#i started this quest line by getting distracted from chapter III

[midnakoopa]

[dumbledearme]

chapter twenty-two—and our regrets

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act III — Deep Blue Sea

Part VII — There will be times in this journey, all you'll see is darkness. But out there somewhere, daylight finds you.

They reached the crest of a junk mountain. Piles of metal objects glinted in the moonlight. "Whoa," Bianca said. "This stuff... some of it looks like real gold."

"It is," Thalia said looking around cautiously. "Like Andy said, don't touch anything. This is the junkyard of the gods."

"Look!" Bianca said. She raced down hill, tripping over bronze coils and golden plates. She picked up a bow that glowed silver in the moonlight. "A Hunter's bow!" She yelped in surprise as the bow shrunk and became a hair clip. "It's just like Andy's sword."

"And you call this junk?" Grover commented.

Zoë's face was grim. "Leave it, Bianca."

"But—"

"It is here for a reason. Anything thrown away in this junkyard must stay in this yard. It is defective. Or cursed."

Bianca set the clip down.

"I don't like this place," Thalia said. "Zoë's right. Things get thrown away here for a reason. Now, come on. Let's cross this yard."

After several hours of walking - and stopping to check the cool stuff around -, they saw the edge of the junkyard. "We're almost there," Zoë said. "Thank the gods."

But at that moment there was a sound like a thousand trash compactors crushing metal. Andy whirled around. Behind them, a bronze giant in full Greek armor, impossibly tall, gleamed wickedly in the moonlight. He looked down at them, and his face was deformed. The left side was partially melted off.

"Talos!" Zoë gasped.

"What the hell is a Talos?" Andy asked.

"One of Hephaestus's creations," Thalia said. "But that can't be the original. It's too small. A prototype, maybe. A defective model."

The metal giant drew his sword.

"Someone took something," Zoë deducted. "Who was it?" and she stared accusingly at Andy.

"Hey! I may be a lot of things, but I am no thief!"

Bianca also glanced at Andy, but her expression was different. It seemed almost... guilty.

Talos took a step toward them. "Run!" Grover yelped.

They split up, drawing their weapons. Andy rushed to Bianca's side. "It was you," she accused. "You took something!"

"No!" Bianca lied, her voice quivering.

"Give it back, Bianca! Throw it down!"

"I... I didn't... I'm sorry. I think it's too late!"

"What did you take?" Before Bianca could answer a shadow blotted out the sky. "Move!" Andy tore down the hill, Bianca right behind her, as the giant's foot smashed a crater in the ground where they'd been hiding.

Bianca brought out of her pocket a trading card. "It was for Nico," she said. "He doesn't have this one!" There were tears in her dark eyes.

"Throw it away!" Andy shouted. "Maybe he will leave us alone!"

Bianca dropped it reluctantly, but nothing happened. The giant kept coming. Thalia made a blue arc of lightning shot out of her spear and hit the monster. But it didn't matter. It raised its foot to stomp and Andy saw that his sole was threaded like the bottom of a sneaker. There was a hole in his heel, like a large manhole.

"Crazy-idea time," Andy said. "There may be a way to control the thing. Switches or something. We need to get inside."

"How? We'd have to stand under its foot!"

"We just need to distract it," Andy said. "Time it right."

Bianca was thoughtful. "Alright," she decided. "I'll go."

"What? No! You could die. I'll go."

"This is all my fault," she shook her head. "I thought I could escape from all responsibilities, but... I have to do this, Andy." She picked up the card from the ground and pressed into Andy's hand. "If anything happens, give that to Nico. Tell him... Tell him that I am sorry."

"Bianca, don't do this!"

But the young Huntress did not listen. She charged at the monster's left foot. Thalia had the giant's attention. Bianca got right next to the giant's foot, trying to balance herself.

"What are you doing?" Zoë yelled.

"Get it to raise its foot!" she said.

Andy called the giant and ran up to its big toe and stabbed it with Riptide. Talos looked down at her and raised his foot to squash her like a bug. Andy couldn't see what Bianca was doing; she had to turn and run. The foot came down about two inches behind her and she was knocked into the air. She hit something hard and sat up, dazed.

The monster was about to finish her off. "Andy!" Thalia shouted running her way, but it was hopeless. The giant raised his sword – and then it froze. Talos cocked his head to one side, like he was hearing strange new music. He started moving his arms and legs in weird ways, then he made a fist and punched himself in the face.

"Yes, Bianca!" Andy cheered.

Zoë looked horrified. "She is inside?"

The monster staggered around endangering them. Thalia grabbed Andy's arm and ran with Grover toward the highway. Zoë was already ahead of them. "How will she get out?"

The giant hit itself in the head again and dropped his sword. A shudder ran through his whole body and he staggered toward the power lines. The giant's ankle snared the lines, and blue flickers of electricity shot up his body. Talos careened back into the junkyard, but he was falling apart now. He crumbled from the top down: his head, his chest, and finally, his legs collapsed.

The others ran to him. When they reached the wreckage, they searched frantically, calling Bianca's name. They crawled around in the vast hollow pieces and the legs and the head. They searched until the sun started to rise.

Zoë sat down and wept. Thalia yelled in rage an impaled her sword in the giant's smashed face.

"It's light now," Andy said. "We're going to find her."

"No, we won't," Grover said miserably. "It happened just as it was supposed to."

"What?"

He stared at Andy with tears in his eyes. "The prophecy. One shall be lost in the land without rain."

At the edge of the dump, they found a tow truck. Thalia had to drive, she was the only one who had her shit together. Zoë sat on the front with her, while Grover and Andy were behind.

Andy caressed the card Bianca had tried to steal. What was she going to tell Nico? She had made him a promise. How could she explain she'd lost his sister? "It should've been me," she whispered. "I shouldn't have left her-"

"Don't say that," Grover took her hand. "Anthony is gone, and now Bianca... I wouldn't be able to deal with... if..." he sniffled. "Do you think anybody else would be my best friend?"

"Ah, Grover..."

Andy tried to comfort the satyr. Grover looked extremely fragile and emotional. That wild wind of Pan had really messed with him.

When the road ended, they had to continue on foot. The desert went in all directions. They decided to go farther upstream, following the river. Zoë was not speaking to anybody and Andy worried about how bad she looked. She tried to keep with the Hunter's stride and said, "What happened to Bianca was not your fault. It was mine. I let her go."

Zoë shoulders slumped. "No, Andy. I pushed her into going on the quest. I was too anxious. She was a powerful half-blood. She had a kind heart, as well. I... I thought she was going to be the next lieutenant."

"But... you're the lieutenant."

Zoë suddenly seemed exhausted. "Nothing can last forever. Nothing should. Over two thousand years I have led the Hunt, and my wisdom has not improved. Now Artemis herself is in danger."

"That's not your fault either."

"If I had insisted on going with her-"

"Yeah, well, if I hadn't tried so hard to prove that I'm better than Thalia, Anthony wouldn't be gone. If I hadn't been jealous and childish and stupid. If, if, if. There was nothing you could've done, Zoë. We can't keep doing this. Asking ourselves 'what if'. We need to move forward. We need to be strong. We need to live... with our regrets."

Zoë didn't answer. The cliffs around the river were getting taller and they were getting out of breath. But Andy was not in the mood for silence.

"You've made my sword," she said.

"Who told thee?"

"I had dream."

Zoë studied her. "It was a gift. Yet another mistake."

"Who was he?"

Zoë shook her head. "Do not make me say his name. I swore never to speak it again."

"You act like I should know him."

"I am sure you do. Every girl wanted to have him and every boy wanted to be him. I believe nothing has changed in all these years."

Her voice was so bitter Andy decided not to push her. "And your mother was a water goddess?"

"Yes. Pleione. She had five daughters. The Hesperides."

"Were those the girls who lived in a garden with the golden apple tree and a dragon guarding it?"

"Yes," Zoë said, wistfully. "Ladon."

"But I thought there were only four sisters."

"There are now. I was exiled. Forgotten. Blotted out as if I never existed."

"Why?"

"Because I betrayed my family to help a boy. That's why I don't care much for you. You have that look in your eyes... I remember it all too well. After his direct assault on Ladon failed, I gave him the idea of how to steal the apples, how to trick my father, but he took all the credit. You won't find that on the legend, of course. He never spoke of me."

"But-"

"Look!" exclaimed Thalia. "Hoover Dam."

They stood at the river's edge, looking up at a curve of concrete that loomed down between the cliffs. People were walking along the top of the dam.

Andy grinned. "Seven hundred feet tall," she said. "Built in the 1930's."

"Five million cubic acres of water," Thalia added.

Grover sighed. "Largest construction project in the United States."

Zoë stared at them. "How do you know all that?"

"Anthony," Andy explained, her heart pounding.

"He was nuts about monuments," Thalia said.

"Spouted facts all the time," Grover sniffled. "So annoying."

Andy's eyes hurt. "No, it wasn't."

