#moon 391

[pikaclan]

Moon 391

Season: Leaf-fall

Overarching Events

Not enough medicine cats

Ceremonies

Silkmimic can hardly believe how quickly time has passed since Chestnutpaw was a kit. It still feels like just yesterday that they were tumbling around the nursery, chasing after a moss-ball or some other cat's tail. misty-eyed with pride and joy, Silkmimic throws their head back and tries to cheer the loudest as Chestnutpaw is named Chestnutthud and honored for their spirit

Deaths

Bramblepaw fell into the river and Quietpaw drowned alongside Bramblepaw while trying to rescue them. They are named Brambletail and Quietbubble in death (does not count for challenge)

Lemon Boy grieves Brambletail but is not stricken

Misc

Mistlepaw realized she-cat doesn't describe how they feel anymore

He is trans male!

Wisteriaflare finds poppies while out on a walk and decides to give them to Mistlepaw

Lilackit is scolded after sneaking out of camp

Health

Avalanchebeetle sinks their claws into a branch, hoping to distract themself from the pain in their missing leg Cobaltnose's cut healed Hollynoise is free of fleas Riverfish's front half is sore Galegrowl's weak leg is sore Roarweb's soreness is gone Cougar has a running nose Bastettiger overexerted themself and is feeling sore Biteflow's skin is starting to feel feverish around their wound Thundersight is flea-free Chestnutthud has a running nose Mistlepaw was on a walk alone when they heard a dog approaching! They hid in a thorny shrub but tore their pelt Ivorykit recovered from heat exhausion

Patrols

As your patrol is checking the border markings, a LionClan patrol appears and begins jeering at Cobaltnose but LionClan is driven away

[iidrk3i]

☆ LAZY DAY IN

hq -- kenma kozume x gn!reader

summary: a day of video games with your boyfriend, kenma.

warnings: nothing, fluff!

word count: 391

it was a lazy saturday afternoon, the soft glow of the sunset casting a warm hue through the curtains of kenma’s room. you sat criss-crossed on the floor, controller in hand, focused on a game of mario kart. kenma, reclined on his bed with his handheld console, occasionally glanced over to watch your intense focus as you navigated through the tracks.

"watch out for that banana peel," he murmured softly, barely audible over the cheerful music from the game.

you chuckled, maneuvering around to avoid the obstacle. "thanks for the warning," you replied, your eyes flickering to meet his for a brief moment before returning to the screen.

moments like these were cherished in your relationship with kenma. he wasn't one for grand gestures or extravagant dates, but there was a quiet comfort in these simple, shared moments. gaming together was a significant part of your bond, a shared passion that brought you closer in ways words couldn't capture.

after a competitive race that ended in a close tie, kenma set aside his console and joined you on the floor. he leaned against you lightly, his shoulder brushing yours. it was a gesture that spoke volumes in its simplicity—a silent reassurance of his presence and affection.

he gives your temple a quick peck. "want to try that new puzzle game i downloaded?" kenma asked casually, breaking the comfortable silence that you were in.

you nodded eagerly, setting aside the controllers and reaching for the second console. as he booted up the game, the two of you began to solve the intricate puzzles together. kenma’s quiet voice occasionally guided you with subtle hints, his eyes lighting up with a rare spark of excitement when you solved a particularly tricky level.

hours passed with shared laughter, gentle teasing, and the occasional shout when you passed a difficult puzzle. the day led into evening, and eventually, the soft glow of the moon replaced the fading sunlight outside.

as you sat together, side by side, surrounded by the soft hum of consoles and the warm comfort of each other's presence, you couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. with kenma, it wasn't just about the games or the moments spent together—it was about the quiet understanding, the unspoken support, and the knowledge that in each other's company, you were exactly where you belonged.

a/n: who do i write next😨

[mysticstronomy]

WHY IS VOYAGER 1 SENDING GIBBERISH??

Blog#391

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024.

Welcome back,

For months now, the most distant spacecraft to Earth – Voyager 1 – has been talking gibberish on the interplanetary 'radio'.

The repetitive jumble of 1s and 0s it's sending back to our planet, 24 billion kilometers (15 billion miles) away, has made no sense to scientists until now.

Turns out, officials at NASA just needed to give the oh-so-distant craft a bit of a 'poke' to ask it how it was feeling.

In response to a coded command sent in March, a computer onboard the Voyager called the flight data subsystem (FDS) has revealed where it hurts. This system wraps up the mission's all-important observations before beaming them back to Earth.

The system returned a software readout to Earth that scientists have now used to confirm about 3 percent of its memory is corrupted. Which is why turning the FDS on and off didn't resolve the issue back in November of 2023.

Based on the gobbledygook data the FDS is currently packaging, engineers at NASA suspect that most of the corruption is confined to a single chip in the computer's memory system.

In March, the Voyager mission team at NASA sent a so-called poke command to the FDS. Poke commands modify specific memory addresses, which is why gamers sometimes use them to cheat, by giving themselves unlimited lives or some such similar advantage.

In this case, the command allowed the engineers to prompt the system into using different readout sequences in its software packages in an effort to circumvent the problem.

Thanks to the FDS' response to the poke command, received 22.5 hours later, engineers noticed that one part of the system was returning some strange readings. They appeared to be in the wrong format, and an engineer on the team was able to decode them.

The mumbo jumbo signal contained a readout of the entire FDS memory system. Comparing this readout to one received before the issue arose, the Voyager team was able to locate the source of corruption.

No one yet knows what originally caused the corruption, but it could have come from energetic particles in space sparking damage, or simply sheer age.

Voyager 1 has gone above and beyond its initial mission, both figuratively and literally speaking. It was designed to explore Jupiter and Saturn and was launched all the way back in 1977, which means its computers are wildly outdated.

Originally published on www.sciencealert.com/

COMING UP!!

(Saturday, April 13th, 2024)

"HOW DID THE MOON FORM??"

[3dchoujinbag]

First time Togashi posted on twitter, he was on chapter 397, page 6. It took five months from that post (May 24 - Oct 23, 2022) for chapter 391 to be published.

Today, he posted chapter 405, page 5.

He has mentioned several times that he is continuously working to find the best system to make his manga. The system for 391-400 was not as efficient as he wanted, but seemed optimistic in his 401 post. This, combined with his Sailor Moon reference about healing means he may be feeling better and/or has figured a better system.

