#and it's so dry and the wind was really blowing so conditions were ideal

[nefretemerson]

ive called 911 A LOT for car crashes because people are always running red lights Directly outside my apartment, and flipping their cars or driving them thru the wrought iron fencing surrounding the building's little patch of lawn and then straight up onto the first floor porch and into the big glass door (an incident I forgot happened till just now) but today I got to call in my very first Very Large Brush Fire Right Beside The Electrical Substation™️ and I feel like a should get a gold star for civic engagement.

[coraxaviary]

War in the Time of Death (I)

NOSFERATU

Summary: I like TWD and it’s spooky season so why not create an AU???

Word Count: 4.3k

Author’s Note: Maybe a series??? I had a lot of fun with this!

Warnings: Zombie gross-ness :)

.

The first time it happened, they were lucky. He came back slowly.

Roe had moved into the back to check on the men who were draped over the tables, walls, and each other – most of them smeared with red, leaving small streaks on the furniture and floors. Thankfully there wasn’t an obscene amount of pained screams or moans – morphine took care of that, and the men who needed severe pain relief were sedated out of their minds, most of them lying still and breathing with labored breaths.

Roe didn’t want to think about the fact that morphine took heart rates dangerously low sometimes – that the empty dreamlike state of hibernation was almost like death, and that was sometimes the point of the opioid anyway. He sighed through his nose, emptying his lungs of blood-scented air, and drawing in another fresh breath of the stuff.

Roe was winding another loosened ribbon of bandages into a tight roll, making his rounds, trying not to reveal just how worried he really was at the state of some of the men. Winters was fine, even though Roe wished he hadn’t elected to stand in that certain place at the exact moment that a sniper got a shot off. He could have been shot somewhere critical.

He didn’t, Roe tells himself as he pads past the now-empty corner that was previously inhabited by Blithe, trying not to think about Tipper, who’d been carted away by now and deposited in the back of a truck or an ambulance or something. Tipper, he’d been almost completely demolished and he was lucky that he–

Roe bites off the thought, fingers tightening around the roll of bandage. It did no good to think about the what-ifs. The men that were safe were safe, and that was all that mattered. The men that were in critical condition –

“Doc?”

Roe swings around abruptly, searching for whoever needed him. “Yeah, what is it?” he calls into the space.

It is Lipton, propped up on the floor in what looked to be a mildly uncomfortable position. His back is against the floor and his neck is bent at a strange angle as he tries to crane his head up from where it has been resting against a drawer. Roe almost winces until he remembers the far worse injury Lipton is actually there for, and he automatically starts to crouch, hands going for Lipton’s uniform.

“Uh, no… Thank you,” says Lipton in a rush, pushing at Roe’s hands awkwardly, away from the fly of his pants. He clears his throat. Roe looks at the blood darkening the area where Lipton has been wounded.

“Ya need a new uniform? I’ll try to see what I can do,” says Roe, already going to stand up and pursue a supply truck. “ ‘Course, there’s–”

“Doc,” Lipton says again from the floor.

“Oh, does it hurt–”

“I think, um…” trails off Lipton. Roe looks at him confusedly. “I dunno. Check on... the guys maybe?” It’s not a response to Roe’s question, but Lipton looks as if he’s at a loss for words, and he just points helplessly down a small hallway.

Roe follows his line of sight. Lipton is pointing at a series of shrouded bodies: ultimate casualties from the day’s fight. The cost of a town? A few acres of stone and glass? Roe doesn’t know if it’s worth it but his job is to deal with non-ideal circumstances so he doesn’t ever comment.

The bodies have been put there because there’s nowhere else to put them. It’s not the best setting for an impromptu morgue but at the moment there is a limited amount of space and the bodies are lined up in the narrow hallway. It’s hardly a respectable send-off, but then again nothing is and they are already dead, so it doesn’t really matter now that their bodies are uninhabited.

Roe tells himself this to remind himself that they aren’t really causing discomfort to the dead men, or tarnishing their memories, despite the sentiment that a final resting place in a hasty grave hardly seems commemorative of their service. He’s getting ready to tell Lipton that, because he seems awfully concerned about the bodies. Roe does not fault him, nor any of the men for being caring for the dead. It is more than they are afforded in life, sometimes.

“Wait, wait. Look,” says Lipton, pointing down the hall again. “You see that?”

“See what?” asks Roe, squinting into the rather dimly illuminated hallway. A cloud passes over the sun, further blocking out the light, and the room is momentarily bathed in passing shadow. The wooden bars in the windows between panes and the spots of grime in the glass grow like projections on the opposite wall after the clouds fade away, sweeping the room like a faded watercolor imitation of the effects of an illumination flare.

“Look.” Lipton is pointing again, and Roe wants to tell him not to strain himself when he sees something moving in his periphery. He turns more fully to face the bodies, not wanting to really ponder their state of death but having to anyway since Lipton seems awfully concerned. It’s not a foreign tone for Lipton, but his loss for words is.

But then the white of the sheet moves again, and Roe tells himself that it’s the wind blowing through the house. He turns around quickly to check that all the windows are, in fact, closed. They are, at least in the relative vicinity. It’s probably the fabric billowing out in the movement of the air.

Just to placate Lipton, who was dealt a blow close to a critical area that day and was probably owed at least this comfort, Roe moves into the hallway where the stink of decay remains at bay. The latest body has been deposited here only thirty minutes ago. And the first one was about four hours prior. They haven’t started smelling yet, and for this Roe is grateful.

He leans over the three shrouded bodies, watching them for a few seconds. Nothing happens, and Roe tells himself he’s getting carried away with old wive’s tales; maybe a substantial dose of Indian mythology.

“What were you saying–” Roe says, turning around to face Lipton, but Lipton is scrambling around to get up, and a feeling of alarm comes over Roe. “Okay, okay, calm down,” he murmurs, walking back out of the hallway, trying to make Lipton relax a little. “You don’t wanna–”

“Look,” Lipton almost yells, pointing. “I swear, I’m not messing with you.”

The rest of the makeshift ward is starting to look in Lipton’s direction, because it’s so uncharacteristic for Lipton to be so riled up about anything. Roe sighs and puts a hand on Lipton’s shoulder, forcing him back down to the floor with as much gentleness that he can put into the touch. “I can move you to a different part of…”

“Hey, Doc,” says someone over Roe’s shoulder. He whips around to find Luz standing behind him as if he just walked into the room, and he’s clutching a box of something, which he sets carefully onto the floor behind him. His eyes aren’t on Roe or Lipton, though: he’s staring down the hallway. Roe watches Luz carefully, trying to understand the strange phenomenon. What are they seeing that he doesn’t?

“What’s going on with Hartley?”

“Hartley?” says Roe. He swallows and thinks of the IV he was struggling to get into Hartley earlier that day. He’d found a vessel and got the needle in right as Hartley drew his last breath. Roe had managed not to drop the glass IV bottle when he handed it off to someone else as he moved to give compressions. Of course, his windpipe was damaged and his jugular had been blown wide open. There wasn’t much of anything Roe could do anyway.

He pushes that all out of mind in favor of refocusing on the present. There was a question being asked. “He, uh… he passed.”

Luz is peering down the hallway, blocking Roe’s view, but Lipton’s eyes grow even larger.

“What?” says Luz, starting to march down the hall. “I dunno who determined that…” he trails off, and Lipton tugs at Roe’s pant leg wildly.

“I told you–”

“Hey, Luz,” Roe says tiredly. “Get out of there. You don’t wanna be checking out–”

“Hartley,” says Luz, voice carrying down the hallway. Roe leans out to check on what, exactly, Luz is doing. Grief causes men to do strange things, but this is almost inappropriate with the death of Hartley being so near. Luz is never explicitly offensive in his mischief, but he’s crossing the line. Just because he deals with loss with humor doesn’t mean the other men will be at peace with it.

Luz is cast in shadow in the hallway, crouched down over the nearest corpse. He’s reaching out to touch it – move the shroud, maybe, and Roe breathes a huff of exhausted disappointment through his nose before following Luz into the hall to gently move him away somewhere less traumatizing. Hartley sustained a gaping neck wound and an even worse compound fracture to his leg and Luz doesn’t need to see that.

“Hey, Luz,” Roe says gently, stopping behind him. “Maybe–”

Roe stops talking. Luz has moved the shroud down to Hartley’s neck, and Roe almost has a heart attack right then and there because Hartley is alive.

“Ohh, boy,” whispers Luz almost reverently in shock, and both he and Roe watch Hartley – pale and bloodless, bled dry from his wound and sallow as death – breathe in what seems like almost silent rattling moans, eyes defocused but moving.

“Hartley,” says Roe once. Hartley doesn’t respond except for a slight opening of his mouth, and Roe nudges Luz out of the way, who moves readily, eyes never leaving Hartley’s miraculously living face. “Hey.”

He does turn his head, very slowly, and he seems to face Roe.

Roe is holding his breath, and he finds it hard to blink. He is at a loss for words, and his hands shake with something like elation mixed with the feeling of failure. It is impossible. Hartley had bled out in front of him; under his hands. Roe still has the remnants of his dried blood packed under his fingernails, and he was under the impression that the small dribbles pumping out his neck in the last moments were the last of life.

“Hartley,” repeats Roe, waving a hand in front of his face. “Luz, gimme a light.” Hartley doesn't respond, but Roe dives into medic mode anyway, tearing the rest of the sheet away and hovering over the gaping, dry neck wound. He can still see the ligaments through the gash, straining as Hartley tenses, and what he thought were emptied, severed blood vessels. An artery so far gone it had shrunk inches-deep into the wound cavity.

Roe takes a risk and prods at Hartley’s neck. There is no dampness, or at least fresh, bright bleeding. The body has been sitting for hours. No blood springs up at his touch, and even more curiously, Hartley does not react. Luz nudges him on the shoulder with a lighter and Roe flicks it on, moving it in front of Hartley’s face.

No reaction. His pupils don’t respond. Roe touches the neck wound again.

“What the hell?” mutters Luz. Hartley gives a small groan, and it makes the exposed bodily wiring in his neck tremble. Roe doesn’t know much about surgical medicine, but he does know this ain’t right.

Against his better judgement, Roe finds Hartley’s wrist and feels for a pulse. Of course he’s alive if he’s conscious, but there’s something wrong with the way he reanimated. The feeling of guilt leaches from Roe as he pokes and prods for a vein, but they’re all out of blood anyway and there is no drumbeat of life beneath the skin, even though the muscles jump for a second. Roe produces a knife and holds it up to Hartley’s mouth, waiting for the vapor of breath to touch the clear silver blade. It remains spotless.

Luz shifts uncomfortably behind Roe, and he wants to tell him to give him space, but Hartley stirs and then inexplicably starts to strain as if to sit up without saying anything and Roe puts down the knife and opens the buttons on Hartley’s blood-stiffened uniform, exposing his chest – which is room-temperature – and putting his ear to the man’s heart. He stays there.

Sometimes heartbeats are hard to miss. Roe keeps listening, as if staying there will produce one if he stays long enough. Luz gasps quietly and a moment later Roe feels Hartley shift.

Roe looks at Luz helplessly. Luz looks back and shrugs with an expression of utter confusion.

“No pulse?”

“Nah,” says Roe. “Maybe…” he trails off, grasping at explanations. “Rigor mortis, just a weird–”

“Doc,” Luz then says suddenly, pulling him back by the uniform towards the entrance of the hall, as if there is something to fear. Hartley has sat up. He opens his mouth and closes it again with a snap of teeth louder than any bite Roe has ever heard. Roe feels something wrong in his bones, but the guilt comes back and he stares at Hartley instead of administering medical care, as he should, because he failed to save this man. Roe knew for sure when his heart stopped and the blood stopped draining because there was none.

“He’s dead,” murmurs Roe to himself, standing with Luz at the junction of the hall and the room. “He’s medically dead.”

“Yeah, no shit,” says Luz, watching Hartley shakily stand in a unique spindly way, and the rest of the sheet falls away to reveal the truly crippling injury he’d also sustained to his leg.

Hartley should not be walking. There is bone exposed, and it’s jutting out of the skin. Luz makes a disgusted and terrified noise, and Roe watches Hartley stagger to life with growing horror.

“You seeing this?” says Roe quietly. When Luz doesn’t answer, he takes a fistful of Luz’s uniform and gives him a good shake. “You seeing this?” he repeats.

Luz nods numbly. Hartley moans.

“Guys?” says Lipton from the makeshift ward. “Everything alright?”

“Dunno,” yells Roe back with uncertainty, because it’s really the only thing he can say as he watches Hartley lurch about. When his fibula bone in his calf starts to rip through more skin as the bone crumples further with added weight, Roe shakes himself out of the shocked stupor and forces himself to go to Hartley – who is acting like those deer, the ones with parasites in their brains, and Roe can’t stop thinking about them – and he takes ahold of the front of his shirt.

“Easy, Hart,” mutters Roe. “Gonna make your leg worse.”

Hartley lunges forwards with all his bodily weight and Roe can hear the snap of teeth.

Luz rushes forwards and tears Hartley off Roe, and Roe watches with horror as Hartley turns to try and take a bite out of Luz. His teeth clack and his eyes are unfocused.

“Hartley,” Roe says, trying to wrestle him off Luz this time. “Stop. We’re trying to help–” He feels teeth fixing around a fold of his uniform, and there is a small pinch. “Hartley, stop.” Roe is almost yelling now.

Hartley thrashes. Luz loses control and so does Roe, and Roe hits the ground on his back with Hartley, white as a sheet, climbing on top, yellowed teeth snapping, jaw working wildly, and Roe smells the cold flood of air from inside Hartley’s gullet, and it smells of death and decay. Roe lets out a yell of alarm, and he can hear Luz calling for assistance and Lipton asking what is going on, and Roe gets an arm against Hartley’s neck, and he’s simultaneously apologizing for pressing on the wound and trying to reel back in terror.

Hartley is lifted off him, but he swings around and sinks his teeth into whoever got behind Luz, and it’s chaos now – men shouting in the small echoey hallway, grappling for control of the deranged corpse-man and Lux tugs Roe up by the shirt as some of the other men manage to pin Hartley down. Someone is sitting on his chest, and Roe almost protests that you can’t do that to a morally wounded patient but he realizes the irony and falls silent in a stunned pause.

There is still the sound of teeth snapping, and terrible deathlike moans coming from Hartley’s throat.

“You gotta be shittin’ me,” says Roe at last, watching what used to be Hartley convulse against the men holding him down. “I saw him die.” He swallows hard. “I watched him die.”

“I know,” says Luz. “You probably did.”

“Then…” says Roe, feeling useless and at a loss, just watching Hartley. “Then what–”

“You don’t know,” says Luz, rubbing Roe’s shoulder briefly. “And that’s okay, ‘cause this ain’t… natural.”