Zoë was still staring at them strangely, but Andy didn't care. Her mind was frozen with the cruel fate: this was one of Anthony's personal favorites, and he wasn't here to see it.

"I want to go up there. Please? So I can tell him when... when we find him."

"You're completely lost," Zoë said, enigmatically. "But that's where the road is."

They walked for almost an hour before they found a path that led up to the road. Then they straggled back toward the dam. It was cold and windy up there. Grover kept sniffing the wind and looking nervous. He didn't say anything, but Andy knew he smelled monsters. "How close are they?"

He shook his head. "Maybe not close. The wind on the dam, the desert around us... the scent can probably carry for miles. But it's coming from several directions. I don't like that."

"There's a snack bar in the visitor center," Thalia said.

"You've been here before?" Andy asked.

"Once. To see the guardians." She pointed to the far end of the dam where there were two big bronze statues. "They were dedicated to Zeus. A gift from Athena." She smiled, her mind far away and Andy realized how much she liked Thalia when they weren't fighting.

"Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoë said. "We should eat while we can."

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"

Zoë blinked. "Yes. What is funny?"

"Nothing," Grover said. "I could use some dam french fries."

"And I want to buy a dam T-shirt," added Thalia. Before they noticed, they were cracking up, while Zoë watched them, puzzled.

"I do not understand that reference," she said.

As Andy laughed, she heard a moo. "You heard that?" she asked.

"Not a dam thing," Thalia chuckled.

"Are you okay?" Grover asked, the smile melting off his face.

"Yeah," Andy said. "You guys go ahead. I'll only take a minute."

They hesitated, but went into the visitor center without her. Andy jogged to the north edge of the dam and looked over. "Moo."

She was about thirty feet below in the lake, but Andy could see her clearly, Bessie, the cow serpent. "What are you doing here, Bessie?"

"Moo!" Her voice was urgent, like she was trying to warn Andy of something.

"How did you get here?"

"Moo!" Bessie wanted Andy to come with her. Andy wasn't sure how, but she understood. Bessie was telling her to hurry.

"I can't..." she told the cow. Bessie did a flip and disappeared into the water. Andy hesitated. Something was wrong. Bessie was trying to warn her of that. She followed the road with her eyes until she saw them - two skeleton men walking slowly toward her.

Andy ran to the visitor center. There were more coming. She bolted down the stairs and through the museum entrance. She ran through the exhibits and walked behind a tour group. She uncapped Riptide.

She got to the opposite side of the balcony and heard a sharp noise behind her. Without thinking, she spun, slashing with her sword. The girl she had tried to slash yelped. "Oh my God!" she shouted. "Do you always try to kill people for sneezing?"

"You're mortal!"

The red-headed looked at Andy in disbelief. "What is that supposed to mean? Of course I'm mortal! How did you get that sword to pass security?"

"I didn't- Wait, you can see it's a sword?"

The girl rolled her eyes. "Well, it's either a sword or the biggest toothpick in the world," she said. "And why didn't it hurt me? I mean, not that I am complaining. Who are you? And, whoa, what is that you're wearing? Is that real fur?" She talked so fast Andy was getting dizzy.

Andy tried to concentrate and snapped her fingers like Thalia had done at Westover Hall. "You do not see a sword," she told the girl. "It is just a ballpoint pen."

The red-headed blinked. "It's a sword, weirdo."

"Who are you?" Andy demanded.

She huffed indignantly. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Now, are you going to answer my questions or should I scream for security?"

"Don't scream! I mean, I'm in a hurry. I'm in trouble."

The red-headed looked over Andy's shoulder and her eyes widened. "Bathroom!" She grabbed Andy's arm and pushed her inside the bathroom. Andy leaned on the door and heard the skeletons moving outside.

"Oh my God!" Rachel was saying to them. "Did you see that kid? It's about time you got here. She tried to kill me! She had a sword, for God's sake. You security guys let a sword-swinging lunatic inside a national landmark? I mean, jeez! She ran that way toward those turbine thingies. I think she went over the side or something. Maybe she fell!"

The skeletons moved off. Rachel opened the bathroom door. "All clear. But you better hurry." She looked shaken, her face gray and sweaty.

"I owe you one, Rachel Elizabeth Dare"

"What are those things?" she asked. "They looked like skeletons."

"Do yourself a favor... Forget you ever saw me."

"But who are you?"

The skeletons turned around. "Gotta go!" and Andy bolted for the exit. She found Thalia, Zoë and Grover eating. "We need to leave," she gasped. "Now!"

Zoë stood up, cursing in Ancient Greek. "She's right. Look!"

The skeletons entered the snack bar and started to surround them. Then Grover had a brilliant idea. "Burrito fight!" He shouted and started throwing his food. Everyone went crazy throwing food, shrieking and screaming. Bodies and food and drinks were flying everywhere.

In the chaos, Andy and the others raced downstairs. They raced across the street to the pavilion with the winged statues. The skeletons moved forward.

Andy glanced at the statues. "Thalia..." she whispered. "Pray to your dad."

Thalia glared at her. "He never answers."

"He will now. Ask for help. The statues might... give us some luck contacting him." The skeletons kept coming their way. "Do it!" Andy urged her.

"No!" Thalia said. "He never answers, Andy."

"Ask him for help!"

"Try it," Grover pleaded.

Thalia closed her eyes. Her lips moved in a silent prayer. The skeletons closed in. Then the bronze angels stepped in front of them and slashed outward, sending the skeletons flying across the road.

"Man, it feels good to stand up!" the first angel said.

A few of the skeletons were getting up again. "Trouble!" Andy shouted.

"Get us out of here," Thalia yelled.

Both angels looked down at her. "Zeus's kid?"

"Yes!"

"Could I get a please, Miss Zeus's kid?"

"Please!"

The angels looked at each other and shrugged. "Could use a stretch," one decided. And next thing, they grabbed them and flew straight up, over the dam and the river, the skeleton warrior shrinking to tiny specks below them.

"Tell me when it's over," Thalia yelled, her eyes tightly shut.

[cielowrites]

FFXV Scenarios - Ignis/Retainer!Reader (pt. ii) 

i / ii /iii

Bumpy road trip is finally a go, folks! Seeing how big of an idea this is to me, there is definitely going to be a couple more parts to this and maybe even a drabble or two in the future?? We’ll see how it goes  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

These points cover Chapters 1-6 of the game so if you don’t want to spoil yourself too much just remember to keep that in mind while you read this.

For now, please enjoy!

All is well for the first few hours, you’re smushed between Gladio and Noctis in the back while Ignis and Prompto are in the front.  “Nice driving, Prompto! Keep up the good work!”  “Awww thanks (Y/N) you’re too ki- what’s that sound??” 

You don’t want to say that Ignis is giving you a look but he’s giving you the look for your impeccable timing and you’re pushing the car along with the others. Gladio asks why you aren’t in the driver’s seat, keeping the car in line and you reply that it’s better if Ignis does it. Who knows what else could happen with both you and Prompto in this magical trip. 

You’re trying your best not to get distracted by the sights around because this is probably the first or third time you’ve been out of Insomnia, and there’s just so many great landscapes that you want to take in and maybe take pictures of with your phone. You’re very tempted to let the others do the heavy pushing, but you know that Prompto and Noctis are probably thinking of letting Gladio do it all by himself so you push through it. 

“Why does your family have black as its official color. I’m dying in my fatigues here.”  “Don’t ask me, ask my ancestors.”  “Fuck your ancestors for wanting to be edgy, but thank the Six that they have you and your dad.”

Oh, look, civilization! You want to fall to the ground and maybe promise Cindy your first-born for fixing up the Regalia and- How much are the repairs you say?? What’s a gil? 

Ignis insists that you stay with the car while he and the boys get the funds they need to pay for the repairs but you insist back that you can be of use. Another majority rules are enacted and you’re running around trying to be helpful. 

Trying being the keyword here. Training with some of the Crownsguard is not the same as fighting varmints and you become aware of that immediately. It doesn’t help that you’re having a hard time with your rifle at close range and almost passed out a few times beside Prompto. 

You can feel the prince’s advisor-to-be’s stare at your back and it is not helping you concentrate on the fight. Gladio told you not to let it mess with you and reassures you that you’re doing fine, this is a change of pace for you so you won’t get it right the first time.  

Ignis is just worried that this is too much for you and you won’t be able to fulfill your job. It certainly looked like that when you were pinned down and he had to save you

Your mistakes began to pile up until you reach Galdin Quay, and at this point you accept the menial tasks such as car-sitting, fixing up camp (you are NOT to touch anything involving the stove) and other things Ignis assigned you to do. Noctis tries to get you back into going into hunts with them but you tell him that it’s fine, that fighting wasn’t even your job in the first place.  “Family stuff, you know? I wasn’t meant to fight.”  “But you’re a great shot, (Y/N)! You just need practice and-!”  “Your Highness. Please just... Stop... It’s okay.”  It hurts that you used his title, so he keeps quiet about it for now. 

