#grass hopper mouse

[christiangrest]

Product Spotlight: B&T GHM9C w/JMAC Skeleton Stock

I have had this little pistol caliber carbine (PCC) or subgun whichever is the preferred terminology these days, for a couple of years now. I picked this up from Brownells and it’s been one heck of a nice package overall. The Swiss truly know how to manufacture nice things and especially true in the firearm realm. Last year I paid the tax and got the approval from big brother to add a stock assembly. I’ve ran 2 different style stocks on this short barreled rifle or SBR, both of which are from JMAC Customs.

The initial stock assembly that I chose to run was one of the skeleton triangle stocks from JMAC Custom. This stock works very well on this Grass Hopper Mouse (GHM) when it’s in it’s extended form. What I was finding however is that in it’s folded form,  it was a bit harder to access the grip with the lower portion of the triangle stock somewhat in the way. I absolutely love the triangle style folding strock assembly, but it would appear to be better in both function and aesthetics on the AK platform, which I also run one of these on. So I was looking at what other JMAC custom stocks I could try and use instead. Their basic skeleton stock seemed like it would be a perfect candidate to pick up and replace the triangle stock with. I decided to pick one up and definitely glad that I did. The lines on this stock seem to work very well with the B&T GHM9C and an added bonus is that I have a little better access to the pistol grip to fire while the stock itself is folded.

Now for the folding mechanism I am using the 1913 rail type folding mechanism that JMAC Customs makes. These are very nice as they allow you to attach one of their various stock assemblies to any firearm that has a 1913 rail section on the rear of the receiver. One thing to note regarding the 1913 folding mechanism is that it’s pretty tight. You have to lift up on the stock in order to fold the stock and it’s definitely on the stuff side. This might seem like it’s too stiff, but trust me, this is a good thing because there’s literally no way to fold the stock un-intentionally. I did add some oil to the folding mechanism pin to help it loosen up and it may loosen up some over time and use. Cheek weld on the stock with the gen2 PA Cyclops optic is also perfect for my build and stature. The stock also has QD attachment points at the rear as well as closer to the receiver. Holes on the top allow for additional cheek risers if needed. This is the stock that B&T should offer as an accessory in my opinion.

Final thoughts…if you’re looking for a stock for your PCC definitely take a look at the skeleton stocks made by JMAC Customs. You can find them over at Brownells and of course the JMAC customs website.

[tribbetherium]

The Early Rodentocene: 5 million years post-establishment

Doomed If You Don't: Remnant Lineages of the Early Rodentocene

In the race to evolve and diversify at the dawn of the Rodentocene, about twenty or so subspecies of Cricetulus griseus emerged as early as 1 million years post-establishment, all in turn radiating into available ecological niches still vacant. Unfortunately for some, certain lineages would come out on top, with advantageous traits or adaptations to thrive in different habitats, and with everyone vying for niches, some, in the end, would be outcompeted and eventually disappear.

As of 5 million years post-establishment, only eight of the original twenty-plus subspecies still have living descendants, the rest lost to time, having lost the race and being unable to secure a niche to thrive in before they were outcompeted into extinction. And while four of the remaining eight subspecies are diversifying with great success, and in hindsight have a bright future ahead of them, the other four are less so: enduring merely by momentary fortune and surviving for now, but will ultimately be short-lived experiments in the evolutionary tree.

C. griseus musculus, a long-tailed mouse-like subspecies, would survive as its burrow-digging omnivorous descendants, one of which is the evening squeaker (Murocricetus lutosucauda), a nocturnal seed-eater that lives out in open grassland, foraging for food throughout the night and hoarding seeds to take back to its burrow. Its thick fat tail serving both as a balance and a semi-prehensile grasping limb, it climbs precariously up grass stems to harvest its seeds growing atop tall stalks. While currently secure in its current niche, this clade would eventually decline with the success of the jerma's descendants, the furbils and the jerryboas. Both faster and more agile, and occupying the same territories, and competing for the same resources, the furbils and jerryboas would be able to collect larger quantities of food more efficiently and more quickly before the evening squeakers could get to them. And while the evening squeaker would hold out in small corners in the vast grasslands of the continents, it would eventually die off as its small range and small species count left it more vulnerable to localized extinctions, all too common in the hectic ecosystem of a newly-seeded planet.

C. griseus macrotia and its descendants like the big-eared dustbun (Macrotiacricetus magni) would fare somewhat beter, its large ears and long legs enabling it to thrive in deserts and arid equatorial savannahs by shedding more heat and being able to cool off in the sweltering hot afternoons, taking over a biome mostly inaccessible to other hamsters. It became a nimble hopper, leaping on its back legs to reduce its contact with the hot ground. But, in time, it too would fall victim to the spread of the jerryboas, also hoppers but far more flexible and agile. When the desert-dwelling jerryboas that overlapped its territory also evolved large ears as heat sinks, its primary advantage was lost, and it now was left behind by those occupying its same niche but better at it. As the desert jerryboas in time began splitting into multiple species, the dustbun was pushed ever closer to the brink by an increase of competitors, and, in periods of unpredictable droughts, the reduced resources were better-exploited by the jerryboas, ultimately spelling the end of the dustbuns with their smaller populations, fewer species, and lower resistance to sudden ecological changes.

C. griseus giganteus, as its name implies, grew larger than other subspecies at the time and would eventually settle on a form somewhat larger than the typical hamster, becoming a guinea pig-like herbivore, with one species, the goliath broadhead (Gigacricetus gigantis) developing a large, blocky head structure with powerful teeth and jaw muscles to feed on tougher plants. Such harder-to-eat vegetation was scarce in the Early Rodentocene, as the gouties had not yet evolved to push the local flora into defensive diversity, and so the broadhead was content for some time in its small but stable niche, feeding on the sparse fibrous grasses other hamsters could not eat. But the coming of the gouties' descendants the hamtelopes and the cavybaras would bring about an unfortunate irony, as, with their grazing pressure came at first an increase in tougher plants, which proved initially beneficial to the broadheads, but later would prove a bane too as the cavybaras and hamtelopes then became better adapted to to eating the increasingly hardier plants--including the original grasses the broadheads had specialized to eat. This early woody grass would go extinct, and the broadheads and kin would soon follow, making vain attempts to specialize on other grasses but ones already in high demand from the new grazers, and would entirely be replaced by smaller relatives of cavybaras known as cavilets by the time the Middle Rodentocene came about.

And last of these would be C. griseus mirabilis, which included members such as the piebald patchling (Mirabilicricetus varicolor). This lineage was a holdover from the earliest diversification of random mutations, one of which, piebaldism, spread among the populations with no negative consequences in the earliest days. In the earliest days less than one million years PE, a wide range of sporadic mutant traits emerged, like colors, markings, size, shapes, ear sizes, tail lengths and more. Of these, some traits persisted since there was no negative consequence for them. The piebald patchling was one of them, standing out with its unique coloration of black, red, white and yellow markings that randomly blotched each individual like a fingerprint. But then, predators began to evolve, and the striking patterns of the C. griseus mirabilis lineage now became a liability rather than a benign trait. Easily seen with its lack of camouflage, and devoid of any other survival characteristics, the piebald patchling would become easy prey for the keen-eyed hammibals and be eventually hunted to extinction. Its slightly more cryptically-colored cousin, the black-pawed dendend, would persist for somewhat longer and be remarkable as the last surviving species not from any of the four main clades, but it, too, will eventually go extinct without leaving any descendants.

While the four main clades would go on to flourish and bring forth incredible and untold biodiversity, these species would, in the end, just be short-lived experimental branches that would be relegated to the evolutionary dustbin of the fossil record. In the race to occupy new territory, new food, and new niches, some species diversified earlier and gained the upper hand. Those slower to the take would hold on in niches for some time, but, in the ever-changing and fickle kaleidoscope of adaptive radiation in the Early Rodentocene, would either be pushed out by someone else better at the niche or prove unable to cope with sudden changes in the environment. Ultimately, it is the ability to change that determines a species' and lineage's longevity: a trend that will continue to be apparent as countless species emerge, diversify, decline and disappear throughout the eras to come.

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

[pukner]

Can I ask you a kinda weird question? What do you think steddie and the party would be as a supernatural creatures? My headcanon is Vampire Eddie and Succubus Steve, but I'm open to discussion. 😁

hello this is a FANTASTIC question

I love the idea of a succubus Steve, but also like? Siren Steve? This might explain his affinity for water, maybe he basks in his pool a lot and unfortunately that becomes extremely cursed for him Post Barb. He's the son of two beautiful, supernaturally charming people who learned how to show people exactly what they want, become exactly what they want. Steve is pretty and handsome and terrible and sweet and exactly what you expect from him, right up until he isn't.

I like the idea of a werewolf Robin, and also Max. Robin's larger and ganglier, and spends the full moon curled around Steve and growling at anyone who gets close. Max is a puppy, and a grumbly one, and Lucas ends up with a very determined guard dog. Robin also gets bizzarely territorial over Steve's house, for someone who doesn't live there. Her whole family scent Steve constantly, and he's thrilled about the extra cuddles.

I like the idea of Lucas and Erica being from magical heritage, old school witches who go very different with their practices. Lucas does very practical magic; makes little charms for his friends, for protection and strength and peace. Erica leans more towards big enchantments; she's real pissed about Steve's natural charisma.

Dustin is a very human person, who can and WILL science his way into magic.

