#archery target games

[itsnice2haveafriend]

Who else learned archery when they first read The Hunger Games books? Because I'll tell you what, I have never been a person with an affinity for coordination or physical activity but Suzanne Collins had me out there on the field, at the age of 12-15, learning that you DEFINITELY need an arm guard if your elbows hyper-extend like mine.

[rackartyg]

lov it when you tell your therapist a story about your childhood and she goes ‘that’s, uh, that’s neglect’

cool!

[angstandhappiness]

NEAT

I know I'm late to the party, but I love this game so much!

Also the dash shot is very fun and I will be adding it to my moveset from now on!

[atlabeth]

true luck's kiss

pairing: luke castellan x daughter of tyche!reader

summary: luke is stuck with a streak of bad luck. what better way to get rid of it than with a child of tyche?

a/n: so this was supposed to come out on st patrick's day but unfortunately im the slowest writer in the world and ive also been doing nothing but watch basketball because we sleep in may. anyways here's a short fluffy blurb because it is getting way too sad in here with my hurricane fics lmao

wc: 1.2k

warning(s): none, this is all fluff. i know crazy coming from me

You grimaced as you pulled the arrow back. Sweat dripped down your forehead and you itched to brush it away, but you ignored the urge as you let out a deep breath. 

“Just like that.” Kimia nodded as she stopped behind you. “Perfect angle—now let it fly.” 

You did, and the weight lifted off your shoulders once the arrow embedded itself in the center of the target. 

“Ending on a bullseye,” she said with a grin. “Great work.” 

“Only way to do it,” you said, smiling at her. “Am I a worthy opponent yet?” 

She chuckled and patted your shoulder as she moved on. “Maybe one day you’ll be as good as Cabin Seven. Today’s not that day.” 

You shook your head with a laugh and took your quiver off your back. “Keep telling yourself that!”

A bow and arrow had become your weapon of choice since the moment you stepped foot into camp, and you’d gotten good over the years—so much so that it was a surprise when your mother claimed you. One day, though, you would get an Apollo kid to admit you were better than them. 

You’d just finished putting all your equipment away, and when you turned back, you were met with a mess of brown curls and shining eyes.

“Luke,” you said, pleasantly surprised. “Didn’t know you were in archery today.”

He shook his head. “I’m not. I didn’t come here for archery—I came here for you.”

You chuckled as you gestured with your head, and he got the hint as you started walking together. “How forward of you.”

“It’s a living,” he said with a smile. “How was practice?”

“And small talk?” You pressed a hand to your heart and shook your head. “It must be my lucky day.”

Luke’s smile widened as he ran a nervous hand through his hair. “That’s what I came to talk to you about, actually. I do wanna hear about your day, though.”

You shrugged. “It was boring. Killed it at archery, nearly got killed on the climbing wall—I was gonna head back to the cabin to chill for a few hours before dinner, but it looks like you’ve taken that slot.” 

He chuckled. “So you are free?” 

“I’ve always got some time to listen to Luke Castellan,” you mused. “What’ve you got?” 

“I’m cursed,” Luke said. 

You stopped in your tracks and looked him right in the eye. “...Cursed.” 

He nodded. “I know it sounds stupid, but it’s gotta be true. I mean, nothing is going right for me. I’ve been off my groove with my sword, I’ve lost every canoe race, I nearly burnt my eyebrows off last time I was in the forge, and my team hasn’t won a game of capture the flag this entire month—” 

“I know,” you interrupted. “I’m in your cabin.” 

“So you know how bad my luck’s been lately!” he exclaimed with a gesture. “It— it was embarrassing, but now it’s just pathetic.” 

“You know I can’t fix it, right?” you said wryly. “I’m not my mom.” 

“That’s what Annabeth said,” Luke mumbled. “But— but I’ve seen the way you live—you’ve got luck on tap! Your strawberries are always the ripest, you somehow find drachmas on the ground, and your volleyball serves are better than anyone’s.”

“I play varsity back home,” you said. “No luck needed.”

“Still,” he emphasized, “you’re naturally lucky. You’ve literally got it in your DNA, and I’m fresh out of it. That’s gotta be worth something.” 

“Not really.” You crossed your arms. “So what do you think I can do about this?” 

Luke shrugged. “I dunno. Say something?" 

You barely managed to stifle a laugh. “Like what?” 

“Pray to Tyche,” he said. “You’re her only kid here—she’s gotta be listening.” 

You bit back your smile as you shook your head. “Fine. Just for you.” 

“Thank you,” Luke sighed, watching with bated breath as you cleared your throat, closed your eyes, and pressed your hands together. 

“Tyche, dearest mother, goddess of luck and fortune—I ask you to shine on Luke Castellan on this day. Smile upon my friend and break his very real curse. If you do this for him, in return, he will do all of my cabin chores for the next month.” 

When you opened your eyes, Luke looked quite unimpressed. “Very funny.” 

“Feel any luckier?” you asked with a smile as you started walking again. 

“I don’t think so,” he said, falling into step with you once more. “Especially because you’re putting conditions in your prayers. I didn’t know we could do that.” 

“My mom has a sense of humor,” you mused. “And I also think I might be her favorite.” 

“Not all of us have that privilege,” he said wryly. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he grabbed your arm to stop you.  

“I think I’ve got it,” Luke said. “How about a kiss?” 

Your eyebrows rose, but you couldn’t help showing your amusement. “Now it’s a kiss that’ll break your curse?” 

He shrugged. “Like I said—you’ve got luck in your DNA. Maybe you could pass that along.”  

“Really,” you said dryly. 

“I’ve kinda tried everything,” he said. “A kiss from a lucky and pretty girl is far from the worst option.” 

You chuckled. “You really know how to flatter ‘em.” 

“I try,” he grinned. “Are you up to it?” 

You bit your lip as you looked at Luke. Obviously, he was attractive—you’d always held an appreciation for his curls and the way they would constantly get in his eyes. He cut an impressive figure from constant, year-round training, and he even made the camp shirt look good. And gods, that damned smile got you. 

There were worse things than kissing you, and there were certainly worse things than kissing Luke Castellan. 

“Alright,” you sighed, taking a step forward. “Pucker up, Castellan.” 

Before you could really doubt yourself, you leaned forward and kissed him. You weren’t really expecting to actually… like it. 

Your first thought was that Luke’s lips were softer than they had any right to be. Your second thought was that his cologne was the scent always floating around the Hermes cabin. You didn’t really mind, though. 

Luke gently put his hand on the back of your head to keep you there, and the moment lasted much longer than you initially planned. You also didn’t mind, though your thoughts were far more muddled than they should’ve been when you finally managed to pull away. He seemed to have a gift for that. 

You felt your cheeks flush as you looked at him, not even trying to hide your smile. Turns out kissing Luke Castellan was actually pretty great. “Feel any luckier?” 

“Yeah,” he said with a soft grin, his eyes twinkling. You wondered if he had the same thought about you. “Yeah. I really do.” 

“I think that means it’s worked, then,” you said. 

Luke nodded with mock austerity. “We should probably stick together for the rest of the week, though. Just to make sure this bad luck goes away for good.” 

“You might be right,” you said. “And uh— you think you need an extra boost?” You glanced away as you bit back your smile. “Just to be safe and all. To really get rid of this curse.” 

“You know,” he drew your attention back to him as he brushed a loose strand of hair behind your ear, and you leaned in closer. “I think I might.” 

[offthearrowshelf]

New NFAS Target Faces review

New NFAS Target Faces review

The number of different target faces for field archery courses is quite simply astounding, probably numbering in the hundreds when you consider the different suppliers. I’m not talking about the round ones of different sizes and colours, but those depicting animal targets. So the JVD, Merlin, Delta etc. Over the last 12 months the National Field Archery Society, here in the UK has designed and…

[mikashisus]

the trickster and the sun

SYNOPSIS: kinich was fast in everything he did, but with you, he felt as if time always moved slow.

PAIRING: child of hermes!kinich x gn!child of apollo!reader

TAGLIST ! @wystiix @pneumosia @pixelcafe-network

warnings: none

word count: 749

notes: another pjo au!! i think im going to make this a mini series. this is a little smth to set up a longer oneshot i have planned for sometime in the future, tho the mc of that one will be a child of ares ;) also, this can be interpreted as platonic, it's up to u guys!

Kinich was fast. 

Sometimes, he was so fast that you couldn’t keep up. Not only was he ahead of the game when it came to tricks and locks, but he was also a supersonic runner. No one in camp could ever keep up with him, not even his siblings. 

He liked to leave you puzzles. Not the kind of puzzles and mind games Athena’s children would give out, but lock puzzles. He’d sneak them into your bag or pockets when you could’ve sworn it wasn’t there moments ago. You’d spend the entire afternoon figuring them out, twisting and turning the handmade puzzles and trying to break them apart. 

Eventually, you’d throw your hands up in frustration and dispose of the device, stalking off to the target range to vent your anger out. 

As a child of Hermes, Kinich was exceptionally playful and mischievous, but it wasn’t as obvious as it was with his siblings. His trickster side truly came to the surface through his actions and the small glint in his eyes every time he talked to you. 

There was one time he had stolen your prized golden bow, gifted to you by your father, right under your nose. You had turned around for a split second, and the weapon was no longer hanging on the wall near your bed, but tucked underneath his in the Hermes cabin. You had looked high and low for it, even checking the target range to make sure you hadn’t accidentally left it there. 

Clueless to his act of theft, you began to panic and wonder if your father would kill you for losing something so precious. As soon as you began to pace around and ramble about the consequences, Kinich’s guilt overcame him and he summoned the bow back from its hiding place. 

The scolding he received after was greater than any other time you yelled at him for his conniving tricks. The look in your eyes moments before convinced him to never steal anything precious of yours again, for fear of seeing that same exact expression on your face. 

Aside from his tricks and theatrics, Kinich was a messenger like his father. He loved to travel and take on odd jobs not only in camp but around the world too. And with his speed, he was back to camp in less than a few minutes of taking on a job. It was almost as if he had teleported there and back. 

He was truly a jack of all trades, but he could never best you at archery; for that was something you were naturally skilled at as a child of Apollo. He could never best you at shining brightly like the sun, either. 

In every aspect, you outshone him. Like now, when you were guiding new campers to their cabin (per your request and Chiron’s surprise). 

Everyone knew you to be quite outgoing and cheerful, with a smile so blindingly bright it resembled your father’s, and an aura about you that felt warm and fuzzy on his skin– as if he was sitting in the sun. 

As you spotted your best friend, you waved enthusiastically and called out to him, making a beeline for where he was standing just outside the Hephaestus cabin. With an eager voice, you introduced him to the campers. 

It seemed as if there had been many newcomers recently, and with newcomers meant there would likely be new occupants to the Hermes cabin. The Hermes cabin was lively and packed all the time. He was lucky if he even got a moment of silence during the day. That, or some space. 

Though, he preferred to just go elsewhere and take a moment to breathe. Like, finding you in the solace of Apollo’s cabin or heading out to the target range to watch you practice. If you were sitting on your bed reading a book, he’d flip the pages to get your attention or steal one of the highlighters in your hand. If you were practicing in the target range, he’d take your arrows and your quiver and misplace them so you’d focus on him. 

Kinich was a trickster. 

And oftentimes, you couldn’t keep up with his tricks, much like you could never beat him in a race. He was annoying in an endearing way, always stealing your things to gain your attention and showing off his speed in races to prove himself to you. 

He was playful and witty, but above all, he was your best friend.

notes: like i said, i have another kinich wip planned but the mc will be a child of ares and im very excited to write it :D it's gonna be much longer than this one too! maybe as long as the tartag pjo au fic i wrote a bit ago, we’ll see!

© 2024 mikashisus. do not plagiarize, copy, repost, feed to ai, or translate my works to any other platforms.

[russsiangirl]

dating luke castellan ... ! ( x gn!reader )

BOTH LUKE AND READER ARE ADULTS! ( luke is 19 and reader is 18!! ) THIS DOES INCLUDE SPOILERS FOR THE SERIES, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! luke castellan was always somebody you saw as 'out of your league'. that was it. simple. it was just a silly crush, nothing that would actually happen. he had been at camp for as long as you could remember, always making sure that things were going the way they were supposed to. he taught the other campers sword-fighting and was amazing at capture the flag. you two had gotten to know each other during a game of capture the flag! having been sent on patrol together to scout out the other team. you were in awe of how luke handled himself. he was friendly, but being one-on-one was different. the air felt strange, tension hanging over you. you blamed it on the game, brushed it off as nothing to worry about. his voice was the first to break the silence, you hadn't even noticed he spoke until he put a hand on your shoulder.

