#little yowlie

[weirdlookindog]

"There on the river bank lay a lovely girl of twenty . . ."

Virgil Finlay (1914-1971) - Illustration for Warren A. Reed's 'Little Yowlie'

(Fantastic Adventures Vol.5 #7, July, 1943)

[a-twistedheartslonging]

Idk u but the fanfic trope of “sex pollen” can be kinda funny if it’s a bit more scientific.

Like, it not only makes your horny, it makes you feel your clothes (in the bad way, like you are caged inside something and you must get it out NOW), be moody, lactate if you still have those mammary glands.

You are crying cuz yeah you are horny, but you also feel your skin over your muscle, smell every little thing around you and you feel sticky from the sweat and whatever else. You are just so uncomfortable with your own body you can only cry. You even have a high fever this sucks!

Basically overstimulated in the worst possible ways, being horny is just one of the many effects, and personally it would only make me feel worse.

Like, “fuck it! I don’t want to have sex or anything just put me in a tub with cold water and bubbles!” And you spend the rest of the day in the bath tub until all of the effects are gone.

Every fandom I have ever even taken a peek at has done the trope and it just sounds like torture to go through to me. I already have sensory issues and hate being hot or sweaty. In the few times that I've experienced arousal it was just annoying to me.

And I don't think people get how uncomfortable lactating can be. (My hormones are weird despite never getting pregnant and certain antidepressants can cause it.) Leaky nipples feel weird.

I can imagine one of the twst boys wanting to fuck but Yuu just tosses bath toys at them from their place in their cold bubble bath. I can picture Grim being yowly and guarding the bathroom.

[televinita]

Tuesday To-Do List

Wish me luck on my grind tomorrow; if it could STOP SNOWING for one frickin’ day, I need to accomplish all of the following because seriously, only one day in the last 6 has not been absolutely hell weather and I already had commitments all day. I was so ahead of the ball when I started on Monday the 12th, and then snowmageddeon part 1 happened and now I only have basically Tuesday the 20th + maybe the next morning before the winter storm era that goes until Christmas Eve.

THINGS TO DO:

* Get and install a new wiper blade for the car, because the driver’s side one broke over the weekend (main reason I can’t go out if there’s a chance of snow or rain, even if the roads don’t scare me) (...damn it, you know what, I actually could have walked to the automotive store today. It snowed all friggin’ day, but it was pretty light. just too much to drive in without wipers)

* Go to Marshall’s: 1-3 presents for husband, mom and maybe brother (unsure if what the latter wants will be there)

* Pick up library holds that I have to pick up by 12/23

* Go to dollar store for tape and wrapping paper, since I couldn’t get to any estate sales this weekend to grab it cheap. I think this will suffice for the number of presents I have to wrap even if it’s not the best value per square foot, and I know it will at least be in stock.

* Unfreeze and open the damn trunk of the car where I foolishly stored 3 of the presents I bought Monday. May possibly have a roll of wrapping paper in there as well?

* Go to Half Price Books to check for planners for Dad that will suit his needs

* Go to Barnes & Noble where I will definitely be able to find a planner for Dad, but I’ll pay 2-3x as much

* Maybe go grocery shopping??? I have been dying from lack of vegetables for a week

* Get gas, I’m at a quarter tank right now I think so not dire but also, when its this cold you want there to be plenty Just In Case.

And I have to get it all done during daylight because the possibility of the sun is the only thing that will make the freezing temps bearable (high of 8 degrees tomorrow. low tonight is -2). And I woke up at noon today because I was already having trouble falling asleep, and when I finally started to nod off at 2 the cat started being a bitey yowly terror so I didn’t fall asleep until past 3 (and was woken up at least 3 times between 7 and noon), so, uh, good luck to me with falling asleep in time to get up no later than 9 and hopefully not feel like death!

IDK what I would do if the work project hadn’t wrapped up last week. Besides possibly be a little more on the ball with ordering stuff online / forcing myself to go out on Saturday, even despite the awful crowds.

Anyway. I guess the one good thing is that I don’t have to drive very far, all the places I need are within a 5-mile radius.

[waterbearable]

love my roommates cat who does a sad little yowly wail when they leave the house. poor baby. I know that I cannot fix this

[doctorwormcore]

I was gone for like not even five days and the past week since I came back my cat has been sleeping in bed next to me every night. Lately he's started sleeping right next to my head and iM NOT CRYYING YOU ARe

[akwardkisses]

I think this sweet little bean is feeling better today. She's had gushy fuds, and been practicing tripping hoomans in the kitchen and been exploring the whole house (including inside the recycling bin) just like a little kitty should. Now she's settling down for a well deserved catnap. I'm so relieved I could cry. Even Edgar seems to be adjusting to Lenore, he's been less and less yowly and he only hissed at her twice last night. This is a huge improvement. Things are definitely looking up. #poverty_hill #homestead #lenore #rescue #kitten #crazycatlady #stayathomecatmom #shesapanther #housepanther #housepanthersofinstagram #alreadyinlove #shesthebabynow #ruralpa #myhappyplace (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B06DSVqgBi3/?igshid=50ub7x9l3tjt

[hussyknee]

Please enjoy this very yowly song about a very horny cat, with guest vocals by the gentleman in question.