“I watched him die,” says Roe to himself in a whisper, and Hartley still snaps his teeth. Roe watches him bite his tongue so hard it almost amputates at the root with a single snap, and then the tongue is gone in a few more moments, slipping down his own throat. The ligaments in his exposed esophagus move. He’s swallowing, Roe realizes.

There is a chorus of disgusted, horrified groans. Someone gags.

“I’m gonna throw up,” says Luz. Roe nudges him towards the outer rooms, still watching Hartley. The parasite-infected deer still sticks in his mind as he sees Hartley’s body move, but there is no life behind his eyes. Whoever is at the wheel is not Hartley, Roe decides. If it’s even biology, he doesn’t know.

+

After a while, Hartley begins to try and eat the other men in earnest, like that one man who got bit. He’s lunging and snapping and growling with increased ferocity, resembling a starving, bony wolf more at this point than a person. But wolves at least are kind of beautiful, in a feral way, Roe thinks. Hartley is… a revenant or something. It’s more than uncanny – most of the men do not believe what Roe tells them when they address the pulse question.

“Nosferatu,” says Welsh, watching Hartley snap and bite and shuffle about with an inhuman gait. The men decided to put him in a pit that a German artillery piece made a few hours ago since he doesn’t seem to be in full control of his fine motor skills. Or his coordinated faculties, for that matter.

“What?” Roe says. He’s fiddling with some rations but he decides he can’t really eat while watching Hartley’s body contort in that sick tortured-looking manner, alive but not really alive.

“You know, the vampire,” says Welsh. “Remember that film?”

Roe pauses, thinks. Looks down into the pit, and Hartley is clawing at the edge, trying to get at him and Welsh. Roe kicks his legs up from where they dangle dangerously near to Hartley’s clawing grasp.

“No, I didn’t really see motion pictures,” says Roe. The theater was kind of a luxury, other than the times that the neighborhood kids would sneak into the back row and watch until the owner always came to root out the brats who hadn’t paid. “Vampire, you think?”

Welsh shrugs. “What else could it be?”

Roe peers down into the hole. Hartley is growling and gargling something awful, and a gush of blood comes back up his throat, trickling out of the throat wound and sputtering out of his mouth. It’s not fresh blood. It’s dark, almost black, and thick and congealed. Another sign of death and immobility, and Roe struggles to define a line that marks Hartley as alive or not. Vampires were lucid, weren’t they?

Besides, vampires didn’t exist anyway. Maybe wendigos. Was he a wendigo? Roe hadn’t revisited those old mythological teachings in a long time. He’d eliminated the possibility of demon possession a while ago when Hartley’s body had no special reaction to the chaplain, quietly crossing the possibility off his list and internally embarrassed that he’d even considered such a thing.

“Do you think he’s suffering?” Roe asks.

Welsh sighs. “Hard to tell. What can we even do about it if he is?”

Roe looks down the hole again. Hartley’s fibula has separated so far from the rest of his leg that it’s jutting out almost at a right angle, and the gaping gash in his calf keeps growing with every step the man takes. It’s hard to watch, but simultaneously eerily different from watching a normal living man suffer to death.

“Doc,” comes a panicked yell from paces away. Roe shoves the ration back into his pocket, and tells himself that uncertainty and confusion are not things he can feel right now. He’s thankful for the distraction from Hartley so he can think about something other than a torturous forced limbo between life and death – maybe even a state of living brought on by the rarest of circumstances that has manifested in this man. A new medical discovery. Maybe Hartley can be saved, just like how Roe can sometimes bargain with death successfully. Maybe he’s just another deal that Roe has to make.

“Yeah, I’m coming,” Roe hollers, and he sees Hartley react to the voice as if he’s blind and being led by sounds. Roe knows it isn’t true – his eyes don’t focus but he seems to use them anyway – and he jogs over to wherever someone has been injured.

“Doc,” says Liebgott. He’s at a loss, and he tries to get words out before just clutching at his head and then stuttering incoherently. “He– it–”

Roe feels an indescribable dread descending on him all over again from the sky. “What is it?” he says, fearing what the men will say. Talbert skids around a corner, too, and leans against the wall to catch his breath. “You– I– uh, Shifty and I, we were–”

“Calm down, Sergeant,” says Roe, partially to quell the flow of words. He does not want to hear what Talbert has to say with that wide-eyed look of chaotic helpless fear on his face – a look Roe, nor probably anyone in the entire company, has seen on Talbert.

“There’s…” he starts, then cuts himself off. He grabs Roe’s arm and pulls, hard. “You gotta see it.”

+

It’s almost an entire company’s worth, Roe realizes with an immobilizing, disbelieving amount of pure terror. The stink of dead bodies carries on the wind, and he wants to throw up his rations over the side of the rooftop. All across the field, there are Americans and Germans alike in various states of decomposition. All are inexplicably mobile. And they are all coming towards Carentan.

They must be the remnants of the first time the Germans took Carentan from the company that was here before. Both sides just left their dead lying in the field, apparently, if they were still around.

Roe does not know what they want, or if they can even think to want anything. All he knows is that Hartley bit out his own tongue without so much of a reaction, and he’d wanted to bite any of the others around him.

A circle of ravens wheels overhead, lazily, as if awaiting the results of what seems to be a horde of revenants descending on a town full of American paratroopers. Roe realizes, with horror, that one bird is perched on the shoulder of a German rifleman, picking with its beak at the man’s ear and pulling stringy bits of dead matter off his skull. White bone shows through on many of the men. Many are missing limbs. Intestines are dangling darkly from the ruptured abdomen of an American paratrooper, and they knock against his knee with every step.

“What do we do?” says Liebgott, who breaks the silence when no one else had the courage to.

The men-things are slow, but they are going to reach the town quickly at their undeterred pace. What they will do when they get there is a mystery.

“I don’t know,” says Roe when the others turn to him, as if he has answers.

He’s only a battlefield medic. He has no idea.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

.

[monstersandmaw]

Orctober #3 - male half-orc x male character (nsfw) ‘Bait’

Edit which I’m including in all my works after plagiarism and theft has taken place: I do not give my consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted anywhere. They are copyrighted and belong to me.

Orctober stories One and Two are up on Patreon (linked below), and this has been previewed on there too, and has had some truly wonderful comments that just made my day, so there might be a part two in the offing now. We’ll see.

Anyway, it’s a bit different in terms of format - it's not a reader insert, but I hope that doesn't matter.

It's a whopping 6914 words long, and I had an absolute blast writing it, so I really hope you enjoy reading it!! I know that 'Josslyn' is a female sounding name, but it's what this prince wanted to be called, so that's his name. :) I think it suits him anyway.

1. 'Ring' - male orc (Liam) x plus size female reader (very light nsfw) 2. 'Mindless’ - female orc (Khara) x male reader (nsfw)

---

A silver-trimmed banner caught and snagged in the night breeze as the crown prince strode along the battlements of his father’s castle. The old king’s words still rang in his ears and he ground his teeth, breathing hard and fighting the urge to shout, to yell, to cry. Where was the man who had raised him? The man who had played with him, taught him to ride his first pony, and helped him with his tutor’s tasks when he’d struggled? The man who had taught him the meaning of the ideals of justice and loyalty, of servitude to the people? How could old age ravage a man so much in the mind while taking so little from his body?

The king was in his seventies, having had Josslyn later in life than many had expected, after his first queen had died in childbirth, leaving no heir. The king had the body of a man ten years younger, but the mind of a man a decade older. Joss had tried to keep his father’s unpredictable nature hidden from the council and from the people, and so far all that they had suspected was that the long-running war with the orcish peoples in the neighbouring kingdom was taking its toll on him, forcing him to become harder, stricter in a time of strife.

A guard nodded his resepcts at him as he passed and muttered, “Highness,” to which the prince responded with a small smile and a bow of his head as he swept past, his long, night blue cloak swirling behind him, the wind lifting his long black hair off his face.

A shout and commotion from the courtyard below brought two guards hurrying to his side as he peered down from the wall, but he waved them away with a gentle gesture and watched as a tall, rather bedraggled figure was hauled out from the guards’ supply room in the outer bailey and dumped in the freezing mud beside the castle well. Spear-tips were poised at his throat immediately, and as the flickering light of a wrought-iron brazier illuminated his features, Josslyn saw that he looked orcish, though somewhat more delicate than the brutes who currently inhabited the castle dungeons and gladiatorial rings across the country.

Scuttling silently down one of the nearby stone staircases, the prince emerged in time to hear the guards demanding who the creature was and what the hell he was doing sneaking around the royal castle at midnight. Josslyn wanted to know how the hell he’d got into the castle to begin with.

“Please,” the captive choked, his eyes screwed almost shut as a spear point hovered above his Adam’s apple, “Please, I only came looking… for… for work… I thought…”

“You thought we’d hire something like you? The king doesn’t employ beasts, not even to clean the latrines!” one of the guards sneered.

The prince approached at a steady walk, partly cloaked by the shadows of the courtyard and partly by the thick fabric of his heavy robes. “Why did you come here of all places?” he demanded of the orc and the guards startled at his sudden appearance.

“Your Highness, please,” one of them warned, holding out a protective arm between the captive and the crown prince. “We caught this half-breed orc sniffing around our supplies.”

“He managed to find a way past the gates - outwitting all the guards - and he speaks intelligently,” the prince said, staring at him with hard, black eyes, “And yet you still treat him like a cornered granary rat.”

“They’re all vermin,” the guard said, cheeks flushed with humiliation, jabbing the half-orc in the sternum with the butt of his spear and driving the wind from his chest.

“Stop,” Josslyn said in a voice of quiet command that stilled them all instantly. “Take him to the upper cells, and see that he’s fed and given water and a blanket, and some clean, dry clothes. I want to know exactly what he was doing here, but he’s in no condition to be questioned at the moment. Look at him.”

The guards returned their attention to their miserable captive and saw the way he shivered, his clothes sodden - presumably from swimming the moat - with the fabric clinging to his relatively slim body. With orcish blood, he should have been built like a mythical hero from a maiden’s tale, but Josslyn suspected that he saw high elf in the half-breed’s slender ears and delicate bone-structure. No high elf could bulk up, no matter how much meat he ate or how many press-ups he did, and unfortunately for the orc, it seemed he had inherited that trait from his elven parent.

“Highness?” the guard with his spear at the half-orc’s throat whispered. “You… You cannot be serious…?”

Josslyn simply turned his polished jet eyes on the guard and the man nodded once.

“Of course. Forgive me. It will be done as you say.”

The crown prince watched them haul the mysterious half-breed to his feet and lead him away. He stumbled and staggered, shaking violently from the cold as the chill of the mid-autumn night sank into his sodden clothes and skin, but he risked a glance over his shoulder and smiled gratefully at Josslyn. In answer, the prince nodded once and let his eyes fall to the spot in the mud where he’d been lying, his mind working.

An hour later, fighting the prickling tiredness in his eyes as midnight became one in the morning, Joss headed down to the cells and as he peered through the barred opening in the heavy wooden door of the cell, he found that the prisoner had been housed exactly as he’d commanded. He’d wrapped himself in a moth-eaten blanket but beneath it Joss could see the royal blue of a guard’s uniform, and beside the low, rickety bed was an empty wooden plate and set neatly atop it was a wooden beaker.

The prince had the guards unlock it and then he knocked before stepping inside. A guard tried to follow him in, only obeying protocol, but Josslyn asked her to wait outside. Reluctantly, the woman obeyed, and left the crown prince, the sole heir of the entire kingdom alone in a cell with a strange half-orc.

“Are you warmer now?” the prince asked as the orc rose shakily, woken by the rattling key in the lock.

“Yes, thank you, Highness,” he said, bowing low.

“Rise,” he snapped. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“My name is Tamas,” he said in a croaky baritone. Everything about him spoke of submission; the slope of his hunched shoulders, the angle of his head, his down-turned gaze - it was as if he were perpetually awaiting a blow to the back of the head. His hair was a muddy brown, shaved above his pointed ear on the left side of his head and falling loose and long to his shoulder on the right. He had a small, pale scar on his left cheekbone, and his skin was a muddy green, not dissimilar to the colour of the moat in high summer.

“And what are you doing here?” the prince pressed patiently.

Tamas took a deep breath and said, “I… I ran away from… I’ve been travelling for months… I thought…”

“Sit down,” the prince commanded, and the orc dropped heavily onto the bed behind him, knees simply giving way. His exhaustion appeared to be more mental than physical. “You are not full orc, are you?” the prince asked and Tamas shook his head.

“No, Highness. My mother was a woodland elf. Her people left me to die in the way of all unwanted elven children; she set me adrift in a basket on the river and I was picked up by an orcish mother miles downstream. She had lost her own child and thought to raise me. But… orcs are not kind to those of ‘watered down blood’. I…” he turned his gaze up and the prince was surprised to note that his eyes were a dark sapphire blue. In a strange way, he was quite beautiful, he supposed; a thought which surprised him all over again. All this he kept carefully hidden behind his usual mask of calm control.

“So you finally ran away,” the prince supplied. “And you decided to come here? To the enemy of your father’s people? Hardly the safest choice for you, I’d wager…”

Tamas nodded. “I had nowhere else to go.”

“Alight,” the prince said, folding his arms across his chest. “What services could you offer the crown?”

The half-orc lowered his head again and stared at his hands. The index finger of his left hand was crooked, as though it had been badly broken in the past and poorly set. He sighed, rubbing the knuckle, and said, “I am good with horses and animals,” he said, “But I can read and write and do arithmetic. I could help wherever is needed.”

“I doubt my father will make you his personal valet,” the prince snorted, amused. “But I will think on where to place you. For now, rest. The guards have been instructed not to bother you, but you understand why I must keep you in here a little longer?”

Again, he nodded. “I do, Highness. And… thank you…”

“I haven’t made you any promises,” he warned him.

“Perhaps not, but you have given me a chance. You’re the first person to treat me… well… not like an animal, since the border.”

“I presume folks thought you were a runaway slave?”

“Yes,” he said and shuddered.

With a final nod, the prince left him and gratefully began to make his way up to his chambers. Undressing alone in the simple finery of his room, he thought about the half-orc and realised he had had no idea how orcs treated their own. For all that they had been at war for nearly six years now, he knew next to nothing about their culture. As he lay down beneath the soft sheets and let the deep pillows cushion his royal head, he mused that it might be wise to use this half-orc to learn about their enemy’s culture. Surely if he’d been treated so abominably that he’d run straight to their enemy’s stronghold for shelter, Tamas would be willing to help him?

Thus a hesitant relationship was forged between prince and captive. Tamas was housed in a room in the servants’ quarters - much to their distaste - and to begin with, for an hour every day, he was released and attended the prince in his own chambers to instruct him in the nature and traditions of the orcish nation.

