were with for the past two weeks?” Elijah asked and she nodded.

“We have plane tickets for Germany, and we’re going to be late if we don’t leave now,” Alexander told them.

“I thought you said you had a private plane?”

“We do,” Alex nodded.

“It’s rude to make people wait,” Heidi finally spoke up.

“They uh… they’ve agreed to take us to the Forest… if you still want to go,” she informed Elijah.

He gave a look to his sister, who shrugged, then looked back at the elemental. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“Then we have to leave, now,” the witch said. “Margo will be waiting for us.”

Elijah raised his eyebrows. He knew of a Margo. He wondered if it was the same person he had read about, the Queen of the Forest. He silently questioned Mackenzie, who nodded, giving him his answer.

“I think there’s a lot of things you haven’t told me.”

She chuckled. “You have no idea.”

***********

Thank you for reading!!

Next chapter will be posted on November 4!

Tags: @thepoet1975 @nerdysandwichqueen @catchmeupimgettingoutofhere @raegan-hale @captainam-erika-trash @silver424 @monetfatalia @vaniileiinkeks @valeria-winchester @favimag @colie87 @hamiltonmadesomemistakes @s0nh4dorasblog @poemfreak306 @white-chocolate-mocha-fan @thegingerthatwaited @therealwatermelon @dark-night-sky-99@aubri1313 @jardinsecos @gymnastgal1997-blog @thearaviagrace77blog @caelst13​ @casedoina

[jamesbucksiclebarnes]

Rating: Mature

Chapter List: [1] | [2] | [3] | [4] | [5] | [6] | [7] | [8] | [9] | [10] | [11] | [12] | [13] | [14]

[AO3 Link] | [Fic Page]

Tag List: @crossbowking

SERIES SUMMARY:

"Not human. She was not human. They all knew it. Could almost feel it, but couldn't make sense of it. That was why they were afraid. Not because of what she used to be Before. But because of what she was now."

Having found herself serving as the right-hand to the Governor for too long, Synnove le Jacques does her best to make things right with the people of the Prison. Stuck beside her partner in crime, her irritatingly obnoxious and hideously problematic best friend, Merle, she does her best to fight back against the monster she has let the Governor become.

CHAPTER TITLE: The Artistry of Destruction.

We arrived back at the prison an hour or so after noon.

Our walk had been quiet. Neither of us had uttered a single word, content to storm down the abandoned road in seething silence. We didn’t even enter through the back door. I don’t know if Daryl had been the one to decide or whether it had been me, but the two of us ended up before the broken gate at the front of the prison without either of us questioning it.

I drew my two knives. Daryl pulled his crossbow from his shoulder.

Without a word, we both marched up the pathway that divided the grassy field. Whenever a biter came within reaching distance, one of us dispatched of it in a primal, fevered motion.  At one point, several biters came toward us at once, and I allowed myself to let go for a moment, to revel in my inherent violent nature. Two knives, five biters, and a shower of gore. The dead dropped around me in mere seconds.

Whether Daryl noticed the savagery of my knifework or not, he didn’t let on, too focused on his own march toward the gate. I returned to my place beside him, looking up the hill to see the boy, Carl, was watching us through binoculars. His voice was calling out, either for us or for his father, I couldn’t tell. My senses were clouded. Muted, almost, as if my mind were too preoccupied with sorting through my emotions to even bother interpreting stimuli.

I was given an answer a few seconds later, anyway.

Rick, Carol and Michonne appeared by the gate. In a panicked fumble, Rick unlocked the chain and pulled it free, yanking the gate to the side and allowing it to slide its entire length across. Carl quickly caught it and began sliding it back as the three adults charged out into the field.

Daryl and I were already half-way up the hill by the time they had arrived, but, I’ll admit, it was nice to have an escort the rest of the way.

Once we were back behind the gate, Daryl continued walking. His shoulders hunched and his jaw tightly clenched. He walked past the fenced walkway that lead back into the cellblock, down through the concrete courtyard between the two buildings.

Rick made a move to follow him. I reached out and grabbed the sheriff’s arm. When he turned to look at me, both confused and concerned, I shook my head.

Daryl needed a minute alone.

Rick furrowed his brows, turning his body to face me, though his gaze no longer held contempt or suspicion. “What happened?” he simply asked, his voice low, grave, as if he already knew.

I couldn’t hold eye contact, knowing how unchecked I’d allowed my emotions to grow. My gaze dropped to the floor as I shook my head, biting back against the anger and grief and whatever the hell else that feeling was, gnawing at my chest.

Rick seemed to understand, however. In an odd show of compassion, he placed his hand on the small of my back. It was gentle and warm and incredibly unexpected. But I didn’t move away.

“I’m sorry,” he said, softly. “I know you were close.”

I took a deep breath, looking up to the sky for a moment before meeting his gaze evenly, my emotions finally put in their usual place at the back of my mind.

He looked down at me with those crystalline blue eyes of his full of a sense of empathy I hadn’t seen for quite some time. Philip had once had eyes like that. Emotive and warm. It was nice to see such a thing again.

I gave him a grateful nod before looking back toward the corner Daryl had disappeared behind.

On my other side, Carol slid her small knife into its sheath by her hip. “I’ll go check on him.”

“Give him another minute,” I advised gently, stepping away from Rick’s warm hand so I could make my way toward the fenced in walkway toward the main entrance of the cellblock.

Carol didn’t argue, simply nodded once and remained outside whilst Rick and Michonne followed behind me.

When we reached the first door, the one that lead inside, I paused. I don’t know why but as I stood there, my hand gripping the handle, tensed in preparation for sliding it open, something inside me seemed to click in place. It was as if a murky film had been pulled away from my hazed mind, illuminating the vast expanse of knowledge I’d acquired during my time with the Governor. I knew his patterns. His plans. The entire catalogue of weapons in his collection. All of his self-appointed soldiers.

And Rick… These people… They knew the prison. Knew it inside and out.

I turned slowly to face him as he stood, looking curiously down at me from the top step of the platform that lead up to the door behind me. Michonne stood beside him, equally perplexed by the slow, sudden grin that had begun to spread across my face.

“Those tire spikes are still in the field, aren’t they?” I asked.

Michonne nodded slowly. “Yeah. Why?”

I didn’t answer, turning slowly around in place to survey the expanse of prison yard before me. My mind worked through dozens of possibilities in seconds, plotting a path, taking inventory of the weapons and instruments at the Governors disposal. I pushed past Rick and Michonne, back down the stairs and out the fenced walkway into the courtyard.

They both followed me, confused by my strange behaviour.

I turned partially to look at Rick. “You need to get the baby and your son out of here,” I said, somewhat distractedly. “Hershel and his youngest, too. Have you found the riot gear in here, yet? Never mind. I know where it’ll be. We need to replace the wooden pallets up there with metal. Solid metal. Take the doors off the solitary cells and line this walkway here. Keep the pallets on that walkway. It’s the first one they’ll fire at. Make sure no one can see through them, though.”

Rick kept pace with me as I walked from the gate, taking note of the line of sight for each and every access point to the cellblock.

“They’ll take out the watch towers with the launcher,” I added, turning in place to look at each of the buildings in turn. It was impossible to pin which ones they’d hit first, so it was safer to assume they’d just take them all out. “The truck with the M2 Browning will come in first. That’ll hit the tire spikes in the yard – which is good. Means it won’t be able to come into the courtyard. But they’ll have other trucks and they’ll use them to knock down this gate – so it’s best to leave it unlocked, minimise the damage for after.”

At this point, I’d come to a halt at the front gate with Michonne and Rick hot on my tail. They’d kept step with me until this point, watching me with near matching expressions that looked somewhere between surprised and intrigued.

My mental journey continued as I looked between the cellblock and the gate, surveying the area, imagining the steps the Governor would take. I stepped up toward the fenced walkway again. “We don’t fire. Don’t fight. Make it look like we’ve taken off. They’ll come in here – seven, maybe eight of them, the Governor included. He’ll need to see it for himself.”

With that, I climbed the steps and pulled the door open, revealing the small enclosed area between the two security gates. I crossed the space in two steps, pushing the silver barred door open and moving into the main area of the cellblock.

“They’ll pass through here,” I continued.

The remaining members of the group were sitting inside and turned to look up at us as I walked past them, toward the hall of cells they had made into their bedrooms. Maggie, Glenn, and Carl stood and began to follow behind Rick and Michonne, silent as I voiced my entire mental journey aloud.

“In, through here.” I stepped into the cellblock, looking at each of the cells one by one, gesturing toward them with a wild hand. “Best to leave something in them. Make it look like we were in a hurry to go. Nothing that we would come back for. Something like a discarded shirt.” From there, I ducked past the staircase in the centre of the hall and made my way toward the door at the back. The dark, shadowed corridor that extended beyond gave me all the good kinds of shivers.

I turned back to face the apparent audience I had gathered and grinned a wide, near mad grin.

“You still got those smoke grenades?”

Rick, who met my gleeful grin with a slowly brightening look of hope, nodded.

I clapped my hands together. “Fuck oath.”

My exclamation of excitement was met with a series of confused looks. It took me a second to realise the sheer Australian-ness of that remark before I laughed.

“It means good!” I looked between them, still grinning. “Come on! We can do this!”

Rick turned to look at each of his people in turn, at the excitement and hope that had begun to spread amongst them, as if my own glee had awakened something within each of them. It took him a moment before he looked back at me, a bright smile beginning to form on his face. God, it was nice to see him smile like that.

“What do you want us to do?” he asked.

#

The wait was agonizing.

I kept expecting to spot a cloud of dust rising atop the trees or hear the revving of distant engines whilst we were setting up. Thankfully, though, we managed to put everything in place before any sign of them arose. Carl, Beth, Judith, and Hershel were all sent off in one of the cars, to wait out the fight by the nearby forests edge. The young son of the sheriff had been none-too-pleased by his father’s orders of exclusion. In fact, he’d begun to argue, to fight against the plan, until I’d stepped in.

I’d made sure to look at Rick before saying anything. The last thing I needed was to step on his toes as a parent. He’d given me a tired nod and I’d followed the kid into the cellblock, cornering him whilst he was in the midst of packing his backpack.

“You know, kid,” I began, my tone light as I casually leant against the metal door frame. “Blondie and the old man are gonna need someone capable of protecting them out there. Your sister, too.”

Carl snorted in that indignant way all pre-teen children seemed to have down to an art form.

With a soft sigh, I leant partially forward in order to lower myself more to his height. “Alright, kid. I won’t bullshit you. What we’re about to do is dangerous shit. As much as you might feel like it’s unfair, your father is just doing what he thinks will keep you the safest. You and your sister are his first priority and that is not a bad fucking thing.”

Carl turned his head partially to look at me, slightly startled by my profanity.

“I’ll tell you a little secret, kiddo,” I continued. “I can’t lie. There is no physical way for me to utter an untruth. Which is why you have to believe me when I say, you need to do what your father asks, both for your safety and his.”

“His safety?” Carl spat in echo.

“Yes,” I answered evenly. “Do you honestly think he’ll be one-hundred-percent in the moment against the Governor if he has to worry about you, too?”

“He doesn’t have to –“

“He does, Carl,” I cut in, pushing off the door frame in order to stand before him. “Even if you were the greatest fighter this world had ever seen, he would still worry about you. Because you are his son and he loves you. Do you understand?”  

He paused a moment before giving me a nod, face twisted into a grimace, as if he hadn’t wanted to admit it.

I lowered myself down into a crouch. “Look, I know you want to help. And I know you don’t think running off with Hershel and Beth is helping, but let me tell you something. You will be. You will keep your sister, Beth, and Hershel safe by being with them. You will keep your father safe by being with them. And you’ll have my gratitude, because the things I will do to the Governor if I get my hands on him are not fit for the eyes of babes, understand?”

That also seemed to catch the kid off guard. He blinked once in surprise, his eyes – the same eyes as his father – widening as he realized the connotations beneath my words.

“So, you go out there and you protect those three, and I’ll stay in here and I’ll protect the rest. Sound fair?”

He watched me another moment, looking between my bloodied hands, the knives on my belt, and the crimson flecks upon my face. Something overcame him in that moment. A sense of duty and responsibility. He gave me a solid nod, grabbed his backpack and slung it purposefully over his shoulder.

I followed him out to the courtyard, watched as he pulled away from his father and climbed into the car with a huff. Okay. He may not have been happy about it, but at least he was doing it.

Glenn and Maggie had adorned the riot gear. It looked two sizes too big on both of their slender frames, but it would get the job done. Daryl and Carol both were waiting by the door of the cellblock for Rick and I. Michonne was standing guard by the back entrance, just in case the Governor decided to be smart and attempt to surround us.

Daryl’s gaze met mine when Rick and I approached. He looked me up and down before reaching into the back of his pants and pulling out a handgun. “Here,” he said.

I took it with a grateful nod, pulling the clip out, making a note of the bullet count before sliding it back in. “Alright. Carol, Rick. You two take the side corridor. Daryl and I will take the back. Whoever makes contact first out of us, pull the alarm for Maggie and Glenn to open fire. Michonne will pull back to meet with us if they come from behind. If they haven’t by the time the alarm’s gone off, she’ll come around that corner there and lay fire with the other two. We all set?”

Daryl lifted the duffle bag sitting on the ground beside him and opened it, displaying their collection of smoke grenades. Rick grabbed three of them and gave me a curt nod, pulling his rifle from his shoulder.

We separated into our respective groups and set up in our places.

And then came the wait.

Daryl and I were sitting, partially hidden around the corner of the corridor at the back of the cellblock. He had foregone the crossbow for a rifle and gripped the barrel of it, resting the stock against the concrete between his spread legs.

The assassin in me had learnt patience long ago. I sat, barely moving, staring blankly ahead and straining my ears for the sounds of commotion outside. My breaths came out in slow, controlled exhales. Remaining calm was one of the most important factors during the wait. Losing control, getting yourself too amped up too early, could mean the difference between life and death. Adrenaline was one hell of a drug, but it was in short supply and blowing it all before the fight was almost akin to shooting yourself in the foot.

Daryl let out a huff of air as he pulled the rifle up and rested it against his thighs. “The hell’s takin’ them so long?”

“He’ll be here,” I responded evenly. “He can’t risk not coming. Even if it’s just for show, he needs to be seen making an effort to ensure we’re not here.”

“Why?”

“Because…” I took a deep breath. “Well, in reality, I think it’s an ego thing. Like, he needs to win this. To be the hero. So, he needs to sell the idea that we’re this group of bloodthirsty savages, bent on Woodbury’s destruction. It’s the only way he’ll make a villain for his people to see him triumph over.”

“That’s messed up,” Daryl remarked.

“He is.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anger and guilt inside me. Resting the back of my head against the wall behind me, I looked to the ceiling. “I can’t believe I let it get this far.”

“You didn’t know,” Daryl said, his voice oddly soft.

“I think I did,” I responded, my voice barely louder than a whisper. Thankfully, the silence echoing through the prison enabled it to carry across the opening in the corridor to him. “I mean, I knew he was growing more… Bold, I guess. Violent, even. But he always had a reason for it – at least, he made it seem like he did. For the good of Woodbury. To protect the people. And I let myself believe that. Because I was comfortable where I was. I had a room, had people, friends. Things I apparently valued more than common human fucking decency. Or morality. Not that I’ve ever been particularly morally inclined.”

Daryl listened silently until even the echo of my voice had faded before he shuffled in place to turn and look at me. “My brother ain’t never done anything like that before in his life. Ain’t never put someone else above himself. Not until he met you.”

I could tell by the soft, gentle way he spoke that he meant that as some kind of compliment. A testament to my ability to do good. But, really, it just made me think that what had happened to him had been more of my fault than I’d originally believed.

Daryl could tell that I’d taken it the wrong way by my silence. The way I squeezed my eyes closed for a moment before looking back up at the ceiling above me. With a sigh, he rose up onto his feet, leaving the rifle leant against the wall before crossing the opening of the hall and onto my side.

“The hell are you doing?” I asked, somewhat surprised as he sunk down into a sitting position between me and the corner. He was close enough that his knee overlapped mine as we sat, partially cross-legged on the hard-concrete floor.

“What happened to Merle wasn’t your fault,” he said in response, his voice stern, almost as if he were ordering me to believe it. “That ain’t what I’m saying.”

“I know what you’re saying,” I said before letting out a sigh. “But I didn’t do shit. Your brother had the ability to not be a jackass from the get-go. He just didn’t apply it very often.”

Daryl nodded. “No one else ever thought that about my brother. Even our damn dad thought he was a lost cause.”

“I wouldn’t measure someone’s value by the view your father had of them,” I remarked.

Daryl dropped my gaze instantly. “Ain’t the point.”

“I know what the point is, Daryl,” I hissed before I could catch myself. With a deep intake of breath, I calmed my anger and looked back at him. “Sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick.”

He let out a breath through his nose kind of like a chuckle. “Then will you just let me say my damn piece?”  

I waved him on, no longer looking at him, finding a spot on the wall across from me to stare at. It occurred to me that Daryl didn’t really seem like the kind of guy that spoke his piece all that often, especially about something close to his chest like his brother. The least I could do was listen.

“You helped him, alright?” he said after a deep breath. “More than I ever could. And that ain’t nothin’, you know? And what you’re doing now – helping us like this… You’re making up for the shit you did and let slide and that’s more than most can say.”

For a second, every instinct I had to keep myself guarded, to hold a mask over my emotions and a wall around my heart, began to crumble. I felt my brows pull down, my lips twitch slightly downward, and my eyes starting to sting and grow damp. He was right. I knew he was, somewhere deep down, or it wouldn’t have hit me so hard. Maybe that was why his brother had done what he’d done. Because he’d seen me, trying to make up for a decade worth of blood by using the skills I’d developed from that life to help protect the people that couldn’t protect themselves. And even when that had gone awry, I’d made an effort to do the right thing again and again. Could I ever make up for the lives I’d taken? No. And I’d said that to him, too. That I didn’t think I’d ever make up for it. But I’d kept trying anyway. And he’d been by my side that entire time, watching, learning from my pitiful attempts to be the good guy for once.

All of that went through my mind in a split second and it was written all over my face. The guilt, the sadness, the regret. That deep, raw anger and sorrowful grief for the things I would never have, for the childhood of blood and loss, this life of death and destruction. The possibility that every time I tried to do the right thing, it somehow backfired, like a message from the universe that I’d never be good enough to be the hero of my own story.

And then, like a black hole devouring the stars, it was all pulled back into the darkness. I swallowed down everything and, with a shake of my head, slipped that mask back into place before I could shed a single tear.

I drew in a deep breath and blew it out in a long sigh before turning to give Daryl a sad smile. Like I hadn’t just been on the verge of an actual emotional breakdown. If I’d been about to say something, it died on my lips when I saw the concerned look on his face. He was close enough that I could see the specks of brown in his blue eyes, even in the dim lighting.

It took me a second to compose myself, to adjust to our proximity and that soft look he was giving me.

“For the record,” I began, my voice hushed, mostly because I was pretty sure it would hitch and give away the emotional turmoil I’d shoved into that overflowing box in the back of my mind if I spoke any louder. “I might just like you guys better, anyway. You’ve got more spunk. A hotter leader.”

I gave Daryl a side-eyed grin, watching his reaction with great amusement. He blinked once, his brows rising before he snorted out a laugh and elbowed me playfully.

“What?” I asked with a chuckle. “You think I’m wrong?”

“I ain’t touchin’ that,” he remarked, pushing himself back up onto his feet with a grunt.

“Oh, come on,” I pushed with a barely restrained laugh. “Don’t hold it against me. Or, you know… do. I wouldn’t mind.”

My remarks were definitely making him uncomfortable at this point, though I could still see the amusement on his face. I opened my mouth to make another joke when a sound from off in the distance made me sit suddenly upright.

The mood in the room effectively diminished after that, as Daryl had been watching me and saw the sudden change in my body language instantly.

“What is it?” he asked, though I could tell from the hard look on his face that he already knew the answer.

“They’re here.”

[redfoxwritesstuff]

Silent Song, Chapter 24

Hi. Grab some tissues, hop in the blanket fort because this one is going to hurt. The therapist (imaginary) should be here within the next few hours. We’ve got cocoa and vodka. Sooth your soul however you need to. I promise, I will fix this.  Warning: Major character death. 

Masterlist Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 

The team was gathered in a large conference room. It was late and many were tired. Some had just come back from raiding yet another base but it didn’t matter. None would rather be anywhere else but here at that moment. It was finally happening.

They had a lead. A solid concrete lead. For a moment no one said anything as they all looked to the red dot on the holographic map. Each feared that if they made a noise everything would shatter and they’d wake to find it was all a dream.

“You’re sure?” Clint finally asked, voice soft.

“About 95% sure, yes.” Strange answered. “I’ve never worked this spell before so there is always a margin of error however… I’m fairly confident.”

“She’s there.” Loki confirmed, standing tall in his leather armor. He was still pale, he still looked ill and half mad but with something to focus on he was mentally more present than he had been in weeks.

“What’s the plan?” Natasha asked. “We need to get Svetlana out of there alive.”

“We go in. Kick ass. Bring Hotaru home.” Tony answered.

“We need an actual plan.” Steve pointed out and they began planning.

Things felt better, just knowing where she was. Having the confirmation that she was alive pulled a weight off of all their shoulders. It was as if a switch was flipped and they could face the world again. They could say her name again.

In less than twelve hours, the team was collecting their gear and boarding a jet. It would be four hours until they landed in the general location. They would find her and god help anyone who dared to stand in their way. They would bring her home and rain hell down on those who dared take what was theirs to protect. There would be a line of those waiting to extract vengeance for the harm that had come to her.

Loki would be first in that line.

Subject 132 knew something was shifting but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. The burn in her eyes and the fog from lack of restful sleep made it hard to think much about anything. Sometimes, she would cry though she didn’t really understand why.

The tears were a waste of water and she wished they would stop. It happened when the ache in her chest was at its worst. She wished she knew why she hurt so much. It had to do with those people she saw in her dreams. She knew that much even if she wasn’t sure who they were any longer.

Did she ever know who they were?

They visited her dreams every night with their blurred faces and harsh words. It was their words that often brought on the ache in her chest and the tears. She was worthless. She was unwanted. She was thrown away. They would tell her those things each and every night with distorted voices without fail and she would awake feeling as if she hadn’t slept at all.

The only peace she had was sometimes when she would drift to sleep, before the nightmares started, the Dark Prince would visit her. During the nightmares he was different, his face unclear and his voice just as distorted as the others but during these times she could see him clearly. She could hear his voice as she knew it was, though she couldn’t say how she knew it.

Each time the Dark Prince visited her they would be sitting on a couch in an open room. He always smelled the same and she could never pinpoint what it was his smell reminded her of. Dew and forests at night, though she wasn’t sure how she could find comfort in that but she did. The scent of him had a chill to it that she didn’t find in the forests when their cages were moved through.

How could she be sure when this was the only life she knew Everything else was an illusion, she knew. They had sent her away to make her think she was free all for their entertainment. It was a game. Always a game. Only a game.

Yet she held onto these moments with her Dark Prince, whoever he may be. It was the only peace she had and though she didn’t know why he came to her, how he knew of her or why she dreamed of him she would hold onto him. She knew he wasn’t real. Perhaps a figment of her imagination.

Was that so outlandish? She knew her sanity was slowly fading, finally. The embrace of madness would be welcomed by her when it finally came for her. Until then, she would hold onto her Dark Prince and his soft words of love for so long as she could. He’d promise to find her, to come for her and rescue her but she knew he wouldn’t.

He wasn’t real. His love wasn’t real. Perhaps his peaceful visits before the nightmares started was all a part of their game as well. It didn’t matter. She’d hold onto them just the same. What was real didn’t matter anymore.

“Tonight the game ends.” The woman with the bright eyes sneered through the bars.

Subject 132 didn’t offer much in the way of a reaction. Just a look in the woman’s direction and nothing more. Not to her eyes, not to her face. Making eye contact was dangerous. It was a good way to get struck hard. There was no reason to bring more pain.

The motel offered little to no amenities and Tony hadn’t stopped complaining about it since the door closed behind them. Loki wasn’t much better, sneering at the lumpy couch and the whole of the room smelled foul. Both men’s complaints were halfhearted, only spoken because it was expected of them. Neither would admit it.

“What now?” Clint sat down as the team crowded into the too small room.

“Now we pinpoint their location.” Strange spoke as he cleared the table top. “Shall we?”

Loki came to stand across from him, setting the necklace- her necklace in the center. Strange held his hands out over the necklace and Loki mirrored him. The room grew silent as the team observed.

It was minor magic they were weaving but delicate work just the same. Should they push too much or pull too hard they would risk snapping the tether. If that were to happen they would have to search for her the old fashioned way. That method had already resulted in them taking far too long to find her.

Green shimmered around the stone held in snake jaws in the necklace for a moment before it began to lift up and hover in a slowly expanding ball of thread. Loki slowly extracted his power from the stone as Strange worked to keep the blue thread of her soul stable.