Nancy and Mike, I waffle on. Maybe fae-blooded? Diluted enough that they can dwell here, won't get hunted down by either court. But still fae enough that Nancy has an almost pathological need to get to the truth, that she won't stand for illusions, that she chafes against Steve and his automatic charisma and the lies he lures people in with, almost thoughtlessly. She and Mike are deadly territorial over their kin, over those they've decided are theirs. Losing Barb made her absolutely inconsolable. Mike is much the same. They get it from Karen, who got it from her mother, who got it from hers. Ted Wheeler is an extremely mundane dude.

Will is a shapeshifter, all the Byers are. He likes to be small, unassuming animals, and so does Jonathan. Turns into a mouse or a grass snake and hides in his brother's pocket, up his mom's sleeve.

Eddie is a son of a vampire, came into his bloody heritage honestly. Wayne, his uncle on his mothers' side, is extremely human and had to learn real fast how to raise a bloodthirsty kid. He has raw steak in the freezer and teaches his kid how to hunt. He also has bloodpops in the freezer for summer days when Eddie gets lethargic and whiny.

He absolutely develops a weird obsession with Steve Harrington And His Summer-Sunshine-Salty Blood. Robin Buckley tries to eat him about it one time when he leans in too close for a sniff one day at Scoops.

Hopper is extremely human and extremely done with the supernatural side of things on this goddamn town.

El was human, once. They don't know what she is. She smells wrong, to most of them. Reads weird to their magic, to others. They love her anyway.

[abugeatbugworld]

Hello buggy friends! It has been a minute and for that I'm sorry — life is crazy these days, and I haven't been able to keep up with this blog nearly as much as I would like to.

But even though I haven't been posting here much lately, I haven't forgotten about the A Bug's Life fandom entirely! In fact, as a way to keep myself sane amidst the real life chaos at the moment (good chaos but still chaos), I've started a whole new story.

It's different from my usual stuff, which tends to stick pretty closely to the canon, as it takes place in the future and includes some original characters. I know OCs aren't everyone's speed — I tend to be skeptical of them myself — but I hope you'll consider at least giving it a chance, because I'm pretty excited about this story :)

I've included a little teaser below, and if you're interested you can click the link above or below to continue reading.

Thanks for being part of this tiny but mighty community!

with love, Mouse

P.S. Thank you to my friend @theowlgoesmoo for being a big encourager and beta reader of this story! ❤

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lost and Found

Prologue

It’s been four seasons since Ant Island was set free from Hopper’s tyrannical reign. 

Atta and Flik are happily married. Their small wedding ceremony was attended only by the Queen, Princess Dot, the Royal Council, and the circus bugs. It was an evening filled with music, dancing, and — for the first time any of the participants could remember — an abundance of food.

Tragically, a few weeks after this joyous occasion, the Queen fell ill and passed away. The throne was left to her eldest daughter, who inherited the role with grace and dignity amidst her deep sorrow. Although the royal family continues to grieve the death of their matriarch, the colony as a whole is enjoying a time of peace and prosperity.

Flik’s technological advancements have gained widespread fame, catching the attention of nearby colonies as well as other insect communities. Under the supervision of Queen Atta and the Council, the new prince consort partnered with the island’s Head of Engineering, Thorny, to build a larger workshop, hire over fifty employees, and set up a trade system with neighboring kingdoms. Flik also recruited Dot as his honorary lab assistant — a decision made partly because he saw the antling’s budding brilliance, and partly because he knew she needed a healthy distraction from the sudden loss of her mother.

After spending some time as traveling performers, the circus troupe made the decision to set up a permanent attraction on Ant Island. Their circus has drawn visitors from all over the Bug Realm, which has only served to increase the island’s growing wealth and prominence. After years of enslavement and oppression at the hands of bigger bugs, the residents of Ant Island can finally draw a breath and relish in the fruits of their labor.

What the colony doesn’t know, however, is that elsewhere — in an anthill not unlike their own — trouble is brewing.

Flik has a rival, an ant who is like him in every way…except for one very important difference.

His heart.

Chapter One

“Wait up, Aphie!”

Dot giggled as she pushed through the blades of grass in her path. A few inches ahead of her, her pet aphid zipped easily around their bases, his stubby legs carrying him much faster than seemed possible.

The two of them often played this game of chase in the early mornings, before most of the colony (with the exception of Flik, who preferred working at night and sleeping most of the day) awoke. It was Dot’s time to bask in the crisp island air before Princess — no, Queen Atta — forced her to sit in a stuffy room with Doctor Cornelius and learn about things that royal ants were supposed to know.

She knew her private tutoring sessions were just part of the deal as a daughter of the former queen, but she missed being surrounded by her friends in Mister Soil’s classroom. She missed having endless time to go outside and play or visit Flik in his workshop. She missed not having to wear an itchy crown all the time.

She missed her mom.

Dot felt a spasm of grief wrack her chest and immediately pushed it down, as far down as it could go. Her therapist, Miss Gypsy, wouldn’t be happy with her (“You need to feel your feelings, dear”), but she didn’t care.

It was a beautiful summer day, and the last thing she wanted to think about was her dead mother.

Aphie was out of sight now. Dot slowed, panting, and brushed a bead of sweat from her forehead. If she flew she could keep pace with the little bug, but it felt nice to use her legs once in a while.

“What are you doing so far from the anthill, little one?”

Continued here

[dayseyemay]

The fallen mountain and it's little Regent: a short reading inspired by the TTRPG Wanderhome

From atop the bristling pines that now cover the once active mountain city of wedgeton, little J mouse looks out apon the vast expanse that is the Hæthland.

off to the east the salt flats of bea are drying out in the morning sun, as the greatful tide pulls away the ocean responsible for its rich mineral deposits.

in the west J mouse could still see the dancing twin moons, just about to set, behind canyons cut deep into the ground. She didn't have a name for them yet, but thought to ask her older sibling G if they had known once.

Now looking down the mountain, past the ruins of old wege, that spread out from when the city crashed, J saw the longing meadow. Her meadow, she thought. It was the first place she named after all. The tall grasses swayed and called to her as if they once knew her name too. From the hiden perch J could not see the figures in the meadow, but she knew the bumbles and hoppers were flitting about gathering their pollen and sweeping up the wind.

- and she knows: knows that they are not hers, that the land is not hers and never could be. She knows that despite what the stories say, the land was never even the claim of the once floating mountains' king; because land itself can not truly be owned. But from up here, where she is all alone... it's fun pretending to be someone else.

letting out a sigh filled with the dreams of a romanticized journey and the longing for a place of her own, J packed up her book of poems, climbed down the tree and made her way home to help the rest of her siblings prepare for the day.

[alphamamalioness]

Hi Alpha Mama! I would like to announce to you it’s been officially over 2 years and a week from this day since I’ve adopted Asher and was Gifted Dancer! So I’m doing a nice big update on all my Alpha Tales to celebrate! 💛💛💛💛💛💛Asher(Beta G) and Pumkin have of course had their children! 2 Girls and a Boy, Valencia Lottia and Barrister! All coffee themed names lol! 💛Dancer(Paris) has grown so much and has joined a pack I like to call ‘The Herd’ and has made great friends with my Overtale Frisk(Spring) and Chara(Clover) he still enjoys visiting Asher a lot and the babies! 💛Poppy, Dahlia, and Peony have been enjoying the gardens and surprisingly have been attempting to hunt down a few things when they get to visit my shop- luckily they aren’t hunting bitties- I would much rather them have a grass hopper or a mouse then a bitty! Though I check them each time after I find they catch something- 💛Tsu’tey (Alpha OS) has settled and taken in Avi (Tilli NCG) as well as Api and Dutch(Dreamy’s Asgor) and their little ones as well as Chai(Milk Beta) Lullaby(Gentle Singing) Sleepy Wave(Great Stretch) and LazyTide(Great Bite) 💛 Ralu(Alpha P.) has settled in with Darling(BloodMoon) Amy(Omega OS) Atticus (Akita Boy) Miy(Dreamy) and Ati(Tilli) and a Skribbity has shown interest but I don’t know if they will attempt to join or just make friends- 💛 Valor (Alpha Sans) has actually taken great interest in LavaCake!(Helly) which I find interesting but he has also settled down with Mocha and Puddin (Omega P and S) so far he has been very gentle and careful with them which is really nice since I had a bit of worry since he’s more ‘rough’ if I remember correctly- 💛Rex(MK) has been wandering the territory with Prancer(Asriel) and both have been mostly enjoying their time together! 💛 Princess(BabyO OS) and Echidna are very happy! She keeps her mama nice and distracted from the others! Spressar(Gem) and Ribbon have been mostly doing their own things enjoying their own territories, though I feel like they could use a bit more interactive moments with the others- but I won’t push them- when their ready they will be ready- 💛 I am very pleased to say Piri (Pepper) as officially gotten with Malin!(Milkyway) they have been courting each other for a bit and it’s really freaking sweet!!! 💛 Tahitian has been wandering a bit as well but she mostly likes to stick to Aaron(Care Taker) who has been helping her get around a bit! She has been very open just like the many others with her! And has quickly started up friendships with many of Aaron’s little hitch hikers who like to follow us around or use us for a ride when lazy ^^’ that should be all of them-! It’s been an amazing time!

AlphaMama: Ohhhh that's really awesome! Thank you so much for giving me this update! I love to know how my bitties are doing around the world and their new lives!

💛Asher and Pumpkin are doing really amazing! The coffee touch is adorable! XD I'm glad Dancer have found their place among all of them! He is a brilliant one!