Does Ignis feel bad about this? He does because he knows you work so hard to make up for your mistakes by putting 10x the effort you did before for the past few years he’s known you, but for now it’s strategically not enough for Noctis’ safety and yours as well. 

He makes the mistake of you telling you the last part first which results in you cutting him off before he tells you the rest of his thoughts and say ‘I get it. Thank you for your honesty, Scientia, sir’ and walk away to compose yourself before you start crying in front of the one person you’re trying your best to prove yourself to. Specs isn’t really sure how to go about this and goes his way, wondering how to make it up to you.

How’s he going to trust you if you’re not enough? You want to tell Prompto this when he joins you during your turn on watch, but you don’t want to stack your own insecurities on his so the two of you play King’s Knight together until it’s Gladio’s turn to be the lookout. 

Speaking of stacking, hearing about the attack on Insomnia felt like an arrow to the chest. Was your family alright? Did they manage to make it out of the city before it got really bad? This sent you in an overwhelming state of panic when paired with your already high emotions. 

It took seeing Noctis’ distressed expression when he found out his father died to finally set a fire in you. While Ignis and Gladio were telling him to pull through, albeit in their own ways, and Prompto tried to keep his spirits up, you were the one he could honestly talk to when they had a moment to catch their breath searching for the first Royal Arm (You insisted on coming along just for Noctis and promised to stay out of the fight, unless necessary)

It hit you just how important your job was not just for the new king, but for your friend. He chose you which said a lot. It meant that at least he thought you were worth the trouble and that jump started your renewed dedication to protect him alongside the others.

Ignis noticed a new look in your eyes after all five of you and Cor took down the Niff base, where you proved yourself by taking out MTs on the high ground take that Anakin! I mean with your rifle and defending yourself with your lance. 

The Marshal actually complimented you on the hard shots you had to make while they fought. Flustered beyond belief because whoa this man is like, the best of the best in the Crownsguard, you managed a thank you and asked for some pointers before he left to his own business.  

Cue the teasing and some compliments from the boys, except the strategist who remained  silent for a while. “He was totally checking you out (Y/N).”  “Shut it, Gladio. The guy’s old enough to be my dad and I’m not into that.”  “That was the best shooting I’ve ever seen you do (Y/N)! Let’s train sometime!”  “It.. was probably just a fluke, Prompt. Plus, it was a team effort under the Marshal’s orders.”  “... I’m good at giving orders too...”  “Huh? What was that?”  “Nothing.”

Welcome to Lestallum! After meeting up with Iris, you decide to continue to stay and look after the younger Amicitia while the boys go to the Disc. This surprises them, especially after that base infiltration. You tell them that it’s for best that there aren’t too many of them going to the Archaean and that you’ll only get in the way Not to mention you didn't like the odd man with the funny hat, he gave you the creeps 

Ignis feels somewhat... offended??? Now that he’s seen what potential you had, did you not trust him to look out for you in a fight? He couldn’t have been that bad could he? He doesn’t voice this outloud, but you and the others can tell something was up when he was being short with you when you saw them off. You tried your best to brush it off, but it did hurt some.

You knew that this was going to take them a while, so what do you do to pass the time? Go on hunts by yourself and have Iris cover you just in case of course! The Marshal’s advice for you was to learn how to defend yourself before you could even hope to do the same for others. This was your own personal quest of growth, and Iris, Talcott, and Jared wished you luck.

It’s tough and scary at first, you decide to take the first few hunts with some hunters who were willing to help you out before going off on your own. You start to further develop your fighting style and you feel great! You can actually take on a few monsters yourself! 

These hunts don’t take you too far from Lestallum so you come back in what you thought was a good  time before the prince and the rest return since you heard that the Archaen disappeared. You’re excited to tell Iris and Talcott about your adventures, how you can actually cook something now and-    What do you mean they’re stranded? How the hell did they end up all the way in a chocobo farm?? You’ve always wanted to go to a chocobo farm wtf guys?? 

This is the first time you’ve ever scolded Noctis, and the other three can hear you from his phone. The past few days of being around hunters gave you quite the confidence boost and the poor guy is a little confused but manages to reassure you that they’re fine and Cindy’s looking for the car and-     “Wait, you LOST the REGALIA??? HOW CAN YOU LOSE A CAR THAT BIG YOU LITTLE- That’s it! I’m helping you look for the car. Sit tight and look pretty.”  “(Y/N) wait! You can’t just-    ...Guys, they said they’re going to look for the car.” 

Ignis sends you a strongly worded text to stay put in Lestallum since you refuse to answer your phone, but you reply with updates on the search instead. There’s a lengthy period where you don’t answer for a few days and he’s internally freaking out at this point. He’s doing his best to support Noctis as he formed a covenant with Ramuh, but the thought of you all by yourself out there... scares him. The others were worried as well, the prince especially, but Iggy’s worries seem to be on par with him looking out for Noct. 

When Noct gets the call from Cindy that you saw the the Regalia in a Niflheim base he asked where you were.  “Not too sure... They were kinda in a rush when they called me ta let ya know where the Regalia is. Sounded real winded too. They told me ta let you boys know that they’re doing just fine and they’ll meet with ya in Lestallum.”

They book it to the base while your hands were full of fighting off MTs to keep away from Iris and Talcott. Jared died right in front of you and you were shamefully spared by the Niflheim commander that killed him. Hearing about death was one thing, but watching it happen before your eyes was something you’re not going to be able to shake off. 

You’ve gained quite a collection of wounds and scars from hunts and brawling with Niffs, that the boys almost didn’t recognize you when they saw you sitting beside Iris. You let her break the news to them and when you saw Talcott, you hobbled out of the room to comfort him. If you couldn’t save Jared, you sure as hell were going to make sure that his grandson was going to be protected. 

You’re more withdrawn during the ride to Caem. Since you, Iris, and Talcott can’t all fit in the Regalia, you decided to take a motorcycle to trail the car. Better to have the younger ones in the car while you and Prompto took the rear. 

While driving, Ignis can’t help but keep glancing at the rear view to make sure you were all right. You weren’t exactly in the best shape, what with the bruises on you and the way you limped after Talcott earlier. What have you been doing while they were away? 

It isn’t until they’ve spotted an Imperial base with the very man who killed Jared that you started to talk again. It scared them how different you are since they left you. Gladio is a little more receptive to this new you but does try to get you the way you were. He knew that Noctis and Prompto weren't sure how to even start, and Ignis was busy planning how they were going to infiltrate the base. Sparring seemed to help you come back from that unfeeling state you were in.

Just because Specs was busy doesn’t mean that he wasn’t going to be worried about your well-being. He surprised you by asking about your thoughts on how they should approach the base.  “From one... retainer to another. Not to mention you’ve fought with them, yes? I would like your insight on that.”  “Oh, um... Of course, Scientia, sir.”  “Just Ignis is fine. We’re equals, are we not?” 

You’re not sure if he’s aware how happy you feel at that moment, but you play it as cool as you can and planned out the attack alongside him. Little did you know that he already knew the answer to his question, he just needed to find a way to talk to you and this seemed to work out well. Plus, you had some great suggestions that helped him better develop his game plan. 

Noctis decided to teach you how to warp with your lance since your primary weapon is best used when you’ve got a better view of the place. In comes your clumsiness once again, but this time you’ve learned to work with it and woooo are the boys impressed.  “Did Cor drop by Lestallum and train you or something, (Y/N)?”  “That would be really cool and yes, he kinda has something to do with it but uh...”  “... But...?”  “I’ve been, um, hunting. By myself.”  “Well, (Y/N), hunting’s a good skill to have out he  ”  “Not that kind of hunting. I meant the ones like Deadeye and Jumbo Flans.”  

Of course Gladio and Prompto were very proud of you, look how much you’ve grown from where you started! Noctis gave you a nod of acknowledgement and a nudge on the shoulder, he always knew you could take care of yourself. You got an earful from Ignis but you knew he meant well. You’re not as tearful as you were before, giving him a smile instead. 

You missed the look on his face from your smile when you turned away. It was as if he got struck by lightning, but without the spasms looking right at you, Noct

Capturing the Imperial base’s commander went rather smoothly until Aranea came in. While the four fought with her, you decided to go through avenging Jared and shot the commander down when he tried to slip away. You felt rather sick after his body fell, but you turned your attention back to the fight and kept the mercenary from landing her hits on Noctis in the air. 

You felt more at peace now that you’ve avenged Jared and Ignis can see that. He started talking to you more, asking how you’re feeling and if you need help with anything. You’re not sure to respond to this and one day you tell him straight up that you can take care of yourself now. That you can protect Noctis and the rest of them too.  “So I’ve noticed (Y/N). You’ve become more capable than ever but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry any less than before. I’ve come to trust you a great deal now and... I want you to be able to put the same in me, despite what I’ve said in the past.” 