"you think you could go a bit further up? you're pretty quiet so they won't hear you." he gave you a small nod and an encouraging smile before making you way to where he wanted you. watching as you carefully stepped up, making sure not to step on any branches. he was amused, he had been watching you for a while. watching you with your friends as you laughed at lunch and the way you beamed as you blushed. the way when you sparred that you would bounce around a bit, probably out of nerves. he thought this was cute, it's what made you you. you look back at him with a smile and he gives you a toothy grin back plus a small wink. if you had the time, you would've swooned. it was obvious that the other campers liked him, who wouldn't? he was strong, funny, handsome and smart. but luke also knew what he wanted and how to get it. now he wasn't a son of aphrodite, he couldn't charmspeak anybody - but he did know how to use his looks. he knew how to manipulate and make people pliable towards him. he knew what to say and how to look at people to get them to do what he wanted. so when he saw you, so cute and eager to please him, so eager to listen to him. you were the perfect target. you were going to join his cause! but it was going to take some time, luke had a lot of stuff on his plate with being a camp counselor and shit like that. time that luke didn't really have. he was planning on leaving by the end of the summer, around 2 or 3 months, give or take. that should be fine, hopefully.

so you two start talking more, it's subtle, obviously, little hellos here and there, talking on your way to archery or pegasus riding. eventually, he builds up the courage to ask you if you wanted to sneak out on night. just the two of you! he had laid out a picnic blanket, even had some snacks laid out, technically contraband, but that wasn't important. he had done all of this, just for you! he was such a sweetheart, how could you not appreciate him? you two spent the rest of the night like that, he showed you how to find the north star and he showed you his favorite places at camp. it felt like a dream. after that, y'all were inseparable, one of you always had the other not far behind. some might say luke could be a tad bit overprotective. but he was used to having things ripped away from him just when it was getting good, he wasn't letting you get away. you were coming with him. he was going to make sure of it. some time after his betrayal..

you're on the princess andromeda, and it's not as bad as you thought it would be. it's quite nice on board and you have pretty much everything at your fingertips. even luke seems more relaxed here, for the most part. he doesn't sleep as well, even with you in his arms or vice versa. he wakes up in a cold sweat, tears in those beautiful brown eyes of his. he's always off in this secret room, one that you're not allowed in for some reason. "it's for the best," he tells you for what seems to be the umpteenth time one night as you guys are looking out at the vast sea around you. you roll your eyes, same fucking excuse he used all the time. you turn away from with a scoff, you weren't saying anything until he told you. either he told you or you were gonna jump full rose-from-titanic style. you could hear luke's defeated sigh from behind you as he put his hands on your hips and spun you around, making you face him. there's a scowl set on your face. you want the truth and you want it now. if only you knew.

[girlkisser13]

apollo cabin headcanons

children of apollo

• apollo claims his children with a radiant golden aura with "we will rock you" playing triumphantly in the background.

• they are all born with a golden ring around the iris of their eye.

• many, if not all of them are born around sunrise and die around sunset.

• whenever there's a day that the sun isn't shining, it means a child of apollo has died and the sun god is mourning them.

• sometimes, someone will sing a random note, and then everyone around them will harmonize with them.

• the infirmary is always so HECTIC. like they all have insanely good accuracy so they’re just constantly throwing medical supplies at each other.

• they’re experts at hiding earbuds under their clothes so that teachers don’t see them.

• they’re all really sensitive to sounds. every tune that is off-key is the equivalent of a fork scrapping against a plate.

• their adhd is worse than most demigods because they can’t stand silence. long testing periods where you have to be silent are absolute torture for them.

• they all have some form of synesthesia.

• it’s harder for them to get sick compared to other demigods but when they do, it’s a mess. they take a lot longer to recover from the sickness.

• they’re always awake at the crack ass of dawn. not because they’re the children of apollo, but because apollo plays loud rock music every morning at a frequency that only his kids can hear.

• they’re basically roosters.

• they all have perfect pitch (they can tell what a note is just by hearing it).

• not all of them are good healers but there are certain times when it is mandatory for all children of apollo to be working in the infirmary.

• these times are mostly during and after war, an outbreak of a highly contagious disease, or after a particularly violent game of capture the flag.

• those who can't heal cut bandages, hand things to their siblings, and comfort scared patients.

• during the winter they always have the feeling of the warm sun shining on their skin even if it isn't there.

• as cool as they try to act, they are all shakespeare enthusiasts and can't help but quote it if you get them started.

• twins are common in the cabin since it sort of runs in the family.

• they’re ready for a musical number at any time. like one of them can yell the first note of a song and everyone else will join in.

• because artemis has her hunters, apollo tends to have more sons than daughters (it evens things out). when a daughter of apollo arrives to camp, her brothers are super overprotective over her.

• they’re known for replying to things with song lyrics.

• those who are musically inclined had formed an acapella group called the acapollos.

• they are completely terrified of the dark, due to their father being the god of light.

• they don't hate the dark itself— they're afraid of what they can't see, resulting in each of them having night lights above their beds. these night lights are shaped like the sun.

• they tend to glow when they’re near their crush or favorite person. the stronger the feelings are, the brighter the light is.

• they have secret late night jam sessions with lyres, pan flutes, and tambourines that can go all night. apollo listens in with a magic radio whenever they happen.

cabin exterior

• the cabin is bathed in a soft, golden glow, reminiscent of sunlight. this effect is most pronounced at sunrise and sunset, symbolizing apollo's dominion over the sun.

• the walls are adorned with intricate sun motifs and celestial designs, depicting various phases of the sun, stars, and constellations.

• musical notes and lyres are carved into the woodwork, reflecting apollo's role as the god of music. wind chimes made of delicate metals hang from the eaves, creating a harmonious melody when the breeze blows.

• quivers of arrows and archery targets are prominently displayed around the exterior.

• golden and yellow flowering vines, such as sunflowers and marigolds, climb the cabin walls, adding a natural touch and symbolizing the sun's life-giving energy.

• the architecture features clean lines and an open, airy design, with large windows to let in plenty of sunlight, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere.

• one wall is dedicated to a mural depicting scenes of various prophecies, showcasing apollo's gift of foresight. the mural changes and updates itself magically as new prophecies are made.

cabin interior

• various musical instruments, such as lyres, guitars, and harps, are scattered around the cabin. there are also dedicated spaces for practice and impromptu jam sessions, complete with sheet music stands and comfortable seating.

• the walls are adorned with paintings and murals created by the campers. these artworks depict scenes from mythology, portraits of famous musicians, and abstract representations of music and light.

• the interior decor uses a warm color palette of golds, yellows, and oranges, creating a sunny and cheerful ambiance. the furnishings are made of light-colored woods, adding to the bright and airy feel.

• one wall is dedicated to a large blackboard or whiteboard where campers can jot down lyrics, poems, and song ideas. this serves as a collaborative space for creativity and inspiration.

• several small, soundproof practice rooms are available for campers to practice their instruments, sing, or record music without disturbing others.

• a corner of the cabin is dedicated to repairing and maintaining musical instruments. it is equipped with tools, spare parts, and workbenches for campers who enjoy the technical side of music.

• the cabin is designed with excellent acoustics, ensuring that music sounds rich and vibrant. this makes the entire cabin feel like a resonant chamber, enhancing the musical experience.

cabin traditions

• on the winter solstice, they stay up all night so they can see their dad and all celebrate by saying "welcome back!"

• they have a weekly archery challenges among themselves with rotating themes, like shooting while blindfolded, hitting moving targets, or shooting from unconventional angles.

• they have an annual slam poetry competition in june when everyone is back at camp.

• the cabin regularly holds workshops on different aspects of healing, from herbal remedies to more magical techniques. they often team up with the demeter cabin for plant-based healing knowledge.

• they organizes an annual talent show open to all campers. it’s a fun, light-hearted competition where everyone can showcase their skills, whether it's music, archery, healing, or something completely unexpected.

divider by @samspenandsword

[woso-dreamzzz]

Shot Through The Heart IV

Alexia Putellas x Archer!Reader

Summary: Your last final

You smiled at your girls. At nearly ten years old, they were growing like weeds.

Alexia had hung up her boots nearly six months ago and now it was your turn. It was your last world championship ever. It had been a good few years for you but you knew it was time to retire.

Your medals were getting a bit cluttered and Alexia was adamant that you didn't need as many bows as you had.

You knew it was time.

Your girls were forging their own paths. Maya loved football like Alexia loved football and Elena had scratched herself on one of your arrows once and had been hooked ever since.

It was time to move away from your sport and focus on your daughters.

Alexia had moved on to coaching at Barca and you had your own coaching planned. You'd received offers from your old team in Korea but had benched the idea with a simple 'maybe in a few years' as you wanted to focus on your girls first.

You rolled your shoulders as Alexia stood behind you, adjusting your shoulder brace.

"Not too tight?" She asked.

"It's good," You confirmed," I'm ready."

Alexia smiled at you fondly, cupping your cheek. "Girls!" She called," Your mum is about to head out! Wish her luck!"

Elena barrelled into you quickly, her arms moving to hug you tight. "You need to win!" She said," You have to win!"

"I'll try my best," You laughed," But you and your sister have got to be super quiet during the shots, alright? Do you remember why?"

"Because it's respectful."

"It's boring," Maya muttered as she approached. She usually had football practice today but Alexia had taken her out of it because today was the last final of your life. Maya hadn't really taken it well, perhaps not really understanding how important this was.

"Maya," Alexia said in warning," Enough."

Your girls may not have been teenagers yet but Maya certainly acted like one.

"I'm just saying!"

"This is your mum's last tournament ever," Alexia chided," And you will support her in it because we are a family. How would you like it if me and your mum didn't come to your games? Huh?"

"Sorry, mum." Maya moved to give you a hug and you held her nice and tight, opening your arms to welcome Elena back in as well.

"Good luck," Alexia said as you moved to head out, shouldering your bow as the tournament staff waited outside for you," Not that you'll need it."

"I'll take it anyway," You said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Unlike football games, crowds at archery tournaments sat in silence. The target sat seventy metres away from you and you closed your eyes briefly to focus on the wind. It was barely there and you smiled. If there was one thing you hated, it was shooting in the wind.

You shook hands with your opponent, smiling at her in recognition. You used to play on the same team when you played in Korea. She was a few years younger than you so you never really interacted but it was nice to see her.

You weren't going to let her win though.

Archery had always been easy for you. It was repetitive and calming.

Notch.

Draw.

Release.

Repeat.

You matched it to your breathing, one eye closing to line up your shot. You drew on the inhale and released on the exhale.

Ten.

Ten.

Ten.

Ten.

Your opponent was nearly as good as you but there was a reason you had been world number one for years.

You rarely missed the ten.

Sometimes it wasn't a proper bullseye but you knew how to aim your shots so there was another space in the circle for the rest of your arrows.

Your opponent consistently hit tens too but dotted inside her shots were a few nines and a disastrous six in her last set that let you know you had cinched the victory.

But, still, this was going to be your last competitive shot.

You made sure to make it memorable.

A bullseye.

You smiled, shaking her hand and the rest of her team's before looking up at the stands to see your wife and children. Elena looked ecstatic. You weren't surprised. She'd loved coming to practice with you ever since she could walk.

Maya was equally excited, jumping up and down even though her heart was firmly settled on football.

Alexia blew you a kiss as you began to get ushered away for the medal ceremony.

You accepted it happily, pretending to bite it for the cameras before excusing yourself as soon as you could.

"I'm so proud of you, amor!" Alexia came out of nowhere. She leapt into your arms and you had to drop your bow to catch her.

You spun her around with a laugh that got muffled against her lips against yours.

"Did you enjoy the match, girls?" You were talking to your children but didn't look away from Alexia, who was pressing soft, fluttering kisses all over your face.

"You're so cool, mum!" Elena said," Can you teach me how to shoot like that?"

"Let's wait until you're strong enough to draw a proper bow, Elena, but after that, definitely."

"Maya?" Alexia said, still refusing to leave your arms," What about you? Do you have something to say?"

Maya huffed like a moody teenager. "I guess archery isn't as boring as I thought."

You laughed. "Thanks, kid. High praise."

She puffed out her cheeks. "You know what I mean."

"I do." You hefted Alexia up higher and grinned. "Come on, you lot. I'm starving."

[nvrskipgameday]

TODAY'S THE DAY! I can't believe this game is actually launching, I'm so excited :D :D

Here's a mini trailer, and a steam link!

[secretcoralgarden]

Touch the Sky || Yan GB Merida x GN Reader

Characters: Murray

Summary: A wild prince who fights for his own hand... and maybe yours too

Warnings: Yandere themes, possessiveness

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

Yan GB Merida who is the firstborn son of the leading clan. He's also the prince. His mother woks so hard to make sure he's a perfect leader for the clan's future. So many rules that he hates. He wants to have freedom to do what he loves most. Archery. Ever since he was a child, archery was always something he adored. His father encouraged it. His mother disliked it. He didn't care, however. He became so good at it as he aged.