If we just add two chapters to his previous rate, we can guess that we see Chapter 401 this November (~six months). However, depending on his current system, back pain levels, and other possible events, it could be before or after that who knows.

Other facts for the timeline I guess:

Chapter 400 was completed on November 22, 2022

Chapter 401 was completed on March 9, 2022.

In between 401 and now, he posted this "Start Over" tweet on October 1, 2023, "Start Over" being a reference to the song by Sakurazaka46, used in this official video

His father passed away in November 2023

A HxH stage play happened that he was probably involved with in some form or another

[interstellarlyinlove]

Harvest (October 1st)

word count: 391

@wolfstarmicrofic

“Do you know the name of last night’s full moon?”

Sirius jerks awake when he hears Remus’ soft voice. The sun is barely in the sky shining through the hospital wing windows and oh, how Sirius loves the sun. Especially on full moon nights. 

Sirius hurries out of the chair he fell asleep on and stands by Remus’ side. “How are you feeling, my darling?”

Remus clears his throat. “Peachy keen.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Sirius hands Remus a glass of water and helps him drink it. 

“It’s called the Harvest Moon.”

“Who cares?” Sirius is busy fixing the pillows behind Remus’ back. “I hate full moons. Full moons are the lamest thing ever. Are you comfortable? Does anything hurt?”

“Awe. Full moons are pretty, though,” Remus says. “I like them.”

“You like them?”

“Obviously I don’t like what they entail, but they are pretty.” 

“I think you’re a little out of it, my love,” Sirius says. He sits on the edge of the tiny hospital bed and starts running his hand through Remus’ soft curls. Remus closes his eyes. 

“It’s the full moon closest to the first day of Autumn,” Remus explains softly, eyes still closed. “So the Harvest Moon is the September or October full moon depending on the year. It’s super clear and big in the sky and it even looks like the moon is full for a few days in a row.”

“Thank fuck it’s only actually full for one night.”

Remus chuckles. “Yeah, I can’t say I disagree with that.”

“Are you okay, Remus? Does anything hurt at all?”

Remus opens his eyes and smiles. “I’m fine, love. Whatever Madam Pomfrey gave me is great.”

Sirius takes Remus’ hands and kisses his knuckles as softly as he can. Remus managed to bruise them last night and they’re blue and purple. 

“Those really look worse than they are. How did I manage that, actually?” Remus asks. 

“I think you punched a tree,” Sirius says. 

“No kidding,” Remus huffs. 

“No kidding. They look cool as fuck, though.”

Remus lets out a startled laugh. “Yeah?”

“The coolest.”

Remus is smiley when he closes his eyes again. His breathing slows down and he looks at peace. Scratched and bruised but at peace.

Sirius lets out a small breath. “Go to sleep, Moons. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

[scourgiez]

(tumblr made this so crunchy, click for a better res!)

(Edit: I added more stuff and changed some things because yeah I’m obsessed w these two)

love love everyone’s headcanons about Astarion’s now-forgotten family and decided to make my own! As well as my own story about them. I hope my handwriting is readable :”)

As for a brief summary of his parents, (at the start of the BG3 game, because I headcanon them to still be alive somewhere)

Analelle is a moon high elf and is 391 years old. Definitely the smarts of the family. Very quiet and discrete yet cunning when she wants to be. Has a permanent “knowing look”. Usually about 2-3 steps ahead of you at all times.

Lithuryn is a half sun/half moon high elf and is 410 years old. Has dreams of being a noble within Baldur’s Gate and living lavishly with the other nobles there. He isn’t home very much. His work usually takes over his life.

Lots and lots more, sorry folks but i went crazy about these two:

Analelle and Lithruyn lived in Evereska, both working in politics or law within the community and meeting each other through their work. They weren’t exactly nobles within the community but they were very well-off and would be considered upper class. You can headcanon whatever age you want for Astarion but I always lean towards ~240 because it makes the most sense game-wise. They had him when they were in their 150s (about. Math x—x) while still in Evereska, however he only lived there until he was about 15 or so. (I have toyed with the idea of him having an older sibling (about +60 years or so) who ran off and became a druid after they loved to Baldurs Gate and hasn’t really contacted the family since…but that’s just a random theory because fun fact! I read somewhere that High elves are pretty infertile and usually only have a family of 3. So yeah I will leave out rebellious older Druid sibling for now. For now…)

The Ancunin's arrived to Baldur's Gate to work for a highly regarded law firm. This place was the cat's meow even though life was definitely different than it was in Evereska, as they were nobles there. Here, while they are still very wealthy, aren't exactly bumping elbows with the Baldurian nobles. (yet)

Even though they were still forming these connections, they were pretty popular within the elven communities in the city. This unfortunately was how Cazador was alerted to their presence and began his “hunt”. Really, they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Astarion had a target on his back for a long time before he died.

Astarion becomes a magistrate through these connections his parents have been making. They absolutely pull strings for him and we’re able to land him a very nice, high-paying job even if Astarion was a little under qualified for the position. Everyone was happy not only because of his job, but that given his upper class clientele he can easily work his way into becoming the Baldurian noble his parents were hoping for. Even if he was corrupt and not the best of people.

The story goes on and as you all know Astarion dies in his mid/late 30's due to the Gur attack. I have more headcanons regarding elf age here, which also talks about how elves dying due to murder is extremely rare in elven communities, so Analelle and Lithuryn just thought it literally could never happen. As for age, I can't describe it all here (it's all in the post I linked), but no Astarion was far from being a "child" biologically, he did however lack the life experience of someone who would have made it to 100 years old.

When they find that Astarion’s grave was defaced and his body missing, they were completely outraged. They were angrily contacting every single high noble of Baldur’s Gate and were on a wild emotionally-charged manhunt to find whoever did this. Cazador knew about this (duh) and started up his plan on how to deal with it. He purposely picks the people that don’t have many connections, but he clearly underestimated how involved the Ancunin family was. It was, at that point, easier to have the town turn against them than kill them and cause a big stink.

This all happened throughout the course of... a week or so. They were getting threatened every day, lost their jobs quickly, and their old noble connections turned against them. Unsure of how Cazador would do this but I can imagine he is really really good at it. They had to leave Baldur's Gate out of fear, never really knowing what happened to Astarion and generally being confused about the whole thing. This is also why Astarion never just. ran into them when he was prowling the streets and even if he had memory of them he wouldn't know where they went, and also why his grave stone was so unkept.

