#beavers HAVE four feet

[rosiedoestumblr]

You fucking what.

They are just like me forreal

[tending-the-hearth]

a version of chronicles of narnia where those closest to the kings and queens get put into a sleep when the pevensies are brought back to their world, from which they're awoken only when their beloved four rules return, something à la sleeping beauty.

so the pevensie siblings return to narnia, and logically, it's been thousands of years. their closest friends, those they viewed as family, are, to their knowledge, dead, and they are completely alone now.

until peter and caspian encounter each other in the woods, and are about to get into their fight. it's the moment where peter's back is turned, and caspian has his word raised. lucy is screaming, tears in her eyes, susan and edmund are too far away to do anything, and there's a moment of chaos before caspian's strike is blocked by a larger, longer sword.

oreius, completely disgruntled and still very out of the loop, but only focusing on the fact that his king, his friend, his son, is in danger, glares daggers at caspian, not looking away for a second, even as tumnus gathers a now-relieved, sobbing lucy up in a tight hug, and edmund and susan shriek with joy upon seeing the beavers and mr. fox.

and any feeling of tension or fear immediately seeps out of peter, who drops the rock he had picked up, and stumbles to his feet and to oreius' side, being able to lean on the centaur for the first time in a year, and not have to worry about his safety or his siblings' safety. and oreius, without taking his eyes off of caspian and his followers, just puts an arm around peter.

and caspian remembers. he remembers the stories of the high kings and queens of narnia, and their beloved inner circle, and the absolutely terrifying centaur who called them sons and daughters of his heart, and he can't quite help but think about how utterly fucked he is.

[phoebepheebsphibs]

Double-Mutated Mikey

Chap 2: Exodus

Continued from the short story written by @boots-with-the-fur-club

Prev || Next

Mikey growls loudly at the creatures as they come close. His marks start to flicker, as if they want to glow bright with his ninpo but can't anymore. Some part of Raph wonders what that means... but currently, he's terrified of what Mikey is going to do.

He's never heard him growl like that.

It's deep and guttural, much lower than Mikey has ever made his voice go.

Mikey suddenly lunges, running on all fours at the army of mutated monsters coming at them.

One creature that looks like it may have once been part wolf tries to swipe at him, but Mikey dodges it and swings his tail at him instead, sweeping out the hind legs and causing it to trip. Mikey's tail suddenly becomes sentient, grabs the hound and swings it like a club, knocking back several mutated animals before tossing the wolf like the world's furriest bowling ball. It slams into a row of oncoming beasts, slowing them down.

Raph can't let Mikey do this alone.

That's not what brothers do.

Not again.

He punches his fists together, creating two large hologram arms, and charges to join the fray.

Mikey is becoming wilder and wilder by the second, his grimace turning into a nasty snarl with sharp fangs beginning to jutt out. His eyes begin getting wider, the red irises glowing brighter and brighter. There are strange spines starting to creep out of his shell, the scales on his arms becoming sharp scutes like armor. Even his whipping tail -- which was much shorter before this crazy thing -- is starting to grow spines on it, the end practically looking like a mace or medieval weapon.

Raph is starting to get scared of his baby brother.

"Mikey! Mikey, you okay?" he asks, as he pushes several mutated raccoons and beavers aside.

Mikey doesn't respond beyond a gravelly low growl as he grabs a mutant badger by the tail and flings it into a wall.

How many animals are there?!

The hall is starting to fill up!

"Mike, we gotta get outta here! I can't hold these guys off for much longer!" he grunts, creating a few extra hologram arms to help ward off the rest. "Plus, I don't wanna hurt em!"

Mikey doesn't seem to hear him as he roars at the hoard. A few creatures start to back away in fright, before what looks like a mix between a boar and a porcupine starts running at them.

"That's our cue!" Raph shouts, grabbing Mikey. The spines and spikes protruding from his shell stab his palms and scrape his arms...

Mikey whirls around and bites Raph hard on the hand.

He yelps as he drops him. There's a mark on his hand, a deep indent. A small puncture wound begins to turn bright red. A tiny flow of blood begins to form just above his thumb.

Raph stares at Mikey.

Mikey glares back, the glow in his eyes bright as the blood on his hand.

"...Mikey...?"

His voice is a whisper. He can't stop shaking.

A moment passes and the glow in Mikey's eyes begins to dissipate, the spikes and spines slowly creeping back into his shell and skin. His tail smoothes out and starts to curl around his feet. His demeanour shifts, from one of a feral animal to a scared kid slowly coming out of a tantrum. He looks at Raph in fear as he realizes what he did. He whimpers, backing away slowly...

"Wait, it's okay! Really, I'm not mad, I --"

The mutant boar reaches them, slamming head-first into Mikey and throwing him into a wall. Mikey grunts with pain, a large crater forming in the drywall where he landed. He gets up quickly, his eyes immediately shifting back to red as he goes to retaliate.

Raphael watches in shock and horror as Mikey grabs the boar by the tusks and rips them out from his jaw. The pig squeals in agony and charges again, two smaller tusks quickly starting to grow back almost instantly.

"MIKEY!!"

"R--aph! Ra-- Come in, do y-- read me--?"

"Leo?!"

Raph looks down at his communicator. He totally forgot about it for a second... Leo and Donnie had been searching the other floors of the facility looking for Mikey, too! He should have let them know he'd found him --

"RAPH! I repeat, Raph, can you hear me?!"

"Yeah!" he shouts back over the screaming behind him. "I read you, Leo!"

"What the heck is all that noise?!"

"Long story short, I found Mikey. We need an escape, like, NOW."

"Donnie's on it," comes a second voice on the comms. "What floor are you on?"

"Five," he responds quickly, ducking from another mutant's attack. "I think we've been made. There were cages filled with animals and they all got released at once!"

"I'm coming now!" Donnie shouts. Raph can hear his hovershell whirr in the background, wind start whipping past the mic as he speeds towards them.

"Leo, where are you?"

"I just came from the basement. You guys will never believe what I found --"

"You can tell us on the way home, but we have to go NOW!!"

For a moment, Raph forgets that he isn't the leader anymore. For a moment, he's in charge and it's all on him to get them out. He's in control of everything and doesn't have to wait on Leo to make a self-sacrificing decision to solve everything like he tends to do.

"Okay, boss man. I'll meet you all outside in the turtle tank."

Raph sighs with relief.

"Got it. Donnie, ETA?"

"Right behind you -- oh what in the name of unholy science is that?!"

Raph turns around to see Donnie slowly coming to a halt, hovering over Mikey. The box turtle has defeated the boar at this point, slamming it hard into a wall until the boar slumped with a groan onto the floor.

"Is... is that Mikey --"

"Donnie, just find us an exit!" Raph shouts as he grabs Mikey, who doesn’t bite him again but struggles against his hold until he sees who's holding him.

"R-right... right... Uh, take a left, that window leads directly to the alley where Leo is waiting..."

The intercom buzzes again.

"What did Donnie say? What's going on with Mikey?!" Leo asks, his voice in a panic.

"Get the tank started, we're coming to you."

"But what about Mikey?!"

"He's here with us."

"Why doesn't he respond--"

Raph crashes through the window before he can answer, landing with a thud against the top of the tank. Mikey howls loudly, whining in fear and scratching at Raph's arms to let him go. He sees Donnie for the first time and makes a feeble chirp.

Donnie stares wide-eyed at him, mouth open and hands trembling.

Raph scrambles into the tank, holding Mikey tightly. Donnie follows after him, silently staring at his baby brother.

"There you guys are!" Leo yells, a wave of relief rushing over him. "I was starting to get really --"

He sees him.

"What... what happened to..."

"Just drive," Raph orders, holding Mikey close. "Just get us out of here."

Leo nods slowly, turning to Donnie. He receives the silent command and navigates the tank, speeding away.

Prev || Next

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: platypus

Since I've been designing original Pokemon for a hypothetical Australia-based region I've been doing some research on Australian fauna and one of them (which I made into a starter) is the famous platypus. Join me and we will learn why these animals are so weird I don't blame the European naturalists who thought they were hoaxes until presented with a live specimen. I mean you can blame European scientists of the time for a lot of things, but doubting the platypus isn't one of them.

(image: a platypus at the surface of the water, seen from above. It is a brown, furry mammal. Its legs are very short, with long webbed tows. Its tail is broad, flat, and furry. It has a large duck-like bill at the front)

The first preserved Platypus specimens brought to Europe were thought to be hoaxes made by taxidermists attaching parts of different animals together, like the Fiji mermaid or jackalopes. Its pretty clear why they thought this as platypi (there's not definitive plural of platypus and platypi is the one I refer) look like real-life chimeras. A mole-like body (indeed, they were originally thought by naturalists to be species of mole) with a duck's bill, otter's feet, and beaver's tail. In fact, platypi are none of the above but are instead one of five surviving species of monotremes, the smallest and most basal lineage of extant mammals alongside the marsupials and placentals. Monotremes possess many traits distinct from other mammals and taxonomists currently believe that the monotreme lineage split off from the lineage of live-birth giving mammals prior to marsupials and placentals diverging from each other. Differences that monotremes have from all other mammals include a lower body temperature, lack of external ears, different jaw and inner ear structures, a cloaca (combination of the excretory and reproductive tracts into a single hole), more reptile-like embryo development, and the fact that they lay eggs instead of giving live birth. Many of these traits (especially the cloaca and laying eggs) are believed to be holdovers from pre-mammalian ancestors and thus monotremes are highly valued by scientists studying mammal evolution.

(image: a platyus standing on a person's hand. It is around the same size as the hand. It is seen from the front, with its head turned to the right. Its mouth is slightly open)

Platypi are semi-aquatic animals found in rivers and streams along eastern Australia and Tasmania. They are the only living members of their genus and family, though fossil relatives have been found. Their size varies based on habitat and ranges from 0.7 to 2.4 kg (1.6 to 5.3 lbs). Males average 50 cm (20 in) and females average 43 cm (17 in). Platypi are covered in fur that traps a layer of air to insulate them while swimming. The fur is bioflourescent, producing a blue-green glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. The tail is used to store fat and will glow larger in a well-fed individual. All four feet are webbed, the front feet more so. The style of swimming used by platypi is unlike that of any other amphibious or aquatic mammal. Other mammals use their hind feet and/or tails for propulsion. Platypi instead use their front feed for propulsion. The hind feet and tail are only used for steering. When on land, platypi curl up their front toes and walk on their knuckles to protect the webbing between their toes. The eyes are small and weak and are not used when hunting.

(image: a platypus seen from above and below, fluorescing under black light. Its top looks dark blue with splotches of purple while the underside is a lighter green-blue with purple towards the middle)

The bill is the most important organ for finding prey. All living monotremes are capable of electroreception, the detection of electric fields. These fields are produced when prey contracts its muscles and the platypus is sensitive enough to detect very small prey. The electroreceptor organs are located on the bill and run in lines from front to back. The distribution of the organs in distinct lines allows the platypus to determine the direction of the source of an electric field by sensing which line feels the field most strongly. The bill is also covered uniformly in mechanoreceptors used for touch. Platypi hunt by digging their bills through the sediment at the bottom of the water and detecting prey. This method of hunting and use of electroreception allows platypi to hunt in very murky water. Prey consists primarily of worms, insect larvae, and crustaceans. Platypi are born with teeth in their bills, but they fall out quickly and are not replaced. Some fossil species apparently retained their teeth into adulthood. The insides of the bill are lined with ceratodontes, plates covered in rough, keratinized surfaces that are used to grind up food.