Specs wasn't sure what your wide-eyed expression and silence is supposed to mean, so he clears his throat to get your attention. You blink a few times and finally let out this half-laugh, half-sob with the biggest smile you’ve ever made.  “Are you kidding me, Ignis? I trusted you then and still do to this day. With my life. I... don’t think you’d want to trust me that much.”  

You start to ramble a bit, telling him how he basically motivated you to be better ever since Noctis made you his personal retainer and even though that one time he said you weren’t enough brought you down, it gave you something to work for. 

Ignis was quick to clear up what he didn’t get to say back then, that he knew how hard you work and how amazed he is with how deep your dedication is to Noctis. He may have said what he said, but you were the one who took the steps to make it happen and because of that he trusts you to look out for him.  “... Heh, just you?”  “Wha- and the others as well of course. The point is, I trust you.” 

He didn’t think your smile could get even bigger and brighter than when he first said he said those words, but he was quickly proven wrong.  “... I’ve always wanted to hear you say that to me. Thank you, Ignis. Please continue to trust me to look out for you.” 

It’s a good thing Noctis called you over to play King’s Knight with him and Prompto, because Ignis.exe has stopped working after you told him that. Is that how much you’ve trusted him? Even after all those harsh words when he was younger and didn’t know better? How long have you looked up to him? Did you value his words even more than the prince’s? What??? What does mean??

It’s Gladio that immediately noticed a slight change between you and Ignis after all of you held a small memorial for Jared. It wasn’t anything obvious, but it’s how subtle it is that caught his eye. You aren’t as worried or tense as you used to be around Specs and he had more care in his voice whenever he spoke with you. 

The big guy really wanted to see how this would go on, but he’s got a few things to take care of by himself...

Wooo that was very long, it’s less meme-y than the previous one but that’s mostly because I wanted this to grow more. 

Stay tuned for part 3! 

[dumbledearme]

chapter twenty—swept out to sea

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act III — Deep Blue Sea

Part V — The power to be strong and the wisdom to be wise. All these things will come to you in time.

Andy took off the invisibility cap and ran across the Mall, not daring to look behind her. She ran straight into Thalia and both of them fell on the ground. Grover yelped in surprise.

"You!" Zoë exclaimed. "How dare you show thy face here?"

"Andy!" Grover said. "Thank goodness!"

"No time to argue," she said, disentangling herself from Thalia. "Thorn, Luke and the General are here and they have an army of skeletons. We need to bolt!"

"The General is here?" asked Zoë, stunned. "That is impossible!" She tried to calm herself. "If... If there is a chance that he is here, we must leave now."

"Yes!" Andy agreed. "Let's move!"

"I was not including thee, child of land and sea," she said. "You are not part of this quest."

"I am trying to help you!"

"You shouldn't have come, Andy," Thalia said grimly. "But since you're here, I don't see why we should leave you."

"That is not thy decision," Zoë said.

Thalia scowled at her. "You're not the boss around here, Nightshade. I don't care how old you are, you are still a conceited little brat!"

"You two are the same!" Zoë snapped. "You don't have wisdom when it comes to boys. You can't leave them behind! And that makes both of you unreliable and dangerous. I will not let you jeopardize this quest!"

Thalia was about to hit the Hunter when a growl so loud made all of them freeze. "The Nemean Lion," she pointed. The animal roared.

"Separate on mark," Zoë said. "Try to keep it distracted."

"Until when?" Grover whispered.

"Until I think of a way to kill it. Go!"

Andy uncapped Riptide and rolled to the left. Zoë and Bianca were firing arrows, Grover was playing his reed pipes, and Thalia attacked holding up Aegis. The lion was about to pounce on her, when Andy called, "Hey, kitty!"

She charged at it, slashing her sword like a mad person, but the lion raked her with its claws, ripping off a chunk of her leather jacket, the one Anthony had given her a long time ago.

The lion sprang at her, one thousand pounds of monster, and Andy had no choice but to turn and jump. Thalia landed by her side and the lion regarded them both. But this was Andy's fight. She was the one who needed to prove her value to the group.

The lion was cocky and when it opened its mouth to roared, Andy attacked. She shoved Riptide in its mouth impaling the lion's head. There was a sharp pain in her arm where a canine pierced her. It hurt even more when she pulled it off.

The lion lied dead on the ground. People around ran wildly around the museum. Andy's blood splashed across the floor. Grover came to her size and immediately started working on that.

Zoë eyed Andy cautiously. "That was... efficient." The lion melted until all that was left was a lion's pelt. "Take it," Zoë said. "You earned it."

Grover helped Andy take off the leather jacket. She didn't want part with it, but it was definitely ruined. "That was mine, you know," Thalia said, sadly. "I was surprised when he told me he'd given it to you. But I guess it looked better on you."

Andy didn't say anything. She wasn't sure how she felt about that information. Grover gave her some ambrosia and wrapped her arm with bandages. Then she picked up the pelt. The fur was smooth and soft. She put it around her shoulders.

"We need to go," Grover said. "The guards won't stay confused for long."

Andy glanced around. The guards were wondering around the Museum, going every direction except theirs. "You did this?"

He nodded. "A minor confusion song. But it's fading."

Then the skeletons started to appear.

"Go," Andy said gripping Riptide. Her arm still hurt, but she did her best to keep the sword lifted. "I'll distract them."

"No," Zoë said. "We go together."

"But you said-"

"You are a part of this quest now," she gave in. "I do not like it, but there is no changing fate. You are the fifth quest member. And we do not leave anyone behind."

When they got outside, they saw the helicopter coming toward them. "They know the van," Andy said. "We need to ditch it."

"There!" Bianca said. "That parking lot!"

"We'll be trap," Zoë argued.

"Trust me," Bianca insisted. They did as she said. A few minutes later, they were safely aboard a southbound train, riding away from D.C.

"Nice job, Bianca," Grover let out a sigh.

She looked pleased. "I saw that station when Nico and I came through last summer. I remember being really surprised to see it, because it wasn't here when we used to live in D.C."

Grover frowned. "New? But it looked old."

"When we lived here," she said, "there was no subway."

Thalia sat forward. "No subway at all?"

Bianca nodded. Everyone stared at her confused. "Bianca," Zoë said. "How long ago-" But the sound of the helicopter silenced her. They changed trains another two times after that. They had no idea where they were going, but they managed to lose the helicopter.

When they reached the end of the line, they were left at a industrial area. They wandered the railway yard until they found one of those automobile-carrier trains. Inside, each one of them chose a car to rest. Zoë and Bianca crashed out in a Lexus on the top deck. Grover went for the Lamborghini. And Thalia had hot-wired the radio in a black Mercedes SLK.

"Can I join you?" Andy asked. Thalia shrugged.

"It looks good on you," she said pointing at the lion's pelt. "Everything looks good on you."

"That is not true, trust me." She tried to smile. "Oh, a shame it wasn't the monster we're looking for. It'd be one less problem to worry about."

"Like we're that lucky."

"Yeah, well. Any ideas of what it might be?"

Thalia shook her head. "But you know where we're going, right? San Francisco. Where Tony was headed."

"What's so freaking bad about San Francisco?"

"The Mist is really thick there because the Mountain of Despair is so near. Titan magic – what's left of it – still lingers. Monsters are attracted to that area like you wouldn't believe."

"What's the Mountain of Despair?"

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "You really don't know much, do you? Ask stupid Zoë. She's the expert."

Andy scowled. "Stop acting like you're better than me. Knowing more than I do isn't that big of a deal. Everyone knows more than I do. But I'm not a complete moron. I can put two and two together. I know you don't like Zoë because she tried to recruit you. I see it in your face every time you look at her."

Thalia's eyes got dangerously bright. "I almost joined them. We ran into them once and Zoë tried to convince me. But-"

"You were in love with Luke," Andy finished for her.

Thalia's fingers gripped the wheel. "We had a fight. Zoë said I was being stupid. She said I'd regret my choice. She said he would break my heart."

"I'm sorry. That she said that. That she was right."

"She was NOT right!" Thalia shouted. "Luke never broke my heart! He never did anything to hurt me! He-"

"You haven't seen him lately," Andy warned her. "I know it's hard for you, but-"

"You don't know anything, Jackson!"

"Thalia-"

She took a deep breath. "Get the hell out of my car."

Andy blinked. "I just want to help. I want to understand-"

"Out."

Andy sighed. When she got out of the car, Thalia spoke again. "You want to understand, Jackson? If this were Anthony we were talking about... Would you give up on him?" Before Andy could answer, Thalia raised the power windows and shut her out completely.

Sad, alone and confused, Andy picked a convertible for herself and sat there, thinking of Anthony. It was unreal to be this long, in the world of demigods, without him. He was the most important part of this world. She struggled to stay awake, afraid of what she might see in her dreams.

"Do not be afraid of dreams," said Apollo appearing in the front seat beside her. "If it weren't for dreams, I wouldn't know half the things I know about the future."