💛Poppy, Dahlia, and Peony are cute but can get really sneak ones when it comes to hunting, attention is really needed! I could recommend a little more variation of bugs for them to catch, like cockroaches for more fat nutrients, grubs are good too!

💛Tsu’tey (Alpha OS) can be a stubborn one sometimes, but has a really big heart~! ^w^ This is great!

💛That's a good size of the pack for Ralu(Alpha P.) to settle in, in general, they can get pretty violent and snap a lot, but with patience, they can become friendly enough to don't bite off any piece of the others ^w^ The Skribbity probably will come with a decision in a few days of searching around the packs.

💛Valor (Alpha Sans) can be really tiny but his bite is fierce for sure, but you can rest at ease, it's almost beyond a crime/taboo for an alpha (on my alphatale) to hurt omegas, and Alpha-Sans are really polite on this matter on regular cases.

💛💛It's so good to hear they are doing so well! >W< and of course, give time to the time and the things will be going on their own pace... You're truly amazing and very kind to give me this update!! I hope all things keep going for the best and more lovely days/nights to come for you and all the little ones! 💛💛

[rainworldtournament]

Starting Matchups!

The starting matches have been decided! The creatures are ready to be pitted against each other in the brutal arena of Tumblr Polls!

The first set of polls will be up... Soon.

Here are the Round 1 Matchups: (It's long)

A1: Grass Hopper | Red Worm Grass

B1: Fly | Red Swarmer

C1: Neuron Fly | Grappling Worm

D1: Hazer | Pink Lizard

E1: Brother Long Legs | Vulture Grub

F1: Moth | Jellyfish

G1: Daddy Long Legs | Spitter Spider

H1: Squidcada | Slugpup

I1: Beetle | Red Centipede

J1: Sea Leech | NPC Slugcat

K1: Overseer | Ant

L1: Guardian | Inspector

M1: Cyan Lizard | Red Lizard

N1: Jungle Leech | Blue Lizard

O1: Miros Bird | Pole Plant

P1: Fire Fly | Yellow Lizard

Q1: Young Centipede | Lantern Mouse

R1: Eggbug | Giant Jellyfish

S1: Scavenger | Snail

T1: Wasp | Yeek

U1: Strawberry Lizard | Batfly

V1: Centiwing | Mother Spider

W1: Jetfish | Infant Centipede

X1: Black Worm Grass | Salamander

Y1: Caramel Lizard | Aquapede

Z1: Stowaway | Garbage Worm

A2: Rock Flea | Coalescipede

B2: Big Spider | Red Leech

C2: Monster Kelp | Miros Vulture

D2: Black Lizard | Tiny Dragonfly

E2: White Lizard | King Vulture

F2: Adult Centipede | Firebug

G2: Dropwig | Mother Long Legs

H2: Water Glow-Worm | Infant Noodlefly

I2: Rain Deer | Green Lizard

J2: Elite Scavenger | Infant Centiwing

K2: Vulture | Leviathan

L2: Eel Lizard | Noodlefly

[yokomation-blog]

WARNING NOT MY BEST ART!

Yoko and the Grasshopper mouse

Adiane : You can´t Defeat Me Foolish human im way more powerful then you can ever be and you just got.

"Yoko Littner Reveals She found a Grasshopper mouse"

Yoko Littner : Hey i found this Grasshopper mouse today, ain´t he Cute.

Grasshopper mouse : GRRRR

Adiane : OH MY FUCKING GOD YOKO! KEEP THAT LITTLE THING AWAY FROM ME, THAT´S A GRASSHOPPER MOUSE, I KNOW THE LITTLE DEMON WHEN I SEE IT, I SEE THEM IN MY NIGHTMARES EVERY NIGHT GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME AHHHH

"Adiane runs off in Fear"

Yoko Littner : oh yeah i almost forgot grass hopper mice eat Scorpions

[indagold-orchid]

Fight the giant rat against the giant grass hopper mouse and see who comes out on top in

🔥🔥🔥Fantasy Rodent Wrestling🔥🔥🔥

I know people don’t like fantasy animal nitpicking but why give a rat sharp canine teeth to make them scary when a rat the size of a human would probably have a bite force 2-3 times more powerful than an alligator.

[gendieanonsideblog]

Raccoon otherkin pronouns

Demon otherkin pronouns

hey hey !! here are your pronouns !! :D cw for mentions of re__gious themes [ li ] , anti chris___nity [ tia ] , de__l [ vi ] , sa__n [ ta ] d__th [ ea ] and other related to these !! stay safe !! <33 /p

raccoon related neos !! 

rac / oon / racs / oons / raccoonself rac / raccoo / raccon / racoons / racoonself tra / tras / trash / trashs / trashself trash / can / trashes / cans / trashcanself tra / trash / trashcan / trashcans / trashcanself ban / dit / bans / dits / banditself ban / bandi / bandit / bandits / banditself ma / sk / mas / sks / maskself ma / mas / mask / masks / maskself da / rk / das / rks / darkself da / dar / dark / darks / darkself cl / aw / cls / aws / clawself cl / cla / claw / claws / clawself proc / yon / procs / yon / procyonself pro / procy / procyon / procyons / procyonself nur / sury / nurs / surys / nurseryself nur / nurser / nusery / nurseys / nuseryself str / ipe / strs / ipes / stripeself stri / strip / stripe / stripes / stripeself ma / rk / mas / rks / markself ma / mar / mark / marks / markself pa / tch / pas / tchs / patchself pat / ch / pats / chs / patchself pa / pat / patch / patchs / patchself woo / wood / woods / woods / woodself ci / ty / cis / tys / cityself ci / citi / city / cities / cityself alley / way / alleys / ways / alleywayself alley / alleywa / allwayway / allwayways / allwaywayself om / omn / omni / omnis / omniself grass / hopper / grasses / hoppers / grasshopperself sca / vage / scas / vages / scavageself sca / scava / scavage / scavages / scavageself hu / nt / hus / nts / huntself hu / hun / hunt / hunts / huntself nu / nut / nuts / nuts / nutself ber / ry / bers / rys / berryself be / ber / berry / berryself be / berr / berrie / berries / berrieself mou / se / mous / ses / mouseself mi / ce / mis / ces / miceself mou / mous / mouse / mouseself mi / mic / mice / mices / miceself squi / rrel / squis / rrels / squirrelself squi / squir / squirrel / squirrels / squirrelself noct / urnal / nocts / urnals / nocturnalself noct / noctur / nocturnal / nocturnalself no / noc / noct / nocts / noctself no / ir / nos / irs / noirself bla / anc / blas / ancs / blancself bla / blan / blanc / blancs / blancself ni / ghts / nis / ghts / nightself ni / nigh / night / nights / nightself oppor / tunity / oppors / tunitys / opportunityself oppor / opportuni / opportunity / opportunityself pa / paw / paws / paws / pawself wi / ld / wis / lds / wildself wi / wil / wild / wilds / wildself nim / ble / nims / bles / nimbleself nim / nimbl / nimble / nimbles / nimbleself soli / tary / solis / tarys / solitaryself soli / solita / solitary / solitarys / solitaryself ring / tail / rings / tails / ringtailself hi / hiss / hisses / hisses / hisself bu / shy / bus / shys / bushyself bu / bush / bushy / bushys / bushyself nuv / nurm / nuvr / nuvrs / nuvself or nuvmself xeo / xeom / xeor / xeors / xeoself or xeomself sne / snea / sneak / sneaks / sneakself lo / log / logs / logs / logself ba / rk / bas / rks / barkself ro / ver / ros / vers / roverself ro / rov / rover / rovers / roverself cli / ck / clis / cks / clickself cli / clic / click / clicks / clickself styx / styxm / styxr / styxrs / styxself or styxmself vigo / rous / vigos / rouses / vigorouself vigor / vigoro / vigorous / vigorous / vigorouself hi / hid / hide / hides / hideself sha / dow / shas / dows / shadowself scur / ry / scurs / rys / scurryself scu / scur / scurry / scurrys / scurryself

😈 / 😈 / 😈s / 😈s / 😈s 🐱‍ / 🐱‍ / 🐱‍s / 🐱‍s / 🐱‍self 👤 / 👤 / 👤s / 👤s / 👤self 🦝 / 🦝 / 🦝s / 🦝s / 🦝self 🐭 / 🐭 / 🐭s / 🐭s / 🐭self 🐾 / 🐾 / 🐾s / 🐾s / 🐾self 🐁 / 🐁 / 🐁s / 🐁s / 🐁self 🦗 / 🦗 / 🦗s / 🦗s / 🦗self 👤 / 👤 / 👤s / 👤s / 👤self 🎞 / 🎞 / 🎞s / 🎞s / 🎞self 🕶 / 🕶 / 🕶s / 🕶s / 🕶self 🎱 / 🎱 / 🎱s / 🎱s / 🎱self ♟ / ♟ / ♟s / ♟s / ♟self 🔍 / 🔍 / 🔍s / 🔍s / 🔍self 🔦 / 🔦 / 🔦s / 🔦s / 🔦self 🍕 / 🍕 / 🍕s / 🍕s / 🍕self 🥐 / 🥐 / 🥐s / 🥐s / 🥐self 🥚 / 🥚 / 🥚s / 🥚s / 🥚self 🥦 / 🥦 / 🥦s / 🥦s / 🥦self 💐 / 💐 / 💐s / 💐s / 💐self 🌲 / 🌲 / 🌲s / 🌲s / 🌲self 🌃 / 🌃 / 🌃s / 🌃s / 🌃self 🏙 / 🏙 / 🏙s / 🏙s / 🏙self 🥫 / 🥫 / 🥫s / 🥫s / 🥫self

demon related neos !! 