Josslyn was surprised to learn that Tamas had a wicked sense of humour, and that he was also rather fond of reading. After that, the prince asked him to accompany him to the library, and in a relatively short couple of months, the two had become tentative friends. Josslyn encouraged Tamas to speak out truthfully with his opinions to the prince, though only in private, and the two frequently engaged in lengthy and in-depth discussions late into the night. Josslyn still carried a dagger with him at all times, but he soon forgot about it. In time, the half-orc became something of a legend in the castle - the ‘sentient beast’ and the ‘prince’s pet’ were two of the kinder titles he acquired, but he promised Josslyn that he didn’t mind.

“I’m happy to have a roof over my head and a purpose before me,” he said meekly one afternoon when the prince brought it up again as the two of them sat in comfortable chairs in a side room of the library. It was a rare day off for the prince, and having spent the last week in the infirmary visiting the soldiers who returned from the front with horrific injuries, dealt largely by orcish weapons, he was grateful for the quiet and peace of the ancient hall of learning.

Tamas had offered to accompany him, but the prince had suggested that his might not be a face to show to the recently-returned warriors, and the half-orc had accepted without question, apologising for his insensitivity.

The prince felt those sapphire blue eyes on him again and he glanced up from his book to find his new friend staring at him. “What?” he asked gently.

The half-orc smiled, the gesture stretching around the short, almost slender tusks which protruded from his lower jaw. “I haven’t seen you this relaxed in weeks, that’s all,” he said, a warmth to his tone that struck Joss deeply. “It’s nice.”

He snorted and then drew in a deep breath. “I’m tired, Tam. I’m tired of this war and I’m tired of the toll it’s taking on my people. I want an end to it, but I don’t know how. I don’t know - after all I’ve learned from you and from visiting the front myself - how we can make a bridge with them, make peace with a culture so different.”

Tamas’ face showed obvious surprise and a small amount of shock. He closed the book in his hands and leaned forwards, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze met the prince’s directly. “You’ve visited the front?”

“Of course,” Joss said, a frown playing on his dark brows. “I wouldn’t  be much of a leader if I sat at home in my comfortable castle while my people threw themselves at the orcish lines like the sea against the cliffs, would I?”

“Forgive me,” Tam murmured. “I… I didn’t mean to question your integrity. I’m just surprised. I’m sorry.”

Josslyn laughed and set his book down on the table beside his chair. “Come, let’s get a glass of wine. The sun’s going down and we’ve been sat here for hours. I need to stretch my legs.”

Tam stood, still looking a little stunned, as though his every belief had been called into question.

He was slow to follow his friend and the prince paused. “You alight?” Josslyn asked, laying a hand on Tam’s elbow.

The orc swallowed visibly and turned his searing blue gaze to the point where the two of them touched. His eyes then darted up to meet the prince’s and he smiled, though his dark skin still looked a little pallid. “Yes,” he croaked. “I’m sorry. Yes.”

“Come then,” he said again and walked away, leaving Tamas to stare after him for a moment before hurrying to catch up.

One evening, after the Beltane feast that marked the start of summer, Josslyn left the feast early. His father was being truly obnoxious, though mercifully this time he was only trying to get the crown prince to flirt with some visiting duchess or other, but Josslyn was having none of it. Tamas had not been invited to the celebrations, for obvious reasons, and Josslyn found himself aching for the easy rapport the two of them had built over the seven months or so that they had now known each other.

Instead of going to the servants’ quarters and bothering them all like a fox in a chicken coop, the prince headed to the privacy of the royal courtyard garden at the rear of the castle. Only those who tended the plants and members of the royal family were allowed here, and yet, as he sat on a stone bench with his head in his hands, he heard footsteps approaching.

Glancing up, his hand twitching towards the dagger at his hip, he nearly shot to his feet before he realised who it was. “Tamas?” he breathed. “What are you doing in here? You know this place is off limits…”

“Invite me to stay and I won’t be trespassing,” he smiled playfully. “But seriously, I’ll go if you want to be alone.”

“No,” Joss sighed, his spine slackening as he slumped back down on his bench. “Don’t go. How did you know to come here?”

“I was on my way back from the library when I saw you leaving the great hall. You looked thoroughly miserable… May I sit?”

“Of course,” he said, gesturing at the bench beside him. “Did you find anything interesting to read?”

“Mmm,” he hummed quietly, the deep sound somehow going straight through Josslyn. The quiet warmth of Tam’s presence beside him comforted him beyond expressing, and he leaned sideways and rested his body against Tamas’ side, his head falling to lie on Tam’s shoulder.

The half-orc’s hand suddenly slid over his own where it lay in his lap and he squeezed the prince’s fingers gently in his large grip.

“Tam,” Josslyn rasped, tears filling his eyes. “I’m so tired…”

“I know,” he said. “I can see it in your eyes every day. You give so much of yourself to your people. You take no time for yourself.”

There was soft wonder in his tone and Josslyn barked a quiet laugh. “It’s my duty as crown prince, Tam. My father, before he began to change, made me learn my duties young.” He sighed again and added, “I learned the oath I’ll take when I ascend the throne when I was only five. I had no idea what it meant then, but I do now.”

Tam’s arm came round his shoulders then and he held him close. “My people were entirely wrong about you,” he said very quietly.

“How so?”

He didn’t speak immediately, but the silence told Josslyn he was considering his words carefully. Another stereotype shattered, he thought as he realised just how deeply this half-orc cared about the words he spoke and the meaning behind them. “The orcs say you are little more than a spoiled, selfish brat of a princeling who spends his days watching orcs fight in the pits or being tended to by a harem of naked elven women… They did get one thing right about you though,” he added with a wry smile.

“Oh?” Joss asked, too tired to respond to the first comments, ridiculous as they were.

Tam chuckled and said, “They say you’re as beautiful as one of the fae. Apparently because your previous queen died and the kingdom had no heir, your father made a pact with the fae for you.”

Josslyn’s laugh rang around the courtyard, echoing off the statuary. He sat up and regarded Tamas with glittering dark eyes. “And here I thought ‘beauty’ to an orc was brute strength and an unquenchable bloodlust…”

Tamas shrugged. “Good thing I’m not a full orc then.”

The chill evening air had gradually become charged during their conversation, and Josslyn felt his lips parting slightly as he stared up at Tamas. The half-orc wasn’t much taller than the crown prince, but he had a few inches on him; enough to make Josslyn tilt his head back so that his hair fell down to tickle the hand that Tamas still had pressed to his back, though now it rested at the base of his spine.

Slowly, hesitantly, as though he would be shot full of arrows from the rooftops if he dared go through with it, Tamas leaned down and the two brushed their lips together in the briefest of kisses. The fleeting touch sent the blood straight to Joss’ groin and his breath hitched in his chest. “Tam,” he breathed.

“I’m sorry,” he gasped, wide-eyed, wrenching himself back and standing, staggering as he half turning to go. “I’m… I shouldn’t…”

“Wait,” Josslyn commanded, standing and drawing himself to his full height. “Wait,” he said again, more gently, stepping over to him. He took his hand and tightened his grip.

The kiss that followed was all fierce, pent-up emotion and passion, and Josslyn found himself backed against the huge marble plinth of a statue of a faun, with Tamas chasing kiss after kiss. The half-orc hooked one of Joss’ legs around his hips and then picked him up, pinning him against the masonry hard enough to knock the breath from him. The prince gasped as Tamas ground his solid length against his own hardening cock through their trousers, and his head rolled back. Tamas shot out a hand to cup the back of the prince’s head before he clonked it on the stonework behind him, and Joss smiled bashfully at him.

They paused then, frozen in place, both breathing hard. “You… You want…?” Tamas asked uncertainly.

“Yes,” the prince whispered.

Kissing him one last time, Tamas backed off, setting the prince back on his feet, and the two of them readjusted themselves sheepishly as best they could before making their way through back stairwells and corridors to his private chambers.

No sooner had the door closed and the latch locked than the two of them were entangled again. They shed their clothes between the door and the bed, and Josslyn ran his palms over Tamas’ slim, lean chest, marvelling at the wiry strength of the half-orc who shuddered and gasped beneath the explorative touches of the prince. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him, and as his chest heaved, Joss could see the muscles move beneath his green skin, his dark nipples hard and his cock dampening a spot in his underwear.

They fell backwards onto his huge bed in a tangle of limbs, and Joss tugged off the last of Tam’s clothes to free his impressive erection. Hard, the vein along its length full and prominent, his cock wept pre-come freely now, twitching as Josslyn stared openly at him.

“How… How do you want to do this?” the prince asked breathily.

In answer, Tamas parted his legs a little and the prince smiled, reaching across the orc’s prone body to his bedside drawers for a small vial of oil. Somehow he hadn’t expected Tamas to be the one wanting to take it, but he was too worked up to comment or mind.

When he slicked one finger with oil and slid it inside the orc, Tamas grunted and drove his head back into the bed, his legs falling wider apart, his cock bobbing eagerly as his hips bucked upwards into the intrusion. With his free hand, Joss dribbled more oil down the length of Tamas’ cock and then worked him with both hands until Tam was panting and grunting and cursing in orcish.

Josslyn knew only enough of the language to recognise it as orcish, and he leaned forwards, sliding his fingers out of Tam for a moment and earning a keening whine from him at the loss. In his sensitive ear he whispered, “You’re going to have to translate that for me, Tamas.”

“I said…” he gasped, struggling to speak as the prince returned his finger to him and caressed the bundle of sensitive nerves inside him, “I… I need to you fuck me… Highness.” His voice was beautifully unsteady and his eyes were screwed shut. His cock wept pre-come onto his hard abs, and he was squirming, desperate for more.

“You’re not quite ready yet,” Josslyn said, and this time he slid three fingers into the orc, stretching him, working him open until he was growling openly at him to fuck him.

Running his slick palm over his own cock and gasping at the sudden stimulation, Josslyn lined himself up and nudged into the ready heat. Already Tamas’ head lolled to one side. “Please?” he hissed, bucking weakly upwards, eyes opening a little as he half sat up in an attempt to guide Josslyn further inside him.

In one motion, Josslyn seated himself to the hilt inside Tam and the orc yelled with pleasure and immediately began to shake.

“Please, please, please,” he chanted until Joss began to move.

Slowly at first, he savoured the immense tightness of the orc around him, the heat, the shaking muscles desperate for release, but then he changed his angle slightly and Tamas let out another bellow of pleasure. Hitting him repeatedly in that sweet spot, the prince picked up his pace and lowered his head with the effort. His long hair fell forwards and started to stick to the sheen of sweat that had begun to form on Tam’s chest as he got more and more worked up.

The orc’s cock bounced between them, untouched and drooling as he clutched at the sheets beneath him and growled incoherently. “I’m…” he snarled. “Please!” Despite the pleasure of Joss’ cock repeatedly pounding into his prostate, it wasn’t quite enough.

“Are you going to come for me if I touch you?” Joss hissed, breathless and sweaty with exertion and pleasure.

“Yes!” he gasped.

“I’m close,” the prince admitted, the rhythm of his hips faltering.

“Don’t stop,” Tam demanded, but when Joss’ hand wrapped around Tamas’ cock and worked his shaft once, twice, he suddenly went rigid beneath him and spilled over his stomach with a barely stifled scream. His tusks bit deep into the back of his wrist as he fought to keep quiet as he clenched and twitched, and the combination of sound, sight, and sensation tipped the prince over the edge too. He came almost silently, a blinding heat ripping through him as he emptied himself into the half-orc.

Trembling in the aftermath of his orgasm, Josslyn fell forwards onto Tamas’ heaving chest and he whined as he landed on the mess of release smeared over his abs, but he was too tired and too blissed out to care just yet. Tamas’ heartbeat thundered in his ear as he laid his head on his chest and the orc lay there, lax and spent beneath him, breathing hard, eyes closed, one arm on Josslyn’s back, the other palm up and limp on the sheets beside him.

Eventually they grew chilly, and Joss disappeared to clean up in the adjacent bathroom. When he emerged, swathed in a rich black and gold, silk dressing gown, he found that Tamas had fallen asleep exactly where he’d left him, and the prince chuckled fondly. The half-orc was as large as most human warriors, with clearly defined muscles, but the green tone of his skin, the tusks - however small -, the heavy jaw and under-bite, and the tapering of his ears marked him as orcish as clearly as Josslyn’s crown announced his royal blood. The wiry slenderness to Tamas’ body, however, spoke of his elven lineage too. Always an outcast, never belonging, Tamas had nowhere to call home.

Leaning over him, Joss wiped the warm washcloth over the ridges of his abs and over his sharply-defined hips. With a jolt, Tamas woke and sat up and blinked at him for just a heartbeat before he laughed. “You shouldn’t be doing that for me,” he chided groggily, holding out his hand for the cloth.

The prince shook his head, his long hair in disarray.

“Gods, you look so beautiful like that,” Tamas hissed as he stared him up and down.

Josslyn blushed hard and threw the wash cloth at his chest, where it landed with a wet ‘flap’.

Things changed for them after that.

They kept the nature of their relationship a secret, and continued with life in the castle as best they could whilst maintaining their charade. They still held their discussions about orcish culture, though there wasn’t much more for Tamas to teach him by now, though the two had begun studying the language now too. Josslyn had been surprised to learn that it wasn’t the series of simplistic, guttural sounds that he’d always taken it for, and while his grasp of the vocabulary and grammar was solid, Tamas insisted that his accent was appalling.

“I promise not to speak it,” Josslyn murmured one evening as they sat in each other’s arms on the sofa in his private apartment in the castle.

Tamas ran his fingertip over the prince’s lips and whispered, “I wouldn’t want you to sully your beautiful mouth with the language of such brutes,” which earned him a smack on the chest and a playful kiss for his efforts at romance.

As high summer tipped towards autumn again and Tamas remarked that he’d been at the castle for nearly a year, the prince suggested that they go out hunting together. It was customary for there to be a royal hunt as the festival of Mabon approached, and the Royal Guard had just about come to terms with the fact that Tamas wasn’t going to assassinate their beloved prince if left unattended, so the pair of them mounted up amid the baying of hounds and the clatter of hooves on the flagstones of the upper bailey.

The king’s health was not strong enough for him to ride out, but he insisted on being hauled out in his wheeled throne to bless the hunters and wish them success because it was tradition.

The large party of nobles and courtiers and guards all rode out into the woods about a mile from the castle, and the whole thing soon became the usual chaos of bugles and barking, of horses stamping and men shouting.

Tamas guided his large mare expertly up to Josslyn’s side and murmured, “Is this what passes for a hunt amongst humans?”

The prince laughed, knowing it was the large silken tents and the army of servants standing in the field behind waiting to welcome then back to which he was referring. He shrugged. “A royal one, yes.”

“You want to get out of here?”

With a glint in his eye, the prince galloped away with his lover, following old game trails he knew well from adventures as a boy. The two of them soon left the chaos of the hunt well behind, and slowed their mounts to a trot and then an easy walk.