(CW: a loud, caterwauling chorus)

From the page:

"Betsy is the cat breeder in the band. She claims she merely transcribed what Callan had to say and had in fact very little to do with the whole songwriting process.

As we began the album with a squawk, we end with a meow, which is actually Callan himself!"

Lyrics:

Our boy kitty Callan is overly maleHe howls and he struts and he calls Testosterone poisoning has turned off his brain So now he just thinks with his balls. Oh yaaaw aaowww rroww-row-ow-ow Hey baby, come here and I’ll jump you If it moves then I’ll screw it There’s just nothin’ to it If it don’t move, it’s easier still Poor Callan’s so desperate for someone to love That he doesn’t care much about gender As long as it’s feline, he gives it a try And implores them with words strong and tender: Oh yaaaw aaowww rroww-row-ow-ow Hey buddy, you mind if I jump you? If it moves then I’ll screw it There’s just nothin’ to it If it don’t move, it’s easier still Now Callan’s quit eating, his mind is on sex He’s singing love songs to the sofa Stuffed animals cringe when he enters the room And he calls to them over and over: Oh yaaaw aaowww rroww-row-ow-ow Hey Teddy, stay put and I’ll jump you If it moves then I’ll screw it There’s just nothin’ to it If it don’t move, it’s easier still When a girl comes to visit, he turns on the charm And he woos her with bravado and song Then his hormones kick in and he jumps on her neck Like a caveman he drags her along Oh yaaaw aaowww rroww-row-ow-ow He sings with his mouth full of girl fur Hey babe, just you wait This is gonna be great Don’t blink or you’ll miss the big moment --  

Cat: rroaw?

[quintaine]

Happy #gingercatappreciationday to this little old lady. Even though she can be grumpy (and yowly) at times, we appreciate every day we have with her. #gingercat #catsofinstagram #seniorcat https://www.instagram.com/p/CTSLFPAgTQ8/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ms-scoliosis]

Ten Facts About Me!

I was tagged by @milky-waee to share ten facts about myself thanks love!!

1. I have Scoliosis which basically means that my spine isn’t straight up and down and it’s actually curved so I’m kind of crooked.. and it pushes my rip cage backward so I have a hump on my back which I always refer to as my “camel hump”

2. I have 3 dogs, one cat, 2 lizards and 3 big fish tanks!! people say my house is like a petting zoo. My dogs are a little bit crazy..

3.  My all time favourite tv show is Glee I would really die for Rachel and Finn they are my loves and I miss Cory ): 

4. In 2015 I was diagnosed with moderate depression and an anxiety disorder, my therapist is unsure what kind of anxiety but she thinks it could be panic disorder 

5. I hate math and wish it would die tbh I’m super bad at it and never understand what half of the questions are even asking

6. I took dance for 14 years and recently had my final year. I took Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Open, Musical Theatre and Lyrical. Parts of me miss it but parts of me don’t I know it’s for the best!!

7. I actually really enjoy writing and people say I’m good at it. I would like to write stories but idkkkk

8. I dream of Olive Garden every night before bed and I would do anything for a plate of chicken alfedo and some raspberry iced tea!!

9. I’m naturally a really cold person and everyone thinks I’m cold blooded because when I touch them my hands are always freezing and I like to steal other peoples warmth (: (especially Ians) 

10. I used to hate Hawaiian pizza but now it is my best friend and I would die for it!!! PINEAPPLE GOES ON PIZZA BAEK AND CHANYEOL ALREADY SAID SO  

I will tag @chouxiu @starlightdae @niniblush @blissfulhoseok @chaotic-darling @shes-dreaming-of-lost-stars @minsoakedme @royalyeol @rolexchanyeol @soosgf @kokomyeonie @yowlie

[x-exo]

Hello everyone!!! It’s me, Sofi, and apparently magic does happen because this blog just reached 1k followers!! 🎊🎉 (I can’t believe how you all put up with my antics) So in order to “celebrate” (I put quotation marks because if I could I would personally deliver 5 cakes, 2 flower bouquets and 1 bias to your homes), I’ve decided to make a little Follow Forever to show appreciation to all of those humans running amazing blogs that are making my experience in here one of the best experiences ever 💕 Just wanted to thank you all so much for being the greatest 😊

- blogs who deserve the world

- mutuals

☆ - trocitos de cielo

#-J

@1adyluck @305heaux @92-pcy @artificiallyloving @angel-in-slow-motion @asshun @babysebaek☆ @baekhyunlipchain @baekhyunstolemyeyeliner @bbhtiddies @brbcrawlingtokorea @bulba-suho-r @byunlucid @byunvoyage☆ @cbxo @chaichanyeol @chanyoel @chambaeq @chanyeolsabs @chanyeolsalpha @chogiwanyeol @chokaivlicious @chouxiu @daemondcrystal @deararchimedes @detectivetrabula☆ @dorkyksoo @dsouls @dulcetyeoll☆ @dyo-alone @exotine @glorious-soobooty @grinding-on-baek @hunniedae @igotsiete @iluvpcy @jackbumfan @jacksontienemicorazon @jaedaddy @jjpskitten

