#additional voles

[nanomooselet]

Vol. One (Nebraskas)

Same shit, different universe. There's always a cyborg giant and his dad out to ruin your day, there's always some trigger-happy idiot with a rocket launcher, and there's alway a damsel to rescue from the fallout of your own reputation. Poor Vash.

I like that Orange gave Gofsef a little bowtie but removed his shirt.

They likely shrank Gofsef not only to make it easier to rig his movements (if he were much bigger, he'd need a correspondingly custom rig, and building one would take more time than it's really worth spending on a minor antagonist) but to fit him inside the shot with other characters and let him take more varied actions. You may notice in Stampede Gofsef has opinions on what's happening, even if he does ultimately defer to his dad.

By contrast in the manga by these two are gag villains and not much else, though they certainly set a tone! It's always fun seeing Vash in hero mode and still taking time out for the all-important tasks of making stupid faces at people and being a little shit.

[ashfdhfgdsfk]

in addition to cannibalism, some trout also like to feast on the opportune bird, mouse, or vole.

[dateamonster]

the thing about goblins is that they have many charm points, from their big ears to their bitings mouths to their general smallness and silly demeanor. their universal appeal and varied depictions offers them a versatility, a welcome addition to any high or low fantasy setting. they also have something of a reputation for being killed so much in the very first level of videos game which likens them in the mind of the viewer to a mice or perhaps little vole of the earth which is maybe explain why these creature can be so beloved far and wide 😊

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher

Orphan Seren Rhys is on her way to a new life at the remote country mansion of Plas-y Fran when she is given a package by a stranger late at night in an empty train station. The package contains a crotchety, mechanical talking crow, which Seren reluctantly brings to her new home. But when she gets there, the happy Christmas she had hoped for turns out to be an illusion--the young son of the house, Tomos, has been missing for almost a year, rumored to have been taken by the fairies. With the Crow's reluctant help and a little winter magic, Seren sets off on a perilous journey to bring Tomos home.

Horns & Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson

How can you tell if a river’s under a spell? River trolls, rock trolls, blue-wing fairies—the usual suspects—the stretch of the Mississippi where Claire lives has rumors of them all, not that she’s ever spotted any. But then Claire’s cousin Duke takes a swim and sprouts a horn—a long, pointy, handsome thing. After that, Claire doesn’t have much choice but to believe that something rivery is going on, especially since she’s the only one who can help Duke lose his new addition.

Japanese Dolls by Rumer Godden

When little Nona is sent from her sunny home in India to live with her relatives in chilly England, she is miserable. Then a box arrives for her in the post and inside, wrapped up in tissue paper, are two little Japanese dolls. A slip of paper says their names are Miss Happiness and Miss Flower. Nona thinks that they must feel lonely too, so far away from home. Then Nona has an idea – she will build her dolls the perfect house! It will be just like a Japanese home in every way. It will even have a tiny Japanese garden. And as she begins to make Miss Happiness and Miss Flower happy, Nona finds that she is happier too.

Wings & Co. by Sally Gardner

When Emily Vole inherits an abandoned shop, she discovers a magical world she never knew existed. But a fairy-hating witch, a mischievous set of golden keys, and a train full of brightly coloured bunnies are just a few of the surprises that come with it.

With the help of a talking cat called Fidget and a grumpy fairy detective called Buster, it's up to Emily to get to the bottom of Operation Bunny.

Small Persons With Wings by Ellen Booraem

Ever since she was teased for believing in fairies, Mellie has adopted a strictly scientific and logical approach to life. But when her parents inherit her grandfather's inn, she learns that for generations, her family members have been fairy guardians. The fairies exchanged some of their powers for this protection but now they want their magic back. An evil temptress in disguise wants the magic too, and before she knows it, Mellie is turned into a frog, her grandfather is discovered alive, and her parents are trapped in an evil spell that only lets them see the truth (which can be awfully brutal). Thank goodness for Timmo - the cute boy next door - and Durindana, a fairy outcast, who help Mellie save the day and encourage her to loosen up her views on family, fairies, and friendship.

Switchers by Kate Thompson

When freakish weather grips the Arctic regions and moves southward, an Irish girl and her strange companion save the world from disaster through their ability to switch into animal forms

Witch Wars by Sibeal Pounder

When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim's shed to tell her she's a witch, Tiga doesn't believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH . . . and takes Tiga through the drainpipes to compete in a challenge to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City. No one expects a witch from 'above the pipes' to be a serious contender, but soon Tiga and her new best friend, Peggy Pigwiggle, are at the head of the pack! Does one of them have what it takes to win?

Anthony Monday Mysteries by John Bellairs

When Miss Eells gives young Anthony a job at the library, he thinks he’ll just be dusting shelves and filing books. Instead, he discovers a hidden clue leading to the treasure of eccentric millionaire Alpheus Winterborn. Miss Eells thinks the clues are a practical joke left by the odd, old Winterborn before he died. But then why do things suddenly start getting so strange? And terrifying?

Jane Blonde by Jill Marshall

Janey Brown feels like she is practically invisible. With her stick-thin legs, mousy brown hair and grey eyes, no one ever notices her. Then a crazy woman turns up at the school gates, claiming to be Janey's godmother. According to hip-hop-talking, larger-then-life 'G-Mamma', Janey Brown really is something special. She's Jane Blonde, Sensational Spylet and it's time for her first mission Swapping her too-big school uniform for a silver spysuit, and her battered satchel for a set of amazing gadgets, Janey soon discovers that nothing in her life, or in her past, is as it seems. Her elusive Uncle Solomon happens to be the head of SPI (Solomon's Politicational Investigations) and the greatest spy the world has ever known. Recruited by the government to work on top-secret Project Crystal Clear, Solomon has made a scientific discovery that could change the world. But now he's gone missing. Can Jane Blonde get to him first? Or will The Sinerlesse, a rogue spying group with evil purposes (and a very nasty dog), hunt him down and take his secret?