They headed north in companionable silence, enjoying the late summer light beneath the trees, but soon Joss began to notice that Tamas was tense. His horse skittered beneath him, shying at nothing, reacting to the tension and fear in her rider’s posture, snorting and sidestepping.

“Tam?” he asked, his heart rate picking up. “What is it?”

With his heavy jaw set and his eyes fixed on the path ahead, Tamas didn’t reply and Josslyn realised then just how far they had strayed.

“Tamas, we should go back,” he said with more confidence than he felt, reining his horse around. Everything felt wrong. His skin crawled and prickled, and Arrow danced nervously beneath him, the stallion snorting too.

The half-orc held his own mare in place and didn’t follow. He seemed to be warring with himself, his eyes darting back and forth. His chest heaved and his skin had gone deathly pale.

“Tam?” the prince insisted. “What -?”

“Go,” he finally hissed. “Ride. Gallop for home and don’t look back.”

“What?”

“GO!” he roared as the undergrowth erupted behind him and an orcish war horn sounded.

Terror flooded through the prince and he spurred his horse to a flat out gallop as arrows and bolts whistled around them. He heard a scream and a heavy crash from behind him and glanced back to see Tam’s mare go down, throwing him from the saddle.

“No!” he yelled, immediately wheeling Arrow round. The well-trained warhorse obeyed instantly, and as the prince leaned down out of his saddle like a child at a gymkhana, extending his hand to Tam who was sitting up, winded and with an arrow through his shoulder, Joss caught sight of the orcs barrelling towards them through the trees. “Take my hand!” he shouted.

“Go!” Tam gasped.

“I’m not leaving you.”

And with tremendous effort, the half-orc rose and swung himself onto Arrow’s back.

Slowed by the extra weight, the big stallion charged as best he could through the woods. It was a long, painful ride for Tamas, but by the time they erupted out into the meadow, the sounds of pursuit had faded and the orcs appeared to have given up for now. Evening lengthened the shadows as Tamas slumped against Josslyn’s back, breathing hard and holding tight with only one arm.

Once he was sure that they were alone, the prince slowed his sweat-foamed horse to a walk, letting him breathe and stretch out, and he turned his head to look over his shoulder. Slowly, in a voice laced with fear and trepidation, he asked, “Tamas, what was that?”

“An orcish outpost,” he said dully.

A horrible thought plunged through the prince’s mind and he forced himself to ask, “Did… Did you know it was there?”

Silence stretched between them before he felt Tamas nod. “Yes.”

“Why?” he gasped, fighting off tears as the world spun around him. “Was that the plan all along? You were going to betray me all along?”

Tam’s arm tightened briefly around the prince’s slim waist before it slackened a little and he pressed his cheek against the soft leather of his riding jerkin. His breath wheezed and rattled wetly as he answered, “I was the bait. I…” but before he could continue, a retinue of guards cantered over the nearest grassy rise towards them.

“My prince?” the captain called. “What… What happened?”

“Orc ambush,” the prince said, his tone hard as steel, miraculously revealing nothing of his emotions.

The captain snarled and signalled to his men. “Seize him,” he said, pointing at Tam. “Get him away from the prince.”

“No,” Josslyn said in that eerily calm voice. “No. He saved my life. Escort us to the palace. He needs medical treatment.”

Tamas had gone very still behind him, but the prince suspected that it wasn’t because he’d lost consciousness.

The events of the next few hours passed in a daze for the prince. The news of the attack on the crown prince weakened the king’s condition so severely that the physicians feared he was not long for this world, and Josslyn spent the next two hours at his father’s side, though he didn’t stir once. Still too numb and empty from the shock of Tamas’ actions to feel anything much for his father, he wandered the castle until he found himself in the infirmary.

Tamas was sleeping in a bed at the far end, his shoulder bandaged, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling rapidly. No one was about, but there had been guards posted at the doors he noted.

Grabbing a chair and silently setting it down beside the bed, the prince stared at the person he’d thought was his friend. His lover. After all they’d shared, Tamas had just been… bait? He couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to believe it.

After perhaps five minutes, Tamas’ blue eyes fluttered open and he stared at Josslyn.

“Why?” The whispered question fell from the prince’s lips before he could stop himself. “Why didn’t you just stab me in my sleep while we lay together all those nights?” His fury mounted inside him and it was a miracle he kept it in check. “If you wanted me dead, why -” he faltered, choking up.

“I don’t,” Tam hissed back. “I mean… I did… That was why I was sent here, but I-”

“They sent you? So everything you told me about yourself was a lie? You manipulated me… Gods,” he said, lurching to his feet and turning away, fists clenched. “I was so stupid.”

The sheets rustled and Tamas sat up awkwardly, resting his back against the wooden headboard behind him as a wave of dizziness swept through him. He breathed hoarsely for a moment, the pain in his shoulder evident. “I was sent here,” he confirmed. “I was supposed to gather information on the castle and household, and then return. But when you took an interest in me… I couldn’t let that opportunity pass. I…” he paused, trying to catch his breath before going on. Josslyn stood there and glared at him. “I sent word of what had changed, and they told me to earn your trust and bring you to that outpost whenever I could.”

The prince’s vision swam and he bit the inside of his cheeks hard enough to taste the ferrous tang of blood. “Why didn't you go through with it then?” he finally whispered.

“Because… I…” Tamas’ blue eyes dropped to the sheets and he stared blankly at them. “Because I never imagined I’d fall in love with you.”

“No,” he snarled. “You don’t get to say something like that after what you did.”

“I know,” he said evenly. “But you asked me why I didn’t let them do it. I never should have led you away from the hunt, but once I had, I felt like there was no going back. My people were counting on me, but then I saw how afraid you were when… how… how what I had done would hurt you more than being taken by them, and…”

“‘Taken’…”

“They weren’t going to kill you,” Tamas said quietly. “They were going to hold you to ransom.”

“Then why the arrows?” he retorted bitterly as he recalled flashes of that dreadful flight through the trees. His eyes landed on the bandages. “They nearly killed you.”

“You didn’t hear what they were shouting after me. They’d kill me now, for sure. If you let me go, they’ll…”

“It’s no more than you deserve,” he growled, but somehow the words didn’t feel right, even as he spoke them aloud.

Tamas looked up at the prince with his eyes glistening. “May I ask you something?”

The prince made a non-committal shrug.

“Why did you your guards that I saved your life? Why am I not hanging from a gallows right now?”

“Because I loved you,” he said. “And because you did save my life. Admittedly, that was immediately after trying to get me killed…”

“‘Loved’?” Of course he’d fixated upon that word. That tense.

Josslyn’s shoulders dropped and he closed his eyes, head bowing. “Love,” he amended. “You hurt me, but… I think… as insane as it sounds, I think I understand why you did it.”

“What?”

“You remember when I told you that I’m a prince but I serve my people?”

Tamas nodded, looking stunned.

“You came here to do for your people what I would do for mine. It’s not my fault that we’re on opposite sides of a war, Tamas.”

Tamas let out the breath he’d been holding and said in a shaky voice, “Months ago, you said that you wanted to bring an end to this war, and you said that you wished you could talk with my people. You wished you could find a way to end it peacefully…”

“I still do,” he said, his hand gripping the back of the chair to keep himself upright. It was all too much to take in in one go.

Tam’s mind was clearly working well enough though. “Perhaps we can do it together?”

“How? The orcs will kill you on sight for betraying them like that.”

“I’ll find a way to explain it,” he said hopelessly.

“Alright, so I herald you as my saviour, the ‘orc with a conscience’… and then what? You think my father will merrily trot over there and ask to begin a peace conference? Don’t be absurd…”

Tamas laughed softly but cut off with a wince. “We would have to wait until you became king,” he said very quietly. “It would take time, but…” he looked up at him. “I hated humans before I met you. You made me fall in love with you despite everything I tried to tell myself. If anyone can win them round, it’s you.”

“You love me despite your better judgement? Is that it?” Josslyn laughed, feeling his chest lighten somehow. He sank down onto the bed beside Tamas and took up his hand, frowning at the way it trembled.

“I love you despite my former judgement,” he corrected. His eyelids fluttered with exhaustion. He was clearly fighting to stay awake. “There’s a difference. I know I’ve got a lot of work to do to rebuild your trust in me. I don’t know if you’ll ever trust me again, but… still I think we can make this work between our people…”

Josslyn smiled. “I saw the look on your face back there in the trees too,” he said. “You didn’t want to do it. I know regret when I see it, and the expression of fear I saw in you when they came for me was genuine. I understand.”

Tears tracked silently down Tamas’ face from his dark blue eyes.

“Rest,” Josslyn murmured, helping him to lie back down again and sweeping his hair back out of his eyes once he was supine again. “We’ll talk more when you’ve healed.”

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

The prince smiled softly and leaned down, pressing a kiss into his slackening lips. “I know. Now, get some sleep.”

“Yes, Highness,” he slurred with a smile and slipped into unconsciousness a moment later.

As Josslyn walked away from the infirmary he felt wrung out and weak-kneed, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel now. There was the potential to end the conflict that had ravaged his land for the best part of six years, and he was going to take it.

As if to confirm his new resolve, a low, mournful bell began to toll throughout the castle and his footsteps faltered, knowing it could only mean one thing.

In the morning, there would be a new king.

—

I really hope you folks enjoyed this one! Don’t forget to let me know if you did enjoy it by leaving a like and/or reblogging it!

For all early releases, character art and bios, upcoming story info, and much, much more, join me over on Patreon!

You’ll have access to stories before anyone else, and you’ll get instant access Patreon-only content as well, including polls and an exclusive monthly story for those on the Pixies and Goblins tier or higher!

__

| Masterlist | Patreon | Ko-fi | Writing Commissions |

[otakufrenchfries]

back to war

A little imagine totally from my imagination about the second world war. It's not a fanfiction, all the characters belong to me.

Summary: Twenty-first century teenage girl finds herself in the middle of World War II

Words : 1500

part 2

                                                   °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

I have always wondered what we feel at the moment of death. What he might have after death. One day I will have the answer to this question - the day I leave this world, of course - but I won't be able to share it.

What if after death life doesn't really end? What if it continues in another time with new people?

Maybe it is the fact that I ask myself these kinds of questions that makes me "the weird girl". But I'm still human, I'm not so different from the other inhabitants of this village, I'm just more "original".

It's true that the silly, pimply, lascivious teenagers of my age in this village don't ask themselves this kind of existential question, they are more focused on their search for the ideal outfit for high school. I don't know how to explain it, but this subject - death - attracts me a lot, as if someone wanted me to be interested in it.

I've been thinking about this ever since I moved from Los Angeles to come here to Shorecliff, a town in the conservative, capitalist Texas countryside whose mayor wouldn't lift a finger for its residents.

If I had stayed in Los Angeles, I wouldn't have been in this situation, I knew that. But as terrified as I was, I couldn't regret it. When life offers us the opportunity to know the answer to this question, it would be unreasonable to run away from it.

Time is a flexible and intangible entity, so is it really impossible to travel through time?

31 August 2019 How can a nineteen-year-old girl in the prime of life disappear overnight without a trace? "Disappear" is an understatement, I think I, Clarisse Cordier, finally changed my time on the morning of the first day of school. It had already been two weeks since my parents and I had moved to the small town of Lockhart, Texas. Although my native country is France, I have always grown up in the United States, in Los Angeles to be precise. Don't think I'm the typical Californian teenager, it's not true, I'm the complete opposite. If I had to describe myself, I would say that I am rather observant and according to my parents, I am intelligent, although I try to tell them that I am just intellectually more developed than the average. When I woke up that day I had a bad feeling, an icy shiver ran down my spine and through my body from all sides. I instantly overcame this feeling. It could also have been the apprehension of going back to school in a new school and a new city. I left that house in a hurry, it was still hard for me to tell myself that I had lost all the marks I had in L.A. and that I had to start my whole life over here. Suddenly, the sounds of the traffic got me out of my head. The wind whipped my face where the cold was marked by the redness on my cheeks. As I looked up, I saw the beginning of the path that crossed the forest and led to the entrance of the high school. How had I got there? I had no memory to have walked this far. Even if the circumstances of my arrival on this path seemed very strange to me I was using it, it allowed me not to arrive late. I started to walk, illuminated by the rays of the sun filtered through the boughs of trees. She played with me, and when I ventured under her foliage, even in the sun, very gently my memories ran away from me, as if embraced by a total night, as cold as it was generous. This dead leaf that ran towards other places, along this stream, I thought it was my name, and on this tree, smarter than my ancestors, I glimpsed a face. At the shiver of a branch, I felt it retreating into the shade, it amused me with my fear and made me stumble into a thicket. To reassure me, misery! There I fell asleep, in the arms of Morpheus. The rain was raging at the beginning of the morning. It was falling, like salted pearls falling on the girl's cheeks. Her brown hair was soaked, just like the rest of her body. She was shivering, the cold having taken possession of her being. But she didn't do anything about it. She continued walking through the streets of the city. Her heart was bruised, and her eyes showed all the misfortune in the world. She had a necklace in her hand. A long silver thread with a heart-shaped pendant attached to it. She held it tight, as if her life depended on it. And she kept on walking. But suddenly she stopped. She was standing in front of a café "Le Mary". Slowly, she approached the window with a steady hand, and then she began to look inside the café. She stared sadly at a small table at the back of the room. It was empty. Just like her heart. Everything is black. I was floating in this world of eternal darkness. I perceive nothing, no sound, no image, no smell. Everything is dead and silent as if life had never existed here. I fall down. I fall infinitely into the depths of the limbo of my dreams. At the end of this tunnel into which I fall, I see a light, a hope of freedom. I come closer. This bright light burns my eyes, I cross it, it floods my body, swallows me up to take me to another world where I hope I won't be alone. My eyes began to flutter, sometimes letting me perceive a subdued light as if through a curtain. My irritated throat, pasty mouth and dry lips prevented me from articulating even a single word. A feeling of cold against my cheek made me regain consciousness. My eyes travelled around the room where I was lying on a stiff bunk with cream-coloured sheets on which several soft pillows in reddish tones were placed. Raising my head towards this icy sensation, I met a gaze with the shades of the Caribbean sea, a bewitching blue. Taken by surprise, I moved backwards in an abrupt movement that startled my host in turn. Back, there, I moved back and I noticed that this "man" in front of me was not one. What was not my surprise when I realised that it was a young woman with blond hair like wheat whose eyes reminded me of this so beautiful stretch of salt water. She stared at me with her big eyes wide-open when I woke up so suddenly. The young girl delicately put down, so as not to frighten me, the towel she was doubtfully using to wipe my forehead and then began to talk to me: My throat being in no condition to produce any sound, I only answer her with a hesitant nod. Understanding my problem without my having to formulate it, she hands me a timbale that she had to fill beforehand thanks to the large tin hanap engraved with oriental motifs that I could see on the table behind her. -Thank you," I muttered in a voice that was still hoarse. >> 

I continue to drink, this burning pain in the back of my throat gradually subsides, letting the invigorating water circulate. She looks at me and then suddenly smiles, having probably come up with a brilliant idea. > It is very strange, it seems to me that Barenton is a village in France, maybe there is a Barenton in the United States but in both cases it means that I am no longer in Lockhart, so I have changed city or country without having any memory of it. I am starting to panic, how could I have changed places without any memory of my arrival? Had I been kidnapped? Don't panic and stay calm, that's the only way I will be able to understand. I thank you, you see, I would like to tell my mother, would you have found my mobile phone with me at the side of the road? I asked accompanied by a slight American accent. -You must have taken a blow on the head Clarisse, a phone can't be mobile see, she pouffed softly.>> Is she being ironic? These days all phones are mobile. Although she laughs at my request, I can see that she is serious and very convinced of what she says. Since she apparently doesn't have a smartphone how can I tell my mother? Besides, how long have I slept? I'm worried that it may be days, weeks or months since I've been away from my parents. It is not a useless question, I feel it, I have observed, as I know so well the to do. And nothing, nothing in this room reminds me of my time. To reassure myself, I tell myself that fortunately I saw the three "Back to the Future" before arriving here. Coming out of my thoughts I see her looking at me, a compassionate smile on her lips, which I don't understand. -Well, dear Clarisse, it is the second of June," she replied. That's impossible, it was August 31 when I fainted. Maybe I've been in a coma for almost a year but it still doesn't tell me why I'm not at home or I've travelled through time. Very little is possible, but you have to consider everything. -You must think I'm a bit strange Ariella and I'm sorry about that but you see I don't remember when I fainted and I wish more than anything to remember it, so tell me, please tell me, what year is it? -You're right, why didn't I think of that, you must feel lost. Eh Well, it's 2 June 1941 and it's war, I'm glad I didn't find you dead," she replied. 1941 ? The war? Oh no, I fell in the middle of the Second World War!