K-S

@kaibility @krisinsanity @kpopandlock @my-bobohu @myeoneandonly @ohparkyeol @okaybaekhyun @oohsenun @ohsehunpai @pcypink @pinkjbeom @prestigechaerin @progamerbyun @queen-im☆ @royalyeol☆ @sehunnified @sehuntiful @sefuns @shypcy @squynhty @squishy-chanyeol @smhsehun @spark-chanyeol @suavesehun @subaek @sunkai @sunshineyeols

 T-Z

@the-princejinyoung @thicksehun @whenxoxosmilesunshines @wonhoforjackson☆ @xbaek @yeolology☆ @yourmajestyqueenchelseachels☆ @yowlie

[alien-origins]

Since school is over now and exo are gonna kill us soon with a comeback I thought why not do a follow forever and appreciate some people I think everyone should check out!

Idk if there are any rules for this but yeah I’ve been a kpop(exo) blog for probably a year or less but i’ve had this godforsaken blog for years. I have done a lot of dumb tag yourself memes and dumb edits that resulted in 1.8k followers. I’ve also met and talked to a whole lot of amazing people and I did want to shine some light on these people that make my life a little less horrible and never fails to make me smile!  💞 (this may or may not also be a huge post of me telling ppl how much i love them) 💞

First things first my one and only bro @slavemin ! like bro you always make me laugh with our dumb convos on messenger ily 💓💗💞💞  if you like Junmyeon and cool exo stans then you should really follow. And bro you’re like so soft and amazing can’t wait to die with you @ MAMA 2k17. I also want to do a shout out and tell y’all to check out his youtube channel because wow it’s pure gold and the video he made for me for my bday is like a daily routine at this point it was the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Ily bro, no homo.

@1adyluck my wife, the mother to my future puppers. 💞💓💗💖 You’re probably one of the first people I actually like got to know and I will never forget the drunk asks about daddy Kris like damn I loved you at first sight baby and you kept tagging me in pics of him and I look forward to raise 12 dogs with you. I really love talking to you and you put such a bright smile on my lips and i feel all bubbly and soft.  💘💘💘  literally you’re soooo wonderful I’m so lucky ??? wouldn’t even trade you for yifan’s dick and you know how big that it of me to say.

@04gf girl, I went through our old messages before and we’ve really talked about a lot? We’ve gone through so many topics and I’m really glad we talk because baby you’re so amazing and such a good person. It feels secure to talk to you and you’re literally so cute and i want to make sure you’re happy💞💓💗💖 thank you for being there. 

@ohunshine my baby girl, my child... first things first i don’t deserve your love you’re so soft and pure 💕💝💖  I really love talking to you (and I’m really happy you found nu’est I’m such a proud mother like wow) and I hope you will come to me whenever you need to talk because I want to help you out. never stop being yourself and don’t listen to any snakes trying to ruin your day. You deserve the world and keep working hard and it’ll be yours! But don’t forget to take breaks and take care of yourself, I don’t want you to be sad or to hurt so remember to sit back and take a few deep breaths. Ily darling💖💖 @crownkingzyx  idk for how long we’ve been mutuals but I remember @/yixingshome tipped me about your blog and I was not disappointed !! and really you’re amzingly chill and I was kinda scared at first because I thought you were cool and I was nervous like always! You’re still cool and you boosted my embroidery self esteem a lot and I want to say thank you x17836 for that ily! 💝💝  ily girl and dang I love talking to you (I’m however sorry for dumping au ideas @ you all the time please don’t leave me) 💕💗💗💞💘 @swaggyt-enthusiast you need to stop with all the zitao before I die I’m a soft swaggy T stan and you’re ruining it :/// (lol but no never stop he’s so beautiful i love the both of you) girl you’re so fun to talk to I never not laugh unless we talk abt more serious things but you’re really amazing don’t forget that. Like you’re huang zitao level amazing 💖💓💞💞  thank you for making my dash a little better and that you make me smile 💖💞💞💘 @kai-aaah sis !!!!!!! I remember I was like really scared of talking to you god I wanted to talk to you but it took some time until we did finally talk and I don’t regret a thing because now I have a wonderful friend and sis :((( 💓💓  it’s always good t hear that you’re doing okay and it makes me happy talking to you and I remember when you sent that “happy best friends day” message I cried it was so cute and god I wish I could’ve hugged you and given you like flowers and braid your hair ily so much 💕💗💞💞💖  @chogiwapark I remember the day we started talking very clearly because I was stuck in school since there was a snowstorm and I thought you were so funny and your love for Luhan is amazing. I enjoy talking to you like I remember after watching the great wall and I was high key a mess and it was nice to yell abt him for a while with you darling ily 💘💘💗💖💞 @bunmyun we haven’t been mutuals for that long either but i still love you and I was so hyped finding out you lived in the nordics. And you’re a beautiful soft suho stan and that’s itself is amazing 💘💗💞 you’re like really funny as well and a hella nice person to have a conversation with! @bulba-suho-r  girl, first of all I’m sorry for dumping shit loads of au idea’s @ you and I still remember that dream where the government told you you had to change your url it was really weird actually i think an ostrich was there as well I never mentioned that detail. ily and i love our talks 💗💓💓💝💖  you provide me of junmyeon and I go through that giant krisho post you sent me now and then and cry. You’re fantastic and never stop being your beautiful funny self 💘💘💘 @princeksoo you’re my beloved child and even if we don’t talk that often it’s really nice talking to you and ily honey so a special shout out to you as well! 💕💘💗💗💞