Weenies by David Lubar

Each hilarious and harrowing. A substitute teacher finds out she has some monsters for students. A group of kids attempt a levitation trick with hair-raising results. A neighborhood is so boring the grown ups are turning into...well...you know. And dozens more.

[pleistocene-pride]

Vulpes lagopus also known as the arctic fox, white fox, polar fox, or snow fox is a small species of fox native to the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere where it dwells throughout Greenland, Findland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Alaska, and many Arctic islands. Being the only land mammal native to Iceland. Arctic foxes mostly inhabit tundra, taiga, and pack ice but can also be found in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. The color of the fox's coat also determines where they are most likely to be found. The white morph mainly lives inland and blends in with the snowy tundra, while the blue morph occupies the coasts because its dark color blends in with the cliffs and rocks. The arctic fox is a generalist omnivore which typically eats any small animal they can find, including lemmings, voles, other rodents, hares, birds, seal pups, fish, insects, and shellfish in addition to berries, flowers, seaweed, carrion, and bird eggs. Arctic foxes are themselves eaten by eagles, wolves, wolverines, red foxes, and bears. Arctic foxes survive winters and food scarcity by both hoarding food in buried caches and storing large amounts of body fat. Reaching around 18 to 27inches (46 to 68cms) in body length with typically 12inch (30cm) long tail, and 3.1 to 20.7lbs ( 1.4 to 9.4kgs) in weight, the arctic fox is a small canine with a generally compact body shape, long fluffy tail, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. It sports numerous adaptations to the extreme cold such as fur covered foot pads and dense multilayered pelage, which provides excellent insulation. To prevent heat loss, the Arctic fox curls up tightly tucking its legs and head under its body and behind its furry tail. There are two genetically distinct coat color morphs: the white morph has seasonal camouflage, white in winter and brown along the back with light grey around the abdomen in summer. The blue morph is often a dark blue, brown, or grey color year-round. Both morphs sport distinct summer and winter coats. Arctic foxes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season (from April to May) and they stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young, forming larger socially dynamic packs. These larger packs are particularly common in areas where the arctic fox overlaps with the red fox. After a 52 day pregnancy a mother arctic fox may give birth to up to 25 young. The young emerge from the den when 3 to 4 weeks old and are weaned by 9 weeks of age. Under ideal conditions an arctic fox may live up to 14 years.

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

American Marten (Martes americana)

(Photo in public domain)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Canada; Northern United States

Size (Weight/Length)- 1.4 kg; 71 cm

Diet- Small mammals; Birds; Fruits

Cool Facts- The American marten, also called the pine marten, is a small but essential carnivore to the North American wilderness. Being nocturnal in the winter and diurnal in the summer, American martens travel a relatively small territory and often stick to the trees to avoid much larger predators such as coyotes and bears. Their main prey source are voles and mice, making them essential towards keeping rodent populations from exploding. In addition, American martens help to spread wild blueberry and huckleberry seeds by eating the fruits and well… you know. Females give birth to smaller litters in the spring in hollow logs and gaps in boulder formations. The kits stay with their mother throughout the summer as she teaches them to hunt but they often split once the leaves start falling.

Rating- 11/10 (Just looing for a cuddle.)

[istumpysk]

OPERATION ICEBERG: THE TIER LIST

THEORY:

UnVictarion

[Undead Victarion Greyjoy]

TIER:

People's Choice! I can't participate due to my inherent bias.

Possible: These theories could be true, but additional evidence is needed, as different interpretations or errors are possible.

vs.

Under Consideration: These theories haven't garnered strong or extensive evidence, but they're worthy of discussion.

vs.

50/50: These theories are complete toss-ups.

vs.

Low Probability: While not impossible, these theories are unlikely based on the current evidence.

[Tier list overview]

EVIDENCE:

What's the theory?

Victarion's hand was injured during a battle at the Shield Islands and became infected.

While journeying to Slaver's Bay to retrieve Daenerys Targaryen, Victarion's Iron Fleet rescues the red priest Moqorro, who was previously lost at sea. Moqorro claims he foresaw in his fires that Victarion would die without his help, and after a peculiar ritual, he successfully heals him.

The question is: Did Victarion die and was he reanimated by the red priest, similar to Lady Stoneheart and Beric Dondarrion?

Proof?

Moqorro tells Victarion that he will die unless Moqorro intervenes.

It's entirely possible that this still happened.

The small man hesitated. "Lord Captain, he told me … he told me you would surely die unless we brought him to you." "That I would die?" Victarion snorted. Cut his throat and throw him in the sea, he was about to say, until a throb of pain in his bad hand went stabbing up his arm almost to the elbow, the agony so intense that his words turned to bile in his throat. He stumbled and seized the rail to keep from falling. - The Iron Suitor, ADWD

x

He turned to the black man. "Did the Vole speak true? You saw my death?" "That, and more." "Where? When? Will I die in battle?" His good hand opened and closed. "If you lie to me, I will split your head open like a melon and let the monkeys eat your brains." "Your death is with us now, my lord. Give me your hand." - The Iron Suitor, ADWD

While Victarion is being healed, the text appears to switch from third-person limited point of view to third-person omniscient. That's unusual for this author.

The iron captain was not seen again that day, but as the hours passed the crew of his Iron Victory reported hearing the sound of wild laughter coming from the captain's cabin, laughter deep and dark and mad, and when Longwater Pyke and Wulfe One-Eye tried the cabin door they found it barred. Later singing was heard, a strange high wailing song in a tongue the maester said was High Valyrian. That was when the monkeys left the ship, screeching as they leapt into the water. - The Iron Suit, ADWD

There are similarities between Moqorro healing Victarion and Mirri Maz Duur "reviving" a nearly dead Khal Drogo.