(image: a platypus foraging for food at the bottom of a river. The front of its bill is poking into the sandy river bottom. There is a submerged log in the background and multiple small fish in the foreground)

(image: a scientific diagram showing three drawings of a platypus from three angles and the area it can detect electric fields. source)

As if all that wasn't strange enough, platypi are also one of the few species of venomous mammals. The male platypus has spurs on the hind feet that inject venom. This venom is powerful enough to kill dogs, but is not fatal to humans. Instead, it causes swelling and increases sensitivity to pain. This can last for weeks to months and can be agonizing. Female platypi are born with the spurs, but they never develop venom and fall off by their first birthday. Males use their spurs to fight over territory and mates.

(image: a person showing off a male platypus's spur. The platypus is mostly out of frame, but a hind leg and some fur is visible, wrapped in a sheet. A human hand is gripping the hind leg near the toes and holding it in place. The spur is curved and conical and larger than any of the actual claws. It is located near the heel)

Platypi live in simple burrows dug along the water's edge around 30 cm above the surface of the water. They are often hidden behind roots or plants. Platypi spend most of their time in the burrow sleeping for up to 14 hours a day. When not sleeping, they spend most of theer time in the water hunting. Dives last up to 30 seconds with a 10-20 second surface interval. Platypi will travel up to 7 km (4.3 miles) from their burrows to hunt. They maintain territories and will attempt to chase competitors of the same sex out. Males have larger territories than females and their territories usually overlap with those of 3 or 4 females. Platypi are nocturnal and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) but have been known to come out on cloudy days. They are typically active for 12 hours per day and spend most of that time hunting. A platypus eats up to 20% of its body weight daily. Platypi are preyed upon by snakes, goannas (monitor lizards), various birds of prey, and possibly crocodiles and invasive foxes.

(image: a drawing of a cross-section of a platypus burrow. The burrow is located in a river bank with the opening right by the water. A long tunnel leads to a round chamber. In the chamber is a platypus with two eggs. Art by David Nockels)

Platypus mating season lasts between June and October every year. During this time, males will compete with each other for mates using their venomous spurs. Some males will maintain territories and force other males out while other males are more transitory and will go looking for mates. Females only mate with a single male every season. Strangely, females have two ovaries but only the left one is functional. After mating, the female will retreat to her burrow. While most egg-laying animals will lay they eggs as soon s they are formed, platypi retain their eggs internally for 28 days before laying them, after which they will continue to develop for 10 days before hatching. Most layings result in 2 eggs. The female curls around her eggs to incubate and protect them. Newborn platypi are called puggles and they are blind, hairless, and defenseless. As with other mammals, they feed on their mother's milk. Platypi do not have nipples and instead, the milk is secreted through the skin and into grooves on the mother's belly, where the puggles lap it up. While the puggles are developing, the mother spends less time out foraging, though she will increase the time foraging as her offspring develop. Weaning happes at 3-4 months, after which the juveniles will leave the burrow and set out on their own. Mothers have been observed laving behind soil plugs at the entrance to their burrows while there are offspring are in them. They are used to squeeze off water as the female returns to her burrow, preventing cold water from reaching the offspring.

(image: a reconstruction of a mother platypus and puggles. They are in a dirt burrow lined with bits of leaves and bark. The mother is on its back and looking toward the camera. There are three puggles, which share the same body plan, but are very small and entirely pink. Tey are sitting on the mother's abdomen)

Platybi are classified as near threatened by the IUCN, though some argeu they should be reclassified as endangered. Their habitat range has decreased since European colonization of Australia and they are threatened by habitat loss, dams, pollution, and bycatch. Aboriginal Australians historically hunted them for food and Europeans also hunted them for fur, which was outlawed in 1912. The platypus was and is culturally relevant to Aboriginal peoples sharing its range, particularly the native peoples of the Murray river. There are multiple Dreamtime stories of the platypus, many dedicated to explaining how it ended up the way it is. In one, originating from the upper Darling river, a female duck named Daroo or was either seduced or kidnapped by a male water rat named Biggoon or Bilargun. After escaping, she laid two eggs that hatched into the first platypi, inheriting their mother's bill and webbed feet and father's body and fur. Another story from the same region says that the land animals, water animals, and birds all wanted the platypus to join their group and tried to convince it to join. The platypus decided that it didn't need to join any of the groups to be special, but still wanted to be friends with all of them and so took on traits from all groups.

(image: the Ironbarks Platypus, an Aboriginal Australian rock carving of a figure typically interpreted as a platypus. It is very simple, with a roughly rectangular shape with one rounded end. From one end is a simple loop usually interpreted as the platypus's bill. Four stick-like linbs emerge from the sides)

[strixcattus]

The Wutugald

I was particularly excited for @maniculum 's Bestiaryposting, since I'm a worldbuilder and love creating new creatures. I'm glad I managed to show up early enough to the party.

Immediately when I began reading the description of the Wutugald, my thought was of some sort of bird. Even though not every detail matched up, I couldn't shake the image—it eats corpses like a vulture; it mimics voices like a parrot; it has a monstrous lion hybrid like an eagle; it can't look behind it without turning like the exact opposite of an owl...

I do have a guess as to what the real Wutugald might be, but in the spirit of the activity I won't say. My rendition is somewhat of a cross between a vulture, a green heron, a crow, and a beaver. You'll see what I mean if you look at the more modernized (if still somewhat fantastical) Wutugald description under the cut.

The Wutugald

The Wutugald (Wutugald sepulchrum), sometimes referred to as the "Death Heron" despite a lack of relation, is a scavenging carnivorous bird found in North America. It stands at over four feet tall, with a wingspan of up to six feet. Its neck is long, but usually pulled into its body and invisible among its thick feathers, giving it a hunched appearance. As one might guess from its long legs, it frequents watery areas, though its territory is quite large and it will hunt and scavenge in any biome it can reach.

Wutugalds have sharp senses of smell, sight, and hearing, and they use these to track down their preferred food—large, fresh corpses. Typically a Wutugald will eat its fill upon finding a corpse, then pick up the remains and carry them to its home by a still, deep body of water. The Wutugald will then drop the corpse into the water, where the cold will preserve it for later consumption. Wutugalds are capable of lifting large amounts of weight, and there have been reported sightings of them carrying off the bodies of animals as large as wolves.

If a Wutugald cannot locate a corpse fresh enough for its liking, it has other options. While stories of Wutugalds digging up and breaking into human coffins have been dismissed as myth, they are still capable of unearthing buried corpses provided the ground is soft and the bodies are not buried too deep. There have been several confirmed reports of Wutugalds digging up and eating the bodies of buried pets.

Wutugalds are also capable of hunting their own prey if the opportunity presents itself. They typically target lone, usually weakened animals ranging in size from a rabbit to a medium-sized dog. In fact, Wutugalds have often been seen picking up pets left alone outdoors. It is recommended that children and pets are not allowed outside without supervision in areas with Wutugald sightings.

A notable feature of the Wutugald is its ability to mimic sounds it hears. It often uses this trait to scare away predators or other scavengers by mimicking the sounds of dangerous animals or occurrences—Wutugalds have been known to imitate the growling of wolves, the rumbling of avalanches, and even the sounds of human speech or vehicles in areas where those are common.

Mature Wutugalds can be identified by the stone in between their eyes. It is unclear what, if any, purpose the stone provides for a Wutugald, but studies have shown that Wutugalds with more prominent stones have more success in mating. Legends say that holding a Wutugald's stone in one's mouth or wearing it as jewelry improves fortune-telling, but conclusive demonstrations of such power have yet to be seen. Due to the myths, however, Wutugalds have been hunted for their stones, and were recently recognized as an endangered species after hunters decimated their population. Wutugald populations are currently recovering following efforts to protect them and their habitat.

Wutugalds are largely solitary and only interact when mating. Once mated, the male Wutugald will be allowed into the female's territory and the two will build a nest at the shore of a body of still water. They will hunt together and stockpile food until the female lays her eggs, at which point she will force the male out of her territory and any future entreaties will be met as violently as if he were a stranger. Wutugalds typically lay only one or two eggs at a time, and the mother cares for her chicks until they are almost fully mature before driving them away as well.

[slicedmayonnaise]

Dutch was NOT always bad.

a lot of people overlook the fact of how much pressure dutch was under 24/7. for ~20 years, he had the burden of taking care of those around him and it only got worse as time went on and more and more people joined the gang. whenever something happened, good or bad, everyone looked to him to place blame because he was the one in charge.

i believe the first cracks started after colm killed annabelle. she was his responsibility; therefore, her death was his fault.

he was able to continue on normally until blackwater.

he lost davey, jenny, mac, and sean in blackwater. two dead and two mia and that blame is put on him. it is his fault that those four people are lost. it is his fault that his family is dead and hurting. then, when he gets sean back, he finds out mac is dead.

then arthur gets kidnapped by colm on a set up to discuss peace between the two gangs. arthur is shot and tortured. he's barely conscious when he makes it back to camp. dutch's fault. if only he'd realized. if only he'd taken arthur's absence more seriously. the pain in his voice when arthur tells him colm set them up.

then he loses sean again in rhodes. again, it is his fault sean dies. he is the leader. he is responsible.

then jack is kidnapped.

then kieran is captured and killed, whom dutch still feels responsible for despite the circumstances of how kieran came about. he clearly expresses sympathy for kieran's death.

then, of course, he loses hosea, lenny, and john during the saint denis bank robbery.

hosea's death itself is what finally breaks dutch. during the entire sequence in the bank, dutch does not move or fire his gun. he has to get arthur to blow open the wall because he is in shock. he can't even bring himself to move when he sees john get taken by the pinkertons.

everything went so wrong so quickly over the past few months and everything was dutch's fault.

the deaths of the two people he loved more than anything- annabelle and hosea- were his fault.

even when it's just dutch, bill, micah, arthur, and javier in guarma, dutch can't help javier when he gets shot and taken by the guarma officers.

at this point, he's lost his patience with himself and the world. he can't stand to see another of his boys die because of him. so he goes to immoral lengths to ensure he saves javier (killing that old lady in the cave).

nothing and no one else matters to him but his gang anymore. he has to keep them safe. so when micah gets in his ear about a rat and throws john under the bus to save his own skin, dutch can't help but go along with it in his fragile state because circumstantially, it does make sense. john was the only one who was taken alive at the bank, and his wife somehow managed to get away when hosea was grabbed by the pinkertons.

i don't believe dutch really would have let john hang in sisika. i do believe he had a plan to go for him eventually, but after john's return, he only got more and more antsy. he lost his mind more and more and trusted john and arthur less and less because of all the shit micah was feeding him. arthur did go behind dutch's back, after all.