I can’t decide if they picked up their pieces back at Evereska and lived a modest life there, trying not to be noticed, or if they now live away from civilization in order to stay safe. It’s sad but unfortunately that’s just the way it goes with vampires :”)

As for eyes, I headcanon Astarion’s eyes to be blue with gold flecks (like his father’s) because I headcanon him to be a moon elf along with his mom. As much as I adore golden eyes him being a moon elf just makes so much sense! I might change my opinion at random because I’m so indecisive.

Anyway, I hope my incoherent rambles make sense. If i forgot something important lore-wise and it doesn’t fit in with these headcanons… let me know, but if anything this can be an AU. I spent so much time thinking abt it lol.

[moonstrider9904]

Sarah Adhara of Jedha

Known by different names - Sarah, Ace, Strider - Sarah Adhara is a Force user who was born, raised, and trained on Jedha. Her great ability and strength in the Force manifests on her body in the shape of sapphire blue marks crowning her striking eyes, which have been described by many as resembling nebulae. She participated as a soldier in the GAR during most of the Clone War until the death of the ARC trooper known as Fives. Devastated by his death, Sarah ran away and became a pirate of the Ohnaka gang until Captain Rex contacted her with the possibility of her best friend, Echo, being alive after being thought dead.

Since Echo's rescue, Sarah has been a part of Clone Force 99, and since then, her heart has belonged to the team's sniper, Crosshair.

Read Sarah's full backstory here | Read Moonwalker, the complete (and ongoing) story of Sarah with The Bad Batch

A brief playlist for Sarah

FALLING by arael

Aurora by K-391

Walking On The Moon by Ruelle

End of Time by K-391

Dreams by Lost Sky

Strider by MEMBA

Art by me.

[yamayuandadu]

Is Bat-Nikkal Ishtar?

For context for readers who might be unfamiliar with this theonym, Bat-Nikkal (also romanized Bath-Nikkal), literally “daughter of Nikkal”, is a deity from Harran who according to Doctrine of Addai, a Syriac Christian manuscript about the legendary deeds of st. Addai, was also worshiped in Edessa in his times (so in the first or second century CE; note the text itself only dates to the fourth or fifth century CE though). 

The passage is rather brief (“Behold, there are among you which worship Bat-Nikkal, like the inhabitants of Harran, your neighbours”) and provides no detailed theological information - it’s really just a blanket condemnation of some of the local cults. The other information provided doesn’t seem particularly outlandish - it is fairly plausible that people living in Edessa would indeed worship deities introduced from Harran and Manbij, and that Arabs settling in the city would’ve brought their own gods with them.

While as far as I am aware the name Bat-Nikkal is unique, a survey of my pdf archive indicates that researchers generally agree this is indeed a late reference to Ishtar, specifically in an astral aspect; this argument has most recently been made by Enrico Marcato (An Aramaic Incantation Bowl and the Fall of Hatra, p. 141).

To make sure this is plausible, I checked Aino Hätinen’s The Moon God Sin in Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Times. Turns out there’s no explicit reference for her being a major deity in Harran in either the Neo-Assyrian or Neo-Babylonian period, and the author warns against a weird trend pioneered by JoAnn Scurlock - arguing that references to Ishtar as daughter of Sin are concerned with a nonexistent “Ishtar of Harran” instead of representing a tradition recognized all across Mesopotamia (Scurlock is generally an author to avoid when possible, her writing on Mesopotamian deities is subpar and her coverage of Greek religion is somehow even worse). However, Hätinen nonetheless notes that Ishtar was undeniably worshiped in nearby Sultantepe through both periods, and pretty clearly continues to appear in association with Sin in Greek, Roman and Islamic sources (p. 310-311). She suggests that she and Shamash might have been minor deities in Harran compared to their parents to explain the scarcity of references to them (p. 391).

While no source gives Ishtar an epithet which can be considered a direct predecessor of Bat-Nikkal, it’s perfectly in line with her standard genealogy. Making her a daughter of Sin and, at least implicitly, his wife is both the oldest (already documented in the Early Dynastic period; see Hätinen, p. 309) and most widespread (so widespread Hurrian and Hurro-Hittite sources make Shaushka and Pinikir children of the moon god too) tradition regarding her parentage, so its late survival is anything but unexpected.

To sum up: I think ultimately we can cautiously conclude that Bat-Nikkal was indeed a form of Ishtar worshiped in Harran in the early first millennium BCE.

[tangsakura]

A Possible Future Based On Hisoka's Fortune - HxH Predictions

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 105 (Raw)

"A red-eyed customer will visit your store. Half of them is angel, and the other is the god of death. Presumably they are hoping that you will sell the moon's secrets to them. They ought to be especially pleased about that of the frost moon.

On a hot day, with the mediation of the said customer, the two of you, the man of a reversed cross and you, are probably to be left alone together. The false fourth moon will be torn away from the calendar. With this, those that remain will become 6."

I'm gonna put it here to remind us all of Hisoka's real fortune.

We all know how Shalnark ended up dead according to the fortune he received back in Yorknew arc. Now everyone is paying attention at Shizuku's fortune and making predictions. One of the most popular of these theories is how Shizuku will die around merchandise covered in black, which are brought by the Kakin mafia or one of the princes, if I remember correctly.

So now, I shall make my own predictions on what will happen in the future HxH chapters. But this time it will be based on Hisoka's real fortune.

WARNING: IF YOU HAVEN'T READ HUNTER x HUNTER CHAPTERS 349 TO 400, ESPECIALLY 391 TO 400, DO NOT INTERACT OR READ FURTHER. Keep in mind that this is unedited, and you are bound to read some cringey parts at some point.

First Stanza:

"A red-eyed customer will visit your store. Half of them is angel, and the other is the god of death."

As Hisoka accepted Hinrigh's offer of going to VVIP room at tier 1, he's currently on his way there. The only one there who is described as a "red-eyed customer will visit your store. Half of them is angel, and the other is the god of death" is Kurapika, who is, at present, the bodyguard of 14th Prince Woble and Queen Oito.

At some point, they will meet again. They have to. There is no way that Hisoka will not go to the next banquet nor snoop around and find out what's up in the said tier. He will be there and his encounter with Kurapika for the first time since Yorknew arc is inevitable.

"Presumably they are hoping that you will sell the moon's secrets to them."

With Hisoka's presence in tier 1, Kurapika won't be able to help but wonder what happened to the Phantom Troupe, especially Chrollo, after Kurapika and the main gang left Chrollo, Hisoka and Pakunoda on top of the cliff/mountain (pls my brain isn't cooperating right now, somebody remind me), in the middle of nowhere.