de / mon / des / mons / demonself de / demo / demon / demons / demonself de / vil / des / vils / devilself dev / il / devs / ils / devilself de / devi / devil / devils / devilself dae / daem / daer / daers / daeself or deamself dai / daim / dair / dair / daimself de / dem / der / deself or demself dei / deim / deir / deirs / deiself or deimself dem / onic / dems / onics / demonicself demo / demoni / demonic / demonics / demonicself un / unhol / unholy / unholies / unholyself unh / oly / unhs / olys / unholyself con / dem / cons / dems / condemself con / conde / condem / condems / condemself si / sin / sins / sins / sinself ev / il / evs / ils / evilself ev / evi / evil / evils / evilself ter / ror / ters / rors / terrorself ter / terro / terror / terrors / terrorself wic / ked / wics / keds / wickedself wic / wick / wicked / wickeds / wickedself dea / th / deas / ths / deathself dea / dead / death / deaths / deathself de / ad / des / ads / deadself de / dea / dead / deads / deadself wa / rm / was / rms / warmself wa / war / warm / warms / warmself tor / ture / tors / tures / tortureself tor / tortu / torture / tortures / tortureself vil / lain / vils / lains / villainself vil / villai / villain / villains / villainself he / hel / hell / hells / hellself hell / fire / hells / fires / hellfireself hell / hellfi / hellfire / hellfires / hellfireself eter / nal / eters / nals / eternalself eter / eterna / eternal / eternals / eternalself hell / born / hells / borns / hellbornself hell / hellbo / hellborn / hellborns / hellbornself fla / me / flas / mes / flameself fla / flam / flame / flames / flameself infer / no / infers / nos / infernoself inf / erno / infs / ernos / infernoself inf / infern / inferno / infernos / infernoself ear / th / ears / ths / earthself ea / ear / earth / earths / earthself sou / soul / souls / souls / soulself hor / horn / horns / horns / hornself sae / tan / saes / tans / saetanself sa / tan / sas / tans / satanself sa / sata / satan / satans / satanself vi / vil / vile / viles / vileself mor / bid / mors / bids / morbidself mor / morbi / morbid / morbids / morbidself anti / jesus / antis / jesuses / antijesuself [ /hj but use /gen if you want !! :O ] kill / kill / kills / kills / killself die / die / dies / dies / dieself mur / der / murs / ders / murderself mur / murde / murder / murders / murderself dia / boli / dias / bolis / diaboliself pecca / tum / peccas / tums / peccatumself pecca / peccatu / peccatum / peccatums / peccatumself ma / lum / mas / lums / malumself diav / olos / diavs / oloses / diavoloself diav / diavolo / diavolos / diavoloses / diavoloself daim / onas / daims / onases / diamonaself ka / ko / kas / kos / kakoself luc / ifer / lucs / ifers / luciferself luc / lucif / lucifer / lucifers / luciferself temp / tation / temps / tations / temptationself temp / tempta / temptation / temptations / temptationself mis / chief / mises / chiefs / mischiefself mis / mischi / mischief / mischiefs / mischiefself vxr / vrxm / vxyr / vxyrs / vxrself or vrxmself laev / laevm / laevr / laevrs / laevself or laevmself

666 / 666 / 666s / 666s / 666self

😈 / 😈 / 😈s / 😈s / 😈self 👿 / 👿 / 👿s / 👿s / 👿self 👹 / 👹 / 👹s / 👹s / 👹self 👺 / 👺 / 👺s / 👺s / 👺self 🐍 / 🐍 / 🐍s / 🐍s / 🐍self 🎭 / 🎭 / 🎭s / 🎭s / 🎭self 🃏 / 🃏 / 🃏s / 🃏s / 🃏self 🔪 / 🔪 / 🔪s / 🔪s / 🔪self 💉 / 💉 / 💉s / 💉s / 💉self 🩸 / 🩸 / 🩸s / 🩸s / 🩸self ⌛ / ⌛ / ⌛s / ⌛s / ⌛self 🥀 / 🥀 / 🥀s / 🥀s / 🥀self 🚩 / 🚩 / 🚩s / 🚩s / 🚩self 🔥 / 🔥 / 🔥s / 🔥s / 🔥self

[holodeck-enthusiast]

(3rd part after my last two posts. Only one's left which I might be able to finish a couple of days later.)

Will's is not floating. He never floated when Vecna chased him down like a mouse trapped in the outhouse. He never floated when the shadow monster invaded his body and mind and was crushing him into a papermould.

Will's not floating. He is lying on the grass, with dried out wildflowers all around. His body seemed like it was stapled to the ground, and slightly trembling from time to time.

"El, do something!! Please! What...how do I... What's happening"

Mike's absolutely broken.

Last night, everybody decided to split into small groups and sought out shelters to hide. It was no time fight directly, because a town without any external help can't fight innumerable unknown creatures from another world altogether. So they must come up with a plan to destroy the mind flayer first, then Vecna. So right now, they don't even know exactly where the other groups are. Mike, El, Will, Jonathan, Argyle and Hopper were hiding inside Hopper's cabin. Will himself came up with the plan of letting Vecna properly enter into his mind, and the second it happens, El will enter Will's. Nobody liked it but this was probably the only thing that was left to try.

But of course few things didn't match! No matter how thoroughly we plan something, sometimes it slips away through the fingers. Especially when they weren't aware of Will's secondary plan of NOT coming back this time! How could they know! They still don't know what's happening.

El was sitting beside Will. With her arm stretching out to Will's chest. She can't cry. This is not the time to cry. She doesn't understand why Will was resisting earlier. Why this delay! Why still now it's getting harder and harder to enter into his brain.

Jonathan is not believing What's happening. Argyle was holding him upright somehow.

"Will! Come on kid! You saved me once you remember? You saved me. You saved Hawkins! You're one of the smartest young ones I've seen. Don't let him get you down this time! Will answer us. You hear us Will?

Mike too was sitting on the grass, he was holding Will's arm tightly. As if he'd start floating right now. But his body was getting stiffer and stiffer by each moment.

"Why is he getting colder?" Mike somehow let these words out, his mouth wasn't moving properly.

Jonathan came closer to Will in a second and touched his neck. He didn't say anything just tightened his jaws.

"It happened like this last time right?" Argyle tried to make Jonathan calm down.

"No, not to this extreme. Man he's looking like a.." Jonathan's voice was trembling.

"Like what Jonathan!" Mike snapped! "He's not dead!! Okay! Will's not dead! He's in there! Right El? You can see him right? El?" Mike held Will tightly. He couldn't afford to look away. He was just desparately looking for any movement on Will's face which is now started turning almost completely white.

El wasn't saying anything. Her face was looking like a blank canvas with no emotion at all. Nobody can fully understand the physical and emotional pain she's facing now. Every part of her body is aching. She's finally into Will's mind and unimaginable absolute chaos is dancing around! Like she was standing at the eye of a tornado.

(To be continued...)

[outofangband]

Flora and Fauna of Maglor’s Gap

More world building here!

Flora and fauna of Arda  requested by @meadowlarkx

Disclaimer: I used both what we can extrapolate is likely indigenous to the region based on descriptions of the landscape and climate as well as my own headcanons and inspirations and reference books on similar habitats as well as The Atlas of Middle Earth and The Flora of Middle Earth

I really love working on and researching these! and as always feel free to ask more, even if I’ve already done a place I’d always enjoy going into more detail of tacking a more specific kind of life there

Maglor’s Gap was a region of First Age Middle Earth between Himring and the Ered Luin. It was described as lowland country made up of thickets, shrubland and heavily forested areas. It was also mentioned to have a cooler climate due to its proximity to Himring and thus to Morgoth’s realms. 

Based on descriptions of climate and habitat, possible shrubs and thicket species include sweet sagewort, rock wormwood, gorse, heather, hyssop, thyme, Hedera iberica, sumac, winter bent grass, orchard grass, boxthorn, and milkwort, and witch hazel. 

The forested areas are likely comprised of smaller species of trees that can grow in cooler, drier environments. Single seeded hawthorn, smaller juniper trees, smaller trees and shrubs in the oak family, Chimonanthus salicifolius (a genus of wintersweet), smaller dogwoods and species of laurus that thrive in cooler climates. 

There might also be grassier areas of perennial ryegrasses, scutch grass, fescue, and more. 

Other plants include mountain cornflower, bearberry, species of aster, mouse eared hawkweed, spring savory, welted thistle, dyer’s woad, stellera, gooseberry, and fennel. 

Possible birds are mainly terrestrial ones like the gray and rock partridge, bustard and bush quail, gray, black and painted francolin, snowcock, little bustard, merlin, ground jay, cheer pheasant, crested lark, and painted sandgrouse.  And possibly something like a small bush moa or scrubfowl. 

The scrublands are not ideal for large, herd living grazing creatures but smaller or non herding ungulates are definitely a possibility such as a species of mouse-deer, musk deer or goitered gazelle. 

Raccoon dogs are also well adapted to shrublands and may venture into the Gap as is the dhole and the Pallas cat.

Other mammals might include the gray marmot, ground squirrel, dormouse, field vole, alpine pika, woolly or mountain hares, long eared hedgehog, gray shrews, spotted civets, hog badger, and sable. (these are examples of species, there is likely a number of examples in the families of marmots, squirrels, rodents and rabbits, and shrews especially). 

