#every week I log on here and see a new post about how ary@ will be qitn and unite the north bc of her marriage to ramsay

[jonsastarks]

ya know what pisses me off lol? when unserious A or D fans jump in the sansa tag and accuse sansa fans of stealing other character’s themes or story arcs. projecting much…

like yeah sansa fans totally make her all about… aria’s sword. and dani’s pets. that definitely happens and is not pulled from their ass lmao

[reflectionsofneptune]

a little thread on self-care apps

in honour of Saturn and Jupiter doing their ting in Aquarius, here’s a thread of some free apps you can try out for self-care.

I hope this provides a lil bit of value for you. 

oak.

has three different options for meditations you can do such as a mindful meditation, a loving kindness meditation and an unguided meditation. I personally like the unguided meditation because I can have a bit more control by putting an interval timer, changing the background noise and time duration. plus there’s a countdown option too before you begin, which I love so that I can try and prepare before the meditation actually starts. so many times mediations start right off the bat, and well, I just wasn’t ready ha. as well as that, it gives you personal stats on how you’re doing and also the community who have download this app are doing. you can see how many people are mediating/breathing right now which I find motivating. also has options for breathing exercises and for winding down to sleep. 

eternal sunshine

this app really has a lot to offer. so many guided meditations including ones to aid you in developing your chakras, or help you with anxiety before a test, or do when there is a full or new moon. I did a pre-ritual meditation which included tapping into the elements and let me tell you, the tea I got from the upcoming monthly tarot spread was scorching. we love to see it. it has affirmations for the chakras for example, and then affirmation exercises which allow you to get even more involved. for people who want more accountability they have seven day meditations, too. you can opt into little tidbits of prayers and wisdom to show up on your phone throughout the day. but what I really value about this app is the inspirational talks they offer. it covers a range of topics, like gratitude, dealing with anger, suicide, not giving up. real life shit. 

feelyou

a mood-tracker app where you can post how you feel at any time. the great thing about this app is you can be totally anonymous. people from around the world can ‘feel you’ on whatever you post, and reply with support. the feelings options you have are calm, anxious, happy, sad, terrible and amazing. stats are provided too so you can see percentages of how many people with the app feel the same as you. there are communities you can join or make too. there’s a huge variety on there, from LGBTQA+ groups, BTS groups, cosplay groups, gratitude groups, cancer support groups and cooking groups. I even saw a group titled “I’m here to listen.” and for me, that was poignant because for someone, that’s all they want at the end of the day. 

#selfcare

the. cutest. app. right off the bat, it will remind you to bring awareness to your body. where you’re keeping tension. it will remind you to breathe. accountability. it will ask you questions that encourage you to reflect more. the apps background is that of a bedroom with a person under the covers whose skin colour can be changed. but it’s interactive. you have an altar, you have tarot cards which you can pull a daily pull from. there’s a candle you can use to aid you in setting intentions or do candle gazing. for some people, I know even before COVID-19 happened couldn’t or didn’t want to leave their bedroom. the act of tidying up their room was something they found difficult. in the app, you can tidy up clothes on the floor which to me is a very satisfying little feature. there’s a journal option which you can customise, as well as a tape recorder so you can vocally get what you need off your chest. there’s so many other features, but get this. there’s a lil baby black cat you can interact with too. what more could you want? this app holds space for you. 

aloebud (only available on iPhone)

designed in a teal (?) colour in a grid layout, for me this app is aesthetically pleasing. the whole point of it is that you choose activity cards of things such as hydrating yourself, breathing, connecting with others, taking a break. you can customise it so you can have reminders to do these things at a set time/day of the week, too. the app gives you an option to check in to keep accountability or to reflect on the theme of an activity card to gain more presence. there is a “people” activity card too, and one of the prompts it gives you is to write an encouraging message to your future self. that screams Saturn in Aquarius to me. there’s an activity log which allows you to congratulate on yourself on things you’ve done throughout the day. 

stoic (only available on iPhone)

this is another app that just screams daddy’s home. (Saturn rules Aquarius in traditional rulership) based on the concept of stoicism, the colour scheme is black and white. very fitting. also very fitting that an aries stellium introduced me to this concept. like most self-care apps, it has a range of exercises you can do but what makes this one different is that they have something called “fear setting”. a three-step exercise that encourages you to go deep into what is holding you back right now. as well as that, there’s an option to do negative visualisation which is meant to further build up gratitude in your life. in the journal entries you can complete, there is an option to draw/scribble/doodle something along with your words which is fun. lastly, with every exercise they provide, they really get to the nitty gritty of what it does for you. they provide links to ted talks, or give you example scenarios so you can better relate. it’s all laid out for you. 

[violetbeachpod]

TRANSCRIPT: 1x01 - Twelve Oh One

Hey, folks! Bee here. Y’all reached out to me about transcripts awhile back, and, hey, since the season’s over, I’m gonna start posting them! As a person with attention issues, I super get the need for transcripts, and I’m sorry for not delivering on them sooner.

I’m also reediting episodes right now, so. Those corrections will be posted about as they happen. Anyway. Here we go. Episode one, which you can listen to here, if you so please.

TERESA: 

Okay, so--it’s recording. Cool .