Yan GB Merida who had first met you when he was a child. It was his birthday and his father had gifted him his very first bow. They were practicing as his mother watched anxiously. She didn't want her son to be hurt. He shot the arrow too far into the woods. He left his mother and father to go and find it. As he searched, small blue spirits made themselves present. Will o' Wisps. His curiosity took a hold of him and he followed them. The wisps had led him to not only the arrow but you. You were dressed in tattered clothing with a dagger wrapped around your neck. You were a child of the forest.

Yan GB Merida who makes silent eye contact with you. The silence in the forest other than the leave rustling in the wind. He wanted to break the beautiful silence with a simple greeting. His mother had beat him to it when she called for his name. Just the sound had startled you. Much to his disappointment, he had returned to the camp. While his mother had carried him, a huge black bear had attacked. Mor'du. His father defended the both of them while his mother rode off with him in her arms.

Yan GB Merida who, years after that, manages to find you once more. On days where he doesn't have any royal duties or expectations to fulfill he rides his horse, Angus, and practices his archery skills through the forest. When he's deep enough in the forest he finds you. The both of you have been good friends, and he always loves spending time with you.

Yan GB Merida who comes home one day after a wonderful outing with you. He's saddened by the fact that he has to leave you, but he knows that you love the forest. It's where you thrive. When he walks into the large dining room, he gets lectured by his mother, and sneaks his triplet brothers some pastries he took from the kitchen. While he sits down, sharing about his day, his mother is handed three letters. He's told that they're letters from the three other clans. They've accepted to participate in Murray's betrothal. He's angered by the idea and storms out. Retreating to his room, he grabs a sword and start hitting his bedpost with it. His mother is quick to follow him, and she's as calm as ever when she enters the room. In this calm state, she shared a tale of an ancient kingdom. Something he didn't care to pay attention too. His mind drifted off to thoughts of you.

Yan GB Merida who meets the clans soon after. He's dressed n a stupid tight tunic and an even tighter and nicer looking braise. He couldn't breath. He could barely move. He sat in front of the clans as the three leaders introduced their first born sons to him. When his mother said he could chose the game in which would choose his future husband, a plan popped into his head. This was his way out. He chose archery.

Yan GB Merida who represents his clan after the three contestants had taken their turns. He hid his bow and arrows next to his wooden carved seat. As he announced he was going to shoot for his own hand, his mother was outraged. Once he hit a bulseye on each target, his mother had confronted him.

Yan GB Merida who was pulled aside privately by his mother. He was pulled into the room where she had been working on the tapestry. She was enraged by what he had done. In the midst of their argument and in the heat of it, his mother ripped the bow from his back. Without even a beat, the bow is thrown into the fire. In return to this rage, Murray picked up a sword and ripped the tapestry where him and his mother were holding hands. He runs once more to the comfort of his horse and furthermore out to the comfort of the forest.

Yan GB Merida who gets throne off hid hotdr ehrn approaching a circle of large stones. He's in tears and his clothes are torn. So much is going through his head. He wanted comfort. He needed it. He looked around with teary eyes. A branch breaks and is greeted with the soothing presence of you. You tower above him and hold a hand out to him. He takes it to help himself up, but is quickly destracted by a whisp.

Yan GB Merida who feels his heart ump into his throat as you try to help him. He's, unfortantley, too distracted by the whisps to properly thank you. He starts to follow the blue spirit, dragging you along with him. The whipss lead him to a cottage hidden within a small stone cave. There, you two meet a witch his is desguised as a wood carver. He managed to haggle with the witch to ger a spell. A spell that will change his mother's mind about the unwanted arranged marriage. He also gave you one of the bear wood carvings as a gift for your comfort.

Yan GB Merida who goes back to the castle with the cake in a wooden box made by the woodcarving witch. He managed to get a ride back home because of you. You calmed downed his horse. He also managed to convince you to ride with him. Before he rode through the castle gates, you had gotten off to return to the forest. Disappointed, he went on without you.

Yan GB Merida who gifts his mother the spell the witch had given him disguised as a cake He became eager for her to changer mind about the betrothal. While he tries asking, she becomes sick. He tried to help her up to bed, but gets stopped by the clan heads. After an embarassing moment, the Queen gets to her room. Much to Murray's startlement, his mother turns into his bear. As he tries to explain why she's now a bear, he admits to the spell.

Yan GB Merida who is relieved that his mother turned bear is now out of the castle. They find their way through the forest to where the witch's cave was. On their way, Murray spots you first. He's amazed as you hunt a deer all on your own. His mother becomes spooked when she sees this stranger with a dagger. Her response is smothering Murray into a protective hug. He manages to break free and catches your attention. He explains to you the situation and you offer your help.

Yan GB Merida who becomes frustrated to find out that the witch is gone for a festival. You three end up laying under the remains of the door after Murray causes an explosion that blows it off it's hinges. What's worse is that it starts raining. After a restless night, you watch how his mom bonds with him even if she's a bear. You help his mother catch fish.

Yan GB Merida who stumbles upon the ruins of what seemed to be an old-abandoned castle. His mother remains on the top, watching you both anxiously through the hole. As you explore, he realizes where he recognizes this castle. The story his mother had told him before. Danger had been unknowingly lurking in the shadows. When he turns around, he's caught off guard by the giant bear. Mor'du. His mind immediately goes to you. He does his best to protect you. He helps you out as quick as possible, and you pull him up. His mother grabs both of you and runs off back home.

Yan GB Merida who walks through the door and sees the clans fighting. The room is a mess with broken furniture and tables being used as shields. He is bombarded with questions, which he tries to answer them, but he glances and see you and his mother trying to sneak by. Murray starts a speech in an attempt to calm down the clan heads. Too which he answers their questions. When a guard sees movement, he walks over, and in the quick response from his mother was to pretend to be a bear statue while hiding you behind her. From there, she watches her son. Impressed by his words, his mother guides him through the speech. You watched with amazement from behind her. When the clans head to the dining hall to celebrate, the three of you are quick to retreat upstairs where the torn tapestry lays.

Yan GB Merida who becomes increasingly panicked when his mother starts acting like a real bear again. What's worse is when his father comes into the room. His mind races when he catches you standing in front of his father and his bear mother to protect her. He would be enraptured that you want to protect his mom but his care for you out weighs that. He was quick to pull you away as he told his mother to run. His father chased after the bear, but not until he locked the both of you in the room. Once the two of you are alone, Murray winces due to the gash on his upper arm from his mother.

Yan GB Merida whose brothers had turned into bears because of the left over cursed cake. Noticing them, Murray called out to them for help. They provided, more so to cause chaos, but they love their older brother too. As they tried to get the key from the poor nursemaid, he worked on mending the tapestry he had ripped during his anger. To you, it was clear that there was so much regret and guilt in his eyes. You place a gentle hand on his back, your presence is enough to encourage him. After a couple of moments of chasing the nursemaid around the castle, the three little terrors managed to get the key.

Yan GB Merida who breaks out of the room with the tapestry he's trying to fix in his hands. The needle and thread are in his mouth. You follow him with the end of the tapestry in your hands, carrying it so you both can go quick. His bear brothers don't trail fare behind. You're all quick to hop onto Murray's horse, and he leaves one of his brother's to steer the horse. You sit behind him. You hold the tapestry so it's steady and doesn't fall as the wind blows. All of you try to remain calm under the scary hand of panic.

Yan GB Merida who faces off with the legendary monstrous bear; Mor'du! He tries his best to protect you. He doesn't want you to get hurt. He tries to focus on the huge bear but his mind floods with concern about you and his mother. You try your best to help by distracting the large bear. His mother ends up facing off with Mor'du. She pulls you away with her large bear hands to where Murray was. He wraps his arms around you, making sure to steady you. The clans try their best to fight. They don't want to hurt the queen turned bear.

Yan GB Merida who watched his mother turned bear with anxious eyes. They were both in the middle of the stone structure circle. The clans that surrounded them all waited with bated breath. Murray had you close to him. You were a huge part of this. This journey. As the sun rose further up into the sky, covering the bear wrapped in the fabric tapestry, the bear had changed. She changed back into a human. He was so happy that he hugged the queen. His father had joined the hug as the three boys had run up. You were pulled into this group hug by Murray.

Yan GB Merida who after a night of recovery, and having you over at his castle for the first time ever. The next morning, him and his family had gone to the docks to send off the three clans. He had brought you with him. His family were more than happy that he had a friend. Much to his disappointment, however, one of the clans' sons had kissed his arm repeatedly. He had wished it was you.

Yan GB Merida who catches you trying to leave as the clans start to sail off. He doesn't want you to leave just yet. If you leave, who knows when he'll see you again. He needs you in his life. His mom catches him chasing after you. He tries his best to convince you to stay. With him. She walks up to the two of you which gives him the chance to finally formally introduce you to his mom.

Yan GB Merida who offers you a horse ride once he managed to convince you to stay with him. He helps you onto the back of his horse while his mother joins. The three of you watch the ships leave and once they're out of sight, the three of you ride off into the forest. He's so happy to finally be with you without having to do anything after.

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

Property of @secretcoralgarden! Do not repost or translate without my explicit permission! Reblogs are welcome!

[thanksforthelaughs-inactive]

Hi, I stumbled upon your post that you wanted to write a one shot and I think I happen to have an idea. It’s Thranduil x reader one shot. Reader asks him for an archery class but the elven king himself didn’t practice for centuries. Thranduil agrees because he has a crush on reader, but is really nervous in the process. And during their one on one class he obviously tries to find out if the feelings are mutual. Please don’t limit yourself on how sweet or dirty it could be. TIA!

Thank you so much for your request and my first one shot! I adored your idea and it was so much fun to write. Gave me all the giddies. I hope I did it justice <3

Please enjoy x

JUST LET GO (ao3 link)

Grabbing your bow and quiver full of freshly made arrows, you venture out into the forest of Mirkwood to practice your skills. Being a warrior of Mirkwood, it is essential for you to stay on top of your game. Although you are a relatively young elf being almost two centuries old, you were still fast becoming one of Mirkwood’s finest even though you had not yet seen war. Your name was known among your peers and mentors for a reason, however, not for your skills with a bow. Your skills lay with the sword but this was not enough for you. Being the young, tenacious elf you are, you sought to be the best in all forms of defence and the Mirkwood elves were known for their skilled archers. Being a proud Woodland warrior, you would not tarnish that reputation. The goal of one day joining the King’s guard was a priority and you knew that being skilled and highly regarded in both the sword and the bow would better your chances.

As you walked through the halls with your weapon, you didn’t notice the King catch a glimpse of you walking by from within a nearby room. He was speaking with one of his advisors but when his eyes caught sight of your determined face with the beautiful shade of your hair that was uniquely yours, his attention was elsewhere. The King had first taken notice of you when he was observing a training lesson from his private balcony which overlooked the kingdom. The way you moved with such poise and elegance, taking down your opponents as if it were child’s play. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from you as you were dancing around with the sword. Being the swordsman he was, Thranduil decided to take it upon himself to conduct a few of your group training sessions. These were rare and no one knew it but it was just an excuse to learn more about you. The first time he had challenged you in front of your peers rendered him speechless. Your swords would clash and the looks you gave him with that cheeky little smirk each time you blocked his attacks made the usually composed and strong ellon weak at the knees.

Thranduil looked back to his adviser and quickly excused himself, intrigued about where you could be heading with such determination in your stride. He decided to follow you from a distance, curious that you carried your bow and quiver. With your eyes forward, you reached the entrance to the palace and walked through the gate towards the dense forest. You found the perfect spot to practice your shooting and set yourself up, removing your quiver from your back and placing it on the ground leaning it up against a boulder. Closing your eyes, you took in the gentle musical tones of the forest around you, tuning yourself into the surroundings. Loading the bow with an arrow, you opened your eyes and marked a dead leaf hanging from the branch of a nearby tree. A perfect target for practice. Raising the bow up and pulling the string back to your cheek, you squinted your eyes to lock onto your target and held your breath as you gently released the arrow.

Missed.

Taking a breath, you tell yourself that you’re warming up as you load another arrow into your bow, and once again take aim at the dead leaf. You squint your eyes again focusing your vision, holding your breath to steady your hand, and fire the arrow across the way towards the leaf.

Another miss.