Behind him, Clint whistled- it was rare that anyone ever saw magic being worked by one of the sorcerers. To see them both work magic together was a rare sight still. Yet over the last few months it had become increasingly common, though no less impressive.

With the threads of Loki’s power out of the stone they were able to focus on that one solitary thread that belonged to her. It wasn’t a lot to work with at all. It was no wonder why Loki hadn’t noticed the thread for so long. It was thin as a thread of spider silk but it was there just the same.

“A map would be most useful, Stark.” Strange didn’t even look to him as he spoke.

“J, you heard the man.” Tony set his phone down, screen up on the table.

“Yes, Sir.” the AI spoke as a holograph of the area lit up the table.

Together the two sorcerers worked their power through the thread of her soul slowly. It felt like it took a lifetime to work it and spread it, building their own power around it to stabilize it and magnify it as they worked.

Sweat gathered on Strange’s brow as the first hour began to pass into the second. The team milled about the room in near perfect silence. This was their chance. It could be their only chance. No one wanted to be the one that caused it to fail.

“There.” Loki said simply as the third hour came to a close.

“We’ve got her.” Strange added as he let his hands fall. The tremble in them was more pronounced with the expended energy but he schooled the shaking to a minimum quickly.

“Let’s go.” Tony urged.

“No.” Loki let the strands of his power lower and settle into the stone again. He’d still not take them back into himself.

“No?” Clint asked.

��Why the hell not?” Tony’s face was red but he took a deep breath to calm himself as best he could.

“If we rush in she could die.” Loki didn’t even bother to look at Tony as he spoke.

“And if we wait, she could die.” Tony’s rush across the small room was stopped by Thor stepping in between them.

“And if we rush in with a flawed plan, she could die as a result.” Steve pointed out.

“He’s right. We need to a plan.” Natasha pushed herself off the dresser she had been leaning against. “They’ve been killing captives as soon as we move in. We can’t risk them killing her.”

A plan needed to be formulated. They couldn’t go in blind and it took every ounce of reason and self control to keep themselves in check. They would come for her. They would save her. Even if everyone else died, they would leave that building with her alive.

Subject 132 was pulled from her nightmare as the guards went about the large room lighting torches. If it was day or night, she couldn’t tell. It had been a long time since such things mattered. She slept when she slept, she was awake when she was awake.

The light flickered and danced on the concrete walls. Passively, she thought it was pretty. The torches were burning and that meant that today someone would die. They would be the lucky one. For them the pain was going to be over.

Vincent stood tall at the top of the stairs. This place wasn’t perfect but it would do. He’d take his pleasure from her one last time, he decided as he looked down at her curled into herself in her cage. Dear Subject 132, she would be the key. Once he had his fill of her he would gift her to the Gods. What better gift to give than the toy he was personally so fond of?

A smile cut its way across his face as he began to descend the stairs. With each step the sound echoed through the room. The guards lit the touches as he made his way down to the first landing.

“Today we give a gift to the Gods.”

With his arms spread wide and sleeves hanging down, he made his announcement. The robed figures below dropped to their knees and their voices cried out to him in agreement. It was music to his ears even as the guards carried on as if nothing had happened.

The ringing of his phone cut into his moment.

“This is Vincent.” It had better be important.

“They are coming for you.”

“It is unimportant.” He started down the stairs again. “I’ll have a god to destroy our enemies. He will destroy them all and turn this world into paradise.”

The team moved through the woods. It took self control not to rush in. Each of them would prefer to be there sooner rather than later. Each of them wanted to see her and know that she was alright. Each of them needed to have the light back in their lives.

Each of them needed her but Loki knew none needed her as much as he. She was his everything. She was his light. He needed her. He needed her to be safe. Loki knew she wasn’t ready to be his but unless he knew she was safe, unless she was safe enough to heal and grow he could never have her. Now that he knew he wanted her, he would have her.

“The building is up ahead.” Tony’s voice came through the communication devices. “Let’s get this over and done with. After, dinner’s on me.”

Subject 132 watched as a boy was pulled from his cage. It was hard to say how old he was. Age was so hard to tell and in the end it didn’t matter. He was just a thing to be used, just as she was. It didn’t matter how old he was. Nothing about him mattered. Just as nothing about her mattered. He was just a Subject, just a number no different than she was.

Absently she watched as the boy was marched to the alter. It would be over for him soon. He was lucky, his pain was coming to an end. Subject 132 wondered if her pain would ever end. Would she ever be allowed the release of death?

The woman with the bright eyes stepped aside. The movement drew Subject 132’s eyes away from where the boy was being placed on the alter and to the man with silk robes approaching her. He was different and she knew him on sight. She would always know him on sight, though she didn’t know a name for him.

The others were keepers, masters and guards. Some wore combat gear and guns, others wore heavy cotton robes. This man however wasn’t just a master, he was The Master. He wore robes of silk that moved around him as he walked with his head held high.

“Come, let us enjoy ourselves.” The man held out his hand to her as the woman with the too bright eyes opened the cage.

If she grabbed the hand and it was a trick, she’d be beaten. If she ignored the kindness and it wasn’t a trick, she’d be beaten. There was no way to know what the right answer was with Master. She knew however that her legs were weak and so she took his hand as she climbed out of the cage.

That was the wrong answer however. When she was leaning most of her weight on him and trying to get her legs to work under her, he yanked his hand away. The loss of support sent her crashing to the ground. Scrapes opened on her knees and blood smeared with dirt to color her skin.

“Crawl.” Master ordered and so she did.

She crawled after him as best she could on her hands and knees. She knew the dress she wore was short. That was likely part of the point. He wanted everyone to see her. Blood and dirt caked on her legs but did nothing to protect her modesty.

When they reached a padded bench the Master reached down and hauled her over it by her hair, making sure she could see the boy. It hurt but she did not cry. The pain the Master would give her as she was forced to watch the boy end his life to bring a monster into the world was nothing compared to the pain she felt nightly in her heart.

As the Master worked her body to bring himself pleasure, she didn’t react. She didn’t pull away. She didn’t fight. Fighting made it worse. In front of her she watched the boy end his pain and she smiled. For him, it was over.

The team made quick work of infiltrating the building. Every single person they ran into, Zealot or Hydra- it didn’t matter- was killed on sight. It was messy and harsh. It was out of character. It spoke to how desperate they were to have her back. It was rationalized by the more morally bound members of the team in that they had to prevent any sort of alarm being raised.

They however were functioning on emotion and adrenaline, though they tried to contain it. They were sleep deprived. They made mistakes.

First they took on too many at a time, causing some members of the team to be held behind. Contain the mess, contain the issue so as no one finds out. Easier said than done. Yet Loki and Tony raced through the rest of the building, dispatching targets as quickly as possible. It would be one of the few times they would work together as a unit, not needing much in the way of communication.

Strange was closest behind them with Thor not far behind. He would do what had to be done to protect the world regardless of the cost. Both Tony and Loki knew that and ultimately the difference in priority made them both hesitate to allow the wizard to catch up to them and join them on the front lines. Loki didn’t trust Thor’s judgment and so his brother was also pushed behind.

Stairs took them down into a basement where they found a system of tunnels. They swiftly navigated the tunnels, following the sound of chanting. As much as they wanted to rush, to run they could not. The sound of their steps already echoed down the hall. The sound of running would just tip them off.

Strange managed to catch up to them just as a large beast of a creature smashed into them. The battle was on. If the Zealots didn’t know they were coming, they did now. No one dared allow themselves to question who had died to bring this beast into existence. It was too painful to think that just maybe this beast was all that was left of her.

Subject 132 watched as the alter was rinsed of blood. Her cheek rested against the plush cushion of the bench. She made no effort to move as the sound of her blood dripping to the ground was drown out by the water running off the alter.

The guards were talking in hushed voices as loud banging came from the hall. She didn’t pay the noise much attention. It was just a game. It was just another trick. She wondered if the trick was for her or the others. Was she worth tricking like this anymore?

“Come.” Master ordered.

When she struggled to stand, struggled to move fast enough he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked. As he was dragging her behind him, she saw the portion of wall at the top of the stairs explode into fragments.

Up on the stairwell she saw them. It felt like he world came crashing down around her. The pain in her heart was again fresh and tears she didn’t know she still had gathered in her eyes.

“Hotaru!” The man in a metal suit yelled and she knew the voice.

“My Light!” Her Dark prince cut a deep gash into the beast that had been summoned from the sacrificed boy but it was not enough to down the creature. Rather than defeat it the gash seemed to only enrage it more.

Thor slammed into the beast with his hammer, driving him back into the hall. It was disturbing how the beast held up to blow after blow. Nothing seemed to do more than just knock him back.

“I’ll keep this one busy. Loki, get to her!” Another mighty swing of the hammer sent the beast back a few more steps.

Who was Hotaru? What did the Dark Prince mean by ‘his light’? Why did they bring the Dark Prince here? Why did the metal man have the voice of her brother? How did she know she had a brother? Who was her brother? Who was the prince?

“Get up here.”

Master yanked her hair again, pulling her up the stairs of the alter and toward the table as fighting continued. More people entered the room but the beast kept them all busy. Guards were cut down in the fighting along side the robed men.

Subject 132 couldn't find it in her heart to care what was happening to her. She couldn’t find it in her heart to care that the Master was pushing her against the table. It was cold and wet against her hands and knees as she pushed herself up.

“Hotaru!” Again the voice of her brother called out from across the room only to be followed up with a bang.

She looked at him. For a moment their eyes locked and Tony did the stupidest thing he could have- he took his helmet off and screamed for her again. He was distracted and one blow hit him, reminding him of the fight at hand as Thor tried to regain the attention of the beast.

Loki intercepted a blow that would have surely crushed in his unprotected skull. For a moment his eyes locked with the ocean blue of Loki’s and a silent ‘thank you’ was passed and accepted with a curt node.

They tried to focus on the beast. They tired to focus on the battle. They had to. They must. To get distracted could mean death. But none could put out of their mind that she was getting on the table, that she was laid out on the alter. They had to hurry. They had to save her. They had to make it. They had to make it in time. They had to.

Subject 132 watched as a flash of power washed over the beast. A shimmer of green and it was over. She knew however that the beast was dying before the battle had even begun. Their time was limited, they always died out on their own.

The team was battered and broken, spread thin across the large room. There were so many guards and they had to act fast. Already they had begun dispatching the captives. There was only one captive that mattered to Loki and Tony however. Only one they cared to look at.

“Let her go.” Loki’s voice carried the air of authority and a snarl of danger both through the room yet he did not yell as he walked. There was a slight hitch in his step and blood ran down his leg.

“I’d listen to him.” Tony answered, allowing the suit to support him. “We’re taking her home now.”

“Look who’s here.” Master leaned down toward her as if he was speaking a secret. “They’ve come to watch you do the only useful thing in your measly life.”

Guards surrounded them. They were tired and sore. They were injured and nothing seemed to be going right. They couldn’t get to her fast enough. They had to get to her.

Loki couldn’t take his eyes off of her for more than a moment to cut down the next guard. She was dirty. She was hurt. She was bleeding. The more he looked, the angrier he was. His power bubbled and surged within him as he let it lash out at the handful of guards surrounding him.

It wasn’t enough. He’d allowed himself to become too weak over the last few months. It was a mistake he couldn’t take back. He wasn’t strong enough after fighting the beast. He was running on empty and to continue to use his power would be drawing on the energy that kept him alive.

He’d do it. He’d give his life to save her.

He could see the fresh blood on her thighs, even from the distance they were at. It was maddening to know what they had done to her.

“They’ve come to watch you die and celebrate your death.” The man they knew as Vincent from the files spoke, his voice carrying easily over the fighting and through the room.

“Get away from her!” Tony yelled spinning to face the alter after blasting away yet another guard. His flight system was damaged by the beast. Iron Man was grounded.

“I will kill you.” Loki snarled, feeling all of the rage and pain from that fated moment in the tower so long ago up until this moment surge through him. “I will rip open your chest and crush your beating heart for what you’ve done to her.”

“Look how angry they are.” Vincent leaned down and spoke over her. “Look how much your being alive is hurting them.”

She knew what she had to do. Tears slipped from her eyes as she wrapped her fingers around the could hilt of the dagger. Not once did she think about plunging it into Master. Not once did she think about striking back. Not once did she think of spilling the blood of another.

Around the room, those in Robes who were able to began chanting anew. Their voices swelled and surged as she lifted the knife in one hand. All eyes were on her causing Loki to take a harsh blow to the head that left him disoriented for a short moment.

Loki wasted no time in killing the man that had struck him and turned his eyes back to her. He was tired. He was weak and it angered him to know he allowed himself to be. This was his fault. She was on the alter and it was his fault.

His light was on her back on an alter with a knife in her hand. He had to get to her. There was no other choice. She needed him. He needed her. She had to live. Even if he had to wait for her, even if she never wanted him again he needed her to live. She had to live.

With a roar of rage, Loki’s power lashed out around him. It was inelegant but effective in how it cut down the guards and Zealots alike. It wasn’t enough however and the enemy was still thick in the room.

Subject 132 looked back at the fighting in the room. With sadness in her heart she watched as her Dark prince took a harsh blow to the side. Blood gushed from the wound. Even from her place, she could see the pain wash across his face.

He was in pain because of her. The Dark Prince came for her. They all had come for her. Looking around, she took the room in with new eyes. They were there. All of them and they were all hurt.

Clint and Natasha were taking out guards at the top of the stairs. They both looked battle worn and bloody. It hurt to see them like that. They came for her. Or at least, maybe they did. She’d not remembered them right until now but that was okay. Now she knew who they were.

Those doubts came into her head. They always came into her head. What if this was a trick? What if it was just a game to hurt her more? What if it didn’t matter? Did it matter if it was a trick or not? If she closed her eyes and trusted, could that be all that mattered?

When she opened her eyes again she trained them on Tony. His name came to her again. She could picture his warm brown eyes smiling at her. He was battered but his suit looked to be holding up just the same. Damage had been taken because of her. Pain was felt because of her.

With tears in her eyes, she looked to the Doctor. He was the one who first offered her comfort all that time ago. It was with him she first found some semblance of safety. He stood behind her Dark Prince and Tony. Strange, she knew that was his name now. With each breath she took, she remembered more and more.

Her eyes moved on and settled on him. Her Dark Prince, Loki. She remembered their times together. With a shaking breath, she remembered the feel of his lips against hers. If it had all been a game, it was worth losing. The memories were worth the pain. As tears slipped from her eyes, she decided she would always remember.

‘I forgive you.’ With no voice, she could only mouth the words and hope that they would understand. ‘I love you all. I love you, Loki.’

Time seemed to stand still for Loki he watched her speak the words. No sound was needed. Whatever was going to happen, it wasn’t going to be good. The words she mouthed sounded far too much like ‘goodbye’ for his taste.

Tony had the same idea and pushed forward recklessly as Thor came to his side only to be ordered to get to Hotaru. Time was running out. Whatever was about to happen, it had to be stopped.

Time marched on at an unforgiving pace however. Loki was so close, close enough that he could see the tears she cried as she plunged the dagger into her soft belly. Blood welled up from the wound as she pulled the blade up. It sliced her open easily and only stopped when the blade hit her sternum.

“Hotaru!”

The world stopped around him as he called her name. Tony’s voice echoed his call but he did not hear it. He did not hear the chanting of the Zealots. All he knew, all he saw was the red of her blood pouring out of her. It spilled down her sides and pooled on the table before dripping onto the ground.

That dripping was the only thing Loki could hear. The well of his power was nearly dry yet he reached out to her with what he had left. With all the power he had left he listened to the steady beating of her heart for a brief moment and then a silence that let the world back in.

“No.” Tony choked on the word somewhere behind him.

Around him, the last of his power flared out and cut down not nearly enough of the robed men to make him feel better. A rage and hurt bloomed in his chest that rivaled the pain he felt when his mother died.

“Hotaru.” Loki’s voice cracked even as he stalked forward, “I will make you pay for this. It will be slow. You will beg for death.”

Tag list: @purplekitten30, @bambamwolf87, @dangertoozmanykids101, @0-0-0-0-0-0-0-7, @theoneanna, @redryderdesigns, @excuse-you-dickwad, @sometimesiamhere, @missaphrodite23, @yougotakillyourmind, @insert-cool-and-edgy-title-here, @alexakeyloveloki, @paanchu786, @fairlightswiftly, @j-u-s-t-4

[sparkleywonderful]

The Prince of Ice: Ch.25

Part 25 of The Prince of Ice series, a retelling of Heir of Fire from Rowan’s point of view.

The Prince of Ice Parts [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 14.5 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ]  [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ]  [ 24.1 ] [ 24.2 ] [ 24.3 ] [ 24.4 ] [ 24.5 ] [ 24.6 ] [ 24.7 ] [ 25 ] [  AO3 ]

3rd body and Adarlan’s secret army (p388)

- - - - - - -

The stench of the body was helping him bury those urges that were roaring. Boundaries. He needed to remind himself of those boundaries as Aelin stripped down to her under things after their three hour run here.

“Well, I can certainly smell him this time,” Aelin said between panting breaths.

“This body has been rotting here longer than the demi-Fae from three days ago.”

He watched as she bit back her snarky remark, she was still angry that he left her to train while he inspected the last discovered body.

He swore as he lifted his forearm to cover his nose and mouth as he examined the husk that remained in a heap of clothing behind a small boulder. The demi-Fae male’s face was twisted in horror.

This could have been Aelin, or Luca, or any of the demi-Fae that resided at Mistward. The second lingering scent was that of the creature from the barrows.

“It has our attention and it knows it,” she said. “It’s targeting demi-Fae—either to send a message, or because they … taste good. But—”

He waited, knowing he was not going to like where her cunning mind just traveled.

“What if there’s more than one?”

He did not want to consider that there was more than one of these monsters.

“You’re old as hell, you must have considered that we’re dealing with a few of them, given how vast the territory is. What if the one we saw in the barrows wasn’t even the creature responsible for these bodies.”

Even with her point, he did not want to consider there was two of them, but he reluctantly nodded in agreement.

“Rowan.”

He looked at her concerned face, “Tell me you see what I’m seeing.”

He let out a vicious curse, “This male--” he had fought, and he had fought with every ounce of his being.

“Fought. He fought back against it. None of the others did, according to the reports.”

He handed over a dagger at Aelin’s silent request.

She yanked down the dagger and he watched as she carefully, as gently and respectfully as she could, run the tip of the dagger under the male’s cracked and filthy nails, then smeared the contents on the back of her own hand. Dirt and something . . . something else.

“What the hell is that?” he demanded, kneeling beside her, sniffing her outstretched hand. He jerked back, snarling. “That’s not dirt.”

He watched as the color drained from her face not from fear, but from horror. Whatever memory she was reliving—

“This isn’t possible,” she said, jolting to her feet. “This—this—this—” She paced, if only to keep from shaking.

His nerves were growing. Another side he had yet to learn was her anxious side. Whatever she scented, had escalated her fear. He knew that what she had experienced was tied to why she journeyed here, why she risked to be caught in Maeve’s web. The Galathynius mistrust of Maeve was shadowed by the threat that was killing these demi-Fae.

He withheld a shudder at that thought. Maeve was powerful, and no one knew why or how magic had disappeared from her continent.  If what she was trying to learn from Maeve had that power, it would be only a matter of time before his own continent would fall victim.

The foulness caused all his protective instincts to surface.  

“I’m wrong. I have to be wrong.”

With his patience growing thin he growled, “Tell me.”

He followed her to the river, listening to a tale of a long forgotten dungeon hidden by a dark tapestry. The tunnel full of images from a long ago battle. The deeper she descended, the older the books and scrolls became. Until she hit an ancient stairwell, the images turned from the ancient battle to a forest with Fae. At the bottom there was only one door, the only other exit the tunnel she had traversed. The one door was made from solid iron and happened to be locked.

A cold sweat slithered down his spine as she told him that while she was studying the door she noticed a shadow, darker than any she had seen through the thin slit along the door. When she slid a shiny dagger through the slit, that the green-gold orbs were reflected. Orbs she could have sworn were eyes. The dungeon itself lined with iron beneath the old castle’s library, one she found one night looking for a foul creature.

She continued to whisper how weeks later after Nehemia’s death she returned to that iron door. How she had used Wyrdmarks to unlock the iron door. She told him of the dozens of cells, all locked until she reached door ninety-nine and beyond was an unmarked door, one that begged her to open it. The second chamber held sixty-six cells, the third chamber held thirty-three, the next hall held twenty-two cells. All locked. The sixth chamber only had nine cells. How in the seventh chamber it felt like death. In an abandoned cell there were fingernail marks in the iron and stone. The ninth chamber had a stairwell that ascended, she continued to walk through the odd stone, until she realized she was in the clock tower. She ran down the steps to the clock tower remembering the cold of the eight guardians and the Obsidian stone the gods forbade.

He held back a snarl as she heard how the creature had tracked her. How the creature had human expressions, with black blood and animal eyes. In his mind her knew that it was either Fae or Witch. Not an ironteeth witch, no the Crohcans had taken after the Fae, that is what his father told him. He should have never called her a girl. Never treated her like a spoiled princess.

Her story did not end there, she continued to tell him how Dorian, the Prince of Adarlan had welded the door and how she had used Wyrdmarks to bind the creature long enough to behead and quarter it. What shocked her the most was that the creature had a human heart. She told him that is how she knew that the King was using a Wyrdkey to create monsters. How she later figured out that the creature had to have had some magic, at least that appeared to have been the pattern.

His heart sank a little. He was not certain if it was because Maeve withheld the knowledge or because in the end Aelin would learn that the there was little knowledge to be gained. Either way, Maeve way spinning her deadly web.

“How did it get here?” Rowan asked, his features now set with icy calm.

“I don’t know. I hope I’m wrong. But that smell—I’ll never forget that smell as long as I live. Like it had rotted from the inside out, its very essence ruined. But it retained some cognitive abilities. And whatever this is, it must have them, too, if it’s dumping the bodies.”

She stood near the stream, when she broke the silence, “Demi-Fae … they would make perfect hosts, with so many of them able to use magic and no one in Wendlyn or Doranelle caring if they live or die. But these corpses—if he wanted to kidnap them, why kill them?”

That was an easy question to answer, “Unless they weren’t compatible, and if they weren’t compatible, then what better use for them than to drain them dry?”

After all, the creature she spoke of was discarded.

“But what’s the point of leaving the bodies where we can find them? To drum up fear?”

He could not answer her, instead he ground his jaw and stalked through the area. As he examined the ground, the trees, the rocks he could not help but think that the things the King was doing was far more vile than Sollemere. Before he could think too deeply he said, “Burn the body, Aelin.”

He removed the sheath and belt that had housed the dagger and tossed them to her. She caught them with her free hand.

“We’re going hunting.”

They found nothing, even when he shifted into his hawk form and circled high above. As the light grew dim, they climbed into the biggest, densest tree in the area. They squeezed onto a massive branch, huddling together, he would not let her summon even a flicker of flame. There were creatures in these woods that he knew would be attracted to her flame. The one he was just learning about, he had a feeling a fire would be a beacon to their location.

He wanted to know everything about the creature in the library, he made her retell him in as much detail as possible. The library itself reminded him of a prison in another long forgotten Fae Kingdom.

After she finished telling her everything she could remember, he took out one of his long knives and began cleaning it. The weapon did not need to be cleaned, but the motion opened his mind as he tried to recall all of his adventures and missions, to see if any small detail triggered a memory or tied this creature to another land.

“Do you think I was mistaken? About the creature, I mean.”

He knew she was not mistaken, she had been trained to recall and respond to the smallest details.

“We’re dealing with a cunning, lethal predator, regardless of where it originated and how many there are. If you were mistaken, I’d consider it a blessing.”

They sat huddled in a tree branch for a long while before she broke the silence,

“You once told me that when you find your mate, you can’t stomach the idea of hurting them physically. Once you’re mated, you’d sooner harm yourself.”

“Yes; why?”

“I tried to kill him. I mauled his face, then held a dagger over his heart because I thought he was responsible for Nehemia’s death. I would have done it if someone hadn’t stopped me. If Chaol—if he’d truly been my mate, I wouldn’t have been able to do that, would I?”

That truth. If he hadn't known better, he would have said that they were mates. That he understood looking for something that was not there, to be desperate for it. In their case something that could not be there. But the hope not to be alone in the world, to crave that bond was not hopeless. He hoped that someday she would have that joy. How even now he wanted that for himself. If he was honest with himself that he hoped he could have had that bond with her.

“You hadn’t been in your Fae form for ten years, so perhaps your instincts weren’t even able to take hold. Sometimes, mates can be together intimately before the actual bond snaps into place.”

He would not tell her how in the mornings before she woke, how he would pray to the gods to bestow upon him a second bond. One that he would not waste. He also battled every morning with the guilt of thinking such a thought. Lyrica deserves better, deserved more than him. The princess deserved the same. But hope, he hoped against his better judgement that the gods would throw him this lifeline. Especially with the evil that was stirring in their world. A period of solace before he was taken by the dark God.