            💘 and now for general blogs I love seeing on my dash💘

another special shout out to @deathbykaisoo we just started talking but damn I’ve seen you on my dash for so long and your blog is so beautiful and you’re really relatable ily 💕💗💞

a-h: @baeksoup  |  @bright-black-blunder  | @bitchasschanyeol  |  @bvllshts  |  @bomrin-chaebom  |  @cuntykai  |  @cutebaekhyunnie  |  @death-by-jongin  |  @dumblets  |  @duizhangdeluxe  |  @dazzlingkai  |  @exoblesso  |  @galaxychen  |  @huangzts  |  @hztaos  |  

i-p: @icybaozi  |  @irpsychotic  |  @joon420  |  @junmyeonstuff  |  @junmyeonet  |  @koimi  |  @k-suho  |  @kardsine  |  @kimsov  |  @minseoksfav  |  @milkeu  |  @niniandnoodul  |  @official-willis  |  @prankchanyeol  |  @prankchanyall  |  @preciousyeri  |  @pcystuff  |  

q-z: @sakura-gucci-panda  |  @sighboring  |  @slayeol  |  @suhomoodboards  |  @silencesneeze  |  @sulair  |  @sonicdae  |  @ttaengu  |  @tinyjunmyeon  |  @taos-left-eyelid  |  @taonsil  |  @vvu-yi-fan  |  @wheatleyoppa  | @xwxke / @jinsflower  |  @xiukitty  |  @xiaoluxury  |  @yowlie  |  @yubyul  |  @yeriprotectionsquad  |  @yeogibuteora  |  @zyex  |  

123: @4-velvets  |  @7deer-ofthe-dawn7  |  

[firebeez]

Today I came home to find out that my cat, Hot Rod, had died. Hot Rod was... very important to me. I’ve had him since he was little, and we worked through some rough stuff together. He meant the world to me, and I meant the world to him. I loved him so much and I don’t know where to even begin moving on from this... But I have lots of pictures and I guess remembering the good times is a start. I’m going to miss him so much, and I’ll never find a pet like him again.

(rambling about his life under the cut)

Hot Rod was the kitten of our barn cat. He was born in a crawl space at the top of the garage that was a pain in the butt to get to but I still went out to see the kittens a few times until it got colder. They had a nest of warm things and we put a box up there for them so everything was good. Until an incident with an opossum around october resulted in the loss of all the kittens except him. We brought him in mostly starved from the opossum stealing all the food we put out, with a cold and an intense fear of opossum sized animals.

Originally, we had planned on sending him to a family friend who’d wanted one of the kittens, but he had some other plans. When we brought him in i held him a bit to comfort him. No more then a minute or two, but it was enough for him to get attached. He latched onto me and hard. He would stand beside my chair and scream in his raspy, yowly little voice until I picked him up. He smelled like death for weeks and slept all the time. Always on me. He always wanted to be with me, he’d cry and fuss if I tried to put him down. He’d only be okay if I let him stay on my chair when I went to do things.

At the time I was going through a bad depressive phase. I hadn’t figured out that was what it was quite yet, and was getting no help. And this intense love from this scraggly little kitten just... Helped so much. He made me so happy just laying there on me. I couldn’t help but fall completely and utterly in love with him. The only problem being, we had a house rule. No inside cats. And my dad was very strict about it. We argued for weeks about keeping him, I needed him so badly, and he needed me, but dad wouldn't budge. I finally relented, but Hot Rod resolved the issue for me. I went to a friends house for a few days to hang out, and when I came home I got to see the resigned face of my dad and know I won. Turns out, Hot Rod spent the entire time I was gone sitting on my chair and crying for me. Dad finally got that he wasn’t going to cope well with being taken away from me.

So Hot Rod became our first indoor cat since I was seven. He continued to sleep on me as often as he could well into his teen years, and even started sleeping in bed with me. Always pressed tight to my chest, trying to make sure he was touching me as much as possible. He eventually grew out of how touchy he was, but he never stopped loving me the most. He got independent, but he’d still follow me around and stay near by. He’d wait for me to get up in the morning and walk with me to the bathroom, then downstairs. He couldn’t stand if I was in a room with him closed out. When ever I went away from a few days he’d get upset, he wouldn’t cry any more but he’d pester my family incessantly.