The iron captain was not seen again that day, but as the hours passed the crew of his Iron Victory reported hearing the sound of wild laughter coming from the captain's cabin, laughter deep and dark and mad [...] Later singing was heard, a strange high wailing song in a tongue the maester said was High Valyrian. - The Iron Suit, ADWD

x

Once I begin to sing, no one must enter this tent. My song will wake powers old and dark. The dead will dance here this night. No living man must look on them. - Daenerys VIII, AGOT

x

Mirri Maz Duur's voice rose to a high, ululating wail that sent a shiver down Dany's back. Some of the Dothraki began to mutter and back away. The tent was aglow with the light of braziers within. Through the blood-spattered sandsilk, she glimpsed shadows moving. Mirri Maz Duur was dancing, and not alone. - Daenerys VIII, AGOT

After being healed, Victarion is left with a charred, blackened, smoking hand that is remarkably strong. Despite the presence of magic in the series, that seems beyond what a typical living person could experience.

This is the type of sorcery we associate with Robert Strong, Coldhands, Lady Stoneheart, and Beric Dondarrion.

He was naked from the waist up, his left arm blood to the elbow. As his crew gathered, whispering and trading glances, he raised a charred and blackened hand. Wisps of dark smoke rose from his fingers as he pointed at the maester. - The Iron Suitor, ADWD

x

The arm the priest had healed was hideous to look upon, pork crackling from elbow to fingertips. Sometimes when Victarion closed his hand the skin would split and smoke, yet the arm was stronger than it had ever been. - Victarion I, ADWD

Moqorro appears to be manipulating Victarion, and treating him like an instrument for the red god.

"Take care, priest," Victarion warned him. "There are godly men aboard this ship who would tear out your tongue for speaking such blasphemies. Your red god will have his due, I swear it. My word is iron. Ask any of my men." The black priest bowed his head. "There is no need. The Lord of Light has shown me your worth, lord Captain. Every night in my fires I glimpse the glory that awaits you." - Victarion I, ADWD

Victarion also believes that R'hllor is supporting him.

"Two gods are with me now," he told the dusky woman. "No foe can stand before two gods." - Victarion I, ADWD

After this event, Victarion's name is finally used as his chapter heading, indicating to the reader that something has shifted. Some contend that there's also a significant shift in his personality.

The Iron Captain

The Reaver

The Iron Suitor

Victarion

Euron gifts Victarion a horn that states no mortal man shall sound it and live, leaving one to wonder whether Victarion has accidentally found himself an amusing loophole.

Moqorro turned the hellhorn, examining the queer letters that crawled across a second of the golden bands. "Here it says, 'No mortal man shall sound me and live.'" Bitterly Victarion brooded on the treachery of brothers. Euron's gifts are always poisoned. "The Crow's Eye swore this horn would bind dragons to my will. But how will that serve me if the price is death?" - Victarion I, ADWD

In the House of the Undying, Daenerys sees a vision of a Greyjoy we all assume is Aeron Dam-phair, but it could just as easily be an undead Victarion.

A corpse stood at the prow of a ship, eyes bright in his dead face, grey lips smiling sadly. - Daenerys IV, ACOK

If Victarion is actually undead, the Greyjoy words end up being hilariously ironic.

What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger! - The Prophet, AFFC

Other things to consider:

Moqorro is evil, isn't forthcoming about his intentions, and would certainly manipulate Victarion in this way.

At one point, Victarion renames two ships Ghost and Shade, which could be the author having a bit of fun.

The theory is hysterical and should be true for our entertainment.

COUNTER-EVIDENCE:

Well, let's start with the obvious: Victarion doesn't seem to realize he's dead. However, one might argue that if there's anyone in the story who could overlook such a detail, it's Victarion Greyjoy.

Next, while Victarion hasn't been depicted eating or sleeping since the event, he has been shown to still possess a libido.

His dusky woman was enough to satisfy his appetites until he could reach Meereen and claim his queen.  - Victarion I, ADWD

Victarion also still bleeds.

They left him one by one. The three thralls, and then Moqorro. Victarion would not let him take the hell-horn. "I will keep it here with me, until it is needed." "As you command. Would you have me bleed you?" - Victarion I, TWOW

From what we've seen, the horn can kill its user, and Moqorro appears to want to protect Victarion from this outcome, implying that he's not dead.

However, once again, Moqorro's intentions are dubious, and it's uncertain what he's truly planning.

Bitterly Victarion brooded on the treachery of brothers. Euron's gifts are always poisoned. "The Crow's Eye swore this horn would bind dragons to my will. But how will that serve me if the price is death?" "Your brother did not sound the horn himself. Nor must you." Moqorro pointed to the band of steel. "Here. 'Blood for fire, fire for blood.' Who blows the hellhorn matters not. The dragons will come to the horn's master. You must claim the horn. With blood." - Victarion I, ADWD

Finally, some fans claim that George once stated he would never make a deceased character a POV (like Lady Stoneheart, for instance), suggesting that Victarion isn't dead. However, I can't find the exact quote.

STUMPY'S THOUGHTS:

I need this to be real.

VOTE:

I welcome discussions. Feel free to reblog, respond, or challenge my perspective—I won't be offended by any of it.

Please note, if "no" is the eventual winner, or if it's competitive, a second poll will be conducted to determine the proper location.

NEXT THEORY:

Varys is a merman

[Main menu]

[jaketeachesdeath]

Third day of Mammal Week is all about Rodents!

There are a total of 17 different Rodents across the British Isles and we have less than half of that.