Kurapika will definitely ask Hisoka about the Phantom Troupe. Presently, he wants to know about them and, obviously, he will get curious whether they are in the Black Whale or not. Remember, the Phantom Troupe is also his target, but obviously more secondary as 4th Prince Tserriednich is his first and foremost target as of this arc.

Kurapika will definitely find out that they are onboard the ship, and in all probability, Hisoka will let him know about it. After all, wouldn't Hisoka want to form an alliance again with Kurapika?

"They ought to be especially pleased about that of the frost moon."

I believe Hisoka will reveal something about the frost moon with Kurapika.

As you know, the frost moon refers to #11 of the Phantom Troupe. Back in Yorknew arc, they were referring to Uvogin. But he died. He even got a tombstone-less tomb and a requiem on the night of the underground auction. So, how is frost moon still relevant to this arc?

Well, sucks for you, but the one who replaced Uvogin is none other than this man:

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 377 (Official English Translation)

Illumi Zoldyck.

With the way he is acting at the moment and how he divulged his assassination deal with Hisoka is making him super suspicious. There has been so many theories about him being Hisoka and so on because of how sus he is at the moment.

Though the theory about him being Hisoka has been debunked as of the current available chapters, you cannot deny that this is not merely just a "kill me and my engagement ring to or prenup with you is that you get paid". There's something more going on here.

I predict that he and Hisoka are on cahoots with each other. Surely, Hisoka had a deal with him, but I think it's more of helping him destroy the Spiders from the inside and so Illumi can save Kalluto from Hisoka's murder plan.

If it is true that Hisoka and Illumi are working together because Hisoka asked him to just like in Yorknew and Illumi can save his younger sibling, then Kurapika will be pleased. Because that's less spiders he has to worry with, considering that he also has to get closer to Prince Tserriednich to take back the remaining scarlet eyes, while also helping Queen Oito and Prince Woble survive the succession war.

(At this point, you may take a break. Resume reading once you are ready.)

Second Stanza:

"On a hot day, with the mediation of the said customer, the two of you, the man of a reversed cross and you, are probably to be left alone together. "

I am mostly onboard with the prediction that Kurapika and Hisoka will come up with some sort of agreement regarding the Troupe. Kurapika already has too many things in his plate regarding the succession war with the remaining princes and how he will get close in contact with Prince Tserriednich. It won't come into surprise if Kurapika asks Hisoka for a helping hand or accept Hisoka's offer of his own kind of alliance, which I think he would do just like in Yorknew. But I think this time Hisoka will warn him not to remove Chrollo's nen. xD

Hisoka will perhaps help him take out some of the members. I feel that he will go for Shizuku and/or Bonolenov first. They are currently with Chrollo, so perhaps with Kurapika's help or someone's help, Chrollo can get separated from them, and then he can kill Shizuku and Bonolenov right then and there.

But we can also take into account that the closes Spiders to Hisoka right now are Nobunaga, Phinks, Feitan, and most likely Franklin and Machi. He can go for one of them first, as well. But I really feel like Shizuku and Bonolenov will die and I'll explain why in a short bit.

And of course, the one I'm most excited about is the showdown between Hisoka and Machi. I'm so ready to witness the best tragic romance of all times

Later on, Kurapika will maybe help him get another chance to be alone with Chrollo in return of him getting rid of some of the Troupe members. The ship is on the way to the false Dark Continent right now, so maybe he can set up a place there where Hisoka and Chrollo can face off. And it will be hot on that place on that day.

But it can also be that because of Kurapika, Hisoka and Chrollo will be alone together in the Black Whale ship, whether intentional or not. But how can it be a hot day in a ship, especially later when they can no longer go out of the premises due to the unpredictable travel conditions?

When the whole ship is in chaos and on fire. Now that will be wild, but not impossible.

"The false fourth moon will be torn away from the calendar."

In Yorknew arc, the false fourth moon was Hisoka, the former #4 of the Spiders. His allegiance to the spider was never true and he was willing for the existence of the Spider to perish.

But the one to replace him was Kalluto Zoldyck, the youngest member of the famous Zoldyck family.

As of now, it looks like he is getting along with them, and based on chapter 377 and 380, he has found some sort of comfort with them.

I mean look at Kalluto sitting near Machi, whom I previously analyzed based off of her speech language as someone considerate to kids.

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 377 (Official English Translation)

And how she is reacting when Illumi revealed to Mizai about everyone in the Phantom Troupe onboard the ship.

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 380 (Official English Translation)

Even so, how can Kalluto be a false fourth moon?

Because he is a Zoldyck.

At some point in the current arc, he will have to choose between the Zoldyck family and the Spiders, considering the fact that Illumi is most likely in cahoots with Hisoka, who is trying to kill the Spiders and have a rematch with Chrollo, perhaps.

And he will definitely choose the family. Because before he is a Phantom Troupe member, he is a Zoldyck. Knowing the dynamics of the family and all of that, I think he will have no choice but to choose his own biological family over the one he found some comfort with. Thus, he has always been a false fourth moon, just like Hisoka.

"With this, those that remain will become 6."

Whether this happens before, during, or after the Hisoka and Chrollo being alone together on a hot day, it doesn't matter. I predict that there will be six members of the Phantom Troupe left, including Chrollo.

And you know what's funny, I think the ones who will have to die are Shizuku and Bonolenov, as I stated previously.

Because:

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 397 (Unofficial English Translations)

The ones who will be left will be the original Phantom Troupe members.

Originally, there are nine members. But three of them are already dead: Pakunoda, Uvogin and Shalnark.

When Shizuku and Bonolenov dies, the ones who will be left will be Nobunaga, Phinks, Feitan, Franklin, Machi, and Chrollo.

The original six.

I really think that if this will be the case, then we have a big potential or two when it comes to exploring the dynamics and relationships between the founding members. We have already witnessed the tension and conflict between the founding members when Chrollo was kidnapped by Kurapika back in Yorknew.

So this time it'll be interesting if we see it once again. And it'll be better if six of them are alive, but Chrollo is alone with Hisoka and they are far away from the other five. It'll be another dilemma for them once again. Do you save Chrollo or do you live on and keep the Spider alive?

And it'll be more interesting if the other people's predictions that the Hei-Ly family had something to do with Sarasa's death and the six founding members finds out about this and ends up being face to face with the benefactor.