"i gave you all i had" is the statement that makes dutch realize how much of a damn fool he's been. arthur- his son- laying at his feet and dying, once again, because of HIM. it's his fault that the gang fell apart. it's his fault that arthur is dying. it's his fault that john- his other son- is suffering. he was the one that betrayed the gang, and he recognizes it. he abandons micah on the mountain and breaks down crying over his own failure.

annabelle, davey, jenny, mac, sean, jack, kieran, john, hosea, lenny, molly, susan, arthur. all his fault. everything was his fault.

i doubt dutch stayed with bill and javier after beaver hallow. i believe he left out of shame. shame of what he'd become. shame of what he'd done.

i don't know why or how he ended up working with micah again by 1907, but my best guess has to do with that fact that he has completely lost his mind at this point.

well, not completely, as he does shoot micah for bad-mouthing arthur, and he does let john live.

john. his son. his last son. john misses dutch. dutch misses john. but john is too hurt. and dutch is too ashamed. dutch leaves, and he leaves john with the fortune he and micah had stashed away.

shame. guilt. all his fault.

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

(1) (2)

"Is that a dragon? That's a dragon! It's a dragon! You're a dragon!"

Hiccup and Toothless share a look. When facing a thousand pound, flying, fire-breathing lizard, people tend to back away at best, and at worst, they start swinging - axes, clubs, fists. In general, there's a lot of panic, sometimes screaming, involved. Hiccup was prepared for that, not whatever Jack's doing.

Clearly, if their guest was healthier - more capable of moving without risk of death, he would be running around like a madman. But, thankfully for Hiccup's sanity, Jack can barely stand, staying on his feet through sheer stubborn will.

But he laughs freely and loudly as a smile lights up his whole face. Hiccup could almost - almost - forget the corpse-like tinge of Jack's skin, the sunken shadows on his cheeks, or the bruise-like marks beneath his eyes.

"Uh yeah... So... Meet Toothless... He's a dragon, alright." Hiccup frowns. "What? Have you never seen a dragon before?"

"Of course not!" Jack replies, not taking his eyes off Toothless. "Dragons don't exist where I'm from. We only have stories, you know, myths and legends." He turns to Hiccup. "You're the weird one here."

"Me?"

"Yeah! You see dragons everyday and you're just so boring about it."

"Gee, thanks."

"Oh not like that! I was just - I don't know. I'm over here losing my mind and you're just standing there, looking at me funny."

Hiccup tries to imagine a life where dragons had not been part of his existence since day one. He nearly gets a headache for his efforts. A life - a world without dragons? What? There's no way. That's just impossible.

"Aaaand now you just look constipated."

Hiccup rolls his eyes. "So what do you have over in the New World?"

"Horses? Bears? Sheep? Beavers?"

"What's a beaver?"

"It's kinda like a giant rat - big front teeth and a wide flat tail. They build their houses on rivers. You can make good money from their fur."

"Huh."

"Right? Totally not as cool as dragons."

"You know, most people would be afraid of dragons. You're over here acting like Snoggletog came early."

"What's Snoggletog?"

"What's - Okay, this is too much. You're breaking my brain over here."

Jack cackles, which quickly turns into hacking coughs that shake his whole body.

Hiccup frowns. "I think that's enough excitement for one day."

"What? No! We just got started! I'm literally four steps from the front door!" Jack wheezes out, gesturing at the hut sitting right at his back.

It's only been two days since Jack woke up and introduced himself. This was not nearly enough time for a full recovery, according to Gothi. But after a couple hours of sitting around, watching water boil, the guy was literally climbing up the walls. Once, Hiccup had to catch him because Jack almost fell out the window. All things considered, that was probably an escape attempt... Or maybe Jack had really intense cabin fever. If Hiccup had to spend two whole days with only Gothi for company, he would also throw himself out the window.

Since Jack was driving himself crazy (which drove Gothi crazy), Hiccup took pity on him (on them both), and offered to show him around Berk. Of course, that meant Jack would get to see all the dragons roaming around. There was a good chance that Jack would keel over at the sight of so many dragons in one place. So, not taking any risks, Hiccup figured that a quiet, one on one introduction would help their guest get... used to the way they do things around here.

Given the way Jack got so excited from meeting Toothless, Hiccup can pat himself on the back for a job well done. He can also smack himself for not thinking about the whole "Jack can barely move" problem. How's the guy supposed to see Berk if he can't even walk ten steps without collapsing? Didn't think about that, did ya Hiccup?

Hiccup and Toothless share another look. If dragons could shrug, Toothless would have done so at that exact moment. He also would have said something like, "Hey, this guy's your problem." Lazy lizard.

Sighing, Hiccup runs a hand through his hair, thinking over his options. Maybe if he...

"If we strap you to the saddle, we can show you Berk from the sky."

Jack's eyes nearly pop out of his skull. "The sky? What? You're gonna let me ride Toothless? We're gonna fly?!"

Hearing him say so, Hiccup begins to question his idea. The face that Toothless makes doesn't help. But Jack is vibrating with excitement now, his grin curling from ear to ear. Hiccup doesn't have the heart to deny him.

"Yeaaa... But just a short flight... If you die on my watch, Gothi can and will curse me."

"Fair. But I'm not gonna die." Jack rolls his eyes.

Hiccup snorts. "Well, I suppose there's really only one way to find out."

It takes some work. Hiccup asked Gothi for some spare leather, which he quickly wove into a rudimentary belt. Then he handed Jack some of his extra flight gear (kept on hand in case something breaks midair), and walked him through adjusting it for his size. Jack was vaguely annoyed, almost sulking, when he had to tighten the straps several notches. Hiccup made things worse by grinning at the size difference. After a lifetime of being the village toothpick, it's sooo nice to be bigger than someone for once.

Finally, it was the moment of truth. Hiccup was fairly confident that Toothless would allow Jack a seat on his back. But as they say, "it's never wise to count your fish before coming to shore".

With Jack watching closely, Hiccup steps forward, holding out his hand. "Just let him come to you."

Taking his cue, Toothless bumps his snout against Hiccup's palm, exactly the way he did all those years ago.

"See?" Hiccup glances at Jack as he gently pets Toothless. "As long as you're careful and slow..."

Jack meets his gaze and nods slowly. He copies Hiccup, lifting a hand up and letting it hang in the air. Unlike when Hiccup first tried this, Jack doesn't look away. Toothless stares right back. For what feels like forever, neither make a move and Hiccup starts to think that they'll never move again. Then Toothless decides to break their little staring contest, but he doesn't press his snout to Jack's hand. No, this weirdo of a lizard decides to lick Jack's palm. Their equally weird guest outright cackles with glee. Toothless appears very pleased with himself.

Hiccup shakes his head, clapping his hands. "Alright, alright. We're all good buddies now, great! Let's not waste anymore daylight."

Jack whoops and scrambles over to the saddle. After some awkward wiggling and squirming, it becomes pretty clear that Jack has never sat on a saddle in his whole life. Toothless keeps trying to look behind him, wondering what this strange new human was doing on his back.

"Need some help?" Hiccup asks, stifling a smile.

"Nah! I'm good!" Jack says cheerfully, with his booted feet planted on the saddle, and nowhere near the stirrups.

Hiccup crosses his arms. "I'm sorry to say that you've got it all wrong."

Jack takes in his crouched position. "What? No! Can't be!"

There's even odds that this guy is just messing with him. But Hiccup finds himself laughing along. It was just a bit of harmless fun.

"Right well, your feet are supposed to go here. Let me-" Hiccup reaches over to take hold of Jack's ankle.

He didn't mean anything by it. He was just going to place Jack's foot into the stirrup. But as soon as Hiccup's fingers brush against Jack's ankle, the guy flinches hard and launches himself off the saddle. Toothless lets out a loud squawk, echoed by Hiccup, as they watch Jack tumble down - head first - towards the ground.

Luckily, Toothless is not very tall so falling off his back won't cause permanent damage. But it would still hurt. From the hard thump followed by a breathless groan, it sure sounds like it hurts.

"Jack!" Hiccup hurries over.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! Just a little..." Jack waves a hand. "You... I wasn't expecting the..."

The poor guy looks shaken, breathing heavily and trembling all over. All that from one tiny touch? Hiccup frowns.

"Sorry, I didn't - I was - I should have warned you."

"No, no, no! You're good!" Jack folds his brow, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. "It really wasn't a big deal."

"Coulda fooled me..." Hiccup murmurs under his breath. "Can you - Are you hurt?"

"Just my dignity, but who needs that, right?" Jack pushes himself up and dusts himself off.

Hiccup snorts. "I wouldn't know. I never had that myself."

Jack grins, already looking a lot steadier. Sure, he's breathing a little funny, but he's less twitchy - less ready to run. Before Hiccup could say anything more, Jack's already back by Toothless, swinging himself onto the saddle, no more messing around. But the stirrups still give him trouble and after a few failed tries, he lets out a frustrated grunt and kicks off his boots.

"There! Much better!"

Hiccup blinks. "Huh? Did those not fit?"

"Nope, those fit fine. I just don't like boots."

"Do you not wear boots in the New World?"

"Can we just go already? The sun's gonna set!"

"We're not going anywhere until you put the boots back on. It's even colder up in the air. You could get frostbite!"

Jack snorts. "Please! I'm not even cold right now! And we're only gonna be up there for what? Five minutes? Ten? I'm not gonna lose my toes after ten minutes of windchill!"

Hiccup clenches his jaw before breathing out a heavy sigh. He's spent a lifetime with hardheaded people. He knows a lost argument when he sees one. "Fine, fine. What's a few toes in the grand scheme of things?"

"That's the spirit!"

Hiccup gives Toothless a tired look. Toothless has the audacity to laugh at him. Thanks, bud. Real supportive. Grabbing hold of the saddle, Hiccup hops on as easy as one, two, three. He settles himself behind Jack, and again, the contact causes Jack to flinch. The reaction is more muted this time, undoubtedly due to the guy's admirable restraint. Yet Hiccup can pick out the way Jack draws his shoulders up, his arms pressing tight against his torso, and his hands holding onto the harness with a white-knuckled grip. Every part of him is wound up tighter than a trebuchet about to fire.

"We good?" Hiccup asks.

"Yeah," Jack squeaks out.

Taking pity on the guy, Hiccup ignores the way Jack sounded like mouse just then. "Alright, let's get you strapped in."

Somehow, Jack tenses even more but he doesn't complain as Hiccup winds the belt around them both. Then Hiccup leans forward, pressing his front to Jack's back, as he grabs onto the harness. Close together like this, Hiccup could feel Jack's ribs stretch and shrink - faster and shorter with every breath.

"Everything ok-"

"Just. Fly."

Thor save Hiccup from stupidly stubborn guys. He wasn't kidding about Gothi cursing him.

"Alright. You heard the man, Toothless."

Letting out a warbling growl, the Night Fury stretches out his wings and with a click from Hiccup's prosthetic, they leap into the air.

Jack stops breathing entirely. He stops for a single, sticky second - long enough for Hiccup to start panicking. But then Toothless levels out, prompting Hiccup to adjust his tail, and just like that, they were flying.

And Jack... Jack laughs - a noisy, clumsy, heavy sound as if he needs his whole body to laugh. Hiccup has never heard anything more joyous. Toothless must share his opinion because the dragon lets out an echoing roar before barrel-rolling across the air. Jack's laughter transforms into a throaty shriek as he lets go of the harness, opening his arms wide like he's trying to embrace the sky itself.