"What are you doing here?"

"Ooh," he hissed. "Nobody messes with my little sister. Nobody."

"Hot," she whispered. "I mean, god! Where... where is Artemis?" Andy felt herself blush.

His face darkened. "I know a lot and I see a lot, but even I don't know that."

"What about Anthony?"

"Nope."

"What about the monster Artemis was seeking?"

"Nah."

"Then I don't think you know that much..."

"Hey, watch it, fishy. I know someone who might. Seek Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea in San Francisco. He has the gift of knowledge."

"So he knows more than you do? That's a start."

Apollo grinned. "Teasing. I like it. I shall write a good haiku about you, child of land and sea. Now, get some sleep."

It was nighttime. The man was wearing the Namean Lion's pelt. He was running, being pulled along by Zoë Nightshade. "Hurry," she urged. "He will find us!"

"I'm not afraid," the man told her.

"You should be," she said pulling him up the hill.

"There is no need to run," he said. "I have bested a thousand monsters with my bare hands."

"Not this one," Zoë argued. "Ladon is too strong. You must go around, up the mountain to my father. It is the only way." There was hurt in her voice. She was really concerned for him.

"I don't trust your father," he said.

"You should not," she agreed. "You will have to trick him. But you cannot take the prize directly. You will die!"

He chuckled. "Then why don't you help me, pretty one?"

"I... I am afraid. Ladon will stop me. My sisters, if they found out... they would disown me."

"Then there's nothing for it." He stood up, rubbing his hands together.

"Wait!" Zoë seemed to be agonizing over a decision. She plucked a white brooch from her hair. "If you must fight, take this. My mother, Pleione, gave it to me. She was a daughter of the ocean, and the ocean's power is within it. My immortal power. Take it and make of it a weapon."

Her voice softened his heart. He reached down and took the hairpin, and as he did, it grew longer and heavier in his hand, until it became a bronze sword. "What shall I name this blade?"

"Anaklusmus," Zoë said, sadly. "The current that takes one by surprise. And before you know it, you have been swept out to sea." Before he could thank her, there was a trampling sound in the grass. "Too late," she panted. "He is here!"

They arrived on the outskirts of a little ski town nestled in the mountains. The air was cold and thin. Andy was avoiding both Thalia and Zoë, for very different reasons, of course, so she walked behind them with Grover and Bianca.

"How do you like being a Hunter so far?" she asked the girl, trying to focus on something else aside the cold.

"It's nice. Everything seemed to have slowed down around me. I think it's the immortality." Bianca looked down. "Nico didn't understand my decision. I don't blame him. It was selfish."

"He'll be alright," Andy assured her. "Most demigods go to Camp Half-Blood even younger. Anthony was nine."

Bianca nodded. "I do hope you find him. I can see how much you care."

"Yeah, well... Caring doesn't seem to do me any good."

"Don't be hard on yourself. As far as I'm concerned, you are the bravest demigod ever. You risked your life to save Nico and me. If it weren't for you... Well, let's just say I don't feel very guilty about leaving Nico at camp, because I know you'll be there to care for him."

The compliment caught Andy completely off guard. She thanked Bianca awkwardly. "What is the story with you and Nico? Where did you go to school before Westover?"

Bianca frowned. "I think it was a boarding school in D.C. It seems ages ago."

"You never lived with your parents? I mean, your mortal parent?"

"We were told we were orphans. There was a bank trust for us. A lot of money. A lawyer would come by once in a while to check on us. Then Nico and I had to leave that school."

"Why?"

She knit her eyebrows even more. "We had to go somewhere. I remember it was important. We traveled a long way. And we stayed in this hotel for a few weeks. And then... I don't know. One day a different lawyer came to get us. He said it was time for us to leave."

"That's weird. So you've been raising Nico pretty much all your life?"

She nodded. "That's why I wanted to join the Hunters so much. Like I said, it was selfish, but... I wanted my own friends and my own life. I love Nico. Very much. But... I gave up all these years for him, to take care of him, to make sure he grew up fine. Now, I want something else. Something for me."

"We should do the tracking spell," Zoë said, suddenly. "Do you have any acorns left, Grover?"

But right in that moment, Grover collapsed on the snow. They gathered around him, trying to wake him up. He groaned, his eyes fluttering.

"What is wrong with him?" Andy asked.

"I don't know. But we have to get out of here," Thalia said, looking behind them. Andy raised her head and saw the skeletons coming their way.

[allenmendezsr]

Back To Life! A Personal Grief Guidebook

New Post has been published on https://autotraffixpro.app/allenmendezsr/back-to-life-a-personal-grief-guidebook/

Back To Life! A Personal Grief Guidebook

 Buy Now    

“We lost our beautiful daughter, Amber LeAnn, two years ago. She drowned in the pool during the Easter egg hunt. There were a lot of kids over and no one realized she was missing until it was too late.”

“My son Colin died of an accidental prescription drug overdose and I am so lost without him. Please, is there anything you can do to help me with this terrible pain?”

“My Mom committed suicide two years ago. I have never cried about this. Is there something wrong with me?”

Heartbroken from grief…

Are you devastated by the loss of a loved one?

Bewildered by all the strong emotions and crazy symptoms?

Wondering how you are ever going to survive?

Tired of being stuck in complicated grief?

“Back To Life”, our Personal Grief Guidebook, provides just the answers you are looking for. Here we take you by the hand and guide you gently through the dark maze known as bereavement.

Dear Friend

You are likely here because you have experienced the horrible, painful loss of a loved one. And I am so very sorry for your loss.

In your quest to find help with your grief, you may have come across some “quick fixes” offered over the Internet. Shame on them! What could be worse than taking advantage of someone who is grappling with a tragic loss in their life like you are?

Sadly, there is no “quick fix” to grief, but there are more effective and comfortable ways to help mend your broken heart and lead you gently back to brighter days.

You may be one of those people who would never seek professional help, or lean on a support group, or even cry on the shoulder of a trusted friend. Your grief is just too personal and painful to share openly. If that describes you, then this guidebook is sure to help you. In the privacy of your own home, you will learn all about the stages of grief and how to survive each one.

Welcome to “Back to Life!“, our comprehensive and personal Guidebook to Grief.

Here you will learn:

Good, solid information on how the grief “process” really works.

Which symptoms of grief are normal, and which are dangerous warning signs.

Valuable and practical coping skills to help you get through each day.

Secrets to getting a good night’s restorative sleep without prescription drugs.

How to endure the holidays and thoughtless visitors.

How to identify and defuse anger, guilt, and regret.

Family changes to look for and how to keep your family intact through this tragedy.

Just the right activities and comforting rituals to help ease you through your darkest days.

Tried and true psychological exercises and strategies to help lessen the raw pain.

Satisfying and therapeutic creative expressions of grief.

Effective memorializing techniques to honor and remember your lost loved one.

How to cling to hope and move surely towards brighter days.

I realize that not all these techniques will help you… everyone’s grief is unique, and different coping styles and approaches will work for each person. But you are sure to find something here of great value to you on your bereavement journey.

Written by an experienced critical care nurse and certified grief counselor, our excellent handbook will guide you through despair and help you learn to embrace hope and joy once again. This enlightened and compassionate approach to grief recovery is sure to help lighten your heavy burden, leading you gently towards a successful resolution… and back to life once again.

Heartbroken from grief…

What’s In The Back To life Book?

Back to Life is a comprehensive, quality bereavement handbook. It consists of 73 pages that explore many aspects of grief in detail. There are 19 chapters or “lessons”, each addressing a different aspect of grief, a coping skill or a strategy for emotional survival:

Heartbroken from grief…

INTRODUCTION: You will survive! Outlines our 19 step program towards healthy resolution of grief.

I. THE EARLY STAGES OF GRIEF

Chapter 1.  In the Beginning… Is this for real? Acknowledging your pain and accepting the reality of the death. One simple thing you can do when you feel overwhelmed. Physical signs and strange sensations you might experience.

Chapter 2.  Tell Your Story – It’s normal to relive the events of the death and to tell your story many times over. Here are two comforting ways you can tell your story again… when no one is around to listen.

Chapter 3.  Indulge Your Grief – It’s important not to avoid or push grief away, especially in the beginning. Why your friends may try to distract you from your mourning; and how not to give in.

Chapter 4.  Forgive Them – Why would someone say something that stupid and hurtful to me at a time like this? How to handle thoughtless visitors and avoid adding emotional baggage to your burden.

Chapter 5.  Anger and Blame – So you are not mad about death? Identifying hidden anger points and a simple exercise to help defuse this destructive emotion. Chapter 6.  Relief and Guilt-  Of course you wish things had gone differently, but do you really deserve to feel guilty? This chapter presents a tried-and-true technique for ending the Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda mind game forever.

Chapter 7.  Celebrate a Life –  You’ll find it very therapeutic to create a memorial to your lost loved one. Here we present several project ideas to consider, as well as group activities to help other family members express their grief.