“It’s a useless hope to cling to, anyway.”

“Do you want the truth?” She tucked her chin into her tunic and closed her eyes. “Not tonight.”

He loosened his breath from relief.  He was not certain he could have shared the truth with her. He had shown her his soul, but to share a dream was another matter.

[tskumoyuuma]

cause tumblrs a Bitch im remaking this post on my computer so ill be able to edit it later on, but this is basically a reference for how much time passes in each warriors book, primarily based on how many gatherings r shown. will add on later

into the wild: ~3 moons. evidence: firepaw joins the clan, the next night is a gathering (gathering 0). we get a timeskip, saying it’s been “more than two moons” since firepaw joined tc. this means there have been two gatherings not shown (gathering 1 + 2). a gathering soon happens after this timeskip (gathering 3), which means that a total of 3 moons have passed. this makes firepaw ~9 moons old at the end of the book, since it’s been stated he n graypaw barely saw six moons when they first met

fire n ice: ~3 or 4 moons. book starts off where last one ended, but a timeskip happens in the middle if the first chap. we learn that a gathering is happening (gathering 4), so around a moon has passed. at this gathering, the clans agree to bring windclan back, which they do. towards the end of the book we learn that a gathering (gathering 5) was canceled because of rain. fireheart meets onewhisker again after two moons at the gathering after that (gathering 6). in the first chapter of forest of secrets, we learn the last chapter of fire n ice takes place three days before the next gathering (gathering 7). almost 3 moons have passed, but if u count the beginning of the first chap almost 4 moons pass. this makes fireheart ~13 moons old at the end of the book

forest of secrets: ~1.5 moons. first chapter starts off with a gathering (gathering 7). many things happen and towards the end we have the next gathering (gathering 8) where its revealed to the clans that thunderclan has brokentail. silverstream has her kits n dies, then cinderpaw becomes a medicine cat apprentice by going to the moonstone during the half moon. the next day tigerclaw leads the attack on thunderclan w rogues, but is caught trying to kill bluestar n is banished. this means 1.5 moons pass, making fireheart ~14.5 moons old

rising storm: ~1.5 moons. a gathering happens (gathering 9) a few chapters in. the fire happens near the end of the book, then the gathering where tigerclaw is revealed to be shadowclans new leader happens (gathering 10), ending the book. around 1.5 moons pass, making fireheart ~16 moons old

a dangerous path: ~2 moons. begins with the tigerstar gathering (gathering 10). a half moon passes as cinderpelt goes to her first medicine cat meeting by herself. snowkit is taken away by the hawk, and the next gathering happens (gathering 11). swiftpaw dies n brightpaw is injured in the fight w dogs, and another gatherings occurs (gathering 12). its now been a year since fireheart joined thunderclan. they drive the dogs out, but bluestar dies in the process. 2 moons pass, making fireheart ~18 moons old

the darkest hour: ~1 moon. fireheart becomes firestar and makes whitestorm his deputy. the next gathering takes place (gathering 13) where tigerstar asks thunderclan and windclan to join the new tigerclan. stonefur is killed, tawnypaw joins tigerstar, n gorsepaw is killed. tallstar n firestar confront tigerstar. scourge appears, kills tigerstar, n gives the clans three days to decide if they fight bloodclan or not. they decide to fight, the clans win, and graystripe becomes the new deputy. only 1 moon passed n at the end of the prophecies begin arc firestar is ~19 moons old

time skips between arcs is a little tricky...

firestar’s quest: ~2 or 5 moons. this book begins in greenleaf. going by this timeline, the end of darkest hour would be the beginning of greenleaf, when it was actually leafbare in the canon book. looking at the canon books, this means its a half year timeskip in between the canon books. if we switch the seasons (darkest hour being set in greenleaf n this book in leafbare), it would make sense regarding this timeline. a time skip of a half year would also make sense regarding ages. the book opens w bramblepaw becoming a warrior. going w my assumption that a usual apprenticeship lasts around 6 moons, a half year would fit this perfectly. this is because bramblepaw is born somewhere around (gathering 7) in forest of secrets, making him a new apprentice in the darkest hour (gathering 13). so, when the first gathering is shown at the beginning of the book, this is (gathering 19). longtails eyes get scratched, willowpelt dies, n fire n sand start their journey to remake skyclan. when they arrive at the gorge, they wait to meet ‘moony’ during the full moon (technical gathering 20, makes me wanna kno what tc did that gathering when fire coudnt show up..). lots of cats join skyclan n they have their first real gathering (gathering 21, has a rumor spread thru the forest that fire is dead ? hasnt been spotted in two moons now). skyclan fights the rats, leafstar gets her nine lives, n fire n sand finally go back to tc. epilogue where squirrel n leaf r born happens three moons after returning, so (gatherings 22 to 24) have gone by. not including the epilogue, two moons pass in this book, but including it means five moons have passed. at the end of the book firestar is ~30 moons

midnight: ~1 moon. according to the wikia which is based off of the canon seasons, 18 moons have passed from darkest hour to this book. this makes sense to me regarding the ages so I'm keeping it that way, which means this book happens 7 moons after firestars quest, making the first gathering shown (gathering 31). the chosen meet up at the half moon. they then leave for their journey. a half moon med cat meeting is held shortly after they leave. the next gathering (gathering 32) occurs after tawnypelt gets her rat bite. the chosen cats meet midnight, the forest starts getting torn down, n the book ends. around a moon passes, so brambleclaw is ~25 moons old n squirrelpaw is ~8 moons

moonrise: ~ .5 moons. many chapters in we have a half moon meeting. this is around when stormfur is held prisoner in the tribe. lots of things happen, mainly that feathertail dies, then the book ends. only like, .5 moons pass n there are no gatherings. brambleclaw = 25.5 moons, squirrelpaw = 8.5 moons

dawn: ~ .5 moons ?? its... very hard to know how much time passes in this book because the forest is destroyed so they cant hold regular gatherings. but considering that leafpaw mentions to stoneteller towards the end of the book about gatherings, it can be safe to say that a gathering (gathering 33 ?) would have occurred then. since theres no other mention of the moons phase (that I can tell from the wikia chapter summaries cause I dont have this book), only .. .5 moons pass ?? maybe. brambleclaw = 26 moons, squirrelpaw = 9 moons (this is where the bramblesquirrel love confession happens ..... yike). will prob update this when / if I reread this book for more accurate info. so far this arc has had only .. 2 moons pass maybe. first arc had 8.5 moons pass by the end of book 3 for comparison

starlight: ~.5 moons. squirrelpaw becomes a warrior, tallstar dies, clans find their own territories. leafpaw finds the moonpool in time for the half moon, where she gets her full name. mudclaw leads his rebellion against onewhisker, but loses. so.. another book w around .5 moons passing ? brambleclaw = 26.5 moons, squirrelflight -= 9.5 moons (good to kno shes following in her fathers footsteps in becoming a warrior early)

twilight: ~1 moon. finally a real gathering (gathering 34) happens. they do it on the island. a little later another half moon meeting happens. leafpool feels left out from .. basically everything, so she runs away w crowfeather, but they come back when they find out badgers are attacking tc. just a moon passes, but hey its finally more than .5 moons. brambleclaw = 27.5 moons squirrelflight = 10.5 moons

sunset: ~1 moon. a half moon meeting happens. then the next gathering (gathering 35) happens. brambleclaw is made deputy when firestar finally accepts graystripe may never come back. another half moon meeting happens and leafpool helps guide willowpaw to starclan. hawkfrost traps firestar in the fox trap, but brambleclaw refuses to kill him and kills hawkfrost instead. 1 moon passes, making brambleclaw 28.5 moons n squirrelflight 11.5 moons, thus ending the new prophecy books. only 4.5 moons pass from midnight to this book, compared to the first arcs 13 moons

leafpools wish: no real time passes, but i wanna mention this book cause it takes place after sunset n leafpool gives birth to holly lion n jay. ill say this happens a half moon after sunset ends (around gathering 36) to make their ages rounded. the trio = 0 moons old

the sight: ~1 moon. a few chapters in the trio become apprentices, meaning 6 moons (gatherings 37 - 41) have passed since being born in leafpools wish. the trios first gathering (gathering 42) happens but jaypaw doesnt go as punishment for wandering onto wc territory. graystripe shows up w millie. hollypaw n jaypaw switch their duties. half moon meeting happens. another gathering happens (gathering 43). tc hosts a ‘daylight gathering’ but it ends w lionpaw n breezepaw trapped in a badger set, which jawpaw helps free them out of. 1 moon passes n the trio are 7 moons old

dark river: ~2 moons. first chap is the trio going to their first gathering all together (gathering 44) where tigerkits birth is announced. holly n cinder find out lion n heather have been meeting in secret. jay n leaf go the moonpool. jay finds The Stick. millie keeps her kittypet name n cinder breaks her leg. lion meets tigerstar n hawkfrost for the first time after a meeting w heather. next gathering (gathering 45) happens n all of rc is on the island. holly goes to rc to see what's the matter but becomes a prisoner instead. lion breaks up w heather. wc loses kits but the trio + heather n breeze find them n bring them back before tc n wc could fight. two moons pass n the trio are ~9 moons old

outcast: ~1 moon. few chapters in jaypaw goes to a half moon meeting where mothwing is sick. talon n night of the tribe arrive at tc asking for help w rouges. the trio plus the og journey cats go (oh yea also breezepaws there). then good ol purdy joins the group just until the mountains where he heads back. most of the tribe including stoneteller is convinced they will be destroyed by the attacking rouges but r convinced to fight anyways w the clan cats training the tribe cats. the final attack is scheduled for the full moon (gathering 46). they win the fight n cause lion is only covered in other cats blood w no injuries to himself, jay has to explain the prophecy to him n holly. a moon passes n the trio = 10 moons.

eclipse: ~1 moon. the clan cats return home w stormfur n brook staying behind. half moon meeting happens n willowpaw becomes willowshine. sol appears n says the suns gonna go out. wc attacks tc w rc, holly goes to recruit sc. battle ends cause eclipse happens. the trio go find sol cause hey maybe he can help w the prophecy, he agrees to mentor them all. theyr caught by a sc patrol n sol stays in sc. next gathering happens (gathering 47) n only blackstar n sol show up claiming sc isnt going to come anymore n doesnt believe in starclan. lion holly n cinder become warriors. another one moon book w the trio being ~11 moons (so close to them being made warriors at the right age ..)

long shadows: ~1 moon. jaypaw goes to the half moon meeting alone so leafpool can take care of the sick cats at home. the trio plus tawnypelts kits help trick sc into believing starclan again n blackstar kicks sol out. jay meets fallen leaves in the tunnels n when he exits the tunnels he becomes Jay's wing. after making sure the ancients go to the mountains, he wakes up. both leafpool n jaypaw go to the moonpool n he becomes jayfeather. the fire happens n its revealed that squirrelflight isnt the trios birth mother. tc leaves for the gathering (gathering 48) n finds ashfur dead. one moon passes yet again, trio = 12 moons.

sunrise: ~1 moon. tc thinks wc killed ashfur until ashfoot says she saw sol by where his body was. a patrol goes to find sol, brings both him n purdy back. sol wont tell anything n the other clan tell tc to get rid of him before next gathering. half moon meeting happens where jay realizes leaf is the trio's birth mom. lion releases sol so he would tell them who their birth father is, but that was a waste of time n they leave him for good when he starts talking about taking over all the clans. yellowfang then tells jay crowfeather is his birth father. next gathering (gathering 49) happens n hollyleaf reveals everything. she runs away into the tunnels which collapse n jay thinks the third cat could be either dove or ivy. one moon passes Again, trio = 13 moons. only 7 moons pass in this arc, but it's at least more than second arc

the fourth apprentice: ~2 moons. six moons have passed since sunrise cause dove n ivy are becoming apprentices, making the gathering in the first chapter (gathering 55). dove n ivy become apprentices. lionblaze n jayfeather figure out doves power n thats shes the third cat. another gathering (gathering 56) occurs n the plan for going upstream to find the source of the drought is devised. the patrol consisting of cats from every clan, including dove n lion, set out. the patrol reaches the dam n fights the beavers. they fail n rippletail dies. meanwhile breezepelt theatens to kill poppyfrost cause he hates jayfeather. round 2 of destroy the dam plan works n they all head home. two moons pass, ivy n dove r 7 moons old.

fading echoes: ~1 moon. leopardstar dies n mistyfoot gets her nine lives. dove n ivy go to windclan to see sedgewhisker but r instead called intruders n punished. firestar learns about the three. a gathering (gathering 57) happens where tigerheart asks dove to trust him when she confronts him about crossing the border. ivy begins training w hawkfrost. the tree falls on thunderclan camp, killing longtail n disabling briarpaw. jay goes to the moonpool for a half moon meeting. thunderclan n shadowclan fight over territory cause ivy followed hawkfrosts orders by making up a dream. lionblaze accidentally kills russetfur, firestar loses a life, n thunderclan wins the battle. around a moon passes, dove n ivy = 8 moons

night whispers: ~1 moon. first chapter starts from where last book left off. jay finds out ivy is training in the dark forest. cinderheart finds out about lionblaze being one of the three n somehow thinks that means they cant be together. jay goes to a half moon meeting where the meddie cats r told to stand alone. ivypaw gets captured by shadowclan when she goes confront dove n tigerheart. shes eventually traded back for some herbs. gathering (gathering 58) happens where dove n tigerheart argue. ivy finds out about the three n doves powers n is basically forced to spy on the dark forest. flametail drowns in the lake n ivy is almost forced to kill his ghost in the dark forest, but tigerheart stops them. 1 moon passes again, dove ivy r 9 moons old

sign of the moon: ~1 moon. dove n ivy become warriors. jay n lion figure out holly is still alive. a gathering (gathering 59) happens. jay demands to go to the mountains n dove comes w. antpelt dies n is now a spirit in the dark forest. jay goes back to ancient times again n once his duty is done he tells rock he wants to stay, but is forced to leave. ivy n blossomfall go exploring the caves but blossom gets hurt. theyr led out of the tunnels by gasp hollyleaf but we dont kno that its her quite yet. jay names the next stoneteller n the clan cats leave. 1 moon passes yet again, dove n ivy = 10 moons old

the forgotten warrior: ~2 moons. dove is having issues w her power. tigerheart tells her that dawnpelt thinks jay killed flametail. gathering (gathering 60) happens where dove tells ivy about the whole dawnpelt thing. sol is found by lion n brought to camp. sol tries to get wc n tc to fight. hollyleaf returns, sol disappears. cinderheart remembers cinderpelt. ivy kills antpelts ghost. another gathering (gathering 61) happens where dawnpelt announces her accusation for jay. wc n tc fight in the tunnels n sol talks about his hatred to the code. holly lets him go instead of killing him. 2 moons pass, dove ivy = 12 moons old

the last hope: ~1 moon. jay goes to moonpool meeting even tho he was told not to. he n mothwing try to unite the clans. dove n tiger r meeting again. a gathering (gathering 62) happens n jay doesnt go. jay finds flametail in starclan n by telling the truth of his death, unites the meddie cats. firestar is revealed to be the fourth cat. dove turns down tiger as a mate. cinderheart chooses lionblaze n being a warrior, thus letting go of cinderpelt. dark forest begins to attack. holly dies saving ivy from hawkfrost. lots o cats fight, lots o cats die. eventual show down of firestar vs og tigerstar. firestar kills tigerstar, but then dies like a min later. brambleclaw becomes bramblestar n squirrelflight his deputy. the end. 1 moon passes, dove ivy = 13 moons. overall, 7 moons pass in this arc. 

dovewing’s silence: ~1 moon. starts right after last hope. few chapters in we have first gathering after the great battle (gathering 63). 

crowfeather’s trial: ~3 moons. the book starts seemingly a little after the great battle. it is not right after because the first gathering shown is where blackstar starts listing off all the dead, which did not happen the first gathering after the great battle since no indication of it was made. its reasonable to say that this gathering happens a moon after that one, making it (gathering 64). towards the end of the book, (gathering 65) happens. then at the end of the book is (gathering 66).

bramblestar’s storm: ~2 moons, 8 if u include the manga section. its stated at the beginning of the book that six moons have passed since the great battle, making the first gathering in the book (gathering 68). its also stated that (gathering 67) was missed, probably due to poor weather. at the end of the book, (gathering 69) happens. the manga ending is when lionblaze n cinderhearts kits, who were not yet born in the last chapter, become apprentices, which means at least 6 moons have passed since the last chapter, making the manga take place around (gathering 75). squirrelflight finds out shes pregnant in this manga section.

the apprentice’s quest: ~2 moons. the book begins w the apprentice ceremony of squirrelflight n bramblestars kits, meaning at least 6 moons have passed, tho i’ll say 7 since squirrelflight only just figured out she was pregnant at the end of bramblestars storm, making the first gathering shown (gathering 82). next gathering (gathering 83) happens where violetkit n twigkit get separated. alderpaw = 7 moons, violet twig = 5 moons

thunder n shadow: ~3 moons. first gathering of the book is (gathering 84) n a little after violet n twig become apprentices, making them 6 moons. then another gathering (gathering 85) happens. and the last gathering of the book (gathering 86) happens. alderpaw = 10 moons, violet twig = 8 moons

[loadingfactory152]

How To Get To Theramore From Stormwind

Dec 22, 2014 I know there's one from SW to the Nelf Island, Nelf Island to Draenei Island. Then the one to Borean Tundra. I know there used to be one from Menethil to Theramore? But yeah is the Theramore boat and the Booty Bay to Ratchet the only points for Alliance to get to South Kalimdor? Do the starter quest for Legion and get your hearthstone. Or thanks to u/bratleh just skip to Azuna and then fly up to Dalaran and get your Hearthstone. Garrison (WoD) Why? There are a few reasons. A garrison comes with another hearthstone and a level 3 garrison has a port to Warspear/Stormshield with ports to Orgrimmar/Stormwind.

Night Elf 'Shortcut' to Dun Morogh

From Dun Morogh, go to the Tinker Town in Ironforge, then take the Deeprun Tram to Stormwind City.

From Elwynn Forest, go to the Dwarven District in Stormwind City, then take the Deeprun Tram to Ironforge.

Dun Morogh to Menethil Harbor skip

Related Questions

How do I get to gadgetzan from Stormwind?

Past level 80, the quickest way to is take the portal from Stormwind to Uldum and simply fly to Tanaris. Otherwise, take the Tram to Ironforge then fly (or walk) to Menethil harbor. From there, take the boat to Theramore and swim through Thousand Needles (south of Dustwallow Marsh) and right into Tanaris.

How do you get to Orgrimmar from Stormwind?

0:30 1:25 Empfohlener Clip · 23 Sekunden How to Get to Kalimdor From Eastern Kingdoms in 'WoW - YouTube YouTube Beginn des vorgeschlagenen Clips Ende des vorgeschlagenen Clips

How do you get to darnassus from Stormwind?

You can get to Darnassus from Stormwind Harbor via ship! Go to the Stormwind Docks. The dock to Darnassus is the southernmost most I believe; double check with the captain. The boat will take you to the Rut'theran Village.

How Do We Get to Dun Morogh in 'WoW'? : Advanced 'WoW' Tips & Tactics

How do I get from San Francisco to Sausalito?

An easy way to get to Sausalito is by ferry. You can catch the Golden Gate Ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Building (Embarcadero at Market) or Blue and Gold Fleet from near Pier 39. The scenic ferry ride takes about half an hour. The ferry is also a good alternative to a San Francisco Bay Cruise at a lower price.

How do I get from Bangkok to city Centre?

Cheaper and faster is the train. The Airport Rail Link City Line leaves every 15 minutes, takes 25 minutes for the whole distance because it makes 6 stops in between, and costs 45 baht per person. Then take a taxi from your stop to your final destination.

How do I get my dog from Ireland to England?

You can enter or return to the UK with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it: has been microchipped. has a pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate. has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you're travelling from an 'unlisted country'

How do I get from Incheon Airport to Seoul?

Express Trains depart every 20 to 40 minutes from Incheon Int'l Airport and take approximately 40 minutes. All Stop Trains leave every 5 to 10 minutes and take just under 60 minutes to get to Seoul Station.

How do I get my dog from USA to UK?

Steps Make sure your pet is fitted with a microchip. If you are shipping a dog, a cat, or a ferret to the UK, your pet should be fitted with a microchip by your vet. Get your pet vaccinated for rabies. This is a required step in the process of bringing your pet to the UK. Have your dog tested and treated for tapeworm.

How do I get from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi Island?

There are 3 ways to get to Caladesi Island: Private boat, walk from Clearwater Beach (about 3 miles), or take the Caladesi Connection ferry service that operates out of Honeymoon Island State Park. To ride the ferry you have to take Curlew Road (Hwy 586) out of Dunedin and drive west.

How do I get from Port Sarim to Catherby?

Getting to the charter ships The fastest known way is to use the Lunar spell Catherby Teleport, which puts you close to the dock for the Catherby ship. Use an Ectophial to go to the Ectofuntus and enter Port Phasmatys. Use a Camelot Teleport and run south-east to Catherby and its docks.

How do I get from Seoul airport to city Centre?

Express Trains depart every 20 to 40 minutes from Incheon Int'l Airport and take approximately 40 minutes. All Stop Trains leave every 5 to 10 minutes and take just under 60 minutes to get to Seoul Station.

How do I get from Seoul to arex?

The Airport Railroad Express Train (AREX) is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel between Seoul Station in central Seoul and Incheon International Airport. Travel from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport cost 8,000 won per person. The travel time is about 43 minutes nonstop.

How do I get to Pandaria from Boralus?

Steps Go to Stormwind, the main capital city of the Alliance. If you are in Ironforge, you can take the Deep run Tram found in Tinker Town. Walk, ride or fly to the Eastern Earthshrine. Go just west of there to the island with all of the Tushui Pandaren on it. Click the mage portal being cast by Ang the Wise.

How do I get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok?

HOW TO GET FROM BANGKOK TO AYUTTHAYA TRAIN: The most authentic way, and probably more comfortable than the bus. BUS: The bus takes around 90 minutes, buses leave from Mo Chit station twice hourly. MINI-VAN: Hang around Victory Monument (on the BTS line) and jump in a van going directly to Ayutthaya.

How do I get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi?

Train. Trains to Kanchanaburi depart at 07:50 and 13:55 from Thonburi (aka Bangkok Noi) Station in Bangkok, located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. Tell taxi drivers “Sathanee Rot Fai Thon Buri/Bangkok Noi” or else they may take you to Krung Thonburi BTS Skytrain Station.

How do I get from Orgrimmar to Azshara?

The Alliance outpost Talrendis Point is just over the river. From Orgrimmar, go northeast through the Orgrimmar Rear Gate. Alternatively, from Splintertree Post in Ashenvale, travel along the road east into Azshara. The Horde encampment Valormok is against the mountains, north of ruined Haldarr Encampment.

How do I get an ESA letter from my doctor?

If a licensed mental health professional writes an Emotional Support Animal letter of prescription, your pet can become an certified ESA. Ask Your Doctor for ESA Letter. Get Your ESA Letter Online. Know Your Rights as an Emotional Support Dog Owner. How to Find the Right Online Source for an ESA Letter.

How do I get cash from my EBT card?

Withdraw cash from an ATM machine. Make sure it's safe. Only use ATMs in clean, well-lit places. Know your balance. Follow the directions on the ATM screen. Insert your EBT card. Enter your secret PIN. Press Withdrawal. Press Checking. Enter the dollar amount you want.

How do I keep my dog from getting lost?

Preventing lost pets Your pet should wear a collar and ID tags at all times. Include an up-to-date phone number where you can be reached. Have your pet microchipped. Spay/neuter your pet. Keep them safe when you're out and about. Leave them comfortable at home.

How do I keep my dog from getting out?

In our minds, dogs and fences go together. Remove Aids to Escape. It's amazing what dogs can use to their benefit when trying to escape from the yard. Restrict Your Dog's View. Stop Fence Tunnelers. Stop Fence Jumpers. Coyote Rollers Stop Climbers. Double Gates Prevent Dashing. Put a Lock on the Gates. Make the Yard a Refuge.

How do I stop my dog from getting distracted?

Here are 10 techniques that can set up both you and your dog for successful distraction training. Start small. Higher rate of reinforcement. Higher value of reinforcement. Shrink the stimulus , creating distance. Increase speed. Cue an alternative known behavior. Play your way past distractions. Use Premack.

How do I stop my cat from getting love bites?

For those of you who fall into this category, here are some tips: Try to correlate the love bites with any behavior on your part. Never use punishment (swatting or hitting) on a cat who love bites. Don't quickly pull your hand away. Use toys (feather sticks, balls, etc.) to interact with your cat in a hands-free manner.

How do I keep from getting bored on the treadmill?