Being the perfectionist you are, you feel a slight sense of frustration building up inside you. You were an elf! You should be naturally skilled with the bow. The prince makes it look so easy. You take a deep breath, pushing down the frustration and focus on the leaf once more. Analysing how it moves on the gentle breeze. You weren’t aware, however, of a pair of stormy blue and silver eyes watching you from a small distance. They watched your every move; the way your chest stilled when you held your breath, the squint of your eyes just before you released an arrow, how tall and proud you stood with the bow pulled taut. You were a vision of perfection, and you didn’t know it, but you were the beginning of the King’s undoing. Thranduil watched as you loaded a bow for the third time and released an arrow towards the leaf. The projectile just skimmed past the side of it and you released a sigh of defeat. “How does the prince do this?!” you exclaimed, without realising there were ears to hear you.

An involuntary chuckle escaped the King's lips and the sound made you load another arrow and pull it taut as you snapped your body around to search for where the sound came from. Using your acute elven eyesight, you searched in between the trees and through the long grass but could not see any sign of disturbance. That’s when a slow movement caught your eyes from behind a tree and you pulled the bowstring taut against your face one more time. “Whoever you are, I would advise you to reveal yourself.” Your breath is controlled and your hands steady. Movement could be seen as the tall ellon took a step from behind the tree and faced you with his hands up as a sign of peace.

“Forgive me, I did not mean to startle. Although, judging by your aim I do not have much reason to worry about being injured”, Thranduil said with a small smirk. You immediately put the bow down, gently loosening your grip on the string and the arrow fell to the ground. You bow your head low and begin apologising. “My King, please forgive me! I did not realize who it was when I aimed my weapon at you!”

Thranduil lets his hand fall back to his sides as he gently smirks at you. “Worry not, no harm was done and like I said, I’m not sure I was at any real risk to begin with.” You bring your face up to look upon your King’s and see his smirk. You thought to yourself, “Is he… teasing me?”. Surely not, he was the King! He was always strictly business. “My Lord, I fear you would be correct. Still, it can’t hurt to at least look threatening to a potential attacker.”

Thranduil nods his head, eyes never leaving yours. “No, I suppose you’re right. And you did do just that. You looked extremely… powerful.” Your eyes stare at Thranduil’s across the way and you’re a little stunned. Did the King of Mirkwood just give you a compliment? You’re unsure how to respond so you bend down to pick up your arrow from the ground and load your bow again. “Excuse me, my Lord, I must continue practicing my skills. As you have unfortunately witnessed, they are lacking.”

Thranduil did not take his eyes off you as he watched you bend over to retrieve your arrow. He started to feel uncomfortable as his thoughts wandered, imagining you in that position in front of him. He quickly shook his head of the thoughts before you turned back around to face him, not wanting you to see the look in his eyes. “Please, don’t let me interrupt you.” Thranduil gestured for you to continue with a motion of his hand. You got the distinct impression that Thranduil was not going to leave and you turn your head over your shoulder slightly. “Is it your wish to stay and observe, my Lord?” you asked nervously. “In fact it is. Would you mind?” The King responded, a hint of a smirk on his lips. “If it is my King’s wish then I would not deny you but perhaps I should take advantage of this situation a little.” You replied with the confidence to momentarily wind Thranduil in surprise. Thranduil stood tall and froze for a second at your words before speaking. “T… take advantage, you say? What were you thinking?” his mind going to places he could not speak of.

Surely your elvish ears had deceived you but you swore you heard the great King of Mirkwood stutter. “Well, you are a formidable warrior, my Lord. Your experience with weaponry rivals all others within the realm and you have challenged me in training with our abilities of the sword. Will you not now offer your mentorship to assist me with refining my skills with the bow?” Thranduil stood there taking in your innocent request, shaking off the images his mind conjured up when you mentioned taking advantage of the situation. He chuckled to himself at how foolish he could have been to believe you might have suggested a different activity. “Ah, I fear that I would not be able to teach you anything more than what your mentor has shared, my Lady. As you know, my skills lay with the sword, and I have not picked up a bow in many many hundreds of years, so I will be a little… rusty. My son would be a far better teacher.”

Feeling disappointed by his response, you decided to press the request. “Yes, my Lord. Legolas is certainly skilled with the bow, however, he is not here,” You say as you move your head around indicating the lack of the prince’s presence. “And you are. Come, show me the skills of the Elvenking. You cannot perform any worse than myself.”. You hold the bow out in front of you indicating that the King should take it. Thranduil looked from your eyes, to the bow and back up to your eyes while swallowing. It was a challenge, and he could not back down from it. “Very well, just do not expect much,” he said as he took the bow.

As his hand came down to grab the weapon, Thranduil accidentally brushed the top of yours which gripped it tightly. Electricity shot from both your hands and you both looked into each other's eyes for but a moment. Your breath hitched in your chest as did his and you saw his pupils dilate minutely. You looked away as you began to feel a little warm and handed him an arrow. Thranduil swallowed hard and took the arrow from you, loading it into the bow. “Where were you aiming before you caught me?” he asked teasingly. You looked up at him and gave him a small smile in return, “The low-hanging dead leaf just above the river” He looked in the direction you pointed and saw the leaf in question. Raising the bow and taking aim, he took only a second to lock onto the target before releasing the arrow. The leaf was shot from the branch and the arrow landed in a log on the opposite side of the river.

You stand there with your mouth slightly open, “What was that you said about being… rusty, was it?” Thranduil stood tall, a little proud with himself, hoping you would be impressed. “It was an inanimate object, hardly a challenge” he teased. You scoff, “Oh thank you very much!” you reply a little offended by his statement. It was an inanimate object that you had failed to hit. Realising how you may have taken his meaning, Thranduil turned to look at you, “My Lady, no offence was intended. You just lack the practice. Come stand here and I’ll guide your hand.” He suggested as he motioned for you to stand in front of him.

You hesitated for a moment, realising how close you would be standing to your King. The idea both excited you and made you a little uncomfortable. Sensing your unease, Thranduil held out a hand and looked at you, “Come, I do not bite... unless it is your wish”. Your eyes shot up to his and you noticed his mischievous little smirk. Blood began rushing to your face from the forwardness of his words and you weren’t sure how to respond. You began fumbling with words that tried to form, “My L… Lord. I… would never…” but you were quickly cut off by Thranduil chuckling but still holding out his hand. “My Lady, I tease. Please take my hand and let’s refine these skills of yours”.

Taking a deep breath and with your mind reeling, you slowly reach out your hand which was slightly trembling and placed it within his own. When he felt the warmth of your palm in his, Thranduil gently closed his fingers around it as though he was grasping the most delicate flower. The same electricity that was briefly felt before was now ignited and both of your senses came alive. You both looked from your joined hands to the other’s face and took in the moment, the silence being broken by Thranduil’s words, “Shall we?” he asked as his blue-silver eyes bore into yours. “Please” you responded but the word came out as more of a whisper as you were too lost in the moment.

Gently, Thranduil pulled you in front of him and handed you the bow with an arrow for you to load it with. He instructed you to aim it next to his arrow that was still lodged in the log across the river. Bringing the bow string up to your face as you pulled it taut you felt Thranduil’s breath on your ear as he brought his lips down to the side of your face. “May I?” he asked, seeking permission to place his hand on your arms. Too scared to speak for fear of fumbling the words, you just nodded your head while you kept your breathing in check. Suddenly, you felt the warmth of his body behind yours as his arms came around your form, enveloping you within his long limbs as his hands gently grasped your wrists which were on the bow and the string. “Breath” he whispered in your ear as he felt your body tense under his touch. “I believe I see the issue. Do you usually hold your breath before you fire an arrow?”

Again, worried to speak from fear of embarrassment you just nodded your head. “That's what is holding you back, my Lady.” Thranduil’s right hand that was grasping your right wrist, which was in place pulling the bowstring taut, suddenly relaxed its grip as he slowly slid his palm along your forearm trying to relax your body. He was taking in the moment as much as you were and he felt his heart flutter as his hand roamed your skin. You let out a sigh not from becoming relaxed, but from the deep sensations that were building within you from his touch. Thranduil heard your exhale and kept his voice low and soft while he spoke in your ear, “That’s it,” he whispered, “Let go, feel the earth around you. Allow the sensations to pour into your mind” You briefly closed your eyes as the sensations were becoming too much to handle but not the ones of which he spoke. Ever so carefully, he brought his right hand over the top of yours which was controlling the arrow while his left remained holding your left wrist. Gently, he moved the bow slightly as his face was almost resting on the side of yours, intending on seeing exactly what you see. “There. Are you ready?” he whispered again. Nodding your head once more, Thranduil smiled slightly and almost undid you with his next command, “Then let go.”.

You found yourself letting go in more ways than one. Yes, you released the arrow but as it flew across the way, you also felt your self-control letting go and realised that the King had you so worked up that you would do anything he desired. As fast as this realisation hit you, the arrow landed perfectly next to Thranduil’s. The King had yet to release you as he watched the arrow fly, he remained in place as it landed where it was intended. Even when it hit the target, he did not move his face or arms. “There, you see? You just need to breathe and let go”. Still holding the bow and being held by Thranduil, you slowly turned your head over your shoulder to look at him. He noticed your breathing had increased and he swallowed a little, feeling nervous, and looking down at your lips then back up at your eyes. “Yes, like that” he whispered, his lips centimetres away from yours, “Breathe.” He was telling you just as much as he was telling himself. “Just…” he moved closer, “…like…”, he closed the gap further as he looked for any hesitation in your eyes, “…that…” and when he saw none, he closed the space between you and placed his lips tenderly on yours. You felt your entire body react to the feel of his lips on yours and your eyes fluttered shut.

Thranduil was feeling the effects as deeply as you were. This outcome had not been his intent, it was not his goal when he followed you out here but he was savouring each second. How many times had he imagined you this close to him, his arms around you as he caressed your neck with his lips. How many nights had he laid in bed, seeing you next to him in his mind, touching you in ways to show you his true feelings. Here you were, right now with a beating heart allowing him to kiss you. Thranduil’s grips on your wrists loosened you realised that they were they only reason the bow you held was still upright. As soon as the support vanished, your arms fell to your sides, and you involuntarily dropped the bow to the forest floor. You felt one of Thranduil’s hands come to the side of your waist and gently turn your body so you were facing him, the other hand he brought up to your face, holding it as he deepened the kiss.

Without thinking, your body naturally responded to the King’s touch, also bringing your hands up to rest on his with one hand on his hard chest feeling his rapid heartbeat and the other grabbing his forearm that was holding your cheek. As the kiss intensified, Thranduil reluctantly broke away and gazed down into your eyes. “My Lady…” he began while trying to catch his breath, “My… apologies. I do not know what came over me.” Shaking your head in protest, you begin to speak, “My Lord, please. No apology is necessary. It was rather… lovely” you said sheepishly as you felt your face turn red. Thranduil looked upon you intently before continuing, bringing his hand down so both were now resting on your waist, “You are not… upset with me?” You look back at Thranduil with a look of utter confusion on your face. “Upset with you? My Lord, what reason could I be possibly be upset with you over?”. You bring your hands to rest on his forearms which were gently holding you.

Thranduil took a deep breath before responding. “I suppose this whole situation could be looked upon poorly. Me following you out here all alone, having you stand so close to me, moving you within my arms and finally… placing my lips upon yours. I assure you, this was not my intent but the way you looked at me just now, and have looked at me in the past, I could not stay myself any longer.” The honesty of his words made your heart skip a beat and it took you a moment to think of the right words. “My King, please, be at ease. The fault is as much mine as it is yours. I assure you, I do not look poorly upon the moment we find ourselves in”.

The King searched your eyes for any sign of falsehood but found none. All he saw was the same yearning he had been feeling for many many lonely months. “You do not mind then?” he asked quietly, hoping to hear the answer he desperately needed to hear. His heart jumps a little when he sees you begin to smile up at him and he felt you place a hand on the side of his face, “My Lord, to kiss you after seeing it happen in my sleep for so long, it’s my greatest dream to come to reality.” Your words went straight through to Thranduil’s heart and he continued to look at you with his mouth slightly open. “You’ve thought about me?” he asked slightly taken aback. You nod, trying to control your breathing as the confession is realised. “I have”.

Thranduil could control himself no longer and he brought his lips back down onto yours, crushing them with a need that had lived within him for many months. The second kiss took the breath from you but you cared not as you brought one hand up to the side of his face and placed the other around the back of his head bringing him in closer to you. He responded to the urgency of your hands by bringing one of his own to the back of your head, mirroring your actions and placing the other on the middle of your back to bring your bodies as close as possible. A little moan accidentally left your throat, and this fuelled the King’s desire even more but in the same second, he pulled away from the kiss and placed his forehead against yours, panting. “No.”