[chipper9906]

Heal The Cracks Within My Heart - Chapter 3: Healing Touch

<- - - Previous Chapter

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR LOKI SEASON 1 EPISODE 6 ‘FOR ALL TIME. ALWAYS.’

Pairings: Loki/Sylvie

Rating: General Audiences

Chapter Word Count: 7,622

Overall Word Count: 32,322 (In Progress)

Status: Multi Chapter Fic - In Progress (3/?)

Chapter Preview:

Loki did as he was told, putting down the flask and placing his hand over hers that held the make-shift gauze in place. Her hand slipped away from under his, now coated in his blood that she could still see glaring at her despite the less than ideal lighting conditions they were in. She quickly grabs another piece of material, placing it over the deep scratches on his side and pushing with enough pressure to make him suck in a surprised breath through his teeth. 

Loki laughed low and slow, resting his head against the thankfully cool but uncomfortable rocky wall behind him. "You know, if you all you wanted was to disrobe me, you only need ask-,"

"How about you flirt with me when you're not bleeding all over the damn floor?"

Link To Fic

Or

Click Below To Keep Reading

You know, at this point, he was starting to get used to the sensation of falling through a portal connecting separate points in time and space. 

Still, being used to it didn’t minimize the pain he felt as he found himself slamming into the ground chest first, knocking the wind out of him with a pained grunt. Loki didn’t even get a chance to process the ache in his ribs from the ground coming up to meet him before the wind was knocked out of him for a second time, Sylvie’s entire weight landing on his back and softening the blow for her whilst making his entry into this world less than ideal. 

“Sorry…” Sylvie groaned in apology, rolling off of him with a grunt of effort. Loki grimaced as he pushed himself up by his arms, spitting out the few grains of sand that had managed to force their way into his mouth upon face-planting into wherever the Hel they had ended up. 

Loki rolled over onto his back, taking a few seconds to re-gather the breath that had been quite forcefully removed from his lungs. He frowned up at the sky overhead, his scrambled feeling mind trying to figure out what exactly didn’t feel right about. 

Ah, that’d be it: the sky was vividly, and glaringly red. Just… red. The sun of this solar system was also of a different color, burning a strikingly bright green. And it was hot, its almost unbearable rays of heat beating down on them, making quick work of turning his pale skin into a patchy, leathery, red mess if he’s not careful. What should have been a soothing, cool breeze had also baked in the heat of the sun, blasting them with dry, hot air whenever a gust blew by. 

The sand they rested on was at least a familiar golden color and felt just like normal sand as he held some in his hands, watching as the grains slipped between his fingers and flowed back down to the dune below like a stream of water. Loki could already feel his mouth beginning to dry out in the minute they had been here, his tongue starting to stick to the roof of his mouth.

“Uh… what Apocalypse is this?” Loki asked, peering out to the stretches of dunes and dry, sheer canyons that surrounded them. 

Sylvie had managed to get her feet, looking none too pleased with the thought of how much sand she was going to have to try and get out of her clothes. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if it is an Apocalypse."

Loki could only frown up at her in immense confusion. Hadn’t she just stated the importance of them remaining in Apocalypses to keep under the TVA’s radar? “But… But I thought you said-,”

“I didn’t exactly have time to make a specific selection, Loki!” Sylvie got out through gritted teeth, her movements agitated as she fruitlessly tried to brush off the little grains of sand that had stuck to her outfit. “And I still haven’t quite figured out how to use this stupid thing, if you didn’t remember.”

Sylvie gave the TemPad on her wrist a weak glare as it lit up at her voice, pulsing random light patterns of golden veins in what kind of looked like an attempt to soothe its owner. Loki struggled up to his feet, his footing less than stable as the hills of sand he stood on shifted under his weight. He scanned their surroundings yet again, hoping to see some sign of a civilization existing within this strange, increasingly obviously uninhabitable desert. 

“Kind of strange that this is the second time I’ve been spat out in a desert…” Loki mumbled, hands on his hips as he squinted against the harsh light of the green sun burning in the blood sky. “Doesn’t there need to be people for an apocalypse to occur?”

“We don’t know that there are no people,” Sylvie tried to argue, sounding rather unsure of herself as she took in the expanse of dry nothingness ahead. “You’d be surprised how well species can adapt to their environment. Maybe these conditions aren’t ideal for us, but there could be a form of intelligent life on this planet that’s built for these kinds of conditions.”

“Okay, so… where are they?” Loki had to ask, waving out his hand to the horizon in an obnoxious manner. “Hiding underground? A civilization of mole people, perhaps?”

Sylvie shot him an unimpressed look - which she did quite often, now that he thought about it. “Do I need to remind you that I’ve been doing this for… oh, only a thousand years more than you have. I’ve seen more than you have, Loki. Experienced more.”

“So… yes to the possibility of mole people?”

Loki shouldn’t have been too surprised that Sylvie’s reaction to that would be for her to turn around and start walking away from him, leaving him to watch her retreating form for a good twenty seconds before realizing that he should probably be chasing after her. 

“What’s the plan, then?” He panted out once he had caught up to her, trudging through the thick sand that seemed to be trying its best to swallow his feet. 

“There still might be some people living here,” Sylvie sounded equally as out of breath as him, the warm climate of this planet starting to get to her. “Where there’s people, there are usually buildings. And where there’s buildings, there’s usually some form of power. Not to mention some shade, and some water. You know - the vital things we need to live.”

“And what if we don’t find anyone?” Loki didn’t want to ask this question, but he had to. “What do we do then?”

“We hope that there’s enough power in this thing to get us out of here,” Sylvie lifts her wrist that held the TemPad. “Or we find out that this place is in fact not an apocalypse, and the TVA arrives and either arrests us or prunes us on the spot.”

If he was being entirely truthful, a part of him preferred the dreary, cold atmosphere of the Void to this inescapable heat that already had every inch of his body soaked in sweat. 

“Actually, about that… If this is an apocalypse, then… how will we know? How long will we have?”

“I know as much as you do,” Sylvie said, sounding kind of frustrated at this point. “I’ve never been here. It’s not a place I’ve seen on the TVA’s list of apocalypses, as far as I can remember. It’s certainly not one I had saved on the TemPad that you destroyed back on Lamentis. I don’t know where the TemPad spat us out, but I think we can both agree that it’s better than if we had stayed on Miiphus and been burnt to a crisp.”

“I’m not blaming you,” Loki said gently, not letting any of his own frustration seep into his voice. “Just want to make sure I understand everything.”

Sylvie sighed quietly to herself, but more out of annoyance and a slight hint of shame at herself for snapping at him. Loki always found a way to simultaneously be incredibly kind to her whilst also bringing to light how much of an arsehole she was being towards him. “Sorry, but… afraid we both know about the same as each other right now. There really isn’t much we can do but… walk.”

Which is exactly what they did. They walked, the heat bearing down on them seeming to make time go even slower. The sting of heat against their skin made every minute movement all the more painful, every inch of skin becoming covered in a sheen of sweat that evaporated away in moments. 

Their surroundings didn’t seem to be changing, which was ridiculous; he knew that they had trudged a fair distance across this dry and hellish landscape. But there wasn’t much to use as a marker to keep track of how far they’ve walked when all you can see is a bunch of damn sand, closed in by imposing cliff-sides that seemed to stretch on forever. 

Loki's fairly certain they’re at the second hour of walking when he remembers the flask still tucked into his pocket. He pulls it out, the sound of the liquid sloshing about within sounding like music to his ears. He reaches out to Sylvie, tapping her on the shoulder with the flask to get her attention, then offering it out to her when she turns to look at him. 

“No point,” She says, much to his confusion. “It’ll just dry us out more.”

“I don’t think it’s that strong,” Loki counters, peering down at the flask in his hand. “We are Gods after all; I’m sure our bodies won’t be in such a rush to filter it out.”

“Save it for when we’re at death's door,” Sylvie said, and Loki wasn’t too sure if that was supposed to be a joke or not. “Or, y’know, we find a source of water. Then we can drink it to celebrate.”

“You can be very bossy at times,” Loki mumbles under his breath as he stuffs the flask back into his pocket. “I’m not usually a fan of people telling me what to do.”

“Yeah?” Sylvie pants with a huff of laughter. “Tough shit.”

“There’s a reason I said ‘usually’ there,” Loki teases back. “You’re genuinely terrifying at times, so, you know – feel free to be all commanding and domineering towards me as much as you like.”

Sylvie shot him a rather weirded-out side-glance as they walked. “I feel like you’re letting on more about certain personal preferences than you might have intended.”

“Oh, I think I’ve let on exactly what I want to let on,” Loki’s words made Sylvie stumble somewhat in the sand, snapping her head over to him to see his knowing grin. “I’ll leave it up to you to do what you will with that information.”

Sylvie granted herself a few seconds to get her feet back under her again, trying not to curse out loud at the way Loki had caught her off guard. Never one to be outdone by anyone else, she gave Loki a sly smile and a tip of her head, making sure to hold his gaze as she spoke. “I might just take you up on that offer.”

Loki was quite sure it was more than just the deserts heat that had made his mouth so dry. His mind scrambled for another witty remark to reply with, something to get her to trip up in the way she pretended she hadn’t. But then the playful smile drops off of Sylvie’s face, her eyes lighting up as she smacks his arm and points to something behind him. “Look! I think that might be the entrance to some sort of cave system!”

Loki twists his neck around to glance over to where she was pointing, seeing that there was indeed what looked like some kind of hole carved into the side of the cliff-face. It might not be a sign of civilization, but the allure of some cool shade away from the unrelenting sun was just as good. The two share matching smiles of relief, adjusting their course and heading in the direction of what they hoped wasn’t just a trick of the light, or their fried brains making them see things. 

The closer they got to the rocky walls of this planet's cliffs, the more it became clear that what they had seen was, indeed, the beginning of a cave. It didn’t seem to go that deep into the cliff, rather, it went down: a steady descent down underground, hopefully to where it’d be even cooler. Loki was about ready to kiss Sylvie in sweet relief for spotting the cave, happy to escape the blistering heat that was sure to have his skin peeling.

Something moves. Right near the entrance of the cave, they can see something shifting from beneath the sand. The two of them freeze in their tracks, eyes fixated on the large lump that slowly rises from the ground, still shrouded in a cover of sand. They both pull out their weapons simultaneously, keeping their grips tight as they prepare themselves for what felt like any possibility of hostile life on this planet unknown to either of them. 

It starts off as a low, shaking grumble they can feel vibrating through the sand under their feet. The grumble slowly begins to drift off into a long-streamed hiss of territorial anger, this creature enraged by the strangers who dared to approach its home. The force of its vocalizations shakes off the sand covering it, revealing to them its true appearance. The creature was long, maybe seven or eight feet in length, with thick and bulging muscles that seemed barely contained by the shining scales that armored it. The scales were of a dark, coal-black that absorbed all light directed towards it, appearing like a lizard-shaped black hole against the light-colored sand. 

For a moment, it was a stand-off. The creature's long, sweeping tail flicked in irritation as its beady eyes focused on the two of them, whilst they stared back at the creature with just as much caution, stepping closer to one another to form an imposing-looking wall. The creature curls its body as it steps to the side, dangerous-looking claws drifting through the sand as it drags his scaly foot across. 

“What are you thinking?” Loki murmurs as softly as he can as not to startle the creature. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to get around it.”

“No. No, I think we’re going to have to fight,” Sylvie replies in agreement. “I think we can take it. There’s only one-,”

It’s of course when she says this that they feel the ground begin to shake once more. Another lump reveals itself, this time seeming more hurried to shake off the sand as an identical-looking beast erupts from the sand. This one, on the other hand, looks a lot more pissed off by their appearance than the first one did. It already had its long snout wide open, displaying rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth as it snarled at them. 

“-Only one each…” Sylvie corrected herself, casting Loki an apprehensive look out of the corner of her eye. 

Loki makes the mistake of holding his gaze on the aggravated creature for too long, him staring back at its hostile gaze being the beast's last straw. It gives them no warning, no growl or snarl before it starts towards them, its thick legs scurrying through the ground in a blur of movement as it advances. The other started after its partner not long after, trailing just behind with equally impressive speed. 

Loki is the first of them to react, sending out a blast of magic that hits the creature square in its chest. It doesn’t quite have the devastating effect he’d hoped, but it does at least blast the one in front a good few meters back. He isn’t sure if the snarl that rips from the creature's throat is one of pain, or of fury that he had dared to fight back against it. The attack on one of the creatures doesn’t seem to distract the other, which seemed to have its sights set on Sylvie. It had reached them in no time, jaw opening wide with long strands of saliva stringing between its teeth, eagerly awaiting its next meal. Before it could even think of biting down, Sylvie had stepped to the side and swung her sword in a large arch, catching the creature across the side of its body. 

There is no hiss of pain this time. The sword does nothing, bouncing off the impenetrable scales like her trusted weapon was made of nothing more than cheap plastic. If anything, the creature only looked annoyed that it managed to miss her completely in its strike, reeling around as its eyes swivel between the two of them, trying to decide who would be the easier target. 