Hiccup thanks every god he can name that he had the foresight to strap this guy onto the saddle. Jack would have slid right off from that stunt.

"Are you crazy?!" Hiccup yells, tugging hard on the harness. "Toothless, quit it! Jack, put your hands back down!"

Toothless gets the message because he straightens out neatly. Hiccup knows that the dragon is rolling his eyes. Just for that, he is sooo not getting fresh chicken tonight.

Jack breathes out a throaty chuckle before placing his hands right back on the harness. "Man, that was fun. You get to do that every day?"

It's hard to believe this was the same scared-stiff guy from earlier. From his position, Hiccup can't quite see Jack's face but he could see a world of difference in the looseness of Jack's limbs and the soft curve of his back. Somehow, Jack seems more at ease, more at peace in mid-air than he ever did on the ground.

"Yeah... I'm pretty sure Toothless would bite my head off if I didn't take him flying at least once a day. Twice if we have time."

"Wow..."

Toothless takes them up higher and further out into the ocean until the whole island could be seen. Then, as if greeting them personally, a strong Northern wind whistles by, parting the clouds and letting the sun shine a spotlight onto the busy, messy, crazy village below. From this height, Hiccup could see the sturdy perches placed by each home, the forever full feeding stations, and the comfy, customized stables. He could watch a cacophony of colored scales wing around the vikings as they went about their day - fishing, fighting, and even frolicking when they thought no one was looking.

"Oh," Jack whispers - soft and gentle and weightless with wonder.

Hiccup allows himself to smile proudly. No one could say that they had it easy these last few years, but they made it here somehow - a long way from where they started.

"Welcome to Berk."

[clickerflight]

Voltober 5. The Ship's Going Down - The Price of War

Author's notes: You don't UNDERSTAND! They are so CUTE!!! BETTEL MY BABY BOIIIII and I also got to do some more worldbuilding for the elves and they're so fun! Enjoy!

Challenge list - Voltober 4

Content: Elf whumpee, boat crash, drowning, child whumpee

Drowning | Shipwrecked | Capsized

@voltober

Bettelenian ran down the bank, laughing as he was chased by one of his older cousins towards the small boats. They had worked all month to make the little crafts so they could go out on the lake. The expanse of water was so huge you couldn’t really see the other side, and it had become a challenge in their minds to try and make it to the lake town of gnomes on the other side without the aid of their parents’ magic powered boats.

“Come on, Bettel! You can go faster than that!” Kelliaron called out as he chased his younger cousin. “Run, run run!”

Eager to impress, Bettel ran faster, pumping his legs as fast and as hard as he could, pounding across the rocky sand so hard his feet hurt until he reached the boats, putting his hands out to smack into the side of one and stop his momentum. He turned, grinning, as Kelli cheered. “You’re fast! You’re going to put everyone in the footraces at Autumn Fest to shame,” he said, ruffling Bettel’s unbound hair.

Bettle grinned, glowing with pride as Kelli’s sister, Lorckani, and their other cousin, Gilopticous, made their way along the shore in a slower and more dignified manner, chatting with one another.

Bettle got up into the boat, his legs shaking a little from the exertion, still panting as Kelli unblocked an untied the boat.

Lorcka and Gilop made their way to the other boat and Gilop called out, “Do you think this is going to be the trip we make it?”

“If our parents don’t catch us,” Kelli said with a grin as Lorcka unmoored her boat and Gilop climbed in, letting the bigger cousin push the boat out. He usually helped push when he was with Kelli, but Lorcka liked doing it herself now that she was getting to be bigger than them, female elves typically growing to be two heads taller than male elves.

Bettel watched, his breathing settling down. He giggled as Kelli pushed the boat over the sand and into the water. Skilled at this now, Kelli hopped in before the water could lap at his feet and he grabbed an oar, pushing them out the rest of the way.

Bettel grabbed an oar as well and paddled along, good at working alongside his cousins, even if he was smaller. The two boats sailed out into the lake with minimum wobble, nothing like their first few attempts that dumped them out into the shallow water.

They laughed and talked as they made their way out, the sun beating down on their white hair, a reminder of when their particular race of elves, the South Lakern tribe, used to intermingle with gnomes.

“How long do you think it will take to get to the other side?” Bettel asked, looking over the edge of the boat down at the water hoping to see a fish.

“In one of the grown up boats it’s about an hour. So I think for us it might be three,” Lorcka said. “That’s why we started so early, Gilop.” She poked her cousin in the side and he laughed, elbowing her.

“You know I like sleeping in. You could have just left me.”

“Then who would have helped me paddle?”

Kelli chuckled, paddling leisurely so Bettel could keep up with his pace.

Time passed peacefully on the lake, the clouds large and fluffy above them. The four of them sang the boat songs they knew before they started trying to make up their own.

“High up clouds sing!” Bettel suggested eagerly after listening to his cousins suggest lines.

“Clouds don’t sing,” Lorcka said with a frown. “They seem more like the humming type to me.”

“Well, maybe they’re very excited clouds.”

“Guys, what do clouds have to do with the beavers making dams anyway,” Gilop pointed out. “It’s a good line, though, Bettel. Maybe we can use it in the next song.”

Bettel huffed.

“Ooh! We could make this song kind of like a beaver working song,” Kelli said.

“A beaver working song?”

“Well, yeah, what else do they do when they’re looking for a good tree to gnaw down or patting down all of those sticks,” Kelli said with a shrug.

“That’s fair. But then wouldn’t it be rude to make one for them since we aren’t beavers?”

“Uuuuh…. That’s a good point.”

Before they could discuss the matter further they all heard the soft hum of a magic boat. A boat skidded over the water, a group of rowdy looking young adults on it.

They grinned and laughed and waved at the young teens on their small paddle boats and approached quickly. Too quickly!

“Stop!” Kelli cried out in alarm, trying to paddle out of the way, Bettel following his example, but the inexperienced young adults overshot where they wanted to stop, their bow plowing right through Bettel and Kelli’s boat.

Bettel was thrown painfully into the water, and he kicked out to push off from the bottom, but he couldn’t find the bottom. There was no bottom. There was no up or down. He had never been in water this deep and the terror that gripped him was like nothing he had ever felt before.

He struggled, arms and legs kicking, but his legs ached from his run and his arms wobbled from how long he’d been paddling and he was already almost out of air since he hadn’t gotten a good breath when he was thrown from the boat.

His chest burned, trying to convince him that breathing water was better than breathing nothing.

He gave one last fever pitch of a struggle, opening his eyes under water even though it was scary, but his hair enveloped his vision, and bubbles erupted around his frantic motions. He couldn’t see! He didn’t know where he was or if he was upside down and there was blackness rimming the edges of his vision.

His movements slowed as he fought to keep from breathing. Someone had to save him. They all saw him fall in, why was no one coming in to save him?

He closed his eyes, his mouth popping open, water flowing in to explore his lungs.

In the next moment he vomited it all out, his stomach and diaphragm cramping as he did so, coughing and curling up around his bruised chest.

“He’s alive!” someone shouted in excitement and another rubbed his chest encouragingly. “Give me a big cough, Bettel.”

Bettel didn’t need much prompting as he tried to take a deeper breath and found himself coughing harder than he’d ever coughed in his whole life, more water spewing up. He kept going, forcing another cough to get out more of the water before someone deemed that enough was out they could pick him up and hold him close, a hand on the back of his head.

“I’m so sorry,” a voice said in his ear and he realized that it was his youngest uncle holding him, only recently become an adult. “I’m so sorry, Bettel. Are you alright?”

Bettel tried to speak, but it hurt too much to say anything intelligible, a sad little croak escaping instead.

“What were you all doing racing around like that!” Lorcka shouted. “That was so stupid! And now our parents are going to forbid all of us from playing in the water alone until we’re all 80! You could have killed Bettelenian!”

“It was an accident! We didn’t-”

Bettel whimpered and everyone fell silent, coming in closer to make sure he was okay. He just wanted to go home and lay in his bed.

“It’s okay, Bettel. You’re going to be okay. Let’s get you back.”

Bettel nodded and opened teary eyes to watch over his uncle’s shoulder at the ruined bits of his and Kelli’s boats floating on the water as the magic boat pulled swiftly away, tugging along the other slightly damaged paddle boat with it.

VTB 6

The Price of War Masterlist

The Price of war: @fleur-a-whump @percy-frayer @starsick1979 @hellodecisionparalysis @why-not-ask-me-a-better-question

@thecyrulik @scatteriskity

[nani-nonny]

Inimitable/Spiderweb snippet

A tiny snippet where F!Leo from my hypothetical au where he’s trapped with four turtle tots that are meant to be replicas of himself and his brothers

Read more here and below vvvvv

Leonardo yawns, attempts to stretch too but is immediately—and abruptly—awakened by the sharp, stinging, burning pain that ruptures through his spine. He closes his eyes tight, silently waiting for the pain to subside before he twists to rise on all fours, bracing the floor. He holds his stomach as he rises on his knees, wincing at the slight burn of straightening his shell.

A small chirp interrupts his painful wake-up call, and he flinches.

The slider looks around, squinting at the bright white lights that reflect off of even whiter walls. Next to him is a white, wooden crib with a white mattress, no pillows or blankets, not even the tiniest toy. The wooden bars of the crib are covered in small divots, all carved into the wood like the work of the tiniest beaver.

Leonardo holds onto a wooden bar and uses it to slowly rise to his feet, careful not to disturb his back. He grunts, closing his eyes as he tries not to focus on the strain of his legs. He must have slept wrong, his legs are screaming for mercy.

When he finally manages to stand on his own two feet, he finally looks into the crib at the four small creatures that are huddled in the farthest corner. Their faces have sleep lines and their shirts wrinkled, they must have had a nice sleep. Maybe the nicest in a while.

The smallest mutant with the teal shirt reaches for him, tiny fingers measuring up to a fraction of his pointer finger.

The teal one chirps happily when his finger makes contact with its palm. Its tail wags happily, aggressively swaying side-to-side and slapping its siblings.

Leonardo chuckles lightly when the small mutant with the pink shirt bites the teal one’s tail. He reaches into the crib and sets his hands flat—palms up—against the mattress next to the children. The teal and lavender ones easily crawl onto his hand, chirping with each other in delight.

The teal one plops onto the pad of his palm before slipping down to his thumb like a slide. Its yellow stripes crinkle when it smiles up at Leonardo, chirps in response when the slider releases small huffs of laughter. Leonardo chirps in response, awkwardly trying to make the sound come out softly. He really needs to get some practice in…

The cream wearing turtle sits down on the middle of Leonardo’s palm, poking the rough skin and scratching at the callouses. It looks up at him with its large eyes narrowed at him, and suddenly headbutts his calluses when Leonardo tries to smile at the little one.

“Okay, rude,” Leonardo points out with a raise of his brow. But he notices the pink one has yet to move from the corner. Its baby teeth are bared like a predator, but limbs partially sunken into its shell.

Before Leonardo can try to persuade the little pink shirt turtle, the teal one lets out a sharp squeal when it falls over onto its back. Leonardo is quick to help the teal one up, using his prosthetic finger as support for the smallest.