Reptiles and amphibians are rarer in the cooler climate but not nonexistent. Smooth skink, blindsnakes, Mcord’s box turtle, plateau brown frog, boreal digging frog, Siberian sand toad, and spiny newts are possible examples. 

Insect and bug life is always hard to do concisely but grasshoppers and locusts, bees and wasps, and a variety of butterflies (veined scrub hopper, forest hopper, common windmill, swordtail, yellow tip, etc) are the most common representatives as are earthworms. 

[primrose-fr]

Wildlife of the Scarred Wastes

Hey I put together a list of all wildlife found in Plague, for writing purposes. Because it's pretty unique from the rest of Sornieth. Thus can be a bit difficult to write for.  It's also interesting to note that most of the creatures can be found in other locations too, I picture the varieties found in plague to be more...plague-y. I hope this is at least a good jumping off point for you writers/worldbuilders!

Includes little personal notes here and there about possible uses, ecology and real-life equivalents, and interesting notes from the items bio too.

Everything under the cut. Long post ahead

Meat:

Panther Anole (Small, fool hardy, easy prey for hatchlings) Plague Bat (Bat that carries plagues?? Probably a small snack for adults and a meal for hatchlings) Satin Mouse (Magically charged mice, might have been introduced from Arcane) Java Sparrow (Small songbird, Nutritious) Shrew (Small and mole like, cannot be tamed) Marsh Rabbit (Oily water repellent fur, probably like a softer beaver pelt. Decent meal. Probably farmed for fur) Dappled Clucker (Chickens whose females brutally fight over males. Probably farmed for meat) Steppes Box Turtle (known for it's shell pattern) Musk Scrapper (Like a brown skunk, stinks but apparently the meat is incredible.) Flecked Bushrunner (Type of quail. males race each other to impress females. Proabably a common type of wild game) Wood Duck (Probably a common type of wild game) Silver-Laced Rooster (There was a play about a rooster trying to woo a dragon. Ended poorly.) Arroyo Toad (Most dragons are immune to it's toxin but Mirrors are allergic to it.) Plantain Poacher (Type of squirrel monkey. Common pest that raids produce stores.) Bush Rat Wallaby (Probably a decent sized meal) False Podid (Decent meal, cousin to common podid, tastes best when roasted in the shell) White-Eared Hummingbird Coral Snake (VENOMOUS. Rear-fanged. But edible to dragons if eaten carefully. Snakes store their venom in the head area. Body meat is generally fine.) White Squirrel (Cannot jump, probably easy prey. Most likely is native to Ice) Tokay Gecko (DEADLY. Covered in a potent poison from head to toe. (Note: real tokay geckos are not poisonous, just massive bitey assholes)) Bleeding Heart Crow (Only Males have the "Bleeding Heart" coloration) Ferret (a treat for most dragons, might also be kept as pets and for hunting small game) Sugarglider (Common pest in sugarmelon crops. might also be kept as pets.) Bar-Headed Goose (Might be farmed for meat/feathers) Hellbender (Massive salamander (one of the largest species on earth!)) Emerald Striker (VENOMOUS. Emeralds contain the toxin) Silver Raccoon (Known to steal and hoard silver.) Green Iguana (apparently very friendly and probably common pets (Important Note: Real green iguanas are NOT friendly and want nothing more than to whip you to shreds. Make terrible pets!)) Bog Canary (Song is apparently horrible, but plumage is pretty, might be kept as pets (Note: the art depicts a budgerigar not a canary)) Golden Reefprince (Regal and golden, best served to someone you're trying to impress. Probably farmed and marketed in the same vein as Valentine Roses) Black Swan (Probably farmed for Meat/Feathers) Green-throated Skink (More confident then it's cousin, probably more common to see skittering around in daylight) Dustrat (Seen as vermin, a sign to clean your lair) Banded Dart Frog (POISONOUS. However NOT deadly. Instead it's hallucinagenic. Probably farmed as an legal and/or illegal narcotic. Probably a big market for them.) Collared Lemming (Probably has a local superstition about it staring into your soul and knowing all your secrets) Webwing Alpha ( might be farmed for meat or plumage. Or kept as familiars) Yellow-Throated Sparrowmouse (kept as Familiars. Plumage might be used in crafts) Basilisk (Direct eye contact can turn dragons to stone. Probably Hunted as Big/trophy game. Also Kept as familiars) Clown Charger (Skin is poisonous. Might be hunted as Trophy Game but not eaten. Also Kept as familiars) Parasitic Fungus (Has mind controlling fungus, however fungus rarely takes. Also Kept as familiars) Fungalhoof Qiriq (Leaves a trail of fungus where ever it goes, easy to track dangerous to hunt. Might be hunted as big/Trophy game or as possible rites of passage . Also Kept as familiars) Roving Lionsnake (Large dangerous ambush predators that stalk long grasses. Might be hunter for trophy game or possible rights of passage. Also kept as familiars) Murkbottom Gull (Common seabirds, most likely a common sight at waterways. Also kept as familiars) Giant White Toridae (Large! Has Myths and urban legends surrounding it. Probably hunted as Trophy game or even rites of passage. Also Kept as familiars.) Ultramel Amphithere (Amphithere displaying the "Ultramel" color morph. Probably popular pets. Also kept as familiars) Auburn Woolly Walrus (Hostile due to chronic pain. Probably Farmed for meat and fur while also being hunted as big/trophy game. Also kept as familiars.) Hooded Dodo (Completely blind despite three sets of eyes. Probably farmed for meat and feather. Also kept as familiars) Infestation Hound (Wild ones are ambush predators, baiting and eating scavengers. Probably Domesticated by plague clans and bred then raised as hunting partners and companions. Kept as familiars) Heartred Croaker (Meat is uniquely brown and green in coloration. Kept as familiars) Mossy Cerdae (Healing magic-less Unicorns. Population is rising exponentially. Probably hunted for meat/fur/horns. Kept as familiars) Hippojay (Might be farmed for meat or hunted as big/trophy game. Or kept as familiars) Bluetail Skira (Blue algea clings to their tail fur causing the blue coloration. Might be farmed for meat or hunted like big game. Or kept as familiars) Paddyfowl (Common predator to smaller amphibians, might be farmed for meat or plumage. Or kept as familiars) Moordwelling Trunker (Displays are a lot like jousting. Probably farmed for meat. Or kept as familiars) Glowing Pocket Mouse ( A light snack. Or kept as familiars) Grey River Flight ( Probably farmed for meat and water resistant hide. Or kept as familiars) Brown River Flight ( Probably farmed for meat and water resistant hide. Or kept as familiars) Bearded Pupowl (Actually a vertebrate! Amphibian and probably distantly related to salamanders. Kept as familiars)

Aquatic Life:

Crawdads Wetland Vampire (Leech) Glass Minnows (maybe kept in dragon aquaria?) Mussels Clown Shrimp Warmouth (A mid sized bass/perch-like fish, probably decent eating) Wave Skippers (Flying fish?) Sea Hare (Sea slugs) Sunset Sea Dragon Dumpling Squid (bio implies they’re eaten and dipped in sauce.) True Rainbow Trout Green Corydoras Catfish (tiny bottom dwelling catfish, maybe kept in dragon aquaria?) Golden Cushionfish (Pufferfish) Seabed Pincher (Hermit crab) Blackwater Jester (Appears to be a cardinal fish of some sort) SeaHeart (Some kinda urchin) Aether Hermit Black Maiden (type of Black Guppy, possibly poisonous? maybe kept in dragon aquaria?) Ruby Tetras (possibly a red version of the blackskirt tetra, maybe kept in dragon aquaria?) Blue Ring Octopus (DEADLY. Venom can straight up kill smaller dragons. Considered an accomplishment to catch and eat properly. Probably equivalent to Fugu.) Striped biter (Similar to a cat shark in appearance. Apparently very common.) Devilsnap (Apparently an oyster that bites back) Blue Dragon Seaslug Cobra Snakehead (mid-sized carnivorous fish) Nebula Floaters (Jellyfish of some sort, very sweet may cause tooth decay) Pond Slip (Come from dirty water, VERY important to clean) Cinnamon Loach (Popular gift among the seafood eating dragons, may also be kept in dragon aquaria?) Deviant Darter (Covered in pustules, looks plague-y) Giant Isopod Billy Bass (Breaks into song when taken out of the water, mid-sized fish probably decent eating) Discus (Popular, beautiful, and challenging to care for in irl aquaria. Possibly kept as decorative fish for the upper class in dragon aquaria) Four-Eyed Butterflyfish Pincushion Urchin Gaseous Megashrimp (Big, kept as familiars. this is speculation but depending on the size it may also be used as a seafood alternative to whole roasts like pig) Skittering Megashrimp (See above) Longjaw Lurefish (Based on the jawfish, probably much bigger. preys on birds) Glow Star (glowing starfish. Glow fades when it leaves the water. Might make good underwater decoration) Wave Sweeper (Patrols shallow waterway. Probably hunted for meat or ignored, Kept as familiars) Plantation Pincher (Considered a rampant pest on farmland.)