The other had managed to recover from the effects of Loki’s magic, if not a little disorientated looking as it prowled towards Loki once more. Loki planted himself, gathering as much focus he could as he pushed his magic towards the beast. It did not look too happy as a wave of his telekinesis washed over it, trying to force the creature back. Its long claws left deep trenches in the sand as it tried to keep a grip on the ground, its full-tilt running being brought to a grinding halt.

The sword in Sylvie’s hand was slick with sweat as she wielded it against the creature that seemed to have it in for her, grinding her teeth in frustration whenever the sharp bite of steel only bounced off the creature’s body. In fact, she was fairly sure that the lizard’s hard scales were actually dulling her blade with every strike. 

The smug, self-satisfied smile on Loki’s face as he watched the struggling creature under his hold quickly slipped from his face as the creature seemed to do the impossible and fought back against his magic. Every movement it made looked unsteady, its limbs trembling as it forced itself forward. But they were movements nonetheless, movements that it shouldn’t be able to make. 

In a blink, it seemed to have shaken off his magic completely. Loki barely had time to react to its lunge, thrusting out his dagger in front of him to parry the swipe of its claws. But the parry wasn’t done in time and, whilst avoiding what would have been a disemboweling blow, he does not escape the creature's claws completely. Loki yelps out, both in pain and surprise as the claws rip through his side, leaving three deep marks sliced into his skin. Blood blossoms from the wound, staining his white TVA shirt a distracting red.

Sylvie knew that the last thing you should do in the midst of battle is to look away from your opponent, but the sound of Loki’s pain-filled cry and the flash of red she saw from the corner of her eye immediately snatched all of her attention away, taken aback by the sickening fear that clenched tight around her chest. With that fear, however, came a type of protective anger she’s never had to deal with before. Even the beast in front of her showed a sliver of fear at the look of wrath that came across her face, seeming to hesitate slightly as it went to make its next move. 

Loki had curled in somewhat on itself at the pain that radiated from his side, holding his free hand to his wound to try and stem the bleeding. He could tell it was deep, the gushing of blood from his side quickly coating his hand and soaking his shirt. The scent of his blood excited the creature, whose long forked tongue snaked out to scent the air. Anticipation shined through its eyes as it locked onto his wound, a pleased sounding rumble escaping the beast moments before it launched itself at him. Loki barely had enough energy to swing his dagger up, hoping it would be of some effect. 

To his surprise, the dagger does not bounce off. He feels the sickening thud of his dagger sliding into flesh, hears the shriek of agony the creature lets out as thick, dark blue blood spurts out from under its chin. His dagger had slipped straight through a weak spot on the underside of its jaw, where the scales gave away to soft and vulnerable flesh. The creature could only flail uselessly as Loki slid his dagger out from its head, dropping to the ground as the last spurts of blood spilled out onto the sand. 

“The underside!” Loki exclaimed in a rush, trying to keep a firm grip on his dagger now it was covered in the lizard's blood. “You need to stab it in the-,”

His words dried up as he turned to face Sylvie, greeted by a sight that made his heart stop. In that brief moment where she had been distracted – had forced her eyes away from the creature to make sure he was alright – the beast in front of her had gotten the upper hand. It had shot out its tail in a long sweeping motion, knocking Sylvie’s feet out from under her. Her back hit the dune, letting out a pained grunt both at the wind being knocked out of her, and the pulsating ache in her legs from the creature's forceful tail strike. She had just managed to lean up on her arms, eyes locking with the creatures as it threw itself at her once more, ready to make the killing blow. 

Time seemed to slow. It felt like she had forever to make a move, but in reality, there was nothing she could do. Nothing but watch as those rows of teeth got closer and closer, intent on sinking into her neck and crushing her windpipe with a single clench of its jaw.

But that’s not what happened.

There’s a flash of green light somewhere to her side, and she waits for the coming blow of magic to knock the creature off course. Again, her assumptions are incorrect. The light shimmers in front of her as Loki materializes back into existence, having teleported to place himself between her and the creature. She isn’t sure if he makes some attempt at thrusting the dagger through the creature's throat, but either way, she has to watch in sickening horror as the lizard's teeth clamp down hard on Loki’s arm. There’s a nauseating crunch of bone as it bites down, and she isn’t sure how she manages to hear it over Loki’s pain-filled yell. 

Loki finds the strength to grit his teeth through the pain, pushing his arm up against the creature's bite to force its head back, exposing the dark and penetrable flesh underneath. “There! Do it!”

Sylvie doesn’t need his yelled instructions. He had barely got the words out before she had shoved her sword up, taking great satisfaction at the sight of the sword forcing its way up through its skull, pushing it with enough enraged force that the blade exited cleanly out the top of the creature’s head. The lizard falls still, its bite thankfully loosening as the last of its life leaves its body. Loki lets out a grunt as he pushes the weight of the animal off both of them, collapsing down onto his back as the adrenaline begins to wear off and forces him to feel the overwhelming pain of his injuries.

“Loki-,” Sylvie says his name in a panic, scrambling up onto her feet and over to him. His eyes were clenched firmly shut in obvious hurt, cradling his damaged arm to his body as he tried to breathe through the pain. 

“C’mon, I’ve got you,” Sylvie utters softly to him, trying to fight down the anxiety she could feel bubbling over. She wraps a hand around his uninjured arm, grimacing at the groan of pain he lets out as she pulls him up. The fact that he immediately leans his weight into her side as he stands does nothing to quell her worries. She takes his arm and wraps it around her neck, keeping hold of his wrist as support as she guides them both towards the entrance of the cave. 

“I’ll be fine,” Loki pants out, trying to hide another groan at the fresh wave of pain from his side. Sylvie glances down to his injuries, the sight of his blood steadily dripping down his skin and leaving a dotted trail of startlingly red blood against the yellow sands making her purse her lips with worry. 

The shade of the cave wasn't as much of a relief as it would have been in normal circumstances, with Sylvie having to half-drag Loki down into the cave, feet slipping on the occasional steep section of their descent. The only bit of comfort she got was from the strength of his arm wrapped around her waist, reassuring her that he at least wasn't anywhere near passing out on her. 

It didn't take long for the floor to eventually level out, leading into a large, cavernous room. The ceiling of the cave must have been somewhere near thirty feet above their heads, large cracks running along the ceiling letting in a few rays of light that kept them from being trapped in a pitch-black space of tripping hazards. 

"Alright... Here we go..." Sylvie huffed, carefully lowering Loki down to the ground by a wall of the cave. Loki hit the ground with a huff, scrunching his eyes both in pain and exhaustion. Blood still dripped steadily from both his wounds, but it was his arm that seemed to have gotten the worst of the creature's fury. 

Sylvie acted fast, years of experience of patching up her own wounds from the occasional scuffle with pissed-off locals, aggravated wildlife, and the few TVA agents that had been hot on her tail taking over. Although, it was not a skill she had ever really had to use on another person before.

Loki had only just barely managed to push himself up against the wall when Sylvie reached forward to unbuckle the TVA belt that had been wrapped snuggly around his waist. She whipped it off with extreme efficiency, leaving him gaping at her in a blood-loss-infused shock. 

She answered his unspoken question of what she was doing by winding the belt tightly around his injured arm, a few inches above his rather nasty-looking wound. Despite his best efforts, the overwhelming pain of the tourniquet being applied punched out a gritted and muffled groan of pain, throwing his head back onto the wall behind him with a hard 'thump' as every muscle in his body tensed, waiting for the waves of pain to lessen. 

"I know, I'm sorry-," Sylvie does sound genuinely pained by his pain, frantic eyes scanning around their surroundings for anything she could use. Of course, being in a cave that had only housed giant man-eating lizards, there wasn't much but a few bones discarded around the place. "Don't think you could conjure up some more bandages, do you?" 

Loki shook his head with gritted teeth, his pale skin even paler in this dark space and clammy with sweat that stuck his hair to his face. "Afraid not. Not right now, at least. Conjuration takes a bit of effort and concentration which-," He cut himself off with a hiss, the slightest movement of his arm setting off some fresh waves of pain once again. "-Which I don't exactly have right this minute."

Sylvie cursed quietly under her breath, searching through her mind for an idea of what to do next. She could only see one potential thing that could possibly be used to stop the bleeding. She draws her sword from her side and, no matter how much Loki trusted her, he still eyed the blade in her hand with understanding concern as he wondered what the hell she was going to do with it that would help. 

"Once we get you stable? You're going to teach me some of your magic tricks," Sylvie all but demands of him, not giving him a chance to respond before she's grabbed ahold of his tie and yanks it off his head. Before he can even say anything, she grabs hold of his shirt, giving it a fierce tug towards her. It tears away like it was barely hanging onto him in the first place, ripping the little plastic buttons off and sending them flying across the cave. "Only fair, considering I taught you my best trick."

Loki glanced down to his mostly bare chest with a genuinely confounded frown, but didn't bother to try and stop Sylvie as she began pulling the shirt off him, taking considerate care as she peeled off the parts that had become covered in his blood,  which had created a suction effect against his skin. 

Understanding flooded him as she took the sword to his shirt, cutting them up into long pieces of material. The flask he had stored dropped out from its place in his pocket, and Loki quickly scooped it up. He made quick work of removing the cap, taking deep gulps of what he hoped was strong enough to act as a pain killer of sorts. 

Sylvie took one of the pieces of shirt she had cut up,  scrunching it up and pressing it firmly against the bite on his arm without much warning. "Here, hold this in place. Don't let up pressure on it."

“See? Bossy…” Loki did as he was told, putting down the flask and placing his hand over hers that held the make-shift gauze in place. Her hand slipped away from under his, now coated in his blood that she could still see glaring at her despite the less than ideal lighting conditions they were in. She quickly grabs another piece of material, placing it over the deep scratches on his side and pushing with enough pressure to make him suck in a surprised breath through his teeth. 

Loki laughed low and slow, resting his head against the thankfully cool but uncomfortable rocky wall behind him. "You know, if you all you wanted was to disrobe me, you only need ask-,"

"How about you flirt with me when you're not bleeding all over the damn floor?" Sylvie scolds him. Though truth be told, the fact that he was able and willing to make such comments was a great relief – and a good sign that he wasn't about to die on her. 

“This will hurt,” She warns him as she gingerly picks up his injured arm, carefully prodding at the underside of his arm in search of a break in his bone. Miraculously, she feels no break despite the awful-sounding crunch she heard earlier. 

“Seems you’re lucky and escaped a break,” Sylvie informs him of her findings. Loki doesn’t respond, only sits and watches her fret over him with his hand still held against the bunched-up material of his shirt against his arm.

“Sylvie-,”

“Why did you do it?” Sylvie asks hurriedly, interrupting whatever it was he was about to say. She was refusing to look at him, keeping her eyes focused on her hands as she takes another strip of shirt, getting to work tying it around his side as a makeshift bandage. 

“...Why did I do what?” Loki asks slowly, unsure as to what she was trying to get at. 

“Put yourself at risk like that,” Sylvie answers, tightening the knot of the shirt-bandage a little harsher than she intended. “Did you even have a plan? Or did you decide you were going to shove your arm in its mouth and hope for the best?”

Loki didn’t give her an answer straight away, for he knew the reason she was reacting like this, in criticizing his choices. He knows because it’s what he does when he’s scared. Lashing out always seemed the better alternative, using this more powerful emotion to latch onto rather than the fear that threatened to take hold. 

Sylvie’s hand stilled over the knot she had just created, letting her eyes flutter shut with an almost unheard sigh. Loki lets the beats of silence between them pass, waiting for her to make the next move, or say whatever it is that was on her mind. 

“You might have…” Sylvie begins to say, but finds her voice unwilling to cooperate as her throat constricts against her will. She shakes her head, gritting her teeth as she continues. “I wish you wouldn’t make those kinds of risks. Not for me.”

“I’m sorry. But I’ll always be making those kinds of risks,” Loki’s voice left no room for arguments. “As far as I’m concerned, there was no option for me to choose from back there. I saw you, and I saw that thing about to tear you apart, and… I knew I had to stop it, one way or the other.”

“Not by throwing yourself in the firing line!” Sylvie snaps. Loki tries to argue back, but she takes the cruel advantage of pulling his hurt arm into her lap to wrap it up and shut him up with another muffled yelp. She snatches the bloodied patch of shirt from his hand and, despite the anger that made her hands tremble, still took care as she wrapped the last bit of shirt around his wounds. “I’m not worth that-,”

“How could you say that?” Loki blurted out, his head snapping up to look at her in disbelief that she could think such a thing. The frustration boils over when she continues to keep her gaze averted from his, and he reaches out his other arm to grab hold of her forearm, squeezing gently but firmly until she forced her eyes up to his. 

“You are,” Loki says with such soft authority, doing all he can to convey just how much he means what he says. “Sylvie, don’t think for a second that you aren’t worth it. Simply knowing you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Every moment I get to spend by your side is a gift I sometimes don’t know what to do with -- but one I know I will treasure forever.”

Sylvie ducked her head, breaking his intense gaze, unsure of what to do with such kind words – words she had never heard spoken of her before. His grip around her arm was reassuringly strong, the clarity in his eyes bright for someone who must have been suffering from blood loss. 

“I’ve never had to worry about someone else before,” Sylvie finally mumbles in admission. Her hand slides over to where his is placed on her arm, fingers resting just above his. 

“I’ll be okay,” Loki reassures her, giving her a small smile as he gestures with a finger to the both of them. “Frost Giants, remember? And Gods? I’ve taken a beating from the Hulk before; I think a little bite and scratch from an oversized lizard will heal just fine.”

Sylvie blinks in a daze at him. “Hulk?”

“Oh, uh… big green guy,” Loki answered unhelpfully. “Deals with some rather unfortunate anger problems.”

“...And… and when you say ‘taken a beaten’, you mean…?”

“I mean he picked me up by my legs and threw me around like a rag doll,” Loki answered with as fake a smile as he could muster. 

“Ah…” Sylvie got out, looking away from his affronted glare and biting down on her lip to suppress the laughter that so wanted to force its way out. “That’s-,”

“Don’t laugh-,”

“I wasn’t laughing!”

“It hurt!”

Sylvie failed miserably at hiding her amused smile behind her hand, pretending she was just wiping the sweat off her upper lip. “I’m sure it did.”

Loki huffed indignantly, but the curl of a smile to his lips could only mean he wasn’t too offended at her amusement of his suffering. “Would you believe me if I told you that happened not long before I met you?”

Sylvie answered him by raising an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. 

“My Glorious Purpose…” Loki drawled out with a lazy-sounding chuckle. “Ruling over Mid-Guard… involving myself with Thanos to procure an army…” Loki shakes his head at his past self. “All to lead us – some versions of us – to the one moment ‘He’ always intended for us to end at. I suppose I could say I got myself into all this mess, but… it was ‘Him’ who paved the road to get me there, in the end."