He hated kisses but loved belly rubs. Dad called him rocket and would give him the best rubs. He’d sit with my mom some evenings and bat at her yarn while she crocheted. He slept in piles with our dogs and stole my brothers spot on the couch. But he always came back to me. He never completely stopped wanting to lay on me. To just be there with me. He was my baby, for ever. And god.. Im going to miss him so much..

[cutecats2017]

This might be ridiculous to ask, but here goes - Adopted a cat last month, one-year old female. Not neutered. She's usually pretty quiet, unless she knows food is on the way.About two days ago she started getting really vocal, almost howling at times. So that's sign 1, nothing unusual there. She's a little more affectionate, so sign 2. She prowls around a lot, stares out the windows, so that's sign 3. She's basically exhibiting the major signs of being in heat, except for the ever classic "crawling on the floor with her butt in the air". So, first of all, that's throwing me off a bit. That's missing.And, the other big thing throwing me off is it's all very irregular. By that I mean she'll go yowling for an hour, then be quiet for a bit, maybe fall asleep. Then she'll wake up and start back at it again. Sometimes she doesn't exhibit these behaviorisms at all for a while and then randomly starts again. In my experience with cats, they'll generally go pretty much unabrupted, save for when they sleep. This morning in particular she's been pretty quiet again, a little yowly but not nearly as much as she was during the night.At first I figured it might just be attention-seeking, but I'm not so sure. If I give her attention she'll generally not really want it, and walks off within a few seconds of getting her scritches. Part of me wonders if she's sick or stressed, but I can't really see any signs of illness. Her nose changed from dark pink to kinda bright and faded pink yesterday but it went back after a few hours.Some background on me though, So I don't seem like a complete dolt: Grew up with cats all my life, not a stranger to kittens. Never had a female cat, however, and never had a cat that wasn't neutered. That said I've seen cats in heat so the telltale signs match with what I'm used too, just not 100%.I've booked an appointmed with a vet next week either way to get her fixed. Better safe than sorry. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ via /r/cats

[vladma]

Screamers

The desert can be a lonely, quiet place. Nothing to greet you but the soft whisper of shifting sands in the wind. If you listen long enough the whispers sound like words. This was Yowli’s favorite thing to do. You could often find him at the peak of a dune listening and watching. If he could he would sit in the dunes all day listening and watching the sky. His grandmother would never let him, though. Like every other day the whisper of sands slowly turned into the yowls of his grandmother calling to him.

She was a spry old thing. Most elders would retire from activity at her age. Like Juwa’s grandmother. She had grown so aged her hands were balls of knuckles so swollen you could hardly see the fingers and her vision had long gone, the cataracts clouding her eyes to a pure white that not even her pupils shown through but she would still knit. Yowli never knew how she did it, but despite her shortcomings she still knit the most perfect shawls and blankets. Not even a stitch missed or out of place. And she had the best stories. His favorite were the ones about the screamers; big black shapes that screamed as they crossed the sky.

“Yowli! Come down from there it’s almost time. You’ll miss everything. Your mother wants to see you before you leave.” The old female’s voice cracked through the sands and his daydream. Yowli rose from his haunches and turned to pad down the sliding sands of the dune.

His grandmother pat him on the shoulder and ushered him back towards camp.  “Did you see any today?”

“No…”

“Well, maybe you’ll see some out there. You’re older brother came back with a few stories about them, perhaps you’ll find some of your own? But, your mother wants to see her little boy off and there’s no way your grandmother is going to let her on her feet so we’re going to stop by to say our goodbyes and goodlucks and you are not going to be late. None of your brothers were late.”

Brothers. Always compared to his brothers. But his brothers were different. They liked being in the field. They liked hunting and gathering and couldn’t wait to grow up to do it. Yowli never liked it. But he would do it. What choice is there.

He ducked his head under the fly sheet and entered the family tent. It wasn’t so big as others but his family was relatively small so it seemed roomier. And with most of his family out and about it was just his mother and youngest sister to greet him. His mother cooed at him lovingly the way most mothers do. But this time it had a certain sadness. He crouched himself to lay at his mothers side and rub his face against her chest gently. He put a hand on his mother’s bursting belly. She was almost ready to birth and his new sibling was active. He could feel it kick at his hand.

His mother gave a warm laugh and stroked gently at his ear tuft. “My little boy. This is the last time I get to treat you like my little boy. When you come back you’ll be all grown up. Just remember what your father told you, ‘a mind that works is a mind that saves’. You will do well my little yaha. You’re a smart boy.” She squeezed him by the shoulder gently and pressed her nose to his forehead.

Yowli bowed a nod to his mother and said, “I will, mother.” The littlest one crawled to his leg and pat at it with her stubby little fingers and a slack mawed smile. Yowli scooped her up and pressed her to his chest before his mother nudged him. “You’d better hurry. The sun is crossing. Don’t be late. And don’t forget your hausi.”

He nodded, handed the babe to his mother and found his feet. Reaching to the rafters he plucked the hat from it’s hook and held it in his hands for the first time. This hausi had been in the family for generations. His grandfather, his father and all his brother had worn it. It was finally his turn. He looked to his mother and saw her warm smile, and his grandmother and hers. With a tense sigh he finally placed the hausi upon his head and turned to leave the tent.