Insect Life:

Fungus Cutter (Large fungivore ants) Glade Swarmer (Builds large hives and defend it fiercely, disturbing it will end in either a feast or a healers visit) Crop Cutter (Pests that can devour entire fields. Plant eater hate them while others feast on them.) Maggot (common on the many festering corpses of the scarred wastes) Harlequin Ladybug (perform intricate aerial acrobatics, can be challenging for hatchlings to catch) Salt-Marsh Mosquito (Carry many diseases, numbers swell in summer) Tachinid Fly (Their carapace can be ground into tincture and tonics with restorative capabilities. Valuable. Probably farmed for medicinal purposes) Redwing Hopper (Spend most of their time gliding. low-flying dragons end up with face fulls of them.) Greenworm (Blends in well and challenging to find) Land Snail Rainbow Grasshopper (Taste terrible. seems to be a common prank to tell younger dragons that they taste like rainbows.) Tinder Bug (Tastes good if properly cooked, also effective tinder) Earwig Craftsman Brightback (Crafts intricate nests around spherical fruit, to which the fruit inside is eaten leaving behind the dried structure.) Redknee Tarantula Dusty Cicada (Collecting their shells and placing them in unexpected places around your den is considered a fun pastime) Millipede Wasteland Pauper (In an event known as the Blue Harvest vast numbers of this butterfly go migrating.) Stinglash (DEADLY. Aposematic. Skull pattern on it's head is a threat display. When stinger is removed however it's considered a delicacy) Shale Skitter (Pillbug relative. Completely flatten themselves when threatened) Parasitic Grub Red and Black Froghopper Fever Fly (Ingesting this fly is fine. being bitten by this fly leads to fevers and muscle spasms (dancing!)) Two-Tone June Beetle (Best served lightly toasted) Blackshield Cockroach (Fae use rocks to crack it's shell for eating.) Yellow Jumper (Deadly? Very tasty apparently) False Veneer Moth (Pattern on it's wings shines to distract predators) Yellowtail Caterpillar (Commonly eaten in piles with pepper sauce, cucumber, rice, and wrapped in seaweed) Orchid Beetle (Native to the Starwood Strand. gets its coloration from the plants it eats) Water Bug Catocala Moth (Cryptic patterning on wings) Giant Prickly Stick Insect (Has a hard time find mates due to effective camouflage) Autumn Pennant (Dragonfly. Scarce, only appears towards the end of autumn) Sugarbee (Feeds on sugarcane. Popular as sweet treats. might be treated like candy to insectivores) Firefly (Probably native to Fire. Has a crisp, crunchy texture with an extremely spicy flavor.) Dead Leaf Mantis (Feeds entirely on brain matter. (braaains)) Hydra Scorpion (It's said that cutting off it's tail grows two more in it's place. Probably large and treated like big/trophy game. Kept as familiars) Triple-Sight Firebug (Dragons closely bonded to this bug can use it's sight for short periods of time. Possibly used for rough reconnaissance. Kept as familiars) Tufted Leaf Beetle (Pests. A swarm of these beetles can devour a field overnight. Kept as familiars.) Tender Larail (Consumes all parts of a plant except seeds, which it carefully buries. Might be a Keystone species. Kept as familiars.) Spoiling Scorpio (Probably large and treated like big/trophy game. Kept as familiars)

Plant Life:

Highland Dryleaf (Hardy. Tastes awful. Plentiful) Marsh Choker (Named for it's choking pollen. probably grows in wetland areas.) Desert Scrub (Plentiful. Tastes like dirt) Diseased Fungus (Has a following that believe it tastes zestier than normal fungus. Probably cultivated or foraged for.) Carnaval Tulip (Pretty, often in bouquets. considered by plant eaters to be "edible arrangements" Probably cultivated for food and appearance) Crisp-leaf Amaranth (Seeds are edible and commonly eaten, while the leaves are eaten less commonly.) Wild Catsup (grows along cliff-sides in thin patches with bright red flowers. might also go well with wild mustard greens) Always-Autumn (Thistle. Blooms year-round with sun-dappled colors.) Canyon Ruffage (Staple for herbivorous animals and dragons alike, common in dry areas) Blood Acorn (Filled with nutrient rich nectar) Cinnamon (Probably cultivated for exportation in the spice trade) Chickweed (Used in herbal remedies to sooth itchy scales. Probably cultivated for medicinal purposes) Herbal Plantain (Leaves of this plant can be used as an effective anti-toxin. Probably cultivated for medicinal purposes) Peace Lily (Pretty and edible, it's petals are a favorite snack of peace doves. Probably cultivate for decoration and consumption.) Gryphon's Blood Sempervivum (Appears to be a type of succulent that grows in sandy red (clay rich?) earth near gryphon territory. does not actually use blood in cultivation.) Treasure Plant (Considered to bring good luck if kept in the lair. Possibly cultivated for decoration or as gifts.) Boxwood (Has a subtle flavor?) Winter's Delight (Sweet red berries that taste the best at the coldest point in winter, Most likely native to Ice) Bonebark Mold (Plentiful. grows on dead trees.) Ashfall Prickler (Nectar on the inside has a spicy flavor that oddly goes well with anything.) Honeycrisp Apple (Probably cultivated for food. Most likely food source to Craftsman Brightbacks) Turnip (Does not keep long and must be eaten immediately. Probably cultivated for food.) Wasteland Pear (Common. but finding an edible one is not.) Cindermint (crunchy texture with a  fiery kick. Often dried and crumbled up to help accent desserts or teas. Probably cultivated for this reason.) Butcher's Fig (Fruit has a crimson coloration, juice stains the mouth for days.) Leechroot Mushroom (Parasitic fungus native to the Scarred Wastes. Pests. Targets healthy plants.) Green Plantain (Has a tart flavor and can be stored in cool places for long periods of time. Probably cultivated and exported to other flights.) Daffodil (Can be boiled, mashed, and used in stews. Blooms are also pretty. Probably cultivated for these reasons.) Grassland Grain (Easy to spot and filling meals. Great for foraging on the road.) Water Lilies Crimson Jadevine (Extremely rare. ground up to make war-paint. Might be cultivated for this purpose and might also be treated as sacred.) Sour Strawberry (It's a strawberry, but sour) Wilting Rose (Its a rose, but wilting) Pompom Mums (Vibrant, cheerful petals. Very attention getting to pollinators. might be used to attract pollinators to fields. Also useful for decorative purposes) Sand Creeper (Type of ivy that spreads prolifically over sand. Might be a good crop for those in barren wastelands.) All Seeing Shroom (Disgusting looking, covered in veins and tumors. Unknown if edible but can be traded as currency in select venues.) Ancient Mushroom (Rumored to aid with a dragons growth) Over-ripe Cherries (Cherries that ripen then go bad at a break-neck pace. Probably not cultivated.) Melon Marzal (Behaves like a normal plant until it matures in which it will become more animalistic. Weird. Kept as familiars)

???:

River Muck (Goopy. probably common in or near waterways. Probably a pest/hazard) Poultrygeist (Ghost?? Probably some kind of urban legend. Kept as familiars) Undying Featherback (Undead and requires magic to kill permanently. Probably a serious threat to plague clans. Can be kept as familiar) White Rot Deer (An older wood ear deer, not hunted nor eaten. Cultivated by dryads for protection. Also Kept as familiars) Sanguine Multimist (Sentient mist?? Probably has urban legends surrounding it. Kept as familiars.) Creeping Tendril (Animal like?? Shy, only moves when no one is looking. Kept as Familiars) Blue Vein Pansy (??? Uproots and moves itself to more optimal locations when required.) Ancient Fungus (Has a cracked, stone hard outer shell. Kept as familiars)

[penaltybox14]

@zeitheist​ @darknight-brightstar​ confronting trauma is a complicated process.

Josiah is better at the confrontation than he is at the breathy afterward, better at the fists and the fight than the sweating come-down.  He has only ever known how to throw himself headlong into the fray, letting good sense chase after like a hound at the horses' hocks. 

It's a long, long way back to Wynantskill from Little River, and he feels too formal in his dress coat and fresh-blacked boots, the gorget he wears so rarely hanging like a lead ingot off his neck, sitting like a cat on his chest, marking every breath.  It makes him think of the days after he woke, after the world came down on him, in the hospital ward as white as divinity, thinking he was dead, except it hurt too much. 

Cleary - and that, too, seems too formal, as heavy as the clod-hoppers and the denim and duck-canvas walking clothes the asylum gave him - sits quietly beside him, sinking into his stiff jacket and the carriage seat and the lengthening shadows.  The boy has been quiet as a little church mouse from the time they got on the carriage, to the time they reached the train station, and he's quiet still as the train lumbers and sways along toward Albany.

Josiah has been a long time out of the house and the bunkroom, and he feels like he's forgotten what it's like to settle into a restless night with the Sear moving like a spirit among the beds and bodies.  He has forgot how to pick the calm out of the trembling city air like stars in a coal-thick sky.  Cleary's all jumbled and tumbled up, every jolt a spark and every flash of afternoon sun a flame.  His mind is like a rack of kindling, soaked in kerodiesel.

If I were a captain, he thinks, I'd have something to say.  If I'd earned it, I'd know. The pins and the patches and the posting mean he ought to know.  But his mouth is dry, and the boy's sear touches him like the humid, sour smell of fever.  Like the dreams in Bellevue, where Silky prayed over him, like the dreams where Silky pulled him out from under the hot and pulsing bones of that house, like the dreams where he lay in cool water on the cobbles and thought: the horses.  I got to groom the horses, now. 

The little fellow's black hair is too long, uncombed.  There is a snarl behind his ear.  He needs a bath and a week of milk and potatoes. 

"I'm a fireman, son.  You ever met a fireman?"

A long pause, soft as a dandelion.  "They came to our house."

The house with the long green lawn and the wide black lake.  The house with the emberous eyes. 

The house with the bones, sagging and snapping in the heat.