Here there is

Grey Squirrel

Brown Rat

Bank Vole

Field Vole

Wood Mouse

House Mouse

Theres also Red Squirrel, Eurasian Beaver, Hazel Dormouse, Water Vole, Harvest Mouse and Yellow Necked Mouse, all of which are native. On top of that theres also some Island subspecies, the Skomer, Guernsey and Orkney Voles. Skomer being a subspecies of the Bank Vole and the latter of the Common Vole. Not forgetting the Edible Dormouse and the Black Rat both of which have been introduced.

So out of our list theres two species which have been introduced. The Brown Rat and of course the Grey Squirrel, the Brown Rat came in from Asia and the Grey Squirrel is native to North America. The Grey Squirrel however is classed as an Invasive Species.

Both of these species are adaptable, agile and unfortunately are known for spreading disease. Notably the Grey Squirrel having a huge effect on Red Squirrel populations who have no immunity to pox. In addition thier aggressive behaviour (amongst other complications) forced Reds into a select few locations, entirely absent from Southern England Mainland.

But now lets talk about teeth!

Teeth are the easiest way to seperate the last 4 species. Mice have cusped molars and Voles have molars that continuously grow. Then to seperate that further the distinction between Wood and House Mice is the notch in the back of the incisors of the House Mouse which the Wood lacks. In Voles its a little more complicated, sometimes its notable by the length of row of teeth, sometimes even the shape of the teeth pattern as seen from the underside but the distinction between Field and Bank Voles is the second molar the Bank Vole has a paired root and the Field Vole have a single open root on the 2nd upper molar!

24/04/24

[skaruresonic]

Your thoughts on PrimeSonic? The newest episode already has him want to give Nine another chance after Nine destroyed a WORLD, and

Logan McPherson claimed This Sonic is canon to the games??????

In the interest of full disclosure, I can't say I can give an informed opinion, only impressions, because virtually nothing about Prime or the bits and pieces I've heard about it make me want to watch the show. I watched an episodeand a half and proceeded to delete it from my memory. It legit comes across like a bad Pit of Voles fic, and that's before accounting for how utterly bored I am by multiverse shenanigans.

That disclaimer being said, I managed to find the Twitter thread discussing this very thing, and, well. To be brutally honest, in addition to seeing that Mr. Principles' spirit is alive and well, it makes Sonic come off as naive to the point of stupidity. Which. OP tried to argue was the point, as it takes Prime!Sonic a million years to even begin to entertain the idea that he shouldn't treat Nine and Tails as the same person:

There's so much to unpack here. The fact that it only took Games!Sonic a few reminders not to treat the Storybook versions of his friends the same as his friends, several throwaway jokes aside. The idea that Games!Sonic has to "evolve" into not being so colossally stupid that he can finally recognize people's individuality. The show raking Sonic over the coals when he's trying to rectify (albeit clumsily) his mistakes and hello? Nine has grown genocidal? Priorities? Why must Sonic suffer this "forever marked by his original sin" shit ad nauseum when there are bigger problems at stake?

I've heard it said before that the show turns Sonic into a walking ADHD stereotype, but this is just misguided naivete to the point of self-destruction and an insult to Games!Sonic.

[songbirdsanctuary]

Hermitcraft Warriors AU, chapter 1

This one is mainly a test-ish chapter for me to get a feel for writing in a warrior cats style.

Warnings: None

Word count: 1,368

Mumbo crouched low in the snow, his crimson eyes fixed on the unsuspecting mouse as it scurried about, its small form a potential source of much-needed sustenance for the Clan in the harsh grip of Leaf-bare. With flawless precision, he pounced, his jaws closing on the creature's neck in a swift, deadly motion. The mouse went limp in his grasp, a meager prize but a vital addition to the meager stores the Clan had managed to gather.

The bitter bite of the cold wind nipped at his fur as Mumbo stood over his kill, sending a silent thanks to StarClan, a sense of grim determination settling over him. Every morsel counted in times like these, when prey was scarce and hunger gnawed at the bellies of his fellow Clanmates. With a heavy heart, he acknowledged the harsh reality of their existence in the unforgiving wilderness, where survival hung by a precarious thread and every hunt was a matter of life and death.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a pale light over the snow-covered landscape, Mumbo made his way back to the designated meeting spot where the rest of his patrol awaited. Thoughts of the meager prey he had caught lingered in his mind, a stark reminder of the challenges they faced in the face of nature's unrelenting grip.

One mouse isn't enough to feed the Clan. he mused silently, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders as he approached SheepHorn and ZombieBloom, his companions in the hunt for pery. SheepHorn greeted him with a nod, a vole clasped firmly in his jaws, the faint scent of prey lingering in the crisp air.

ZombieBloom, ever the fierce and determined warrior, who normaly stood tall and proud, looked thin and wery, a thin mouse dangling from her jaws. She regarded Mumbo's catch with a disdainful huff. With a determined flick of her tail, she gestured for them to follow as she led the way back to camp, her pace brisk and purposeful.

As they got to the camp entrinse GoldLeaf, who was standing gard, greeted them.

“Hows the pray running?” He asked. ZombieBloom spoke around the mouse she held.

“Better than yesterday.” She huffed as she walked in. After dropping their meager prey on the small fresh-kill pile, Mumbo watched as his fellow Clanmates dispersed to find their own solace amidst the biting chill of Leaf-bare. Their breath misted in the cold air, a stark contrast to the warmth that eluded them in the barren landscape. With a heavy heart, he broke away from the group.

Finding a secluded spot beneath the shelter of a fallen tree, Mumbo settled himself in a patch of fading sunlight, the sparse branches above offering little protection from the biting winds that swept through the camp. Despite the relative warmth of his chosen spot, the chill of Leaf-bare lingered in the air, seeping into his fur and chilling him to the bone.