Chapter 8.  An Academy Award Performance… Why are my friends starting to avoid me? How to reach out for the love and support you desperately need right now.

II. DIG IN FOR THE LONG HAUL – THE MIDDLE STAGES OF GRIEF

Chapter 9.  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly- It’s normal in grief to glorify your lost beloved. Learn why it is important later to explore the negatives, and an easy exercise to help you do so. Chapter 10.  Uh oh, Christmas is Coming… A recurrent theme we hear over and over…. how hard it is to deal with holidays and anniversaries. This chapter provides great strategies to help make those special days more bearable, even enjoyable.

Chapter 11.  So What’s to Laugh About? Laugh? I can’t even smile! How to find glimmers of happiness to help you through the dark times.

Chapter 12.  Don’t grieve alone – No one you can rely on? How to ask for the help you need; and a special group of folks who “get it”.

Chapter 13.  Everyone needs a little help sometimes  – Some special sources of help you might not have thought about… Chapter 14.  What silver lining? Learn which decisions to avoid for now, and for how long. Finding meaning in the death. And a little soul searching will help you realize the positives in your new life.

III. ACCEPTANCE & RESOLUTION – THE END OF BEREAVEMENT

Chapter 15.  Saying Goodbye-  It is healthy late in bereavement to say goodbye to your lost one; to relinquish some of the grief.  Here we teach you an easy but effective way to bid farewell.

Chapter 16.  Box Up the Grief – At some point, you’ll realize you need to “compartmentalize” your grief, ease it into the background so you can cope long-term. Learn simple mental and physical techniques to help achieve this goal.

Chapter 17.  A New Beginning –  All about new relationships, new interests, and a new outlook on life.

Chapter 18.  Break the Vicious Cycle – Feel stuck in your bereavement? Tired of grieving? Ready to reclaim your freedom? Time for the big guns! Chapter 18 teaches you some very effective imagery techniques to help you take charge of your life and direct your own future.

Chapter 19. The End of Grief (Resolution) – How do you know when you are finished grieving? Signs of the resolution of grief; some helpful insights from the author.

2 WAYS TO GET “BACK TO LIFE”

Heartbroken from grief…

Back to Life is available in two forms: a printable e-book or an actual “hard copy” softcover manual. It also contains dozens of emotionally inspiring color photographs. You will want to share this beautiful book with your family or even order extra copies for others in need.

ORDER THE BOOK NOW

Heartbroken from grief? Then reach for help today. The e-Book costs just $17.95, and the hard copy is $19.95.

The ebook is instantly available in a quick, easy-to-download pdf format.

Getting your new guidebook online is simple with our clear instructions. And once downloaded, you can view your new book anytime on your desktop or laptop and/or print out a paper copy for easy access anytime, anywhere. Punch holes and place it into a notebook for a practical workbook/manual.

Below are some screenshots of actual pages in the manual:

ABOUT THE HARD COPY

We originally wrote the Grief Guidebook for ebook publication only, and it has been phenomenally successful. Then we started getting requests for “hard copies”.  Most of the inquiries have come from grief counselors, clergymen and nursing education departments who previewed it and wanted multiple copies.

So, to the publishers we went. And we found something out quickly… it’s expensive to publish a book!

But we finally found a printer who shaped our guide into an attractive paperback volume at a reasonable cost. It is 8″X10″ with full-color photographs. The pages and softcover are of quality stock. You’ll be pleased with it. Please note: We cannot ship hard copies to Australia.

Order the e-book if you want to economize and perhaps print it out yourself.  A hard copy is a much better option for gift-giving or personal “workbook” use.

Order your hard copy below.  We ship worldwide! Inquire about discount rates for multiple print copies. Please note: We cannot ship hard copies to Australia.

Heartbroken from grief…

You can pay for “Back to Life”  via our safe and secure, encrypted system with your credit card or PayPal. No hidden shipping or handling charges for the ebook. Hard copies will incur a standard shipping charge and will be mailed within three business days of payment.

OUR GUARANTEE

I am dedicated to helping you find peace and happiness once again, and I want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase of this book. I am so sure that you will find it helpful that I provide a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

GUARANTEE No-Questions-Asked Guarantee: If for any reason you don’t agree that this is the most effective and useful grief coping tool you have found, just email us within 8 weeks from your date of purchase – and we’ll issue you a 100% refund immediately.

You have 8 full weeks to read the helpful information and practice some of the emotional and coping strategies provided.

If you’re not completely satisfied with this grief recovery guidebook, just ask for (and receive) an immediate, 100% refund.

IF YOU WANT THE EBOOK DOWNLOAD, ORDER IN THE BOX RIGHT BELOW, “CLICK HERE”.

******************

IF YOU WANT THE HARD COPY MAILED TO YOU, KEEP GOING DOWN TO BOX 2, TIL YOU SEE THE YELLOW “BUY NOW” BUTTON!

TO ORDER THE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD:

Back To Life! copyright, 2008 $17.95 USD-Ebook Download

Use a Credit Card or PayPal to order:

STOP!

THIS LINK HERE IS FOR EBOOK DOWNLOAD. IF YOU WANT THE PAPER BOOK MAILED TO YOU, GO TO THE NEXT BOX

TO ORDER THE HARD COPY TO BE MAILED TO YOU:>

Back To Life! copyright, 2008 $19.95 USD – Paper Copy

Use a Credit Card or PayPal to order:

STOP!

THIS LINK HERE IS FOR A PAPER BOOK TO BE MAILED TO YOU. IF YOU WANT EBOOK DOWNLOAD, GO TO THE BOX ABOVE.

$19.95 USD (We ship worldwide)

No P.O. Boxes, please

We have had the most excellent feedback on this Guidebook… for its practical lessons, unique insights, coping strategies… and strong message of hope for the future. We know you will find it useful… whether you choose the ebook or paperback form.

Get started on the road to grief recovery today!

[allenmendezsr]

Back To Life! A Personal Grief Guidebook

New Post has been published on http://autotraffixpro.app/allenmendezsr/back-to-life-a-personal-grief-guidebook/

Back To Life! A Personal Grief Guidebook

 Buy Now    

“We lost our beautiful daughter, Amber LeAnn, two years ago. She drowned in the pool during the Easter egg hunt. There were a lot of kids over and no one realized she was missing until it was too late.”

“My son Colin died of an accidental prescription drug overdose and I am so lost without him. Please, is there anything you can do to help me with this terrible pain?”

“My Mom committed suicide two years ago. I have never cried about this. Is there something wrong with me?”

Heartbroken from grief…

Are you devastated by the loss of a loved one?

Bewildered by all the strong emotions and crazy symptoms?

Wondering how you are ever going to survive?

Tired of being stuck in complicated grief?

“Back To Life”, our Personal Grief Guidebook, provides just the answers you are looking for. Here we take you by the hand and guide you gently through the dark maze known as bereavement.

Dear Friend

You are likely here because you have experienced the horrible, painful loss of a loved one. And I am so very sorry for your loss.

In your quest to find help with your grief, you may have come across some “quick fixes” offered over the Internet. Shame on them! What could be worse than taking advantage of someone who is grappling with a tragic loss in their life like you are?

Sadly, there is no “quick fix” to grief, but there are more effective and comfortable ways to help mend your broken heart and lead you gently back to brighter days.

You may be one of those people who would never seek professional help, or lean on a support group, or even cry on the shoulder of a trusted friend. Your grief is just too personal and painful to share openly. If that describes you, then this guidebook is sure to help you. In the privacy of your own home, you will learn all about the stages of grief and how to survive each one.

Welcome to “Back to Life!“, our comprehensive and personal Guidebook to Grief.

Here you will learn:

Good, solid information on how the grief “process” really works.

Which symptoms of grief are normal, and which are dangerous warning signs.

Valuable and practical coping skills to help you get through each day.

Secrets to getting a good night’s restorative sleep without prescription drugs.

How to endure the holidays and thoughtless visitors.

How to identify and defuse anger, guilt, and regret.

Family changes to look for and how to keep your family intact through this tragedy.

Just the right activities and comforting rituals to help ease you through your darkest days.

Tried and true psychological exercises and strategies to help lessen the raw pain.

Satisfying and therapeutic creative expressions of grief.

Effective memorializing techniques to honor and remember your lost loved one.

How to cling to hope and move surely towards brighter days.

I realize that not all these techniques will help you… everyone’s grief is unique, and different coping styles and approaches will work for each person. But you are sure to find something here of great value to you on your bereavement journey.

Written by an experienced critical care nurse and certified grief counselor, our excellent handbook will guide you through despair and help you learn to embrace hope and joy once again. This enlightened and compassionate approach to grief recovery is sure to help lighten your heavy burden, leading you gently towards a successful resolution… and back to life once again.

Heartbroken from grief…

What’s In The Back To life Book?