The sun hit him in the eyes driving his hand to shield them where he found the hausi’s brim. He tilted it forward and his vision cleared. Across the camp he could see the bodies crowding the meeting place. He could hear the voices but not the words. Like the whispers of the sand.

He went to make his way there but was stopped short by the hand that grasped his tail and yanked it hard. Yowli let out a yelp and turned to find his eldest brother there, cackling himself silly. “Don’t be such a scardy Yowli. You’ll need to think out there. Keep calm.” His brother’s eyes were honest. Though, Seihi was the nice one. A solemn nod and Yowli turned to continue toward the meeting place only to find his twin brothers right behind him instead. Their smug grins indicative of their greater person.

“Yeah, Yowli, don’t be a scardy koa.” Kura said.

“Yeah, Kaibars can smell fear.” Echoed Ruka.

Seihi barked at the two younger men sending them scattered into the camp, cackling all the same. Yowli took his chance and trotted toward the meeting place. He burrowed his way through the crowed to the center. There were three other boys there, all of which Yowli knew. Everyone  knew everyone in the tribe whether they liked it or not. Yowli usually didn’t like it.

Yowli was shuffled in line with the other boys, all much bigger than he, and the Sham Elder blessed them all in line. He chanted, echoed by his apprentice who also held the wooden bowl of pigment. A tacky orange paste that was spread over the forearms of each of the boys, the two hands of the Elder grasping from the elbow and dragging down the arm to the wrist. When the motion was completed he would flick his hands toward the boy’s face, splattering the pigment all over himself in the process. Yowli watched carefully. But didn’t understand the point. His eyes glanced to the skies, they were quiet. Instead he listened to the chants; the voices but not the words.

When the Sham Elder had finished his prayers a roar tore through the crowd. It split in two and on the other side Yowli could see his father standing beside the other boy’s fathers and the Chief Elder.

“Today!” boomed the Elder’s voice, “Today we say goodbye to our boys. They leave us for the field. There, they will find their manhood. They will prove themselves. They will learn. When the second moon returns to the sky they will be men. They will know, and they will lead.” he lifted his kauha into the air sending the shells and bells jingling. The crowd followed his cry as all the voices rose in celebration and encouragement. “Heyhaw! Heyhaw!”

Then everything and everyone started moving.  Bodies crowded around the four young men and pushed them out, towards the kudu pens. There they joined up with the Kudu Master and his poor pack animal packed to the brim. The poor thing hobbled into the parade which now directed itself towards the rocky side of camp to the east. Yowli and his small party separated from the village a few meters beyond the edge of camp; the villagers stopped and massed into a whooping, calling and waving wall of bodies.

They walked for miles. Much farther than Yowli had ever braved to walk. He was nervous. But the others seemed unaffected. They teased each other. Laughed. Joked. Nothing seemed different. So he kept to himself. Stayed right next to the kudu and let the other boys be boys. Jrow would not have it, however. He was a big stubborn boy who would rather fight than not. He looked for a fight and called oit Yowli as his target.

“There’s no way sand boy is gonna make it. All he knows how to do is sit in the sand and watch for screamers. Screamers aren’t gonna help you, half pint.” a handful of clumped sand smacked Yowli in the back. He shrugged it off even though he wanted to say a thousand things.

Stupid thug. You don’t know anything about Screamers. You haven’t listened to the stories. They don’t listen to us because they’re not listening for us. If I could just figure out where they went he could get them to listen. But no one’s allowed to go to the Great Break. That has to be where they go. But he knew just what Jrow would say, ‘The stories of an old bag doesn’t mean anything. She’s lost her senses. What could she possibly know.’ But she could see once. She got close to one once.

“Yeah, see. The coward knows I’m right. Won’t even try and defend himself.” The other boys all laughed. Yowli curled into himself wanting to just hide or fall into the sands and whisper things forever. Why did he have to be stuck with these idiots

The Kudu Master pulled up at the center of a small clearing. He tied the beast to a nearby half dead tree and started unloading the cargo as their Escort rounded them up.

“Alright boys. We set up camp here. Help Kyai with the tents and unloading. Pyao, you’re his shadow for the next two suns.” Begrudgingly they set to work. Yowli did his best without complaints.

There was nothing for miles but some light brush. A rocky hillside lay to the North in the distance but overall it wasn’t much different than the surroundings of the main camp. There was just no camp. Until they had theirs built. The tents were smaller, and only the one. Plenty of room for four boys and two men. This year the group was small but the year before saw as many as 12 boys all huddled into this tent. The first sun was high in the sky and the second was rising by the time they finished. Kyam, their escort for the next fourteen suns, had grown irritable. He was the survivalist of the tribe. He hated when things didn’t go just right. They should have been done well before the second sun dawned but Jrow’s cocky attitude had put them behind and so he got the brunt of the barks. They lazed until the sun passed.