"Hey, Mumbo." The soft voice interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see FeatherStep approaching, his light brown fur ruffling in the breeze. A small smile tugged at Mumbo's lips as his clanmate settled beside him, seeking the comfort of companionship in the desolate winter landscape.

"Hi," Mumbo greeted, the warmth of FeatherStep's presence a welcome reprieve from the cold solitude that had settled over him. They sat together beneath the skeletal branches, their breath mingling in the frosty air as they exchanged quiet conversation.

"How did hunting go?" FeatherStep inquired, his blue eyes bright with curiosity as he eagerly awaited Mumbo's response.

"It was okay," Mumbo replied with a shrug, his words tinged with a hint of resignation. "Most of the prey is still hiding in their dens, but I managed to catch a mouse."

FeatherStep's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of fresh prey, his own hunger evident in the way he licked his lips in anticipation. "I can't wait until the birds come back," he mused wistfully. "It's been forever since I had a starling."

A mischievous gleam sparkled in Mumbo's eyes as a playful idea took root in his mind. "You know what," he began, his whiskers twitching with amusement. "When the birds return, I'll catch a starling just for you."

FeatherStep rolled his eyes good-naturedly, a fond smile curving his lips. "You know you're terrible at catching birds," he teased, a gentle ribbing that spoke of their long-standing camaraderie.

Pretending to be offended, Mumbo huffed theatrically and playfully batted a paw at FeatherStep's ears. The tabby swiftly ducked out of reach, his laughter ringing out in the cold air as they engaged in their familiar banter.

"Come on, you know it's true," FeatherStep quipped, his playful demeanor putting Mumbo at ease as they shared a moment of levity amidst the harsh realities of their daily struggles. With a resigned sigh, Mumbo rested his head on his paws in defeat, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he embraced the simple joy of companionship in the midst of Leaf-bare's unforgiving grip.

"Mumbo, FeatherStep! Would you like to grab something from the fresh-kill pile?" KnightClaw's call echoed through the clearing, drawing the attention of the two young cats. FeatherStep eagerly sprang up, his brown tabby fur bristling with excitement as he made his way towards the pile of prey. However, Mumbo remained seated, his crinsion eyes fixed on the ground.

"I'll wait until the clan has eaten, then I'll see if there's anything left," Mumbo mumbled, a hint of reluctance in his tone. KnightClaw arched an eyebrow in concern at Mumbo's response.

"But you said that yesterday, and there was nothing left. You must be hungry." KnightClaw pressed, trying to coax Mumbo into joining the others in eating. Mumbo shook his head stubbornly, his ears pinned back in determination.

"I'll be fine," Mumbo insisted, his voice soft but resolute. Without waiting for further argument, he curled up in a tight ball, closing his eyes and feigning sleep to avoid the conversation.

As the moments passed, Mumbo heard the soft sound of pawsteps approaching. He cracked open an eye to see FeatherStep returning, a skinny mouse dangling from his jaws. Mumbo tensed, expecting his friend to simply enjoy the meal and leave him be. However, to his surprise, FeatherStep nudged him gently with a paw, causing Mumbo to look up in confusion.

"You eat the rest," FeatherStep offered, pushing the half-eaten mouse towards Mumbo. He blinked in disbelief, his heart swelling with gratitude at the unexpected gesture of kindness.

"Aren't you hungry?" Mumbo questioned, unable to fathom why FeatherStep would sacrifice his own meal for him. FeatherStep grinned, a mischievous twinkle in his bright blue eyes as he stood tall.

"Yes, but so are you," FeatherStep declared proudly, his voice laced with determination. "And I'm not letting you go hungry, Mumbo. We're friends, remember? Besides if I didn’t offer you some pray I’m sure some cat would have." With that, he settled down beside Mumbo, watching quietly as his companion hesitantly took a few bites of the offered mouse.

"Thank you," Mumbo whispered, his words laden with unspoken gratitude. It wasn’t much but it was still something.

As they sat there in the peaceful tranquility of the clearing, the last hints of sunlight casting a golden glow on their fur, FeatherStep inched closer to Mumbo. The tabby tom's movements were gentle and deliberate as he closed the gap between them, his touch as light as a feather as he began to groom behind Mumbo's ears. Mumbo, surprised by the gesture but delighted by the warmth of FeatherStep's affection, purred softly in response, his eyes falling shut in contentment.

FeatherStep's movements were practiced and precise, his tongue deftly working through matted fur with a gentle touch. Mumbo tilted his head slightly, allowing FeatherStep better access to the hard-to-reach spots behind his ears, a small smile playing on his lips as he relished the sensation of his friend's comforting touch.

As FeatherStep continued to groom him, Mumbo couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over him. The worries and uncertainties that had plagued his mind earlier seemed to melt away in the face of FeatherStep's simple act of kindness.

[bonefall]

Bonefall SkyClan Family Tree: Draft 1

[Image ID: A family tree, color coded by family. Leafstar x Billystorm is Lavender. Sharpclaw x Cherrytail is Red. Clovertail x Patchfoot is Mint. Waspwhisker x Fallowfern is Yellow. Tree and Dragonfly's children with Violetshine is Periwinkle. Barley's family's contribution is Pink. Sandynose x Egg is Orange. Voletooth's contribution is Gray. Rainbloom x Petalnose is Cyan.]

After completing my diagnosis and hearing out a bunch of requests, behold! I've created Draft 1 of the SkyClan family tree, reduxed.

I've cut a significant amount of bloat while also including cats who were unceremoniously dropped by the books. The genetic distribution is also more varied now instead of bunching up around the detested 1st cousin pairings of canon.

(A reminder; my family tree fixes are free to use if you'd like to nab this for your own projects!)