The word cut through you as you thought you had disappointed him in some way. Bringing your hands down to rest on his chest you whispered the word back to him. “No?”. Thranduil opened his eyes, keeping his forehead on yours and bringing his hands back down to your waist. “No. Not like this.” His meaning still lost on you as you looked into his eyes. “Did I do something wrong, my Lord?” Thranduil moved his face away from yours slightly to get a better look at your features. “Wrong? My Lady, quite the opposite. You have captured my heart and my mind. You’re all I’ve been able to think about during my quiet moments away from the politics. Do you not know the true reason why I lead your training group when I’m able? It’s for you, to be close to you. Y/N, you are the only thing that is right in my mind.”

As you look into Thranduil’s eyes and listen to his confession, you feel overwhelming emotions rip through you as, unbeknownst to the King, you desired him just the same. To have your feelings and emotions validated after all this time was too much for you to comprehend in this moment and you look away from him as you try to sort out all the thoughts racing through your mind. Softly grabbing your chin between his thumb and index finger, Thranduil tilts your head up to look at him. You saw his eyes and there was nothing but love and concern in them. “Y/N, what is it? Is this too much?” You shake your head and smile tenderly. “No, my Lord. This… this is perfect. It’s what I’ve desired for so long. I just never thought my feelings would be reciprocated.”

Thranduil returned the smile and cupped your face before placing a kiss on your forehead. “I had no idea you felt the same as I. All this time. This is a gift from the Valar.” You nod in agreement and take in the sensation of his lips on your forehead. Then you ask you a question that you're hesitant to know the answer to, “Then why, my Lord, did you stop your actions just now? If what you have confessed to me is true and our desires are the same, why stop?” Thranduil smiled down at you and kissed the tip of your nose before answering, “Because, you are worth more than a simple stolen kiss within my forest. Do you have plans this evening?” You shake your head no. “Good, keep your evening open for I wish to invite you to dine with me. I wish to learn more about you and then, if you will allow it, perhaps we could explore each other’s lips further.” Thranduil suggested, his thumb gently caressing your bottom lip as he whispered the words.

The mention of exploring each other's lips was the final straw for you and you swore that if you weren't being held in place by Thranduil's hands on either side of your face then your knees would have given way from under you. You licked your lips at the thought and spoke "Just us?". A wide smile appeared on Thranduil's face as he tilted his head slightly and brought his lips as close as possible to yours without touching. He whispered his response while looking into your eyes, "Just us. Will you join me?" Feeling his warm breath on your lips, hearing his velvety smooth and deep voice while feeling his eyes bore into yours, you breathed out "I will join you, my Lord". You had barely finished the sentence before Thranduil sensually placed his lips on yours once more and lingered there. He didn't intensify the kiss but just merely moulded his mouth to yours and held the position while his thumbs lovingly stroked your cheeks.

Breaking the kiss, Thranduil moved his face away from yours and looked at you intently. "So perfect." You blushed but couldn't look away from him. Was this really happening? "I will send an attendant to accompany you to my quarters this evening when the sun is at it's lowest. I look forward to getting better acquainted, my Lady", and with that, Thranduil brought the top of your hand to his lips and placed soft kiss on it, his eyes never leaving yours. "Until then, my Lord". Thranduil went to turn to walk away but halted. "I do have one request, however" he began. Your nerves instantly rose as he was the King and he could make any request he wished. "Yes, my Lord?" you respond with a shaky breath. He turned to face you fully before making his request, "You are to call me Thranduil from now on". You were stunned by the request. How could you even think about not using his title? He was the King! "Yes, my Lord". Thranduil raised his eyebrows and smirked. Picking up on the facial expression, you quickly corrected yourself, "Yes... Thranduil".

Thranduil didn't respond directly but instead dropped his eyebrows and smirked wider at you. "Until tonight, my Lady" as he turned and made his way back to the palace.

You stood there as you watched him walk away trying to decide if this was reality or just one of your many vivid dreams you had of the Elvenking. Looking down at your quiver and then back at the two arrows still lodged within the log across the river, this was no dream and you felt like an adolescent with a crush again. Noting the position of the sun, you quickly picked up your bow and quiver and made for your chambers. This night was going to be one you'd remember for the rest of your days.

[popironrye]

The Lost Boys

Leisure Headcanons

💋 David 💋

Is a skilled fire arm shooter. (Loves the cowboy aesthetic)

Has his own gun hidden in the cave.

Doesn't get the chance too often, but will ride a horse when the chance arises.

Likes wood carving. Mostly non specific whittling into basic shapes or animals. It helps him relax.

Movie nut! When the boys go the Max's store to fool around, David makes sure to tuck a movie or two that catches his eye in his coat. Tends to watch them alone, all the questions from Paul would just grate on his nerves too much.

I imagine David would be like REALLY good at origami for no particular reason. He doesn't even try, just once the boys do it just because and he's just the best at it.

I don't know if vampires can emerge in water in the lost boys lore, but if they can David loves to swim. Chilling in water clears his mind.

💀 Dwayne 💀

Skater boi! Does a lot of sick tricks, but when you can levitate it's less impressive. XD

Doesn't care for guns, but likes archery. Hammers his own arrow heads. Dwayne and David like to pick a spot in the woods to shoot make shift targets.

A real book worm. Will spend a lot of time just silently reading for hours.

Takes up knitting from time to time. He prefers hand knitted blankets and throws rather then the store ones.

Likes to make jewelry. Made his own necklace.

Enjoys all types of puzzles. Cross word, jigsaw, and brain teasers.

Can sew and offers to sew up holes made in all the clothes the boys decide not to get new ones.

🌿 Paul 🌿

Can play the guitar.

Also likes to sing, and is pretty good at it. Wanted to start a band, but the other boys weren't up for it.

Has the biggest music collection and is always hogging the tabletop/cassette/cd player.

Amateur photography. Just likes to take photos randomly. Some are really artsy.

Got really into tie dye for a while. Although he might have just been high.

When he wants to relax, Paul really likes to stargaze. Laying outside the cave looking at the sky and hearing the waves of the ocean just makes him feel at peace.

When David isn't using the tv monitor, Paul enjoys quite a few video games. He also likes to take on the arcade and carnival games at the boardwalk.

🪶 Marko 🪶

Aside from pigeons, Marko will try to domesticate a number of animals to the cave, including stray dogs, cats, deer, badgers, squirrel, foxes, bats, and even a black bear once.

He in fact did NOT domesticate a black bear, but he did wrestle one.

He does his own patchwork on his jacket.

Like David, he likes to sculpt into wood, but he usually carves patterns and landscapes into more grand pieces.

He's also a skilled painter. Mostly he'll paint murals on sections of the cave David says is ok for him to paint on.

He collects sea shells on the beach.

He'll style the others hair. Especially David who he'll cut and dye in the way he likes best.

🔥Pack Activities🔥

Dart throwing. The bigger the target the better. David and Dwyane are very competitive at this one specifically.

Rollerblading. Put wheels on shoes, what more can you want?

Listening to music. The boys have very wide music tastes and sometimes they cross over and they all like the same stuff. They take turns around the player of their choice to just smoke, drink, and listen to the sounds of the music plays.

Card games. Specifically poker when they're all together. They make things more interesting when they make bets.

And of course motocycle cruising and board walk loitering.

Something that always strikes me with vampires in fiction and indeed with any immortal creature with the high and emotional intelligence of humans. IMMORTALITY IS FUCKING BORING!

I mean, think about it. Imagine you're given all the free time in the world with very little responsibility with no fear of getting sick or tired allowed to do pretty much whatever you want. What would you do? Cause I would go stir crazy. So I came up with these dumb little head canons on how I image the boys specifically would pass the time in their little vampire lives that doesn't revolve around murdering and feeding off of people.

Of course cruising on their bikes come to mind. And there's a couple in the movie we get to see like Dwayne's skateboarding and Marko's fondness for pigeons but I wanted to throw more possibilities out there. :3

[formylovetodaryldixon]

“Russian roulette.” Daryl Dixon Imagine.

(Not my gif)

The game of killing or dying was too much for you after Richard was about to use you as bait, so you left to not be part of that life. However, it happens that you have a husband who is an excellent hunter, and who swears to you that he would burn everything in his path until he finds you.

A/N: This is an imagine I wrote a long time ago, but that was the first time I wrote smut (I suck at it, really) that's why I never did it, but I tried my best hehe. I realized that I love, LOVE writing Daryl as a husband, is kind of hot♥ (Sorry if there are any grammatical errors)

From afar, Daryl sees you teaching the children of the kingdom how to use the bow in the archery area. Some little ones had good bases to become great archers, to protect themselves and others from the dead, but he sees too how they insist that you show them again how it was done. So you search inside the quiver that hangs against your back, taking an arrow with a red feather in it that shines in the morning sun when you connect it with the bow. With a fluid movement, you raise the bow to the height of your face, pointing towards the target in front but far from you, and your arrow pierces right in the middle of the yellow point of the objective.

Daryl smiles proudly, but decides not to get close when King Ezekiel approaches you. Instead, Daryl walks away from there and crosses the garden and some houses, while, near him, Richard keeps practicing in his own archery area, and watches Daryl as he approaches.

“I’m practicing. I have to start using these more.” He raises the bow close to his face, aiming towards the target, but the arrow hit the black point far from the center. “I know your wife can do much better.”

“She can.” Daryl says, and Richard turns to him.

“Morgan said you’re a bowman.” Richard takes the crossbow from the big box between them, holding a calm expression that Daryl doesn’t trust in, but he takes it, glancing at Richard with suspicion.

“Why?”

“Because we want the same things. And I need your help.”

He is talking about the saviors, Daryl knows it well, so he checks the weight of the crossbow in his hands before he lifts it close to his face, ready to shoot.

Daryl and Richard walk down the empty highway with green trees at the sides and a desolate view. The plan is to attack first, a surprise ambush that would cause a war between the Kingdom and the saviors, to then finally kill them to live safe. So they hide behind a big cargo truck by the side of the road, putting down their weapons and backpacks.

“They ride this road. If we see cars: it’s the saviors. They are coming in bands of 2 or 3. That’s why I need you. I can’t take them down alone.” Richard says. He kneels in front of his backpack, pulling the liquor bottles out of it. “We hit them with the guns first, then with the molotovs, and back to the guns until they are dead.”

“Why the fire?”

“It needs to look bad.” But Daryl doesn’t seem convinced, and walks around Richard with his crossbow in hand, forcing him with just a look to continue explaining himself. “The saviors who discovers what’s left…” Richard gets up and turns around to look at Daryl. “We want them to be angry. I left a trail from here to the weapons cache near to an open field that will take them… to a person who practices near here and that Ezekiel cares about.”

Daryl narrows his eyes, because he was too protective to let a person be exposed like that.

“Who’s that?”

“Just a person that will help.”

“Lives in the kingdom?”

“She practices out of there.”

Daryl stops himself.

“It’s a woman?”

Richard frowns, suddenly becoming impatient.

“What’s that matter? She got more balls than you and me together. She’s not gonna die, but when the saviors come and find their friends dead, they will follow the trail and go to the gun’s cache, then to the open field and they’ll try to attack this woman…”

Daryl frowns, growing impatient as well.

“What’s 'er name?”

“They won’t kill her, but that’s gonna show Ezekiel what he needs to do. He will see she was about to get hurt because of the saviors and just then he will fight.”

Richard’s betrayal begins to unfold in front of Daryl’s eyes, but he doesn’t like what he hears, and as a reflection, his hand tightens on the crossbow.

“'er name. What is it?”

“She is tough. She will live.”

The pieces of the puzzle begin to fit in and Daryl starts to have a complete view of Richard’s plan, but he doesn't want to act recklessly until he hears it with his own ears.

“Say 'er damn name!”

He needs to hear it to be sure. However, although his threatening look makes Richard almost surrender, he shows no fear, showing all his disinterest towards your life.

“(Y/N)”

Containing himself so as not to kill Richard at that very moment with a single arrow in his skull is the hardest thing Daryl ever did. But his body is shaking with anger; the blood on his veins freezes as he listens to that man and how he put his wife’s life in danger without remorse. As if your life is worth nothing, as if you didn’t have someone to defend you.

“Are ya fuckin’ crazy?” Daryl talks with a low, yet angry voice. “Ya jus’ dared to put in risk ma wife’s life jus’ ‘cause ya think she can handle a group of saviors?”

“You two told Ezekiel that anything had to be done to stop the saviors.”

Again, even when he has the chance, Daryl uses all his strength to not shoot an arrow in Richard’s face, and he walks around Richard to take his things before leaving that place.

“No.”

“She’ll live. Listen… this is how this has to happen. This is how we will get rid of the saviors. You two stayed in the kingdom for a reason: to prove to Ezekiel we can kill the savior. Together. So we can all have a future.”

“No!” Daryl passes him by, walking away from him.

“If we don’t do something people are gonna die!” Richard walks towards him and Daryl faces him. “People who wants to live!”

“Get the hell away from ma wife, ya hear me?”