"I'm from the City.  City Fire.  I train recruits in Wynantskill, that's near Troy and Albany.  We teach firemen there."

The boy looks out the window at the disappearing countryside.  It doesn't seem possible, but he looks to be sinking deeper into his clothes.  His eyes are sort of glassy again.  The heat's rolling off him in waves.  The thoughts are sinking in some mire, and Josiah feels hollow in a way he hasn't since he got his captain's coat and pins at St John's Hall.  His brace was brand-new and so was half his bones and it took all his will and thensome to stand up through the ceremony, to set his jaw against the gaping stares of other men, to look the Chief and Deputies in the eye while his ravaged body sang a chorale of bells and burning.

"I didn't mean it." 

Josiah's heart skitters.

"The home.  With all the kids.  I didn't, honest to God, I didn't, I wouldn't have hurt them, I wouldn't - it just - it sort of happened - I just - I only wanted to - I was looking - I couldn't - couldn't find - " The boy's thoughts beat at him like a flock of birds, a hundred thousand frantic feathers and a hundred thousand shrieking beaks.  " - I only wanted - "

Nineteen, when the world was his, his and his mates, when the sun serenaded them and the moon cheered them lustily even when her back was turned and tending the stars.  The biggest of the house's horses was a dapple-gray half-percheron gelding.  It took two men, on stepstools, to groom the old boy. 

When I get my own house, Silky is saying, from years ago, I hope it's in Manhattan. 

Passing a brush over the gelding's back, Josiah says, why would you want to be down near all those old oakbellies at HQ?

I don't.  I just want to send my teams flying down Sixth avenue.  Really shake 'em up.

Pass me that soft brush back, willya?

What about you, Birchy?

I want to be anywhere far away from your driving.

The night-time, the sound of the horses, the dirty fingernails.  The creaking of the house.  Water sloshing in a bucket and Silky chuckling softly.  He couldn't see his 'mate, over the great gelding's back, but he was there, of course he was there, where he always ought to have been, where he always would be.

" - I wanted - "

The night-time and the trading of dreams.

So he puts his hand over the boy's, softly, like he imagines a captain would.  The sigil on his sleeve belies it. 

Don't cry, he thinks.  Little fellow, don't cry, you're home soon. 

If he were Eddy, even Lufty Parker, he'd be able to crack the rusted sluicegate of his jaw and stammer it all out.  But he can't, so he just holds the boy's hand, until he slides against him and the tears make tracks on his dirty cheeks like water fills up the spaces between the cobbles.  The moss and grass grow there in secret, he knows, for he's lain there enough times in a daze to see it. 

"You wanna hear a story?  Well, lemme tell you one anyhow."  He bites his lip.  "Once, a real long time ago, when the City was brand new - before it was the city, even - there weren't any firemen.  There was just some people and some buildings and some horses.  People building the city."

The country is dark now, and the inside of the train coach is gently lit by little electric lamps that flicker as the train hits grade crossings and soars over bridges.

"And then the fire came one night, and it tore up the city, just ate it all up, and this one guy, he tried to fight it but he couldn't.  It was just him.  And the second night, this horse came - a big, white horse - and the horse said to the man, the fire's coming, but we're going to fight it together.  Horse said, you're going to be the first fireman.  So the fire came, and the man and the horse fought it together, and they chased the fire off but the horse's legs were black from the fire and his back was all gray with soot.  So the man cared for him all day."

Young Cleary's stopped snuffling.  Maybe he can hear old Eddy's voice in the telling.  Maybe he can picture Kidder Parson nodding along. 

"And then the third night, the fire came back, and it was mean and laughing, and it was gonna eat up the whole city and the first fireman and the horse too, and the horse said to the fireman, you got to listen up with your whole heart: you got to call out to your brothers.  You call them, you sound your bells and they'll come, because you're the captain.  So he called them: he rang hell's bells and church bells and he listened and they came: they came bringing buckets and dragging lines and riding horses and driving wagons and carrying ladders, and then they all fought that mean ol' fire together, and they beat it out."

The shy voice pressed in his ribs asks: "Does it come back?"

"Of course. Fire always comes back.  Just like the sun goes down and the moon comes up and they dance around the sky together.  But when we're all together, we're stronger, and we can beat it out.  We can hear each other call out, even when we're not there.  We can see where it's gonna go before it gets there."

"I couldn't see anything.  Then I was outside."

Josiah nods.  He can only see half his reflection in the coach's window.  The night seems very thin of a sudden, like frost. 

"The fire's gonna come back.  It comes back, you said.  Mother and papa, and Eloise, they're never going to come back, but the fire will."

The boy's no fool for lies. "Yes."

"Why fight it, then?  If it comes back?  It'll all just eat us up in the end."

It's late, and his leg feels like it's caught in a bear trap, like his brace is held on with nails.  He feels a kind of fury lurking, and he isn't sure whose it is, because it might be the boy's, or it might be the same rage that chased him up and out of Bellevue all the way upriver. 

"Why, then?  Why?  Son, you wanna live locked up in that little room all alone in just your unders, year in and year out, while the rest of them look at you like you're crazy?  I can't bring your family back, no more than I can straighten my leg out or unblack the dapple's legs.  I'm just giving you a shot.  A chance - you won't ever have to be alone again, David Cleary.  Isn't that worth it?  Isn't that worth a why?"

The ache is a dismal, wretched thing.  It doesn't go away. 

"Yes sir," the kid sighs.  "Yes, I suppose it is."

There's still an hour til Troy, and another half-hour by carriage to the gate.  Gonna be a long night, gonna be a long forever.

[whirlybirbs]

“ so , how does it feel to know me? a blessing , isn’t it? “ with hopper? please!

—-  SO MUCH FOR THAT  ;

summary: hopper interrupts a home invasion. cue the bullets, russians, injuries, freak-out’s... everything you didn’t want. date night, ruined.word count: 2.2kpairing: hopper x teacher!reader, from my fic moonrise radio.a/n: we love some good ol’ action to further the drabble plot machine.

Hopper knows something’s not right -- he can feel it in his gut, sitting there like hot, molten piece of lead that makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand upright. 

It’s a feeling he’s never really gotten used to. Even after Vietnam, even after all those years working homicide in New York, even after The Upside Down, the feeling still makes his skin crawl. It’s one that can only really be described as dread -- a deeply-rooted recognition of something being wrong. 

He knocks on your front door again, only to be met with silence.

His watch reads 6:43pm.

If Jim knows anything, it’s that you’re not standing him up -- especially when you’d excitedly accept his offer for the ride to the drive-in’s. You’d been nothing but honest and kind and sweet and pretty and an absolute dream, and even though doubt bites at his mind, Jim Hopper pushes it far away.

He decides to snoop.

Snooping is what he does best. 

He leans, peaking around through the front window and spies nothing out of place, really. The lights are off, as if no one’s home, but your faithful jet-black Camaro sits a few feet behind him in the drive-way to contradict that possibility... unless someone came along and picked you up? 

Hm.

Then, something catches his attention.

Light flickers, blue and inky black, across the window in nothing more than a passing reflection. 

Over the couch, your television sits.

It’s on.

Jim chews his lip. 

He has two options in that moment -- walk away, decide this was maybe never meant to be, go home, and order take-out from King Chef. Or, he can reach for that doorknob and hope you don’t bear spray him again. 

He exhales, planting his hands on his hips. 

Then he sees the boot mark right below the deadbolt.

His eyes widen in realization.

There’s no question in his mind when he doubles back to his Blazer and pulls out a handgun from the center console -- he’s fast to check off the safety and pull the hammer back; he bites his tongue, wishing he’d just trusted his fuckin’ gut from the get-go.

The door is unlocked.

It swings open without a sound.

The T.V. is loud -- blaring some MTV music video that echoes off the walls of the house. It’s late now, nearly 7pm, and the sun has crept below the hills of Hawkins and drenched your home in all types of shadows. Jim’s footfalls are quiet as they can be as he raises his gun and begins to move through the home.

He stops short at the couch, noting the remote on the floor feet away and the mess of blankets dragged from the pastel pink sofa. 

In front of the television, that old radio you’d first heard those faux-Russian communique's on lays. 

It’s smashed to smithereens.

Hopper turns, then, and sees you in the kitchen.

Your eyes are pulled wider than a mile in fear as you rock in the high-back chair, trying desperately to scream something, but it comes out as nothing more than a muffled cry. There’s a tight strip of black duct tape along your mouth, a matching strip across your torso and hips. 

If there’s anything Jim’s learned from moments like these, it’s that your brain never really understands what’s going on until it’s too late.

In his circumstance, he doesn’t realize what’s going on until he’s being charged by a man a little smaller than himself, decked in all black, screaming in a language that sets off thirty thousand red flags in his head. He sees the knife first -- Jim doesn’t even have time to react when he’s tackled into the sofa. 

His gun clatters across the foyer, sliding onto the patterned linoleum of your kitchen floor.

Your eyes widen, trained on the handgun sitting feet from you. 

This has not been a good hour.

When the doorbell had rung at 5:30, you’d excitedly chirped that Hop was early for your date -- not that you minded -- before you were suddenly being forced backwards at knife-point by two men screaming in Slavic tongues. 

They’d then, unceremoniously, searched the house for that damn radio after binding you to the kitchen chair and interrogating you about some Energy Department in the most broken English you’ve heard in a while.

On MTV, Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For a Hero begins to play.

And now, here you are, hopping up and down in this fuckin’ chair, trying to get closer to the gun as the two grown men in your living room recreate Street Fighter and make quick work on destroying all of your furniture. 