Patch Notes:

The following cats have been removed for now: Sunnypelt, Pigeonfoot, Nettlesplash, Gravelnose, Cloudmist. They may get added back in as fodder. (i forgot to write Parsleyseed, Pabbleshine's brother, onto this tree. he's not cut i just forgor)

Voletooth, Egg, and Rileypool are back, with Vole and Egg also contributing to the SkyClan bloodline.

Ebonyclaw is being considered as an addition.

Snookthorn, Harveymoon, and Hutch/Shortwhisker are being considered for the fatherhood of Tinycloud's kittens.

Rainfur has been renamed to Rainbloom. (I was going to call him Rainspot but we need more boys with flower names. Also it sounds better.)

Sparrowpelt and Sandynose were siblings; purebred kittypets who left their human before they could be separated. Sandynose is a girl now; her mate was Egg.

Sparrowpelt was TNR'd sometime after Firestar left.

Quailfeather and Birdwing are SandyxEgg kittens, from an older litter than Finleap.

Cherrytail is spayed; the kits are from Echosong. SkyClan has different feelings about Clerics having kittens.

Instead of the eliminated Nettlesplash, Voletooth is the new father of Mintfur's kittens.

Because Sandynose is no longer a child of Clovertail, Rockshade is the father of Plumwillow's litter.

I'm holding onto MacGyver as fresh blood. I love him so much

Dragonfly, Violetshine, and Tree are in a polycule.

[splashspeck]

Hello yes, I am bored at work and ended up writing a quick draft of a Clan Kingdoms AU fiction. The start of the Blackfoor/Tawnypelt arranged marriage idea @troutfur helped me figure out.

This is definitely an early draft but, I wanted to share a little of the atmosphere I'm hoping to create.

Also sorry about the format I'm posting on mobile lol

"Blackfoot?" The tom fought back a sigh as he heard a hesitant voice call for him. He'd been about to pluck one of the few frogs they'd managed to get onto the Tigerclan prey pile, but the duty of a deputy was never over it would seem. He carefully brought his expression to neutral and turned to the cat, Cedarpaw. Darkflower's son, a scrawny thing, though Russetfur had been working hard to put some muscle onto the little tom. 

"Yes?"

"Sorry to bother you sir, but… Tigerstar requested you in his den." The apprentice looked shaken, and Blackfoot knew well that their leader had a way of terrorizing cats with only a word, and could only imagine what the young tom had seen or heard to unsettle him. 

"Message received, we'll done Cedarpaw." He meowed, seeing the younger Tom's ears perk up. "I take it Tigerstar hasn't taken his evening prey yet?" The dark gray apprentice shook his head, so Blackfoot grabbed his frog as well as a chubby vole one of the Riverclanners had managed to snag. "Once your duties are done, get some prey and rest. Russetfur will drive you hard tomorrow." He meowed around his burden, earning a nod from the apprentice before striding across Tigerclan's camp. The newer dens were still shoddy, and he made note to get some of the den builders on task tomorrow. Perhaps he'd assign Russetfur and Cedarpaw to that as well. The Tom could use the muscle and Russetfur was a taskmaster of little compare. 

The leaders' den was one of the few dens of solid build, though it was still soggy from the recent rain when Blackfoot slid past the reeds sheltering Tigerstar and Leopardfur's inner sanctum. 

"Tigerstar, apologies for the delay, I figured you hadn't eaten yet." He explained, setting the vole at the tabby's paws. Amber eyes studied him a bit longer than he liked, and Blackfoot noted the addition of the leader's daughter, Tawnypaw, in the den. He'd kept the young Molly close since she'd joined Tigerclan with them, and Blackfoot had been impressed with how well she'd adapted to the new way of life. 

"Thank you, Blackfoot, the gesture is appreciated." Tigerstar's voice cut into Blackfoot's thoughts, and he nodded, carefully keeping his own prey set aside. "I'm sure you have questions about the purpose of this meeting." The dark tabby meowed, his tail swaying lazily in a way that put Blackfoot further on edge. He felt like prey being sized up for a hunt. "It is little surprise that our clan is still suffering the effects of previous leadership mistakes and misfortune. Tigerclan, and even Shadowclan within that, is in need of some positive news for the future, as well as some added security to ensure we are never in that position again." Blackfoot nodded obediently as Tigerstar glanced at his daughter, sitting stiffly at his side. "I have a task that I can only entrust to you two, to ensure our position in the clan and our success for the future." 

Blackfoot's heart dropped and started to pound.

"Sir?" He spoke cautiously, more than a little afraid of what was to come. 

"Tigerclan is to celebrate tomorrow, a feast like those Shadowclan holds for the royal betrothal. I have not seen one, but my mother told me of them. I would want nothing less for my daughter's betrothal." Blackfoot looked to Tawnypaw then, the tortoiseshell molly’s eyes were carefully focused on the ground, and a small scratch was visible on her cheek. Stars she hadn’t even completed her fourth season, Badgerfang would have been older than her had he survived. 

“I’ll ensure the patrols start hunting so we may celebrate as is worthy of such a grand announcement.” Blackfoot answered, only a moment too late. “Who is the tom so honored by this betrothal?” He looked back at Tigerstar then, and saw his fangs glint in the fading light when he gave a mocking grin. 

“Oh Blackfoot, don’t be so bashful.” He purred, standing to pace around the den. “I would align our families, cement for Shadowclan that the line of Tigerstar and the line of Hollyflower are one in our goals to make the best future for Shadowclan. To Ensure that we are never without an heir to the leadership again, and no more mistakes like Nightpelt’s Regency can occur.” He swept past Blackfoot then, weaving around his daughter and tapping her chin with his tail in a not-so-subtle order to raise her head. Green eyes normally so full of determination had gone dull, and Blackfoot knew the feeling of defeat she tried to cover with stony resignation. “And you couldn’t ask for a better Mate. Right, Tawny?” She nodded, still not meeting Blackfoot’s eyes. Blackfoot himself stood stiff, even his tail was held still, as though moving would make this nightmare come reality any more real. 