The first lesson began with Kyam rousing them from their beds. Yowli, Jrow, Pyao, and Shirrya all shuffled and gathered their basic survival kits as Kyam herded them out into the dimming sunlight. Both suns were falling in the sky so the temperature was due for a fall. The other three boys cried out as the sun bit them in the eyes, but Yowli made sure to wear his hausi. He smiled a bit to himself to watch their plight.

It was the rocky canyons to the north that were the cite for their first exam. Kyam stopped them a few miles off. “First task. Kudu hunting. We know there’re some in these canyons. Your job is to find them and bring one back before dawn.” Kyai chuffed and contributed, “We got a few ready for retirement so we gotta up the numbers. Priority is for young and female.”

Jrow rallied his team and charged off into the canyons. Yowli watched them disappear into a small ravine, whooping and hollering. He turned to look at Kyam, who shook his head slowly as he watched the trio. “How do I find one, Kyam-la?”

The Escort turned, wide eyed and surprised. He looked the boy over and after a moment gave him a word of advice, “They’re pack animals, but their biggest service is finding us water. They smell it before we hear or see it.” He gestured toward Kyai’s mount, “No eyes, so you don’t have to worry about being seen.” Kyam’s eyes returned to the canyons as he stood there, thumb stroking the hilt of his whip.

Yowli looked around. He could still hear the voices in the canyons. Not the words. He waited for them to quiet into the distance before he took off in the direction he assumed to be the opposite. And he listened. Yowli climbed up a gently graded slope of a plateau and sat at the top. In the distance he could see the dunes reaching towards the setting suns. With a deep breath he closed his eyes and listened.

It was silent. Until the white noise grew into colors. Behind him water babbled. Something was moving in it. He opened his eyes and crept quietly to the far edge of the plateau peeking his head over the edge tentatively. Below lay the end of a ravine, the lowest portions filled with a dirty pond. And in the pond a baby Kudu splashed about playfully as it’s mother lapped at the water’s edge. Yowli sunk below the ridge and took a few deep breaths. How the heck will he catch them. The mother is far too large. But the baby. He could probably carry it off.

Licking his finger he checked the wind, southbound. He was downwind of them. Looking over the rock formations he found a small path towards the east that would keep him downwind if the winds didn’t change. He started down the path but then he heard it. The voices. Jrow and his gang whooped and hollered at the other end of the ravine. He could flush the Kudu out toward them but a mother Kudu is far more likely to fight in a closed space. He couldn’t risk that.

Jrow had already drawn the mother’s attention. The baby retreated toward the closed end of the ravine, toward Yowli’s path. He watched as the mother charged toward the trio of trouble makers. She stopped short but stood her ground. The boys did not do the same. They shuffled backward until she stopped and with false bravado gestured aggressively with more shouts at the Kudu mother.

Yowli snuck down the rest of the path, slowly reaching for the babe. He snatched it from the edge of the pond and struggled right back up the path, kudu wiggling and squealing in his arms and making it far more difficult to climb. The mother about faced and charged toward the path but it was far too narrow for her. She could only bellow and pace, splashing water furiously about her.

He didn’t stop for a second. His heart pounded as he bolted and skid down the opposite slope of the plateau. His better judgment kept him atop the canyon formations, out of the reach of the mother or any other kudu. He heard the Kudu Master’s whistle give two short blasts and made a beeline for it. He hadn’t realized it but he had no idea how to get back otherwise.

He found the Escort and the Kudu Master just outside the canyons, he did not know if they had moved to find him or if they were right where he had left them. Kyam slapped a hand on his thigh, clapping approval as he noted Yowli at the crest, kudu babe in arm, sun’s last rays on his face.

Yowli descended and handed the babe to Kyai who tied it to his mount. The canyons were not quiet. Over the ridges came the bellows of a distressed Kudu mother and the cries and yelps of three young boys. Kyam grew restless at the sounds. He tried to be patient but he would never allow or live down a death on the first day. He goaded his mount forward and into the canyons.

It was well into the evening by the time they got back to camp. Jrow had thrown a fit the entire way back. He had until the morning, he insisted. An enraged Kudu was nothing to mess with and after seeing how they handled themselves Kyam knew it was not going to happen today.

Yowli was the only one who could not find sleep’s embrace, inspite of his success. Something did not feel right. He could hear the baby kudu just outside the tent mewling. He left his bed and found the poor thing in it’s cage near the other kudu. He reached a hand toward it sending it to cow into the far corner. Yowli sighed and crouched beside it. It shouldn’t be afraid. There is nothing to fear here.

The sky screamed. Yowli looked up to find a Screamer low in the sky. It’s deep screech following it across the valley to the east, the same direction as all the others. Yowli understood. He wasn’t listening either. No one here was listening.

He picked up the cage and hefted it toward the North. He kept walking until the camp was no longer in view and set the cage down. He unlatched the door and stepped back. The young kudu cowered in the corner for a tense moment. Yowli wasn’t sure what to do or how to help. Until it found its way; bolted from the cage and disappeared into the brush. Its squeal sounded in the distance, echoed by a bellow. This was right.