Daryl gets close to him, looking straight into his eyes. Richard backs away, but hearing the roar of the cars that approaches in the distance attracts his attention. Daryl drops his backpack off his shoulder and holds his crossbow, watching the saviors’ path toward them coming down the hill.

There, Richard looks at Daryl.

“It’s them. We can wait for things to go bad, lose people, or we can do the hard thing…” He glances back at the saviors for a few seconds before looking at Daryl again. “Or choose our fates for ourselves.”

“No.”

Richard shrugs.

“Sorry.”

He turns around to carry out his plan with or without Daryl’s help, but Daryl drops his crossbow and takes Richard by the collar of his t-shirt to push him to the ground. He tries to fight back, but Daryl holds him with his own arm close to Richard’s neck, to then punch him, over and over until a river of blood descends from his nose to cover part of his face. Richard whines taking a canteen next to his face and hit Daryl, falling onto a side as both crawl on the ground to take their weapons to aim at their faces when they get up.

Richard breathes through his parted and broken lips and nods towards the saviors.

“There will be more. Or they will come back later, and we will have another chance. But we are running out of time. Your people need the kingdom to beat the saviors… We have to make sacrifices in one way or another. Guys like us… we’ve already lost so much.”

Daryl sees in his eyes the sadness for his loss, but that would never justify taking the life of another person to win that fight, not that way.

“Ya don’t know me.”

“I know that (Y/N) is stronger than us.”

To Richard’s surprise, Daryl lowers his crossbow, but the fierce look in his eyes is enough to make Richard take a step back.

“I’ll tell ya this jus’ once: If ma wife gets hurt, she dies, she catches a fever, she gets taken out by a walker, she gets hit by lighting, anythin’ happens to her, I’ll kill ya. Even if she jus’ gets a small cut in ‘er body, I’ll kill ya. So from now on: don’t talk to 'er, don’t look at 'er, don’t breathe near 'er. Fuck, don't even think about 'er.”

Richard holds his breath, looking at Daryl straight in his eyes.

“I would die for the kingdom.”

Daryl looks back at him, without any fear but with boiling anger.

“Why don’t ya?”

And then, he takes his backpack, his crossbow, and Daryl leaves.

When you turn off the lamp on the night table of your room, the light of the night comes in softly through the closed window, and you lay down sideways on your side of the bed as Daryl covers you with the blanket.

“Ya won’t take your clothes off?” He asks as he hugs you from behind.

“No…” You lie. “I’m cold.”

“I can help ya with that.” He says softly and moves to get closer to you. His arm hold you against him, giving you part of his warm. “Don’t worry ‘bout anythin’. No one ain’t gonna hurt ya. We’ll leave this place in a few days.”

You hold his hand on yours, waiting for him to fall sleep.

The anxiety and the fear inside you become one within you as the minutes pass in a dead silence. But suddenly, the world around you seems like a lie because everything is as quiet as if there were no walkers on the other side of the big gates, as if Richard hadn’t tried to hurt you without any remorse. Daryl told you because you already knew that something was happening and because he wanted you to stop going to that open field to practice. He couldn’t protect you without telling the truth. However, what hurt you the most is thinking how a life could mean nothing in the hands of other people: as if they had any rights over it. But the truth hits you hard too; because you did the same thing the first time you defended yourself from someone who tried to kill you for your weapon.

That didn’t make you a killer, too? Then, the guilt falls on you, the harsh reality of a murderer who tries to justifies a murder, just as Richard tried to do, just as you did. Everyone there, good or bad people were doing the same thing. Killing. Taking lives away. And you realized you couldn’t be part of all that. Not because you were weak but because you didn’t want to be the survivor that sees its friends die. And what if you die in the middle of the battle? Dying and causing pain to others, was that worth it? Or to stay alive but live in a constant pain? That life was like playing Russian roulette: none of you knew who could die or live, but all had to play. No exception. But you couldn’t stay and do it, so that night, you left before the game started.

That same night, you leave your backpack on the small bed and look around the place in that cold lonely night. It is a two-bedroom cabin. It is old, small but cozy, much better than a bed in the kingdom. This was a place you found days ago without telling anybody, not even Daryl. And as you lay down there, you hope that is the last time you start a new beginning far from killing, far from the fear of losing people, even if you had just lost your husband.

In the very early morning, near the garden of the Kingdom, a commotion catches Morgan and King Ezekiel’s attention. They run to the group of people who gathers around a fight, but no one is able to stop a wild Daryl, who is over Richard, punching him over and over until Morgan takes him by the arms and pulls him out of Richard before he could kill him. Daryl gets up and breathes hardly through his parted lips, watching Richard still on the ground and unable to move, or breathe.

“What is happening?!” Ezekiel asks, holding Richard and looking around. “Walk away, people. There is a lot to do today.”

The people listen, and Ezekiel glances at Daryl.

“Tell me right now why you did this.”

“That piece of shit did somethin’ to ma wife. She left!” Daryl is about to fall over Richard again, but Morgan holds him back. “I told him to stay away from ‘er!”

Ezekiel gets up leaving Richard on the ground, too weak to get himself up.

“What did Richard do to (Y/N)?”

Daryl looks at Ezekiel, not wanting to say what happened.

“Let him tell ya, I’ll go find ma wife.”

Daryl takes his crossbow from the ground and walks away with big steps towards the gates. Behind him, Morgan is following him.

“Daryl… Did (Y/N) leave a note?”

But he doesn’t stop.

“She wanted to get away from this fight. She doesn’t wanna see 'er friends being killed.”

“Because she knows that some of us could die.”

Daryl hates the way Morgan talks, like if Daryl didn’t understand that could happen. So, he turns around, giving Morgan a threatening look.

“Don’t talk to me like I was a damn child. Killin’ the saviors is the only way for me to make sure ma wife and friends will have a safe life.”

“Even if someone dies in the process?”

But Daryl doesn’t answer, and he yells at the man in charge of the gates to open it up. He walks out, completely sure he would find you sooner or later.

During a silent and almost deafening sunset, you walk through the forest near your house, with the quiver on your back and the bow in your hand, looking for some animal to eat. Everything is as it should be in the forest, everything there belongs to its place. Except you. But still listening to the birds sing in the long distance, you make your way until you find a squirrel that moves from here to there on the branch of a tree. You pull an arrow from the quiver; you connect it to the bow and lift it to the correct height close to your face, holding the air in your lungs. However, as a sudden sadness covers you because you couldn’t stop killing, another arrow flies close to you and sinks into the animal’s body.

You gasp in acknowledgment, so you turn around to see Daryl walking close to you, with your heart beating fast against your chest. He stops in front of you, looking at you through his head slightly down, just like he did when he was sad. He did that just with you, because just with you he was able to show how he truly felt, without feeling ashamed of feeling weak.

“This is the moment when you ask me why the hell I left you.” You say through the knot in your throat, but he just shakes his head softly.

“This is the moment when I say I missed ya.” He approaches you, almost afraid as if you are not real, and he puts his arms around you to embrace your waist, hiding his face in your neck, at the same time that you let go of the bow to feel him close to you. “I missed ya.”

As you sit down in your little bed, kicking your black boots off, Daryl leaves his backpack on the table in the middle of the room and looks inside for something. But before you know what it is, he throws it at you and you catch it perfectly. It is a peach, because he knows how much you like them. As you clean it against your clothes, Daryl sits in the chair that gives him a perfect view of you, resting his elbow against the wood, holding his chin in his hand.

“Explain it to me ‘cause I don’t get it.” He makes a gesture with his hand to point around the place. “I said I would protect ya. We were ‘bout to leave that place. But ya just walked away in the middle of the night… Why?”

His voice fill with disappointment pierces your ears, but you try to gather your ideas so that he understands your reasons.

“I’m tired. I’m afraid. And I don’t wanna see any of our friends being killed…and I realized I can’t neither. It’s too much to handle. I can kill, like, a person, and that’s what really scares me. I know they killed our friends, but this revenge, or justice, or whatever you want to call it: it will only endanger our people, and we will see more blood. And then we will have nightmares about their deaths, and we will not know what is worse: if sleep only to have nightmares about their deaths, or live awake in this real-life nightmare. I know I’m being selfish because they are willing to fight, but I can’t lose you or them.” You feel the tears in your eyes, but you rub your face with your hands to not let them fall right now. “I don’t want to be around if that happens.”

Daryl looks at you, rubbing his finger against his lip, trying to contain his own anger. He didn’t want to act like he used to, he didn’t want to yell at you for leaving him just the way you did. But that was hard for him too, it was too painful, almost impossible to bear the days he was without you, thinking that something bad could have happened to you because he couldn’t protect you. But right there, in front of you, he wants to tell you how scared he was when he didn’t find you by his side that morning, and that he couldn’t sleep the days after that.

“So what?” He says with a raspy voice. “What ‘bout me? I’m yer husband. Did ya think I’d jus’ sit there and do nothin’? That I would jus’ let ya get away from me? That was yer plan? Make me love ya and then leave me?”

Daryl was the strongest man, but the weakest too when it was about you. And you knew, that in that world or in the previous one, love was still a dangerous feeling, sometimes even more dangerous than a walker.

“That’s not true, Daryl: you know it.”

He laughs harshly.

“I realized I don’t know anythin’ about the woman I’m married to.”

“Ouch… That hurts.” You chuckle tiredly, then sighing until you found the right words. “I think it would be better if you get angry with me, if you kick the chair and tell me what I did wrong.”

Daryl takes a deep breath, trying to calm his wild heart.

“Nah. Ya are here with me now.” But, suddenly, he stands up, taking off his vest in his way to you, his gaze locked on yours as he begins to unbutton his shirt next. “But I think I need ya to learn your lesson in a different way.”

Your mouth is dry, and your own heart begins to beat at an alarming pace.

“Daryl… what are you doing?”

As he reaches the edge of the bed, he tosses his shirt aside, while, with the gentleness that didn’t usually characterize him on the outside, his thumb caresses your soft cheek, a warm contrast to his finger.

“Have ya ever been scared of me?”

Though he’s referring to that situation happening now in particular, you know he’s asking in general as well, if, perhaps, at some point in your marriage, you’ve seen him through different eyes. Perhaps with a fear reflected in them, a silent fear that would be overwhelming for him. But you shake your head, your gentle gaze on his ocean-colored eyes.

Daryl was a tender lover behind his tough appearance, and you were never scared, not by him.

“No. You know damn well I have not.”

“Not even once?”

His own doubt makes you smile a little bit.

“Not even once, Dixon, I know well you have a soft spot for me.”

“Hell yeah, woman, n’ only for ya.” He says, so serious like never before. “So if that’s true, lay down n’ lemme show ya how damn much I missed ya.”

You do as he tells you, your gaze on the wooden roof, feeling the knot in your stomach traveling to your lower part as he unbuttons and unzips your black jeans. It's torturously slow, but you know he's doing it as part of the lesson, because he's never denied you pleasure before. Since your marriage began, he was always a giver, taking your own pleasure as his own. It was like a rule for him to give you all the pleasure, and then give you a little more.

But when he removes all your clothes and his breath and his beard tickle your most sensitive area, your hands look blindly something to hold yourself onto, his long hair maybe, but he just pushes your hands away.

“No touchin’.” He says, dangerously low.

However, when his strong hands cling to your hips, his mouth sinking into you, you let out a tight gasp, your knees bending up. But the way he is moving against you as you move against him, too, makes him feel so needy for you, like he is in a beautiful hell. Your hands still in the air closed almost painfully, eyes closing too, arching your back, and mouth falling finally open.

“Daryl, wait–”

“Shut it.” He warns you, keeping his warm mouth close to your entrance. “Fuck, why ya always taste so damn good? Makes me wanna live in between your legs all the fuckin’ time.”

He wasn’t normally a very talkative person, but when Daryl was on the right mood he loved saying things that he knew would turn you on, leading you to the edge of being out of breath. He loved playing with you like he does again, his mouth kissing and licking and sucking, fingers holding onto the bones on your waist. The angry animal inside him woke up when you moan with open lips, sending a painful throbbing to the hardness in his pants.

He sucks hard on you, making you shake against him, holding yourself onto the blanket even when you want to hold his hair. But feeling you so needy for him, and only for him makes him feel about to explode, but he stops himself from lower one of his hand to his pants to stroke his manhood.

Daryl starts to feeling you moving against his face, and he takes pride that he could make you cum without being inside you, yet, because he’s not going to let you do that, hell no. No matter how much he enjoyed torturing you that way, he is ready to give you so much pleasure you wouldn’t think ever again about leaving him, no when he couldn’t live without you anymore.