The pink one is suddenly on his palm, biting onto his prosthetic finger.

“Hey, that’s not good for your teeth,” Leonardo tries to scold and pull the pink one away until he stops. The pink one’s teeth aren’t wrapped around his finger, but almost grinding down on the metallic material. He raises his prosthetic hand slightly, smiling when the pink one drags along. “Are you teething on my finger?”

Now carrying all turtles in his palms, he lifts them out for the crib and in his lap. He crosses his legs and nestles the back of his hands into the gap as a makeshift play area with palms. But surprisingly, they don’t start playing around or chatting amongst themselves in chirps. They sit where they stood, and look up at him.

“Oh, uh, hello,” Leonardo stutters, unsure of what to do with the tiny eyes that look up to him.

The teal one’s tail doesn’t stop wagging, even as it tries to stay seated. The lavender one notices and crawls over to grab the teal one’s tail and raise it to show off to Leonardo.

“Good job… you…,” Leonardo tries to praise but his voice falters. Speaking to himself, he mumbles, “I doubt Big Mama gave any of you names.”

At the mention of Big Mama, the cream one’s eyes narrow and a tiny rumble begins to reverberate through its chest. Its short tail whips against Leonardo’s palm, and it clicks its beak in growing anger.

“Yeah, me too, little… one,” Leonardo tries to joke but fails to address the cream shirt turtle directly.

The slider sighs and leans his head back. “I can’t keep this up. If I’m going to be stuck here, raising you against my will, we’re going to have to give you all names.”

The lavender one’s head perks up, letting go of the teal one’s tail and sitting down again.

Leonardo stares at each turtle, and each one stares back at him, unblinking. He raises them closer to eye-level, looking them over. “Mikey would know what to name you guys…,” Leonardo mumbles in defeat when he loses the staring contest.

The pink one chirps sharply, making Leonardo flinch. He looks down to see the pink one’s tail impatiently sway side-to-side.

“Okay, Pink, I get it,” Leonardo nods then freezes. ‘Pink’?

He looks at the teal shirt turtle and names it simply, “You’re wearing blue, but it’s not like my blue… so you’ll be Teal.”

Teal’s tail begins to wag again, its happiness unable to be contained. It launches forward, jumping for Leonardo’s face and splats on his forehead.

The slider smiles, “Alright, you’re Teal until I come up with something better, I’m sorry that you’re a color—.” His smile falters then he groans, “Eughh, I owe Dad a huge apology.”

Teal chirps before falling from his face and back into his palms, partially landing on his siblings. The pink one lets out a warning growl, tail whipping with annoyance.

“You’re Pink,” Leonardo names the pink one, then starts naming them down the line. “You’re… you’re not yellow… you’re more of a skin color, almost creamy like a lotion. Cream! You’re Cream, and you are… not purple, that’s my brother. But you are a lighter purple, you’re Lavender.”

Lavender crawls forward and sits before reaching out for Leonardo with tiny hands that grab the air for him. It chirps and smiles, little fingers managing to point at him.

Leonardo raises them closer and is immediately hugged by all four. He damn nearly breaks into tears then and there had he not been holding them to his face.

They trust him. They trust him to hold him close to his face like this, —trust him to talk and smile, —trust him to chirp happily and wag their tails like he’s the best thing to ever enter their lives. And he can only name them after the colors of their shirts.

“I promise I’ll come up with something better, okay? Just wait,” he promises them but they only chirp in response.

Naming turtle tot mutants is hard, no wonder Splinter chose the Renaissance artists /j

[pbandjesse]

It's our anniversary! I can't believe it's been two years since we got married. That's so cool. We have done so much!! And I love James so much so I also just feel so lucky to have this time with them. And now we're going to have a bebe?? Incredible.

Today was a pretty good day and I was mostly able to hold it together and enjoy it. I got home last night and after showering and putting my card and little gift for James together on the kitchen island, even put some flowers in a vase for them, I went to sleep. It wasn't the best sleep. I feel my stomach when I turn from side to side and I just kept waking up. It was not an amazing sleep.

I woke up right before 8. James was out biking but out come home soon. They got cleaned up and I would after them. They made us breakfast sandwiches and I came downstairs and we exchanged our anniversary things. They were very impressed with my card, which was an incident report from work, and I gave them these beautiful abalone inlay stickers for their guitar. I got them a hummingbird and some flowers and stars. James had a big bag for me. With two more bags inside. And inside that was an absolutely beautiful green leather purse from Portland leather. It's a round tote and it smells so nice. I am super excited about it. It was such a thoughtful gift. And matches my green leather phone case. Amazing. I didn't use the bag today because I didn't want a shoulder bag at the zoo but I will for sure be using it tomorrow.

After our sandwiches were ready we started our drive down to DC. It was about an hour. And I brought some knitting and was determined to finished one square even though my hands were already swelling. I would barely make it an hour into the zoo before I had to take all of my rings off. It was not very comfortable at all.

But the zoo was so fun. James prepaid for parking and we would not have a very long walk. It was a busy day because it's a holiday. But we did a pretty good job keeping our distance and getting to see everything we wanted to see.

I thought the pandas were back already but they are not quite here yet. But that's okay. Because I got to see animals I've never seen before, or never seen in person. James loved the Pallas cat and the bobcat. And I absolutely fell in love with the binturong. I have never seen this animal before. They were about the size of a German shepherd and had thick tails. The two they had were yelling at eachother but I was just. Enthralled with them. It was great.

We also saw the sea lion feeding. I loved that it's name was Nick. And he was afraid of the pelican naked Eugene. Nick was 17 and was a very good boy getting his eye drops.

We got to see a beaver and the otters. And we went in the Amazon house. Which was entirely to hot but I loved seeing the creatures. We took a picture at the same tree we took it at when we went there after our wedding. It was very sweet.

We decided to have lunch at the zoo. My energy was flagging a bit. But I was trying hard to not complain to much. My hands were really bothering me but thankfully my choice of boots was 100% the right choice because even though my feet hurt they actually felt fine all day in the boots.

We got to lunch at 11:53. Which apparently was the best decision because there was no line, and then once we had our food it was a alone out the door. Lucky us. We sat inside because I couldn't find any outside table. And we talked about the pregnancy and how James is going to structure work. They also said that they probably would have felt left out today if we weren't already pregnant because everyone had kids today. We also agreed that having four children is entirely to many based on what we saw today. Also that James hates strollers. But wagons aren't much better.

Though I think it would be nice for James to pull me and baby in a wagon.

After lunch we would get to see the small mammals. Which I loved. The slow loris was probably my second favorite thing after the binturong, and only barely squeaked ahead of the screaming armadillo and the sand cat. We just got to see so many good animals today. It was honestly lovely.

We did not make it in the reptile house because there was a line. We were not feeling waiting in lines today. But we got to see a lot of amazing things and even though I wasn't feeling amazing I was still really happy and having fun with James.

We didn't get to see the prairie dogs, for some reason they weren't out. And the buffalo were not on property. We think they are doing construction. So we were slightly bummed about that but everything else was wonderful. And the weather was great.

We had started with jackets but I took mine off pretty fast. I got stopped by a woman at one point who complimented my dress and when we ran into her later she was like. Omg pumpkin girl! It was so cute.

I let James know that I thought I was at the end of my energy. Like I wasn't falling apart yet but I knew I would soon. We would make a pitstop at the gift shop and James got me a plushie magnet. I used to have one of these when I was a kid. I can't remember what the animal was but I for sure remember it. Andy new lemer is so cute.

James took my picture and laughed at me for my face. We were just laughing and having a great day. I love them so much.

The drive home was fine. But I started feeling horrible and had to lay my seat back so I could lay down and I absolutely fell asleep. Apparently my "sleepy breathing" (according to James) made them wildly sleepy to and so they drank all my soda. But they got us home in one piece. We stopped for gas and I was still home and changed into jammies and in bed by 3.

I didn't fall asleep until closer to 4. James came and laid with me for a bit. But I would fall asleep and I got overheated and woke up sweaty and my hands and wrists hurt and I wasn't having a great time. I drank some water and tried to feel better.

James made me spaghetti for dinner. And after dinner I took a bath. And eventually came downstairs to lay on the couch with James and watched TikToks. Sweetp was lounging with us and it was so nice. I was still not feeling amazing but emotionally I was just really happy.

We are in bed now. And I am ready to sleep again. I have a field trip tomorrow but I am hoping for a really good day. I hope you are all feeling love tonight. Sleep well everyone. Good night!!

[rodentcompetition]

Preliminaries

Information about contestants below!

Nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus)

Nutria is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent. It lives in burrows alongside stretches of water and feeds on river plant stems. It somewhat resembles a very large rat, or a beaver with a small, long and skinny hairless tail. Three distinguishing features are a white patch on the muzzle, webbed hind feet, and large, bright orange-yellow incisors.

Nutria are found most commonly in freshwater marshes and wetlands. They either construct their own burrows, or occupy burrows abandoned by other animals. They are also capable of constructing floating rafts out of vegetation. Nutria live in partially underwater dens. One male will share a den with three or four females and their offspring.

Nutria can live up to six years in captivity, but individuals uncommonly live past three years old. It is considered an invasive species in Europe.

Desmarest's hutia or Cuban hutia (Capromys pilorides)

It is the largest living hutia. It has thick, coarse fur which extends to the tip of the tail. The colour of the body fur varies from black to brown, with a light sand colour and red also seen.

The Desmarest's hutia is found only in Cuba, but is widespread throughout its range. In northern Cuba, populations tend to be centred on areas where there are abundant mangroves, while southern populations tend to favour a more terrestrial habitat.

Desmarest's hutias normally live in pairs, but can be found individually or in small groups. They are diurnal and do not burrow, so during the night they rest in hollows in rocks or trees. They are omnivorous but eat mostly bark, leaves and fruit. In captivity they live for eight to eleven years.

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

They are covered with short, thick fur of medium to dark brown color. They have long tails covered with scales. To aid in swimming, their tails are slightly flattened vertically, a shape that is unique to them. Muskrats spend most of their time in the water and can swim underwater for 12 to 17 minutes.

The muskrat mostly inhabit wetlands. They live in families, consisting of a male and female pair and their young. They build nests that are often burrowed into the bank with an underwater entrance. Muskrats feed mostly on cattail and other aquatic vegetation but also eat small animals.

Their bodies, like those of seals and whales, are less sensitive to the buildup of carbon dioxide than those of most other mammals. They can close off their ears to keep water out. In some European countries the muskrat is considered an invasive species.

[warriors-rewritten-chaos]

Warrior Cats Prefixes List- B

I had a WC Name Generator on Perchance that I made but I don't seem to have access anymore, so I'm remaking it here as just a simple list. The definitions used are the ones that Clan cats have for those things, and thus are the origins of the names. Definitions used are whatever I found when I googled it.