These two events can tie into the Spiders' backstory a lot with the former possibly igniting or making them recollect the strong bonds that existed back on that day in the forest and the latter resolving the grudge and guilt they have been carrying since childhood.

Also, having the six founding members dying at the same time or together can be melancholic and sorrowful. A tragic and sad ending, but which provided them resolution and catharsis.

And that's about it. I hope you enjoyed reading my predictions. This post has been in my drafts since the day before my birthday last year and I just completed it in one sitting. Finally, I posted something decent after a long time.

Anyways, I'll go to sleep now. It's like 2 or 3 am here right now.

Until then.

[w1ld-wr1t3r]

Norrix please for nr 13 🩷

Two anons requested #13! And this one took me a while to figure out. 😅 It wasn't the easiest song to write a drabble for at first, but I tried my best.

13. FLAAKLYPA by K-391 and Kel; Norrix

"It's been so long since I felt this good."

Lando whispered the admission into the evening air, looking up at the wide open sky. The moon and stars were out, shining alongside a beautiful purple sunset. It was so peaceful . . . so unlike the last few months.

He'd struggled for a while. The racing season had tried to chew him up and spit him out. Predatory journalists and bad press has haunted him like demons. It had taken a lot out of him.

And that was why he was so grateful for Martijn.

When Lando said he wanted to get away, Martijn hadn't complained or demanded an explanation. He'd just called up his jet and taken him off the grid. He needed a chance to disconnect from everything for a while.

And it was working. After a few days of fresh air, a peaceful atmosphere, and plenty of alone time with his boyfriend, Lando was finally feeling energized again. Everything the season had taken out of him was starting to come back.

Now that he had finally recharged, he felt more like his old self.

And Martijn had helped tremendously, even when he hadn't even been trying to. He cuddled Lando when he was clingy, bantered when he was talkative, and, when he got withdrawn and contemplative on a few late nights, he had whispered praise into his ear while holding him close.

Martijn had done so much to lift his spirits and make him feel whole again. Lando didn't know what he'd do without him.

At the start of their vacation, Lando had struggled to smile. Now, looking out at the forests and mountains visible from the porch of their rented cabin, he beamed wholeheartedly. He'd missed this kind of uninhibited, guilt-free joy.

The voices who tore him down couldn't reach him here. And with them gone, he could remember who he was and what he was capable of. He was a fighter, a champion, and however long it took, even if it was forever, he would keep on fighting for his dreams.

As Martijn hugged him from behind, kissing him in the glow of the sunset, Lando felt ready for the future. He'd been lonely and struggling for a long time, but now . . . now, he felt ready for anything.

[mysticstarlightduck]

Playlist Personality Tag (Moms Edition)!

I did this a while ago for the Dads of Supernova Initiative, so now its the (good) Moms' turn!!! Here we go, my friends!

PICREW

Adrea Keldora - Hush Little Baby - Ashley Ryan

He's messing with my baby And I ain't gonna tell him twice If you come home cryin' Kiss the Chevy and these matches goodbye [...] Cause I know his kind like the back of my hand Just 'cause he's a male don't make him a man Hush, little baby, don't you cry Your mama's got a 12-gauge held up high And if that boy ever breaks your heart I'll send him where the moon meets and kisses the stars I count my blessings, count these shells It'll only take one shot to bring him down Better treat you right, 'cause if he don't The Lord's gonna call him home Keep his eyes open The very last thing he'll see Is me standin' with a shovel Buryin' him six foot deep

Skylar Keldora - My Boy - Britnee Kellogg Version

He ain't got my smile, that don't bother me a bit [...] I'm holding on to every moment, God knows I missed a few The day we met I knew I had some catching up to do He ain't got my blood, my DNA But if he did, I'd feel the same I wasn't there for his first steps But I won't miss a first again That ain't never gonna change, I could never walk away Yeah, he's my son and that's my choice, He ain't my blood, but he's my boy

Aineh Zreeth - Thick and Thin - Faouzia

I know you got doubts And you see no way out But I promise you this When it's dark as it's ever been And you feel like you're on your end I will be there through thick and thin, oh When you feel like you just can't win And the shadows are creeping in I will be there through thick and thin Oh, lean on me, lean on me, lean on me I'm down, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me here now I can be your light when your light goes out Oh, lean on me, lean on me, lean on me I'm down, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me here now I can be your light when your light goes dim, oh

Lauriel Tithus - End of Time - Alan Walker, Ahrix, K-391

When things are right, then you just know There is something in your eyes that brings me home 'Cause when there's love, you don't let go So as long as you're with me, you're not alone, you'll never be I wanna tell you what I feel and really mean it I wanna shout it from the rooftops to the sky 'Cause if you ever need a friend, you know I'll be it From tonight until we see the end of time I'll cross my heart and hope to die We're always and forever, I'll be by your side When days are dark and stars don't line We're always and forever 'til the end, the end of time

Tagging: @winterandwords, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites, @illarian-rambling@agirlandherquill, @anoelleart@unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers@i-can-even-burn-salad, @cakeinthevoid, @finickyfelix

Supernova Initiative Taglist (-/+): @ray-writes-n-shit, @sarandipitywrites, @lassiesandiego, @smol-feralgremlin, @kaylinalexanderbooks,

@diabolical-blue @oh-no-another-idea

@cakeinthevoid, @clairelsonao3, @sleepy-night-child

@thepeculiarbird, @littleladymab

@the-golden-comet, @urnumber1star, @anyablackwood, @amaiguri

@lyutenw, @finickyfelix

Let me know if you'd like to be added!

[hp-fanfic-archive]

Hi this may be niche and non existent but I am looking for wolf star fics where Sirius is hooking up/dating women (maybe Marlene). Remus has to see or hear stuff he doesn’t want to and gets jealous/ pines.

Happy ending w/ endgame wolf star if possible! Also ok if Sirius is hooking up with/dating men but I ask for women cuz it’s harder to find.

Thank you!!

Hi!

I don't have a ton of recs, but I did find a few. Hopefully this is what you're looking for!