“I… am honored at being considered, Tigerstar, truly.” Blackfoot finally spoke, and he knew his shock wasn’t covered at all by the smirk on Tigerstar’s muzzle. “But… wouldn’t you want to match her with  a cat more befitting her position? I am a third child, disgraced from my own bloodline-”

“A bloodline that holds no command anymore.” Tigerstar scoffed. “You are the survivor. You followed your Stars Ordained Leaders and lived, your littermates chose to follow a regent the Stars did not recognize, and they were victims on the punishment levied against the clan for this. As to my daughter’s position, I would not pair my daughter to a half-clan bastard, or the child of one of those creatures, nor would I have my bloodline muddied with one of Tallstar’s cowards or the followers of a kittypet usurper. No, this ensures her, and our, place in the clans. Besides,” Amber eyes locked onto yellow and Blackfoot fought to maintain eye contact with his leader. “I would keep my kin close, to ensure my bloodline continues.” He strode towards his nest, grabbing the fat vole as he swept past Tawnypaw. “You two should start to get to know one another, walk her to her den, Blackfoot.” 

“Yes, sir.” Blackfoot answered, stepping aside and grabbing the frog from the floor, though his stomach now roiled in discomfort. “Ma’am.” He mewed as Tawnypaw padded through the reeds, following at a slow pace. The silence was thick, tense with discomfort, and Blackfoot thanked the Stars that he rest of the clan had already retired to their dens. As the apprentice’s den crept closer he stopped, catching Tawnypaw off guard and dipping his head. 

“I’m sorry, Tawnypaw. I’m sure this is not the match you would have hoped for.” He meowed, keeping his eyes low. “I hope not to disappoint you further.” He set the frog at her paws, and carefully touched his nose to her head, between her ears, before turning and padding towards the camp entrance. A glance from the corner of his eye showed the young molly take the prey and slip into the den, likely to concerned denmates. He knew Cedarpaw and Rowanpaw had taken to her, and Dawnpaw was warming to her newer denmates. 

As he approached the camp edges he gave a brief nod to Boulder, taking up the second guard post without a word. 

He wouldn’t sleep that night. Not without the image of his sister, his nephew, his brother and his mother haunting him. Without the sick guilt twisting in his gut like an adder as he thought about the not-even-warrior mate he’d be forced to take. 

[ao3feed-ds9]

Like a prism (you bring colour to my life)

https://ift.tt/4gZBiYe by Lisetta888 Odo has escaped from the Bajoran Institute of Science, finally free and ready to make his own way. He just needs a ship, and he's ready to use... unorthodox methods. Quark is stuck on a Ferengi freighter as a cook, hoping for an opportunity when he finds a lost vole and starts taking care of it. I'm sure those two events are totally unrelated, right? Also, one last thing: it's the Mirror Universe. Words: 4748, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: M/M Characters: Mirror Odo (Star Trek), Mirror Kira Nerys, Mirror Quark (Star Trek) Relationships: Odo/Quark (Star Trek), Mirror Odo/Mirror Quark Additional Tags: One-Sided Attraction, One-Sided Relationship, Forced Relationship, Mirror Universe (Star Trek), Yandere, Obsessive Behavior, Possessive Behavior, me???? writing a toxic yandere relationship??? who would have thought???? /s, there's also, Blood and Gore, because Mirror Odo cannot fucking control himself and kills a lot of people, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, I will probably add more chapter to this, but no promises, pray for mirror Quark y'all, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

[dougdimmadodo]

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Family: Typical Owl Family (Strigidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Immediately recognizable thanks to its large size and distinctive colouration (snowy white with flecks of black or brown, with females often being more heavily flecked than males), the Snowy Owl is unusual among owls in that it is active during that day as well as at night, and in that it is nomadic (meaning it continually travels throughout its range, instead of settling in a single territory for the majority of its life like most owls.) Found in open tundras in arctic regions of Asia, Europe and North America, the diet of this species consists primarily of lemmings (which do not hibernate during the winter, unlike many arctic rodents, and so can be reliably found year-round), but it has also been known to feed on other small mammals such as rabbits, rats, voles and hares (particularly the Arctic Hare) as well as birds such as the Common Eider, Snow Bunting, Rock Ptarmigan and Horned Grebe, and occasionally fish where it is able to catch them. Although their sense of hearing is excellent Snowy Owls seem to rely primarily on sight to locate prey, typically surveying their surroundings from elevated ground and catching prey by swooping low to the ground and grabbing it in their sharp-clawed feet (although when hunting larger prey they may land on their prey feet-first to allow the force of impact to cause additional injuries.) Snowy Owls breed in late April and early May when prey is most abundant, with females constructing simple ditch-like nests on the ground and lining them with soft vegetation and their own shed feathers. A typical clutch size for this species is around 5-8 eggs, with females incubating the eggs and protecting the chicks while males bring prey back to the nest, depositing any excess food in hidden cashes nearby. Among various threats to this species (including habitat loss and changes in seasonal prey populations due to climate change), a high demand for the remains of Snowy Owls for use in taxidermy has historically posed a threat to wild populations, but as the impact of humans on Snowy Owl populations has come to be better understood this practice is beginning to be phased out.

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

Animal Advent Calendar - Day 21

Image Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/144594-Bubo-scandiacus

[one-with-the-tree]

Hearst didn't even really write herself into a corner re: Kaala's romances but she chose to go for it anyways.

She basically presented us with two options: Kaala gets together with her cousin or the adult creep who is hitting on her. Hearst chose the former.

But the solution would've been so easy: just introduce a wolf around Kaala's age range she's not related to? Or age down Pell and lower the creep factor? Have her get with one of those Vole Eaters wolves she befriends, they seem to be in the right age range AND unrelated? Or better yet no romance at all bc Hearst's not v good at writing it.