Almost there.

Sqreeak, sqreaak, sqreaak. 

Jim takes a nasty upper cut to the jaw and hits the floor so hard the whole house shakes. 

You freeze, panic lighting up in your chest as the assailant leaps onto him -- in a well-timed moment of mis-calculation, you forget about the lip in the kitchen and suddenly, you and the chair are toppling to the ground. The sound is loud, followed by your muffle groan of pain, and it sends the Russian’s head snapping to the sound. 

Jim plants a hard kick to the guy’s groin, sending him into a feeble curl as Jim rolls away, hair wild and nose bleeding profusely. He’s fast to punch the guy while he’s down, absolutely wailing on him.

You’re kicking now, trying to get Jim’s fuckin’ attention -- and only once the man before his feet has stilled completely that Hop rises from the ground and moves into the kitchen, knife in his hand.

“MOO!” is the sound coming from your mouth as Hop plucks you and the chair up, squinting at you, “MERE’S MOO!”

His lips part and his brows knot.

“Moo...?”

You serve him a look and he’s fast to rip the duct tape from your nose and mouth, wincing slightly as you curse and hiss, eyes ringed with make-up from the tears that had gathered there -- you speak so quick, Jim has to gawk.

“There’s two,” you gasp for air, “Jim, Jim, get my hands free --”

“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding --”

He saws at the tape. 

Then the footsteps start from the stairwell. 

You both freeze, gazes connecting.

Back door, you mouth.

Jim nods.

You claw at the tape on your ankles, jaw clenching as you stand -- Jim’s hands are on you in an instant, worry lighting up his face; he’s quick to note the black bruise forming around your left eye and up your cheek. 

You’re fast to snatch up the gun by his feet and hand it to him, though, moving past the fear in your chest and gesturing for him to follow you towards the back sliding door. 

“дерьмо!” you hear from the living room, rolling from the larger Russian’s tongue in a carnal bellow, “вернитесь сюда!”

You, then, unceremoniously shove Jim Hopper off your back deck.

You follow, hitting the soft grass with a groan as gunfire suddenly lights up the back of the house and the windows shatter, raining down through the slats in the wood -- for a moment, you both roll in pain; but it doesn’t last. 

“Time t’ go!”

“No shit, Jim!”

He snatches your hand, dragging you from the grass and around the house -- you both break into a sprint towards Hop’s cruiser, ignoring the man who’s now in chase.

Jim muscles the gun from his waistband and chucks you the keys. “Drive!”

You catch them, by some grace, and fumble to find the ignition key on the ring as Jim lays down fire that seems to not phase the huge Russsian coming right at him in a ski-mask. 

“Shit, shit, shit shit shit shit, shit shit --”

“Ты мертв!”

“FUCK OFF!”

Your hands are shaking, keys jingling as you try each and every fucking one. Anger flares in your face, eyes darting to Jim on the front lawn popping off rounds.

“Jim, what key!?”

“GOLD!”

You finally get the key, the Blazer roars alive.

The second Jim’s ass is in the seat, you floor it. 

You skirt around the cul-de-sac as gunfire ricochets off the side of the car, your own scream fading into the peel-out as Jim curses and flies into the side of the door. An apology flies from your lips as you put the pedal to the metal and fly out of your street, onto the main road. 

Jim’s twisted around the back of the seat, eyes set on the fading house and figure standing on your front lawn. He doesn’t even try to follow.

“Where should I go?” you ask, panic hitched in your tone.

“Starcourt,” Jim barks without hesitation.

“What?!” you cry, flinging your head around to look at him with an exasperated look, “What the hell do you mean, Starcourt?!”

“Just,” Jim seethes, jaw set tight, “Trust me --”

“You said --” you screech, finger raising as you head down the main straight in town at 80mph, “You said that... that those communications are fake!”

“Yeah,” Jim snaps, “They are!”

“Oh, okay, great, Jim, then why don’t you explain to me why the fuck I was just bound and gagged in my own kitchen! By two men! WHO DON’T EVEN SPEAK ENGLISH --”

“Murph’, calm down --”

“No! No, nope, no,” you shove his arm, “Do not tell me to calm down, Jim Hopper --”

His mouth snaps shut and he turns, sitting forward and exhaling tightly through his nose. His eyes flutter shut as he speaks, trying to imitate the same calmness he wish he had.

“I’m sorry.”

“I am freaking out --” your voice cracks and you regret it immediate, facade of fearlessness cracking under the sudden dive in your adrenaline. 

Jim’s face softens, finally getting a good look at you. You look like hell. He’s sure he does, too, after the royal beat down he was served by Svedka in your living room. His hands move, carding through the blood matted tendrils by your temple. There’s a mean gash along your hairline that’s slowed up. The blood flakes away and Jim can’t help but wish he’d fuckin’ got to your house sooner. 

“Hey, hey,” he calls, voice soft, “Look at me.”

You blink his way. You shrink.

The tears making your eyes swim break his whole heart on sight. Your lip quivers. Jim feels like he’s been punched in the gut. When you speak, your voice is as meek as a mouse.

“... That was really scary.”

“It’s over,” Hop says confidently, “Over. We’re going to go see the people who can make sure it’s over.”

“The Scoops Ahoy people?” you ask weakly through an attempt at a laugh.

Jim exhales softly in a chuckle, leaning to press a firm kiss to the side of your head. “Yeah, sweetie, you could say that.”

The rest of the ride is relatively quiet, filled by your sniffles and Jim turning to peek over his shoulder ever few minutes. When you finally pull up to the bustling Starcourt, you’re surprised when Jim gestures to the back and points.

“Head to the loading area.”

You squint, but follow the direction.

Rounding the parking lot, you see hordes of folks coming in for some Sunday evening shopping -- lone teens and families alike. The neon of the store fronts bounce off the windshield in slivers of purple and green. 

Suddenly, as if out of no where, a gate appears around the back of the building and you’re pulled to a stop by four guards in Starcourt Mall gear. Jim’s face pulls into a heavy frown as he rolls down his window, flashing some sort of identification in his fold-out wallet. 

“I’m here to see Owens, it’s an emergency --”

“And who the hell is she?”

Jim’s eyes narrow. You wring your hands on the steering wheel.

“... Officer Collins, is it?” Hop says slowly, “Do you see the bullet holes in the side of my cruiser?”

Silence flies between the four of them.

“And do you see the injuries on both myself and the lady driving?”

More silence.

“And did you not hear me say,” his voice raises an octave, vein in his neck popping as he begins to scream, “That this is an emergency?!”

The gate lifts with a BRRZZZZT. 

And that’s how you find yourself in a very sterile interrogation room, pacing back and forth and back and forth for what feels like hours. It’s horrible -- the lights buzz and flicker fast enough to give you an even worse headache than the head injury does and it’s cold and you just wanted to go see a damn movie with Jim. Maybe kiss a little, fool around, have fun. 

But, no. Here you are.

Finally, after an hour and a half, the door opens mid-conversation.

Jim is looming behind an older man.

They both look apologetic.

“And this must be our new Bond Girl, huh?”

“In the flesh,” Jim rumbles, “Murph’, this is Dr. Sam Owens. He’s a friend.”

You narrow your eyes. The man offers his hand and you shake it, speaking slowly. “I guess Jim and I are gonna miss our double feature, huh?”

“I’m afraid so, Miss Murphy,” he says, gesturing to the table and chair in the center of the room, “Now, why don’t you tell me about those men that broke into your home?”

He pulls the chair out for you.

You sigh.

This is going to be a long night. 

So much for that date.

[rjzimmerman]

I had these feelings last week when we took our 4-year old grandson to the Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois. He was galloping and running up and down the trails, except when something caught his eye or he heard something. He stopped and stared because he saw a “hopper” (rabbit), and then he stopped again and stared into the tall grass because he heard a bird. He ran his hands over the seed heads of the tall grass and stared at the flowers. We stopped at the side of the road so he could watch the bison, and he did so intently, whispering, “buffalo!” I know he enjoyed the day, letting his senses take him where they would.

Excerpt from this essay from Orion Magazine:

My son, just five years old and spry, shambles down a small, dry, high desert wash beneath junipers and ocotillo, mumbling a song. I listen to his words, mostly fun nonsense rhyming words, for a hint that he gets it—gets the wonderful and desperate science of this place. His singing suddenly stops. “Feet!” he yells. He’s found a bear track in the sand near a holdout of water—snowmelt from the nine-thousand-foot peaks of the Chiricahua Mountains that rise just north of the U.S.–Mexico border. We see the claw points, heavy toes, and metacarpal pads dug in deep where the bear leaned in heavy for a drink. We can almost hear an ursine tongue lapping the ephemeral water. Farther on, mouse bones bleach under a sad flower, and my son collects a femur so tiny he has to ask if it’s a butterfly’s bone.

I sometimes bring my child on these work trips to “toughen him up,” but that language is more convenient, saltier, than precise. Besides helping him grow his hiking legs and grit, I want to teach him to be tender and open to the inconspicuous beauty that lurks out here. “Walk smartly,” I say. “Don’t trample a hedgehog cactus or step on a rattler.” I want him to learn to value emptiness and biodiversity. And he does. He pauses at every bug, fungus, and track. He stops at overlooks to look at nothing but distance—range after range unfolding. He stoops to examine the purple blooms of a solitary tapertip onion but doesn’t care about its name. He seems at peace in this world of pollen, canyon wrens, compound eyes, and dry breezes that rob the body of moisture.