So Daryl stands up, removing his hands from your body, giving you the time to catch some air as he unbuckles his belt, like the most erotic image in the world. His strong and naked chest rises and falls as he locks eyes with you, his mouth in a tight line as he removes his belt, not ready to smile even a little to you as you bite your own lips, hiding a smile.

“I will never be scared of you, but it scares me a little bit what is coming.”

He is kind of angry, but not with you, but with the idea of being a little bit animalistic, like to roll over onto your knees so he could hold himself on your hips, maybe even on your hair, pulling it just a little like he has done a few times when you two were getting playful.  

“Ya should be.” He says, so low and dangerous as he unbuttons his pants. “Now take the rest of yer clothes off.”

You swallow the lump in your throat, sitting back down to pull off your black t-shirt, with nothing underneath. The complete view of your now naked body is such a temptation for him, so much that he thinks he would give up soon. But no, he’s stronger than that.

“Now lay back down, n’ spread your legs open for me.”

Fuck. You think that couldn’t get any hotter, but you know it could with that look in his deep gaze, so you lick your dry lip and look back at him as he kicks his boots off, taking off his pants and his boxer next, while, still sitting, you try to look up only, even when there is a whole spectacle at the level of your own gaze.  

“Should I call you sir while I do that?” You smile sweetly at him, playing innocent.

And for the first time in the night, Daryl smiles back.

“I’m yer fuckin’ husband, peach, the same person that’s gonna make love to ya, maybe that way ya won’t leave me ever again. Now do as I tell ya.”

Though you can hear the sadness in his words, his voice doesn’t waver, not when he’s so ready to do what he promised, so with nothing else on your mind, you lay back down on the bed, spreading your legs as an invitation that Daryl immediately takes. He lays on top of you, and you can almost feel his own heartbeat as he sinks into you with one hand, while the other arm holds him up too close to your face. You feel him throbbing inside of you, and he holds himself on his legs, his free hand looking for the softness of your face to hold you there, kissing you deeply.

Your own hands hold his lower back, and this time, he lets you touch him freely. The warm of your fingers is melting him, but when he starts to move, he drowns your moans and his tense grunts in a kiss. His calloused hand grasps your face with a firmness but a sweet touch, as if you are a piece of glass, the most precious in the world, in his world.

Daryl never felt so primitive and he is too drunk with lust, but there is something intense and so erotic in the idea that he could push himself deeper into you, and that you would take everything and even beg for more. So he does, he presses into you deeper, harder than ever but not in a painful way because hurting you wasn’t in his nature, but he is taking you to the very edge in no time. You called out his name against his mouth as he starts moving faster against you, making you feel the tension building up on your stomach and in between your legs, so hot like hell itself, as intense as the beginning of the orgasm that is about to hit you soon if he keeps moving that way.

But it feels different from other times, short but in a new kind of intense. His thumb caresses your check, his forehead resting on your just a moment before he buries his face in your neck, the same finger sliding over your bottom lip, and that little action is so hot. The sounds he starts making against your neck are an arousing melody, sounds he muffles against your hair on his own path to much-needed release.

Your hands hold his lower back even harder, pulling him against you, your mouth against his shoulder, drowning out the forbidden sounds that come from between your lips, the view of the world fading as you close your eyes while letting out a hot cry as he makes you cum.

Finally, Daryl spills himself inside you, breathing through parted lips as he catches his breath.

After a long minute, or maybe two and when you can breathe again, you speak softly.

“I’m sorry, I never wanted to leave you alone, or make you think that I don't love you.”

Daryl raises his head, getting lost in the way you ask for his forgiveness with your eyes, too. But in that moment, he knows everything will be alright.

“So ya won’t leave me again?” He asks softly, but, too deep in your own sadness to speak properly, you just shake your head. “Good. ‘Cause ya got to know I’ll chase ya to the end of the fuckin’ world, burnin’ everythin' on ma way ‘till I find ya.”

[copperbadge]

Sam. I have it: the national game of the ASK. Frisbee bocce…. Or Frisbocce.

I mean, weed IS legal there...:D

I don't know a ton about bocce but I think if you structured frisbee like bocce it'd be nearly identical to frisbee golf as it exists now -- maybe you'd throw large discs at small discs instead of at the "goals" you have on a frisbee golf course? It's an intriguing idea.

What I was thinking about was the fact that bow sports are traditional for hunting and fishing, so there's a lot of competitive target archery. But there aren't a whole lot of big wide open spaces in the country and those that are wide open aren't usually super level. You're looking at either hilly terrain or heavy forest (or both). So if we're talking archery for military use, longbows aren't necessarily an advantage because you're generally not able to see the enemy until you're almost on top of each other. Not that the Shivadh did much warring anyway in the past, they favored defensive ambush.

I can see that a culture which developed a knack for accuracy with a bow might want to take that knack into battle, so I was thinking that there is an extremely specialized "Shivadh shortbow" which is designed for insane accuracy at close range -- not much power behind it, but you don't need much power if you know where to hit. So they have this very portable tool that requires some skill to learn, is highly accurate within about thirty feet, but won't put an arrow through a reasonable amount of padding.

Which means that if you put someone in fencing gear and fire shortbows at them, the arrows stick but don't penetrate. Put two teams together and you've basically invented paintball with crossbows. Undoubtedly created by one of the earlier Dukes of Shivadlakia to train youngsters in close combat technique.

I don't know what it's called yet but I'm riffing on something to do with the Royal Hunt or perhaps the Duke's Game or similar. I bet Gerald volunteers as a referee.

[persevereforahappyending]

Maybe in Another Life |2|

Pairing: Clarisse La Rue x Hunter of Artemis!Reader

Summary: You are a Hunter of Artemis, but you start to question what you truly want when you meet Clarisse and get to know her.

Warnings: Slight Titans Curse spoilers

Word Count: 4.2k+

Note: Clarisse is actually in this part.

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist

ch. 1 | ch. 2 | ch. 3 | ch. 4 | ch. 5 | ch. 6 | ch. 7 | ch. 8 | ch. 9 | ch. 10 | ch. 11 | ch. 12 | ch. 13 | ch. 14 | ch. 15 | ch. 16 | ch. 17

You aimed your bow, releasing the arrow, you watched as it sailed through the air and imbedded itself into the center of the target. You notched another arrow, releasing it even quicker, it split the first arrow as it landed in the same exact spot. You repeated the processes, unblinking as you released arrow after arrow, each one split the next as they each landed right in the center of the target.

You relaxed your arm, letting your bow rest at your side as you let out an unsatisfied sigh. You hit your target perfectly every single time, not that that was a surprise. Camp Half-Blood didn’t have anything exciting when it came to targets it seemed, you were going to have to get creative or you were going to find yourself bored. You were sure Chiron wouldn’t mind if you enhanced his targets, he’d probably prefer it than risk you getting bored considering what happened last time you got bored at camp.

You glanced to the side where you could see some Ares girl yelling at her siblings. You smiled, shaking your head, Ares kids were all the same. The girl was aggressively giving orders on sparring, she stood in front of them, spear in hand as the others stood with their hands folded behind their backs. She pointed her spear at one of her siblings, who seemed to reluctantly step forward, gripping his sword tightly. The girl made her way to the other side of the sparring circle while the boy stood in front of her. They both stood with their weapons out waiting for the other to attack, when the girl suddenly lunged forward. The girl was relentless in her attacks, doing one after another, the boy dodged each of them before the girl finally got the upper hand. She sent the boy to the ground, stepping over him, ignoring how he was sprawled out, to yell at her other siblings some more. You gave an impressed nod; the boy hadn’t even got a hit in before he was beaten.

You noticed some Apollo kids joining you at the archery range. You only spared them a glance before grabbing another arrow, twirling it between your fingers. You quickly notched the arrow, shifting your hand slightly right before you released it, sending it not into the target you had been using but into one of the ones further away, going through one of the Apollo kids arrows and imbedding it into a target of another, right before their arrow could make it.

You smirked, not needing to turn around to know both Apollo kids were glaring at you. Artemis and Apollo were twins, meaning you and your sisters had an almost sibling-like rivalry with Apollo’s kids. Apollo kids were the best archers at camp, unless the Hunters were there, they didn’t stand a chance against you and your sisters. You were always one of the first to start something between the Apollo kids, or anyone really, you couldn’t help it, playing games was what you were good at.

“What the hell was that?” one of the Apollo boys asked.

“What?” you asked innocently.

“That!” he gestured to the target where your arrow was lodged comfortably in the bullseye, the kids arrow you had gone through still impaled on yours.

You just smiled and gave the boy a shrug, “Felt like the target deserved to know what it was like when someone got a bullseye.”

The Apollo boy scoffed. “You think you’re better than us?”

“Yes,” you said like it was obvious, Apollo kids were really dense sometimes.

“Prove it.”

Now that was music to your ears. “Is that a challenge?” you perked up, smirking at the boy, he had no idea what game he was playing.

The Apollo kid you still didn’t bother learning the name of was eating his words. They came up with challenge after challenge, hitting various size targets, the smaller the target got the further the distance. The game had been going on for so long that you guys had drawn a small crowd, it was mostly campers, watching in shock as a child of Apollo was outdone in archery, there were a few Hunters, smirking as they knew just how good with a bow you were.

“Are you ready to accept defeat yet?” you sighed, twirling an arrow between your fingers as you awaited the kid to take his shot. It was boring, being so much better than others when they refused to see it and took too long to give up.

The Apollo kid only grumbled before letting his arrow fly, hitting the cloth he was supposed to before it landed in the target further away. He turned, smirking at you.

“You missed,” you said with an eyeroll.

“I hit the bullseye!” his voice went higher, pointing where they arrow was imbedded in the target with the hand still holding the bow.

You rolled your eyes. “It’s not the center,” you scoffed. The apollo boy did hit the bullseye, he was just a tiny bit off being dead center, therefore he missed, in your opinion.

You barked out laugh at the fuming Apollo kid. You glanced to the side, seeing the Ares kids were done training, some of them had made their way down the hill and were watching your competition. Still in the sparring area though was the Ares girl who had been barking orders and kicking everyone’s ass, she was talking to another girl, the girl was a bit shorter, very pretty and had long black hair. The girl was playing with her camp necklaces as she nodded along to whatever the Ares girl was saying.

You smirked, looking back at the Apollo kid you raised your bow. You saw him scrunch his eyebrow as you pointed it not at the target but in a different direction, right at the two girls. You released the arrow, letting it sail through the air, you heard yelp, a few seconds later an angry yell. The Apollo kids mouth dropped wide open, you didn’t lose your smirk as you turned, seeing the two girls now looking in your direction, the Ares girl looked shocked yet the slightest bit impressed, the other girl still had her hand up where she had originally held her necklace between her fingers. Looking further past the girls you could see your arrow in the wood post of the cabin Dionysus lived in, the girls necklace hanging around your arrow and a can of diet coke stuck between the tip and the post. Dionysus was still standing there, watching as his diet coke continued to drip onto the porch, he shot a glare back at you, yelling a few obscenities about Hunters and children before storming off back inside.

Without another word you started to make your way up the hill. You jogged up to Dionysus’s cabin, slipping the perfectly intact necklace off before ripping the arrow out of the post, letting the can crumble to the floor. You looked back to the sparring arena for the girls, but they were gone, you furrowed your brow, intending to do a quick search to give the girl her necklace back.

“That had to be luck,” someone said, making you stop dead in your tracks. “Divine intervention, something! Artemis had to guide that arrow.” You tilted your head, your eyes darkening as you prepared to send an arrow into whoever dared questioned your skill.

“Percy,” a girl mumbled.

Your head snapped back, seeing the boy, Percy Jackson, walking with Thalia. “No, one could make that shot! Not even a child of Apollo! She had to have help!”

“What did you just say?” you asked, your voice dangerous as you tilted your head at the boy. You slowly approach him, a Hunter stalking her prey.

“I-I-I-I-” Percy stumbled over his words, his eyes widening as if not having realized you were there.

“Nonono, what did you say?” you clicked your tongue, daring him to say it again. “What did you say?” you narrowed your eyes at him.

“Ignore him,” Thalia cut in, ripping Percy back by the collar of his shirt to push him behind her. “He’s an idiot.”

“Hey!” Percy protested.

“He doesn’t know better,” Thalia said calmly, trying to appease you. “We were just coming to inform everyone about capture the flag.” You finally flicked your eyes to Thalia. “Hunters vs campers, you know, it’s tradition,” she gave you an uncomfortable smile.

“Guess you better watch out,” you said, shifting your glare back at Percy. “Hope no accidents happen.”

Percy’s mouth moved up and down, but no words came out. “Campers aren’t allowed to hurt each other,” he finally said.

“I’m not a camper.”

Percy’s mouth hung open, there was no evidence of the boy who had been willing to throw himself over a cliff for his friend just the night before. “Y/N!” Zoe shouted, causing you to instantly back off. Your posture instantly relaxed at Zoe’s unspoken command; the hostility never left your eyes though.