Badger-: "[noun] a heavily built omnivorous nocturnal mammal of the weasel family, typically having a gray and black coat"

Balsam-: "[noun] a herbaceous plant cultivated for its flowers, which are typically pink or purple and carried high on the stem"

Barberry-: "[noun] a thorny shrub that bears yellow flowers and red or blue-black berries"

Bark-: "[noun] an outer layer of a woody plant such as a tree or stick; [noun] the sharp explosive cry of certain animals, especially a dog, fox, or seal"

Barley-: "[noun] a hardy cereal that has coarse bristles extending from the ears"

Basalt-: "[noun] a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that sometimes displays a columnar structure"

Basil-: "[noun] an aromatic annual herb of the mint family; [noun] the leaves of the basil plant"

Bass-: "[noun] any of numerous edible marine or freshwater bony fishes"

Bat-: "[noun] any of a widely distributed order of nocturnal flying mammals that have wings formed from four elongated digits of the forelimb covered by a cutaneous membrane and rely on echolocation"

Bay-: "[noun] a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; [noun] an indentation or recess in a range of hills or mountains; [noun] an evergreen shrub of the laurel family with deep green leaves and purple berries"

Bayberry-: "[noun] a North American shrub with aromatic leathery leaves and waxy berries"

Beach-: "[noun] a strip of land covered with sand, pebbles, or small stones at the edge of a body of water"

Bear-: "[noun] a large, heavy mammal that walks on the soles of its feet, having thick fur and a very short tail"

Beaver-: "[noun] a large semiaquatic broad-tailed rodent that is native to North America and northern Eurasia"

Bee-: "[noun] a honeybee; [noun] an insect of a large group to which the honeybee belongs, including many solitary as well as social kinds"

Beech-: "[noun] a large tree with smooth gray bark, glossy leaves, and hard, pale, fine-grained timber"

Beetle-: "[noun] an insect of an order distinguished by forewings typically modified into hard wing cases that cover and protect the hind wings and abdomen"

Begonia-: "[noun] a herbaceous plant of warm climates, the flowers of which have brightly colored sepals but no petals"

Belladonna-: "[noun] another name for the deadly nightshade plant"

Bellflower-: "[noun] a plant with bell-shaped flowers that are usually blue, purple, pink, or white"

Bergamot-: "[noun] a round to pear-shaped citrus fruit of a Mediterranean tree that has a yellow to green rind which yields a bitter, fragrant essential oil and that is typically considered to be a hybrid of a sour orange and a lemon; [noun] the tree that bears the bergamot fruit"

Berry-: "[noun] a small roundish juicy fruit without a stone"

Betta-: "[noun] a small bright-colored fish, the males of which fight vigorously"

Big-: "[adj] of considerable size, extent, or intensity"

Bilberry-: "[noun] a small dark blue edible berry; [noun] a hardy dwarf shrub closely related to the blueberry, with red drooping flowers and dark blue edible berries"

Billow-: "[noun] a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam; [verb] fill with air and swell outward"

Billowing-: "[adj] filled with air and swelling outward; [adj] (of smoke, cloud, or steam) moving or flowing outward with an undulating motion"

Birch-: "[noun] a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark (often peeling) and bears catkins"

Bird-: "[noun] a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, and a beak and (typically) by being able to fly"

Bison-: "[noun] a humpbacked shaggy-haired wild ox native to North America and Europe"

Bitter-: "[adj] having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet"

Bittern-: "[noun] any of various small or medium-sized, short-necked, usually secretive herons"

Black-: "[noun] black color or pigment; [adj] of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white"

Blackberry-: "[noun] an edible soft fruit consisting of a cluster of soft purple-black drupelets; [noun] the prickly climbing shrub of the rose family that bears blackberries"

Blackbird-: "[noun] a European thrush with mainly black plumage; [noun] an American bird with a strong pointed bill. The male has black plumage that is iridescent or has patches of red or yellow"

Blackthorn-: "[noun] a thorny Eurasian shrub that bears white flowers before the leaves appear and astringent blue-black fruits"

Blade-: "[noun] one of the elongated linear leaves of a typical grass"

Blaze-: "[noun] a very large or fiercely burning fire; [verb] burn fiercely or brightly"

Blazing-: "[verb] burn fiercely or brightly"

Blight-: "[noun] a plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts (smut as defined as a fungal disease of grains); [verb] infect (plants) with blight"

Blizzard-: "[noun] a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility"

Bloodroot-: "[noun] a North American plant of the poppy family, which has white flowers and fleshy underground rhizomes which exude red sap when cut"

Bloom-: "[noun] a flower, especially one cultivated for its beauty; [noun] a delicate powdery surface deposit on certain fresh fruits, leaves, or stems; [verb] to produce flowers, to be in flower"

Blossom-: "[noun] a flower or a mass of flowers, especially on a tree or bush; [verb] (of a tree or bush) produce flowers or masses of flowers"

Blotch-: "[noun] an irregular patch or patches on a surface, typically the fur"

Blotched-: "[adj] covered with blotches"

Blue-: "[noun] blue color or pigment; [adj] of a color intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky or sea on a sunny day"

Bluebell-: "[noun] a European woodland plant of the lily family that produces clusters of blue bell-shaped flowers in spring; [noun] any of a number of other plants with blue bell-shaped flowers"

Blueberry-: "[noun] the small sweet blue-black edible berry of the blueberry plant; [noun] a hardy dwarf shrub of the heath family, with small, whitish drooping flowers and dark blue edible berries"

Bluebird-: "[noun] an American songbird of the thrush subfamily, the male of which has a blue head, back, and wings"

Boa-: "[noun] a constrictor snake which bears live young and may reach great size, native to America, Africa, Asia, and some Pacific islands"

Boar-: "[noun] a tusked Eurasian wild pig from which domestic pigs are descended; [noun] a male domestic pig"

Bog-: "[noun] wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body"

Bold-: "[adj] (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous"

Bolete-: "[noun] a mushroom or toadstool with pores rather than gills on the underside of the cap"

Bolt-: "[verb] (of an animal) run away suddenly out of control; [noun] thunderbolt"

Bone-: "[noun] any of the pieces of hard whitish tissue making up the skeleton in vertebrates; [noun] the calcified material of which bones consist"

Borage-: "[noun] a herbaceous plant with bright blue flowers and hairy leaves"

Boulder-: "[noun] a large rock, typically one that has been worn smooth by erosion"

Bounce-: "[noun] an act of jumping or an instance of being moved up and down; [verb] (of a person) jump repeatedly up and down, typically on something springy"

Bough-: "[noun] a main branch of a tree"

Bracken-: "[noun] a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds, which occurs worldwide and can cover large areas"

Bramble-: "[noun] a prickly scrambling vine or shrub, especially a blackberry or other wild shrub of the rose family"

Brambling-: "[noun] a small brightly-colored passerine bird in the finch family"

Branch-: "[noun] a part of a tree which grows out from the trunk or from a bough"

Brave-: "[adj] ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage"

Bream-: "[noun] a greenish-bronze deep-bodied freshwater fish native to Europe"

Breeze-: "[noun] a gentle wind"

Briar-: "[noun] any of a number of prickly scrambling shrubs, especially the sweetbriar and other wild roses"

Bright-: "[adj] giving out or reflecting a lot of light, shining; [adj] (of a person) intelligent and quick-witted"

Brindle-: "[noun] a brownish or tawny color of animal fur, with streaks of other color; [adj] (especially of domestic animals) brownish or tawny with streaks of other color"

Brine-: "[noun] the water of a sea or salt lake"

Bristle-: "[noun] a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant; [verb] (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, especially in anger or fear"

Brittle-: "[adj] hard but liable to break or shatter easily"

Brittlegill-: "[noun] another name for the Russula genus of mushrooms"

Broken-: "[adj] having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order; [adj] (of a person) having given up all hope, despairing"

Bronze-: "[noun] a yellowish-brown alloy of copper with up to one-third tin; [noun] a yellowish-brown color"

Brook-: "[noun] a small stream"

Brown-: "[noun] brown color or pigment; [adj] of a color produced by mixing red, yellow, and blue, as of dark wood or rich soil"

Brush-: "[noun] a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes"

Bryony-: "[noun] a climbing plant that has greenish-white flowers and red berries"

Bubble-: "[noun] a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas"

Bud-: "[noun] a compact growth on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower, or shoot"

Buffalo-: "[noun] a heavily built wild ox with backswept horns, found mainly in the Old World tropics"

Bug-: "[noun] an insect of a large order distinguished by having mouthparts that are modified for piercing and sucking; [noun] a small insect"

Bull-: "[noun] a fully grown male animal of a domesticated breed of ox"

Bumble-: "[verb] move or act in an awkward or confused manner; [verb] speak in a confused or indistinct way"

Bumblebee-: "[noun] a large hairy bee with a loud hum, living in small colonies in holes underground"

Bunny-: "[noun] a rabbit, especially a young one"

Bunting-: "[noun] any of several types of small singing bird with a short, wide, pointed beak and brightly colored feathers on the male bird, found in North and South America"

Burdock-: "[noun] a large herbaceous Old World plant of the daisy family"

Burn-: "[verb] (of a fire) produce flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood; [verb] destroy, damage, or injure by heat or fire"

Burnet-: "[noun] a herbaceous plant of the rose family, with globular pinkish flower heads and leaves composed of many small leaflets"

Burnt-: "[adj] of or showing colors having a deeper or grayer hue than is usually associated with them"

Burr-: "[noun] a seed or dry fruit or infructescence that has hooks or teeth"

Burrow-: "[noun] a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal, especially a rabbit, as a dwelling; [verb] (of an animal) make a hole or tunnel, typically for use as a dwelling"

Buttercup-: "[noun] a poisonous herbaceous plant with bright yellow cup-shaped flowers, which is common in grasslands and as a garden weed"

Butterfly-: "[noun] a nectar-feeding insect with two pairs of large, typically brightly colored wings that are covered with microscopic scales"

Buzz-: "[noun] a low, continuous humming or murmuring sound, made by or similar to that made by an insect"

Buzzard-: "[noun] a large hawklike bird of prey with broad wings and a rounded tail, typically seen soaring in wide circles"

[dinosaurnostalgia]

The Crazy Pachy Lady

If someone asked me what my favourite dinosaur is (...and not what my favourite prehistoric animal is, therefore forcing me to choose from just Dinosauria...), I'd have to say it's probably Pachycephalosaurus.

After taking the group shot I realized I had forgotten to include my De Agostini Pachy. She's made of such a cheap and flimsy rubber that she can't stand on her own.

Pachys weren't that popular among dino toy producers when I was a kid. Well, there were many dinosaurs that I saw plenty of pics of in my dinosaur books but saw in toy form rarely. Crested hadrosaurs (with the exception of Paras that you did see occasionally). Orhithomimids. Small noodly carnivores like Compys. And Pachys. I've always loved their dragon-like skulls, there's just something majestic about them and I find them more interesting than the Big Four that you see most often in dino toys (the Big Four being large carnivores, sauropods, Trikes and Stegos). It wasn't until the Jurassic Park sequel introduced Pachys in Lost World, that Pachy toys started to become more popular.

These two were the only Pachy toys I had as a kid. I was very disappointed with the green one, because it looked nothing like the pictures in my books, it's bald head has barely any crown of spikes around it and in general, it looked pretty awful. But for the longest time it was the only Pachy in my toy box. Then one christmas I received the brown toy on the left. I call her Patchouli.