Bc right now Kaala's romance with Ázzuen is just kind of a last minute addition, not very well-developed. And he's her cousin. They're written as friends or siblings to me, not partners.

Either way this would've been p easy to avoid which makes me wonder why Hearst wrote her children's book like this. Oh well

[1-50thofabuck]

Review of "Hamlet of Volage," Adventure Module V1 from BRW Games for Adventures Dark and Deep.

I love printed gaming materials. I adore published modules that have a distinct old-school look. If I see such modules being offered, I generally purchase them, for my own collection and to support small publishers. They usually don't cost too much.

Modules with witches, fae, conspiracies and/or cults are another selling point for me.

Case in point: I purchased each of the V series modules by BRW games before they were published in print, so I got each as a PDF with the printed book to be sent later when completed. The stories revolve around different covens of witches, existing in secret(naturally) and warring among themselves.

Take the incredibly small hamlet of Volage. At least one coven exists here, most of them living normal, public lives, while members of other covens either live within, or visit frequently, to keep tabs, act as spies and everything you'd expect of such a scenario.

As I'm running this module for a system that we're play testing for publication by Penny Thought Exchange, and this happens to be an anthro based system based loosely on our Steal This Game! public domain engine, I ran the module as "The Hamlet of Vole Lodge: The Haunting of Pell House." None of these kinds of changes affected the module's play too much. Since characters are animal based, they do have access to abilities that run of the mill PCs in other games might not, but we try to balance these abilities as a part of character creation. Also, the NPCs, including the baddies, get these also, so it levels out. Otherwise, it's largely cosmetic, as NPCs are assigned an animal type and fitting description.

Because the module has so many NPCs and information on the town, I printed these out and affixed them to standard paper sized cardboard for quick reference. It also made it easier to track my own additions, such as what animal types the various NPCs are.

All that said to prepare for the review proper, I have to give one last bit of insight. I was running for a very small group, and certain among them are known to get frustrated quickly if leads and clues aren't given to them easily or frequently enough. Thus, I'm not sure in certain places where the problem may lay with the module or with the sensibilities of certain individuals, though in at least one case the problem is certainly the module's, as I will describe as we continue.

Within a day or so in the hamlet, there was already grumbling that nothing was turning up of any real interest. Most of the supernatural occurences, as the PCs felt, were rather mundane, unprovable, or non sequitur to their investigations. Blankets getting bedbugs and such seemed normal enough. Sheep being attacked by wolves and then vanishing is a bit odd, but not enough to jump to suspicions of witchcraft, and seemingly not enough to investigate at any rate. The module itself didn't suggest or describe any methods of doing so or anything learned if PCs did, but it wasn't relevant since they were disinterested in doing so. Every cat being found dead was more mystifying but another case of "what are we supposed to do about it?" People getting sick, people falling off ladders, all seemed like a typical string of unfortunate but not distinctly magical occurances.

They decided to spend the night in the cemetery, where only one random event took place, a weird fog or mist which I tried to play up as much as I could. When all was said and done, however, it was more of the same: "Weird, but nothing we can learn anything from and seemingly unrelated."

The group decided that after another day or so if they didn't come across something of more interest they were going to bail. I still had two more modules and they were ready to quit before getting more than a day into the first. I ended up throwing in a clue not in the module to keep them in, though I regretted throwing bones like that simply because the PCs became disinterested. Still, I really wanted to continue the module, so I did so. To some degree, two of them, but the details of those aren't very important.

They decided to keep an eye on some of the young ones of the hamlet who had been rumored to run off into the woods some nights, and follow them.

Around this time, I decided to look into the next module. It shouldn't be necessary. Each were published at different times, and are supposed to be playable independently. Yet the second module gives details of great importance: the way the Pell family is butchered. V1 simply says they were killed violently. The second reveals that the attack has the hallmarks of an animal attack, yet they got into the house at night, somehow, and left without being seen. Now that gives some serious indication of some supernatural going's on. Too bad V1 decided we didn't need to know!

After telling the players about this new info, they became much more convinced of supernatural tomfoolery, but still felt about the same as they did - follow the young ones next time they run off, if that doesn't lead to anything, we leave.

I don't believe the module tells you what night the young witches go to their esbat, but an NPC suggested the night of the new moon, so the PCs kept special notice that night. One of the bones I threw in to keep the adventure going.

In the end, they got noticed while trailing the girls, but the witches pretended not to notice. They completed their esbat, getting new familiars and other boons before revealing their awareness of the PCs.

The battle didn't last long. The PCs got destroyed. However, it was a small group, and my suggestions of getting retainers and mercenaries to boost their numbers fell on deaf ears. I do not fault the module for their loss whatsoever.

At the moment, I'm running my own revision of an old adventure I wrote(I shared a little taster of it a bit ago), but afterwards, I hope to jump to V2 and see how that one goes. If it works out well, on to V3, or perhaps my sequel idea to the module I'm rewriting now, and then V3. If V2 goes poorly, I suspect I will abandon the series and leave them to look pretty on my shelf.

If you like OSR adventure modules, despite my less than stellar success, you can't go too wrong for a $4 PDF. https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/373537/Adventure-Module-V1--The-Hamlet-of-Volage

Addendum: While looking for a quick cover image to put at the beginning of the review, I came across tenfootpole's review. I often agree, sometimes strongly disagree, but generally find their reviews entertaining either way. Looking to see if they hailed it as a masterpiece and realize I'm a big dummy, oh boy did they not find it impressive. Strong language warning for those sensitive to that kinda thing. Their agreement does not make me right, but I'm gratified that at least it wasn't just me who was kind of bewildered by a lot of the adventure.