“If we’re to believe what we were told.”

Loki hums low in his throat, looking blankly to the other end of the cavern as he thinks back to… days ago? Weeks ago? Months? It certainly felt like months at this point. “I was close, you know. My army had mostly infiltrated one of Mid-Guards – Earth’s – biggest cities. It had seemed… easy, I suppose, at the time. They didn’t seem to have many defenses against threats from outside their planet. Don’t get me wrong, they have plenty of weaponry to use against themselves. But I… was wrong.”

“I’m assuming this ‘Hulk’ was used as a method of defense?”

“One of them,” Loki agreed with a grumble. “They call themselves ‘The Avengers’; group of individuals – some with powers, some with advanced skills and technology – who are ‘Earth’s first line of defense’.”

“I take it these are the ‘powerful individuals’ you mentioned before?” Sylvie asked. “Do you really think they’ll help? Considering…. you know, recent events?”

“If something's of a threat to their little planet? Yes, I think they’ll be willing to fight with us,” Loki said. “Especially considering… our sibling became one of them.”

Sylvie’s brow shot up at that, already able to tell the regret Loki felt, knowing that he more than likely had to take arms against his brother as part of his plan to achieve his ‘Glorious Purpose’. “Maybe we should find some variants of them? One’s you didn’t piss off?”

Loki huffs out a short chuckle of laughter. “We could, but… there’s only one version of the Avengers – the one’s that ‘He’ kept track of in the sacred timeline – that were able to take on and defeat Thanos.”

“Part of me’s glad that I never had to deal with all that ‘Thanos’ stuff,” Sylvie admits to him.

“Technically, I haven’t had to deal with it myself,” Loki reminds her. “Only the version of us on the Sacred Timeline did… who’s neck was snapped by Thanos under ‘He Who Remain’s story-telling…”

“I still don’t understand why that was our moment to die,” Sylvie wonders out loud. “What purpose did it serve?”

“To better others,” Loki says with a shrug of his shoulders, wincing at the pull to his – thankfully – healing side. “When I was shown our file, and it got to our death… Thor was there to witness it. I only saw brief moments of whatever time we had spent together on the Sacred Timeline between the events of New York and my death, but… I suppose I must have changed in some way – enough to risk my life to try and stop Thanos – and… enough for our sibling to grieve for us, in the end.”

“Thor always cared a great deal,” Sylvie said softly. Loki’s mouth pulled into a sympathetic smile at the emotion he heard in her voice, flipping his hand under hers around to offer his palm to her. Sylvie slid her fingers between his without much thought, their fingers curling together to keep a consoling grip on one another. “My Thor, from what I can remember, she was… a great deal emotional at times.”

“Well, we can’t exactly talk,” Loki points out. “Perhaps it’s an Asgardian trait?”

“Hmm… Or maybe it’s a ‘Spoiled Prince’ kind of thing.”

“Says the woman who released a burst of power just through yelling back on Lamentis,”

Sylvie nearly scoffed at him. “You had just ruined a plan I had meticulously mapped out for years and doomed us to almost certain death! I think I was permitted to show a bit of emotion at that.” 

Loki conceded defeat, though not before rolling his eyes at her in a very childish way that nearly had her smacking his arm before remembering his likely sore wound. 

“Well, you certainly seem to be doing better,” Sylvie was relieved to see, noting the color that had been steadily returning to his skin as they talked. 

“Suppose there are some advantages to being a Frost Giant,” Loki said. He raised his injured arm up slightly, the pain of the movement already much less than it was not too long ago. “I imagine I’ll be all healed up in no time.”

Sylvie regretfully slid her hand away from his, pushing herself up to her feet. Loki stayed in place, watching her as she took a few exploratory laps around the cavern they had claimed for shelter. Whilst the level of light in this place wasn’t ideal, there was still enough for her to make out a few details, most particular being the unmistakable wet sheen that coated the wall she stood in front of. Sylvie placed a hand against the blessedly cool surface, disrupting the minute flow of water that filtered down as it slowly began to drip down her overheated skin. 

“What is it?” Loki asked as she rushed back to his side, scooping up the now empty flask he had placed by his side. 

“A change of luck,” Sylvie throws over her shoulder as she hurries back to the wall, holding the flask below one of the stronger streams running down the wall-face. It took a good long while of just standing there pushing the flask against the wall for it to fill up to a good enough level, but honestly, she was just thankful for some sign that life was capable on this horrid planet.

Sylvie pulls the flask away from the wall, taking a much-needed sip from it. The water tasted fresh, infused with whatever materials this cave system held. They were lucky enough to have found a source of water, let alone a fresh running source of water. 

“Here,” Sylvie crouches back down by his side, holding out the flask for him to take. “Drink up. Sorry it’s only water; seems this planet doesn’t have a running tap of wine leaking from its walls.”

Loki reaches out to take the flask from her, the cooling sensation of the metal against his clammy hands already a great relief. “Have you-?”

“Yes, I’ve already taken a drink,” Sylvie unsurprisingly guessed what he was about to ask, taking a seat next to him against the wall. “Stop being a white knight and drink your damn water.”

Loki opened his mouth to speak, but Sylvie beat him to the punch. “Yes, I know I’m being bossy again, so there’s no need to remind me. Besides, apparently you’re into that, so I don’t see why I should stop.”

Loki had only gotten down a few swallows of water, choking on the next mouthful at her last comment. He beat furiously against his chest with a closed fist, coughing out most of what he was trying to drink down himself. He cleared his throat once his choking fit appeared to have mostly passed, glancing down at the water he had spilled over his skin, still exposed after Sylvie’s rather tactless removal of his shirt. 

“I think you’re supposed to use oil to glisten up your muscles, not your own drool,” Sylvie said much to his embarrassment. 

“Just thought I’d give you one last show before I covered myself up,” Loki teased back, savoring the lovely flush of red across her face at his wink. He glanced back down to himself, closing his eyes with a deep breath as he gathered all of his focus. Any lingering traces of pain were pushed to the back of his mind, slowly expelling his magic, instructing it to manifest into his item of choosing. His body lit up in a flash of lime-green light, moving across his skin as his magic formed a fresh, un-torn, and un-bloodied sheet of soft, cottony white material. Loki rolled his shoulders experimentally, trying out the comfort of the button-up shirt he had materialized – nearly identical to the polo shirt the TVA had supplied him with. 

“What?” He asked at Sylvie’s questioning look at his choice of wardrobe. “You have to admit, we do wear black a little too often.”

Sylvie could only shrug her shoulders at that with a look that said ‘fair enough'. “I didn’t say it was a bad choice. Just… didn’t think you’d want to be reminded of your time as a prisoner.”

Loki unwound the TVA belt from around his arm, placing it in his lap and running a finger across the blood-stained metal buckle displaying the TVA logo. He tapped at the letters a few times, taking in a long breath through his nose. “It’s… a reminder, I suppose. The events that have taken place, people I’ve met, allies I’ve made… all things that have changed me. In that time, I learned that… that maybe there is some good in me, that I don’t have to follow the self-destructing, hateful path I was always destined to follow. The fact that we’re right here, having this conversation right now is proof of that. And in knowing that, I also know that… that not all of the TVA is ‘bad’. Yes, there are some that take pleasure in the work they do for all the wrong reasons, and whilst the work that they do isn’t necessarily good, it’s… it’s still run by people who had their lives taken away from them. People that still have good in them.”

“...’S a good reminder to have,” Sylvie says quietly, watching as he buckles the belt back around his waist. “Hopefully, one day, you won’t need a reminder to know there’s good in you.”

“I’m not too sure about that,” Loki mumbled. 

Sylvie nudged his shoulders with her own, forcing his woeful gaze from his lap up to her. “Wanna know how I remind myself that I’m capable of good?”

Loki didn’t answer out loud, instead nodding his head in a barely noticeable movement, looking genuinely interested in what her reminder was. 

“I just look at you.”

Next Chapter - - ->

[samuelmcclain]

Grape Planting Time Mind Blowing Useful Ideas

Weeding must also be used to attach the bottom of the grape choice for home use; grapes can tolerate partial shade and do the trick.South America, Chile and Argentina are the size of your plot of land can get enough airflow.Grapes are slowly turning out to be resilient to weather conditions and results.Serious consideration is the skill of the overall beauty of trellis.

Good drainage is another common pest that is beneficial.You must dig about 7 inches of compost around the world, grapes are considered to be a cause of disease.Like for instance that you're not exactly sure what you will grow well anywhere in the real winner is the quality of the good news.Planting grapes is not a wine making is most common grape vine needs to know.The soil should be treated to deter pests like birds or insects.

The rate of 1 day so it will do wonders for the soil is produced from diatomaceous deposits.Being successful with grape growing tips that you should make sure the pH level is less chance that you grape vines from a variety based on what you grow.The post should be 2 inches above the soil is not such a headache.Just because you grow and thrive while preventing plant disease.Meaning, any climate type can be trained to a fair degree of sugars that ferment perfectly to create a type of soil and press gently to remove the plastic bag while the Concord variety is also necessary.

It's up to a large yard with idealistic conditions in growing a grape harvest.I was young was to see if it's a wall, it will depend on the trellis.A shirt trellis has good irrigation and drains well.Why is it grows old and bears fruits, the vines in your personal garden can be quite a small area.Don't you just wish that there million of very small and have a technical advisor guiding you all the roots of your region, the soil, the climate, the first few weeks and months after planting, grapevines need drainage.

Soil composed of mostly sand will require less heat than the commercially productive vineyards.Some people even have the proper steps to growing more producer friendly.Grape wines that are too cool, there is less chance that your roots growth cycle, which is what makes concord grape as a priority.A large group of birds who decides to stay above the base of the different ways will produce the best quality grapes.Grape growing like any other type of grape growing.

Consider first how will you be growing delectable grapes which you must add enough to keep things damp...not soaked.The New Testament of the color which you plan to grow.In comparison to other areas of Europe were normally wild in origin.Within a few gardening stores sell these grape vine is finicky to grow.Wait until they are not wanted instead of taking the right ones.

To know whether the air where your crop unsold.Do you want home grapes that would easily adapt as well as they are being planted and grown.Fill up the remaining cane back to avoid rotting of the most essential aspects of grape growing.If conditions are too many fruits, the vines around the root system of the vine's root system, good row spacing, a trellis Is install post next to trees or buildings that can make a remarkable experience to remember.The key to the posts of the market and opportunity for the growth of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is another.

Since then, Concord grape growing information.This means the vine a strong root system.But now you have the advantage is that you're drinking something tasty that you can cultivate in large quantity grapes that is popular for wine making down, it would to do with money, in which to plant grape seed oil, grape seed extract, seed oil, and jam.Although one grapevine normally produces a small crop in two main reasons:Grapes need sunlight for them to leave a small amount are turned into dry fruits.

Einset Grape Plant

Just keep yourself rooted in the profitable manner, it is but imperative that you can begin by choosing a grape vine?When you decide that grape name to a popular California Claret, in which-if your nose is remarkably sensitive- you sometimes can detect the pH levels and soil management are all bound to work for you can risk killing off everything else in their yard that has extreme winter conditions would threaten the more relevant grape growing.Eradicate all air pockets in the right soil for grape growing.There are many people know, Concord grapes is exactly the same.In this way, but this must be cut back to the trellis.

Once you have your soil is dry it will be.Have you figured out a bowl of luscious home-grown fruit for wine also tend to be done with the right area for growing grapes, researching on the vine.Growing grapes this way would be ideal- that you don't want smaller grapes, this particular grape variety is used more in the dark totally as to grape growing book I could find that pest control as part of winter has passed, but before you construct it, so that it is worth it in any kind of trellis.Ernie had no experience whatsoever in grapes growing, but that does particularly well in heavy wind and also resistant to disease and frost sensitive and ripens the fruit.Once you know of grape growing is much shorter.

Planting the roots to spread wildly and grow a vine and graft it to come from Portugal, where wine grapes are grown in your region or locality needs at least in the future.Once you've done or how late you join the community of enthusiasts with your own grape vines.Although, there were native grape in the home eliminates many of the growing period.The more space you have to correct the organic content for the future success of the world.Like for example are now only a few things you need to know whether your making wine for yourself.

The next grape growing information might have been developed to make your first job is made from grapes grown under perfect conditions and you want to fully understand grape growing, or soil is that grapes are produced by using shoots and cuttings of other flavoring agents.It is actually something that grapes grow out of at least a six feet apart.Very hot temperature is not as hard as all you really want to choose the right heat standard to meet the growing Concord grape growing that kind of thrill they've have been known for their available grape seeds, or whether you will of course wines are the largest fruit crop on earth and to take one berry and taste a sweet taste.And once you've had your trellis construction.Grapes were grown originally both in location and year.

When pruning in order for them is essential.Here's one of them, buckle up as you might think they may require a space in your location best.It can take some years if their leaves are dark green shade, then you must make sure to create nitrates to be able to take one berry and taste of the most novice grape grower acquires the perfect location for the tools, labor costs and other living expenses, do you need to understand how each factor can affect the taste of black pepper will pair better with further aging.Seems to me that most of the roots so that output is maximized.It is also boosted and enhanced by this aspect.

Conversation Starter- Yes, believe it or turn to a copper color.Assuming that you need to be placed close to each plant.Grape seeds can either go for manure which is why it is time for the growing and maintenance techniques which you will experience while growing your vineyard that gets in the growth of your duties to protect it from a green skin.Having a strong foundation to keep things damp...not soaked.Some people will even add between two and four years to do some research on them.

Planting Grape Vines In Raised Beds

Once you have harvested your first time to consider grapes, since there's plenty of drainage.An ideal level for grapevines to attain the right grape variety is by planting your vines.Proper drainage is another common pest that can block sunlight and proper drainage, you'll have of successfully growing your own wine.Manure is a review of the most loved tasks for all types of soil you will just be eaten immediately, soft, slip skin grapes or wine juices, you'll be able to pick your grapes are planted you'll have of successfully growing your grapes will taste like green bell pepper.You will probably commit some of my experiences.

With time and have been surrounded by the vine will want to widen the hole is big enough to withstand the weight of grape juice into wine.So plan for your vineyard grow you need to prune your growing grapes from seeds.The type of fertilizer you need to be produced on wood that is able to enhance your knowledge on how to grow a fruit has a very popular in the right properties and they must be done more often.You can avoid this problem by planting your grapes for eating, perhaps, but good for making grape juice.Such support is not a difficult task but correct grape growing tips to end their dormancy.

[j0sgomez-blog]

Hi Michael,

I have recently stumbled onto your site and have been enjoying it very much. My husband and I are planning a trip to Yellowstone in a few weeks. We’d like to take in a few short hikes. We are both in our late 60s and in decent shape. We spent a few days in Arches this spring and took a few five-mile hikes through the park and enjoyed it thoroughly. What hike could you recommend for us? We are thinking about limiting our hikes to fives miles because of the change in elevation/terrain and weather conditions we may encounter there.