Um. It’s Wednesday. It’s been nine days since--eight days, maybe? --well, if you’re listening, at this point, you know what it was--Benji says we’re gonna publish this, but, like, no. That’s--that’s ridiculous. This is for science.

Or our memoirs. Whatever.

We’ve--the seven of us have decided to keep a log. Of what’s been going on.

Um. So. Cool. Name and deets, just in case some more weird memory shit goes down--My name’s Teresa. I’m eighteen. I’m an Aries, I like bowling and shitty pop music, and only mostly ironically. That enough fluff? I’m a freshman at, ah, Lands College, here in town, and. Studying journalism, with a minor in women’s studies, uh--anything else--I feel like this would be a better story if I start showing, rather than telling.

Or, like. Telling stories rather than just reading out my dating profile. Because that’s lame.

My dating profile’s actually--it’s a lot more detailed than that. I’m on, like, seven different sites, and every profile is. Very Different.

(text notification sound)

[lean away from mic]

Anj, stop--stop listening in! You--you--dude, take a nap.

[and we’re back]

So. Anyway. Here’s what we know.

[long beat]

That was good, right? A good joke? That’s something. Um. Cuz we don’t know very much at all. There’s something there, I swear, like, I rehearsed that bit in the bathroom mirror this morning, and I was thinking, no, I won’t pull that, but--

But. Back to the point.

Y’know how, in movies, people are always like, “Nobody knows except for us?”

That’s so exclusive. So presumptuous. We don’t know if people are lying. We haven’t spoken to every person on the planet--we haven’t even spoken to anyone outside of Maryland. Outside of town. Like. We’ve watched news, but God knows, some of those conspiracies about hypnosis through CNN are real, or whatever. Y’know? Like--those conspiracies are almost exclusively believed in by, like, flat-earthing racists, so, like, they’re probably, definitely super wrong, but--I was making a joke and I’m overthinking it now. Cool.

Anyway. We don’t know who knows. Maybe someone in, like, Caracas, knows? Maybe someone in--you get my point--knows.

Or maybe we’re being Truman Showed. Wouldn’t be the worst theory to have come out of this.

I would--well, I’d hate it, but one time, back in middle school, the public library did these--these movie nights for teenagers, right? And, so, uh, a bunch of us were there, and I was sitting with Angie, cuz she was--she was the only person I knew there, of course, and she was sitting with these kids, like--uh, from the hippie school she had taken in, and--one of them was AJ, I know, and one was Charlotte. but the others, I don’t see anymore.

But anyway, she was, like, starry-eyed at the idea of her life being a TV show without her knowing. At the idea of unintentional stardoms. So maybe she’ll get a kick out of that theory.

Here’s something: I was working on my campaign notes earlier, cuz the group’s meeting tomorrow, should meet tomorrow  and I didn’t really--I didn’t like a few of the potentials, so, whatever. Irrelevant.

I checked the time, and--well. It was twelve oh one. And two minutes later, it was still twelve oh one. And now, it’s still twelve oh one.

I thought maybe my laptop was being bad again? But it said the same on my phone, and on the wall clock.

The app says time is passing. It’s been longer than fifty-nine seconds.

It’s still twelve oh one, though, is the thing. Which isn’t great, all things considered.

But, we’ll catch up on that later.

Here’s the big thing. I went back to the beach last night to see if I could recreate what happened alone, and, uh--at least. I think I did. I don’t remember going, but, uh, Angie says I did, and AJ said that when he was closing at work, he saw me walking towards it. But I didn’t--I didn’t go.

There are sixty-nine--which, yeah, nice, that’s the sex number, whatever--sticky notes on the bathroom mirror, and, like--I can make out letters on some of them them? Individual letters? But not words. And I know that they’re making words, and I know that it’s my handwriting, but my brain just--it goes somewhere else.

And other ones, that I can read, they have dumb stuff. One of them’s just a doodle of David Hyde Pierce with a caption that just says “HELL YEAH. LOOK AT THE MOON WEDNESDAY.”

It’s, like--in fairness to me, or the person I assume to be me, it’s a fairly good David Hyde Pierce. And there’s--there’s a new moon tonight, so--well.

Whatever.

It’s still twelve oh--oop. Nevermind. Twelve oh two now. Nice.

Benji wants me to take off work until this whole thing’s sorted out. Says he’ll still pay me, but, like--being yelled at by awful dudes about trivia that nobody knows is kind of the only constant in my life right now? So I said no. Obviously. Like. It sucks, but it makes me feel normal. Like the beach out by Angie’s place did, before--

Well. Maybe some recollection would be nice, I guess. Just so, like, Danny and company--like, if we end up showing them. Cuz I’m better at sticking to the facts than, say, Robin or Charlotte. So. Yeah.

So. Uh.

Most folks know that she transferred in after a semester at--well, I’m not allowed to say the name of the school in front of her, anymore, and she’s, like, giving me death-eyes out of the bedroom door. But. A certain Ivy League school. This is relevant--

Okay, maybe not, but it’s a nice set up to our establishing shot, which is, of course, her New Year’s party, nine days ago. At her parents’ place. Or, eight days ago, at her parents’ place, I guess. She told us on New Year’s Eve that she was starting at Lands on the fourth, and I offered her a stay in my dorm, cuz I had a single, and, uh, it sucked? But. Whatever.