Back to Life is a comprehensive, quality bereavement handbook. It consists of 73 pages that explore many aspects of grief in detail. There are 19 chapters or “lessons”, each addressing a different aspect of grief, a coping skill or a strategy for emotional survival:

Heartbroken from grief…

INTRODUCTION: You will survive! Outlines our 19 step program towards healthy resolution of grief.

I. THE EARLY STAGES OF GRIEF

Chapter 1.  In the Beginning… Is this for real? Acknowledging your pain and accepting the reality of the death. One simple thing you can do when you feel overwhelmed. Physical signs and strange sensations you might experience.

Chapter 2.  Tell Your Story – It’s normal to relive the events of the death and to tell your story many times over. Here are two comforting ways you can tell your story again… when no one is around to listen.

Chapter 3.  Indulge Your Grief – It’s important not to avoid or push grief away, especially in the beginning. Why your friends may try to distract you from your mourning; and how not to give in.

Chapter 4.  Forgive Them – Why would someone say something that stupid and hurtful to me at a time like this? How to handle thoughtless visitors and avoid adding emotional baggage to your burden.

Chapter 5.  Anger and Blame – So you are not mad about death? Identifying hidden anger points and a simple exercise to help defuse this destructive emotion. Chapter 6.  Relief and Guilt-  Of course you wish things had gone differently, but do you really deserve to feel guilty? This chapter presents a tried-and-true technique for ending the Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda mind game forever.

Chapter 7.  Celebrate a Life –  You’ll find it very therapeutic to create a memorial to your lost loved one. Here we present several project ideas to consider, as well as group activities to help other family members express their grief.

Chapter 8.  An Academy Award Performance… Why are my friends starting to avoid me? How to reach out for the love and support you desperately need right now.

II. DIG IN FOR THE LONG HAUL – THE MIDDLE STAGES OF GRIEF

Chapter 9.  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly- It’s normal in grief to glorify your lost beloved. Learn why it is important later to explore the negatives, and an easy exercise to help you do so. Chapter 10.  Uh oh, Christmas is Coming… A recurrent theme we hear over and over…. how hard it is to deal with holidays and anniversaries. This chapter provides great strategies to help make those special days more bearable, even enjoyable.

Chapter 11.  So What’s to Laugh About? Laugh? I can’t even smile! How to find glimmers of happiness to help you through the dark times.

Chapter 12.  Don’t grieve alone – No one you can rely on? How to ask for the help you need; and a special group of folks who “get it”.

Chapter 13.  Everyone needs a little help sometimes  – Some special sources of help you might not have thought about… Chapter 14.  What silver lining? Learn which decisions to avoid for now, and for how long. Finding meaning in the death. And a little soul searching will help you realize the positives in your new life.

III. ACCEPTANCE & RESOLUTION – THE END OF BEREAVEMENT

Chapter 15.  Saying Goodbye-  It is healthy late in bereavement to say goodbye to your lost one; to relinquish some of the grief.  Here we teach you an easy but effective way to bid farewell.

Chapter 16.  Box Up the Grief – At some point, you’ll realize you need to “compartmentalize” your grief, ease it into the background so you can cope long-term. Learn simple mental and physical techniques to help achieve this goal.

Chapter 17.  A New Beginning –  All about new relationships, new interests, and a new outlook on life.

Chapter 18.  Break the Vicious Cycle – Feel stuck in your bereavement? Tired of grieving? Ready to reclaim your freedom? Time for the big guns! Chapter 18 teaches you some very effective imagery techniques to help you take charge of your life and direct your own future.

Chapter 19. The End of Grief (Resolution) – How do you know when you are finished grieving? Signs of the resolution of grief; some helpful insights from the author.

2 WAYS TO GET “BACK TO LIFE”

Heartbroken from grief…

Back to Life is available in two forms: a printable e-book or an actual “hard copy” softcover manual. It also contains dozens of emotionally inspiring color photographs. You will want to share this beautiful book with your family or even order extra copies for others in need.

ORDER THE BOOK NOW

Heartbroken from grief? Then reach for help today. The e-Book costs just $17.95, and the hard copy is $19.95.

The ebook is instantly available in a quick, easy-to-download pdf format.

Getting your new guidebook online is simple with our clear instructions. And once downloaded, you can view your new book anytime on your desktop or laptop and/or print out a paper copy for easy access anytime, anywhere. Punch holes and place it into a notebook for a practical workbook/manual.

Below are some screenshots of actual pages in the manual:

ABOUT THE HARD COPY

We originally wrote the Grief Guidebook for ebook publication only, and it has been phenomenally successful. Then we started getting requests for “hard copies”.  Most of the inquiries have come from grief counselors, clergymen and nursing education departments who previewed it and wanted multiple copies.

So, to the publishers we went. And we found something out quickly… it’s expensive to publish a book!

But we finally found a printer who shaped our guide into an attractive paperback volume at a reasonable cost. It is 8″X10″ with full-color photographs. The pages and softcover are of quality stock. You’ll be pleased with it. Please note: We cannot ship hard copies to Australia.

Order the e-book if you want to economize and perhaps print it out yourself.  A hard copy is a much better option for gift-giving or personal “workbook” use.

Order your hard copy below.  We ship worldwide! Inquire about discount rates for multiple print copies. Please note: We cannot ship hard copies to Australia.

Heartbroken from grief…

You can pay for “Back to Life”  via our safe and secure, encrypted system with your credit card or PayPal. No hidden shipping or handling charges for the ebook. Hard copies will incur a standard shipping charge and will be mailed within three business days of payment.

OUR GUARANTEE

I am dedicated to helping you find peace and happiness once again, and I want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase of this book. I am so sure that you will find it helpful that I provide a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

GUARANTEE No-Questions-Asked Guarantee: If for any reason you don’t agree that this is the most effective and useful grief coping tool you have found, just email us within 8 weeks from your date of purchase – and we’ll issue you a 100% refund immediately.

You have 8 full weeks to read the helpful information and practice some of the emotional and coping strategies provided.

If you’re not completely satisfied with this grief recovery guidebook, just ask for (and receive) an immediate, 100% refund.

IF YOU WANT THE EBOOK DOWNLOAD, ORDER IN THE BOX RIGHT BELOW, “CLICK HERE”.

******************

IF YOU WANT THE HARD COPY MAILED TO YOU, KEEP GOING DOWN TO BOX 2, TIL YOU SEE THE YELLOW “BUY NOW” BUTTON!

TO ORDER THE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD:

Back To Life! copyright, 2008 $17.95 USD-Ebook Download

Use a Credit Card or PayPal to order:

STOP!

THIS LINK HERE IS FOR EBOOK DOWNLOAD. IF YOU WANT THE PAPER BOOK MAILED TO YOU, GO TO THE NEXT BOX

TO ORDER THE HARD COPY TO BE MAILED TO YOU:>

Back To Life! copyright, 2008 $19.95 USD – Paper Copy

Use a Credit Card or PayPal to order:

STOP!

THIS LINK HERE IS FOR A PAPER BOOK TO BE MAILED TO YOU. IF YOU WANT EBOOK DOWNLOAD, GO TO THE BOX ABOVE.

$19.95 USD (We ship worldwide)

No P.O. Boxes, please

We have had the most excellent feedback on this Guidebook… for its practical lessons, unique insights, coping strategies… and strong message of hope for the future. We know you will find it useful… whether you choose the ebook or paperback form.

Get started on the road to grief recovery today!

[allenmendezsr]

Back To Life! A Personal Grief Guidebook

New Post has been published on https://autotraffixpro.app/allenmendezsr/back-to-life-a-personal-grief-guidebook/

Back To Life! A Personal Grief Guidebook

 Buy Now    

“We lost our beautiful daughter, Amber LeAnn, two years ago. She drowned in the pool during the Easter egg hunt. There were a lot of kids over and no one realized she was missing until it was too late.”

“My son Colin died of an accidental prescription drug overdose and I am so lost without him. Please, is there anything you can do to help me with this terrible pain?”

“My Mom committed suicide two years ago. I have never cried about this. Is there something wrong with me?”

Heartbroken from grief…

Are you devastated by the loss of a loved one?

Bewildered by all the strong emotions and crazy symptoms?

Wondering how you are ever going to survive?

Tired of being stuck in complicated grief?

“Back To Life”, our Personal Grief Guidebook, provides just the answers you are looking for. Here we take you by the hand and guide you gently through the dark maze known as bereavement.

Dear Friend

You are likely here because you have experienced the horrible, painful loss of a loved one. And I am so very sorry for your loss.

In your quest to find help with your grief, you may have come across some “quick fixes” offered over the Internet. Shame on them! What could be worse than taking advantage of someone who is grappling with a tragic loss in their life like you are?

Sadly, there is no “quick fix” to grief, but there are more effective and comfortable ways to help mend your broken heart and lead you gently back to brighter days.