8 Tips for Running Long Distance on a Treadmill Go during off hours—and cover the 'stop' button. The treadmill can get boring fast. Show up with a plan. Try four minutes on, one minute off. Get comfortable. Increase and decrease your speed and incline. Break it up with other workouts. Use music to motivate you. Try audiobooks.

How do I get cash from my food stamp card?

No. You can only receive cash back if you have both cash welfare (TAFDC) benefits and SNAP/food stamp benefits on your card. If you want to use your cash welfare benefits to buy food or get cash back, you have to swipe your EBT card in the machine a second time.

How do I keep my dog from getting bored?

Bored Dogs: How to Help Give your dog plenty of exercise. Say it with us: a tired dog is a good dog! Send him to doggy day care. The socialization and mental stimulation will keep your dog engaged and busy. 3. Make mealtime fun. New toys, Mom! Let him watch some TV. Give him a playmate.

How do I stop my mind from getting distracted?

Here are six tips for you: Put your phone on silent mode and place it at the other end of the room. Turn off your Internet access. Take a deep breath when you're about to get distracted. Ask people to give you privacy. Get eight hours of sleep every night. Use a tool like Asana.com to help you prioritize your tasks.

How do I prevent my dog from getting ticks?

To prevent ticks on dogs, apply a topical insecticide to your dog's back, between its shoulders, which can help keep ticks away for 30-90 days. You can also fit your dog with a tick collar that contains dog-safe pesticides, which will kill ticks for 3-4 months.

How do I stop my dog from getting Zoomies?

Dog zoomies – biting. Avoid physically handling him, and stop any game you might have been playing. He needs to have a chance to calm down. If you can open a door and let the dog outside to burn up some energy in your yard, then do so.

How do I get my money from GoFundMe?

Select 'Accept Money' within the invitation email. Set up their GoFundMe password and create your account. Confirm your email using a 2nd separate message that is sent to you. Log back in to GoFundMe and follow the steps to receive the funds.

How do I get my dog back from another country?

To bring a pet into the United States from another country, start by contacting your airline for their requirements, like whether you need a health certificate for your pet. Then, take your pet to the vet to make sure it's healthy enough to travel, and to obtain a rabies vaccination certificate.

How do I stop my dwellers from getting radiation?

In fallout shelter, if you bring a radiated person in from the wastelands, the radiation can spread. To see if your person has radiation damage, look at their Heath bar. If they do have it, there should be a bit of red in it. Make sure that if your dwellers Heath is a bit red when they get back, give them a radaway.

How do I stop my dog from getting kennel cough?

Steps Get your dog vaccinated. The primary way to prevent kennel cough is to keep your dog vaccinated. Get your dog's vaccination updated. Just doing the vaccination one time is not effective forever. Keep unvaccinated dogs away from other dogs. Don't allow your dog to drink out of communal water dishes.

How do I keep my dog from getting fat?

Go Green. Too many pet treats laden with sugar and fat blowing up our pet's waistlines and destroying their health. Choose low-calorie, no-sugar goodies that provide a health benefit. Green beans, carrots, broccoli, celery, apples chunks or bananas are a healthy alternative to highly-processed, store-bought treats.

How do I get Mr handy back from the wasteland?

Q: Mr. Handy can be sent into the wasteland to explore? A: He can. You can send at most five in addition to your 25 explorers. Mr. Handy takes no damage while exploring, but he only finds caps and will auto-return once he hits 5000.

How do I keep my dog from getting car sick?

Here are some ways to keepyourdog from getting carsick: Transform your dog's perception of the car and pet travel. Make sure your dog has an empty stomach before the ride. Make frequent stops. Get someone to distract your dog. Drive by some scenery and make sure your dog sees it. Turn off the AC and open the windows.

How do I keep from getting bed bugs?

Inspect the luggage rack in your hotel room for bed bugs. Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation before bringing them home. Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs to eliminate many hiding spots.

How do I stop my dog from getting prey drive?

Then drop the treats to the side so your dog looks away. Then clip your dog's leash and walk them out. When your dog is at a safe distance, reward your dog excitedly by praising enthusiastically and throwing a ball (a “good chase”) or playing with a tug toy.

How do I get my cat to drink from a fountain?

Steps Keep the fountain away from the food bowl. Cats don't naturally locate their food near their drinking water. Place the pet fountain somewhere your pet feels safe. Cats often spend more time in part of the house than in others. Avoid eliminating other sources of water.

How do you get to Phi Phi island from Bangkok?

By Air : It takes only one hour from Bangkok Airport (Don Muang) to Krabi Airport and catches the boat from Or-Bor-Jor pier to Phi Phi Island. From the Phuket airport : You can take taxi to the Rassada pier where you can buy ferry ticket and take ferry from there to Tonsai pier, Phi Phi Island. From the Krabi airport :

How do you get from Bangkok to River Kwai?

If all you can spare is one day, you can see the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai as a day trip out of Bangkok for just 200 baht (£4 or $6), using the 07:45 passenger train from Bangkok (Thonburi station) to River Kwae Bridge station and returning on the afternoon train.

How do you get to Route 7 from Cyllage city?

If you go into the Cyllage City Shortcut (the northern cave), you will encounter Pokémon Breeder Mercy. She has a level 12 Ducklett, a level 12 Pikachu, a level 12 Litleo, and a level 12 Oddish. Beyond her, there is a dead end, so go back to Route 7 and use the south cave entrance to continue on to Ambrette Town.

How do I get my dog to eat from his bowl?

Call your dog into the room where you plan to feed him, have him sit, and place a bowl of food in front of him. Make him remain in the seating position until you give him the command to eat. If for any reason he chooses not to eat, after 5 minutes be sure to pick up the bowl.

How do I get my puppy to drink from a bowl?

Soak your puppy's dry food with warm water. Add enough water to her food bowl to produce a soupy consistency, and give it to the puppy during her regular feeding time. The puppy will slurp up the water in the bottom of the bowl as she eats and will become familiar with the idea of drinking liquid from a bowl.

How do I get my dog to stop stealing food from other dogs?

Fill both dog food bowls, but remove the dog that is getting his food stolen from the room temporarily. Let your food-stealing dog eat from his own bowl. When he approaches the other dog's bowl, push him away, by placing your body between the dog and the extra bowl.

How do I get my puppy to walk away from home?

2:18 15:39 Empfohlener Clip · 98 Sekunden How to train Puppy to walk on a leash-puppies that stop and are YouTube Beginn des vorgeschlagenen Clips Ende des vorgeschlagenen Clips

How do I get to Wintergrasp?

You can access Wintergrasp from Dalaran via a hidden portal. Enter the gates of the Violet Citadel in the city of Dalaran. Walk from the entrance to the main courtyard.

How do I get to Nardah?

Travel Use the desert amulet 2 or above to teleport to Nardah. Requires the medium Desert Tasks to be completed. Fairy ring code DLQ. Then head south to Nardah. Teleport to 'The Heart of Gielinor. Use the dominion medallion to teleport to the dominion tower, exit the tower and walk south. Walk. Magic carpet.

How do I get to Musa point?

Musa Point can only be entered one way by free players. To enter Musa Point, players need to go to Port Sarim and look for the three sailors, Seaman Lorris, Seaman Thresnor, and Captain Tobias. They will ask if the player wants to go to Karamja.

How do I get to faraway island?

2 Answers. You need to obtain an item 'Old Sea Map' then go to the port in Lilycove City to go to Faraway Island. Unfortunately that item was only given away at one event in Japan so you can't get it normally. You can get it through Gameshark or something though, or trade if you know someone else with Mew.

How do I get to El Nath?

Steps Start at Victoria Island and get to six path crossroad. climb the tree top to the and enter the first portal at the top of the tree. Arrive at orbis, and go left in the portal to escape the ticket place. Next go to the portal directly below here. Go in the portal and then climb down to enter the orbis tower.

How do I get to New dalaran?

Head to Stormwind (alliance) or Orgrimmar (Horde). Head to mages area, were the portal to Blasted Lands is. There is a portal to new Dalaran next it. Take it and you are home safe :D.

How do I get to Pollnivneach?

To get to Pollnivneach, you must first go through the Shantay Pass (located to the south of Al Kharid). First, purchase some Desert Robes, some waterskins and a Shantay Pass. (Maybe bring teleport runes if you'd rather not have a hard journey out.)

How do I get to East ardougne?

Take a boat in Port Sarim to Port Khazard. Then, you can walk. A Teleport Lever - near the gates to West Ardougne, there is a small house. It teleports the player to the Deserted Keep in deep Wilderness (or vice versa).

How do I get to Quarry Junction?

The quarry has two entrances: One entrance is found by traveling on the road northeast of Sloan. Another entrance is next to the Great Khan encampment to the west of Quarry Junction, between Goodsprings Cemetery and Quarry Junction. This entrance has members of the Great Khans nearby, waiting to complete a drug deal.

How do you I get to Draenor?

It should port you to Shadowmoon Valley where you start the quests in Draenor. You can also try just walking through the Dark Portal to see if it places you at the beginning of the introductory Tanaan quest chain. Go to the Mage portal located in Stormwind in The Mages Quarter.

How do I get to Route 16?

Route 16 - Melancolie Path is a long optional route in mountain Kalos. It connects Route 15 in the northeast with Lumiose City in the southwest. To gain access to this route, use a Pokemon that knows Strength to push a giant boulder from Route 15. Near the entrance is a sky trainer on a small hill.

How do I get to Harrods?

The nearest tube station to Harrods is Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. Use the Brompton Road exit for Harrods. South Kensington station, on the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines, and Sloane Square, on the District and Circle lines, are just a short walk from the store.

How do I get to seers village?

There are multiple ways to get to Seers' Village: The Seer's Village lodestone, which must be activated before it can be used. Camelot Teleport, a spell requiring 1 law rune and 5 air runes. Camelot teleport, a teleport tablet made on a lectern in a player-owned house. Fairy rings:

How do I get to Camelot?

How to Get to Camelot on RuneScape Buy a teletab. Start out in Lumbridge and run behind the castle. Continue to run east now until you reach Draynor, now run north till you reach falador and run up to a gate (Above Falador). Go through the gate and continue west until you reach White Wolf Mountain.

How do I get to Leafre?

Travel Method Go to Six Path Crossway, climb up to Victoria Tree Platform, take the appropriate portal, then talk to the travel NPC. Go to the Edelstein Temporary Airport, talk to Ace, then choose where you want to go. Go to Crossroads of Ereve, take the Sky Ferry portal, then talk to the appropriate ship NPC.

How do I get to great Kourend?

Great Kourend can be accessed by speaking to Veos in Port Sarim in the southernmost dock. Doing so will take players to either the Piscarilius House, the easternmost section of the city, or Land's End, the south-western docks near the Kourend Woodland. Players are able to choose to which point they want to be taken.

How do I get to tanaris?

Once at Menethil Harbor, go to the southern pier and take the boat to Theramore Isle. From Theramore Isle swim south off the pier along the eastern coast until you get to Tanaris. Eventually you should reach Steamwheedle Port on the northeastern coast of Tanaris. Once in Tanaris, run west on the road to Gadgetzan.

How do I get to ZEAH?

Zeah is accessible via boat at the southernmost pier at Port Sarim, by speaking to Veos. You can also teleport there via fairy rings (cis), a Xeric's talisman or the Kourend teleport from the standard spellbook.

How do I get to dragonblight?

For Alliance, head to the northernmost dock at Stormwind Harbor to get to Borean Tundra or take the boat out of Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands to be dropped off in Howling Fjord. For Horde, the zeppelin in Ogrimmar leads to Borean Tundra and the zeppelin out of Undercity will take you to Howling Fjord.

How do I get to Orbis?

Steps Go to Six Path Crossway. There is a tree with ropes and platforms. When you climb up, there are 3 platforms. Take the ship to Orbis. The ride lasts for 10 minutes. When you get to Orbis, go to the southeast part of Orbis, enter the portal, and you're in the Orbis tower.

How do I get to Ariant?

Ariant can be traveled there if you are the following: Below level 30, you can help Manji with the quests can allow up to 5 trips to Ariant. If you are traveling, take the ship from Ellinia then to Orbis then head to the right and talk to NPC to head to Ariant. Use the world map button if you need directions.

How do I prepare to get pregnant?

These steps will help you prepare yourself and your body for pregnancy and give you a better chance of having a healthy baby. See Your Doctor. Expand Section. Stop Smoking, Alcohol, and Drugs. Eat a Balanced Diet. Take Vitamins and Folic Acid. Exercise. Stress, Rest, and Relaxation. References. Review Date 4/19/2018.

Do I get a w2 from WAG?

A 1099 form is used to report contractor earnings to the IRS. You only get a 1099 form after earning more than $600 with a company. If you've received a form from Wag, that means you've earned over $600 from them.

How do I get my dogs to get along?

Give them positive reinforcement through calm verbal affirmations. After letting them play for a while, put both dogs in a “sit” or “stay”, then let them interact again. Finally, take them on walks together, allowing them to sniff each other along the way. 3) Play close attention the both dog's body posture.

How do I ship a dog from us to Europe?

This certificate will allow your pet to travel to and enter the EU. Step 1: Microchip. Your pet should have an ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip. Step 2: Rabies Vaccination. Step 3: Waiting Period. Step 4: Get a EU Health Certificate. Step 5: Endorsement of EU Health Certificate.

How do I transport my dog from US to Europe?

What Paperwork Do I Need to Import my Pet to Europe? Implantation and certification of an ISO Microchip. Three-year rabies vaccination, which must be done AFTER the ISO Microchip. Ten days before departing for the EU, visit your veterinarian for an international health certificate and an EU veterinary certificate.

How do I transition from one dog food to another?

To transition, mix your dog's current food with his new food. Over 7 days, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new dog food. To help you with the switch and dog food transition, refer to the 7-Day Transition Schedule below or view this video.

How do I get my dog to listen to distractions?

Here are 10 techniques that can set up both you and your dog for successful distraction training. Start small. Higher rate of reinforcement. Higher value of reinforcement. Shrink the stimulus , creating distance. Increase speed. Cue an alternative known behavior. Play your way past distractions. Use Premack.

How do I switch from puppy food to dog food?

By gradually switching to adult food, however, you can ease your dog onto a new diet with less difficulty. When it is time to make the switch, start by offering your dog 75 percent puppy food with 25 percent adult formula. Offer that meal for a few days, then change the ratios to 50/50.

How do I get a squirrel to come to me?

Part 1 Luring a Squirrel with Food Set up outdoor mesh feeders to get squirrels to come to your yard. Start with natural squirrel food, like tree nuts, seeds, and flower buds. Entice squirrels with sweeter treats, such as fruits and vegetables. Put out food every day to associate your scent with feeding time.

How do I import my dog from USA to UK?

Pets MUST travel to the UK with the microchip number included on every rabies vaccination certificate. Rabies vaccination certificates without the microchip number included may result in the pet being held in quarantine upon arrival in the UK at the owner's expense.

How do I keep my corgi from shedding to minimum?

Follow These 8 Steps To Minimize Shedding In Your Dog Brush frequently. The more often you brush your dog, the more hair you will remove to avoid excess shedding. Bathe often. Blow dry. Brush after drying. Consider clipping. Give supplements. Don't skimp on food. See a vet.

How do I change my dog from raw to kibble?

Try feeding half of their normal dry food with half tinned, then gradually reduce the amount of dried kibble over a few days. When you have weaned your cat onto a wet diet, apply the same principles when converting to raw. Feed half and half and gradually reduce the amount of tinned food over the course of a few days.

How do I move my dog from USA to UK?

You can enter or return to the UK with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it: has been microchipped. has a pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate. has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you're travelling from an 'unlisted country'

How do I move my dog from US to Europe?

What Paperwork Do I Need to Import my Pet to Europe? Implantation and certification of an ISO Microchip. Three-year rabies vaccination, which must be done AFTER the ISO Microchip. Ten days before departing for the EU, visit your veterinarian for an international health certificate and an EU veterinary certificate.

How do I switch from one dog food to another?

To transition, mix your dog's current food with his new food. Over 7 days, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new dog food. To help you with the switch and dog food transition, refer to the 7-Day Transition Schedule below or view this video.

How do I transfer from Crystal to Pokebank?

Open up your copy of the game you want to transfer them from, and fill the first box in your in-game PC with only the Pokémon you want to transfer. Open the Poké Transporter app, and use it to transfer all of the Pokémon in the first box over to the Pokémon Bank's transfer box.

Why do I get a shock from everything I touch?

When you walk on that wool carpet, your body then builds up a charge it can't get rid of through the insulating soles of your shoes. Then, when you touch that metal doorknob you know what happens. Dry air is also an insulator, so static electricity is even more common during the dry winter months.

How do humans get salmonella from dogs?

Salmonella germs are transmitted from animals to humans and humans to humans by the fecal oral route. Salmonella germs can be shed in the stool of pets for 4 to 6 weeks after infection. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and running water after handling or feeding your pet.

Stormwind To Ashenvale

How do you prevent from getting scabies?

Everyone in your home should be treated at the same time to prevent possible re-exposure or re-infestation. Other things you can do to prevent the spread of scabies include: Wash all clothes, bedding, and towels used within 3 days before beginning your treatment in hot, soapy water. Dry them on high heat.

How do dogs get parvo from cats?

Can Dogs Get Parvo From Cats? The canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that all dogs, regardless of age, are susceptible to catching. Canine parvovirus can be found anywhere and everywhere, from contact with other dogs to the hands or shoes of people who have handled contaminated dogs.

How do dogs get distemper from raccoons?

➢ Raccoons can acquire canine distemper, a viral disease that infects foxes, coyotes, skunks, and unvaccinated dogs. ➢ The disease is spread when animals have direct contact with body fluids or droppings from an infected animal.

How do you get worms from dogs?

Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.

How do humans get worms from dogs?

Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.

How do you get paid from Rover?

Get paid using a computer: Navigate to your dashboard by selecting your name in the upper right corner of your screen. Select Dashboard. Below your profile picture, select View Payments & Promo Codes. To request payout, select Withdraw Money under Rover balance.

How do humans get roundworms from dogs?

Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.

How old do you have to be to get a pet from Petsmart?

Although this Site is intended for use by persons at least 13 years of age, and we have processes in place to help prevent participation in our Site communities and services by persons under 13 years of age at time of registration, PetSmart cannot prohibit minors from visiting our Sites and must rely on parents and

How old do you have to be to get a pet from PetSmart?

Although this Site is intended for use by persons at least 13 years of age, and we have processes in place to help prevent participation in our Site communities and services by persons under 13 years of age at time of registration, PetSmart cannot prohibit minors from visiting our Sites and must rely on parents and

How can I get my dog to stop itching from hot spots?

How to Relieve Your Dog's Itchy, Hot Spots Trim around the infected area. You will need to trim the area around the lesion with animal clippers. Cleanse the infected area. Clean the infected area with a non-irritating solution, such as an antiseptic liquid soap, antiseptic spray or a mild soap, and warm water. Apply a soothing treatment. Protect the hot spot.

How can I prevent my dog from getting carsick?

Lower car windows a few inches to equalize the inside and outside air pressures. Keep the vehicle cool. Limit your dog's food and water consumption before travel. Give your dog a treat or two every time he or she gets into the car.

How can I prevent my dog from getting ticks?

Use Vinegar to Kill and Prevent Ticks on Dogs. A homemade spray solution of one part vinegar and one part water helps keep ticks and fleas away from your pets. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and spray directly onto your pets, but be careful not to get it in their eyes.

How can I prevent my puppy from getting parvo?

Steps Vaccinate your puppy. Vaccination is the best way to prevent parvo. Get booster shots. The initial vaccine is only the first step in prevention. Minimize the risk of contamination. Take precautions when parvo is in your area. Disinfect any potential contaminated areas. Limit the puppy's exposure to other dogs.

How can I prevent my dog from getting yeast infections?

Examine your dog for signs of yeast infection, which if treated at an early stage are more manageable. Make sure if you have a wrinkly dog you check well in skin folds. Supplement your dog's diet with anti-fungals like garlic, oregano, coconut oil, or kefir. Avoid carbohydrates, feed a high protein diet.

How can I get immediate relief from gas?

How to get rid of gas immediately and naturally Hot water. Drinking warm or hot water can help get rid of gas immediately. Yogurt. Eating yogurt can relieve gas pain immediately. Ginger. Eating ginger root or drinking it in a tea can help relieve bloating. Lemon juice. Deep breaths. Peppermint. Antibiotics. Pass wind.

How can I prevent my dog from getting lice?

Part 2 Treating Lice Use a lice and nit comb to remove lice. Shampoo your dog with flea shampoo. Use insecticidal products. Treat all the dogs in the house. Keep the dog quarantined. Clean all items associated with the dog. Treat your home. Repeatedly clean your home.

Night Elf 'Shortcut' to Dun Morogh

From Dun Morogh, go to the Tinker Town in Ironforge, then take the Deeprun Tram to Stormwind City.

From Elwynn Forest, go to the Dwarven District in Stormwind City, then take the Deeprun Tram to Ironforge.

Dun Morogh to Menethil Harbor skip

Related Questions

How do I get to gadgetzan from Stormwind?

Past level 80, the quickest way to is take the portal from Stormwind to Uldum and simply fly to Tanaris. Otherwise, take the Tram to Ironforge then fly (or walk) to Menethil harbor. From there, take the boat to Theramore and swim through Thousand Needles (south of Dustwallow Marsh) and right into Tanaris.

How do you get to Orgrimmar from Stormwind?

0:30 1:25 Empfohlener Clip · 23 Sekunden How to Get to Kalimdor From Eastern Kingdoms in 'WoW - YouTube YouTube Beginn des vorgeschlagenen Clips Ende des vorgeschlagenen Clips

How do you get to darnassus from Stormwind?

You can get to Darnassus from Stormwind Harbor via ship! Go to the Stormwind Docks. The dock to Darnassus is the southernmost most I believe; double check with the captain. The boat will take you to the Rut'theran Village.

How Do We Get to Dun Morogh in 'WoW'? : Advanced 'WoW' Tips & Tactics

How do I get from San Francisco to Sausalito?

An easy way to get to Sausalito is by ferry. You can catch the Golden Gate Ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Building (Embarcadero at Market) or Blue and Gold Fleet from near Pier 39. The scenic ferry ride takes about half an hour. The ferry is also a good alternative to a San Francisco Bay Cruise at a lower price.

How do I get from Bangkok to city Centre?

Cheaper and faster is the train. The Airport Rail Link City Line leaves every 15 minutes, takes 25 minutes for the whole distance because it makes 6 stops in between, and costs 45 baht per person. Then take a taxi from your stop to your final destination.

How do I get my dog from Ireland to England?

You can enter or return to the UK with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it: has been microchipped. has a pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate. has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you're travelling from an 'unlisted country'

How do I get from Incheon Airport to Seoul?

Express Trains depart every 20 to 40 minutes from Incheon Int'l Airport and take approximately 40 minutes. All Stop Trains leave every 5 to 10 minutes and take just under 60 minutes to get to Seoul Station.

How do I get my dog from USA to UK?

Steps Make sure your pet is fitted with a microchip. If you are shipping a dog, a cat, or a ferret to the UK, your pet should be fitted with a microchip by your vet. Get your pet vaccinated for rabies. This is a required step in the process of bringing your pet to the UK. Have your dog tested and treated for tapeworm.

How do I get from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi Island?

There are 3 ways to get to Caladesi Island: Private boat, walk from Clearwater Beach (about 3 miles), or take the Caladesi Connection ferry service that operates out of Honeymoon Island State Park. To ride the ferry you have to take Curlew Road (Hwy 586) out of Dunedin and drive west.

How do I get from Port Sarim to Catherby?

Getting to the charter ships The fastest known way is to use the Lunar spell Catherby Teleport, which puts you close to the dock for the Catherby ship. Use an Ectophial to go to the Ectofuntus and enter Port Phasmatys. Use a Camelot Teleport and run south-east to Catherby and its docks.

How do I get from Seoul airport to city Centre?

Express Trains depart every 20 to 40 minutes from Incheon Int'l Airport and take approximately 40 minutes. All Stop Trains leave every 5 to 10 minutes and take just under 60 minutes to get to Seoul Station.

How do I get from Seoul to arex?

The Airport Railroad Express Train (AREX) is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel between Seoul Station in central Seoul and Incheon International Airport. Travel from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport cost 8,000 won per person. The travel time is about 43 minutes nonstop.

How do I get to Pandaria from Boralus?

Steps Go to Stormwind, the main capital city of the Alliance. If you are in Ironforge, you can take the Deep run Tram found in Tinker Town. Walk, ride or fly to the Eastern Earthshrine. Go just west of there to the island with all of the Tushui Pandaren on it. Click the mage portal being cast by Ang the Wise.

How do I get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok?

HOW TO GET FROM BANGKOK TO AYUTTHAYA TRAIN: The most authentic way, and probably more comfortable than the bus. BUS: The bus takes around 90 minutes, buses leave from Mo Chit station twice hourly. MINI-VAN: Hang around Victory Monument (on the BTS line) and jump in a van going directly to Ayutthaya.