So I said, “You know, I have a single.” And she said--wait, lemme find my journal--yes, I do write down conversations, Angie.

Alright. She said, “Oh, really, is it on--Bandcamp, Soundcloud, iTunes, MySpace? I didn’t know you--” And I said, “I meant dorm room, dude, you mentioned--MySpace?”

She said, “I still use it.” I laughed, “Of course you do.”

But, anyway. We agreed to live together, but. It was one AM. Robin Cabell dropped by with her new fiancee, said hi, and--well, like, our babysitter’s getting married, to, like, this gorgeous girl from DC, and the high school kids from the hippie school were there, and Benji was there, cuz he’s everywhere, and--

As folks left--Angie started playing Wonderwall around 3AM, so, uh, a little bit before then--it ended up just being the seven of us. Her parents are out of town--as always. Well, not always. But frequently.

They’re mad about--Blarvardgate.

I--I didn’t say it! I said something mildly close alluding to it. Stop texting me!

But. It was just the seven of us there, Angie still playing some terrible 90s song, and--Benji says, “I brought fireworks. Forgot about that til now.” Elaine, uh, Robin’s new fiancee, asked, “They legal?”

Benji said, “It’s New Year’s Day and I’m a--a bit of a town celebrity,” he said, because his podcast gets, like, seventeen downloads per episode.

“You are?” asked Elaine.

He got really proud, real fast, and he said, “Yes, absolutely, and also, I’m at some rich people’s house and it’s New Year’s Day, so, like. We’ll be fine.”

Which, fair.

And that’s about when things blew up?

Ironically, not literally, cuz he went to his truck, and brought out the fireworks, and he was--well. It was New Year’s, he wasn’t sober, so, he tripped, and those things went flying, landing in the water. It was a bad fall, he hit his head on a rock. And Charlotte was laughing, and she was wading right where the waves were breaking, and she fell backwards, so--AJ panicked, and he jumped in after her, cuz she wasn’t coming up.

And AJ came up, holding Char so she could stand, and she was coughing up water, looked like she was about to pass out. I was checking out Benji’s wound, even though, I’m, like,--blood? Not my thing, ever, at all, it’s--it’s weird and red, and Angie was getting up to check on me, and Rob and her fiancee were trying to help out the kids, and--

And the sky went bright purple.

Not, like, when it’s a sunset, and the sky’s kinda magenta? And that’s blending into the night-sky color, but--

Like, highest saturation on photoshop, highest brightness, makes-you-almost vomit cuz your eyes are burning, that bright purple.

And my skin, it felt like it was burning. I smelled salt, felt a breeze, and I tried to close my eyes, to breathe out, but I couldn’t.

And then there was nothing.

And then I woke up on the beach. I could smell salt, I was totally clear-headed--and Benji’s cut? It was gone.

My watch said it was around 4AM. My phone was dead, but--it was the first, still. The sun was rising, in--in normal sky colors.

And I woke up second. Elaine was already up.

She asked me if I saw it too.

I said I that did.

Neither of us needed to clarify what. But we did. Obviously. Because “it” could be, like, anything, like--could be that new reality show that everyone’s super into where eliminations are decided by arm wrestles--it’s, like--it’s got compelling storylines, I swear.

My phone died, Angie, so if you’re trying to communicate, I can’t help you.

Oh! Time’s passing normally now. That’s nice. That’s good.

The plan was to recount the past week’s events, as well as their psychological effect on us. That’s what we agreed on.

So. Time stopped for a little while today. That was weird. That’s important.

I guess--I’m first, so I should talk about my other big experience too.

I was the fourth of us to see something, after it all? It was the third. After work, I was walkin’ to Ramon’s? And as I passed the custard stand, I saw this woman.

She was shorter than me, uh, long sundress on that was way too summery for this weather, but she didn’t seem cold. I offered her my hoodie, cuz I at least had long sleeves, but she didn’t answer. Dark hair, big sunglasses. I’d wager maybe thirty.

She took off her sunglasses, yeah? And the sky flashed purple--the same purple, the same burning feeling all over me--

And then the same nothingness, same smell of salt, same breeze, but--

I was still standing. And we were in this space, this--this purple nothingness, no ground, no sky, no nothing, that’s a double negative, you get what I mean, and--I was still standing--more floating, which was--not as pleasant as you’d expect? But not unpleasant, either. And this woman, she looked at me,  dead in the eyes, and--

And she said--

[beat, uncomfortable]

What did she say?

[laughs]

It’s--it’s in my head, like. Tip of my tongue. I wrote it down, but it’s--it’s another individual letters making out a word I know but can’t--type situation.

But whatever.

What I’m most concerned about is my going to the beach. About the sticky notes. Like, that’s some sci-fi bullshit. Or some horror bullshit. Either or. Probably both.

Again, Truman Showed. Viable theory, here.

Or it has something to do with the Groundhog Day thing. Maybe.

I think what bothers me about this is how easy I’m accepting all this--that, like, I’m fairly sure all this is real. I know it’s--it’s weird. I know that this is sci-fi-esque, but, like--I never saw myself as a protagonist, or--any kind of tagonist, I guess, in those stories. But this--now, I think that I am.