You may be one of those people who would never seek professional help, or lean on a support group, or even cry on the shoulder of a trusted friend. Your grief is just too personal and painful to share openly. If that describes you, then this guidebook is sure to help you. In the privacy of your own home, you will learn all about the stages of grief and how to survive each one.

Welcome to “Back to Life!“, our comprehensive and personal Guidebook to Grief.

Here you will learn:

Good, solid information on how the grief “process” really works.

Which symptoms of grief are normal, and which are dangerous warning signs.

Valuable and practical coping skills to help you get through each day.

Secrets to getting a good night’s restorative sleep without prescription drugs.

How to endure the holidays and thoughtless visitors.

How to identify and defuse anger, guilt, and regret.

Family changes to look for and how to keep your family intact through this tragedy.

Just the right activities and comforting rituals to help ease you through your darkest days.

Tried and true psychological exercises and strategies to help lessen the raw pain.

Satisfying and therapeutic creative expressions of grief.

Effective memorializing techniques to honor and remember your lost loved one.

How to cling to hope and move surely towards brighter days.

I realize that not all these techniques will help you… everyone’s grief is unique, and different coping styles and approaches will work for each person. But you are sure to find something here of great value to you on your bereavement journey.

Written by an experienced critical care nurse and certified grief counselor, our excellent handbook will guide you through despair and help you learn to embrace hope and joy once again. This enlightened and compassionate approach to grief recovery is sure to help lighten your heavy burden, leading you gently towards a successful resolution… and back to life once again.

Heartbroken from grief…

What’s In The Back To life Book?

Back to Life is a comprehensive, quality bereavement handbook. It consists of 73 pages that explore many aspects of grief in detail. There are 19 chapters or “lessons”, each addressing a different aspect of grief, a coping skill or a strategy for emotional survival:

Heartbroken from grief…

INTRODUCTION: You will survive! Outlines our 19 step program towards healthy resolution of grief.

I. THE EARLY STAGES OF GRIEF

Chapter 1.  In the Beginning… Is this for real? Acknowledging your pain and accepting the reality of the death. One simple thing you can do when you feel overwhelmed. Physical signs and strange sensations you might experience.

Chapter 2.  Tell Your Story – It’s normal to relive the events of the death and to tell your story many times over. Here are two comforting ways you can tell your story again… when no one is around to listen.

Chapter 3.  Indulge Your Grief – It’s important not to avoid or push grief away, especially in the beginning. Why your friends may try to distract you from your mourning; and how not to give in.

Chapter 4.  Forgive Them – Why would someone say something that stupid and hurtful to me at a time like this? How to handle thoughtless visitors and avoid adding emotional baggage to your burden.

Chapter 5.  Anger and Blame – So you are not mad about death? Identifying hidden anger points and a simple exercise to help defuse this destructive emotion. Chapter 6.  Relief and Guilt-  Of course you wish things had gone differently, but do you really deserve to feel guilty? This chapter presents a tried-and-true technique for ending the Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda mind game forever.

Chapter 7.  Celebrate a Life –  You’ll find it very therapeutic to create a memorial to your lost loved one. Here we present several project ideas to consider, as well as group activities to help other family members express their grief.

Chapter 8.  An Academy Award Performance… Why are my friends starting to avoid me? How to reach out for the love and support you desperately need right now.

II. DIG IN FOR THE LONG HAUL – THE MIDDLE STAGES OF GRIEF

Chapter 9.  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly- It’s normal in grief to glorify your lost beloved. Learn why it is important later to explore the negatives, and an easy exercise to help you do so. Chapter 10.  Uh oh, Christmas is Coming… A recurrent theme we hear over and over…. how hard it is to deal with holidays and anniversaries. This chapter provides great strategies to help make those special days more bearable, even enjoyable.

Chapter 11.  So What’s to Laugh About? Laugh? I can’t even smile! How to find glimmers of happiness to help you through the dark times.

Chapter 12.  Don’t grieve alone – No one you can rely on? How to ask for the help you need; and a special group of folks who “get it”.

Chapter 13.  Everyone needs a little help sometimes  – Some special sources of help you might not have thought about… Chapter 14.  What silver lining? Learn which decisions to avoid for now, and for how long. Finding meaning in the death. And a little soul searching will help you realize the positives in your new life.

III. ACCEPTANCE & RESOLUTION – THE END OF BEREAVEMENT

Chapter 15.  Saying Goodbye-  It is healthy late in bereavement to say goodbye to your lost one; to relinquish some of the grief.  Here we teach you an easy but effective way to bid farewell.

Chapter 16.  Box Up the Grief – At some point, you’ll realize you need to “compartmentalize” your grief, ease it into the background so you can cope long-term. Learn simple mental and physical techniques to help achieve this goal.

Chapter 17.  A New Beginning –  All about new relationships, new interests, and a new outlook on life.

Chapter 18.  Break the Vicious Cycle – Feel stuck in your bereavement? Tired of grieving? Ready to reclaim your freedom? Time for the big guns! Chapter 18 teaches you some very effective imagery techniques to help you take charge of your life and direct your own future.

Chapter 19. The End of Grief (Resolution) – How do you know when you are finished grieving? Signs of the resolution of grief; some helpful insights from the author.

2 WAYS TO GET “BACK TO LIFE”

Heartbroken from grief…

Back to Life is available in two forms: a printable e-book or an actual “hard copy” softcover manual. It also contains dozens of emotionally inspiring color photographs. You will want to share this beautiful book with your family or even order extra copies for others in need.

ORDER THE BOOK NOW

Heartbroken from grief? Then reach for help today. The e-Book costs just $17.95, and the hard copy is $19.95.

The ebook is instantly available in a quick, easy-to-download pdf format.

Getting your new guidebook online is simple with our clear instructions. And once downloaded, you can view your new book anytime on your desktop or laptop and/or print out a paper copy for easy access anytime, anywhere. Punch holes and place it into a notebook for a practical workbook/manual.

Below are some screenshots of actual pages in the manual:

ABOUT THE HARD COPY

We originally wrote the Grief Guidebook for ebook publication only, and it has been phenomenally successful. Then we started getting requests for “hard copies”.  Most of the inquiries have come from grief counselors, clergymen and nursing education departments who previewed it and wanted multiple copies.

So, to the publishers we went. And we found something out quickly… it’s expensive to publish a book!

But we finally found a printer who shaped our guide into an attractive paperback volume at a reasonable cost. It is 8″X10″ with full-color photographs. The pages and softcover are of quality stock. You’ll be pleased with it. Please note: We cannot ship hard copies to Australia.

Order the e-book if you want to economize and perhaps print it out yourself.  A hard copy is a much better option for gift-giving or personal “workbook” use.

Order your hard copy below.  We ship worldwide! Inquire about discount rates for multiple print copies. Please note: We cannot ship hard copies to Australia.

Heartbroken from grief…

You can pay for “Back to Life”  via our safe and secure, encrypted system with your credit card or PayPal. No hidden shipping or handling charges for the ebook. Hard copies will incur a standard shipping charge and will be mailed within three business days of payment.

OUR GUARANTEE

I am dedicated to helping you find peace and happiness once again, and I want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase of this book. I am so sure that you will find it helpful that I provide a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

GUARANTEE No-Questions-Asked Guarantee: If for any reason you don’t agree that this is the most effective and useful grief coping tool you have found, just email us within 8 weeks from your date of purchase – and we’ll issue you a 100% refund immediately.

You have 8 full weeks to read the helpful information and practice some of the emotional and coping strategies provided.

If you’re not completely satisfied with this grief recovery guidebook, just ask for (and receive) an immediate, 100% refund.

IF YOU WANT THE EBOOK DOWNLOAD, ORDER IN THE BOX RIGHT BELOW, “CLICK HERE”.

******************

IF YOU WANT THE HARD COPY MAILED TO YOU, KEEP GOING DOWN TO BOX 2, TIL YOU SEE THE YELLOW “BUY NOW” BUTTON!

TO ORDER THE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD:

Back To Life! copyright, 2008 $17.95 USD-Ebook Download

Use a Credit Card or PayPal to order:

STOP!

THIS LINK HERE IS FOR EBOOK DOWNLOAD. IF YOU WANT THE PAPER BOOK MAILED TO YOU, GO TO THE NEXT BOX

TO ORDER THE HARD COPY TO BE MAILED TO YOU:>

Back To Life! copyright, 2008 $19.95 USD – Paper Copy

Use a Credit Card or PayPal to order:

STOP!

THIS LINK HERE IS FOR A PAPER BOOK TO BE MAILED TO YOU. IF YOU WANT EBOOK DOWNLOAD, GO TO THE BOX ABOVE.

$19.95 USD (We ship worldwide)

No P.O. Boxes, please

We have had the most excellent feedback on this Guidebook… for its practical lessons, unique insights, coping strategies… and strong message of hope for the future. We know you will find it useful… whether you choose the ebook or paperback form.

Get started on the road to grief recovery today!