Dino Riders were an big part of my childhood and I will be eventually writing more about them, both about the toy line and the series. But for now, I want to talk about Patchouli. I loved Dino Rider toys, with their beautiful glass eyes the animals looked more lifelike and less "monstrous" than many of the dinosaur toys in my toy box. The second series of toys introduced the Pachy and I wished it for christmas. I have forgotten about many toys I received as gifts but few stand out and I remember so vividly teh moment of opening the box with Patchouli and seeing her through the clear plastic window of her packaging.

Patchouli remains to this day my favourite Pachy toy. I love her colours, her noble-looking golden eyes, her beautiful stubby horns, I love how much she resembles the illustrations in my childhood books, the pictures that I admired but could never have in toy form until that christmas. I also like that unlike many newer Pachy toys, her feet are pretty small and she still balances just fine even when lowered into a headbutting pose. There are way too many new Pachy toys out there with enormous clown feet just to make them stand. The only thing that seems a bit odd about Patchouli is her tail, which is flat like a beaver's. I think it must be designed so in order to balance the weight so that she can stand in balance even when she's wearing her armor.

Now, after talking about the most beautiful Pachy toy I own, I must also talk about the ugliest one.

Demon Pachy will eat your soul!

I call her Glasya-Labolas, after my favourite Goetic demon. I don't usually buy large dino toys, I prefer the smaller ones that are easier to scale with one another and store. But when I saw Glasya-Labolas for sale on eBay, I had to get her.

Who designed this thing? Why are her eyes blood-red? Why is her throat covered in blood? Why does she remind my wife of E.T.? I don't know. But in all of her hideousness I can't help but like her. I imagine my Pachy herd summoning this demonic Pachy in the dark of the night, praying for protection against carnivores.

[birdievibes]

new creatures!

[Image ID: a screenshot of structurally simple models made with the computer program named Blender. Each model is constructed with distorted spheres, cylinders, and cones. There are five quadrapedal animals varying from shades of cyan to green, which all loosely resemble dogs in shape. The animals are labeled A through E, and vary in size. All have simple triangular ears. A and B are the largest and have elongated antlers or horns, while C has a ring of small cones on the front of the skull, resembling a tiara. D has no distinct features compared to the other animals but is the smallest. E is a similar size to D, has a flattened skull, webbed feet, and a flattened tail, much like a beaver. /.End ID] Here is the Dactylatus line! This is the first line of animals to have dominantly mammalian traits, including: tiny ear bones, cartilaginous ear... cup things, fur, and warm blood! Still laying eggs though. In this line we can see: letter a- Graminovoris Dactylatus itself! So cute <3 This guy is the first to have tails (which are made out of cartilage) letter b- D. Capihastis, who's horns are a combination of style and function-- they spear prey! These species tend to hunt in small packs. letter c- C. Cephalocoron, who's crowns are used during mating season, when males headbutt each other to settle disputes. letter d- C. Mustelidiformis, which pretty much fit what their name implies. They fill the same niches as mustelids. letter e- M. strerecastrumis, which are *drumroll* basically beavers. Some species in this clade fill other niches but are typically omnivorous.

[Image ID: a screenshot of structurally simple models made with the computer program named Blender. Each model is constructed with distorted spheres, cylinders, and cones. There are three models fully visible varying in color and shape. The animal labelled A closely resembles a rabbit sitting up with its front limbs off the floor, and is gray. Animal A also has an elongated tail. The animal labelled B stands on four short small legs, with the front two feet being elongated to resemble claws. Animal B is gray. Animal C is pink and very closely resembles a lizard, however animal C has no tail, two hair-like fans on either side slightly behind the head, and a small third set of limbs emerge from beneath the fans. The limbs from the third set are shaped similar to the letter S. /.End ID] These are two different lines. letter a- G. Graminovoris, the form depicted is the extinct ancestor of both b and the dactylatus lines. G. Graminovoris went extinct during the most recent ice-age. This species did not have hair, but did have hair-like protrusions around chambers in which the front limbs are stored out of the way until needed for reproduction. letter b- G. ungulatheris, a separate lineage of G. graminovoris which is distinct for not developing the ears seen in dactylatus, or for developing true hair. These species boast quills and the same chambers seen in Graminovoris. letter c- Generatheris, which survived the ice age only due to its high metabolism and small size. This clade "hears" through the fans of whiskers above the reproductive limps, and does not have a tail.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Courting Fire (Part 1)

Summary: Regina has had no success in winning a royal's hand in marriage. Cora considers other options and takes her daughter off to a different world to try to impress the princess of the Fire Nation so that Regina can finally be queen.

It used to be that only every once in a while, Regina would like to just dissipate into nothing. Would like to just fall out of existence in a tumble of silvery glitter, like fairy dust falling over a flower. These days it is a daily desire.

“No. No, no, no! This won’t do!” Mother rubs her hands over her face. “This is why you’ve had no luck at the masquerades.” 

Regina furrows her brows, “I don’t see what’s wrong with this dress, mother.” 

The woman sighs. “Look at it! Look at the way it sits on you. It’s not…it’s not flattering.” Cora pinches the bridge of her nose. “I suppose that it doesn’t matter. You haven’t had any luck at all in this realm, the men just don’t like you. None of the men that matter anyhow.” 

Regina opens her mouth but her mother raises a hand. “And the women won’t have you either, you can’t offer them any upwards status. The ones who can offer you power would rather have charming men of their own.” 

Regina’s shoulder’s sag. "So what then?" A nervous, excited tickle forms in her belly. "Are you finally going to let this go?" Is she finally going to get to live her life as she would like to live it?

Cora chuckles. "Oh darling, of course not! There's still hope for you! We'll just have to start over in a brand new realm."

That nervous excited tickle plummets into a crushing sickly feeling. "Which one?"

"Well we have several options we can go to Wonderland, Oz, Nederland, Narnia…"

"Narnia seems lovely."

"Which is exactly why we will avoid that one. You're plenty distracted as it is,you don't need talking beavers and enchanted winters."

"So where are we going?"

"Somewhere with rules and structures."

.oOo.

Azula knew that the day would come eventually, she resents it just as she had when the notion was posed to her, but she will take the responsibility on dutifully. Dutifully and dignified as a princess ought to.

At least she gets to wear elegant robes. Long and flowing silks and laces that swish around her leg. Gold thread ragonflies dance across the fabric. between flames of orange and gold thread. Ruby and gold belts hang at her hips and her hair, pulled up and neat, is adorned with elaborate headdress. Most of which take the shape of dragon claws or flames. Today's is decorated with amber fire lilies. 

At least, for all of her troubles, they pamper her with extra care. She smells divine, sometimes like cedarwood and some times like citrus. 

It isn't for her, she knows, but she reaps the benefits and comforts all the same. Lavish bath scrubs leave her hand and feet feeling so soft and smooth and the makeup she wears is gorgeous. Fancier than any that she had worn previously.

If only it could have been for her sake and pleasure and hers alone.

But ruefully it is for almost everyone but her.

Today it us for five men. Boys really. She supposes that she'd rather have boys than someone like the wrinkly, cantankerous noble Mai had been married off to. Luckily for her the man had decided to croak a year in.

Most of them are still three to four years her senior.

Boy one goes by Keilo he is a rather plain guy with soft brown eyes and a kind face. He is the smartest of them but he talks much too loudly and has a tendency to interrupt her. If she had to pick, Azula supposes that she likes him the most. 

Boy two is tall and has the faintest fuzz of a beard. His voice is squeaky and infiltrated by nervousness. But he has riches that can secure the Fire Nation's position at the top. Father favors him because he is easy to manipulate and push around. His name is Zhang.

Boy three, Xao Bai, is short and us, undoubtedly the most attractive if them with well defined cheekbones and vivid gold eyes. But he is duller that a broken kitchen knife.

Boys four and five are terribly boring. So much so that she can't rember which of them is Haz and which is Huan.

This selection is much more tolerable than yesterday's. But the affair is becoming tiresome. How many idiots is she going to have to entertain? Even their lavish gifts fail to impress her. Flattery never worked.

Really this is all pointless; father knows that they have enough power and riches to hold their own. 

 It is all about image and presentation,  about not wanting to be the only Fire Lord to father a daughter with no husband and no heir.

At least she, unlike TyLee can say that she doesn't desire true love. She does, however, yearn for freedom. Someone who won't tie her down and hold her back as she is being held back now.

"It might not be so bad." Keilo trued like every suitor before him. "We might actually fall on love."

Azula crinkles her nose. "Don't threaten me."

He waits for her to laugh and mention that she was only joking. His face pales when she does not, this is when she laughs but she refuses to follow that up with any reassurance.

.oOo.

Regina is torn between awe and dread. She has been to many castles, each of them extraordinary in their own right. Some had been built into cliffsides while others sat atop mountains. Some had been nestled in meadows with flowers that glowed like the moon. Each one had been enchanting. Each one had been lavish. 

But they all have the same aura; ethereal, exuberant, opulent. They all feel quaint and cozy, even if only falsely so. 

But this palace. It is truly awe striking. Minus an abundance of gold, it is like nothing she has ever seen before. The style is distinct, the roof is layered an accented in a way that she has never seen a palace or castle look. Instead of flying buttresses and grimacing gargoyles, this palace is boxy, pointy, a lined with golden dragons. 

It is only really comparable in size. Somehow, the tiered roof makes it twice as imposing as any other castle that she had visited. Until now she had always used ‘castle’ and ‘palace’ interchangeably…

Cora, led by guards in red armor, leads Regina to the throne room. “Remember what I’ve told you.” 

How can she forget? Mother has been agonizingly rigid about this plan. 

Keep her hair up. Speak no more than necessary. Bind or wear baggy clothing. Under no circumstances should the princess know that a women is courting her. “We just need to secure a position of power.” Mother had emphasized. “Once you have her hand I will take care of the rest.”

Regina shudders to think about what the rest is. She imagines a poison procured the Enchanted Forest whose effects have no cure that can be found in this world. Or possibly a beating heart in the woman’s hand. 

Whatever qualms she has can’t be addressed in front of the palace guard. 

Cora’s arm curls around her shoulder. “Good luck, dear. Don’t ruin this for us again.” 

Regina swallows, “I won’t mother.”

The guards beckon them into the throne room. Four heads turn and she sees, for the first time, the faces of her competition. Directly in front of her is, in a sense, the prize. And Regina isn’t certain that it is one worth winning. The girl’s face is soft and pretty but it is cold and unyielding. Univiting. 

Her mission is fated to fail.

She knows this look.

This girl is just as disinterested, if not more so, in this affair than Regina herself.

“You’re late.” 

[xtruss]

Fly fishers walk toward a stream in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, as the jagged mountains for which the park is named rise in the distance. Grand Teton draws both adventurers, for activities like mountain climbing and backcountry skiing, and leisure travelers, for boating, hiking, and fishing. Photograph By Aaron Huey, National Geographic Image Collection

How to visit Grand Teton National Park!

With Soaring Mountains and Braided Rivers, this Wyoming Park Epitomizes the American West. Here’s What You Need to Plan the Ultimate Trip.

— May 09, 2023

Fast Facts:

Location: Wyoming

Established: February 26, 1929

Size: 310,000 acres

Annual Visitors: About 2.8 million in 2022

Visitor Centers: All four are open from spring to fall; check the website for specific dates. Every center except the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center issues backcountry and boat permits. Flagg Ranch Information Station is a helpful trip planning stop, when entering from the south end of Yellowstone National Park.