So. Cool.

But why do I think that’s cool? I’m the--I’m the socially-stilted nerdy girl who either dies second or gets really good at guns, and I’m very afraid of guns.

So, therefore? I’m dying second.

Or, or or or, I’m Lois Lane. Charming and tough young journalist, swept off her feet by a charming stranger. Hopefully not a Superman, though, cuz--he’s not my thing. But. Yeah. I can deal with Lois.

I feel like I should know what happens next. Me or Benji, we gotta, we’re the ones who know genre like the backs of our hands. That’s why we’re friends, but--

This isn’t supposed to happen here. Like, I grew up here, and I’m--I wasn’t planning to stay here forever, obviously, but--This town, VB, it’s--it’s comforting in its boringness. Sure, it’s not-- the people here are always cycling in-and-out, cuz tourism and school, and all that, but--Violet Beach is a normal-ass town. We don’t have ghost stories, we don’t have cryptids, we--we don’t have lore, or whatever. I don’t think there’s ever been a murder here, for God’s sake.

Okay, well--the hippie school’s headmaster, uh, the rebrander guy, Andrew Corielli, or--his son’s the mayor, right?--Shot that grocer, like, in the sixties. But everyone was a serial killer back then, if I can trust every true crime show ever.

But--my point is. What’s going on is not what happens in this town. What’s going on is what goes on in, like, Roswell, or--or Twin Peaks, or something.

I’m--I don’t have much else to say. That’s a conclusion if there ever was one. So. Uh.

Okay. I’m signing off. Thanks, guys. Hope to see you soon.

[mirrorfae]

Aries’ Log

Sunday, First Day.  Sunrise.

The Windsinger and the Arcanist have begun battle.

A sea monster of Arcane has risen from the depths of Starwind Bay, apparently, and has broken up a peace treaty between two trading envoys.  I’m not sure if that’s what’s actually going on, but the cause doesn’t matter.  The air rings above us with the sound of arcane and wind clashing.  All the other clans in the Strand that we know have begun to send dragons to assist the effort, and Leo - our clan leader - thinks we should do the same.

I think this week will be a great time to practice documenting.  Arcane will win; we’ll take back Starwind Bay, I’m sure of it!  And this is the first time our clan has participated in something this huge, something the whole flight is in on.  This will change the way our clan works!

10 AM, First Day

Dragons have begun to leave the clan.

A lot of them went to run with the Mirror pack for a bit before leaving - they wanted to gain experience to better help Spacedad in battle.  The lair feels odd now.  It’s empty, with not so many wings and voices churning around.

Father - Sagittarius - laughed about it and told me he’s glad he won’t have to trap so many insects for all the clan’s Faes.  I suppose it would be difficult being the sole hunter of the clan while the Mirror pack is away.

But enough of that - Leo called a meeting earlier, telling everyone to work hard for the Arcanist.  We might be a small clan, but we can be powerful!  Zodiac and the pack have gone out to look for dragons they can train and send on their way to the Arcanist’s forces.  I’ll stay here, I think - I like my pens and ink, and I don’t know what I could do in battle.  Besides, I’m the historian of this clan.  They have no other writers.

Noon, First Day

All but one of my children have left.

I didn’t even know Requiem was going until he and Cetus were gone; Zodiac came to tell me.  And then Stanza came, and told me that she wanted to study her magic under the Arcanist himself, but at least she gave me a chance to say goodbye.

It’s bittersweet.  I know my children will be serving honorably, and will be remembered forever in my books, but right now, I’d much rather have them beside me.

Enough of that, though.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen Leo awake this late into the day.  She’s still her usual self, fluttering around and helping everyone as we rush to assist in the battle.  Even the hatchlings are pitching in, with looking around the Strand to try and find those stones that augment a dragon’s worth in battle.  The air in the clan is full of excitement!

5 PM, First Day

Zodiac and Leo are arguing.

My den is too high up, and they’re keeping their voices too low, for me to hear what they’re saying - not that I’d ever try to eavesdrop on an argument between mates.  I can get the gist, though.  Zodiac thinks Leo is overworking herself.  Leo is trying to convince him that she’s just doing what’s best for the clan.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of them this stressed.  Leo’s usually casual and forgetful, with her fans held in any position but this stiff anger.  And Zodiac’s tail is lashing, and his claws are out…. From my studies of Mirror body language so I can better write it, it seems he’s preparing for a fight.  So, he’s angry too?

They’re outside the wards of the clan, and night is falling, and they don’t show any signs of coming back inside before full dark.  They’ve been going at it for nearly an hour now.

I hope they aren’t divided.  Most dragons depend on Leo, and Leo depends on Zodiac.  If Zodiac is gone, then Leo will fall, and right now we need a strong leader.

Oh; someone else just stepped out from behind a tree!  It’s Cinder - that fire-touched dragon.  She’s trying to calm them down.  She’s a Skydancer, so I hope it works.

Sapphire, her Fae best friend, is perched on her shoulder.  Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cinder without Sapphire close by, or vice versa.  I wonder what’s going on with those two.  If they’re mates, I’m going to have to ask Mom to tell them what happens with secret relationships - she and Dad had me in one, and it was hell for me as a hatchling.