Sirius/Marlene:

waited all this time to call you mine by ziahra [T, 121k] (You asked for pining Remus? You got it with this one)

In a world where everyone has a timer on their left wrist that counts down until the day realise they are in love with their soulmate, Remus falls in love with his soulmate 3 years before he reciprocates. Remus knew the timers were set in stone. They were inevitable, and there was nothing he could do to change the timer or speed up the process. And Sirius would return Remus’ feelings, eventually. Oh God. His timer had hit zero. And he had been thinking of Sirius. He was in love with Sirius. “Oh my God! Who was it?” Sirius begins to ask, but Remus can’t hear him. His ears are blocked with water, and his mind is far from the little rink in which they stand. Instead of trying to listen, he looks instead. He looks at Sirius’ wrist, where the numbers stare mockingly back at him. 27, 391 hours.

What I Heard by fishcommuter [E, 28k] (not 100% sure if this is exactly what you're looking for because it's on my to-read list still, but it might be)

Word on the street is Sirius is with Remus, but nobody bothered to tell either of them. Marlene, Sirius's actual girlfriend, thank you very much, is not thrilled. As the fall term settles into their last winter at school, things happen, feelings occur, Sirius and Remus are obviously in love, and the students of Hogwarts prove hard to surprise. Sirius switched on the ringer with his thumb and handed the phone back over. "Leave it on, okay?" "You have a map with my exact whereabouts at your disposal, you know this, yes?" "It can't get you to do things, though." "You can't get me to do things." "I can be very persuasive if you bother to read the messages." "You'd have separation anxiety if I bothered to read the messages." Sirius boffed him on the head. "Already do." He ducked this time.

Mutually Beneficial by clevernotbrilliant [T, 4k] (Does it count if the Sirius/Marlene is fake dating?)

Sirius Black is in love with Remus Lupin. Marlene McKinnon is in love with Emmeline Vance. The obvious solution? Date each other.

jimmy's party by orphan_account [G, 13k] (angst? angst.)

And he’s been expecting this, right? It’s been building for weeks; Remus has known this was coming. Eventually, even Sirius has grown tired of snogging girls in broom cupboards who’s names he takes a few seconds to recall when asked about them. If Marlene’s who he’s chosen, well..good. Marlene’s perfect for him, even Remus can see that. Sirius deserves someone like her. or: Remus isn’t jealous of Sirius and Marlene. On the contrary: he gets it. They look good together. So if they want to dance at the post-quidditch-match party, that’s alright. It’s fine, and Remus’ll demonstrate as such by having some fun of his own. Upcoming full moon be damned.

Reasons Why by silverbook [G, 3k]

Remus likes Marlene McKinnon, he really does. Except he also kinda hates her.

Now I Wanna Be Your Dog by pixelated [E, 20k] (this has Sirius/Marlene and also Remus/OC before the wolfstar endgame. They're both pining.)

Sirius clunks about in his Doc Martens and listens to The Stooges and smokes cigarettes and wears his hair much too long and spends more time serving detention than not. And is way too forward about his sudden feelings for Remus. (A story about teenagers and summer love in the 70s.)

The Boys of Summer by todaslasmadrugadas [T, 73k] (The Sirius/Marlene in this is rather short lived, but Remus is pining and it's a slow burn so... close enough?)

The Summer of 1978 was supposed to be the same as the previous one. And the one before that. Because, in the provincial village of Fenneltown, where 16-year-old Remus Lupin lives, nothing ever changes. Not really. Until this year, everything does.

Hey, Jealousy by BrianJustin4Ever [T, 1k]

Remus contends with his jealousy.

Sirius/OFC:

Jealousy, Jealousy by AshParadox [T, 924]

Remus has trouble focusing on what Lily is saying at the moment. His eyes are fixed on Sirius, who is in the middle of the room, dancing with some Hufflepuff girl. Remus feels a burning sensation in the pit of his stomach. “You should make him jealous.”

Drunken Mistakes (It Was Never A Mistake) by artemis143 [T, 3k]

It was Sirius Black's 16th birthday party and James Potter suggests that they play truth or dare

The Date by rhye [G, 422] (it's short but oh so ouchie)

Sirius has a date with a pureblood his mother wants him to marry. But he's also dating Remus. Remus watches him prepare for his date.

Honorable Mention (because it doesn't have pining Remus. It is, in fact, fake dating blackinnon from Marlene's POV. Wolfstar does get together though :) and the fic is good!) :

passionfruit by poppunkpadfoot [M, 4k]

“How would you feel about a free trip to France this summer?” “That depends. What’s the catch?” “It’s a trip with my family,” Marlene says. She can’t quite bring herself to look Sirius in the eye as she continues, “I’d be introducing you as my boyfriend.”

[glitterglueblob]

Neptune’s moon Triton is the coldest known object in the solar system with an average surface temperature of -391° F.

[whispers-soundtrack-project]

Lucy / Coriolanus

Fanmix Part One

Link to the Spotify Playlist is at the bottom of the post

By anonymous request!

Take Me To Church (Hozier)

My lover's got humor * She's the giggle at a funeral * Knows everybody's disapproval * I should've worshiped her sooner

A World Alone (Lorde)

We’ve both got a million bad habits to kick * Not sleeping is one * We’re biting our nails * You’re biting my lip * I’m biting my tongue

Riverside (Agnes Obel)

When by the water we drink to the dregs * Look at the stones on the river bed * I can tell from your eyes * You've never been by the riverside

Run Away (Sarah Jarosz)

Follow me down through the cotton fields * Moon shadow shine bright the way you will * Lead us down a road where no one goes * We can run away

Different World (Alan Walker, K-391 & Sofia Carson)

And even though we might have lost tonight * The skyline reminds us of a different time * This is not the world we had in mind * But we got time

I Found (Acoustic) (Amber Run)

And I’ll use you as a makeshift gauge * Of how much to give and how much to take * I’ll use you as a warning sign * That if you talk enough sense then you’ll lose your mind

Blindfold (Sleeping Wolf)

In the dark * I need to taste the blood * Go on, draw another line we can cross this time * Battle scars * Your touch is not enough * I need you to pierce my veins and become my pain

Poison & Wine (The Civil Wars)

You only know what I want you to * I know everything you don't want me to * Oh your mouth is poison, your mouth is wine * You think your dreams are the same as mine * Oh I don't love you but I always will

favorite crime (Olivia Rodrigo)

You used me as an alibi * I crossed my heart as you crossed the line * And I defended you to all my friends * And now, every time a siren sounds * I wonder if you're around * 'Cause you know that I'd do it all again

When The Darkness Comes (Shelby Merry)

And if you ain't scared, then you ain't human * And it burns like a fire * And it burns like a fire * And we're all running from our lives somehow * Terrified at what we'll find * When the walls come falling down

[pettypuppy-jonghyun]

Ignite | Lee Felix

Summary: a fantasy au where Felix controls the power of the sun, and his lover controls the moon

Warnings: mention of death, darkness, a little angsty plz take precaution

Dedicated to Aly for all the support and motivation I've been given 💛

Song of inspiration: Ignite by K-391

••••••2329 words••••••

In a brick house with a wooden rooftop you can hear every drop of rain as it falls. The sound of it trickling down the plastic tubes set out against the sides, planted there to help prevent a leak, echoed in the small space. The wind pushed against the tarp that was put in place as a substitute for a front door.