Entrance Fee: Per vehicle and individual; annual passes available

Sharpened by glaciers, Grand Teton National Park’s snow-etched mountains erupt above Jackson Hole valley, composing one of the most iconic views in the country. “The Tetons rise to over 13,000 feet in a matter of miles. Just seeing that makes you feel humble,” says Vasu Sojitra, a professional athlete and disability access advocate, who completed the first disabled ascent on crutches of the Grand Teton in 2014.

The towering granite crags of the Grand Teton range have drawn mountaineers, hikers, and photographers to this Wyoming park. Photograph By Jimmy Chin, National Geographic Image Collection

Left: Clouds drift above a herd of bison grazing in a valley in Grand Teton National Park. Visitors can also spot moose, bald eagles, ospreys, and pikas. Photograph By Barrett Hedges, National Geographic Image Collection. Right: In the fall, quaking aspen trees bring golden color to Grand Teton National Park. Photograph By Tom Murphy, National Geographic Image Collection

Some 200 years ago these majestic mountains were called Pilot Knobs by fur trappers because they could be seen from miles away. One of the Tetons’ tallest peaks, Teewinot, meaning “many pinnacles” in the Shoshone language, references the region’s ancestral roots. The 1800s homesteading tradition in the nearby town of Jackson gives the valley its moniker “The Last of the Old West.” Gazing out at verdant plains, towering crags, and fields of lemon-yellow balsamroot blooms, visitors understand why the park has become an emblem of the American West.

Why Go

Adventure athletes travel to the park to climb historic mountaineering routes, backpack into wildflower-strewn basins, or ski down advanced backcountry slopes in winter. But the park is also ideal for leisurely activities like biking, photography, and canoeing—set against the backdrop of the meandering Snake River, numerous lakes and streams, and the Grand Teton range.

Although a fraction of the size of nearby Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton offers equally dramatic mountain vistas and impressive wildlife viewing. Outdoor photographer and Jackson local Steven Shelesky says it’s common to see wildlife, including elk, moose, pronghorn, and bison, while simply driving through the park.

Best Views

Shelesky says getting up early to catch a sunrise in the park is well worth the effort. “The entire Teton range is east facing, which makes for an amazing spectacle,” he says. Located about 350 yards from the parking lot, Schwabacher Landing offers particularly memorable views of a beaver pond off the Snake River. “You can see beautiful reflections of the Grand Teton on the water’s surface,” says Shelesky.

Sunset casts a rosy glow on the Snake River, in Grand Teton National Park, where families can go on scenic rafting tours. Photograph By Keith Ladzinski, National Geographic Image Collection

Nearby, the Snake River Overlook is another vista Shelesky recommends. The famous viewpoint captured by photographer Ansel Adams in 1942 highlights the curving river framed by the towering Tetons. Look for the Snake River Overlook turnout sign off Highway 191/89.

Best Hikes

Beginning at the Taggart Lake Trailhead on Teton Park Road, Taggart Lake is an easy hike that leads to a gorgeous lakeside picnic spot, where the Tetons reflect in the water. The three-mile round-trip trail rises just over 300 feet as it crosses bridges and weaves through a grove of quaking aspen trees, whose leaves tremble at the slightest breeze. For a more moderate hike, it’s well worth the extra steps to tack on the Taggart Lake-Bradley Lake Loop, which takes you 5.6 miles to both lakes. Both trails are also popular snowshoeing routes in winter.

Hikers looking for a more challenging route can follow the roaring Cascade Creek up the Forks of Cascade Canyon trail, where the glacially carved landscape leads to numerous viewpoints, including Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. The 9.8-mile out-and-back route can be made more challenging during the day or as part of an overnight trip (permits required), by trekking 14.1 miles to Lake Solitude. You can book a round-trip ticket on the Jenny Lake Shuttle Service to avoid hiking an extra four miles roundtrip.

Best Drives

Teton Park Road and Highway 191/89/26 make a 42-mile loop that takes you to several pullouts and viewing sites in the park. Signal Hill Mountain Summit Road winds to the top of Signal Hill (nearly a thousand feet), where you’ll find two overlooks of the plunging Jackson Hole valley. The narrow road is five miles long and closed during winter.

Wildlife Spotting

Whether you’re on the slopes of Mt. Moran or canoeing Jackson Lake, wildlife abounds in Grand Teton National Park. Find elk and pronghorn in the sharp sagebrush of Timbered Island, just south of the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Bison and moose roam the woods near various overlooks including Oxbow Bend along the Snake River, while bald eagles and osprey circle the sky.

Climb up the glacially carved Cascade Canyon trail and look for yellow-bellied marmots as you listen for the high-pitched chirp of pikas, a small lagomorph related to rabbits and hares. You just might see them collecting wildflowers and grass, which they store in hay piles for cold, snowy winters.

One of the park’s greatest attributes is its wildlife. To ensure your safety and theirs, obey the law requiring visitors to stay at least a hundred yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other wildlife, including bison, moose, and pronghorn.

Posted speed limits are especially important in Grand Teton, which has seen increased wildlife collisions since 2000. Park officials advise extra caution during the fall, when animals migrate, and during low-light hours at dawn, dusk, and nighttime, when the speed limit is 45 miles per hour.

Visit Like a National Geographic Explorer

Wildlife biologist and National Geographic Explorer Autumn Iverson recommends getting an early start in Grand Teton. “Early in the morning is when birds and other wildlife are going to be more active,” says Iverson, whose work focuses on Brewer’s sparrows, a small songbird with a distinct call that lives in sagebrush. During her many field trips at dawn, she often saw elk, moose, and pronghorn, the second fastest land animal in the world.

Top: Researchers count lodgepole pine seedlings near Flagg Ranch, where the 2016 Berry Fire—the largest in national park history—burned forests that were about 150 years old. Photograph By Sofia Jaramillo, National Geographic Image Collection. Bottom: Ski mountaineers trek up the crest on Mount Owen in Grand Teton National Park. Outfitters such as Exum Mountain Guides and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides lead visitors up into the Tetons in winter and summer. Photograph By Jimmy Chin, National Geographic Image Collection

Jackson Lake glimmers like a black-and-white photograph in the winter. The lake is a popular spot for ranger-led programs, wildlife spotting, and canoeing. Signal Mountain Lodge is located on these shores.

Jackson Lake glimmers like a black-and-white photograph in the winter. The lake is a popular spot for ranger-led programs, wildlife spotting, and canoeing. Signal Mountain Lodge is located on these shores. Photograph By Michael K. Nichols, National Geographic Image Collection

Iverson says she particularly enjoyed paddling one of the many lakes. That’s when “you get this whole expansive view of everything around you,” she says. Visitors can rent canoes or kayaks from Signal Mountain Marina and the Colter Bay Marina, among other outfitters. Paddling is generally recommended in the morning before afternoon winds arrive.

Activities and Excursions

The Tetons are a steep mountain range that have attracted mountaineers and climbers like Irene Ortenburger and Yvon Chouinard. Because of their steep pitch and high elevation, many of the park’s high-altitude trails may be inaccessible for the first-time hiker.

Experienced hikers are drawn to the park for its challenging backpacking routes, including the sought-after Teton Crest Trail, which follows the range’s spine through wildflower-filled peaks from Teton Pass to String Lake. Totaling 40 miles, the trail generally takes backpackers three to five days to complete. Apply for a permit six months in advance on Recreation.gov.

Ambitious hikers and mountaineers may opt for a multiday trip in the backcountry to make summit attempts on the coveted 13,775-foot Grand Teton. Exum Mountain Guides and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides lead visitors up the lofty peaks in summer and offer ski mountaineering trips throughout the winter.

Best For Families

From mid-June to September, the park puts on various complimentary interpretive programs, which generally occur at Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, and Headwaters Lodge and Cabins. Jackson Lake Lodge’s naturalist programs illuminate the world of wildlife in the park, including birds of prey, mountain lions, and grizzly bears. Ranger-led hikes, wildlife viewing, and campfire talks occur daily in the summer throughout the park at its many visitor centers. Check the event calendar for the latest listings.

Outfitters like Solitude Float Trips or National Park Float Trips guide families on scenic rafting tours on the Snake River. Rafts generally put in at Deadmans Bar and take two to three hours to float 10 miles to Moose Landing, passing through a mellow stretch of the river. Knowledgeable guides educate guests on the park’s history and point out fauna, including white pelicans, beavers, and bison. Fall can be particularly picturesque, when rafts float by quaking aspen trees studded with golden leaves and stately Colorado blue spruce.

Where To Stay

There are eight campgrounds and seven lodges within the park’s boundaries. Stay on the glimmering shores of Jackson Lake at the upscale Signal Mountain Lodge or find a more rustic option at American Alpine Club Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch, which hosts communal cabins popular with climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The National Park Service lists more options on its website.

Campers have over a thousand sites to choose from, ranging from $10 to just over $100 per night. Book six months in advance through Recreation.gov. Colter Bay Tent Village has 66 “tent cabins” with wood walls and canvas tent roofs. The small cabins include covered porches, bunk beds, and wood-burning stoves.

Note that all lodges, cabins, and campsites within the park close during the winter, but there are plenty of options in the bustling town of Jackson. About 13 miles from the park’s Moose entrance, Jackson has numerous restaurants, historic hotels, and live music venues.

You can also find lodging in Teton Village at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain resort. The charming area is just under two miles from the park’s southern Granite Canyon entrance, making it a great basecamp for skiers.

The Milky Way glitters over the Grand Teton mountain range, in Wyoming. Photograph By Babak Tafreshi, National Geographic Image Collection

Need to know

The park is located in northwest Wyoming near the border of eastern Idaho, accessible via three entrances: Granite Canyon, Moose, and Moran Junction. Since Grand Teton is connected to Yellowstone National Park by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, most visitors tack Grand Teton onto a multiday trip to Yellowstone.

July and August are the most popular times to visit Grand Teton. May, September, and October see fewer crowds and cooler temperatures. Although wintertime shuts down many amenities and roads, it’s a great time to experience the region by snowshoe, cross-country skis, or snowmobile.

Spring can be an especially nice time to visit when portions of Teton Park Road open for a short time to cyclists, inline skaters, and other recreationists before cars are permitted in May. Before your trip, check the park’s alerts and current conditions page for road closures.

General Tips

Weather changes quickly in the Rocky Mountains, especially in the summer. Always pack extra layers and a rain jacket on all outdoor excursions. When venturing into the high country, start early so you can get below the treeline by noon, thereby avoiding afternoon thunderstorms, which can be violent.

Grand Teton National Park is black and grizzly bear country. The National Park Service recommends hikers carry bear spray, a non-lethal deterrent that’s EPA-approved.

Accessibility

While some visitor centers, campsites, and lodges are accessible, there aren’t many trails for wheelchair and other medical aid users, says Vasu Sojitra, the disability access advocate. He notes that the North Pathway, a 20-mile paved trail that connects Jackson, Wyoming, with the park at Jenny Lake, is one of the more accessible areas in the region. “It is a really great way to experience and make a bigger day out of visiting the park,” he says.