Okay, Leo and Zodiac look like they’ve calmed down.  Leo’s perched on Zodiac’s head and murmuring something to him.  Cinder seems satisfied, too.  I think it’s over.

Monday, Second Day.  Just after sunrise.

Leo called another meeting at sunrise.

She says that Zodiac and the Mirror pack will be off in Plague territory for the rest of the week.  There’s apparently a spot called the Mire where they can quickly and easily train any dragons that want to go help the Arcanist, and that a lot of other clans will be doing the same thing.  I think Zodiac called it ‘blitzing’, though he left before I could get a clarification.

Whatever the case, Leo seems more depressed now.  Her fans aren’t held as high as she zooms around the clan to help dragons, and she’s definitely stressed - it’s obvious, she’s even started getting a bit snappish.  That’s quite unusual for her.  I hope nothing bad comes of it.  Perhaps it wasn’t the best choice for Zodiac himself to leave right now.

Second Day, Noon

More dragons have left.  Even Frost, Sapphire’s best friend besides Cinder, is gone - and I still don’t see that dragon showing any emotion.  She’s practically like ice!  I swear her fans are frozen into position.   

Speaking of Cinder and Sapphire, their other friend is gone now.  Breeze, the wind coatl, couldn’t deal with all the dragons leaving - she says she’s going to go visit another clan until this week is over.  I like Breeze, but I don’t like Dahlia, Breeze’s best friend.  Dahlia seems sweet, but there’s something… odd about her, and it only intensifies when Breeze isn’t around.

Dahlia seems to know everything that goes on in this clan, now that I think about it. Sure, she seems sweet, and she’s apparently one of the Gladekeeper’s own favored, but I’d bet anything that I could easily reimagine her as a villain.  I’m scared to do it just in case I accidentally tap into the writing ley and make it true.  I hope Breeze gets back sooner than planned - I prefer her here, balancing Dahlia out.

But it’s okay, whatever.  Aquarius just came back from the trading post and she says Arcane is on top!

Second Day, 5 PM

Something’s very wrong - I can feel it.

Apodis and Virgo, the two most sensitive Skydancers, have retreated into their dens.  Orion just came by to ask if I felt any tension in the clan, and well, I do.

Our own exaltation efforts have been going well, but it’s like something has changed in the air.  Having no Mirrors around is really… odd.  It’s like we’re vulnerable, and I don’t mean to attacks from the outside.  Our wards protect us well enough from that.  By the Isles, even if some dragon managed to see through the enchantments and find our clan, Elesis and Raven would die defending us before anything happened - and a Blazing Heart and Veteran Commander are nothing to be trifled with.

No, that’s not why we’re vulnerable.  Having so few dragons in the clan proper is just weird.  Most of the dens are empty now.  There’s usually a hum of magic and discussion in the air, but right now there’s nothing, just silence undercut by the murmur of the creative ley line that I can tap into to bring my words to life.  I’m about ready to scream from the quiet.

Oh - Leo is calling a full clan meeting.  Her fans look droopy.  Is something wrong?  Does it have something to do with all this tension?

Second Day, 5.30 PM

My claws are shaking as I write this.

Leo has stepped down.

She gave up her position as clan leader.

Nobody really thought of her as our leader, but she was, I realize that now.  And guess who took her place?

Cinder.

Cinder, with Sapphire on her shoulder and Dahlia in the shadows behind her, stood up at the base of Leo’s normal announcement tree and told us that she’d be our new leader, and that she wanted to have our support.  She says Leo will still be around, just she’ll be the head of researching new magics and arcane studies.  Cinder will be running the clan from now on.

I know Leo’s been stressed the past two days, but is that really enough to make her do this?  Did Cinder do something to make her step down?  I don’t know much about Cinder; she’s relatively young, and I’ve been busy researching Aquarius and Orion’s past.

I didn’t see this coming at all.  Cinder says we’ll be continuing our exaltation efforts, and that if we have any concerns, we’re to bring them to her or Sapphire.  Sapphire said nothing throughout the entire address; she just stared at us all from her perch on Cinder’s headdress.  She’s so intense and cold that she’s almost scary.  I heard she’s Orion’s grandchild - honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised.  But Orion is at least friendly.  And Dahlia didn’t come out of the shadows the entire time.  It was actually really creepy how she just watched everyone.

This whole thing scares me.  Leo’s always been in charge of this clan.  She was the original founder, with Zodiac, for crying out loud!  Why now is she apparently unfit to lead?

I think I’m going to go talk to Pictoris and my mate Lyrae for a bit.  Perhaps if we discuss how this relates to themes in our fields - art for Pictoris, music for Lyrae - we can all calm down and have a rational conversation.  Right now, I don’t think I could unstick my fans from their position of fear if I tried.

Tuesday, Third Day.  Sunrise.

Today dawned bright and cold.  Usually, it’d be a talkative, cheerful morning, but I haven’t heard anything but the chirping of birds and the crackle of distant battle today.