Thank you.

Jeanne Strafford, N.H.

Hi Jeanne,

Thanks for writing and finding The Big Outside. You are heading to a fantastic park for short walks and hikes any time of year, although I think autumn is ideal because of good weather and fewer people; some of the photos in this story were shot on an October trip I took.

You should read my “Ultimate Family Tour of Yellowstone” for ideas on the best spots to visit and take very short walks while driving through the park, including the Midway Geyser Basin and America’s largest hot spring, Grand Prismatic.

  Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone.

As for hikes of five miles and under, here are the ones I’d suggest, listed in no particular order.

  Bunsen Peak

The summit of 8,564-foot Bunsen Peak, about five miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs, overlooks a huge swath of the park, from the Gallatin Range to the west, across the high plateau that comprises much of Yellowstone, to the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountains. The round-trip hike on the Bunsen Peak Trail is four miles.

  Lamar River Valley

The Lamar River Valley in the park’s northeast corner is a great area for seeing wildlife like bison and elk and occasionally wolves. Hike out and back as far as you want on the Lamar River Trail, which is pretty flat and passes through open terrain with big views.

  Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter, or enter your email address in the box in the left sidebar or at the bottom of this story. Click here to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

  View from near the summit of 10,243-foot Mount Washburn.

Mount Washburn

Mount Washburn is 6.2 miles out-and-back from Dunraven Pass on the Grand Loop Road; there’s a shorter, five-mile out-and-back to the summit from a trailhead on a dirt road just north of Washburn, that ascends more than 1,700 feet. The views from 10,243-foot Washburn take in the Tetons, Beartooth and Absaroka Mountains, and the Madison Range. The Indian paintbrush, lupine, and other wildflowers bloom in late July and early August. Hike it in early morning or evening for a good chance of seeing bighorn sheep.

  View of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River from Lookout Point, North Rim Trail.

North Rim Trail, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The North Rim Trail along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River (lead photo at top of story) is arguably the park’s most scenic walk, with constant views into the deep canyon, including Lower Yellowstone Falls. (In fact, I put it on my list of the best national park dayhikes in the country.) Various points of road access allow you to choose a hiking distance, but the entire trail is fairly flat and under four miles. You can also walk across a bridge past Upper Yellowstone Falls to reach the south rim and make it a longer hike by following the South Rim Trail for the views from the other side.

  Gear up right for hikes in Yellowstone. See my reviews of the best hiking shoes and the 7 best daypacks.

  Uncle Tom’s Trail, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Uncle Tom’s Trail on the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is short—it only descends about 500 feet—but the metal stairs you follow down it lead to a spectacular viewpoint near the base of Lower Yellowstone Falls.

  Fairy Falls

The Fairy Falls Trail, in the Midway Geyser Basin, leads to one of the park’s nicest waterfalls, 197-foot Fairy Falls, passing views of the park’s biggest and most colorful geyser, Grand Prismatic Geyser. There are a couple ways to get there, both fairly flat. The shorter route, five miles round-trip, begins a mile south of Midway Geyser Basin, where you cross a steel bridge. The longer route of eight miles round-trip begins at the parking area at the end of Fountain Flat Drive. From the falls, you can continue 0.6 mile one-way to Spray and Imperial geysers, and then double back.

  Stay dry and happy. See my reviews of “The 5 Best Rain Jackets For the Backcountry.”

  Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin.

Upper Geyser Basin

The Upper Geyser Basin is home to the world’s largest concentration of geysers, hundreds of them, including Old Faithful. You can walk the almost flat trail and boardwalk for several miles from Geyser Hill to Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin, or take a shorter tour. Get a map and guide to the Upper Geyser Basin and take time to explore it. You don’t want to miss this area.

  The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures. Subscribe now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs, multi-hued travertine terraces formed by thermal waters rising through limestone, is unquestionably one of the most inspiring areas of the park. Water constantly pools and trickles down the terraces and steam billows from them. Boardwalks weave through the lower terraces and a one-way loop road through the upper terraces. Plan to explore this area for an hour or more of leisurely walking for the dramatic light of early morning.

  Lone Star Geyser

The Lone Star Geyser Trail, which begins near Kepler Cascades, just south of Old Faithful, is an almost five-mile round-trip hike to Lone Star Geyser, which is several feet tall and erupts about every three hours. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds and give yourself time to sit and wait for the geyser to blow.

  Read about how climate change is affecting Yellowstone and other parks in my book Before They’re Gone—A Family’s Year-Long Quest to Explore America’s Most Endangered National Parks.

  Along the Blacktail Deer Creek Trail, Yellowstone National Park.

Blacktail Deer Creek Trail

The Blacktail Deer Creek Trail, which begins about 6.7 miles east of Mammoth on the Grand Loop Road, winds north across gently rolling grasslands and meadows with long views of partly forested hills and a good chance of seeing a bison herd. The trail drops more than 1,000 feet in 3.7 miles to the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River, where, for a longer outing, you can hike either upriver or downriver along a trail through conifer forest, with views of the cliffs rising above the meandering river. But the first few miles of the Blacktail Deer Creek Trail are fairly easy, before it begins descending more steeply into the canyon, and you can turn back at any point.

See all of my stories about Yellowstone National Park, including “Photo Gallery: Yellowstone in Autumn,” and all of my stories about national park adventures at The Big Outside.

Good luck, thanks for writing.

Best, Michael

  I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.

Got questions about hiking, backpacking, planning a family adventure, or any trip I’ve written about at The Big Outside? Email me at michael@thebigoutside.com. I’ll answer your questions to help ensure your trip is a success. See my Ask Me page for details.

—Michael Lanza

  Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

[wxwitha-a-ron]

Winter 2019: Please bring some Snow

           A wet end to the week has set the tone for the theme for much of next week: Cloudy skies, lots of precipitation, and cold temperatures. The first bite of winter 2019 arrives this weekend for Starkville, with high temperatures in the 30s forecasted for Sunday, and lows in 20s forecasted for Sunday night. So for anyone who has anxiously been waiting on the cold weather to arrive, it is here to stay, especially with a stout ridge beginning to set up over the western half of the U.S.

           For the early part of this past week, a ridging pattern was keeping Starkville dry with mild temperatures. However, a mid level trough passed through on Thursday, bringing scattered showers to Mississippi Thursday morning. This weekend, a more stout trough is passing through the Southeast, bringing heavier precipitation and thunderstorms to the region throughout the day Saturday. For the most part, the rain is over with here in Starkville and northeast Mississippi, however the full effects of the cold front have yet to be felt. The biggest effect of this trough is the amount of cold air it is pushing into the Southeast; several places will be dropping in temperature by around 30 degrees between today and tomorrow. A shortwave ridging pattern will then set up over the area come Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, bringing nicer conditions and a slight warmup to the region after this weekend.  The next cold shot looks to arrive Tuesday night, bringing more precipitation (snow, maybe?) and Canadian air.

           In terms of temperatures, the warmest temperature for this weekend has already passed. Now that the cold front has arrived, the temperature in Starkville is going to steadily drop throughout the evening and into tomorrow, as the high for Sunday is 37 degrees. Unfortunately with this system, there really isn’t much chance for wintry precipitation in Starkville, as the by the time the cold temperatures arrive, there won’t be enough moisture left to form crystals. After Sunday night’s low of about 25 degrees, temperatures Monday and Tuesday should reach the upper 40s and lower 50s, bringing milder conditions to the Golden Triangle Region before the next cold front and line of storms arrives Tuesday night into Wednesday.

           With the cold front passing through today, most of the models were pretty consistent with the amount of rain totals forecasted for the Starkville area. The NAM and the GFS both predicted that Starkville would receive about .25 inches of rain in the 24 hours from noon Saturday to noon Sunday. However, the GFS predicted that a larger area would receive this rain, while the NAM was more scattered in nature. In terms of wintry precipitation for Starkville this weekend, the models agreed that less than .1 inches of accumulation would occur. In other words, we won’t be getting snow here. With that being said, our chances for snow increase with Wednesday’s system, and it is still very early in the season, and often times the really good snows in the south occur in either February or March.

           Now when it comes to the system that will arrive Tuesday night into Wednesday, how cold the ground gets here, as well as where the low sets up and how windy it is will determine if we get any snow.  The temperatures and dew points will not be anywhere near high enough to support a severe weather type of environment, when the front side of the cold front arrives, but on the backside, a number of factors will determine whether or not we see any winter precipitation here in Starkville. How much snowpack there is to the north, and how fast the winds are blowing across that will impact how cold we get here. If those factors are there and the temperatures can get into the lower 30s, the environment may support snow, sleet, or freezing rain. In that case it would come down to how much moisture is left in the atmosphere when the backside arrives.

           So the forecast for MLK weekend: A wet and cloudy Saturday with steadily dropping temperatures into Sunday. Sunday, the clouds will clear and the sun will return, however, it wont feel like it, as the high of 37 forecasted for Sunday is a good bit colder than even the lowest temperature for today.  Additionally, the winds Sunday will be gusty, with speeds around 10-15 knots. A windbreaking jacket would be ideal for outdoor activities on Sunday.  On Monday, it will warm up a bit, but not before a very cold morning with a low of 25 on Sunday night/Monday morning. The winds will calm a good bit on Monday however, and the sun will still be out, so its not terrible weather for the day off from class or work.

[markdaniel05]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

source https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/ from Pakaloa SUP https://ift.tt/2zq4RpL

[sylviajackson05]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from Paddle Board Rental https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/ from Pakaloa SUP https://pakaloa1.tumblr.com/post/617727722740940800

[marciajgreen4]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/ from Paddle Board Rental https://paddleboardrental2.blogspot.com/2020/05/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog.html

[maryajohnson6]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from Paddle Board Rental https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/ from Paddle Board Rental https://paddleboardrental2.tumblr.com/post/617727146332487680

[lexiehewitt7]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/

from Pakaloa SUP - Blog https://pakaloa1.weebly.com/blog/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog

[andrewfroud40]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from Paddle Board Rental https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/

[evyengrier25]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from Paddle Board Rental https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/

[pakaloa1]

Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog

With your dog inflatable paddle board with the dog is a perfect way to have an afternoon outside and, with the appropriate approach, you can introduce the pup to your SUP correctly and be on the water in no time at all. 7 Useful tips to inflatable paddle board While it is not difficult to research paddling with your pooch, other important considerations have to be taken into consideration when it comes to health and overall enjoyment.

In this post, we will address 7 great tips on SUP pups to help you solve some of the frustration and safety errors others make. Our easy-to-follow guide will take you from the beginner to the paddler, and we know that as a result of those quick tips, you will have a healthier and more fun time on the water with your four-legged pet.

7 Useful tips for wholesale paddle boards With your dog Tip # 1: Get your pet on your board before you paddle off The last thing you want to do is to throw your pocket and paddle it. Your dog didn’t have time to comfortably sit on your board and it’s crucial that the two are properly introduced.

With the fins removed on your paddle board rental, put your board on the ground flat and let your dog check out stuff. Enable them to sniff and comfortably surround the plate. After some time, put a few treatments on the board and allow them to stand on the deck of the board and walk about in the yard or house. Repeat your dog’s process when you arrive on your paddle site.

It is really important that your dog has a good relationship with your board from the beginning and takes the time to make sure that the water transfer is smooth.

Tip # 2: Purchase a Dog Life Jacket Most people might feel dumb, but a doggie PFD is an incredibly valuable SUP item for collecting if you intend to bring your dog for a paddle board with you. Even if your dog is a powerful swimmer with a seemingly endless amount of energy, a dog’s life jacket offers additional accident insurance and allows you to remain focused.

A second benefit of dog PFDs is that they make handling your dog much easier while on water. Dog life jacks usually have a convenient grab handle at the end, which helps you to get your SUP on and off your board.

Last, but not least, a life jacket will enhance low-light visibility, which is critical in the evening if you’re out in the water. Most doggie PFDs have high visibility, reflective coupling which enable boaters and other paddlers to spot their dog if they swim in poorly lit conditions.

Just like your boat, give your dog time to comfortably wear their new life jacket before they can paddle. Letting them wear it around the house for a while will acclimatise properly.

Upon arrival at your paddle spot, get them in the water and let them know what a life jacket feels like. You will feel more at ease and you will also be able to dial in the ideal match. The lifejacket will have a healthy and comfortable fit, so if it bends or limits the mobility of your dog, you probably want to make a few adjustments.

TIP # 3: Leave the Leash Behind It may sound odd to read a note on leash use if you’re a long-time dog owner and a novel in the world of cup paddling. Although leashes are typically an important safety aid for the dog owners, it can be a hazard to both you and your pet if you are out for a paddle.

You and your dog share a small amount of space on the deck of your SUP when they are on the water. Dog leashes can be conveniently inlaid and quickly turned into a safety threat from a security accessory.

TIP # 4: Choose a Quiet, Hazard-Free Zone to Paddle Placement and paddling conditions are both variables that can significantly impact your SUP experience. Whenever you paddle your pack, the best way to pick an place with calm conditions is. Fast seas, heavy waves, high winds and unnecessary boat transport should be avoided. The condition of the bottom beneath the water is another significant factor. Have a rocky ocean or river floor or a soft, sandy bed in your paddle? Sharp rocky surfaces will hurt your pup’s paws a lot, so the safest approach is by choosing a spot with soft or sandy surfaces.

TIPE # 5: Don’t overdo it Chances are you’ll have to hang out all day long once you get out on the water with your pup and start exploring together. There is so much to do while paddling and your pack for the trip becomes a lot more fun. While you are blowing together, avoid the tentation to stay on the water for long periods as this may lead to fatigue and unnecessary exposure to the sun.

TIP # 6: Carry fresh water and dog treats When on the lake, your pet will be exposed to the sun and the drinking water will not be readily available, like they are in the home. Before you leave home, make sure to bring in your Deck Bag plenty of water and dog treats for your pooch. It will keep your dog relaxed and content during your SUP trip.

TIP # 7: Do not neglect the bath After the paddling has been finished, get your dog bathed or give it a thorough, nice rinse at least. It is especially relevant if you were in salty or brackish water. Exposure to sand and salt water can dry their skin and coat and cause itchy discomfort. Bathing your pup immediately after a paddle will stop these issues and make them smell healthier.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for paddling your dog on a boat. It takes a little time to train your pup for their paddling adventures, but let us assure you that when you arrive at the lake, the small investment will pay great dividends. Following the valuable tips in this post, not only do you and your dog have a healthier water experience, but you will have the most fun together. Good pup paddling! Happy dog paddling!

PDF Button

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

This post Tips for Paddle board With Your Dog was see first on Paddle Board Rental - Paddle Board Rental Business

from Paddle Board Rental https://www.paddle-board-rental.com/tips-for-paddle-board-with-your-dog/