How do I get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi?

Train. Trains to Kanchanaburi depart at 07:50 and 13:55 from Thonburi (aka Bangkok Noi) Station in Bangkok, located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. Tell taxi drivers “Sathanee Rot Fai Thon Buri/Bangkok Noi” or else they may take you to Krung Thonburi BTS Skytrain Station.

How do I get from Orgrimmar to Azshara?

The Alliance outpost Talrendis Point is just over the river. From Orgrimmar, go northeast through the Orgrimmar Rear Gate. Alternatively, from Splintertree Post in Ashenvale, travel along the road east into Azshara. The Horde encampment Valormok is against the mountains, north of ruined Haldarr Encampment.

How do I get an ESA letter from my doctor?

If a licensed mental health professional writes an Emotional Support Animal letter of prescription, your pet can become an certified ESA. Ask Your Doctor for ESA Letter. Get Your ESA Letter Online. Know Your Rights as an Emotional Support Dog Owner. How to Find the Right Online Source for an ESA Letter.

How do I get cash from my EBT card?

Withdraw cash from an ATM machine. Make sure it's safe. Only use ATMs in clean, well-lit places. Know your balance. Follow the directions on the ATM screen. Insert your EBT card. Enter your secret PIN. Press Withdrawal. Press Checking. Enter the dollar amount you want.

How do I keep my dog from getting lost?

Preventing lost pets Your pet should wear a collar and ID tags at all times. Include an up-to-date phone number where you can be reached. Have your pet microchipped. Spay/neuter your pet. Keep them safe when you're out and about. Leave them comfortable at home.

How do I keep my dog from getting out?

In our minds, dogs and fences go together. Remove Aids to Escape. It's amazing what dogs can use to their benefit when trying to escape from the yard. Restrict Your Dog's View. Stop Fence Tunnelers. Stop Fence Jumpers. Coyote Rollers Stop Climbers. Double Gates Prevent Dashing. Put a Lock on the Gates. Make the Yard a Refuge.

How do I stop my dog from getting distracted?

Here are 10 techniques that can set up both you and your dog for successful distraction training. Start small. Higher rate of reinforcement. Higher value of reinforcement. Shrink the stimulus , creating distance. Increase speed. Cue an alternative known behavior. Play your way past distractions. Use Premack.

How do I stop my cat from getting love bites?

For those of you who fall into this category, here are some tips: Try to correlate the love bites with any behavior on your part. Never use punishment (swatting or hitting) on a cat who love bites. Don't quickly pull your hand away. Use toys (feather sticks, balls, etc.) to interact with your cat in a hands-free manner.

How do I keep from getting bored on the treadmill?

8 Tips for Running Long Distance on a Treadmill Go during off hours—and cover the 'stop' button. The treadmill can get boring fast. Show up with a plan. Try four minutes on, one minute off. Get comfortable. Increase and decrease your speed and incline. Break it up with other workouts. Use music to motivate you. Try audiobooks.

How do I get cash from my food stamp card?

No. You can only receive cash back if you have both cash welfare (TAFDC) benefits and SNAP/food stamp benefits on your card. If you want to use your cash welfare benefits to buy food or get cash back, you have to swipe your EBT card in the machine a second time.

How do I keep my dog from getting bored?

Bored Dogs: How to Help Give your dog plenty of exercise. Say it with us: a tired dog is a good dog! Send him to doggy day care. The socialization and mental stimulation will keep your dog engaged and busy. 3. Make mealtime fun. New toys, Mom! Let him watch some TV. Give him a playmate.

How do I stop my mind from getting distracted?

Here are six tips for you: Put your phone on silent mode and place it at the other end of the room. Turn off your Internet access. Take a deep breath when you're about to get distracted. Ask people to give you privacy. Get eight hours of sleep every night. Use a tool like Asana.com to help you prioritize your tasks.

How do I prevent my dog from getting ticks?

Wow How To Get To Theramore From Stormwind

To prevent ticks on dogs, apply a topical insecticide to your dog's back, between its shoulders, which can help keep ticks away for 30-90 days. You can also fit your dog with a tick collar that contains dog-safe pesticides, which will kill ticks for 3-4 months.

How do I stop my dog from getting Zoomies?

Dog zoomies – biting. Avoid physically handling him, and stop any game you might have been playing. He needs to have a chance to calm down. If you can open a door and let the dog outside to burn up some energy in your yard, then do so.

How do I get my money from GoFundMe?

Select 'Accept Money' within the invitation email. Set up their GoFundMe password and create your account. Confirm your email using a 2nd separate message that is sent to you. Log back in to GoFundMe and follow the steps to receive the funds.

How do I get my dog back from another country?

To bring a pet into the United States from another country, start by contacting your airline for their requirements, like whether you need a health certificate for your pet. Then, take your pet to the vet to make sure it's healthy enough to travel, and to obtain a rabies vaccination certificate.

How do I stop my dwellers from getting radiation?

In fallout shelter, if you bring a radiated person in from the wastelands, the radiation can spread. To see if your person has radiation damage, look at their Heath bar. If they do have it, there should be a bit of red in it. Make sure that if your dwellers Heath is a bit red when they get back, give them a radaway.

How do I stop my dog from getting kennel cough?

Steps Get your dog vaccinated. The primary way to prevent kennel cough is to keep your dog vaccinated. Get your dog's vaccination updated. Just doing the vaccination one time is not effective forever. Keep unvaccinated dogs away from other dogs. Don't allow your dog to drink out of communal water dishes.

How do I keep my dog from getting fat?

Go Green. Too many pet treats laden with sugar and fat blowing up our pet's waistlines and destroying their health. Choose low-calorie, no-sugar goodies that provide a health benefit. Green beans, carrots, broccoli, celery, apples chunks or bananas are a healthy alternative to highly-processed, store-bought treats.

How do I get Mr handy back from the wasteland?

Q: Mr. Handy can be sent into the wasteland to explore? A: He can. You can send at most five in addition to your 25 explorers. Mr. Handy takes no damage while exploring, but he only finds caps and will auto-return once he hits 5000.

How do I keep my dog from getting car sick?

Here are some ways to keepyourdog from getting carsick: Transform your dog's perception of the car and pet travel. Make sure your dog has an empty stomach before the ride. Make frequent stops. Get someone to distract your dog. Drive by some scenery and make sure your dog sees it. Turn off the AC and open the windows.

How do I keep from getting bed bugs?

Stormwind To Dustwallow Marsh

Inspect the luggage rack in your hotel room for bed bugs. Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation before bringing them home. Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs to eliminate many hiding spots.

How do I stop my dog from getting prey drive?

Then drop the treats to the side so your dog looks away. Then clip your dog's leash and walk them out. When your dog is at a safe distance, reward your dog excitedly by praising enthusiastically and throwing a ball (a “good chase”) or playing with a tug toy.

How do I get my cat to drink from a fountain?

Steps Keep the fountain away from the food bowl. Cats don't naturally locate their food near their drinking water. Place the pet fountain somewhere your pet feels safe. Cats often spend more time in part of the house than in others. Avoid eliminating other sources of water.

How do you get to Phi Phi island from Bangkok?

By Air : It takes only one hour from Bangkok Airport (Don Muang) to Krabi Airport and catches the boat from Or-Bor-Jor pier to Phi Phi Island. From the Phuket airport : You can take taxi to the Rassada pier where you can buy ferry ticket and take ferry from there to Tonsai pier, Phi Phi Island. From the Krabi airport :

How do you get from Bangkok to River Kwai?

If all you can spare is one day, you can see the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai as a day trip out of Bangkok for just 200 baht (£4 or $6), using the 07:45 passenger train from Bangkok (Thonburi station) to River Kwae Bridge station and returning on the afternoon train.

How do you get to Route 7 from Cyllage city?

If you go into the Cyllage City Shortcut (the northern cave), you will encounter Pokémon Breeder Mercy. She has a level 12 Ducklett, a level 12 Pikachu, a level 12 Litleo, and a level 12 Oddish. Beyond her, there is a dead end, so go back to Route 7 and use the south cave entrance to continue on to Ambrette Town.

How do I get my dog to eat from his bowl?

Call your dog into the room where you plan to feed him, have him sit, and place a bowl of food in front of him. Make him remain in the seating position until you give him the command to eat. If for any reason he chooses not to eat, after 5 minutes be sure to pick up the bowl.

How do I get my puppy to drink from a bowl?

Soak your puppy's dry food with warm water. Add enough water to her food bowl to produce a soupy consistency, and give it to the puppy during her regular feeding time. The puppy will slurp up the water in the bottom of the bowl as she eats and will become familiar with the idea of drinking liquid from a bowl.

How do I get my dog to stop stealing food from other dogs?

Fill both dog food bowls, but remove the dog that is getting his food stolen from the room temporarily. Let your food-stealing dog eat from his own bowl. When he approaches the other dog's bowl, push him away, by placing your body between the dog and the extra bowl.

How do I get my puppy to walk away from home?

2:18 15:39 Empfohlener Clip · 98 Sekunden How to train Puppy to walk on a leash-puppies that stop and are YouTube Beginn des vorgeschlagenen Clips Ende des vorgeschlagenen Clips

How do I get to Wintergrasp?

You can access Wintergrasp from Dalaran via a hidden portal. Enter the gates of the Violet Citadel in the city of Dalaran. Walk from the entrance to the main courtyard.

How do I get to Nardah?

Travel Use the desert amulet 2 or above to teleport to Nardah. Requires the medium Desert Tasks to be completed. Fairy ring code DLQ. Then head south to Nardah. Teleport to 'The Heart of Gielinor. Use the dominion medallion to teleport to the dominion tower, exit the tower and walk south. Walk. Magic carpet.

How do I get to Musa point?

Musa Point can only be entered one way by free players. To enter Musa Point, players need to go to Port Sarim and look for the three sailors, Seaman Lorris, Seaman Thresnor, and Captain Tobias. They will ask if the player wants to go to Karamja.

How do I get to faraway island?

2 Answers. You need to obtain an item 'Old Sea Map' then go to the port in Lilycove City to go to Faraway Island. Unfortunately that item was only given away at one event in Japan so you can't get it normally. You can get it through Gameshark or something though, or trade if you know someone else with Mew.

How do I get to El Nath?

Steps Start at Victoria Island and get to six path crossroad. climb the tree top to the and enter the first portal at the top of the tree. Arrive at orbis, and go left in the portal to escape the ticket place. Next go to the portal directly below here. Go in the portal and then climb down to enter the orbis tower.

How do I get to New dalaran?

Head to Stormwind (alliance) or Orgrimmar (Horde). Head to mages area, were the portal to Blasted Lands is. There is a portal to new Dalaran next it. Take it and you are home safe :D.

How do I get to Pollnivneach?

To get to Pollnivneach, you must first go through the Shantay Pass (located to the south of Al Kharid). First, purchase some Desert Robes, some waterskins and a Shantay Pass. (Maybe bring teleport runes if you'd rather not have a hard journey out.)

How do I get to East ardougne?

Take a boat in Port Sarim to Port Khazard. Then, you can walk. A Teleport Lever - near the gates to West Ardougne, there is a small house. It teleports the player to the Deserted Keep in deep Wilderness (or vice versa).

How do I get to Quarry Junction?

The quarry has two entrances: One entrance is found by traveling on the road northeast of Sloan. Another entrance is next to the Great Khan encampment to the west of Quarry Junction, between Goodsprings Cemetery and Quarry Junction. This entrance has members of the Great Khans nearby, waiting to complete a drug deal.

How do you I get to Draenor?

It should port you to Shadowmoon Valley where you start the quests in Draenor. You can also try just walking through the Dark Portal to see if it places you at the beginning of the introductory Tanaan quest chain. Go to the Mage portal located in Stormwind in The Mages Quarter.

How do I get to Route 16?

Route 16 - Melancolie Path is a long optional route in mountain Kalos. It connects Route 15 in the northeast with Lumiose City in the southwest. To gain access to this route, use a Pokemon that knows Strength to push a giant boulder from Route 15. Near the entrance is a sky trainer on a small hill.

How do I get to Harrods?

The nearest tube station to Harrods is Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. Use the Brompton Road exit for Harrods. South Kensington station, on the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines, and Sloane Square, on the District and Circle lines, are just a short walk from the store.

How do I get to seers village?

There are multiple ways to get to Seers' Village: The Seer's Village lodestone, which must be activated before it can be used. Camelot Teleport, a spell requiring 1 law rune and 5 air runes. Camelot teleport, a teleport tablet made on a lectern in a player-owned house. Fairy rings:

How do I get to Camelot?

How to Get to Camelot on RuneScape Buy a teletab. Start out in Lumbridge and run behind the castle. Continue to run east now until you reach Draynor, now run north till you reach falador and run up to a gate (Above Falador). Go through the gate and continue west until you reach White Wolf Mountain.

How do I get to Leafre?

Travel Method Go to Six Path Crossway, climb up to Victoria Tree Platform, take the appropriate portal, then talk to the travel NPC. Go to the Edelstein Temporary Airport, talk to Ace, then choose where you want to go. Go to Crossroads of Ereve, take the Sky Ferry portal, then talk to the appropriate ship NPC.

How do I get to great Kourend?

Great Kourend can be accessed by speaking to Veos in Port Sarim in the southernmost dock. Doing so will take players to either the Piscarilius House, the easternmost section of the city, or Land's End, the south-western docks near the Kourend Woodland. Players are able to choose to which point they want to be taken.

How do I get to tanaris?

Once at Menethil Harbor, go to the southern pier and take the boat to Theramore Isle. From Theramore Isle swim south off the pier along the eastern coast until you get to Tanaris. Eventually you should reach Steamwheedle Port on the northeastern coast of Tanaris. Once in Tanaris, run west on the road to Gadgetzan.

How do I get to ZEAH?

Zeah is accessible via boat at the southernmost pier at Port Sarim, by speaking to Veos. You can also teleport there via fairy rings (cis), a Xeric's talisman or the Kourend teleport from the standard spellbook.

How do I get to dragonblight?

For Alliance, head to the northernmost dock at Stormwind Harbor to get to Borean Tundra or take the boat out of Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands to be dropped off in Howling Fjord. For Horde, the zeppelin in Ogrimmar leads to Borean Tundra and the zeppelin out of Undercity will take you to Howling Fjord.

How do I get to Orbis?

Steps Go to Six Path Crossway. There is a tree with ropes and platforms. When you climb up, there are 3 platforms. Take the ship to Orbis. The ride lasts for 10 minutes. When you get to Orbis, go to the southeast part of Orbis, enter the portal, and you're in the Orbis tower.

How do I get to Ariant?

Ariant can be traveled there if you are the following: Below level 30, you can help Manji with the quests can allow up to 5 trips to Ariant. If you are traveling, take the ship from Ellinia then to Orbis then head to the right and talk to NPC to head to Ariant. Use the world map button if you need directions.

How do I prepare to get pregnant?

These steps will help you prepare yourself and your body for pregnancy and give you a better chance of having a healthy baby. See Your Doctor. Expand Section. Stop Smoking, Alcohol, and Drugs. Eat a Balanced Diet. Take Vitamins and Folic Acid. Exercise. Stress, Rest, and Relaxation. References. Review Date 4/19/2018.

Do I get a w2 from WAG?

A 1099 form is used to report contractor earnings to the IRS. You only get a 1099 form after earning more than $600 with a company. If you've received a form from Wag, that means you've earned over $600 from them.

How do I get my dogs to get along?

Give them positive reinforcement through calm verbal affirmations. After letting them play for a while, put both dogs in a “sit” or “stay”, then let them interact again. Finally, take them on walks together, allowing them to sniff each other along the way. 3) Play close attention the both dog's body posture.

How do I ship a dog from us to Europe?

This certificate will allow your pet to travel to and enter the EU. Step 1: Microchip. Your pet should have an ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip. Step 2: Rabies Vaccination. Step 3: Waiting Period. Step 4: Get a EU Health Certificate. Step 5: Endorsement of EU Health Certificate.

How do I transport my dog from US to Europe?

What Paperwork Do I Need to Import my Pet to Europe? Implantation and certification of an ISO Microchip. Three-year rabies vaccination, which must be done AFTER the ISO Microchip. Ten days before departing for the EU, visit your veterinarian for an international health certificate and an EU veterinary certificate.

How do I transition from one dog food to another?

To transition, mix your dog's current food with his new food. Over 7 days, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new dog food. To help you with the switch and dog food transition, refer to the 7-Day Transition Schedule below or view this video.

How do I get my dog to listen to distractions?

Here are 10 techniques that can set up both you and your dog for successful distraction training. Start small. Higher rate of reinforcement. Higher value of reinforcement. Shrink the stimulus , creating distance. Increase speed. Cue an alternative known behavior. Play your way past distractions. Use Premack.

How do I switch from puppy food to dog food?

By gradually switching to adult food, however, you can ease your dog onto a new diet with less difficulty. When it is time to make the switch, start by offering your dog 75 percent puppy food with 25 percent adult formula. Offer that meal for a few days, then change the ratios to 50/50.

How do I get a squirrel to come to me?

Part 1 Luring a Squirrel with Food Set up outdoor mesh feeders to get squirrels to come to your yard. Start with natural squirrel food, like tree nuts, seeds, and flower buds. Entice squirrels with sweeter treats, such as fruits and vegetables. Put out food every day to associate your scent with feeding time.

How do I import my dog from USA to UK?

Pets MUST travel to the UK with the microchip number included on every rabies vaccination certificate. Rabies vaccination certificates without the microchip number included may result in the pet being held in quarantine upon arrival in the UK at the owner's expense.

How do I keep my corgi from shedding to minimum?

Follow These 8 Steps To Minimize Shedding In Your Dog Brush frequently. The more often you brush your dog, the more hair you will remove to avoid excess shedding. Bathe often. Blow dry. Brush after drying. Consider clipping. Give supplements. Don't skimp on food. See a vet.

How do I change my dog from raw to kibble?

Try feeding half of their normal dry food with half tinned, then gradually reduce the amount of dried kibble over a few days. When you have weaned your cat onto a wet diet, apply the same principles when converting to raw. Feed half and half and gradually reduce the amount of tinned food over the course of a few days.

How do I move my dog from USA to UK?

You can enter or return to the UK with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it: has been microchipped. has a pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate. has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you're travelling from an 'unlisted country'

How do I move my dog from US to Europe?

What Paperwork Do I Need to Import my Pet to Europe? Implantation and certification of an ISO Microchip. Three-year rabies vaccination, which must be done AFTER the ISO Microchip. Ten days before departing for the EU, visit your veterinarian for an international health certificate and an EU veterinary certificate.

How do I switch from one dog food to another?

To transition, mix your dog's current food with his new food. Over 7 days, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new dog food. To help you with the switch and dog food transition, refer to the 7-Day Transition Schedule below or view this video.

How do I transfer from Crystal to Pokebank?

Open up your copy of the game you want to transfer them from, and fill the first box in your in-game PC with only the Pokémon you want to transfer. Open the Poké Transporter app, and use it to transfer all of the Pokémon in the first box over to the Pokémon Bank's transfer box.

Why do I get a shock from everything I touch?

When you walk on that wool carpet, your body then builds up a charge it can't get rid of through the insulating soles of your shoes. Then, when you touch that metal doorknob you know what happens. Dry air is also an insulator, so static electricity is even more common during the dry winter months.

How do humans get salmonella from dogs?

Salmonella germs are transmitted from animals to humans and humans to humans by the fecal oral route. Salmonella germs can be shed in the stool of pets for 4 to 6 weeks after infection. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and running water after handling or feeding your pet.

How do you prevent from getting scabies?

Everyone in your home should be treated at the same time to prevent possible re-exposure or re-infestation. Other things you can do to prevent the spread of scabies include: Wash all clothes, bedding, and towels used within 3 days before beginning your treatment in hot, soapy water. Dry them on high heat.

How do dogs get parvo from cats?

Can Dogs Get Parvo From Cats? The canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that all dogs, regardless of age, are susceptible to catching. Canine parvovirus can be found anywhere and everywhere, from contact with other dogs to the hands or shoes of people who have handled contaminated dogs.

How do dogs get distemper from raccoons?

➢ Raccoons can acquire canine distemper, a viral disease that infects foxes, coyotes, skunks, and unvaccinated dogs. ➢ The disease is spread when animals have direct contact with body fluids or droppings from an infected animal.

How do you get worms from dogs?

Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.

How do humans get worms from dogs?

How To Get To Stormwind From Theramore Isle

Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.

How do you get paid from Rover?

Get paid using a computer: Navigate to your dashboard by selecting your name in the upper right corner of your screen. Select Dashboard. Below your profile picture, select View Payments & Promo Codes. To request payout, select Withdraw Money under Rover balance.

How do humans get roundworms from dogs?

Contact with contaminated soil or dog feces can result in human ingestion and infection. Roundworm eggs may accumulate in significant numbers in the soil where pets deposit feces. Once infected, the worms can cause eye, lung, heart and neurologic signs in people.

How old do you have to be to get a pet from Petsmart?

Although this Site is intended for use by persons at least 13 years of age, and we have processes in place to help prevent participation in our Site communities and services by persons under 13 years of age at time of registration, PetSmart cannot prohibit minors from visiting our Sites and must rely on parents and

How old do you have to be to get a pet from PetSmart?

Although this Site is intended for use by persons at least 13 years of age, and we have processes in place to help prevent participation in our Site communities and services by persons under 13 years of age at time of registration, PetSmart cannot prohibit minors from visiting our Sites and must rely on parents and

How can I get my dog to stop itching from hot spots?

How to Relieve Your Dog's Itchy, Hot Spots Trim around the infected area. You will need to trim the area around the lesion with animal clippers. Cleanse the infected area. Clean the infected area with a non-irritating solution, such as an antiseptic liquid soap, antiseptic spray or a mild soap, and warm water. Apply a soothing treatment. Protect the hot spot.

How can I prevent my dog from getting carsick?

Lower car windows a few inches to equalize the inside and outside air pressures. Keep the vehicle cool. Limit your dog's food and water consumption before travel. Give your dog a treat or two every time he or she gets into the car.

How can I prevent my dog from getting ticks?

Use Vinegar to Kill and Prevent Ticks on Dogs. A homemade spray solution of one part vinegar and one part water helps keep ticks and fleas away from your pets. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and spray directly onto your pets, but be careful not to get it in their eyes.

How can I prevent my puppy from getting parvo?

Steps Vaccinate your puppy. Vaccination is the best way to prevent parvo. Get booster shots. The initial vaccine is only the first step in prevention. Minimize the risk of contamination. Take precautions when parvo is in your area. Disinfect any potential contaminated areas. Limit the puppy's exposure to other dogs.

How can I prevent my dog from getting yeast infections?

Examine your dog for signs of yeast infection, which if treated at an early stage are more manageable. Make sure if you have a wrinkly dog you check well in skin folds. Supplement your dog's diet with anti-fungals like garlic, oregano, coconut oil, or kefir. Avoid carbohydrates, feed a high protein diet.

How can I get immediate relief from gas?

How to get rid of gas immediately and naturally Hot water. Drinking warm or hot water can help get rid of gas immediately. Yogurt. Eating yogurt can relieve gas pain immediately. Ginger. Eating ginger root or drinking it in a tea can help relieve bloating. Lemon juice. Deep breaths. Peppermint. Antibiotics. Pass wind.

How can I prevent my dog from getting lice?

Part 2 Treating Lice Use a lice and nit comb to remove lice. Shampoo your dog with flea shampoo. Use insecticidal products. Treat all the dogs in the house. Keep the dog quarantined. Clean all items associated with the dog. Treat your home. Repeatedly clean your home.

[delightfully-difficult-pirate]

Assassin’s Creed: Misthaven (17/18)

Summary: For hundreds of years, the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Templar Order have waged war.  For Princess Emma of Misthaven, that war has become personal.  After a mission gone wrong, the Templar Grandmaster, placed a curse on Emma’s son that is slowly killing him.  Emma will stop at nothing to save Henry, even if it means going rogue from the Brotherhood and consorting with pirates.

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Sex, Adult Language.

AN: A special thank you to @preciouscucumber for being an ever patient and diligent beta.  To @cocohook38 and @utopiozphere for the awesome artwork they have created.   And to @icecubelotr44 for her encouragement every step of the way.  

AO3

Tumblr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

Art for Chapter 17 by @cocohook38

              Emma sat on the high branch of a tree, her eyes on the Royal Castle of Misthaven.  She had been there for hours, contemplating the best means of retaking her longtime home without getting killed in the process.

              Her parents had taken the castle by turning the locals against King George and driving him out; Queen Regina through a combination of surprise, magic, and military might.  Emma didn’t have time for the first, nor the manpower for the second.  

              Her best bet would be to take the castle from the inside.  As a child, Emma had explored every inch of the Royal Castle of Misthaven.  She knew every nook and cranny of the old stone fortress.  She’d been twelve years old when she discovered the hidden passageway behind the kitchen’s fireplace that lead to the library.  Fifteen when she had first used it to sneak out for a rendezvous with one of the grooms who worked in the stables.