Reports from the Mirror clan came in last night.  They’re helping around thirty dragons train every hour and sending them on their way.  Their speed hasn’t slowed even though half of their own number is gone, which is impressive.  We have Zodiac to thank for that.  According to Cassiopeia, he’s taken over more than half of the work, with Viole taking up the slack when he tires.

I wonder what would have happened if Zodiac had been here last night.  He’s so protective over Leo.  I don’t think he’d have let Cinder take over without a fight.

At this point, I almost wish he were here.  Cinder is meeting with Orion and Dahlia right now.  I’m really uneasy about that.  Orion, we all know, used to be an assassin - hell, he was sent to murder Aquarius when we first met him!  And Dahlia… with her shadowy ways and the way she seems to know everything, her and Orion is a dangerous combination.

Hopefully nothing will happen.  Hopefully.

Third Day, 11 AM

Orion and Aquarius have gone off to talk together, and Isa - Orion’s mate - is worried about him.  He seemed stressed after he got out of Cinder’s den, she says.  She’s curled in the corner of my den right now, trying not to let her runes explode from the worry she’s feeling.

I feel bad that I can’t do anything more to calm her, but only Orion’s proven able to do that.  And since he’s off with Aquarius….

You know, this might be a good time to try and find out more about their past.  When they flew past my den on their way into the Strand, they seemed to be referencing events and places I’ve never heard of.  “The Priestess,” Aquarius said - maybe that’s a Light thing?

I’m going to go shadow them.  I’ll see what happens.

Third Day, 4 PM

I just got back from shadowing them.  Flying through the upper branches of the Starwood Strand is hard, dammit, but what they said worries me.

They kept referencing this “Priestess”, though Orion called her something else.  Elvira, I think it was.  Whoever it is, they kept talking about her with disgust, and comparing Cinder to her.

Orion said that Cinder wanted to see if he’d be willing to ply his skills for her once in a while.  Apparently she didn’t say so in as many words, but that was the gist.  And he echoed my thoughts on Dahlia.  He thinks the sweetness is just an act, and that there’s much more to her than it seems.  She showed some of that during their meeting - reflexes that have no place in a sweet, tiny Nocturne, displayed when Orion tried to leave.

Aquarius is no less concerned.  She kept dipping her claws into her bag to bring out that pink ball of glass that she always carries.  Orion asked her why she didn’t just use it - for what, I wonder? - and then Aquarius glared at him and shoved it back down.

They also mentioned something else.  Mass exalts, and forced exaltation.  Why would anyone want to force a dragon to be exalted?  Exaltation is the highest honor a dragon can receive, after all - researching at the side of the Arcanist himself for eternity!  Even as I stay behind and worry about my clan, I feel guilty about not rushing to join the battle, though I know there’s not much I could do.

Forced exaltation, though.  Orion scoffed at it.  Aquarius challenged him, saying that she’d love to be wrong, but that Orion should look at Pavo, the one who tends the clan’s dimensional garden, for an example.  She thinks he and Dahlia are too close for Cinder’s comfort.  If something happens to him, she says, Orion will owe her a few sticks of Sacridite.

Betting over a dragon’s existence.  They seem oddly callous about this entire thing, now that I think of it.  Worrying about mass exalts and forced exaltation; I wonder what kind of clan they came from, and what sort of leader this Priestess Elvira was?

When Orion and Aquarius were turning back to the clan, though, Orion stared straight up at me.  His fans were tilted in amusement.  I think he knew I was there, though I don’t know why they’d let me tag along and listen.  Just to be sure, I swung around and collected some more beetles to crush into ink on my way back, so I had an excuse as to why I was out.

There’s no time to worry now.  Sapphire and Kizzy are taking inventory of our food supplies.  With Dad’s hunting skills, we should be good for the week, even with the Mirrors gone.

Third Day, Midnight.

Something’s up.

I was reading just now - found a new book called Venom, it’s lovely - when I heard low murmurs from the clan clearing below.  I peeked out the mouth of my den, and it seems like Cinder is talking to Dad and Pavo.  I don’t know why.

Didn’t Orion say something about Cinder wanting to get rid of Pavo?  Exaltation is the highest honor a dragon can receive.  Would Cinder twist that?

They just finished talking and Pavo and Dad are going out.  I want to believe they’re just getting more food - Pavo for plants, Dad for insects - but something tells me that’s not it.

Dad isn’t wearing his fillet.  Leo gave it to him when he first entered the clan - it’s basically his signature item.

I’m scared.

Wednesday, Fourth Day, 7 AM

Pavo and Dad have both left for the Arcanist.

They didn’t even say goodbye - Pavo to Dahlia, Dad to Mom.  They just left in the middle of the night.  Cinder called a meeting earlier when everyone was awake, to deliver the news and to say that we flipped Wind again in the middle of the night.  Right now, we’re the strongest Flight in Sornieth.

Normally, I’d love that, but now, it scares me.  Dad wouldn’t have left without at least telling Mom.  And Dahlia was nowhere to be seen, but I thought I felt the threads of her story ebbing from Pavo’s garden.  Will it become her garden now?

Cinder…. She seemed triumphant, almost.  Victorious.  I think that’s what a slowly lashing tail and head held high means for Skydancers, though I’m going to go ask Virgo later to make sure I’m right.  And I can’t even look to Sapphire for a mirror of Cinder’s emotions, because she’s as stiff as ever.