He looked to the east. The horizon spotted with stars and streaked with the amber trail left by a screamer. He had listened. And so would they. Without hesitating he followed the trail. As far as his legs would take him and farther.

Yowli found his way beneath the sands. Deep underground in a place unlike any he had even imagined. He followed the Screamers. They grew more frequent as he approached the Great Break and he could see them better. They had bodies, yes, but they weren’t soft and in most cases they had no wings. More often than not no two looked the same. They were also much quieter. They did not screech, but purred or chuffed. He followed the corridor hoping to get closer to them but they disappeared far below into the blackness within the crevice.

The corridor was banked on the left side by a rail and the open air of the crevasse. Leaning over the rail Yowli could see the darkness plummet below him for miles. So many miles it made him feel sick and he had to step back. He kept to the right side afterwards and looked at the shops that lined it. Each was set into a recess in the metal architecture of the corridor. He passed by most of them.

Until he found one filled with lights and buttons. They were so intriguing he had to pick a device up from the table at the front of the shop. He looked it over. It didn’t seem too special at first. Hard, square, flat. He turned it over and it had changed. The face of it was now an image. He reached out to touch the surface--if  it was at all there--and he image changed. He played with it like this for a moment before a voice boomed over him but he could not make out the words. Instinctively his hand snapped to put the device back and he took a few steps away.

Before him stood a portly older man who stood over twice his height, with a scruffy face and arms and pale skin hidden underneath. He was clothed in brown which only partially hid the black grime. They looked each other over for a moment. The large man finally barked out gruffly, “You’re one of them surface dwellers. Ain’cha?” Yowli understood these words.

He assumed that was a yes, he did indeed dwell on the surface. But where else would you live? The old man leaned over to examine him closer before motioning him to follow deeper  into the store. “You look awfully young to be down here. Can’t say we see many of ya around here. Whatcha lookin for?” Yowli wasn’t sure how to respond. How did that--thing--know how to speak? Where did it come from? His questions rendered him silent. It didn’t matter much to the old man. He rummaged through a box and pulled out another device. This one was not flat. The store owner motioned him closer, “Give me your hand.”

Reluctantly Yowli reached his hand out. The man took it and fit the cylinder around his wrist pulling its straps tight. “You figure out how to work that and it’s yours.” Yowli wasn’t sure how to handle this new attachment. He tried briefly to shake it from his wrist--which did not work. So he confronted it.

It took him a bit to press all the buttons, figure things out. But eventually he got it. And after a while he was camped out, sitting against the counter at the back of the shop running through menus. Over the counter came the old man’s face with a big grin. “Ah, not bad. Good work kid.” Yowli yipped excitedly to the old man.

“Say, what are you doing down here anyway. Shouldn’t you be off on your Exams or something? Can’t be old enough to be out here on your own. Such a small ball of fur like you.”

Yowli sank. He had almost forgotten about the Exams. He couldn’t go back now. He wouldn’t. The old man sighed.

“Say, you aren’t too bad with these gizmos. Maybe if you help out around here I’ll give ya that tablet you were eyeballing earlier.”

Yowli’s eyes lit up. He jumped from his seat and bounced excitedly, head barely breaching the height  of the counter. It was his turn to yip and holler as he replied, “Yes, sir! Please can I?”

The old man’s face was grim and heavy but his answer was the kindest word Yowli had ever heard. “Sure. Pick up that broom for starters. My back is shot and the broom is hell on it. Hasn’t been swept in years.” Yowli drooped a bit, disheartened by the misleading offer. But he took the broom and struggled with its large size.

“Yowli!”

“Here!”

“Got someone looking for some help. Come up here.”

Yowli finished his solder and tilted up the protective lenses of his goggles. He looked to the front of house and saw a sharp looking woman talking to the old man. He was unusually gruff, he got that way around pretty girls. Yowli smiled and set down the soldering torch and removed his gloves. He was half done with the rebuild but he had the time.

He nodded to the woman as he had learned to do and she nodded back. “Yowli, this is Anan. She’s got an offer for ya,” said the old man.

“Well the offer was for you, Frank, but since you’ve declined because you’re a stubborn old gaffer I have to look elsewhere. Didn’t expect it to be…” She paused trying to find the right words.

“A surface rat.” The old man barked with more than a hint of disdain.

Anan smiled sweetly enough to Yowli but glared a glare of a thousand daggers at Frank. “No, I wasn’t going to say that. He’s more of a...raptor than a rat anyway. But you come highly recommended, Yowli.”

Yowli wasn’t sure what to make of the conversation. It wasn’t a great first meeting.

“Basically, the captain is looking for some tech support in the sky. The old heap isn’t performing and what she calls maintenance isn’t cutting it anymore. But we can’t stay on the ground or afford a new ship. If you can leave this life and play among the stars we’d love to have you.”

Anan’s smile was almost too sweet. Yowli wasn’t sure she could trust it. But the look on Frank’s face was different. Frank could see his hesitation. And in Yowli’s own tongue said but one word, “Screamers.”

Just a short story thing I wrote for my Creative Writing class. It could be better but I like it for what it is.