               Regrettably, there were no secret passages that led off the island on which it was built.  The only way on or off the grounds was by the long bridge that connected it to the mainland.  

               “Just like Camelot,” Emma muttered to herself. Except this time, there was no ball to use as cover, or sexy pirate captain watching her back.  She had twenty of the most highly trained Assassins in all the realms but she would feel more confident on her chances of success if Killian was there with her.

               Emma grasped the mermaid shell she wore.  Two days had passed since the events at the cove and she hadn’t heard from Killian.  She had tried to use the shell to communicate with Captain Nemo, to ask if he had located The Aquila, but she had received no response.  Emma theorized that her shell could only communicate with the one Killian wore.  

               Romantic, in a way, but inconvenient.  

               When night began to fall and Emma could no longer see the movement of the guards on the bridge, she climbed down from the tree and headed back toward the camp her group had set up.  She joined Aziz at the fire and absorbed its heat.  

               She’d left Misthaven nearly three months ago, at the beginning of autumn, and had returned to find it in the grips of an early winter.  The trees of the forest protected them from the worst of the snow and wind, but they still had to contend with the blistering cold of the season.  The frozen ground made for an uncomfortable bed as well.  Once again, she wished Killian was with her.  He always seemed to be warm, no matter the weather.

               Emma shook her head to clear her mind.  She had a mission to plan and thoughts of Killian would only distract her.

               She picked up a stick and sketched a quick drawing of the castle and the surrounding area in the dirt.  She was making notations about guard movements when Aziz handed her a bowl of rabbit stew.

               “Thank you,” she said through a mouthful of food. The stew was surprisingly good. Some of her group must have found some herbs to make the dish more flavorful.  It was a huge improvement over the bland, roasted boar they had the night before.

               Aziz sat down next to her.  “Work anything out yet?” He asked as he studied what Emma had drawn.

               “Not one I like,” Emma admitted, “but that seems to be the trend with every situation I’ve found myself in lately.”

               Her fellow Assassin chuckled.  “Never imagined you would have to sneak into your own castle?”

               Emma shook her head.  “The only way I see we are all going to get in is by using the bridge,” she said as she tapped her drawing with the stick.  “We’re going to go under it.”

---

               Every member of the Brotherhood of Assassins undergoes extensive physical training.  Not just so that their bodies are as much of weapons as the blades they wore, but also so they can access places most think impossible.  Her home was that impossible place and the only way she and her group of Assassins were going to gain access to it was going to be by climbing their way across the underside of its bridge.

               Emma’s plan, when she proposed it to her fellow Assassins, was not met with enthusiasm.  None, however, had any other ideas, so they all agreed it was their only option.  Just before dawn the next morning, Emma led her team to the base of the bridge.  As the genius behind this plan, she climbed up the inside of the archway first.

               When she reach the midway point, she curled her legs up and, with her feet flat on the stone, pushed off, launching herself across the gap to the other side.  She could feel her nails bending as she grasped at the stone before the metal hooks of her climbing gloves found purchase and halted her downward fall. Her heavy breathing was visible in the cold morning hair as she carefully positioned herself near the edge of the archway.  

               There, Emma waited.

               A whistle sounded through the air, telling Emma the coast was clear.  She scrambled out of the first archway and across the pillar to the next.  Once there, she repeated the leap from one wall to the next.  Then she waited again.

               A whistle and Emma swung her body out onto the side of the pillar.  This one was larger than the last and took more time to cross.  Emma’s heart beat in her chest the entire way, afraid one of the guards on patrol would look down and see her. However, no cries of alarm rose and within a minute, Emma was safe in the curse of the third and final archway.

               One more leap and Emma was across the final gap. After, she climbed down the wall until she was able to grasp of sturdy branch of a nearby tree and pull herself onto it.  From her perch, Emma watched as, one by one, the twenty Assassins she had recruited had their climbing skills put to the test.

               The fall would be deadly for anyone who lost his or her grip on the stone or was unable to find one after a jump.

                There were a few near misses, but after what felt like hours, every one of the Assassins had made it safely across the bridge.  After that, they traversed the trees that surrounded the walls of the castle until they were at its back.

               “Onward and upward,” Aziz murmured as they prepared to climb the exterior wall.

               Emma chuckled at him as she brushed moss off the stones, looking for good hand or footholds. Once she had found a few, she began her accent.  It was slow going.  The stones had been worn almost smooth by years of wind blowing water from lake upon them.  More than once, Emma had to dig in with the claws of her climbing gloves and make a hold where there were none to be found.  

               Emma’s muscles were shaking by the time she reached the battlements at the top of the wall.  She had no time to rest, however, when she heard the boots of a guard on patrol. With nowhere to go, Emma crouched and waited for the guard to come closer.  When he was finally within reach, she grasped both his ankles and gave a sharp pull.

               The guard went down with a thunk and Emma jumped across his body to plunge her blade into his neck.  He jerked under her when she pulled it free and blood gushed from the wound.  A moment later, he lay still.          

               Aziz joined her on the battlements as she was cleaning the guard’s blood off her blade.  After they stripped him of his armor so that one of the Assassins could use it as a disguise, they dropped his body off the wall.    

               Emma itched to get moving but she forced herself to wait until all twenty of her fellow Assassins had successfully climbed the wall.  After that, though, they split up.  The plan was for most of the Assassins to take out the black guards patrolling the castle.   She, Aziz, and two others, Olivia and Jacob, would deal with Regina.  

              Knowing Regina’s love of opulence, Emma guided her group toward the finest living quarters in the castle: the royal apartments.  They killed a dozen guards as they navigated the halls of the castle.  They stashed the bodies in empty rooms or behind decorations so that their brethren would be unlikely to stumble upon them and raise the alarm.  Emma tried not to think about doing this with Killian in Camelot as they did so.

              A pair of guards were outside the door that lead to the suite of rooms Emma shared with her parents and Henry.  They were quickly dispatched and their bodies dragged away as Emma reached out with a little of her magic to check for protective wards placed on the room.

              Finding none, Emma decided that it was unlikely Regina had taken-up residence in those.  Regardless of that, Emma wanted to be completely sure so she used her key and slowly crept into the sitting room beyond.  She had to keep herself from sneezing when her movements disturbed the fine layer of dust that had settled in the room.  No one had been in them for some time.  

              Contrary to the undisturbed sitting room, Emma found her own quarters in disarray. Her armoire hung open, her books were tossed about the room, and every single one of her gowns lay in shreds.

               “Was she searching for something? Or just taking out her frustrations?” Aziz asked as they took in the sight.

               “From what I know about Regina, it could easily be either,” Emma replied.  She lifted her mattress and pulled a small box out from underneath it.  Inside were the other ingredients Emma would need to lift the spell on Henry.  None were particularly rare or hard to come by, so even if Regina had found them it wouldn’t have been too much of an issue to find replacements, but Emma was glad she wouldn’t have too.  

               Just as Emma and her group were about to leave the royal apartments they heard footsteps in the hall.  The steps stopped outside the door to the sitting room, and Emma signaled her team to conceal themselves.  In a matter of seconds, all four of them were hidden behind various pieces of furniture and would not be seen by anyone entering through the door. Emma released her hidden blades in preparation as a key clicked in the lock.  

              The door opened and her son walked into the room.

              Emma forced herself to assess the situation, barely resisting the urge to jump from her hiding spot and wrap her son in her arms.  She wouldn’t put it past Regina to use Henry as bait. However, it was her mother who entered next, then her father.  Emma tensed when she saw a black guard enter the room after the three of them.  She relaxed, though, when the guard removed his helmet and she saw that it as Graham.  Since her family did not appear to be in distress, she figured he was acting on his own and not following Regina’s orders.  That was enough to convince Emma that it was safe to reveal herself.  She rushed from her hiding spot and wrapped her arms around Henry.

              “Mom!”

              “Emma!”

              “Sweetie!”

              Emma fell to her knees and pulled her son as close to her as possible.  A couple of tears fell as she buried her face in his shoulder.

              Her mother and father kneeled on either side of her and wrapped her in their arms.  For just a moment, Emma allowed herself to relax.  After so many months away, she was finally reunited with her family.

              “Emma, sweetie, what are you doing here?” Snow White whispered against her daughter.

              “Me?” Emma said through a laugh.  “What about you?  I thought Regina would have you locked in the dungeon!”

              “She did,” Graham said from behind Emma. “When I saw Assassins sneaking about, I released them.”

              Emma lifted her head and smiled at her friend. “Thank you,” she choked out.  

              Graham returned her smile.  “I was hoping they would be safe from any fighting here.”

              Emma studied her longtime friend and fellow Assassin.  Regina must have treated him well in the time he had been her captive; he showed no signs of having been starved or physically abused. He looked tired and his beard was a bit shaggy, but that was all.

              “Is it true that Regina has your heart?” she asked.

              Graham’s shoulders slumped and he nodded.

              Emma detangled herself from her Mother’s arms and approached Graham.  “Is it here in the castle?”

              “I believe so.  She has used it to influence my actions a couple of times since the takeover,” Graham answered.

              Emma frowned as she contemplated the implications of Regina having control of her ally.  Longtime friend that he was, at any moment, Graham could turn on her and her family.

              She laid a hand on Graham’s arm.  “I’m sorry, Graham,” she said to him, “Having you with any of us is too much of a risk.”  

              Graham sighed.  “I understand,” he said.

              Emma reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a sleeping potion tipped dart.  She knew Graham saw her action but he made no move to stop her.  If anything, he tilted his head to give her a better target.  Emma jabbed the dart into the curve of his neck.  He gave her a wild grin before the potion took effect and his body began to collapse.  She and Aziz, who had been standing behind him, help lower his body to the floor and position him comfortably.

              Emma ignored her Mother’s disapproving look as she took a moment to study her family.  Captivity had not been easy on them.  Her father had dark bruises under his eyes and more wrinkles than she remembered him having.  He also had a beard, which was not a look he usually favored, and even though its color was as light as the blonde hair on his head, she could see the grey hairs mixed in.  

              Her mother looked a little better, but not by much. She was far too pale, even for a woman known for her light complexion.  Her lips were dry and nearly bloodless except for a vivid red streak where one had been recently split.

              Only Henry looked no worse for wear, once Emma got past the dirty clothing he wore.  All three were in desperate need of a bath and fresh clothing.

              “Was there anyone else being kept in the dungeons with you?  Red? Or Belle?” Emma asked her parents. Though she had been predominantly worried about her parents, she had also been concerned with the fate of her friends and the other inhabitants of the castle.

              “Everyone loyal to your Mother and I was kept in the dungeons,” her father told her. “Belle ran off to the library the instant Graham released us.”

              “The library?”  Emma interrupted, incredulous.

              Snow White gave a soft smile.  “You know Belle.  She values her books more than she does her own life.  Red and Dorothy went with her to keep her safe.  Granny, the dwarves, and some of our guards said they were going to head to the armory.”

              Widow Lucas, or Granny as the inhabitants of the castle knew her, was Ruby’s grandmother and a Master Assassin.  She had been the one to assist Snow when she had been on the run from Regina and later establishing the Brotherhood’s foothold in Misthaven. Though elderly, she was still a force to be reckoned with, especially if she got her hands on a crossbow.  Emma was pleased that her mentor, even after weeks in the dungeon, was willing to take up arms to retake the castle.

              “There are sixteen Assassin’s in the castle working their way through Regina’s troops,” Emma explained to her parents. “I plan on confronting Regina.  It is long past time we dealt with her head on.”

              Snow White stood and brushed her hands down the ratty dress she wore.  “I’m coming with you.”

              “No!”

              Emma wasn’t sure who yelled louder, her or her father.  Regardless, Snow White only crossed her arms and glared at her husband and daughter.

              “I started this, long before you were born, Emma.  It is only fitting that I help end it,” Snow White stated.

              “This has moved far beyond that, Mom.  If Regina was after you, or your heart, she could have ended it as soon as she took the castle,” Emma argued.  Her father nodded in agreement.  “I believe the only reason she has kept you alive is so she can use you against me.”

              Her mother’s lips drew together in a tight line, but she didn’t argue.

              “Olivia, Jacob,” Emma called to the other two Assassins that had accompanied her besides Aziz.  “You two are going to take my parents and Henry to the stable and get them out of the castle.”

              Her father frowned at her.  “We should all escape while we still can,” he said.

              Snow White nodded solemnly in agreement.    

              Emma thought, for one instant, about leaving, but her mind flashed back to the sight of the Morrigan burning in the cove.  Had all the men aboard died?  They may have been Templars, or in the service of the Templars, but had they deserved the deaths they had gotten?  And what about those on the Aquila?  Killian and his team?

              “I can’t leave with you,” Emma told her parents. “Men died so that I could get here today.  If we don’t succeed in retaking the castle, the Kingdom, their deaths would have been in vain.”  Emma fought tears as she spoke.

              Snow White grabbed Emma’s hand and gave it a squeeze.  Her father continued to frown, but he softly nodded his understanding.  

              Emma took a deep breath to compose herself before she turned back toward Olivia and Jacob.  “Hide in the forest and only return after another Assassin comes to bring you back.  If no one comes within a day, find a way to take them to Arandelle.”

              Olivia and Jacob nodded their acceptance of their orders.

              Emma kneeled down so that she was face to face with Henry.  “I need you to go where you’ll be safe, okay?”

              Henry nodded and Emma pulled him into her arms again.  Emma hated herself for being unable to protect him from Regina’s retribution.  He was too young to have dealt with all he had in his ten years.

              “Please don’t do anything rash,” Emma whispered as she hugged her mother, who chuckled in response. Emma had grown up hearing stories about the adventures of young Snow White from her father.  She knew exactly what her mother capable of.  

              “I would never,” her mother admonished, though she wore a mischievous grin.

                 Her father rolled his eyes.  “I promise to try and keep her out of trouble,” he said as he pulled Emma close. His hand cradled the back of her head, as it had always done, and Emma relaxed into his embrace.

              After allowing herself one final minute of familial comfort, Emma pulled back. At her nod, Olivia and Jacob guided her family from the royal suites.

              “May the Gods protect you,” Emma whispered to herself as she watched them go.

              With a sigh, Emma turned to Aziz.  “We’re going to the library.  Despite what my mother said, Belle wont risk her life over a couple of books.  It is likely there is something there she thinks can help with the situation.”

              “I hope so,” Aziz breathed as they made their way toward the library. “I wasn’t keen on the idea of taking on Queen Regina with just our wits and blades.”

              Emma let out a light chuckle.  Though she wouldn’t admit it, neither was she.

              They encountered only a couple of black guards, they easily dispatched, before Emma lead Aziz through one of the lesser-known entrances to the castle library. They entered cautiously, in case there were any of Regina’s men lurking within.  They followed the low murmur of voices until they came across Belle, Red, and Dorothy.  The three woman had taken a moment to change from their dungeon-grime covered rags. They all wore a mix of various Assassin uniform items, many in Red’s preferred colors of black and red, plus an assortment of weapons.  Even Belle had a dagger tucked into her belt.

              Red was glaring at the white crystal she held in her hand.  “What do you mean you aren’t sure if this will even work?”

              Dorothy was holding another crystal in front of a lantern and it glowed in the light.  “Is this fairy dust?”

              “Of a sort,” Emma said as she stepped from behind the shelf she had been concealed behind.  Both Belle and Dorothy startled at her sudden appearance, but Red only smiled. She’d evidently known Emma and Aziz had arrived.  

              Emma gestured to the two crystals that Belle had in front of her.  “These were developed by the Brotherhood as a way to incapacitate magic users.  When all four are crushed, the shield spell they hold will release and form between the four points.  No magic can be used within it.”

              “Except, the shield only lasts a couple of minutes,” Belle interjected.  “Less when used against powerful sorcerers or those who practice dark magic.”

              “So on Regina…” Dorothy’s voice trailed off.

              “A minute, maybe less,” Belle confirmed.

              The hidden blade on Aziz’s wrist snapped free with a soft click.  

              “A minute is all we need.”

---

              According to the information Red had overheard from the guards, Regina spent most of her time in the in the east wing of the castle, so that is where Emma decided the group would resume their search.  As the group of three Assassins, a librarian, and adventurer slowly traversed the corridors toward the east wing, Emma recalled the conversations she had had with Belle before they had left the library.

              She had cut straight to the point with her friend and had asked, “If I die, how long will Henry have to live?”  

               Belle’s brow had wrinkled.  “The spell we cast that bound Henry to your magic halted the progression of the curse Regina placed on him.  It has been draining your magical energy instead of his life force. Essentially, your death would be the same as if you ran out of magical energy to give.  The curse would start acting on Henry again.”

              “How long, Belle?”  As much as she usually enjoyed Belle’s very thorough explanations, she wasn’t in the mood for a magic lesson.

              “There is now way to be sure,” Belle eventually said. “Based on what I was able to learn of the curse, I believe Henry will have only a couple of weeks.”

              This, in Emma’s mind, was good news.  She had been extremely worried that Henry would die the instant her magical reserves could no longer sustain the spell that bound them, or if she were to die.  

              “Robert Gold is in Arandelle,” Emma told Belle, whose eye’s had widened in surprise.  “I already told my parents to go to Arandelle if they do not hear from me by tomorrow.  I need you to promise me, that if the battle with Regina appears to not be going in our favor, that you will join them.”

              “I can’t just abandon you!” Belle argued.

              Emma shook her head.  “You know the spell that will save Henry.  The ingredients we gathered are in my chambers.  Take them, and save my son.”

              It had taken some persuasion, but Belle had ultimately agreed to the request, which put Emma’s mind at ease.  Even if she failed to free her castle and kingdom from Regina’s grasp, Henry would be free of the curse and be able to live a long, happy life.  

              Emma was still wrapped up in these thoughts when Red raised her hand, signaling them all to stop.  Her friend crept forward, crouched low to the floor, and looked around the corner into the next corridor.  After a moment, she darted forward.  A surprised yell sounded before it was abruptly cut off.

              Emma rushed forward, Aziz and Dorothy at her heals. One black guard lay dead, his throat slashed and a large pool of blood forming below his body.  Red had the other pinned against the wall, his arm twisted behind his back.

              “Where is Regina hiding?” Red hissed near guard’s ear.

              The guard’s body bucked in attempt to dislodge Red, so Red twisted his arm further up his back.  Emma flinched when she heard a small pop and guard let out a grunt of pain.

              “Red…” Emma cautioned.  

              Her friend ignored her.  “Where is Regina hiding?”

              The guard muttered something Emma couldn’t hear, but whatever it was only made Red twist his arm harder.  Another pop sounded and the guard screamed.  

              “The council room!” He yelled through sobs of pain. Red released him and he dropped to his knees.  He gently cradled his arm against his body.  From the awkward angle, Emma knew that both his wrist and shoulder were dislocated.

              “Was that really necessary?” Belle said reproachfully.  

              Red shrugged.  “Would you rather we wander the halls like lost children?”

              “No, but…” Belle stuttered.

              Emma ignored the two of them as she knelt next to the guard.  She laid a hand on his shoulder but he jerked away from her touch with a whimper of pain.  His shoulder, and from the look of it, his wrist, were both dislocated.  With a sigh, Emma pressed the tip of a sleeping dark into the guard’s neck.  The drugged slumber would, for a time, spare him some pain.  

              “The council room is one floor above,” Emma said as she stood.  Her movement interrupted the glaring match that had begun between Red and Belle.

              “We should take the old servant’s stairwell,” Belle suggested.  “Very few people know of it, so I doubt Regina knows of its existence.”

              “And once we’re there?” Dorothy inquired.

              “The four of us with crystals will need to surround Regina as best we can before we crush them.”

              Aziz tapped his lips.  “There are columns in the council room, aren’t there?  One between each window?”

              Belle nodded.

              “Enough space between the column and the wall for a person to hide?” He inquired.

              Belle’s nose scrunched up.  “It’ll be a tight fit, but, yes.”

              Emma nodded in agreement.  She and Red used to hide behind the columns in the council room when they were younger, so they could spy on her parent’s meetings.  She’d still fit behind the columns, however, when Granny had used the room to train she and Red in moving silently between hiding spots after she had joined the Brotherhood.

              The plan set, Emma lead the group toward the rarely used servant staircase. Queen Snow did not conform to the belief that servants were not to be seen by the people they served, so few people made use of the small, confining staircase that connected the lower and higher levels of the castle.

              The interior of the stairwell was covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs and Emma had to suppress a shudder when her lantern revealed a spider skittering along the wall.  She remembered Killian’s disbelieving laugh when he had discovered her dislike of the eight-legged creatures one evening after the Jolly Roger had left Camelot.  She’d let out a rather shrill shriek when she had come across one in the hold, one afternoon after her shift watching Rumpelstiltskin.  Killian and Starkey had come running into the hold, thinking that the sorcerer had attacked her, only to discover her grinding the offending spider under her boot.

              The memory brought a smile to Emma’s face as she picked the lock on the door that led to the council room.  Even after hearing the final click of the lock releasing, Emma didn’t open the door immediately.  Instead, she grasped the collection of necklaces she wore and brought them to her lips.

              She laid a kiss on the golden rose that represented the magical connection she had to her son.  It was a relief to know that Henry would survive, at least for a time, even if she died fighting Regina.  

              The silver ring pressed against her lips as Emma whispered into the mermaid shell, “I love you, Killian Jones.  I don’t know where you are, if you can hear me, or if you are even alive, but know that I love you.”

AN: Surprise!  

Chapter 18 (end)

[12b-nondo-blog]

Set Free

William Sendo

I’m never allowed to go to ‘foreign’ places without my driver.

Growing up, I have always been accustomed to being fetched either by my parents or my driver. It was only when I entered De La Salle University last grade 11 when I was taught how to commute. There’s a catch though. My mom said that she I am only allowed to commute only when it is an emergency. Believe it or not, I do not even have Grab downloaded on my phone. Never have I ridden a Public Utility Vehicle alone. I always had to be accompanied by someone that I know.

One odd thing is that, mom does not let my driver accompany me to a place that we seldomly go to. Basically, the only places that my driver is allowed to accompany me is to anywhere in Makati City, Bonifacio Global City, Pasay and/or Taft. I have to admit; my driver really is bad when it comes to navigating unknown places. You might ask, why won’t my driver just use GPS applications like Waze or Google Maps? Simple answer. The ability to connect to the internet is very expensive. This made my trip going to Binondo delayed, and sketchy. If I tell my parents that I have to go to Binondo, they would probably suggest that they would come with me. But, where’s the fun in that?

I had to create a plan. To a relief, it wasn’t that hard. I just had to find a friend to come with me and accompany me in commuting. And so luckily, I had found Jericho and Joseph. Jericho had a restaurant near Binondo. I saw this as an opportunity I cannot pass. Joseph however, gave me a counter-offer to come with me to Binondo. Being very passionate about cinema and photography, Joseph, together with his PracRes groupmates, asked me if I could help them create a film for their thesis. The good thing is that, the location of the film was only in Arroceros forest park. The said place was only a few steps away from LRT Central Station; which was also just a station away from Carriedo Station – the closest station to Binondo and Jericho’s restaurant. What a perfect combination. We set March 9, 2019 as the day we execute this plan.

Aside from the Binondo trip, I was supposed to go to my friends’ party in BGC. I wasn’t sure whether or not I would be able to go since I did expect that this day would be filled with everything academics related. I expected that I would be really tired by the end of the day and I also prepared myself to not feel sad just in case I wouldn’t be able to go. Besides, academics first right?

I told my parents that I had classes on a Saturday; thus, classes will start at 7:30am – 5pm. I didn’t tell them that I had a birthday party later on the night, since neither was I sure if I would even have the chance to attend it.

I was off to school at 6:30 in the morning with my driver. He dropped me off and I told him to fetch me at 5 in the afternoon. I arrived at school 7:00. I waited for Joseph until 7:30am. We rode a jeepney going to Arroceros Park as we cannot take the LRT since Joseph had a toy gun that would soon be important for the film. Admittedly, I was pretty nervous. As far as I can remember, the last time I rode a jeepney was about 5 years ago with my mother. Filming started at 8 AM and ended at around 12:30 PM. The plan was to go back to La Salle to drop off our stuff. We booked a Grab going back to school.

We arrived back at school at 1AM. I texted Jericho that we were already in school. He promised us the day before that we would go together to Binondo. He wasn’t replying to any of my texts and messages in Messenger.

1:00 PM – 1:14 (Me)

Jericho, san ka na?

(sent this multiple times)

1:15 PM – (Jericho)

***o, kagigising ko lang. Sabi ko sa inyo gisingin niyo ako.

No one told me that texting already had a built-in alarm that you could send to anybody. This conversation basically just repeated until 2AM. He was very late. I started thinking about my friend’s debut. The party is 5 hours away. Binondo to BGC? Will I make it on time?