Something odd happened when Cinder was talking.  She paused for breath, and I could see it as her gaze shifted to Sapphire on her shoulder.  Sapphire’s fans flicked once, and then Cinder nodded and jumped down from the roots of the speaker’s tree.

Sapphire never seemed very threatening to me, but I’ll have to keep a closer eye on her. I think there’s more to that dragon than seems.  In a weird way, Cinder might just be the most honest out of that trio.

Fourth Day, Noon

Mom is distraught about Dad leaving.

I just spent the whole morning in the hoard with her, helping organize all the things we have left.  Cinder’s had us sell a lot of things to fund the conquest, it seems.

Mom wouldn’t stop moving the whole time I was there.  She wouldn’t talk about Dad, either.  Every time I tried to bring up the subject, her fans went flat back, so I just ended up dropping it.

She’s wearing his old fillet.  It looks strange on her, the jewel too big for her forehead, but she keeps wearing it.

I don’t think she’ll get over this anytime soon.  It makes me really mad at Cinder.  What could be the purpose of asking Dad to exalt himself?  Pavo, I can understand, with Orion’s reasoning about him being too close to Dahlia.  But Dad?  What did Dad ever do to her?

I hate how I’m writing about forced exaltation.  I hate this conquest push.  And I hate that Wind is on top again.

I’m going to go try and talk to Mom some more.

Fourth Day, 5 PM

Mom’s still being OCD and nervous.  But when I was helping her, I realized something.

Dad was the primary hunter of our clan.  Without him, only the Mirror pack will be bringing in food, and the Mirror pack are also the only ones who could reasonably challenge Cinder.

Does she mean to keep them busy providing food so they don’t have time to stick around and challenge her?  This doesn’t seem like something Cinder would come up with, though.  Perhaps it’s Sapphire’s idea - she’s asked for books on politics and strategy from my collection before.  If it is Sapphire’s idea, I have to wonder how much control she really has over Cinder’s actions.

Fourth Day, Sunset

Viole just came back to the clan with news. Zodiac and Pisces are still hard at work in the Mire training dragons who want to go to the Arcanist.  When they’re blitzing, they don’t record all the identification details of the dragons they train, but Viole thinks they’ve trained hundreds so far.  I hope it’s worth it.

Thursday, Fifth Day.  Sunrise.

Cinder just posted the new clan divisions.

The Mirror pack will remain as it is, though severely weakened since so many have gone to serve the Arcanist.  What used to be the clan proper is going to stay in the same place, but we’ll be divided into “administrators” and “researchers”.

I’m in the researcher category, with my writing.  So I’ll still be technically under Leo, thank the eleven.  Orion somehow fell into the administrative ranks - I don’t know why, but it worries me, especially with the meeting among him, Dahlia, and Cinder.

At least nobody was left out.  Mom was given the choice of studying her light runes under Leo or continuing to manage the hoard, and she’s chosen the latter.  I hope she doesn’t hole herself up down there.

Pictoris wants to chat - she’s worried.  Cinder told us that Aquarius will be taking the surplus of what the clan creates in order to sell it.  It’s not a bad idea, but it’s a decision that should be made by us, not by a leader.

I’m going to go fly with Pictoris now.

Fifth Day, Noon

Pictoris and I met Raven and Elesis while we were outside the clan.  They’re both concerned about what’s happening.  They’re not really in either part of the clan, so they don’t have a fear of Cinder, but Elesis trained Cinder to use her fire magic.  She says she hopes Cinder doesn’t start abusing her powers.

Raven seemed unsurprised, which I found really sad.  He says that’s just the way of ambition and the fate of the ambitious.  I wonder what experiences he’s had with ambition in the past, to be so fatalistic about it?

Heh, fate-alistic.  I’m going to have to remember that pun for later.  Wind is still on top of dom.

Fifth Day, Sunset

An ink blotch mars the page.  Aries’ writing begins again below it.

Ach, I spilled my ink bottle on this paper.  I have a good reason, though - my claws are shaking again as I write this.

Just as I sat down to document what happened this afternoon, Dahlia poked her head into my den and asked if she could return a book.  And then she asked what I was working on.

I’ve said before - that dragon knows everything.  It was weird that she didn’t know my newest project, but then again, I’ve not really told anyone.  So I told her I was working on documenting the events of this week.

And then Dahlia told me that Sapphire would like to see it when I’m done.

That’s when I spilled my ink.

Sapphire, not Cinder.  Especially with my recent observations about Sapphire, that seems weird.  More importantly, I’ve written down every little suspicion I’ve had about out new leaders in this manuscript.  If they don’t like what I’ve written, I have no doubt that I could be serving the Arcanist next.

A noble calling, yes.  But it’s not my calling - not now, not yet!

I’m going to rewrite this.  I’ll write it to be censored, take out all the suspicions and only write the good.  Perhaps if I tap into the creative ley and let the words flow through my quill, it’ll even come true, and all my suspicions will be invalid.

Friday, Sixth Day.  Noon.

I’ve nearly finished the other manuscript.  I’m only returning to this one to note down that Aquarius and Orion flew out for another chat earlier this morning.  They just returned, and there’s some strange laughter around Aquarius - I can’t tell where it’s coming from.  Maybe that wisp of mist that’s always floating about her wings?