It wasn't really a home anymore, could barely pass as a shelter from the rain, but it had been a home for someone long ago. A place that a family could gather every evening to share warm meals and laughter-things that sounded so comforting to me right now. A pleasantry this place could no longer afford.

It was far too cold to stay forever. My hands were rubbing furiously at my arms to keep warm as I paced beneath the wooden sheet that protected me from the storms wrath. A thin coat that barely clothed any skin was laying far from me, soaked in the energy-draining rain.

In this world, when the rain comes, our powers dim. There had only been a small number of storms like today that wiped the energy from so many souls, leaving so many people without a place to go and family to be with. This storm was destructive, and it didn't stop for days, taking away every person in its path. No one was spared. We had gone so long depending on our powers that it forced us to hide any spark of power in ourselves and abandoned our livelihoods, leaving many hopeless and lost.

It came out of nowhere. It was only a few days ago when I was back home studying for a final college entrance exam. My hair was bothering me a lot that day, so I wanted to use the moon's gravitational pull to hold it back. It was a petty and simple use of my powers, for how grand they really are. I didn't know then that taking advantage of it that day was all I had left. When I reached my hand up to snap my fingers and call upon the moon's power to my will, the lights in my house had gone out. I remember running down the stairs to question the blackout with my family, who'd already been outside on the porch before I could register.

The whole world was in a blackout simultaneously. Everyone was unable to use any power they had to keep the world running again, or else it was slowly drained from them until there was nothing left. Nothing of them and nothing of their power. The rain came soon after the sun went missing. It poured heavily in an instant with no way for anyone to prepare. My family went into hiding soon after.

"Where is the sun?" everyone asked. The life of our world revolved around the solar power from the sun, and without it, everyone's powers were all greatly weakened. Thus, a terrifying storm came brewing to suck away anything that was left. My family and I were separated quickly because of it.

"Where there's a moon there's a sun", they used to tell me all the time. I grew up hearing those words a thousand times like I brought the reassurance of the world's safety because I possessed Lunar magic. To those around me, I was the safety net they could fall on in uncertain times. But the more days that passed with no sun in sight, they began to lose faith in me.

A sudden harsh movement on the blue tarp catches my attention. I froze as I watched someone push past the barrier, barging into the shabby home and allowing rain in. My heart sped up from the fear of not being able to see who was in front of me. But the voice that called my name so sweetly put me at ease instantly.

"Oh Felix!" I cried out, reaching towards him and wrapping my arms around his neck. He embraced me just as tightly, squeezing me to his chest and burrowing his face in my shoulder. "You're alright!"

Felix pulled back, hand reaching up to tuck my wet hair behind my ear. His brown eyes glowed a brilliant gold as he looked at me tenderly. I knew he could see me perfectly, even in this darkness. Because he was the light.

Where there's a moon, there's a sun.

"My sweet love," he whispers. "I'm so glad I found you."

My head fell into his chest, his hand coming to the back of it to soothe me. I began to sob, fists clenching tightly on the lips of his jacket collar. The cold air made my throat sore but I couldn't pay much mind through my tears. I was so relieved to see him. He was okay. He was safe. And he was in my arms.

After a moment we separated enough to move from the tarp at the front of the house and towards the back where less water came through. He gently guided me by my arms while sitting us both down, never letting me go too many steps apart. His glowing eyes were all I had to see. I didn't want to look away in fear the light would leave me again and I'd be alone.

"You're freezing." His right hand brushed my cheeks that stung from the sharp air. "Let me warm you up."

Felix put his hands out like they hovered over an invisible globe. A yellow spark ignited in thin air, making me gasp. "Felix, stop!" My hand encaptured his to prevent any further action.

"You'll freeze to death if I don't use my power to heat you up."

I shook my head. "Please, I don't want to lose you. If the rain drains away your power you'll die. Felix, please."

He shrugged off my hands and continued to try another spark. "I control the sun, my luna. The only thing that brings light to darkness. I'm the reason this rain is here to begin with."

The spark created a sphere of power between the center of his palms. The warmth immediately radiated from its yellow hue, slowly drying up the rain droplets from my clothing. I sighed heavily, feeling relieved at the heat but still anxious about the rain. The storm clouds were still hovering above us. It wasn't safe to project power in such an unsecured place. Still, having him with me was such a reassurance in itself. He was my other half.

"Where have you been?" I finally mustered out the question, staring into the yellow glow with hazy eyes.

His gaze fluttered to my own, eyes softening. "Some things we are better off not knowing," he replied calmly, his voice not once wavering. "If I could tell you everything, I would. In due time."

Gently, I raised my fingers to hover over his glowing ball of heat. I had seen it so many times before over the years we've been together. To us, it was a great source of light when we stayed out late and wandered parts of the woods no one had ever been before. Our innocent memories of sharing powerful energy for the most piffling circumstances flashed through my mind as I now became so dependent on it. Scenes of us practicing how to use it in school arose.

When the tips of my fingers touched the protective bubble surrounding the power, the loud sounds of the rain suddenly quietened. The yellow hue pulsated at the sensation of my energy flowing into it, turning into an intense orange color. Felix rotated his wrists at the action, twirling the orb slightly before releasing it. It hovered in the air by itself like a miniature sun before us.

I looked up to the wooden plank where the leaks lessened. "The rain is calming," I announce, finding my heart beat coming back down a normal rate as well. "Do you think it will end soon?"

His beautiful freckles were luminated by his globe. The shadow of the light highlighting my favorite feature on him. The gold in his eyes less noticeable than it was in the dark. They met mine with a flicker of despair. He had suffered just as much as I did in this storm.

"My dear luna," he calls my nickname so sweetly. "You know this rain came because there was no sun, right? The storm came hurling into the world with no warning and took out so many loved ones."

My teeth gnaw at my bottom lips as I listened to him. "Felix, its not your fault," I pleaded.