We took the LRT going to Carriedo station. I trusted Jericho so much. He told us that he lives near the place and that he is very familiar with it. Contrary to this, he was very confused on where to go when we arrived there. We walked around this market full of unusual (well, at least for me) objects. This included: airsoft guns, sex toys, knives and stalls selling/offering fake ID/documents services. We came to a point that he admitted he did not know where he was going anymore. Joseph, being the braver guy in our company, asked some of the locals where Sta. Cruz Street was.

We arrived at Kim Hiong: Food Garden at around 3 pm. His grandfather sat on the cashier half asleep. Jericho gave a kiss to his grandfather while we proceeded to our table. The walls were painted and green and were filled with old pictures of their menu. In my opinion, the restaurant may have looked a bit cheap because of the plastic tables and chairs. The servers welcomed us warmly. One of the managers then approached us to give us the menu.

Ah ito pala mga kasama ni sir! Said the manager.

The menu was crumbling. It looked like they didn’t even bother reprinting the menu since the store opened decades ago. I happen to ask Jericho when they started this restaurant. There I found out that they weren’t really the first owners of the restaurant. Jericho told me that they purchased and renovated the restaurant about 10 years ago. I’m still hopeful that the food will be good. We weren’t able to choose our own food. We actually let Jericho pick his favorite from the menu. Besides, he was going to be the one to pay for the food anyways.

They first serve us Beef Stew soup. I get to be the first one to have a taste. Jericho waited anxiously for my review whether or not I liked it. Was it good? YES. The soup was warm and was mixed properly. I just wish that they should have at least put some beef bits in it. They soon serve us Beef Shrimp Fried noodles. The noodles were good. Maybe I give it a 8/10 for a score. It was fine but I got satiated really fast. The serving itself looked like they just poured the noodles in. Lastly, they served us Fried Wonton. In my opinion, the fried wanton did not taste good. One of the reasons that I hated it was because for me, it did not taste like Wanton. For me it tasted more like Chicharon – and I hate the taste of Chicharon.

4:00 pm – We finished eating. Before leaving the place, we noticed that Jericho’s picture when he was young eating was posted outside the restaurant. It was literally the center piece of all of the advertisements. We found it very funny and decided to take a picture with it.

We started walking to Binondo. Even though Jericho’s place is basically Chinatown already, we still wanted to experience what it was really to be like in Binondo. Weird but, I’ve been to other countries’ Chinatowns more than the number of times I’ve been in Binondo - well, this is my first time in Binondo. I already had some ideas and expectations of what we will be able to see in Binondo.

I expected that it Binondo would have a lot of stores – especially those stores that sell herbal medicines. Indeed, we actually saw a store selling those stuff. Personally, as someone who prefers prescribed medicines over DIY herbal medicines, I find it quite weird to see Chinese herbal stores. I asked Jericho why they love selling different types of herbs, and he told me that the Chinese have a lot of beliefs when it comes to the benefits that different herbs bring.

Next, we visited this lucky charm store. The store was full of gold items, gems, lucky chrms and many more and plus, they differed in sizes. My personal favorite was a globe that was made out of (fake) gold. I really loved how it looked like. I personally don’t believe in lucky charms, but I have to admit that the amount of work put into these items are phenomenal.

The third store that we went to was this specific store that sold Chinese delicacies. Jericho brought us there because he wanted us to taste his favorite snack/dessert there. He brought us to the side of the mini-grocery wherein the Almond Jelly were to be found. The Almond Jelly looked like a white Leche Flan. I personally did not like the taste since it reminded me of the scent that my dad loves to put in our car. It was that specific smell that you would smell from an item that stayed in the car for a long amount of time.

Lastly, we went to Binondo Church. Outside, I was really amazed of the old architecture. When we went inside, I was astonished of the painting on the ceiling of the church. It’s really uncommon to see painting on the ceilings in churches here in the Philippines. That’s something I only see in churches abroad. Of course, I offered a prayer before leaving. I prayed that I would be able to catch up to my friend’s birthday.

It was already 5:15pm when we arrived back in La Salle. My driver was already there since I did tell him to fetch me at 5pm. Now, I had the choice. I was really tired, smelled bad and wasn’t even wearing party clothes at least. Will I still go to her party?

I hope she understands why I wasn’t able to go. I technically did it for academics. The Binondo trip was really something special. Not because of we are required to go there for CNF, but what I have experienced with my friends. Casing point, having to make your own decisions felt so amazing. The spontaneous decisions that I have made me feel that I was set free. From going somewhere I’m really not supposed to go to (alone), to riding PUVs even though I’m not allowed to, to eating food that I’ve never really tasted before, to going inside stores I normally never bother to even look at or to simply just going to a Church with my friends. And that is what I traveling should be, go where your feet could take you and try to keep it as spontaneous as it can be.

[almighty-letu]

20 Warrior cats questions

I wasn’t tagged, but i really wanted to do this challenge.

1. How did you get into Warriors?

When i was, maybe around 12 or 13, i was browsing through youtube when i stumble upon the SSS warrior cat animated series. From there i watched other animated projects related to warriors, i had no idea what was going, then i did a little research and discovered the series. And just a year later, i finally got my hands on Into the wild.

2. Favorite Arc?

Well, i haven’t read Omen of the stars yet, neither Dawn of the Clans (But i want to read it soooo badly!) nor Vision of shadows. Which leaves the first three series to choose from. I’m going to go with The prophecies begin, just because how well it is written. Maybe it’s because it’s the first series, but even today the story still holds up. I was so excited to start reading Power of three, but was kind of disappointed by the amount of filler it was put in. And i was really interested in the New prophecy arc at first but after they reached the lake, it kind of dragged from there. So the first series it is.

3. Favorite Book? (excluding mangas, super editions, novellas)

Oh that’s a tough question!

I think it will be a tie between “The darkest hour” and “Long shadows”. The darkest hour was the epic conclusion to the first series, and everything before was building up to this big moment, and it was just so cool to see the four Clans uniting to stand against BloodClan. Though the only nitpick that i have is that it’s kind of lame that the big bad is killed off so easy just so we can get a new “surprise” villain. But Scourge is cool, and i like him. (Yeah, i know he’s overrated, but i still like him as a villain)

“Long shadows” in my opinion was the first true warriors book that i have read since the end of the first series. Don’t get me wrong, not to say everything else was bad before this book, it just didn’t keep my interest from beginning to end. Some conflict stuff happened here and there, but that’s it. So much stuff happens in “Long shadows” and none of it was filler. I remember every single detail that happened in that book. And of course, there is the great fire scene near the end and the cliffhanger ending.

4. Favorite Super Edition, Novella, or Manga?

Okay, i’m going to cheat a little here and pick one for each.

For favorite super edition, my personal favorite is Tallstar’s revenge. I love the way WindClan is portrayed in this book. Tallstar’s point of view is very interesting, especially when you notice the change when he comes back. His relationship with Jake, of course. I haven’t read all of them, i’m currently reading Firestar’s quest and it’s good so far. If i had to rate the super editions i read from my favorite to my least favorite, the order would be: Tallstar’s revenge, Crookedstar’s promise, Firestar’s quest (Again, i’m still reading it, but so far from what i have seen this is where i would rate it. May change the further i progress in the story) Yellowfang’s secret, and finally Bluestar’s prophecy.

My favorite novella is “Mapleshade’s vengeance”. I love how dark it is. How it shows the darker side of warriors, the way Mapleshade went from a loving queen to this tormented, sick and twisted cat with a thirst to kill everyone who wronged her. But the interesting thing for me, is that she isn’t doing this for herself. (For the most part) But for her kits.

And for the manga, well... the only manga i read was “The rise of Scourge”. So i guess this is my favorite! XD

5. Favorite Clan?

ShadowClan. As much as i love the development and culture of WindClan from Tallstar’s revenge, ShadowClan is the one that catches my interest the most. I don’t remember now from where i read it, but when i saw this: “It was often said when the Clans were in the forest, that the cold north wind of the mountains chilled the ShadowClan warriors' hearts.” I thought this was so cool. ShadowClan is often judged to be the “slytherin” of the series. The obvious bad guys/bullies, and i think they deserve more. I haven’t read VoS, but from what i have heard, they are once again in the tyranny of some rogue. Can’t they catch a break for once? I wish this Clan was represented better.

6. Favorite Character?

Only one? Can i mention several? This is warriors after all. There are lots of characters! Fuck it, i’m doing it anyway.

Hollyleaf, love her character arc and i ship her with Fallen Leaves. Jayfeather, his grumpiness is really appealing (Unlike some other cats that i know *Cough cough* Bluestar *Cough cough*) his point of view is very interesting and i was always looking forward to read his parts in the books. Brambleclaw, and i do say “Claw” rather than “Star” because i don’t know how he is as a leader. I liked his struggle to set himself apart from his father, and his relationship with Squirrelflight. Cinderpelt, she deserved better. Yellowfang, grumpy grandmother with sharp tongue (Too bad her character is ruined and tainted further on into the series) Crookedstar, he suffers and goes through so much and yet he still becomes such a great leader. Brokenstar, no i don’t like him in the way that i understand what he went through and his motives are justified. I like him for how cool of a villain he was. (I like villains okay?) He killed kits by training them too hard, he killed his father, he banished his own mother, and ruled over ShadowClan with threats. He was so diabolically evil, how can you not love it? Whitestorm, he was very cool as this wise and respectable warrior. Um... i think that’s it.

7. Least Favorite Character?

Raggedstar, Crowfeather, Rainflower, Leopardstar, and Onestar.

I hate everything about Raggedstar. His character, his relationship with Yellowfang, his actions. He’s so whiny, and really despicable. I don’t care if you have daddy issues or not, you don’t manipulate the one you love just because she decided to become something else.

Crowfeather had so much potential, and i originally liked him in the new prophecies series. But then he became cold and uncaring, and i guess you could make the argument that’s what the Erins were going for after his failed relationship with Leafpool. But he should have been more honorable! Actually be loyal to WindClan because he is loyal, and not because he has to. Taking Nightcloud as a mate just to prove his loyalty is such a mean move, because he essentially used her. And then when the truth comes out about the three, he completely shifts the blame solely to Leafpool, and gets away scotch free! He better get a good redemption in Omen of the stars or else... i’m going to get angry.

Rainflower, Terrible, terrible mother. I hate her so much.

Leopardstar, not much to say in this one. I just don’t think she’s a very good leader, nor did she do much of anything to deserve her position. And she got on my nerves.

Onestar, what’s there to say about this douche cat that hasn’t already been said? He was great as Onewhisker, then he got his nine lives, and i guess one of his gifts was the gift of being an ass because after he became leader his character decided to change and become a complete jerk for no reason. So much for keeping the peace between ThunderClan and WindClan, am i right Tallstar?

8. Most Aesthetically Pleasing Cat?

This is going to be kind of a strange one: Ivypool, even though i don’t know much about her i really like her design. I like tabbies.

9. Favorite Leader?

I like Blackstar. He’s grumpy most of the time, and yeah, he makes some bad decisions. But hey, so does all of the other leaders. I personally would not mind to see a super edition about him. He used to be the deputy for both Brokenstar and Tigerstar, and when the position passed onto him, he stepped up and became a honorable leader. I would like to see this change more closely.

10. Favorite Villain?

As much as i like Brokenstar, i have to go with Mapleshade. She’s the queen of the Dark forest basically. I think she’s still around, if i’m not wrong? But the way she has solely devoted herself to revenge, to even manipulate a kit into basically selling his soul to her at the cost of his loved ones lives, is pretty messed up. Also, can i say that we should have more she-cat villains in the series? We need more she-cat villains in these series. I am so tired of big scarred tabbies going around being evil and stuff. 

11. Favorite Medicine Cat?

Jayfeather. He’s a good medicine cat who’s not afraid to call out on StarClan’s bullshit when he has to. And he always does what is needed of him to fulfill the prophecy.

12. Overrated Character?

Bluestar. At this point, you are probably thinking i hate her guts, aren’t you? I don’t hate Bluestar, i don’t think i even dislike her. But the fandom treats her as if she is the greatest thing ever. If anyone so much as utters that they dislike her they are immediately showered with a storm of hate. How dare anyone dislike Bluestar? She’s fine guys, but she isn’t all that. Calm down. You can love her, of course you can, but we can dislike her too you know.

13. Underrated Character?

Dustpelt. I like his background development. He hated Firestar at first, and i guess he had a thing for Sandstorm. But then he met Ferncloud and discovered a softer side to him, and became a really loyal and devoted warrior.

14. Favorite Minor Character?

Longtail. He started off as a generic bully character, but he got development and managed to redeem himself in the end. Too bad he was put in the elders den. By a rabbit, of all things! (Which btw, why did the Erins send him off to the elders den for? I never got that) Also for honorable mentions goes to both Brackenfur and Runningwind.

15. Favorite Pairing?

I have so many! Fire x Sand - Good development, Squirrel x Bramble - i love me so love/hate relationships, Holly x Fallen -  They helped each other out and have a cute relationship, Willow x Crooked - They are adorable, and of course Tall x Jake - So precious.

16. Least Favorite Pairing?

Crow x Night - He used her, end of story (In fact, might as well put all Crowfeather pairings in here, their all terrible) Spider x Daisy - This was completely out of nowhere, and he was never there for her or their kits. Spotted x Fire - Forced.

17. Favorite Friendship?

Brambleclaw and Stormfur, they were very good buddies during their journey to see Midnight, and i’m glad they kept the friendship even long after.

18. Favorite Moment?

Bluestar’s death. I swear i don’t hate her guys! I just really liked this moment, and thought it was a good conclusion to her character. Her reunion with her kits is very emotional.

19. Most Tragic Death?

It’s a tie between Stonefur and Cinderpelt’s death. Stonefur kept fighting til his last breath in what he believed was right. In front of an audience no less! Cinderpelt, despite everything she went through, was not afraid to lose her life to defend Sorreltail and her kits.

20. Favorite Battle / Fight Scene?

The climax to “Eclipse”. Kind of out of nowhere, especially with the great battle against BloodClan in “The darkest hour”. But this battle is so suspenseful. It’s not kept in the point of view of one single character throughout the whole thing, it keeps switching between Lion, Jay, and Holly as different events keep on happening. It’s Wind and River teaming up to drive out Thunder, leaving them no choice but to team up with Shadow. The four Clans fighting against each other, only to be stopped by the sun being blocked out. It’s a great scene, and i get the chills every time i re-read it.

[embracetheapocalypsewithme]

Embracing the Apocalypse: Part 14: The Loneliest Hours of the Morning

Happy Friday, everyone! This chapter was kind of hard to write. Things are starting to get a bit more intimate with Rebecca and Negan, and I hope that I am doing their backstories justice without being overly angst-y.

Summary: The scavengers get on the road. Rebecca does her first stint as a guard, and Negan pays her a visit.

Word Count: 2,498

Content Warnings (or selling points?): Smut, Negan being Negan, tears, angst, and foxes.

Part 1: The Tale of Thelma Facefuck

Part 2: What’s Up, Doc?

Part 3: A Successful Job Interview Begins with a Firm Handshake and Ends with a Salty Surprise

Part 4: A Crack in Everything

Part 5: Sorting Duty Sucks

Part 6: A Faint Whiff of Bullshit in the Air

Part 7: Turn and Face the Strange

Part 8: Poor Life Choices

Part 9: In Which Negan is a Total Jerk

Part 10: No Plan

Part 11: Negan Settles Rebecca’s Hash

Part 12: I know Where That Hand Has Been, Negan

Part 13: Gimme Danger

Part 14: The Loneliest Hours of the Morning

Part 15: Well, Fuck You Too, Kitty!

Tag List Roll Call: @negans-network @unicorn-blood-splatter @lucifers-trash-stash @opheliadawnwalker3 @thedeadwalks @ali-pennell @negans-dirty-girl @grab-my-boner

Read on AO3 here:  http://archiveofourown.org/works/8807527/chapters/21625181

Part 14: The Loneliest Hours of the Morning

The team of scavengers departed from the Sanctuary a little later than intended due to Rebecca and Negan’s supply room shenanigans. They packed light, bringing only the essentials with them, and rode on horses, which were now the only available method of conveyance. Most of the world’s fuel supplies had either run out or expired, so vehicles were now useless. Rebecca had never been on a horse before and was nervous to try riding for the first time in front of her new colleagues. However, after a crash course from Sheila, one of the few other women on the team, she began to pick up the basics.

Most of the first day was spent traveling, stopping only to eat a quick lunch at mid-day and to dispose of the occasional crowd of dead from the road. By the time the sun began to descend, painting the horizon crimson and orange, Rebecca was feeling more confident on her horse and had become better acquainted with her teammates.

The group decided to stop for the night in an open field where they ate dinner and set up camp. It was determined that, since they were a relatively large group, guard duty would consist of two hour shifts. Since it was her first time on the road, Rebecca was the lucky one to get the first shift, which would allow her to sleep through the rest of the night uninterrupted.

Her shift started at 10pm as the others were getting ready to sleep. Taking a seat on the highest point in the area, a small hill near the camp, she waited to see what the night would bring. As the campfire died down, she began to hear a chorus of snores coming from the group. The loneliness of the night began to set in as she sat alone in the darkness.

The smell of vegetation and wildflowers was carried on the night’s breeze, bringing with it memories of another life before the Sanctuary. It had been a life that was equal parts sun-drenched beauty and cold brutality at the hands of the wilderness. But it had been her life, and she had been free there.

She stood, shaking the recollections from her head, and scanned the area around her, as far as her eyes could see. At first there was nothing, but as she inspected the expanse of field and trees for threats, she saw a bush rustle at the edge of the forest that lay to the west of their camp. Gun raised, Rebecca waited to see what would emerge, readying herself to defend the team if need be.

From the bushes darted a small, reddish-brown shape that ran on all fours. It was a fox. She heaved a sigh of relief as she watched the creature move gracefully along the treeline, searching for food. Letting the gun drop, she sat back down, assured that the area was still safe.

As she watched the fox fade into the distance, continuing its hunt, she felt her eyes grow heavy, and hoped that her shift would be over soon. Her brow furrowed as she inspected her wrist watch. 11:15pm. Still almost an hour left before she could call it a night. She tried to get comfortable, placing her elbows against her knees and nestling her chin between the palms of her hands. Her eyelids began to descend as her head dipped toward her knees before springing up again in panic. Shit! She had almost fallen asleep. This was no good.

She got to her feet once again, and began to jump up and down in once place to wake herself up. The action felt incredibly awkward and she hoped that no one was watching her at that moment, but it was all she could think to do to keep herself alert. After a minute or so, she sat back down and resumed her surveillance of the camp.

A moment later she was started by a noise which emanated from the direction of the camp. She jerked her head toward it, her eyes wide, seeking its origin. She noticed a figure walking toward her from the darkness, silhouetted against the night sky. As it neared her, climbing the hill, she could tell from the gait and stature that it was Negan approaching her in the dark.

She waited until he was nearly beside her before she spoke, “Thought we weren’t supposed to be seen together.”

“Everyone’s asleep down there. There’s no one to see us,” he said plopping down beside her onto the grass, “Besides, you looked like you were trying to keep yourself awake with all of that jumping you were doing, so I thought I should come keep you awake myself.”

Rebecca’s face grew hot with embarrassment, “You weren’t supposed to see that…”

“Eh, it happens to the best of us,” Negan replied with a shrug, “So. How’s guard duty?”

“Boring. Except I saw a fox! That was neat. You couldn’t sleep?”

“Nah. I never sleep well out here. Too many things to go wrong. Too many people to think about,” his eyes were cast upon the grass just in front of his boots.

“I felt that way at first, when I started sleeping out here. After it all went bad and it was clear that home wasn’t safe anymore,” she paused as memories of her first few terrifying nights living in the forest flooded back, “But you get used to it. I think humans can adapt to just about anything if you give them enough time.”

“How long did you live out here?” he asked, his voice as low and soft as the night breeze.

“Until they brought me to the Sanctuary. About four years, I guess,” her eyes stung with the beginnings of tears, as emotions unexpectedly hit her, causing her throat to contract. She took a breath to steady herself.

“That’s a long time. Were you alone?” he pressed.

“No,” her voice wavered, and she lowered her head, “I don’t know if I can talk about it yet.”

“Ok. We don’t have to talk about it, if it hurts too much, Fuckface. I get it,” he paused and they sat in silence for a long time before he spoke again, “I lost someone too. It was actually just before all of this started. I understand what it feels like, and I get that it’s hard to talk about. Truth be told, I never fucking talk about her either. Not really. But I always remember her.”

Rebecca felt the tears flow down her cheeks, falling to the grass between her knees. She couldn’t speak, and so remained silent as he spoke to her.

“All that to say: if you ever do want to talk about it, I can listen. I mean, I’m not always great at listening. If you hadn’t already noticed, I really like the sound of my own voice. But I’ll try. Ok?”

She squeaked out an, “Ok,” head still lowered.

Negan gently grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head up and toward him. His eyes looked nearly black in the darkness, but Rebecca thought for a moment that she saw a few tears glistening at the corners in the moonlight. He brushed one of the trails of moisture from her cheek with his thumb before lowering his mouth to hers. The kiss was deep and passionate, but not sexual. Their hands were kept to themselves this time.

As their lips parted, Rebecca felt the corners of her mouth try to twitch into a smile, “That’s what I like to fucking see,” Negan said, “Now go to fucking bed. I’ll finish the last bit of the shift. I have the next one anyway.”

“You sure?” she asked.

“Yeah, I wasn’t gonna sleep before the shift anyway, and you look like you could use some more beauty sleep.”

“Ha fucking ha,” she said dryly before standing, “Goodnight, big boy.”

“Goodnight, Fuckface. Don’t let the bed bugs, or lice, or whatever the fuck else is in that grass down there bite.”

“That’s not exactly helpful, you know,” she said before strolling down the hill to her sleeping bag. Although the ground was hard and lumpy, and a few of her teammates snored like a malfunctioning wood chipper, Rebecca drifted off to a deep sleep within minutes of lying down and closing her eyes.

***

Negan watched as Rebecca descended the hill toward the camp, her figure highlighted in the moon’s glow. She climbed into her sleeping bag and seemed to nod off immediately. He sighed as he surveyed the group and the surrounding area, looking for signs of movement on the horizon, but finding none.

The ever-present smirk had dropped from his features as he sat alone in the dark. There was no one here to see it anyway, so what was the point of putting on the mask now. Rebecca’s words had caused a deluge of memories, usually held at bay by the distraction of his daily life, to wash over him. They were memories of a life before the dead walked, when he had been just a man, not a leader or a Savior.

Negan didn’t particularly enjoy thinking about his pre-apocalypse life because it brought back memories of Lucille. He had finally come to accept that she was truly gone, and had given up any illusion of keeping even a tiny piece of her alive after the baseball bat was destroyed during the war. However, it still hurt far too much to think about her most of the time. Instead, he filled his days with work in order to keep her memory pushed down into the deepest recesses of his mind, only allowing himself to think about her at times like this, when his defenses were lowered.

(i think i know exactly what you’re feeling, fuckface.)

The night wore on. In the loneliest hours of the morning, Negan wanted nothing more than to walk down to where Rebecca lay sleeping and to curl his arms around her. He wanted to protect her from her own memories, and to rescind his own. There would be nothing more in their worlds than the feeling of a warm body pressed against one another, driving away the cold clutch of grief.

Instead, he stood to once again survey the area. Finding nothing, he sat down and waited. At 2am he heard the faint beeping of a wrist watch in the darkness and Chris stirred in his bag. He trudged up the hill to relieve Negan of his shift, his eyes still full of sleep.

“My turn, I guess, sir,” he said, his voice like gravel.

“Guess it is, huh?” Negan replied, standing.

“Quiet so far? How did Rebecca do for her first shift?”

“Completely fucking boring out here. Sucks to be you for getting this shift. 2am is the fucking worst,” he said trying not to come across as too sympathetic to the man’s plight, “Fu- Rebecca did great. She’s a natural, don’t you think?”

“That remains to be seen. Tomorrow will be the real test for her,” Chris said thoughtfully, “But I’m hoping she’ll do well. We really need her to do well.”

“That is very fucking true, my friend,” he said as he began to descend the hill toward the camp, “Don’t fall asleep now.”

Chris remained standing, but said nothing in response. Negan reached the camp and got into his own sleeping bag, strategically placed as far away from Rebecca as possible to avoid any suspicion, or temptation. Turning toward her in the darkness, he could just barely make out her figure lying in the grass on the other side of the camp, her chest slowly rising and falling. He trained his breathing to hers, allowing his eyes to close, though it was a very long time until he was able to fully drift down to sleep.

***

As the first rays of light began to break through the trees, hitting the faces of the sleeping group, Negan awoke to a sky that was tinted with the rosy color of morning. He had always been an early riser, and was typically the first person awake in any collective sleeping situation, be it a sleepover or the aftermath of a harem orgy. Today, however, he noticed Rebecca was already sitting up in her bag, sleepily looking around the camp site. He rose and quietly ambled over to where she was, trying not to wake any of the team members who were still sleeping.

“You been up long?” he asked, crouching beside where she sat, his voice just above a whisper.