Orion doesn’t look happy.  But he just dipped into his and Isa’s den, probably to calm his mate, so I’ll return to my rewrite.

Sixth Day, Sunset

The rewrite is done.  I’m going to ask Pictoris to embellish the sides with art before I submit it to Cinder, and of course, there’s still a day left of this week-long battle.  But I don’t think there’ll be much left to tell.

Cinder has taken complete control of the clan, with Sapphire on her shoulder.  Dahlia has taken up residency in Pavo’s old garden, and it looks like she still knows everything that goes on in and around this clan, so I’ll have to be careful with this manuscript just in case she finds out about it.

Breeze came back today, too.  She just came out of Dahlia’s den - it sounds like she’s going to be the new ambassador of the clan.  I thought Castar had that job, but apparently she’s only going to focus on her ley line research now.

The clan has completely changed.  I don’t think I like it.

Zodiac should be coming back tomorrow - last he knew, Leo was still the stressed leader.  I wonder what he’ll think?

Saturday, Seventh Day.  9 AM.

Sunrise brought the Mirrors back to the lair.

I was woken up by a furious snarl.  I scrambled to the edge of my den and looked out - lit by the rising sun and the light from the shimmering trees, Cinder was backed up to the base of the speaker’s tree, the light glimmering off her white scales and being swallowed by her black runes.  Zodiac was in the process of leaping at her with his claws outstretched until Scorpio and Pisces moved to restrain him.

He snarled at her - sounding furious, demanding to know how she dared call herself the clan leader in Leo’s place, wondering what she’d done with his mate.  Cinder seemed to be trying to calm him down, but Sapphire wasn’t helping her case - perched on a branch, icy mist flowing around her claws, just waiting for Zodiac to make a wrong move.  I don’t know if Zodiac saw that, but Pisces and I certainly did.

Pisces is just as skilled as Zodiac.  I thought for sure she’d try and kill Sapphire.  But then Leo came out of her den.

Zodiac looked relieved, honestly - gaze darting over to her and back to Cinder, not trusting Cinder but wanting to check over his mate.  Leo alighted on his head.

I’m really too high up to hear any conversations that aren’t loud enough for the Arcanist himself to hear.  Perhaps I should spin another den lower down on this tree.  But from the looks of it, Leo was explaining what had happened and the new structure of the clan.  Cinder let her speak without interruption - smart dragon, I’ve never seen anyone but Leo be able to calm Zodiac.

Eventually, Zodiac growled an order, and Scorpio and Pisces stepped away from him.  Zodiac whipped around, gently bit on one of Leo’s piercings to take her with him, and escaped into the Strand.

They haven’t come back yet.  I hope they’re okay, but while I’m brave enough to follow Orion and Aquarius, I don’t dare follow Zodiac and Leo.

Seventh Day, Noon

They’re back.

Zodiac came in with Leo perched on his head again.  He looked calm, but I saw his tailtip twitch when he saw Cinder still.

It seems I was right about Cinder’s motivations for asking Dad to journey to the Arcanist.  They had a talk under my tree, just within earshot, and Cinder told Zodiac that his pack will need to spend more time being focused on hunting.  Zodiac tried to say that his pack is depleted after the battle, and they all need to rest and regain their numbers, but Cinder wouldn’t have any of it.  “The clan still needs feeding”, apparently.

Well, most dragons in this clan can hunt for their own food, and Pavo’s garden - which Dahlia now inhabits - is supposed to grow most of our plants anyways.  Cinder’s excuses seemed like just that - excuses.  And Zodiac didn’t seem happy about it either.  I swear he was just about to rip out Cinder’s throat by the end.

If he did, I don’t know what I’d feel.

Seventh Day, Sunset

The battle is over, and Wind has won.  The bay is now called Windstar Bay.

Whatever.  I’m still going to call it Starwind, though maybe not when I’m writing.

More importantly, the rewritten manuscript has been handed off to Pictoris for decoration.  Willow is already starting on creating a case for it, and then we’ll give it to Cinder.  An example of all our work, if you will.

I don’t know what I’m going to do with this copy.  I heard that down in the Southern Icefields, there’s a Fae who’s creating a giant library where all books are accepted and safe.

I think I’ll travel down there and take this manuscript in secret.  I’ll leave it with her to defend - Cinder hates snow and ice, and even if Dahlia finds out about this and Sapphire makes the trip, a Fae can easily repel another Fae, right?

Hopefully the information contained here will prevent another clan from the same fate.

If you’re reading this because you’re curious, then there you have it - now you know the true story behind the leadership change of Starflame Clan.  Sure, it runs smoothly, but at what cost?

And if you’re reading this because you think your clan might be going through the same change, or because your clan already has and you want to find a way to reverse it, I’m not sure I can help you.  Prop up your leader even if they’re not the best - even if they’re forgetful like Leo, or hot-tempered like Zodiac - because if another one comes along, even if they lead the clan well, you don’t always know at what cost the new prosperity will come.

My name is Aries, and I come from Starflame Clan.  My clan and I will survive, but sometimes late at night, I wish we hadn’t.