He shook his head. "If the sun fades away, we are all left vulnerable. I'm the only sun this universe has."

"You can't control when your powers fade! You didn't have a choice."

Felix sighed heavily, grasping my hand in his and pulling it to his lap. He picked at my old nail polish softly. "When I left you that day, to follow my uncle, we realized something horrible about this storm. And my power."

I waited to hear his next words. I anticipated his every breath, too scared I'd be alone in the dark if he never spoke again. When my heart picked up, so did the rain.

"Where there's a moon, there's a sun," he quotes. "Because if there is no sun for the moon, the darkness of the moon shines the brightness. And the world is left as nothing but a black hole that everyone succumbs too. For the moon's only light is the sun."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I had never heard that part of the quote before. I tightened my hand around his. "Where did you learn that?"

"The old cave down at the end of the village. Behind the waterfall. It's walls tell the legend of the moon goddess who fell in love with the sun god. When the sun god's power grew weak and was on the verge of extinction, after a new god with the power of the sun was born, the moon goddess's heart hardened. She vowed to destroy the universe if the new god replaced her lover, because it would be the cause of his death.

Her darkness reigned over the universe for a century. Gods and goddesses of all different powers came together to end her destruction. But the only way she could be stopped was if her lover's light luminated again. So the new god gifted the power back to the original sun god, allowing him to continue to live. The pair were always together to keep the peace once again. If the moon goddess appeared, dazzling in the nights sky, it meant the sun was not too far away."

"The moon goddess's powers belong to me," I continued, filling in the blanks. "And the sun to you. That's why those who gained the power of the sun and moon were fated to be lovers until death."

He nods, patting my hand. "This means that you also have gained her emotions and strong will with the power. When I left to tour the world with my uncle, even the promise to come back to you was not enough. The moon goddess was unhappy."

I retracted my hand as a shiver ran down my spine. My stomach curled as I processed the information he told me. I shook my head a few times, mumbling words under my breath. It was impossible to believe. Accepting the truth when it's put so plainly. The disturbing reason behind such a deadly rain.

"It's me," I whisper in distraught. "I created the rain."

Felix's hand cupped my cheek tenderly. "You had no control over it, my love. Please don't blame yourself. It's my fault too."

"How could you say that? When you didn't know this would happen? I caused a blackout for the entire world!"

He smiled bitterly. "This is the curse of our love. If we are ever far apart, my powers fade and your darkness reigns. We can't control it."

Tears began to silently fall down my face like a river stream. My lips trembled in fear as another sob broke through. "What are we going to do?"

He pulls me into his chest, holding me tightly. "We can't change the past," he admits sadly, recalling the many lives that may have been lost. "But we can stop the rain now. The longer it continues the worse this will get. I'm here now, so the rain can be put to an end."

"My mother's healing power!" I suggest at the sudden thought. "Those with healing powers can revive the souls who were lost!"

Felix's hand came to soothingly rub my back. "Though their powers would be weak upon revival, they may be able to get it back. It might take some time."

I sit silently, peering over his shoulders and to the damp ground. My mind spun at all the thoughts racing through it. I fiddled at the nail polish Felix was previously picking at. My heart pulsated against my chest in anxiety. Although it was absolutely terrifying at the idea all may have been potentially lost, I could swallow the idea it was fixable. As long as Felix was by my side, it was all going to be okay.

His hand clasped mine at our side. "I'm here now, so we can stop this rain. And save the people."

I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. I didn't know how to control the storm, nor did I know that I even had the power to do so prior to him telling me. Still, I dug deep into the flame in my soul, calling upon the power of my ancestors to life and come forth. The orange globe reacted, it's light flickering over my eyelids. I mouthed ancestral words to myself until I heard the sound of the rains pitter patter come to an end.

[journeytothewestresearch]

A Description of Sha Wujing's Weapon

Sha Wujing's weapon is often portrayed as a bladed Monk's Spade in modern media. However, he wields a magic wooden staff in Journey to the West (Xiyouji, 西遊記, 1592 CE). A poem describing the look, history, and powers of the weapon appears in chapter 22.

Anthony C. Yu's (Wu & Yu, 2012) original translation opens with:

For years my staff has enjoyed great fame, At first an evergreen tree in the moon. Wu Gang cut down from it one huge limb: Lu Ban then made it, using all his skills. Within the hub's one solid piece of gold: Outside it's wrapped by countless pearly threads. It's called the treasure staff for crushing fiends [...] (vol. 1, p. 428) 寶杖原來名譽大，本是月裡梭羅派。 吳剛伐下一枝來，魯班製造工夫蓋。 裡邊一條金趁心，外邊萬道珠絲玠。 名稱寶杖善降妖 …

But I recently noticed that the translation needed some improvements. Below is my version.

For years my treasure staff has enjoyed great fame. Originally a tree of the sala variety in the moon, [A] Wu Gang cut down from it one limb. [B] Lu Ban then made it, using all his skills. Within the hub is "as-you-will" metal, [C] Outside it’s wrapped by countless pearly threads. It’s called the Treasure Staff Perfect for Subduing Monsters [D] […] (based on Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 428)

Here are the reasons why I made such changes:

A) The Chinese identifies the tree as suoluo pai (梭羅派), which literally means a “(family) branch of the sala tree.” I chose “type of” to avoid confusion with “a variety of” And while the sala is technically a kind of evergreen in wet environments, it has deciduous-looking leaves. I chose to use the actual name of the tree to avoid confusion with pine evergreens. Yu (Wu & Yu, 2012) incorrectly identifies the suoluo tree as “Cunninghamia [l]anceolata,” a type of Chinese pine evergreen (vol. 4, p. 391 n. 7).

B) The Chinese mentions nothing about the size of the branch.

C) The Chinese states that the inside is jin chenxin (金趁心), or “satisfactory metal/gold.” This is likely referring to the Chinese idiom chenxin ruyi (趁心如意), or “as one desires.” This important as the novel reveals that Sha’s weapon is capable of growing or shrinking on command just like Monkey’s cudgel, the “As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 429). Thank you to Irwen Wong of the Journey to the West Library blog for reminding me of this fact.

D) Yu (Wu & Yu, 2012) skipped over shan (善), or “good at, apt, perfect,” in his translation (vol. 1, p. 428).

Detail of Sha wielding a twisted, tree branch-like staff from an original 1592 JTTW woodblock print.

Source:

Wu, C., & Yu, A. C. (2012). The Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4) (Rev. ed.). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.