“We’ll be going now,” Thalia said, pushing Percy back.

Percy stumbled backwards and right into another person behind him. “Sor-” his words died when he looked up to see who he had bumped into, the Ares girl from before, her arms crossed as she glared at him, wrinkling her nose as he quickly backed away. The girl she had been talking to a few steps behind her, smiling kindly at all of you despite the tense situation.

“Let’s go,” Thalia said, grabbing Percy by the arm, violently pulling him away. “Why do you insist on making enemies with people who could kill you?” you heard her mumble as she dragged him away.

You glared at them until they were out of sight. “Hello,” a soft voice said. You turned, smiling lightly at the girl whose necklace you had borrowed to prove a point.

“Hi,” you said shyly. “Sorry about your necklace,” you handed the necklace out to her.

“Thanks,” she took it, quickly slipping it back over her head. “That was an amazing shot.”

You smirked, giving her a little shrug. “It’s kind of what I do.”

“I’m Silena, daughter of Aphrodite,” she introduced herself.

You couldn’t help but hum, being Aphrodite’s kid made perfect sense. “Y/N,” you introduced yourself, shaking her hand. “Hunter of Artemis, obviously.”

“Let’s go,” the Ares girl said. “We need to get ready for capture the flag so we can kick some Hunter ass.” You lightly scoffed, not bothering to look at her yet. Children of Ares were always so arrogant, you were more than happy to humble them a bit this game.

“This is Clarisse,” Selina looked back at the Ares girl. “Daughter of Ares.”

You and Clarisse looked at each other, making eye contact for the first time. Clarisse didn’t offer you her hand and you didn’t offer her yours. She still had a bit of a sneer on her face, but you figured that was probably just how she was, just as you didn’t stop smirking at her.

“Well, it was nice meeting you,” Selina said. Selina had a knowing smile on her face as she looked between you and Clarisse, you couldn’t help but furrow your brow, not knowing what she was thinking.

“Let’s go!” Zoe shouted again.

You glanced back at Clarisse, holding eye contact with her before quickly turning on your heel and making your way to Zoe. “We need to get ready,” Zoe said as soon as you were by her side. She didn’t wait for you as she began making her way to cabin eight, knowing you’d follow.

“It’s capture the flag,” you sighed. “It’s not like they stand a chance.” You looked around the camp as you walked with Zoe, seeing more demigods up and running around, preparing for the upcoming game.

“Artemis ordered us to behave,” she ignored your comment.

“I haven’t done anything.” Zoe whipped around, making you come to a stop as she stood on the steps of the cabin, looking down at you. You took a step back, raising your hands. “It was just a game.” You might have loved messing with Zoe, but you knew your place.

“Your definition of a game is different than most.” You smiled, silently laughing to yourself, it was true, you tended to make things more interesting. You quickly cleared your throat when Zoe was glaring at you. “No killing or maiming in capture the flag.” She seemed annoyed at having to say it, clearly wishing she didn’t have to follow Dionysus’s or Chiron’s rules either, Camp Half-Blood just took the fun out of everything.

You rolled your eyes with a huff. Zoe tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. “Okay,” you sighed.

Zoe narrowed her eyes, silently debating whether to believe you or not before rolling her eyes and stomping into the cabin. You grumbled before following her and made way for your bunk. You had come to the cabin, tossed your bag on your bed, and then quickly left for the archery range.

The one thing you liked about camp was the cabin, but it was Artemis’s design. It was a rather simple looking cabin, a lot of natural light during the day and at night had a silver moonlit glow about it. Inside was a typical hunting cabin, there was a space for your various weapons, all the furniture was made out of wood. In the back of the cabin was a stone fireplace, various stuffed animal heads hanging across the walls. Each bunk had bundles of fur blankets, the softest, warmest blankets you had ever touched in your thousand years of existence.

You joined your sisters in getting ready for capture the flag, it would be all of you vs all of them. The camp had a few more members on their side, even with it being the off season and most campers being back home with their families, only the year around campers sticking around. None of you minded though, you knew it didn’t matter how many campers there were, the Hunters would still win.

When you were done getting ready, you turned to see everyone dressed the same, you were all wearing grey camo cargo pants, grey camo jackets, despite their light weight, the insides were lined with fur, and grey combat boots. All Hunters had different variations of the outfit, these were the ones used during cold and wintery conditions. Even if the surroundings didn’t match the outfits they seemed to work, none of you needed to be completely invisible to hunt, you could be out in the open and still hunt your prey without being seen.

The conch blew, signaling for everyone to gather for the game. You finished strapping your hidden blade around your forearm, quickly slipped a knife in your boot, and grabbed your bow. You stood on Zoe’s right as she led all of you out of the cabin and to the area where capture the flag would be taking place.

“How’d your conversation go?” you whispered so only Zoe could hear.

You glanced at her as she neglected to answer, only offering up a dissatisfied huff. You nodded, letting out your own sigh. You knew what she had gone to do the moment she stepped foot in camp, she wanted to help your goddess, like you did, like all the Hunters did. You knew she could take care of herself; Artemis was fine without any of you, but you couldn’t get rid of the uneasiness that settled deep within you. Until you and your sisters got permission to leave, you were all stuck at camp, not knowing what was happening to your goddess.

You got into position, tuning Chiron out as he went over the rules. Your eyes glanced over the campers, seeing them all decked out in their battle armor, a mix of red and blue. Usually, the game was played red vs blue but considering the Hunters had their own outfits, the campers got to wear their armor. There was one time Chiron tried to suggest the Hunters wear the armor and both Hunters and campers went off, neither red or blue team wanted to swap sides to the other color, even against the Hunters, and none of the Hunters wanted to wear the armor. Hunters wearing their own thing and campers wearing their armor was the one thing all of you actually agreed on.

You smirked as you saw Clarisse at the forefront of the group, letting out a war cry, her fellow teammates following. Your eyes grazed over the team until they landed on Thalia and Percy. You tilted your head, staring at Percy until his eyes finally met your glare, he swallowed nervously as he tried offering a smile, you were going to show him just how lucky he was.

“Good luck!” he shouted, shifting on his feet as he smiled awkwardly.

“Luck is for losers,” you said. “I always win.”

Percy’s face was full of concern as he subconsciously took a step back. “Why did that sound like a threat to my life?” he chuckled, his smile faltering when you didn’t return it. “Seriously, why did that sound like she’s going to kill me?” He looked at Thalia who just rolled her eyes.

The conch sounded again, and everyone took off, running to hide their respective flags. You got into position, knowing exactly where Zoe was going to have some of the other Hunters place the flag, not worrying about it as you knew they had it covered, you didn’t even worry about how the new addition, Bianca, was one of the ones set to guard it. Your flag wasn’t important, you had your own mission, win, and take Percy Jackson down.

You moved effortlessly through the woods as if you hunted in them every day and not once every few years. You kept your moves deliberate, not making a sound as you walked across leaves, avoiding every broken branch without looking. Your eyes flicked from side to side, shaking your head as you saw campers trample through the woods, making more noise than a charging bear, they all passed you without so much a glance. Occasionally the yelps of campers filled the air as your sisters took them down one by one.

You smirked as you caught sight of Percy, walking back and forth as he stood guard, the flag not to far behind him. Percy had his sword strapped to his side, kicking rocks as he ignored his surroundings. You hopped up on a branch of a tree, drawing your bow, not losing your smirk as you released your arrow. Your arrow silently sailed through the air, opening up as it released a net, wrapping up Percy and strapping him to a nearby tree.

You hopped down from your branch, collapsing your bow, as you twirled an arrow in your hand as you strolled towards the flag. You rolled your eyes as Percy struggled, trying to turn his head to see who had got him, he yelled for help from his comrades, but it wouldn’t matter if any of them showed up, in your eyes you had already won.

“Cute,” a gruff voice said. You turned to see Clarisse stepping out from the bushes.

You smiled at seeing her, your eyes lighting up at seeing her spin around the spear in her hands. The spear was an extension of her, that much you could tell, she waved it around as if it was a part of her own body. She brought the bottom of the spear down hard, making the tip crackle with red electricity.

“Cute toy,” you snarked.

“I won’t be as easy to take down,” she said, gripping her spear tighter.

“Well, I’d hope not.”

She lunged at you, aiming her red-hot spear right at your shoulder. You side stepped, watching as the spear glided right past you. You couldn’t help but chuckle, slipping the arrow back into your quiver, you weren’t going to bother using your bow for this anyway.

She pulled her spear back harshly, spinning around as she slashed at your other side. You once again sidestepped out of the way, ducking as she quickly swung it for your neck. You smiled; she didn’t seem to mind a little maiming either.

You continued to toy with her, letting her slash and stab at you, ducking, and dodging each hit. You didn’t bother pulling out any weapons, you were having way to much fun. When you caught movement out of the side of your eye you couldn’t help but smirk, though you were disappointed your fun was coming to an end.

When Clarisse stabbed at you again, this time when you stepped out of the way you reached out, grabbing the spear. You ducked, getting on the other side of the spear, smiling at Clarisse’s furrowed brow. You yanked the spear forward with one hand, pulling her along with it before forcefully pushing back, making her lose her footing, releasing her grip as she crashed to the ground. You twirled the spear in your hand, enjoying weight and balance before pointing it at Clarisse’s neck, making sure she didn’t move from the ground.

You smiled as she glared up at you. There was no doubt in your mind that she was a daughter of Ares, from the fire in her glare it was clear she was truly her father’s daughter. You lifted your head up, watching as Zoe plucked the flag from its position before darting past you. You clicked your tongue, nearly grazing the girl’s chin as the daughter of Ares began to push off the ground.

You heard movement to your side, seeing Percy had finally escaped the net. He didn’t even look back at you and Clarisse before taking off after Zoe. You tossed Clarisse her spear, knowing the game was already over, despite still being on the ground she caught it with one hand, still glaring up at you.

“Don’t take it personally love, winnings kind of my thing,” you winked at her before pulling out your bow again, you tilted your head, lining up your shot before releasing your arrow. The arrow flew through the air, once again opening up, this time a wire released, wrapping around Percy’s feet, which quickly sent him tumbling down the hill.

You chuckled before taking off towards where you knew the Hunters would be celebrating. You heard the conch go off, signaling that the Hunters had in fact won, for the fifty-sixth time in a row. As you left her lying on the ground you could swear you heard the Ares girl quietly laughing after you tripped Percy.

You joined your sisters in celebration, watching as they waved the flag around at the pouting campers. Percy made his way out of the woods, pulling off the rest of the cord wrapped around his ankles. He flung it off to the side, looking up only to be met with your glare. He looked from the cord he tossed to the side then back to you, slowly connecting the dots. Clarisse came trudging out of the woods, walking right up to Percy, giving him a hard shove with her shoulder, causing him to stumble.

“You didn’t say she was a freaking daughter of Nike Jackson!” Clarisse snapped, delivering a hard smack to the back of Percy’s head.

“You’re a demigod?” Percy asked dumbly, rubbing the back of his head.

You rolled your eyes nodding your head. “And your mother is Nike, like the goddess of victory?” you nodded again, this kid was really slow, if he was the child of the prophecy then Olympus really was doomed.

“I love her shoes.” You and Clarisse both groan, rolling your eyes before glaring at the boy. His eyes darted back and forth between you and Clarisse before he slowly began to back away.

The celebration quickly died down, everyone turned to the woods. You furrowed your brow following the others gaze, seeing a shriveled up old lady who should have died centuries ago, slowly making her way down the hillside. You all held your breath, waiting until she was right in front of everyone.

“I am the spirit of Delphi. Speaker of the prophies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python,” She spoke, looking at Zoe. “Approach, Seeker, and ask.”

You sucked in a breath; this was the oracle. Zoe hadn’t gotten answers when she went to visit her when you all first arrived at camp, but it seemed as though you’d get answers now. “What must I do to help my goddess?” Zoe asked.

Your breath caught in your throat as the oracle showed a vision. The image of Artemis on her knees and chained to rocks, shined across the sky. You felt a presence come up behind you, you didn’t need to look to know it was the Ares girl. You couldn’t peel your eyes away from seeing your goddess shackled and suffering.

“Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,” the oracle continued to speak. “One shall be lost in the land without rain, The bane of Olympus shows the trail, Campers and Hunters combined prevail, The Titan’s curse must one withstand, And one shall perish by a parent’s hand.”

When the prophecy ended the oracle collapsed, once again going into her catatonic-like state. When the prophecy was over the vision had dissipated, but you couldn’t remove the image of your goddess from your mind. You didn’t know what had happened or where Artemis was, but you were prepared to go to the ends of the earth to help your goddess.