“Not so long. Maybe ten minutes or so. It’s hard to sleep with the sun in your eyes,” she grinned at him her eyes flashing deviously, “Did you know that you snore?”

“I’ve been told that I do, but I don’t fucking believe it,” he replied dismissively.

“Well, believe it or not, you were totally doing it just before you woke up!” she said, giggling.

The last person on guard duty, a young man named Paul, had shambled down from the hill after noticing Negan and Rebecca were awake.

“Hey guys! It’s a pretty nice morning, huh? Mind if I try to catch a few more minutes of sleep before we have to get on the road?” he asked.

“I don’t fucking care,” Negan replied with a dead-pan expression on his face, “Knock yourself out. Literally.”

Rebecca shook her head and laughed at the bad pun while Paul shrugged and made his way over to his sleeping bag.

“That was a terrible joke!” Rebecca chided.

“Yeah, well, what more do you expect at…what time is it?”

Rebecca glanced at her wrist, “My watch says that it is precisely 6:12am.”

“Shit. Looks like I slept in,” he mumbled, “Must be the fresh air.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me! 6am is sleeping in for you?” she shot him an incredulous look.

“What can I say? I’m a morning person.”

“Yeah, that figures. Morning people are so annoying,” she said with a smirk.

“At least I’m not lazy, like some people I know,” he said, gesturing toward the congregation of sleeping scavengers before standing up again, “I’m gonna boil some water for coffee. Want some?”

“Fuck yes I do!” Rebecca replied gleefully, “Thanks!”

“Don’t mention it,” he said as he walked toward the fire pit.

The rest of the group began to wake up gradually. They ate a quick breakfast of jerky and mixed nuts, the only things that were portable enough to bring with them on the road, before packing up the camp. The team was back on the road before the sun had risen above the treeline.

They reached the border of what had previously been the Whisperers territory just after lunch. It felt wrong to cross into the formerly forbidden place, but the group was getting progressively more excited as they neared their destination. The nursing home was very close now.

[dailyofficereadings]

Daily Office Readings March 15, 2020

Psalm 93

Psalm 93

The Majesty of God’s Rule

1 The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; 2 your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. 4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves[a] of the sea, majestic on high is the Lord!

5 Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

Footnotes:

Psalm 93:4 Cn: Heb majestic are the waves

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 96

Psalm 96

Praise to God Who Comes in Judgment

1 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.” 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 34

Psalm 34

Praise for Deliverance from Trouble

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your[a] faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. 9 O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. 20 He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Footnotes:

Psalm 34:5 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb their

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Genesis 44:1-17

Joseph Detains Benjamin

44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the top of his sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 When they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, “Go, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup?[a] 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks? Does he not indeed use it for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’”

6 When he overtook them, he repeated these words to them. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing! 8 Look, the money that we found at the top of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Should it be found with any one of your servants, let him die; moreover the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.” 10 He said, “Even so; in accordance with your words, let it be: he with whom it is found shall become my slave, but the rest of you shall go free.” 11 Then each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 12 He searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 At this they tore their clothes. Then each one loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14 Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house while he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that one such as I can practice divination?” 16 And Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; here we are then, my lord’s slaves, both we and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the one in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

Footnotes:

Genesis 44:4 Gk Compare Vg: Heb lacks Why have you stolen my silver cup?

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Romans 8:1-10

Life in the Spirit

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit[a] of life in Christ Jesus has set you[b] free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.[d] 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit[e] set their minds on the things of the Spirit.[f] 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit[g] is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit,[h] since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit[i] is life because of righteousness.

Footnotes:

Romans 8:2 Or spirit

Romans 8:2 Here the Greek word you is singular number; other ancient authorities read me or us

Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering

Romans 8:4 Or spirit

Romans 8:5 Or spirit

Romans 8:5 Or spirit

Romans 8:6 Or spirit

Romans 8:9 Or spirit

Romans 8:10 Or spirit

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 5:25-29

25 “Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; 27 and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[warming34jessen-blog]

Health and fitness Tracker

A recent study reveals that 10 minutes of brisk workout sets off metabolic adjustments that last a minimum of an hour. Below's a rundown of exactly what to try to find in a fitness watch, and how each type could help you enter the best shape quicker. Mosting likely to the gym a couple of times a week for an hour just isn't mosting likely to combat many hours of chronic undisturbed resting, which essentially mimics a microgravity circumstance, i.e. you're not applying your body against gravity. However, Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter is likewise an uncertainty for the Euros after limping out of training with a believed thigh problem. This can be beneficial as some individuals with dyspraxia get extremely worn out in the direction of completion of the day or week due to the physical effort they put into surviving their day. High-intensity interval training (Peak Health and fitness exercises) will also naturally increase your body's production of human growth hormonal agent, which is a crucial factor in aging and general health. The Chicago Bears open training camp on July 30 on the school of Olivet Nazarene College in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Make springtime training count with batting tees, fielding instructors, method internet and also more for softball and baseball. But Breen, that functions as a gym instructor and fitness instructor at Killarney's Brehon Resort, started to miss out on football in her mid-20s as well as she made a decision to return. http://lotto-tartalmazza.info assists me reach my fitness objective, by keeping up with my actions as well as informing me when I have been still as well long. That stated, particularly with more youthful athletes, it's important to acknowledge that even more considerable gains can be made with a well organized training and also consuming plan that advertises sufficient energy consumption, while fulfilling other sports nutrition objectives e.g. re-fuelling. Changing your exercise routine could aid boost your motivation to move, increase your metabolic price as well as work different muscles in your body. She or he can likewise help you develop a plan based upon your special fitness goals and one that is risk-free for any type of clinical conditions you could have. An additional terrific element of Peak Fitness is that it provides you both anaerobic and cardiovascular advantages at the exact same time, essentially replacing the should do long, sluggish training. When Frank Rodriguez opens the squeaky front door to his gym, he sun is simply climbing over the railway tracks. Can all be achieved relying on the sort of tools the residence gym is furnished with. If you pay attention to Willie Murphy, the 77-year-old power lifter and grandma in the video clip over, you'll listen to a first-hand account of what stamina training could do for you as you grow older. This brings me to my most favored form of anti-aging workout, which is Optimal Health and fitness, or high-intensity interval training. Both groups consisted of 8 rising welterweight challengers will certainly share a house in South Florida, yet in among the lots of modifications for this new period of the program, the fighters will certainly still function, train and also spar with the trains as well as teams at their house gyms. http://lotto-tartalmazza.info could additionally assist enhance upright leaping stamina, which is required for strong beginnings, transforms, and also underwater dolphin kicks. A health club membership could be expensive, and also relying on how often you utilize your home health club, the use might outweigh the cost of going outdoors your home to fit your exercise requires. A full offseason NFL traning workout strategy should aid. Scary talented, otherwise for injuries he would certainly be a top 5 pick and would be rated ahead of Aaron Donald. She's hoping training for the 5K will certainly help her make that change to a routine, long-lasting exerciser. Assume malls, fitness centers with an interior track and even a heated pool where you can stroll in water (and gain from its warmth and buoyancy). Depending on the gas price of the training schedule or the should sustain up to race, a significant athlete might need to eat between 7-12 g of carbohydrate each kg body weight every day (350-840 g each day for a 70kg professional athlete) to make certain sufficient glycogen stores. High intensity interval training, which is a core element of my Optimal Fitness program, is essential for reaping optimum outcomes. Players also receive counseling to establish whether they intend to obtain an HIV examination. Boat footwears are excellent for the classroom, while boots as well as exterior footwears for youngsters aid them take advantage of a backcountry experience. Inspiration Podcast Episode 3: Evan Centopani - Exactly how A Pro Grows Fresh off the release of his new training program 'Iron Knowledge,' we invest a hr with one of the world's leading body builders. I couldn't concur a lot more, although I believe that, in general, high-intensity interval training could offer you also greater rewards than toughness training. The largest inquiry, certainly, is the Vikings' starting quarterback and also how novice first-round draft choice Teddy Bridgewater looks with a little bit a lot more on his plate in training school and also the eyes of the fans upon him. The Spanish culture is different as well as they only work keepers for 10 mins a day. Benefits of healthy degrees of HGH as well as regulated insulin degrees include however are not restricted to: lowering body fat, improving muscular tissue tone, decreasing the aging process, enhancing energy, decreasing stress and anxiety, preventing disease, enhancing sports speed and also efficiency and attaining physical fitness goals much quicker. Within 3 weeks, you ought to observe profound differences, supplied you're doing the exercises five to 10 mins each and every single day. Graham claimed the data is likewise archived in custom-made data sources that alert the club's health and fitness as well as medical team when a gamer is at danger. An effective workout program that includes high-intensity period training integrated with recurring fasting could assist combat muscular tissue aging and also wasting, as well as enhance fat-burning. Roy Hodgson wants his World Cup team, that are spending this week at a warm-weather training base in Portugal, to sweat as thoroughly as they will when they play near the Brazilian forest following month. Nicks later met the media, though he declined to supply any apologies or explanations for his strange lack from the Giants' voluntary" offseason training program the last three weeks. The winning group will certainly retain control as well as residence gym advantage as the collection moves forward weekly. The Velocity Fitness Crossbreed Indoor Upright Exercise Bike includes an 18 kg flywheel as well as a belt drive system for smooth procedure so you can push on your own during your exercise. While he had actually done light training earlier, Pacquiao formally opened his training school in General Santos last month. Health and fitness has entered into the job of an expert golf enthusiast, as their time is currently divided between the array, the short video game location and also the gym. Each time when both would typically start a particular marathon buildup, they now should still discover a suitable race in which to fulfill the fitness demand before July 10, the due date Sports Canada has actually set. Spending a couple of mins on some really good workouts, such as Swiss ball grinds and also the plank, combined with strength training for your entire body, a sensible diet plan and some aerobics will certainly aid you lose the flab and tighten your abdominals. Germany had wished that their players would certainly have the ability to cycle to training but were rather encouraged to travel in tiny buses.

[jifsy]

World Cruise Update: The Secret To Koala Cuddling in Brisbane Australia

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch docked in Brisbane Australia

Hello from my world cruise on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch. Our latest port of call is Brisbane Australia where we will enjoy the heat of summer and some cuddling with animals. In case you didn’t know, Brisbane Australia is the capital of Queensland the third most populous city in the country. 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Our Arrival Into Brisbane

Black Watch entered Fisherman Island Grain Terminal by 7:30 am. After a quick breakfast onboard, we were on the gangway and off the ship by 8:15 am. A short walk into the terminal and we were soon on our coach into the city. Although we were told it could take up to an hour, the ride into Brisbane was all of maybe 20 minutes.

Anzac Square war memorial

The shuttle dropped us off at Anzac Square and we crossed the street to wait for our Uber. We had arranged to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on our own although the ship did have tours running there as well.

Driving around Brisbane Australia

We could’ve taken the Koala Express at 11 am, but we were both interested in beating the crowds. So a 25 minute Uber ride 12km outside of Brisbane Australia and we arrived at our koala destination.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Opened in 1927, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world’s first and largest of its kind. Inside you’ll find an array of animals including, of course, koalas.

Once inside, we headed directly to where the koala cuddling action could be found. Unfortunately, you then had to walk over to the General Store to queue up and pay for your photo in advance. We also picked up some kangaroo food for A$2 and looked over the cute stuffed animals before getting back into the photo line.

Time To Cuddle A Koala

Cuddly koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

This line was massive but it did move relatively fast. As we got closer to the front, we were advised to put all of our belongings in a bin and that we could take pics with our own cameras and cell phones. Then it was our turn and we moved up to prepare for a cuddle.

Danielle was up first and she kept saying he was so much heavier than she expected. I’m thinking she’s crazy as he’s a vegan who eats eucalyptus leaves and sleeps up to 20 hours a day. How heavy could he possibly be? I took several pics of Danielle holding the koala and she also had her pic taken by the photographer.

Up next was Michelle, Black Watch’s Cruise Director. She’s a tall blonde who made holding a koala look like child’s play. Lots of pics later, including by the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary photographer and it was then my turn.

Look Who’s Cuddling With A Koala

Hugging a koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

I stepped up to the feet marks on the ground as indicated to begin the process. I then placed my hand in the appropriate position as told to me by the staff member. She advised that he would do the work on his own and I didn’t even have to help. Once in place, I could feel my back bending to accommodate the heavy load of this 9 kg koala. Who would’ve thought something so cute and furry could weigh so much? Several pics later and it was time to return him back to the ha

We then walked back to the General Store to wait for our photos. But my secret to koala cuddling? Follow the instructions provided and always keep at least one eye on your koala. More on that later.

Kangaroo Time

Kangaroo at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

During my trip to Hobart, Tasmania, I visited a kangaroo sanctuary and was excited visit with kangaroos again. This would be Danielle’s first ever up close and personal experience with kangaroos.

Emus at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

But first we had to walk past the emus that were acting like security guards for this area.

Finally we came upon so many kangaroos. There were big ones and tiny baby ones called “joeys.”

Selfie with kangaroos at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

The kangaroos have the option when they’ve had enough to enter a fenced in area seats from humans. I needed a selfie with the masses of kangaroos as you can see here.

We brought out the kangaroo food and looked around for someone hungry. Since there were so many visitors and many with children, the kangaroos didn’t seem nearly as hungry as I’d expected.

Feeding a baby kangaroo at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

I did feed this tiny kangaroo who ate from my hand ever so gently and delicately. What a baby!

Kangaroo selfie

Selfie with kangaroo at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Then it was time for another kangaroo selfie. That was followed by a few more pics of various kangaroos. I found a family with young children who didn’t have any kangaroo food and gave them my bag. That was my good deed for the day I guess.

Back To The Koalas

Mama and baby koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Our next stop was the Koala Forest where we saw a mama and baby cuddling and so many others just resting.

TSG Tip: Did you know that there are over 100 koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary?

Time To Leave Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

My pic with the naughty koala

As we weren’t in Brisbane Australia long, we decided to walk around as much as we could quickly before departing. On our way out, we ran into a few of our cruise passenger friends, Debbie and Alec. I had to show my koala pic to her and of course, she immediately zoomed in on something I hadn’t seen. Apparently, the koala was grabbing my boob and winking. Naughty koala!

They were going in as we were leaving and I ordered up an Uber back to Anzac Square. About 10 minutes later we were on our way into Brisbane again.

Travel Shop Girl Goes Shopping

In Sydney I had stopped at Sportsgirl looking for a pair of jeans. Usually there too big in the waist and tight in the hips/butt area. But the jeans I tried on were too tight in the calves. Strange but true. So we walked around the area near where our shuttle back to the ship was and it turned out to be a fantastic pedestrian shopping area.

If you love to shop like I do, Brisbane is a great shopping city. From designer brands to boutiques and malls to arcades, there’s definitely something for everyone. The first mall we went into was a designer shopping mall, so I had no intention of shopping in there. Nothing against designer brands if that’s your thing, but I’m less about brand names and more about how I either like or don’t like something. That meant I was going to walk on by and shop in H&M instead. I bought a pair of jeans, a few pairs of shorts, a couple of tops, and a bathing suit. That’s my idea of a successful shopping trip.

Lunch in Brisbane

Rolld tofu bao

But we were hungry so we decided to eat inside the food court at the designer mall around Queens Plaza in Brisbane because it was close by. Danielle located another Mad Mex and pretty much ordered the same meal she had in Sydney, which was a burrito. I was pleasantly surprised to find Rolld, the Vietnamese restaurant I secretly coveted also at the food court. So for my lunch I had two tofu bao, which were crazy good and a mango bubble tea from Chatime. Felt like I was back home in Chinatown in Boston.

Even More Shopping in Brisbane

After lunch we decided to grab the shuttle from Ann Street at Anzac Square back to the ship. We even boarded the shuttle, but then saw the captain get on with a large Australia bag. Danielle had wanted to get some last minute souvenirs and decided to ask him where he had shopped.

Within a few minutes we were off the shuttle and walking around trying to locate a souvenir store. Luckily, we did find it and the money that was burning holes in our pockets was soon released and set free.

Back on the Shuttle to Black Watch

We are all one big crazy, yet dysfunctional family on this ship.Click To Tweet

View from Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch looking toward the city of Brisbane

Another quick ride on the shuttle and before long we were back home on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch. It’s so funny how this ship and the people on it have become home to all of us. You start to miss people when you don’t see them and look forward to hearing someone’s laugh or silly jokes. We are all one big crazy, yet dysfunctional family on this ship.

View of the city of Brisbane from Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch

With the view of the city of Brisbane in the background, Black Watch set off at around 6 pm to make it to our next port of call, Hamilton Island. Make sure you come back for another exciting adventure in my world cruise update.

Have you visited Brisbane Australia? Can you suggest other destinations in Australia that you found equally exciting? Leave your comments below. Discover some other great destinations and travel ideas here on the Travel Shop Girl website .

On my new SPONTANEOUS TRAVEL SCALE of 1-5, with 1 being super easy and spontaneous and 5 being you better plan far in advance, Brisbane scores a 1 for spontaneous travel since it’s easy to get to and offers more than enough to keep you occupied and happy during your stay.

While Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary provided us with a discounted media rate and photo, as always – all opinions and photographs, unless otherwise noted, are my own.

The post World Cruise Update: The Secret To Koala Cuddling in Brisbane Australia appeared first on Travel Shop Girl.

World Cruise Update: The Secret To Koala Cuddling in Brisbane Australia published first on https://medium.com/@GoShopMalaysia

[cartzypage]

World Cruise Update: The Secret To Koala Cuddling in Brisbane Australia

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch docked in Brisbane Australia

Hello from my world cruise on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch. Our latest port of call is Brisbane Australia where we will enjoy the heat of summer and some cuddling with animals. In case you didn’t know, Brisbane Australia is the capital of Queensland the third most populous city in the country. 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Our Arrival Into Brisbane

Black Watch entered Fisherman Island Grain Terminal by 7:30 am. After a quick breakfast onboard, we were on the gangway and off the ship by 8:15 am. A short walk into the terminal and we were soon on our coach into the city. Although we were told it could take up to an hour, the ride into Brisbane was all of maybe 20 minutes.

Anzac Square war memorial

The shuttle dropped us off at Anzac Square and we crossed the street to wait for our Uber. We had arranged to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on our own although the ship did have tours running there as well.

Driving around Brisbane Australia

We could’ve taken the Koala Express at 11 am, but we were both interested in beating the crowds. So a 25 minute Uber ride 12km outside of Brisbane Australia and we arrived at our koala destination.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Opened in 1927, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world’s first and largest of its kind. Inside you’ll find an array of animals including, of course, koalas.

Once inside, we headed directly to where the koala cuddling action could be found. Unfortunately, you then had to walk over to the General Store to queue up and pay for your photo in advance. We also picked up some kangaroo food for A$2 and looked over the cute stuffed animals before getting back into the photo line.

Time To Cuddle A Koala

Cuddly koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

This line was massive but it did move relatively fast. As we got closer to the front, we were advised to put all of our belongings in a bin and that we could take pics with our own cameras and cell phones. Then it was our turn and we moved up to prepare for a cuddle.

Danielle was up first and she kept saying he was so much heavier than she expected. I’m thinking she’s crazy as he’s a vegan who eats eucalyptus leaves and sleeps up to 20 hours a day. How heavy could he possibly be? I took several pics of Danielle holding the koala and she also had her pic taken by the photographer.

Up next was Michelle, Black Watch’s Cruise Director. She’s a tall blonde who made holding a koala look like child’s play. Lots of pics later, including by the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary photographer and it was then my turn.

Look Who’s Cuddling With A Koala

Hugging a koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

I stepped up to the feet marks on the ground as indicated to begin the process. I then placed my hand in the appropriate position as told to me by the staff member. She advised that he would do the work on his own and I didn’t even have to help. Once in place, I could feel my back bending to accommodate the heavy load of this 9 kg koala. Who would’ve thought something so cute and furry could weigh so much? Several pics later and it was time to return him back to the ha

We then walked back to the General Store to wait for our photos. But my secret to koala cuddling? Follow the instructions provided and always keep at least one eye on your koala. More on that later.

Kangaroo Time

Kangaroo at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

During my trip to Hobart, Tasmania, I visited a kangaroo sanctuary and was excited visit with kangaroos again. This would be Danielle’s first ever up close and personal experience with kangaroos.

Emus at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

But first we had to walk past the emus that were acting like security guards for this area.

Finally we came upon so many kangaroos. There were big ones and tiny baby ones called “joeys.”

Selfie with kangaroos at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

The kangaroos have the option when they’ve had enough to enter a fenced in area seats from humans. I needed a selfie with the masses of kangaroos as you can see here.

We brought out the kangaroo food and looked around for someone hungry. Since there were so many visitors and many with children, the kangaroos didn’t seem nearly as hungry as I’d expected.

Feeding a baby kangaroo at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

I did feed this tiny kangaroo who ate from my hand ever so gently and delicately. What a baby!

Kangaroo selfie

Selfie with kangaroo at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Then it was time for another kangaroo selfie. That was followed by a few more pics of various kangaroos. I found a family with young children who didn’t have any kangaroo food and gave them my bag. That was my good deed for the day I guess.

Back To The Koalas

Mama and baby koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Our next stop was the Koala Forest where we saw a mama and baby cuddling and so many others just resting.

TSG Tip: Did you know that there are over 100 koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary?

Time To Leave Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

My pic with the naughty koala

As we weren’t in Brisbane Australia long, we decided to walk around as much as we could quickly before departing. On our way out, we ran into a few of our cruise passenger friends, Debbie and Alec. I had to show my koala pic to her and of course, she immediately zoomed in on something I hadn’t seen. Apparently, the koala was grabbing my boob and winking. Naughty koala!

They were going in as we were leaving and I ordered up an Uber back to Anzac Square. About 10 minutes later we were on our way into Brisbane again.

Travel Shop Girl Goes Shopping

In Sydney I had stopped at Sportsgirl looking for a pair of jeans. Usually there too big in the waist and tight in the hips/butt area. But the jeans I tried on were too tight in the calves. Strange but true. So we walked around the area near where our shuttle back to the ship was and it turned out to be a fantastic pedestrian shopping area.

If you love to shop like I do, Brisbane is a great shopping city. From designer brands to boutiques and malls to arcades, there’s definitely something for everyone. The first mall we went into was a designer shopping mall, so I had no intention of shopping in there. Nothing against designer brands if that’s your thing, but I’m less about brand names and more about how I either like or don’t like something. That meant I was going to walk on by and shop in H&M instead. I bought a pair of jeans, a few pairs of shorts, a couple of tops, and a bathing suit. That’s my idea of a successful shopping trip.

Lunch in Brisbane

Rolld tofu bao

But we were hungry so we decided to eat inside the food court at the designer mall around Queens Plaza in Brisbane because it was close by. Danielle located another Mad Mex and pretty much ordered the same meal she had in Sydney, which was a burrito. I was pleasantly surprised to find Rolld, the Vietnamese restaurant I secretly coveted also at the food court. So for my lunch I had two tofu bao, which were crazy good and a mango bubble tea from Chatime. Felt like I was back home in Chinatown in Boston.

Even More Shopping in Brisbane

After lunch we decided to grab the shuttle from Ann Street at Anzac Square back to the ship. We even boarded the shuttle, but then saw the captain get on with a large Australia bag. Danielle had wanted to get some last minute souvenirs and decided to ask him where he had shopped.

Within a few minutes we were off the shuttle and walking around trying to locate a souvenir store. Luckily, we did find it and the money that was burning holes in our pockets was soon released and set free.

Back on the Shuttle to Black Watch

We are all one big crazy, yet dysfunctional family on this ship.Click To Tweet

View from Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch looking toward the city of Brisbane

Another quick ride on the shuttle and before long we were back home on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch. It’s so funny how this ship and the people on it have become home to all of us. You start to miss people when you don’t see them and look forward to hearing someone’s laugh or silly jokes. We are all one big crazy, yet dysfunctional family on this ship.

View of the city of Brisbane from Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch

With the view of the city of Brisbane in the background, Black Watch set off at around 6 pm to make it to our next port of call, Hamilton Island. Make sure you come back for another exciting adventure in my world cruise update.

Have you visited Brisbane Australia? Can you suggest other destinations in Australia that you found equally exciting? Leave your comments below. Discover some other great destinations and travel ideas here on the Travel Shop Girl website .

On my new SPONTANEOUS TRAVEL SCALE of 1-5, with 1 being super easy and spontaneous and 5 being you better plan far in advance, Brisbane scores a 1 for spontaneous travel since it’s easy to get to and offers more than enough to keep you occupied and happy during your stay.

While Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary provided us with a discounted media rate and photo, as always – all opinions and photographs, unless otherwise noted, are my own.

The post World Cruise Update: The Secret To Koala Cuddling in Brisbane Australia appeared first on Travel Shop Girl.

World Cruise Update: The Secret To Koala Cuddling in Brisbane Australia published first on https://medium.com/@GoShopSingapore